Joe and Alex answer Trump's insane question - and the answer is yes, we sure are. Joe takes a look at North Carolina again - and why another statewide MAGA candidate is putting the state even more in play for President Biden. What's the mystery state Joe thinks Trump should worry about? And why Ohio Republicans just gave Senate Democrats a huge gift. And what about places like Texas? Where can Democrats go on offense?
David Pepper: "Once you realize that we’re in a battle for democracy itself—and that the front lines of that battle are the very statehouse seats where politicians like Bryan Hughes are spending entire careers advancing extremism unchallenged—you realize that these numbers aren’t just bad. They amount to a crisis, inflicting enormous damage."
From Ruth Ben-Ghiat: "For the authoritarians of the GOP, who no longer see free and fair elections as valid ways of deciding America's leadership, that amounts to an "overthrow," to use Paxton's word. This is where the GOP is now."
Olivia Julianna is a 20-year-old abortion-rights advocate and the Dir. of Politics and Government Affairs at Gen-Z for Change. With the help of her substantial TikTok following, Olivia initiated the takedown of an anti-abortion website that encouraged Texans to inform on their neighbors and raised over $2.3 million after a Twitter battle with Congressman Matt Gaetz.
There's a leadership gap in the Lonestar state, but Rick's guest, Beto O'Rourke, says Democrats can and have become more prominent. In a state with 40 electoral votes, Democratic wins in Texas could drastically change the fate of our country.
