Raging Moderates with Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov

Scott Galloway and Sarah Longwell of The Bulwark break down Trump’s first visit to China since 2017, where discussions over trade, artificial intelligence, Taiwan, and rare earth exports are expected to dominate the agenda. But looming over the entire trip is the increasingly fragile ceasefire with Iran, rising instability in the Persian Gulf, and growing economic pressure at home as gas prices surge nationwide. They unpack what leverage each side actually has going into the summit, why major tech CEOs are joining Trump’s delegation, and whether the administration’s strategy is focused more on geopolitics, economics, or projecting strength ahead of the election cycle. Plus: the early battle for the post-Trump future of the Republican Party is heating up, as JD Vance and Marco Rubio emerge as leading contenders for the MAGA mantle. Sarah shares insights from recent focus groups about who Republican voters are gravitating toward — and whether they want a new Trump, or something entirely different.  And, they talk about the Democrats’ strategy heading into the midterm elections, and looking ahead toward possible candidates for president in 2028. Does the growing buzz around Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez mean the momentum will be with her, or another progressive upstart in the mold of Bernie Sanders? Or do the Dems need to rally behind a middle-of-the-road moderate in order to take back the White House? Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down Iran’s latest proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and temporarily suspend uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief — even after it was deemed “unacceptable” by President Trump, and while Benjamin Netanyahu appeared on 60 Minutes to make it clear that Israel has little interest in a deal that leaves Iran’s nuclear infrastructure intact. With oil prices falling and markets rallying, one major question remains: is economic pressure finally forcing Tehran toward accepting a resolution — or is this simply a pause before further escalation? Back in the U.S., the political chaos continues. After the Virginia Supreme Court invalidated the voter-approved Congressional map, the Democrats’ endeavor to match the Republican redistricting efforts got some new complications. Now, Republicans appear to be gaining ground in the nationwide gerrymandering wars ahead of the midterms. As legal options narrow and SCOTUS weakens the protections to majority-minority districts once offered by the Voting Rights Act, Democrats are left asking whether their “fight fire with fire” strategy backfired. Plus: MAGA world erupts into conspiracy mode over a routine Obama photo-op, the Pentagon releases decades of declassified UFO files, and fears around a hantavirus outbreak reignite debate over whether America is politically prepared for the next major pandemic. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov  Follow Prof G, @profgalloway  Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down a week defined by confusion, escalation, and political loyalty tests. As mixed messages pour out of Washington and Tehran, Trump threatens further action against Iran even as officials insist tensions are cooling — leaving allies, markets, and the world searching for clarity. Back at home, a judge has unsealed what a former cellmate has alleged is Jeffrey Epstein’s suicide note. Its release comes at a time when Secretary Howard Lutnick is giving closed-door testimony to the House Oversight Committee on his ties to Epstein. All this is enough to reignite Epstein scrutiny around Trump allies. Meanwhile, in the ongoing redistricting wars, the Republican voters in Indiana sent a stark warning to anyone willing to cross Trump ahead of 2026. Scott and Jessica unpack the significance of last night’s election. The duo also speak on the FBI raid involving Virginia power broker and state senator Louise Lucas, Marco Rubio’s Vatican cleanup mission, and Barack Obama’s sharp appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, where the former president warned Democrats to stop sounding like they’re in a “college seminar.” Plus: remembering Ted Turner and the media legacy that changed American politics forever. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov  Follow Prof G, @profgalloway  Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down the latest developments in Iran, where confusion continues to swirl around a fragile ceasefire. With renewed tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and mixed signals coming out of Washington, the situation remains volatile and increasingly difficult to read. Then they discuss the efforts by the Republicans to get Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman to switch parties, raising questions about the precarious balance of power in the Senate. At the same time, fractures within MAGA world continue to bubble up, as former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene made some new public claims about Trump and the Epstein files. Plus, the White House appears to be reconsidering its long-held resistance to regulating AI — does this signal a potential policy shift, or have tech industry players continued their capture of DC? And finally, the Met Gala’s record-breaking year reflects a broader cultural power shift — now fueled less by traditional fashion houses and more by Silicon Valley billionaires. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov  Follow Prof G, @profgalloway  Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With Tehran threatening to target ships in the Strait of Hormuz and the U.S. ramping up its response, is the Iran conflict entering a dangerous new phase — with no clear off-ramp? Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov break down the latest escalations, as oil prices surge and gas prices climb nearly 50% since the start of the war. With the Trump administration fast-tracking billions in arms sales, and launching “Project Freedom” to guide vessels through the region, one key question looms: is this deterrence — or the beginning of something much bigger? They also unpack the political fallout at home, where new polling shows rising disapproval of Trump’s leadership, particularly on inflation and the cost of living. As support softens even among segments of his base, is the conflict abroad starting to erode his position domestically? Plus: a major new legal battle over access to abortion medication could reshape care nationwide, as courts weigh restrictions on mifepristone. Scott and Jess react to the growing buzz around Tucker Carlson’s political future as the GOP fractures deepen, and Kash Patel gets the SNL treatment. Follow Jessica Tarlov, @JessicaTarlov  Follow Prof G, @profgalloway  Follow Raging Moderates, @RagingModeratesPod  Subscribe to our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@RagingModerates Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices