The Primaries Will Continue Until Morale Improves

Episode of Pod Save America · July 21, 2026 · 1 h 11 min

Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor discuss Trump at the World Cup final, the renewed Iran war, ICE killings, and Democratic primaries in Maine, Wisconsin and Michigan.

Summary

The hosts opened with Donald Trump's presence at the World Cup final, where Spain beat Argentina 1-0, mocking his insertion into the trophy ceremony, a so-called "Trump curse" on teams he backs, Bryson DeChambeau's threat to call Trump during a rules dispute at the Open Championship, and an FBI video celebrating tournament security that featured Kash Patel prominently.

They turned to the renewed war with Iran, contrasting administration claims that Iran was "obliterated" with nine days of Iranian attacks that killed at least three Americans. Vietor argued Trump likely wanted to avoid full-scale war because of gas prices before the midterms, and explained a Houthi announcement of an embargo on Saudi shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that he warned could cause an oil supply shock. Favreau said the war had achieved none of its stated objectives.

On immigration, the hosts discussed ICE shootings of two men in Texas and Maine, DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin's quickly reversed pause on vehicle stops, and reports on agent hiring standards. Vietor argued the policy had not changed, only the PR strategy; Lovett blamed Congress's funding for rapid hiring. Citing Equis Research polling, they argued Democrats should treat Latino voters as swing voters and highlight families harmed by enforcement.

The final segments covered Troy Jackson's emergence as the Democratic Senate nominee in Maine after Graham Platner's withdrawal, confusion in Wisconsin's governor primary after Sarah Rodriguez exited and Governor Tony Evers endorsed the re-entered David Crowley, and the Michigan Senate primary between Abdul El-Sayed and Haley Stevens, which the hosts said was defined by Israel and AIPAC spending. They closed with Hakeem Jeffries' reported warning to Bernie Sanders about House primaries and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez not ruling out a 2028 presidential run.

Chapters

1:25
Trump at the World Cup final
The hosts mock Trump inserting himself into Spain's World Cup trophy celebration and the so-called Trump curse on teams he supports.
6:33
DeChambeau's Open Championship meltdown
Vietor recounts Bryson DeChambeau threatening to call Trump over a penalty, which the hosts tie to a culture of appealing to Trump.
8:21
Kash Patel's World Cup security video
The hosts ridicule an FBI video centered on Kash Patel and note subpoenas of New York Times reporters' family records.
11:53
The Iran war reignites
The hosts contrast administration victory claims with Iranian attacks that killed Americans and discuss escalation risks.
21:14
Houthi blockade and oil prices
Vietor explains a Houthi embargo on Saudi shipping in the Red Sea and the threat of a global energy supply shock.
24:17
ICE killings in Texas and Maine
The hosts discuss two mistaken-identity ICE shootings, the reversed pause on vehicle stops, and quieter but unchanged enforcement.
34:00
Latino voters and immigration messaging
Drawing on Equis Research polling, the hosts discuss how Democrats should approach Latino voters and immigration before the midterms.
38:13
Troy Jackson in Maine
The hosts assess Troy Jackson's likely nomination to face Susan Collins after Graham Platner's withdrawal.
43:14
Chaos in Wisconsin's governor primary
The hosts question establishment Democrats' move to revive David Crowley's campaign after Sarah Rodriguez dropped out.
49:37
El-Sayed vs. Stevens in Michigan
The hosts discuss the Michigan Senate primary, Israel and AIPAC spending, electability arguments, and online campaign content.
1:03:14
Jeffries, Sanders and establishment primaries
The hosts react to a report that Hakeem Jeffries warned Bernie Sanders against backing House primary challengers.
1:06:13
AOC and 2028
The hosts discuss Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez not ruling out a presidential run and how she is positioning herself.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Jon Favreau
Favreau argues the Iran war has achieved none of its stated objectives, including regime change or setbacks to Iran's nuclear program.
“They didn't destroy the regime. They didn't get the, they didn't make any progress on their nuclear program”
Listen from 18:51 · United States war with Iran
Jon Favreau
Favreau argues that public support for deportations rebounds when abuses leave the news, so Democrats and protesters must keep attention on them.
“You just got to keep reminding people and my people, you know, coming out and in Maine and Texas to protest. This is important to keep it in the news”
Listen from 31:12 · U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
Linked moment · 46:47Skip to 46:47 using a listen link in the info box.
Jon Favreau Didn’t happen
Favreau predicts David Crowley is very unlikely to win the Wisconsin Democratic primary and that his re-entry may ensure Francesca Hong wins.
“It's almost impossible that David Crowley is going to win this”
Listen from 46:47 · 2026 Wisconsin gubernatorial election
Abdul El-Sayed
El-Sayed told a rally he is dangerous only to corporate PACs and AIPAC, not to voters who want government to work for them.
“If you're APAC and want to send our money abroad, you damn well better believe I'm dangerous”
Listen from 50:51 · American Israel Public Affairs Committee
Jon Favreau
Favreau argues establishment Democrats should defeat progressive challengers with better ideas rather than objecting to primaries being held.
“it's not the greatest argument to be like, how dare you run and how dare you upset our primaries”
Listen from 1:04:41
Jon Favreau
Favreau says Ocasio-Cortez's main risk in a presidential run is being seen as too left, and that her careful endorsements suggest she is preparing accordingly.
“her risk is that she's seen as too left and too extreme and she's seen all the polling data”
Listen from 1:08:16 · 2028 Democratic Party presidential primaries

People

In the conversation

Jon FavreauCo-host of Pod Save America and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama
Jon LovettCo-host of Pod Save America; diarization split of the same speaker during the economics segment
Tommy VietorCo-host of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World who conducted the Josh Turek interview
Abdul El-SayedDemocratic Senate nominee in Michigan

Discussed

Donald TrumpPresident of the United States whose conduct of the Iran war is the episode's main subject
Gianni InfantinoPresident of FIFA
Bryson DeChambeauLIV golfer seeking return to the PGA Tour
Kash PatelDirector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Markwayne MullinSecretary of Homeland Security
Stephen MillerWhite House deputy chief of staff and architect of the administration's immigration agenda
Susan CollinsRepublican senator who noted Congress holds the power of the purse
Troy JacksonFormer Maine Senate president floated as a Platner replacement
Graham PlatnerPresumptive Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine
Sarah RodriguezWisconsin lieutenant governor who ended her gubernatorial campaign
Francesca HongDSA Wisconsin state representative running for governor
Mandela BarnesFormer Wisconsin lieutenant governor and gubernatorial candidate
David CrowleyMilwaukee County Executive who re-entered the governor's race
Tony EversGovernor of Wisconsin
Haley StevensU.S. Representative running for Senate in Michigan
Mike RogersRepublican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee
Bernie SandersU.S. Senator from Vermont who discussed mail-in ballots before the 2020 election
Hakeem JeffriesHouse Democratic leader Haywood met about NIL
Carlos OdioCo-founder of Equis Research, a Latino polling firm
Nico WilliamsSpanish national team footballer

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From the publisher

Troy Jackson locks down the nomination to replace Graham Platner in Maine, Wisconsin's gubornatorial primary devolves into chaos as the governor wades in with an unexpected endorsement, and Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rally in Michigan with Abdul El-Sayed, who's locked in a heated race with Haley Stevens. Jon, Tommy, and Lovett discuss all the latest from this summer's wild Democratic primaries, Donald Trump's embarrassing showing at the World Cup final, the deadly escalation of war with Iran, and a recent slate of ICE killings that show nothing has gotten better at the Department of Homeland Security — it's just gotten quieter. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 30, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Politics·News Commentary