10 Minute Drill

An aide to NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani was caught scheduling a meeting with the Iranian ambassador to the United States — a major red flag that's not getting the attention it deserves. Plus, a tribute to Lindsey Graham's most heroic political moments and his surprising life story, why Ro Khanna says he's "seriously" considering a presidential run after a strange trip to Israel. And why the Israeli embassy is asking questions after being left out of coordination that Palestinian activists were reportedly part of.

Also in this episode: a Texas hospital under fire for advertising discounted birth packages across the border in Mexico — a tax-exempt facility seemingly promoting birth tourism on the taxpayer's dime. And a new campaign fighting what critics are calling the "Jamie Dimon Tax," as rumors swirl that a new open banking rule could drop this week.

All the news that matters, in 10 minutes or less.

In this episode:



Lindsey Graham tribute: fighting for Brett Kavanaugh and his lesser-known life story



Ro Khanna on 2024 speculation



Israeli embassy questions coordination gap



Zohran Mamdani aide's Iran ambassador meeting



Foreign influence in the data center policy debate



Texas hospital's birth tourism advertising controversy



The "Jamie Dimon Tax" and the open banking rule fight

🕰️ Time Stamps

0:00 - Intro

0:33 - Tribute to Lindsey Graham

1:20 - Lindsey’s Finest moment - defending Brett Kavanaugh

3:08 - Getting to know Lindsey Graham

4:07 - Lindsey Graham and Donald Trump

5:23 - The great untold story of Lindsey Graham’s upbringing

7:13 - Ro Khanna’s performative Israel Adventures

9:59 - Zohran aide does light treason

10:13 - Texas hospital promotes birth tourism with tax dollars

11:05 - Parents group calls to stop “Jamie Dimon Tax”

Graham Platner's Senate campaign is over — but he refused to go quietly. According to Politico, Platner's own top aides urged him to strike a conciliatory, gratitude-focused tone in his withdrawal announcement. He said no.

Sources say Platner made it a condition of dropping out that he'd get to blast the Democratic establishment on his way out, training more fire on his own party than on Senator Susan Collins or Republicans. Now Maine Democrats are scrambling to pick a replacement, with insiders reportedly eyeing a roughly 600-person nominating convention — 500 delegates chosen proportionally by county committees, and the rest from the state committee.

0:00 - Intro

0:30 - The End of Platner’s Senate Run

5:00 - This Week’s Top 5 Stories

On today’s episode of 10 Minute Drill, Matt Whitlock breaks down the latest developments in the Iran conflict, the Russia-Ukraine war, the 2026 Senate races, and the political controversies shaping the national conversation.

The conflict with Iran has reignited as a ceasefire collapses and new strikes escalate tensions across the Middle East. President Donald Trump responds to Iran’s actions and warns about the continued threat posed by the Iranian regime.

At the NATO Summit, President Trump highlights his improving relationship with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discusses efforts to save lives, and addresses the latest developments in the Russia-Ukraine war as Ukraine’s battlefield capabilities continue to evolve.

Back in the United States, turmoil is growing within the Maine Democratic Party as Graham Platner’s Senate campaign clashes with party leaders over the process for selecting a nominee. Meanwhile, Michigan gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed faces renewed scrutiny over past “defund the police” comments, deleted social media posts, and his positions in the Democratic primary.

A new report from the State Financial Officers Foundation and Open the Books also reveals $225 million in alleged school fraud across 24 states and Puerto Rico, including claims involving fake tutoring programs, embezzlement, and bid rigging.

Plus, Texas Senate candidate James Talarico faces renewed attention over resurfaced comments about drag performances, transgender policy debates, and his political views ahead of the 2026 Senate race.

Subscribe to 10 Minute Drill for a fast, entertaining breakdown of the biggest stories in politics, elections, national security, and current events. Hosted by veteran political strategist Matt Whitlock. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

0:00 - Intro

0:36 - Trump Talks on Iran Bombings

2:39 - Ukraine War Takes a Turn

4:30 - Platner Extis the Race

8:56 - Adbul’s Latest Stumble

12:34 - SFOF Education Waste Report

14:04 - James Talacreapo

President Trump scores a major win at NATO, warning European allies on defense spending, immigration, and energy policy during his visit to Ankara, Turkey. Meanwhile, Graham Platner's Democratic Senate campaign in Maine is collapsing under scandal, and we expose the three phases of Democrat failure that got him here — from vetting breakdowns and a fawning New York Times and GQ launch, to the media's shifting excuses, to the sudden mass abandonment as internal polling shows he can't win. Plus: CNN's interview with Jenny Racicot, Zohran Mamdani calling for Platner to drop out, and what happens next as Democrats plot a replacement.

Also in this episode: President Trump pushes for crypto legislation on Capitol Hill, framing digital currency policy as a national security issue against China, and renewing calls to pass the Clarity Act. And in Colorado, House candidate Manny Rutinel is under fire for backing a bill that lets courts weigh "misgendering" as a factor in child custody cases — a vote critics call disqualifying — while his history of calling animal agriculture "horrific" puts him at odds with the farmers and ranchers of Weld County. But there's another side to Rutinel: a resurfaced 2022 clip of him dreaming about falling in love at Trader Joe's over vegan chorizo.

Subscribe to the 10 Minute Drill for daily political news and analysis.

0:00 - Intro

0:38 - Trump at NATO Summit

1:42 - The Graham Platner Fallout Continues

2:48 - Platner Phases of Failure

9:27 - What Comes Next for Maine Dems

12:16 - Trumps Take on Crypto

13:20 - Colorado DSA Agent Loves Vegan Chorizo

Politico is reporting exclusively that a woman who dated Graham Platner says he sexually assaulted her. She came forward after the New York Times buried her story in an attempt to discredit Lyndsey Fifield. Platner's campaign says he is contemplating the best path forward. This race just changed completely.

Fresh off major upsets in New York and Colorado, the Democratic Socialists of America are now targeting competitive statewide races in Wisconsin and Michigan. The wins are being driven almost exclusively by wealthy white college-educated women. Democrats are splitting into three camps — Josh Shapiro trying to push back, Hakeem Jeffries pretending it isn't existential, and Gavin Newsom calling it a big tent. The leopards are eating faces and everyone is surprised.

Abdul El-Sayed doesn't just have a problem with Israel. Former aides describe a hostile work environment, a previous employer says he only wanted to work with women under 40, and throughout this campaign he has called his female opponents dumb. He did a Blues Clues video. He dunked on Mallory McMorrow for dancing. He got caught not knowing how teachers union lobbying works. The Michigan Senate race is something else.

The Washington Post says Democrats are electing socialists while Republicans are calling them communists. Here's why that distinction matters less than the Post wants you to think. The latest crop — Zohran, Darializa, Claire Valdez, Melat Kiros — have openly called for seizing the means of production, eliminating private property ownership, and wealth redistribution. Socialism is the transitional gateway to communism.

Sunny Hostin — who asked "what is wrong with America" when Kamala lost, who called white Republican women "roaches voting for Raid," and who blamed earthquakes on climate change — is now afraid of American flags. We have the clips.

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0:00 - Intro

0:34 - Latest Platner Alligations

4:02 - Will Platner Drop Out?

5:26 - The Summer of the DSA

8:41 - Cringy Abdul El Sayed

11:16 - Socialism’s Gateway to Communism

13:14 - Sunny's Biggest Fear