10 Minute Drill

President Donald Trump takes center stage at the United Nations, addressing Iran, global carbon taxes, U.S. funding for the UN, and America’s role on the world stage.

On today’s 10 Minute Drill, we break down Trump’s UN speech and the latest political battles heading into the 2026 midterms.

The controversy surrounding Minnesota Democratic Senate candidate Peggy Flanagan also takes center stage after her longtime friend, Nimco Ahmed, appeared beside her in a viral video. Ahmed operates an autism center that Minnesota’s Department of Human Services says is under investigation, while the center has denied allegations of wrongdoing and appealed its termination from the state’s Medicaid program.

In Michigan, Mike Rogers takes aim at Abdul El-Sayed as the Senate race heats up. We also look at California’s 2035 gas-powered vehicle ban, the growing political backlash to the policy, and Climate Week NYC’s unusual Climate Comedy Workshop, where young participants were invited to create climate-themed stand-up comedy as a way to communicate about climate change.

We also examine Michael Mann, climate activism, and the broader effort to shape public opinion through climate messaging, entertainment, and culture.

Finally, we break down a new poll of Democratic voters examining hypothetical scenarios for President Trump leaving office, including a military coup and assassination. The survey found that sizable portions of respondents reacted positively to those scenarios, raising questions about attitudes toward political violence and the removal of political opponents.

In this episode:

Trump’s UN speech and Iran

Trump on global carbon taxes

U.S. funding for the United Nations

Mike Rogers and the Michigan Senate race

Abdul El-Sayed and Michigan politics

Peggy Flanagan and Nimco Ahmed

Minnesota autism-center and Medicaid investigations

California’s gas-car ban

Gavin Newsom and California climate policy

Climate Week NYC

The Climate Comedy Workshop

Michael Mann and climate activism

A new poll of Democratic voters and scenarios involving Trump leaving office

Democratic voter attitudes toward political violence

Subscribe to 10 Minute Drill for political news, analysis, and commentary on the biggest stories shaping Washington and the 2026 midterm elections.

0:00 - Intro

0:33 - Trump Addresses the UN

2:37 - The Michigan War of Words Rages On

6:42 - Flanagan’s Fraudulant Friend

9:01 - California’s Gas Car Ban Goes South

10:22 - Michael Mann: The Grifter of the Year

12:48 - Shocking Polling from Dems

President Trump heads to the United Nations as Chinese President Xi Jinping prepares for a high-profile state visit to Washington.

On today’s 10 Minute Drill, we break down Trump’s busy foreign policy week, his U.N. address, and what to watch for when he meets with Xi at the White House. Trade and the broader U.S.-China relationship will be front and center as the two leaders meet for talks, a state arrival ceremony and a state dinner.

Plus, today’s Climate Grifter: Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse. We dig into the Rhode Island Democrat’s climate advocacy and questions surrounding environmental organizations connected to his wife, Sandra Whitehouse, including concerns raised by ethics watchdogs over potential conflicts of interest.

We also cover the latest developments in the Paramount deal, including commitments involving CBS and CNN; Kamala Harris’ future and whether she will make another run for president in 2028; Harris campaigning alongside Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed; Cory Booker’s comments about El-Sayed; and Gavin Newsom’s latest reflections on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

From Trump and Xi to the 2028 Democratic field, climate politics and the media, we break down the biggest political stories of the day.

0:00 - Intro

0:38 - Trump Visits the United Nations

1:56 - Previewing the China-USA Summit

2:59 - Paramount Settles Lawsuit

4:57 - Climate Grifter of the Day: Sheldon Whitehouse

6:10 - Kamala’s 2028 Decision Spoiled

7:45 - Gavin’s Regrets from COVID

President Trump announces a White House ban on CNN, MS NOW, and Politico, but Obama once removed Fox News, too. On the September 21, 2026 episode of The 10 Minute Drill, we compare how the two presidents have handled adversarial media, and why some reporters say the Obama years were worse than most people remember.

Also in this episode:

- The Senate fight over the Ratepayer Protection Act: Democrats block Sen. Jon Husted's data center bill before the midterms, and what it means for his Ohio Senate race against Sherrod Brown

- Democrats pivot to "fight the Paramount merger to save democracy," with Norm Eisen, Elizabeth Warren, and Jim Acosta leading the charge

- Climate Week, and our Climate Alarmist of the Day

The 10 Minute Drill is a fast, no-filler rundown of the day's biggest political and media stories in about ten minutes.

0:00 - Intro

0:47 - President Trump’s battle with media

4:04 - Dems oppose data center fixes

7:19 - Leftwing dark money rages over Paramount

8:55 - Meet norm Eisen

11:02 - Climate grifters of the year

12:00 - Nikole-Hannah Jones’ sad lesson

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It’s been another crazy week around the nation! Catch up on the top stories you might’ve missed from the past week.

Five stories you may have missed this past week:

• Democrats are preparing for a potential wave of investigations, lawsuits, and impeachment efforts if they retake the House.

• Joe Manchin endorses Susan Collins in the Maine Senate Race.

• The latest controversy surrounding Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed and Hasan Piker, including El-Sayed’s attempts to distance himself from the progressive streamer and the growing scrutiny surrounding their relationship.

• A closer look at James Talarico’s campaign in Texas. Talarico’s own reverend claims the Democrat is covering up his left-wing views and changing his tune to appeal to Texas voters ahead of the election

• In California, Paramount’s future is also in the spotlight as the company faces a legal battle over its proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger. With major companies already leaving California, reports that Paramount could relocate raise new questions about the state’s business climate and entertainment industry.

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

0:34 - Democrats prepare for lawsuits

2:07 - Manchin endorses Collins

3:00 - Abdul El-Sayed breakup with Hasan Piker

5:19 - Leaked footage from Talarico's minister

7:06 - Paramount looks to leave California

The Federal Reserve raises interest rates, James Talarico’s own reverend questions how he is presenting himself to Texas voters, a New York City hospital faces scrutiny over its “rural” designation, and Paramount could be preparing to leave California. Plus, are today’s AI doomers repeating the same predictions made by climate alarmists just a few years ago?

On today’s episode of 10 Minute Drill, we’re breaking down the biggest political, economic, and cultural stories shaping the country.

The Federal Reserve unanimously raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point to 3.75%–4%, citing elevated inflation. We look at what the Fed’s latest rate hike means for inflation, American consumers, businesses, and the broader economy.

Then, James Talarico’s campaign comes under the microscope. His own reverend has suggested that Talarico is changing how he presents his political views as he appeals to Texas voters. We examine Talarico’s past progressive positions, his current campaign messaging, and the debate over whether he is trying to distance himself from some of his earlier views.

We also look at Mount Sinai and its “rural” hospital designation, the federal benefits tied to that designation, and the questions being raised about whether federal healthcare funding is being directed to institutions that do not fit the traditional image of a rural hospital.

In California, Paramount’s future is also in the spotlight as the company faces a legal fight surrounding its proposed Warner Bros. Discovery merger. With major companies having relocated out of California in recent years, reports that Paramount could leave the state raise new questions about California’s business climate and the future of Hollywood.

Finally, we take a look at AI doomerism and the similarities between today’s warnings about artificial intelligence and some of the dire predictions about climate change that dominated the political conversation in previous years.

10 Minute Drill delivers a fast-paced look at the latest news from Washington, the economy, elections, business, technology, and American politics.

Time Stamps:

0:00 - Intro

0:35 - Fed raises interest rates

1:31 - Abdul loses a debate to himself

3:40 - Talarico is exposed

5:26- Fraudulent hospital in New York

7:24 - Paramount looks to leave California

11:34 - Climate doomers have become AI doomers