3 Martini Lunch

Join Jim and Greg as they delve into the GOP’s projected control of the House of Representatives, why Matt Gaetz is the wrong choice for Attorney General, and Sen. Bob Casey’s far-fetched push to count ballots from unregistered voters.First, Jim and Greg discuss the now-confirmed GOP majority in the House of Representatives in the next Congress. All major networks project Republican control, and Rep. Mike Johnson seems to have a clear path to another term as Speaker of the House. Jim highlights how this solid footing is not only promising for the GOP’s legislative plans but also dispels rumors that Johnson is about to face an internal party revolt.After a positive review of most Trump cabinet picks, Jim and Greg criticize the choice of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General. They agree that reforming the Justice Department and FBI is crucial  but they also contend there are people who would be far better at that job and would not come with the enormous baggage that Gaetz brings with him. Finally, they call out Sen. Bob Casey, Jr. for his recount efforts in Pennsylvania despite trailing by more than 26,000 votes. Even worse, Casey's legal team is asking the courts to count ballots cast by unregistered voters. Casey's refusal to accept reality is an embarrassment and it also erodes the narrative that Democrats are supposedly the guardians of our democracy. Jim and Greg also discuss middle of the night ballot dumps and much more.Please visit our great sponsors:Lumenhttps://lumen.me/3MLVisit lumen.me/3ML for 15% off your purchase.  Omahahttps://omahasteaks.comSave 50% off sitewide and get an extra $30 off with promo code 3ML

Join Jim and Greg as they break down President-Elect Trump's nomination of Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, a CIA officer charged with leaking Israel’s attack plans on Iran, and California’s protracted vote-counting process.First, they focus on Trump’s pick of Pete Hegseth, a decorated veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, to lead the Department of Defense. Democrats, including Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, are outraged, pointing to Hegseth’s role as a Fox News host. The left is also not happy about Hegseth's determination to dismantle the Biden-era DEI approach to building and running the military. But Jim says barring any serious revelations, Hegseth should be confirmed.Next, they react to shocking news of a CIA officer charged with leaking highly classified intelligence regarding a potential Israeli strike on Iran. They discuss how this breach severely damages trust in American intelligence agencies and examine the ways individuals with access to top-secret information can become compromised, posing significant national security risks.Finally, they analyze an NBC News report on why California’s vote count is taking well over a week. Unlike states such as Florida and Texas, which count nearly all votes on election night, California faces substantial delays. And each part of the explanation for California's sluggishness just exposes what a terrible election system the state has.Please visit our great sponsors:Lumenhttps://lumen.me/3MLVisit lumen.me/3ML for 15% off your purchase.  Omahahttps://omahasteaks.comSave 50% off sitewide and get an extra $30 off with promo code 3ML

Join Jim and Greg as they discuss President-Elect Trump's excellent early cabinet picks, Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey refusing to admit he lost, and a congressional Democrat excoriated by his own side for suggesting boys shouldn't be playing in girls' sports.First, they share their enthusiasm for almost all of Trump’s initial picks, highlighting Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and National Security Adviser Michael Waltz as strong choices. Other notable names like Tom Homan, Elise Stefanik, Lee Zeldin, and Marco Rubio should also reassure conservatives, though they raise concerns about Gov. Kristi Noem’s selection for Homeland Security.Next, Jim and Greg scrutinize Sen. Bob Casey, Jr.'s refusal to admit defeat to Republican challenger Dave McCormick, who leads by 35,000 votes. Casey’s stubbornness  has even delayed McCormick’s freshman orientation. Will Casey or the Democrats pay a price for refusing to accept election results?Finally, they react to progressives attacking Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton for saying his fellow Democrats aren't listening to voters on issues like transgender athletes. Moulton also said he didn't want his daughters getting run over by male athletes during competition. Will the left accept this reality check or just continue to demonize anyone who questions the woke agenda?Please visit our great sponsors:Lumenhttps://lumen.me/3MLVisit lumen.me/3ML for 15% off your purchase.  Moink Boxhttps://moinkbox.com/martiniSign up today and get free hot rolls in your first box only at moinkbox.com/martini

Former Chief Assistant U.S. Attorney and National Review Contributing Editor Andy McCarthy is in for Jim. Today, Andy and Greg break down the Justice Department’s decision to end its cases against President-Elect Trump, a military judge's order to proceed with a controversial 9/11 plea deal, and progressive calls for dramatic moves to give Kamala Harris a new role in government..First, Andy and Greg tackle the Justice Department’s choice to drop federal charges against Trump related to classified documents and January 6th. Andy notes that the DOJ could have paused the cases until Trump leaves office but suspects the charges were dismissed to shield upcoming plans from President Biden as he nears the end of his term.Next, they react to a military judge ordering the plea agreement between the government and the 9/11 conspirators to proceed. The deal removes the possibility of them getting the death penalty. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tried to rescind the deal after a major public backlash. Andy believes Khalid Sheik Mohammed and the others clearly deserve to be executed, but he also explains why the plea agreement is probably a smart legal move.Finally, they sigh as Kamala Harris devotees publicly suggest outlandish ideas like replacing Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor with Harris or getting Biden to resign so Harris can be president for a couple of months. Andy explains why it should be up to Sotomayor when she ought to step down and Greg believes Biden has no desire whatsoever to take any drastic moves to benefit Harris.Please visit our great sponsors:Lumenhttps://lumen.me/3MLVisit lumen.me/3ML for 15% off your purchase.  Omahahttps://omahasteaks.comSave 50% off sitewide and get an extra $30 off with promo code 3ML

Join Jim and Greg for this special edition as they examine which factors helped propel Donald Trump's return to the presidency, why Kamala Harris ended up losing more decisively than most observers could have imagined, and which other figures ended up as big winners or losers based on the results Tuesday night.First, they examine Donald Trump's stunning political comeback and why Americans chose to return him to the White House with a far more convincing victory than he had eight years ago. And while volumes will be written about this, Jim and Greg suggest Trump simply talked about what voters cared about most and in a way that made them trust him more to tackle the big problems.Then, they go through a litany of issues that plagued the Harris campaign, from the way Dems shoved Joe Biden aside and nominated Harris without a primary to Kamala's flip-flopping and inability to answer questions to her very bad choice of Tim Walz as her running mate.Lastly, they consider who else comes out of this election season as big winners or losers. They aim a lot of their criticism at the shameless partisanship of the mainstream media, and the election results prove people no longer buy into their hysterical coverage. They also call out the elite Democrats like Barack Obama who orchestrated the ouster of Biden and spent the final weeks scolding people for not liking Harris enough. As for the winners, Greg points out another billionaire who had a very good Tuesday night and Jim gives credit to the man who might have reversed the momentum in favor of the Trump campaign.Please visit our great sponsors:BetterHelphttps://betterhelp.com/3MLLet the gratitude flow with Betterhelp.  Visit the 3ML website for 10% of your first month.  Zbioticshttps://zbiotics.com/3MLUse code 3ML at checkout to save 15% off your first order.

Craig Collins joins Jim Geraghty for today's Three Martini Lunch.Good: This is not a spoof, but a real headline at Axios: "Democrats start clawing each others' eyes out."Bad: The Biden administration makes plans for an immigrant surge across the border ahead of a Trump presidency, Crazy: Texas Democrats are starting to wonder if anyone takes them seriously anymore.Please visit our great sponsors:BetterHelphttps://betterhelp.com/3MLLet the gratitude flow with BetterHelp.  Visit the 3ML website for 10% of your first month.  Zbioticshttps://zbiotics.com/3MLUse code 3ML at checkout to save 15% off your first order.

Join Jim and Greg as they break down three major outcomes from Election Night 2024. Today, they discuss Donald Trump’s battleground state victories over Kamala Harris, the Republican takeover of the U.S. Senate, and the wildest reactions from leftist media voices.First, they marvel at Donald Trump’s clear win over Harris, with the possibility of sweeping all seven swing states. Jim and Greg review how the vote count shifted from initial uncertainty to clear Trump momentum, leading to a victory call much earlier than many people anticipated.Next, they cheer as Republicans pick up at least three U.S. Senate seats, taking control from Chuck Schumer and the Democrats. Greg and Jim analyze these pickups, discuss races that could still swing GOP, and review how Democrats fell short in their challenges to Republican incumbents.Finally, they spotlight some of the most extreme media reactions to Trump’s win, from outrage over the Electoral College and GOP success in Florida to leftist commentators blaming white women for Trump’s victory.Please visit our great sponsors:BetterHelphttps://betterhelp.com/3MLLet the gratitude flow with Betterhelp.  Visit the 3ML website for 10% of your first month.  Zbioticshttps://zbiotics.com/3MLUse code 3ML at checkout to save 15% off your first order.

Join Jim and Greg for the Election Day edition of the 3 Martini Lunch! Today, they offer their predictions for today's vote while extolling the genius of the Electoral College. They also react to reports of Russia targeting U.S. airliners, and a Muslim influencer deciding not to run his interview of Kamala Harris after she kept going on about bacon.First, Jim and Greg share their predictions for the presidential race, as well as control of the House and Senate. They examine polling demographics that could benefit Trump. They also express their gratitude to the founders for creating the Electoral College and react to calls for it to be abolished or changed.Next, they react to a Wall Street Journal report alleging Russia’s involvement in attempts to target U.S. and Canadian airliners with incendiary devices. Jim highlights how this serious security threat, flagged in Germany and the UK, underscores the downsides of lengthy U.S. presidential campaigns that can overshadow pressing international issues.Finally, they unpack the amusing yet revealing story of a Muslim influencer who chose not to release his interview with Kamala Harris. He reportedly withheld the video after Harris avoided questions on Israel and Gaza and repeatedly discussed her views on bacon as a “spice.” Jim sees a potential plus for Harris in her focus on bacon but they also note the VP's eagerness to address frivolous matters and her reluctance to go deep on meaningful topics.Please visit our great sponsors:BetterHelphttps://betterhelp.com/3MLLet the gratitude flow with Betterhelp.  Visit the 3ML website for 10% of your first month.  Zbioticshttps://zbiotics.com/3MLUse code 3ML at checkout to save 15% off your first order.

Join Jim and Greg for a pre-Election Day breakdown on 3 Martini Lunch! They dive into concerns among Democratic operatives over strong early voting turnout by registered Republicans, discuss troubling absentee ballot issues, and cover Kamala Harris evading a straightforward question about a California crime referendum.After a quick check-in on "Doris" and "Diane," Jim and Greg explore why Democrats are reportedly worried about high numbers of Republicans casting early votes. Are GOP voters spreading their ballots across more days, or is an Election Day surge still on the horizon? Next, Jim shares a range of unsettling stories on absentee ballot problems, compiled for today's Morning Jolt. From far too many ballots arriving at residences to mail theft and thousands of people not getting the ballots they requested, Jim and Greg point out the potential for problems with mail-in voting and suggest that if we have to have early voting, it should replace most mail-in voting since it is far more secure. Finally, they react as Kamala Harris sidesteps a direct question on how she voted on California’s referendum calling for tougher penalties for repeat theft and drug offenders.  Jim blasts Harris for suddenly going silent after presenting herself as a no-nonsense prosecutor for the entire campaign.Please visit our great sponsors:BetterHelphttps://betterhelp.com/3MLLet the gratitude flow with Betterhelp.  Visit the 3ML website for 10% of your first month.  Zbioticshttps://zbiotics.com/3MLUse code 3ML at checkout to save 15% off your first order.

Join Jim and Greg as they dive into the final weekend of the campaign with two bad martinis and a three-pronged crazy one. Today, they tackle a weak October jobs report, concerning early voting trends for the GOP, and a wave of controversial statements shaping the end of the campaign.First, they are stunned by the October jobs report, which shows just 12,000 new jobs and a downward revision of 112,000 jobs for August and September. So the U.S. has lost 100,000 jobs in the past three months and the economy is still - by far - the top issue for voters. Jim also speculates on whether the looming election might be impacting these numbers.Next, after highlighting the very strong early vote numbers for the GOP in Nevada earlier this week, trends in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan now appear to be favoring Democrats. Jim takes a closer look at these patterns and considers whether party registration accurately reflects voter decisions—especially in critical Rust Belt states.Finally, they take three recent political comments and discuss how the media and opposing politicians are reacting to them. They dissect comments from Jimmy Kimmel about when Trump supporters should vote, Donald Trump's statement about Liz Cheney, and Mark Cuban alleging that Trump doesn't ever want to be around strong, intelligent women.

Join Jim and Greg as they serve up two good martinis and a double-fisted crazy one. Today, they discuss growing confidence that the GOP will defend all its Senate seats, Democrats already assigning blame if Harris loses, and voting issues popping up in multiple states.First, they discuss GOP Nebraska Sen. Deb Fischer’s stronger position as two different polls show her leading an “independent” opponent who previously supported Bernie Sanders. A Fischer win would boost chances of Republican control, and Jim points to this as another likely example of Democrats possibly overestimating their chances in a traditionally red state.Next, Jim and Greg chuckle over Democrats reportedly pointing fingers in the event Kamala Harris loses next week. Anonymous operatives hint at criticism of her nontraditional nomination process and the choice of Tim Walz as VP nominee if Trump secures victory. Jim and Greg see the biggest story here being that Democrats are pessimistic enough to talk publicly about a loss that hasn't happened.Finally, they discuss recurring issues as early voting unfolds. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson confirms some Dominion voting machines are malfunctioning, blocking straight-party voting. Meanwhile, a Washington state voter reports receiving 16 absentee ballots with various names at her address. Why aren't these issues being flagged before people start voting?

Join Jim and Greg as they delve into the Supreme Court's sensible ruling on Virginia's voter rolls, President Biden referring to Trump supporters as "garbage," and a new left-wing ad urging women to defy their spouses and vote for Kamala Harris..First, they commend the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to support Virginia’s removal of non-citizens from voter rolls. Despite the Biden administration's lawsuit and two lower courts siding with the DOJ, Jim and Greg argue that removing non-citizens, those who have moved, or the deceased is a matter of common sense. For some reason, the left disagrees.Next, they analyze President Biden's remarks, in which he sharply criticized jokes about Puerto Rico at a recent Trump rally and described Trump supporters as "garbage." The media’s quick attempts to soften Biden’s statement, even blaming his stutter, leave Jim and Greg amused as they dissect the messaging chaos.Finally, they discuss a new ad from Vote Common Good, narrated by Julia Roberts, which suggests that many women vote Republican only because of pressure from their Trump-loving husbands. The ad encourages women to secretly vote for Harris without informing their spouses. Jim suggests that anyone who can’t openly discuss their vote with their spouse has bigger issues than the election, while he and Greg explore what the ad reveals about Democrats.

Join Jim and Greg as they update the Democrats' latest efforts to get donations from "Doris" and "Diane." They also discuss key events affecting the GOP in Nevada, the New York Times’ partisan focus on "misinformation," and more proof that ballot drop boxes are a terrible idea.They kick things off with a fun update on recent Harris campaign fundraising pitches sent to the wrong recipients. Jim and Greg share the Democrats' persistent attempts to get "Doris" and "Diane" (who are really just Greg and Jim) to donate—and the various psychological tactics they use that have no chance of working.Moving to the Nevada battleground, they discuss the latest mixed results for the GOP. Early voting trends show Republicans gaining a lot of ground in this cycle, but a recent Nevada Supreme Court ruling allows mail-in ballots to be counted even if received days after Election Day and without a postmark. They also tackle the latest efforts from the left-leaning media to target online conservative content. Ben Shapiro highlighted an email he received from a New York Times reporter about an upcoming piece that critiques right-leaning YouTube channels based on data from the Soros-funded Media Matters for America. They slam the Times' reliance on the far-left MMFA's analysis and the implications for conservative voices online.Finally, they cover disturbing reports from Washington and Oregon of incendiary devices placed in ballot drop boxes, leading to some serious ballot damage. Jim and Greg want the perpetrators punished severely, but they also see this as just the latest sign that ballot drop boxes are a terrible idea for people interested in fair and secure elections.

Join Jim and Greg on 3 Martini Lunch as they unpack the friction between Joe Biden’s offer to campaign for Kamala Harris and the Harris team's resistance, the potential fallout of a comedian's controversial comments at the Trump rally, and Michelle Obama's unpersuasive scolding of men who won't vote for Harris.First, after briefly lamenting how their NFL teams squandered late leads on Sunday, they enjoy the Harris campaign's never-ending awkwardness over Joe Biden. Harris can't think of a thing she would have done differently than Biden but insists she'll be different. Now, as Biden wants to hit the campaign trail for Kamala, her advisers want nothing to do with him.Next, Jim and Greg analyze comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s controversial jokes at a Trump rally in New York City. From comments on Puerto Ricans, Latinos, and black people, they discuss the backlash and potential fallout. With the media spotlight on these remarks, they explore how this could affect close races like the U.S. Senate seat in Florida, where GOP Sen. Rick Scott strongly condemned the jokes.Finally, they slam the Harris campaign for its abortion obsession over the final days of the campaign. And Jim rips former First Lady Michelle Obama for scolding men with lines like, "Are you as men prepared to look into the eyes of the women and children you love and tell them you supported this assault on our safety?" Jim also points out the Obamas' constant and tiresome disappointment with the American people.

Join Jim and Greg as they wrap up the week discussing massive public support for two ideas to help secure our elections, JD Vance's excellent advice for bridging the political divide, and DC residents fleeing the city on Election Day to avoid possible unrest.First, they cheer a new Gallup poll showing massive support for two key ideas to improve election integrity. The poll reveals overwhelming approval for requiring voter ID at the polls and proof of citizenship when registering to vote—two common-sense solutions that Democrats continue to oppose.Next, they applaud GOP vice presidential nominee JD Vance for offering excellent advice on political divisions. Vance urged people at a town hall not to let political differences destroy friendships and family relationships. Jim and Greg emphasize that elections do matter and they matter a lot, but allowing our political differences to radically impact our personal lives is not healthy.Finally, they react to a Politico story revealing that a lot of Washington, DC, residents intentionally made travel plans to avoid being in the nation's capital on Election Day and in the days after. They fear post-election violence. Jim and Greg shake their heads at that and also push back against the narrative that right-wing activists are the primary threat, calling out the bias in the story.Please visit our great sponsors:BetterHelphttps://betterhelp.com/3MLVisit the 3ML website for 10% of your first month.  Zbioticshttps://zbiotics.com/3MLUse code 3ML at checkout to save 15% off your first order.