Ahead of the Iowa caucuses, Bill and Matt discuss the state of the GOP primary race, including this week's primary debate. Can Nikki Haley win New Hamsphire, and will that even matter? Next, they discuss Speaker Mike Johnson's attempts to avoid a government shutdown, and whether Joe Biden is capable of driving a positive message.

Matt and Bill discuss the Joe Kent resignation, the Markwayne Mullin nomination, the midterms, and Trump's threat to leave NATO.

Mike Johnson has been elected Speaker of the House. Just before the vote, Matt and Bill talked about his chances. They also discussed Democrats' decision to help defeat former Speaker Kevin McCarthy, and whether this is part of a risky strategy to elevate MAGA. Lastly, are the walls finally closing in on Donald Trump as his close confidants plead guilty? We report, you decide. 

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On this week's DMZ, Bill Scher and Matt dive into the chaotic mess that is Donald Trump’s second term.

We discuss the following:

— Trump’s Iran War Escalation & Quagmire Risks — The U.S. military campaign has deepened into potential endless conflict, fears of Iran mining the Strait of Hormuz, spiking oil prices to extreme levels, asymmetric retaliation, and no clear exit strategy despite Trump’s boasts of quick victory.

— SAVE Act Push & Voter Restrictions — Trump fixates on passing the SAVE America Act (requiring strict ID like passports or birth certificates for voting, bundled with unrelated trans issues and other GOP priorities) despite slim chances in the Senate. We talk about how it could suppress turnout (ironically hurting low-propensity Republican voters more), and Senate Majority Leader John Thune’s resistance to nuking the filibuster.

— Signs of GOP Base Unrest & Policy Shifts — The Trump administration is backpedaling on aggressive “mass deportation” rhetoric (White House aides urging focus on “violent criminals”), coupled with the alienation of non-interventionist voices (Tucker Carlson, Joe Rogan, et al.) over Iran.

— Midterm Outlook & Blue Wave Potential — With growing Democratic momentum, coupled with Trump’s chaotic presidency, Matt is predicting a Senate flip for Dems.

— The 2028 Succession Battle: J.D. Vance vs. Marco Rubio — There are emerging 2028 GOP primary tensions, with Vance (non-interventionist leanings, low-profile amid Iran) vs. Rubio (more prominent on foreign policy, aligned with strikes) leading the speculation.

— And MUCH more!