Four years can change the direction of a country. Steve Yates compares where the United States stood heading into the 2022 midterms versus the landscape facing voters in 2026, focusing on four issues that shape America's future: border security, energy, technology, and the Western Hemisphere. Rather than telling listeners how to vote, he offers a framework for evaluating candidates and asking better questions about national priorities, security, economic strength, and America's strategic position.

Listen, compare the trends, and decide which questions matter most before casting your vote. 

Follow Nation States with Yates for clear, common-sense insights where Steve Yates serves as your personal national security advisor, breaking down world events in ways that matter to Main Street, not just Washington. Connect with the show at Feedback@NationStatesYates.com and follow on X @NSWithYates.

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Lisa Boothe is joined by Will Hild, executive director of Consumers’ Research, for a deep dive into the growing backlash against data centers and the massive infrastructure buildout powering America’s digital economy and artificial intelligence boom.

Hild argues that Big Tech helped create its own political problem by failing to explain how essential data centers are to everyday life—and by ignoring legitimate concerns from the communities where these facilities are being built. He breaks down questions surrounding electricity prices, water consumption, noise, development and the impact on local communities, while explaining why he believes many fears surrounding modern data centers are overstated.

Lisa and Will also examine allegations of Chinese influence operations targeting the American debate over AI and energy policy, as well as Hild’s argument that elements of the ESG movement have shifted their focus toward opposing data-center development. They discuss how distrust of Big Tech following years of censorship, deplatforming and corporate political activism has helped fuel resistance to the industry’s latest expansion.

Plus, Hild explains the potential upside for communities that welcome data centers, including a larger tax base, infrastructure investment and potentially lower property taxes. He makes the case that America can expand the digital infrastructure needed to compete in the AI era—but that companies must once again recognize that the consumer comes first.

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Clay and Buck analyze El-Sayed’s contentious Fox News interview with Martha MacCallum, including his opposition to the war in Iran, his defense of the Obama-era Iran nuclear agreement, his criticism of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, and MacCallum’s questioning about his fundraising connections to the Soros family. While strongly disagreeing with El-Sayed politically, Clay and Buck argue that Republicans would be making a mistake to underestimate him, describing him as a disciplined and effective communicator who repeatedly pivots back to voters’ concerns about gas prices, grocery bills, prescription drugs, health care and the overall cost of living. They contend that his lack of a lengthy political voting record gives him an advantage, compare elements of his political style to AOC, Zohran Mamdani and Barack Obama, and speculate that a Michigan Senate victory could position El-Sayed as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2028.

Clay and Buck talk about the politics of inflation and affordability, with Clay arguing that angry voters can sometimes react to difficult economic circumstances without considering whether the alternative policies would actually improve their situation. Clay and Buck criticize the Biden administration’s spending agenda and discuss Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Modern Monetary Theory, federal spending, minimum-wage policy and the inflationary consequences they believe would have resulted from even greater government expenditures. The conversation then shifts to one of Trump’s proposals for addressing fuel costs: an executive action concerning tax-free red-dyed diesel fuel. Buck emphasizes the importance of diesel to trucking and the transportation of goods throughout the United States, while Clay connects rising diesel and energy costs to geopolitical turmoil. They discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, drone attacks on energy infrastructure and refineries, a reported tanker fire in Sochi, disruptions to Russian and Ukrainian oil and gas capacity, and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that international conflicts are increasingly affecting American energy prices and the broader global economy. They also reflect on how American public attention has shifted from Ukraine toward the war in Gaza as overseas conflicts continue.

Clay and Buck talk about the WNBA, Sophie Cunningham, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and fan behavior at professional sporting events. Clay and Buck react to Cunningham’s argument that professional athletes who want larger audiences must accept that opposing fans will sometimes heckle, criticize or yell at them. They contrast that position with Wilson confronting an opposing fan after he pointed at her following a foul call, and compare the episode with the far more serious Ron Artest “Malice at the Palace” incident. The hosts praise Cunningham’s approach to dealing with sports fans and take issue with criticism suggesting that she should no longer play for the Indiana Fever. They argue that some of the backlash against Cunningham also stems from her views on biological men competing in women’s sports, presenting the controversy as part of a larger debate over free speech, transgender athletes, women’s sports and which political opinions are considered acceptable in professional athletics. Buck also compares the reaction surrounding Cunningham with the treatment of Colin Kaepernick, while the conversation expands into the role that celebrity, appearance, marketability and entertainment value play in athlete endorsements and popularity, with references to Anna Kournikova, Jude Bellingham, David Beckham and Tom Brady.

Florida Senator Rick Scott joins Clay and Buck in Hour 3 for an extended conversation about the 2026 midterm elections and control of Congress. With Election Day 28 days away, Scott argues that Florida’s dramatic shift in voter registration toward Republicans strengthens the prospects of GOP candidates, expressing confidence in Byron Donalds and Ashley Moody while discussing opportunities for Republicans under Florida’s new congressional map. Scott then provides his outlook on the nationwide Senate map, identifying New Hampshire and Michigan as possible Republican pickup opportunities while discussing competitive races involving Alaska, Ohio, Maine and North Carolina. He says Republicans must focus their closing argument on inflation, the cost of living, balancing the federal budget, reducing regulation and creating better-paying jobs. The conversation also covers Republican prospects in Texas, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, with Scott predicting the GOP can retain its Senate majority and potentially increase it if key races break its way.

Make sure you never miss a second of the show by subscribing to the Clay Travis & Buck Sexton show podcast wherever you get your podcasts! 

In Hour 1 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Clay Travis and Buck Sexton kick off the Tuesday program exactly four weeks before the 2026 midterm elections, examining the final campaign sprint, the battle for control of the U.S. Senate, voter frustration over inflation and affordability, and the political messaging that could determine key races. They briefly note reports of riots in Paris before turning to the increasingly expensive midterm campaign and the flood of political advertising across the country. A major focus is the closely watched Michigan Senate race between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

Clay and Buck analyze El-Sayed’s contentious Fox News interview with Martha MacCallum, including his opposition to the war in Iran, his defense of the Obama-era Iran nuclear agreement, his criticism of President Donald Trump’s foreign policy, and MacCallum’s questioning about his fundraising connections to the Soros family. While strongly disagreeing with El-Sayed politically, Clay and Buck argue that Republicans would be making a mistake to underestimate him, describing him as a disciplined and effective communicator who repeatedly pivots back to voters’ concerns about gas prices, grocery bills, prescription drugs, health care and the overall cost of living. They contend that his lack of a lengthy political voting record gives him an advantage, compare elements of his political style to AOC, Zohran Mamdani and Barack Obama, and speculate that a Michigan Senate victory could position El-Sayed as a possible Democratic presidential contender in 2028.

Clay and Buck also examine how TikTok, YouTube and short-form social media are transforming political communication, particularly among younger voters who consume far less traditional cable television. Clay describes watching how his teenage son uses TikTok, while Buck argues that repeated exposure to short, highly engaging political videos can shape attitudes on subjects ranging from Israel and Gaza to immigration and the economy. That leads into a broader discussion of Republican midterm strategy. Both hosts argue that persuadable voters are currently more focused on inflation, gas prices, grocery costs, housing affordability and household finances than on Iran or other foreign-policy accomplishments. They revisit El-Sayed’s association with streamer Hasan Piker and analyze El-Sayed’s decision to sidestep questions about Piker by immediately returning to economic issues. With battleground Senate contests intensifying, including the Michigan race and the Maine contest involving Susan Collins and Troy Jackson, Clay and Buck argue that Republicans need a message directly addressing frustrated voters rather than assuming foreign-policy arguments will carry the election.

Hour 1 then turns to callers who reinforce the hosts’ concern that affordability is dominating voter sentiment. A Minnesota caller says people in his community care far more about diesel prices, gasoline, the border and election issues than Iran. Clay argues that President Trump inherited the consequences of the severe inflation of the Biden years and that even substantially slowing inflation cannot quickly restore the purchasing power Americans remember from 2020. Buck agrees that this presents Republicans with a difficult political problem because Trump campaigned on bringing prices down, leaving some voters disappointed that groceries and other everyday expenses remain elevated. Clay compares the current political environment to the early Reagan presidency, noting the Republican setback in the 1982 midterms before Ronald Reagan’s overwhelming 1984 reelection victory, and suggests Trump-era economic policies could similarly become more politically beneficial by 2027 and the 2028 presidential election, potentially helping Vice President JD Vance or another Republican nominee. The hosts repeatedly distinguish between reducing the inflation rate and actually returning prices to their pre-inflation levels, debating how Republicans can communicate that economic reality to voters who remain angry about what they pay at the supermarket, gas station and restaurants.

Another major topic in Hour 1 of Clay and Buck is why control of the Senate matters for the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary. Clay discusses Justice Samuel Alito, his comments about having considered retirement, and the possibility of a Supreme Court vacancy during the remainder of Trump’s term. He argues that if Democrats capture the Senate, a Republican administration could face enormous difficulty confirming a Supreme Court nominee or filling lower federal court vacancies. The conversation also touches on Alito’s apparent belief about who leaked the draft of the Dobbs decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. Clay views judicial confirmations as one of the strongest arguments for Republicans maintaining their Senate maj

In Hour 2 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Clay and Buck focus heavily on the 2026 midterm elections, President Donald Trump’s campaign push for Republican candidates, the economy, inflation, energy prices, the battle for control of the U.S. Senate, and the long-term importance of the Supreme Court. With Election Day approaching, they discuss Trump’s campaign appearance in Grand Island, Nebraska, and his effort to turn out Republican voters in states he previously carried. After some lighthearted conversation about Nebraska, New York, “flyover country,” and the hosts’ travels around America, they analyze Trump’s midterm message centered on lower taxes, economic growth, border security, illegal immigration, crime, farmers and ranchers, and putting more money in Americans’ pockets. Clay and Buck argue that the political challenge for Republicans is acknowledging voters’ continued frustration with the cost of living and high prices without suggesting that the country is moving in the wrong direction under a Republican administration. They frame the GOP’s central economic argument as asking voters whether they would be better off under Democratic policies and compare the current environment with what they believe the country would have experienced under a Kamala Harris presidency.

Hour 2 expands on the politics of inflation and affordability, with Clay arguing that angry voters can sometimes react to difficult economic circumstances without considering whether the alternative policies would actually improve their situation. Clay and Buck criticize the Biden administration’s spending agenda and discuss Joe Manchin, Kyrsten Sinema, Modern Monetary Theory, federal spending, minimum-wage policy and the inflationary consequences they believe would have resulted from even greater government expenditures. The conversation then shifts to one of Trump’s proposals for addressing fuel costs: an executive action concerning tax-free red-dyed diesel fuel. Buck emphasizes the importance of diesel to trucking and the transportation of goods throughout the United States, while Clay connects rising diesel and energy costs to geopolitical turmoil. They discuss the Russia-Ukraine war, drone attacks on energy infrastructure and refineries, a reported tanker fire in Sochi, disruptions to Russian and Ukrainian oil and gas capacity, and tensions surrounding the Strait of Hormuz, arguing that international conflicts are increasingly affecting American energy prices and the broader global economy. They also reflect on how American public attention has shifted from Ukraine toward the war in Gaza as overseas conflicts continue.

Clay and Buck also turn briefly to riots in France, discussing a report that hundreds of French police officers had been injured during unrest connected to local schools. Their conversation becomes humorous as Clay openly acknowledges his skepticism about the severity of the reported injuries, prompting jokes about French police, the French Foreign Legion, learning French in school, Clay’s old French-class name “Gerard Bonaparte,” French pronunciation, actor Gérard Depardieu and Napoleon Bonaparte. Later, the hosts return to President Trump’s campaign appearances, playing remarks in which Trump discusses supporters calling him the “GOAT,” or greatest of all time, and compares his presidential record with those of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.

A serious portion of Hour 2 of Clay and Buck centers on the Pentagon announcement that President Trump approved the military death sentence for Nidal Malik Hasan, the former Army major convicted in the 2009 Fort Hood attack that killed 13 people and wounded dozens more. Buck and Clay discuss the unusual presidential role required before a military death sentence can be carried out and express support for the decision. That leads to a broader discussion of Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, Guantanamo Bay and the unresolved prosecutions involving alleged 9/11 plotters, including years of legal battles over interrogations, admissibility of statements, plea agreements and the death penalty. They also review the rarity and history of U.S. military executions, noting the previous military execution in 1961 and discussing Private Eddie Slovik, who was executed by firing squad for desertion during World War II.

The hosts then return to what they see as one of the most consequential issues in the 2026 midterm elections: control of the U.S. Senate and the future of the Supreme Court. Clay plays comments from Justice Samuel Alito explaining that he considers retirement regularly but believes he can still make a valuable contribution to the Court. Clay argues that Supreme Court appointments can shape American law for decades and praises Trump’s judicial appointments overall, despite Trump sometimes disagreeing with decisions made by his own

In Hour 3 of the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show, Clay and Buck begin with optimism about the U.S. economy and stock market, highlighting the S&P 500 reaching a new all-time high and contrasting the market’s performance with the sharp decline and recession fears of April 2025. Clay recalls urging listeners at the time not to panic and argues that investors who held their positions or bought during the downturn have benefited enormously from the subsequent rally. The hosts discuss what record stock prices could signal about future economic growth, 401(k) retirement accounts, investing, consumer confidence and the Trump economy, while acknowledging that strong financial-market performance has not necessarily translated yet into every American feeling better about personal finances or the cost of living. Clay predicts that improving economic conditions will become more apparent to Americans in the coming year.

Hour 3 then shifts to the changing American media and entertainment landscape, as Clay discusses the Paramount and Warner Bros. combination and what he sees as a broader movement toward a more politically balanced Hollywood. He assesses changes involving Skydance, CNN and CBS News, and argues that media ownership can significantly affect editorial culture. That leads Clay and Buck to revisit Elon Musk’s acquisition of Twitter, now X, which they credit with disrupting the previous social-media ecosystem and changing how political stories and cultural controversies gain traction. They connect that transformation to changing attitudes in Hollywood and to their own growing interactions with actors, producers and other entertainment-industry figures who listen to conservative media but may be reluctant to discuss their politics publicly.

A major cultural discussion in Hour 3 of the program centers on the WNBA, Sophie Cunningham, A’ja Wilson, Caitlin Clark and fan behavior at professional sporting events. Clay and Buck react to Cunningham’s argument that professional athletes who want larger audiences must accept that opposing fans will sometimes heckle, criticize or yell at them. They contrast that position with Wilson confronting an opposing fan after he pointed at her following a foul call, and compare the episode with the far more serious Ron Artest “Malice at the Palace” incident. The hosts praise Cunningham’s approach to dealing with sports fans and take issue with criticism suggesting that she should no longer play for the Indiana Fever. They argue that some of the backlash against Cunningham also stems from her views on biological men competing in women’s sports, presenting the controversy as part of a larger debate over free speech, transgender athletes, women’s sports and which political opinions are considered acceptable in professional athletics. Buck also compares the reaction surrounding Cunningham with the treatment of Colin Kaepernick, while the conversation expands into the role that celebrity, appearance, marketability and entertainment value play in athlete endorsements and popularity, with references to Anna Kournikova, Jude Bellingham, David Beckham and Tom Brady.

Florida Senator Rick Scott joins Clay and Buck in Hour 3 for an extended conversation about the 2026 midterm elections and control of Congress. With Election Day 28 days away, Scott argues that Florida’s dramatic shift in voter registration toward Republicans strengthens the prospects of GOP candidates, expressing confidence in Byron Donalds and Ashley Moody while discussing opportunities for Republicans under Florida’s new congressional map. Scott then provides his outlook on the nationwide Senate map, identifying New Hampshire and Michigan as possible Republican pickup opportunities while discussing competitive races involving Alaska, Ohio, Maine and North Carolina. He says Republicans must focus their closing argument on inflation, the cost of living, balancing the federal budget, reducing regulation and creating better-paying jobs. The conversation also covers Republican prospects in Texas, Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, with Scott predicting the GOP can retain its Senate majority and potentially increase it if key races break its way.

The interview with Scott also dives deeply into the changing world of college sports and college football conference realignment. Scott explains his opposition to the current version of the Protect College Sports Act, despite agreeing that Congress should address problems involving athlete eligibility, transfer rules and athlete compensation. He criticizes provisions that he says would authorize roughly $200 million in spending, regulate when schools can hire coaches and potentially force universities to spend time as independents before switching athletic conferences. That produces a detailed discussion of the futures of Florida State, Miami, Clemson and North Carolina, especially whether scho

Clay Travis breaks down a wild college football weekend, calls out the AP poll and SEC scheduling, and reacts to the biggest NFL storylines. Plus, Sophie Cunningham sounds off on WNBA fans, Chris Rock takes aim at woke culture, and more.

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Are Republicans getting too comfortable ahead of the 2026 midterm elections?

On this episode of Normally, Mary Katharine Ham and Karol Markowicz warn against counting Democrats out as election season heats up. From Maine and Minnesota to Seattle and Los Angeles, they examine the political consequences of progressive policies on taxes, housing, crime, policing, immigration, and education. 

Mary Katharine and Karol discuss Los Angeles' controversial "mansion tax," repeat violent offenders and crime in American cities, and a surprising shift in Seattle as its socialist mayor proposes adding police while avoiding new taxes. 

They also turn to Minnesota politics, Amy Klobuchar, Michelle Tafoya and the battle for voters heading into the midterms, before taking on the immigration debate and media coverage of children facing deportation proceedings under the Trump administration.

Plus, the hosts discuss reports of a possible pneumonic plague outbreak in Russia and signs that parts of the medical establishment may be moving back toward a more traditional approach to medicine after the COVID era. 

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Steve Yates breaks down the major national security and geopolitical stories shaping the week, including new details surrounding the FlyDubai hijacker and troubling questions about radicalization, vetting, and international intelligence sharing.

Steve also examines the departure of U.S. B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford amid security concerns in the United Kingdom and a separate Iran-related spy scandal raising questions about the state of the U.S.-UK alliance.

Plus, Brazil heads toward an October runoff following a major election result as Steve examines the broader political shift taking place across Latin America. And in the United States, an alleged Chinese spy is arrested at LAX amid accusations involving surveillance of the Taiwanese president’s son and communications with Chinese Communist Party handlers.

Steve also previews two upcoming Nation States deep dives: a midterm election checklist one month out and an examination of Pete Hegseth’s State of the Force address and what it could mean for Main Street America.

EMAIL STEVE

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