10 Minute Drill

Iran’s strategy to influence the 2026 midterm elections, tightening Senate races in Texas and Iowa, and growing questions about Kamala Harris’s 2028 presidential ambitions lead today’s episode of the 10 Minute Drill with Matt Whitlock.

We break down reports that Iran is escalating attacks on commercial shipping to keep oil prices high ahead of Election Day, the latest campaign trail developments with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, and the key takeaways from the Maine and Iowa Senate debates.

Plus, 22 state financial officers are challenging major credit rating agencies over ESG policies that allegedly favor Chinese companies over American businesses. And after a year of missed opportunities, has Kamala Harris wasted her chance to rebuild her political standing before a potential 2028 presidential run?

Today’s topics:

Iran’s alleged effort to influence the U.S. midterm elections through attacks on commercial shipping and higher oil prices.

The 2026 Senate elections, including the tightening Texas race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton.

Maine Senate debate highlights as Susan Collins challenges Troy Jackson on electricity costs and government policy.

Iowa’s Senate race, including Ashley Hinson’s debate with Josh Turek and questions about his voting record.

State treasurers challenge Moody’s, Fitch, and S&P over ESG ratings and the treatment of American and Chinese companies.

Kamala Harris’s political future, her potential 2028 presidential campaign, and criticism from Democratic allies who say she failed to make her case to voters.

Listen to the 10 Minute Drill with Matt Whitlock for sharp political commentary, Republican campaign strategy, election analysis, and the biggest stories shaping American politics ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Democrats are riding high on “hopium” ahead of the midterms, but could their confidence backfire? On this episode of the 10 Minute Drill, we break down the latest Senate race developments, why some Black Democrats are abandoning Abdul El-Sayed, and the growing controversies surrounding independent candidate Dan Osborn.

Plus, we examine how Britain’s expanding welfare state is threatening its financial future, discuss Katie Zacharia’s first White House press briefing and Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation, and respond to your fan mail.

Tune in for the latest political news, election analysis, and the stories shaping the national conversation.

0:00 - Intro

0:58 - Trump’s New Press Secretary

2:34 - Democrats Get Hoped Up on Hopium

5:39 - The Welfare State Warning from the UK

7:40 - Black Democrats Abandon Abdul

10:09 - Dan Osborn’s Leaked Audio

13:04 - Fan Mail!

The Michigan Senate race turns nasty as Abdul El-Sayed trades insults with Sen. John Kennedy and faces new Muslim Brotherhood questions from Mike Rogers’ campaign. Plus: why government-run healthcare fails patients, Hollywood’s push for film tax credits, the CLARITY Act and open banking, and Hasan Piker gets torched by a comedian.

In this episode:

Abdul El-Sayed and the Muslim Brotherhood: El-Sayed told Meet the Press that no one in his family has Muslim Brotherhood ties. The Mike Rogers campaign responded with posts it says came from his sister. We break down El-Sayed’s answer, and why his campaign didn’t deny the posts.

Kennedy vs. El-Sayed: Sen. Kennedy’s “Bin Laden jersey” jab, and El-Sayed’s KKK “bed sheet” comeback.

Big government healthcare failure: El-Sayed’s Medicare for All plan promises free care with no premiums, copays or networks. We look at what single-payer actually delivers abroad: higher taxes, rationing, and specialist waits in Canada, France and the U.K. far longer than in the U.S.

Film tax credits in the lame duck: Hollywood jobs are moving overseas, and Congress, with Trump’s blessing, is scrambling to stop the production exodus. Is a federal film tax credit the fix?

The CLARITY Act and open banking: What the crypto market structure fight means for open banking and your financial data.

Hasan Piker cooked: A comedian calls out the Twitch streamer as a communist nepo baby.

⏱️ Timestamps

00:00 Intro

00:41 Abdul El-Sayed lies about the Muslim brotherhood

04:05 Abdul El-Sayed’s ties to terrorism

08:30 Big Gov Healthcare Failure / Medicare for All

10:05 Big Govt. Healthcare Failure called out

12:11 Film Tax Credits & Hollywood Production Exodus

14:40 Hasan Piker dragged by comedian in awkward interview

10 Minute Drill delivers the politics and policy news that matters, fast. Follow the show and leave a rating and review on Apple Podcasts.

On this Monday Rundown of 10 Minute Drill, we break down Trump’s push on Russia, Ukraine and diesel prices, and the high-stakes Senate races heading into the final weeks before the 2026 midterms.

First, the White House says Russia will supply diesel to the U.S., prompting immediate pushback. Critics point out that America sanctioned India for buying Russian oil and gas and has threatened massive tariffs on anyone who does business with Moscow. Then Trump declared an “energy ceasefire” between Russia and Ukraine, asking Kyiv to stop striking Russian refineries as diesel costs climb. Zelensky says he’ll agree if Russia stops bombing Ukraine’s power grid. Moscow hasn’t confirmed the deal, and just two hours after the announcement, Russia reportedly launched a cruise missile attack on Kharkiv’s CHP-5 thermal power plant.

Next: can a debate actually change a Senate race? We look at Michigan and Maine, including corruption questions surrounding Troy Jackson and the contrasts in effectiveness between the candidates.

Then a healthcare deep dive on Abdul El-Sayed. We cover the Wall Street Journal’s take on El-Sayed, Troy Jackson and Medicare for All, and the message critics hear from Democrats: if you like your health plan, you can’t keep it. Most important, a resurfaced interview shows El-Sayed questioning how much money is spent on end-of-life care, saying healthcare resources are limited. We discuss why those comments matter, including in light of a troubling euthanasia case reported abroad.

Finally, where is James Talarico? We look at why the Texas Democrat has gone quiet and break down a new ad on parental rights.

Topics in this episode:

Trump, Russia and diesel imports

Russia-Ukraine energy ceasefire and the Kharkiv power plant strike

Michigan and Maine Senate debates

Troy Jackson corruption questions

Abdul El-Sayed on Medicare for All and end-of-life care

James Talarico and the parental rights ad

Timestamps:

0:00 - Intro

0:39 - Russia, Ukraine, and an energy ceasefire

3:49 - Debates in Michigan and Maine shake up senate elections

5:28 - Abdul’s very dangerous healthcare plan

7:33 - Talarico goes missing

8:52 - Busy week ahead!

Subscribe to 10 Minute Drill for a fast, no-nonsense rundown of politics, policy and the 2026 Senate map every week.

On today’s 10 Minute Drill, we break down the latest political headlines with just 27 days until the midterm elections, including Kamala Harris’ struggling 2028 prospects, and the Supreme Court’s Suncor v. Boulder case that could have major implications for climate lawfare.

We’re also joined by Utah Attorney General Derek Brown to discuss the latest political and legal issues facing Utah and the country.

We examine Kamala Harris’ return to the political spotlight—from her “destiny” comments and campaign-trail appearances to her limited engagement with the media and questions surrounding her potential 2028 presidential campaign.

Plus, we break down Suncor v. Boulder and the potential consequences of allowing state and local governments to use tort law to hold energy companies accountable for climate-related damages. Could this case open the door for cities and states to pursue climate lawsuits against companies over weather events?

Topics include:

-Utah Attorney General Derek Brown interview

-Kamala Harris 2028 presidential campaign

-Gavin Newsom’s national political ambitions

-California politics and reparations

-Suncor v. Boulder and climate lawfare

-Supreme Court climate lawsuit

-2026 midterm elections

0:00 - Intro

0:46 - Trump’s Midterm Tour Continues

1:33 - Adbul El-Sayed Fumbles Through Fox Interview

4:38 - Kamala Harris Flounders Again

7:11 - Suncor v. Boulder Breakdown

8:53 - Utah AG Brown Joins the Show