The Leslie Marshall Show

Eight Senate Democrats Cave to GOP; Youth Vote Powered 2025 Democratic Wins

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Alex Lawson, Executive Director of Social Security Works. 
The two discuss the eight Senate Democrats who caved to the GOP and gave up healthcare tax credits in order to re-open the government.
They also hypothesize Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's role in the eight Senators' decision, and whether it's time to look for a new leader for Senate Democrats.
Finally, Alex explains that it's ultimately the Republicans who have caused the health care catastrophe.
On that front, there’s a list of the 25 most vulnerable House Republicans that people should continue to focus on, and Social Security Works will continue to do protests on these matters.

Then, Brad is joined by Eve Levenson, Senior Director of Political Partnerships and Strategy at Flytedesk, 'the technology that powers college media.'
The pair analyzes last Tuesday's election results across the country, and how young voters played a huge part in determining the outcomes.
Flytedesk's key takeaways showed that young voters remain a stronghold for Democrats: across the country from VA and NJ to CA and NYC, they favored Dems strongly in last Tuesday's elections.
Young voters favored candidates who prioritized affordability. This tracks with Flytedesk's research that the economy and, in particular, costs were a top issue in both 2024 and 2025.
The gender gap among young voters remains, but is shrinking: Abigail Spanberger, Mickie Sherrill, and Zohran Mamdani all won young men by double digits, while winning young women with even larger margins.

The 'Social Security Works' website is www.socialsecurityworks.org and their handle on BlueSky is @socialsecurityworks.org. Alex's handle there is @alaw202.bsky.social.  

Flytedesk's website is www.flytedesk.com.
Eve Levenson's handle on BlueSky is @eve-levenson.bsky.social.

Trump Orders U.S. Nuke Testing; Washington Insiders on Payrolls of Corrupt Foreign Interests

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by CNN Military Analyst Cedric Leighton.
Col. Leighton (USAF-Ret.) provides his expert analysis on President Trump restarting U.S. nuclear weapons testing for the first time in 33 years.
They also discuss Trump and Pete Hegseth's missile attacks on fishing boats in foreign waters, the President's East Asia trip, a potential trade deal with China, and more.

Brad is then joined by New York Times investigative reporter Kenneth P. Vogel.
The two discuss Ken's new book, "DEVILS' ADVOCATES: The Hidden Story of Rudy Giuliani, Hunter Biden, and the Washington Insiders on the Payrolls of Corrupt Foreign Interest."
The book shines a spotlight on one of the most shadowy and impactful industries in U.S. politics—the foreign influence business. Drawing on exclusive sources, thousands of documents, and on-the-ground reporting, Vogel pulls back the curtain on this billion-dollar business that spans the partisan spectrum and secretly shapes U.S. foreign policy, while often flouting American values like human rights and democracy.

Col. Cedric Leighton is the Founder and President of Cedric Leighton Associates, a strategic risk and leadership consultancy serving global companies and organizations. He founded the company in 2010, after serving in the US Air Force for 27 years as an Intelligence Officer and attaining the rank of Colonel. His website is www.CedricLeighton.com and his handle on BlueSky is @CedricLeighton. bsky.social. 


You can purchase Ken's new book, "DEVILS' ADVOCATES," here.
His handle on Blue Sky is @kenvogel.bsky.social.

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.  

Workers Held Hostage: AFL-CIO’s Jody Calemine on the Shutdown Crisis

Leslie is joined by Jody Calemine, Director of Advocacy for the 63 unions and 15 million members of the AFL-CIO, where he serves as chief lobbyist and director of government affairs.

They discuss the severe toll of the ongoing government shutdown on workers and families—from unpaid federal employees turning to food banks to the ripple effects hitting local economies.

Calemine warns that Congress’s failure to extend enhanced Affordable Care Act premium tax credits could sharply raise health costs for small-business owners and workers. He urges lawmakers to pass relief measures like the True Shutdown Fairness Act and Military and Federal Employee Protection Act, and to end political brinkmanship that’s using American workers as pawns.

The website for the AFL-CIO is AFLCIO.org and their handle on Blue Sky is @AFLCIO.org. Their handle on Facebook, Instagram and X is @AFLCIO.  Jody's handle on Blue Sky is @guerino.bsky.social.

Government Shutdown Is the First Skirmish in the Battle Over Trump’s 2026 Budget

Leslie is joined by Dr. Robert Shapiro, Chairman of Sonecon, an economic advisory firm, and a Senior Fellow of the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University.

The two discuss his latest blog, "The Government Shutdown Is the First Skirmish in the Battle Over Trump’s 2026 Budget."
(Link: https://www.sonecon.com/the-government-shutdown-is-the-first-skirmish-in-the-battle-over-trumps-2026-budget/)

In it, Dr. Shapiro argues that the current federal government shutdown marks the opening move in a much larger struggle over the fiscal direction of the federal government under Donald Trump’s 2026 budget proposal. It contends that what appears to be a short-term fight over spending bills is in fact a strategic effort to reshape federal priorities—cutting large swaths of domestic programs while boosting defense, border security and deregulation. The shutdown is portrayed as both a bargaining tactic to force concessions from Congress and a signalling device to markets and stakeholders about how aggressively the administration intends to pursue its agenda. The blog warns that the deeper economic and institutional damage will come once the shutdown ends and the budget battle truly begins, with Congress and the administration locked in a clash over the size, scope and role of the federal government.

Dr. Shapiro's website is Sonecon.com and his handle on X is @RobShapiro.

ICE Invasion of Chicago; 'No Kings' Protest Attracted 7 Million Americans

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Paul Lisnek, Political and Legal Analyst for WGN-TV in Chicago.
The pair examines the ICE invasion of the 'Windy City' by the Trump administration, as well as Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker's response.

Then, Brad is joined by Tara Devlin, host of the 'TARABUSTER' podcast.
They analyze the impact of the 'No Kings' protest against Trump's imperial presidency, including the staggering turnout of roughly seven million attendees at 2,600 events in all 50 states.
The two also discuss President Trump's pardon of former Congressman George Santos, who was sentenced to 87 months in prison after pleading guilty to misusing campaign funds and stealing identities.

Paul Lisnek anchors “Political Report” every Sunday morning at 9am central which looks at national and local issues for Chicago. It can be live streamed on www.wgntv.com/live and watched on the new WGN+ app which can be downloaded thru Apple TV, Roku or Firestick.
Paul has worked as a jury consultant in such cases as OJ Simpson and Whitewater, teaches Constitutional Law and Ethics for the bar review course. He is the author of 15 books including the award winning fiction book: "Assume Treason."

Tara Devlin is a New York City based comedian, writer, and host of the unapologetically-liberal podcast "TARABUSTER.”
Tarabuster is 5-star viewer-reviewed and 100% viewer-supported.
Help keep the REAL liberal media going – and growing – by becoming a Patron of Tarabuster at Patreon.com/TaraDevlin.
You can follow Tara on BlueSky at @tarabuster.bsky.social and on Instagram at @Taradacktyl.

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.

2026 Midterm Playing Field; Trump's Government Shutdown

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Charlie Cook, Founder of the 'Cook Political Report' and Columnist for 'The National Journal,' to discuss the 'playing field' for the 2026 midterm elections in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Then, Senior White House Reporter for 'Bloomberg Government,' Mica Soellner, joins Brad to talk about the new peace agreement between Israel and Hamas, the government shutdown, and Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's recent attacks on President Trump.

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.  

Trump's Attacks on Free Speech; Hispanic Heritage Month

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Tim Karr, Senior Director of Strategy and Communications at 'Free Press,' a nonpartisan organization fighting for your rights to connect and communicate.

The pair examines how Trump and his FCC pressured media organizations to remove Jimmy Kimmel from the airwaves, but also discusses how Americans banded together to make their voices heard in opposition to the authoritarian style actions.

Then, Brad is joined by Ana Valdez, President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative (LDC), which produces the annual U.S. Latino GDP Report. 

The two examine the contributions made by Hispanic Americans, as well as their population and economic trends, in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month.

Brad and Ana also talk about the repercussions from the Supreme Court decision that allows ICE to resume arrests in Los Angeles based on appearance, language, or type of work.
Drawing on the LDC's data showing Latinos as one of America's fastest-growing economic engines, Ana also released a statement emphasizing that the Court's decision carries consequences far beyond immigration enforcement:
"This is not law enforcement; it is racial profiling.
That is not how the Fourth Amendment is supposed to work. The Constitution requires specific facts, not a checklist of skin color, language, and job site.

It also ignores economic reality. Latinos are not on the margins of this country; we are a major growth driver. Our GDP reached $4 trillion in 2023, making us the fifth-largest economy in the world if measured independently. Latino incomes and purchasing power are growing about twice as fast as the rest of the country, and Latino consumer spending topped $2.5 trillion last year. Targeting people who look or sound Latino undercuts the workforce and the businesses that keep the U.S. economy strong for everyone. Profiling this workforce is economic self-harm.

And it ignores the community reality. Most Latinos are fully part of the American fabric. Ninety-four percent of Latinos under 18 are U.S.-born, and nine out of ten Latinos overall are citizens or lawful residents. Treating Spanish speakers or brown people as presumptive suspects means punishing citizens on their way to work and parents on school runs, not just the undocumented.

Enforcement of immigration law cannot come at the cost of civil liberties and human dignity.
America's economic future depends on treating Latinos as full and equal participants in our society, not targets of suspicion."

The website for Free Press is www.FreePress.net and their handle on BlueSky is @freepress.bsky.social.  Tim Karr's handle is @timkarr.bsky.social.

The website for the Latino Donor Collaborative is www.LatinoDonorCollaborative.org and their handle on X is @LDCLatino and Ana's handle is @LDCAna1.

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.  

Gerrymandering's Threat to Working Families

Leslie is joined by Amber Miller, Director of the USW’s Rapid Response Department, a roughly 30-year tradition of member-driven, issue-based, nonpartisan legislative activism. 
Amber has been a proud second-generation Steelworker since 1997 where she began her career at Chase Brass and Copper in northwest Ohio.

The two discuss how gerrymandering is a clear and present danger to working families, and what can be done to fight back.

Gerrymandering allows politicians to redraw district maps in ways that protect their own power instead of reflecting the will of the people, silencing working families and communities of color. 
From Texas to Missouri, these power grabs undermine democracy, suppress votes, and weaken the voices of everyday citizens. 

Yet history shows that when working people organize—whether through ballot initiatives or grassroots campaigns—they can push back against partisan manipulation. 
States like Michigan prove that fair districting is possible, ensuring representatives are accountable to voters rather than corporate or political interests.

Follow the USW on Facebook, Instagram and X, using the handle @steelworkers, and visit their website at www.USW.org. Also, check them out on Blue Sky where their handle is @steelworkers.bsky.social.
Amber's handle on X is @AmberUSWRR.

Impending Government Shutdown; Dangers of RFK Jr.'s New Vaccine Policies

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Kate Ackley, a Senior Reporter for Bloomberg Government.
The two examine the impending government shutdown, which is set to happen October 1st.  Democrats seem less eager to bail out Republicans than they did at the beginning of the current Trump administration, drawing the line at new massive healthcare cuts which would drive up premiums 10-20% for folks with Affordable Care Act health plans.

Then, Brad is joined by Dr. Bob Bollinger is the Raj and Kamla Gupta Professor of Infectious Diseases at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.
They examine the chaos caused at the CDC by RFK Jr. and the Trump administration, and the potentially dangerous new restrictions on who can now receive vaccines.  

Dr. Bollinger holds joint appointments in International Health at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, and in Community Public Health at the JH School of Nursing.
He has more than 45 years of experience in international public health, clinical research, and education dealing with such global health priorities as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, leprosy, dengue, antibiotic resistant infections, COVID-19 and other emerging diseases. 

Dr. Bollinger is also Associate Director of the Center for Clinical Global Health Education (CCGHE). Their website is main.ccghe.net. 

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.  

AFT President Discusses New Book, "Why Fascists Fear Teachers;" Trump Sending Troops to Memphis Next

The guest host for today's show is Brad Bannon. Brad runs Bannon Communications Research, a polling, message development and media firm which helps labor unions, progressive issue groups and Democratic candidates win public affairs and political campaigns. His show, 'Deadline D.C. with Brad Bannon,' airs every Monday from 3-4pm ET.

Brad is first joined by Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). They discuss her brand new book, "Why Fascists Fear Teachers. Public Education and the Future of Democracy." 

The book's Publisher, Penguin House, describes it as "A rousing defense of public education as the cornerstone of American democracy, by the woman attacked by the far right as “the most dangerous person in the world”
Attacks on schools and teachers have long been a hallmark of fascist regimes: Throughout history, as many dictators rose to power they began banning books and controlling curriculum. Fascists fear teachers because teachers foster an educated and empowered population that can see past propaganda and scare tactics. Fascists fear teachers because they teach young people how to think for themselves.
Drawing on history, stories from teachers on the front lines, and decades of experience with America’s public schools, Weingarten argues that teaching students to think critically is the key to defeating would-be dictators.
She encourages teachers to continue focusing on their vital mission to help young people thrive."
The book is available for purchase here: https://sites.prh.com/whyfascistsfearteachers

During the second half of the show, Brad is joined by Sara Haghdoosti and she is the Executive Director of Win Without War, a diverse network of activists and organizations working towards a progressive U.S. foreign policy.

She details the dangers of militarizing local law enforcement, and what it means for everyday people that the President is willing to position troops in American cities to enforce his own agenda (with Memphis, TN just the latest).
Based just outside of Chicago, Sara also speaks to what the local community is experiencing right now as Trump targets the city.
Sara also talks about her organization’s ‘Know Your Rights Campaign’ for military service members that do not want to follow unlawful orders from the Trump administration:
https://winwithoutwar.org/win-without-war-launches-notwhatyousignedupfor-org-for-members-of-the-military-during-trumps-authoritarian-crackdown/ 


Finally, Brad and Sara talk foreign policy, including the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, as well as the Trump administration's controversial airstrike on a Venezuelan boat that Trump claims contained drug smugglers transporting fentanyl.

Randi Weingarten is president of the 1.8 million-member AFT, which represents teachers; paraprofessionals and school-related personnel; higher education faculty and staff; nurses and other healthcare professionals; local, state and federal government employees; and early childhood educators. The AFT is dedicated to the belief that every person in America deserves the freedom to thrive, fueled by opportunity, justice and a voice in our democracy.
Their website is www.AFT.org and their handle on BlueSky is @aftunion.bsky.social.  Randi's handle is @rweingarten.bsky.social.

'Win Without War' is a national grassroots organization that works with elected officials, policymakers, media, advocacy organizations, and movement leaders to promote and advance a values-based progressive national security strategy that prioritizes human security and diplomacy over war.
They believe that by democratizing U.S. foreign policy and providing progressive alternatives, we can achieve more peaceful, just, and common sense policies that ensure that all people — regardless of race, nationality, gender, religion, or economic status — can find and take advantage of opportunity equally and feel secure.
Their website is WinWithoutWar.org.  Their handle on BlueSky is @winwithoutwar.bsky.social.  Sara's handle is @shaghdoosti.bsky.social.

Brad writes a political column every Sunday for 'The Hill.'
He's on the National Journal's panel of political insiders and is a national political analyst for WGN TV and Radio in Chicago and KNX Radio in Los Angeles. You can read Brad's columns at www.MuckRack.com/Brad-Bannon. His handle on BlueSky is @bradbannon.bsky.social.