Beyond the Pod

Wishing you and your families a wonderful holiday.

— and Why It Still Tells Us Something About 2028

(Why Trump’s economic reality check could finally break his hold on the GOP)

This week’s likely election of self-described Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani as the next mayor of New York City is about to ignite a larger debate inside the Democratic Party: is this still a capitalist party, or is it preparing to embrace a new economic model — something closer to

Hate the headline or love it — I couldn’t resist.

There’s not a corner of modern life — politics, sports, entertainment, business — untouched by a quiet anxiety over artificial intelligence.

Why fighting Trump isn’t enough

Republicans finally learned their lesson. Democrats may be repeating it — or will these messy public fights help sort things out by 2028?

The Knife’s Edge Between Persuasion and Purity

And The Voters, Not Oligarchs, Will Call the Final Play

Why Anger Pays and Common Ground Gets Punished

Or Risk Political Wilderness

Sometimes You Fight to Show You Still Can

Restoration, Renewal, or Another Fighter?

From unity to fragmentation: the two turning points that broke our politics

How Appeasement Became the Default — and Why It’s Dangerous

Why Gerrymandering Is Just a Symptom — Not the Disease

Unity vs. Motivation: Which Party Has the Edge?

Chuck Todd weighs in on the ongoing Epstein files saga, the FCC's increasingly authoritarian moves to make broadcast networks toe the line of the administration, and chats with John Della Volpe, Director of Polling at the Harvard Kennedy School's Institut

Chuck Todd reacts to the latest developments in the ongoing Donald Trump/Epstein files saga, then sits down with Semafor's editor-in-chief Ben Smith to discuss media, New York politics and the potential for Israel to create a divide in the Democratic part