GOP Congressman Criticizes Speaker Johnson's Leadership

California Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley has voiced strong criticism of House Speaker Mike Johnson. Kiley stated that Johnson has "failed to lead" the Republican conference. He shared these views in a recent discussion about the party's direction.

Kiley, who represents a California district, also discussed potential changes to his own position. New district lines, approved by voters at the urging of Governor Gavin Newsom, could affect his future. He joined CNN's David Chalian to explain these developments.

The congressman described a shift in mood within the Republican conference. This change comes as the party prepares for the 2026 midterm elections. He also addressed the party's outlook for a future without President Donald Trump.

In another segment, the podcast explored whether President Trump is losing his grip on the MAGA base. Trump recently changed his stance on the Epstein files, a move seen as an effort to align with his party. This decision followed criticism regarding his focus on foreign affairs over domestic issues like prices.

POLITICO's Jonathan Martin assessed if this marks the beginning of Trump's "lame duck" period. The discussion also considered who or what might emerge as the next significant force in Republican politics.

Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe discussed the Democratic Party's recent electoral successes. He noted disagreements within the party about the reasons for these wins. McAuliffe also addressed the recent government shutdown, the longest in U.S. history.

McAuliffe, who also led the Democratic National Committee and chaired Hillary Clinton's 2008 presidential campaign, offered his perspective. He analyzed the Democrats' strategy during the shutdown. He also proposed ways for the party to win in the 2026 midterm elections.

The podcast also featured Zohran Mamdani, who gained national attention after a significant victory in New York City's mayoral race. Errol Louis, Political Anchor for Spectrum News NY1, joined David Chalian to discuss Mamdani's impact.

Louis explained how Mamdani has potentially changed the political playbook in New York City. Mamdani's rise from a state assemblyman to a prominent figure in national political discussions was highlighted.

CNN Correspondents Jeff Zeleny and Eva McKend provided an update on the 2025 election season. They focused on the final sprint for candidates in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia.

Zeleny and McKend shared insights from their campaign trail reporting. They offered their observations to David Chalian about what they learned during the election campaigns.

Curtis Sliwa, a Republican candidate for New York City mayor, discussed his campaign. He acknowledged the challenge of running in a city with a six-to-one Democratic voter advantage.

Sliwa, who previously lost to Eric Adams four years prior, is again the Republican nominee. He is competing against progressive candidate Zohran Mamdani and former Governor Andrew Cuomo. Sliwa shared his experiences and insights from his campaigns and his life in New York.

The podcast also addressed the ongoing government shutdown, which was in its third week. Congressman Ro Khanna, a progressive Democrat from California, offered his views.

Khanna explained what Democrats consider negotiable. He also outlined what is off the table for his party. He shared his thoughts on how the standoff might end.

The prosecution of former FBI Director James Comey was examined as a significant event in American justice. Former prosecutor Elie Honig discussed his new book, "When You Come at the King: Inside DOJ's Pursuit of the President, From Nixon to Trump."

Honig provided historical context for Comey's case. He explained how it fits into the broader history of Justice Department actions involving presidents.

Congressman Mike Lawler, a Republican from a battleground district, discussed the Republican strategy concerning the government shutdown. Lawler represents a district that voted for Kamala Harris in the previous election.

He explained why he believes Democrats made a critical mistake in their approach to the shutdown. Lawler shared his perspective on the political calculations involved.

Representative Suzan DelBene, Chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, discussed the Democratic strategy. She focused on the party's goal of regaining the House majority in 2026.

DelBene outlined how Democrats plan to position themselves for victory in the upcoming midterm elections. She shared her insights with David Chalian on the path to winning the majority.