PODCAST · news
Behind The Ballot
by Mikal Jenkins, Muhamed Alic
Engaged, Balanced, Informative. Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World. Our hosts Mikal Jenkins and Muhamed Alic dive into modern American politics and offer insights and views into the ever shifting political landscape.
Episodes
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09-11-2026 - Anthropic, Yemen, and the Saudi oil shock
Concerns from Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon and alignment lead Evan Hubinger about the possibility of advanced AI becoming uncontrollable, Anthropic’s disclosure that a northern Yemen weapons cell used Claude for months to develop missile-related software, and escalating attacks by the Houthis...
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09-14-2026 - Saudi Arabia, Iran, & Skyrocketing Oil
Disruptions to oil transport, including damage to Saudi Arabia’s East–West pipeline and Houthi control of Yemen’s Red Sea coast, are putting additional pressure on global oil supplies, while domestic U.S. diesel, jet fuel, and lubricant prices are also being affected by refinery outages and...
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08/17/2026 - Iran's Offense Deadline & Trump Families Corruption
Iran reportedly shifting to a “fully offensive” posture and warning of military action if its demands—including an end to the naval blockade and a permanent Hormuz agreement—aren’t met within weeks. The Strait of Hormuz remains severely restricted, while Gulf allies are increasingly frustrated…
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07/15/26 - Iran Strikes, Graham passing, ICE Shootings & Housing Win
President Trump formally notified Congress that hostilities with Iran resumed on July 7, restarting a new 60-day War Powers Resolution clock after renewed U.S. strikes, which the administration says were triggered by Iranian missile attacks on U.S. bases and violations of a previous ceasefire...
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07-08-2026 - Iran Tensions Flare, SCOTUS Rulings, and Platner Drops Out
The escalating U.S.-Iran-Israel conflict has fueled major global economic uncertainty, with attacks around the Strait of Hormuz disrupting energy supplies, briefly sending oil prices above $120 per barrel before renewed military strikes in early July pushed Brent crude back near $79 amid fears of...
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5/27/26 - Trump’s Iran Showdown, Paxton’s Revenge Victory, Zelensky’s SOS & Ebola Emergency
President Trump said progress on an Iran deal remains uncertain unless countries such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar join the Abraham Accords, while major disagreements persist over control of the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s demands for frozen funds and sanctions relief. At the same time, Volodymyr...
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05-26-2026 - Trump’s Triple Crisis: Iran Deal Chaos, White House Shooting, and the AI Bubble Burst
Iran is resisting U.S. demands to fully dismantle its nuclear program and surrender enriched uranium, while seeking $24 billion in frozen funds as negotiations continue under a possible 60-day ceasefire extension. President Donald Trump says talks are progressing, though Israel and Prime Minister...
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5/20/26 - Massie Ousted, $1.8B Slush Fund Fight, and Trump’s Ballroom Defeat in Senate
The Pentagon reportedly paused further strikes on Iran as Tehran improved its air defenses and aircraft tracking, making attacks riskier despite Iran retaining major missile capabilities. The war has raised oil prices, caused U.S. casualties, and stalled negotiations after Iran rejected a U.S....
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05-18-2026 - China Ag Deals vs. Reality, EV Fees Fight, and the $1.7B Jan. 6 Fund
President Trump said he is delaying a planned U.S. strike on Iran after pressure from Gulf allies and ongoing nuclear negotiations, though both sides remain far apart amid a fragile ceasefire. Iran is also moving ahead with a new Strait of Hormuz control system that could charge transit fees and...
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05/15/26 - Geopolitical Chess Moves: Trump-Xi Summit Fallout, Housing Bill Fight & Redistricting Wars
President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing for high-level talks on trade, Taiwan, AI, and especially the U.S.-Iran conflict, claiming China would not arm Iran and may help mediate tensions around the Strait of Hormuz, though reports suggest Beijing may still support some...
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05/11/26 - Gas Tax Fight, Data Center Wildfires & the White House Ballroom Brawl
The U.S.-Iran crisis is rapidly escalating as peace talks appear close to collapse, with President Trump reportedly weighing renewed military action in the Strait of Hormuz and additional strikes inside Iran after dismissing Tehran’s latest response. Israel is also pushing for expanded operations...
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05-08-2026 - Strait of Chaos: Iran Strikes Back, UFO Files Drop, and America’s Economy Cracks
Middle East tensions are escalating as the U.S. resumes Project Freedom after Saudi Arabia and Kuwait restored access to regional bases. Iran warned ships to avoid U.S. warships, claimed attacks on American destroyers, and faced new U.S. strikes on missile and naval targets, while a leaked CIA...
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05-06-2026 - From Project Freedom to Full Conflict: Iran’s Missiles, UAE Retaliation & America’s Breaking Economy
A rapidly developing mix of global and domestic stories, led by reports of a possible US-Iran memorandum aimed at ending the war and reopening negotiations over nuclear issues and the Strait of Hormuz, though Iranian officials strongly dispute key details while questions swirl around suspicious...
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05-04-2026 - From Project Freedom to Full Conflict: Iran’s Missiles, UAE Retaliation & America’s Breaking Economy
The collapse of the U.S.–Iran ceasefire has triggered direct clashes in the Strait of Hormuz, with U.S. forces retaliating against Iranian attacks on shipping and Iran responding with missile strikes while threatening to close the waterway. The conflict is expanding as the UAE vows retaliation...
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05-01-2026 - Iran’s ‘Stuck’ War, $1+ Gas Spikes & Pentagon’s Massive AI Power Grab
White House envoy Steve Witkoff has revised Iran negotiations to prioritize strict nuclear limits as President Trump weighs possible new strikes, despite Iran showing greater flexibility on ceasefire terms and signaling readiness for further talks through Pakistani mediation. While the...
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04-29-2026 - Global Oil Shock, Iran Standoff, Congressional Chaos & Domestic Squeeze
President Trump is preparing for a potentially long-term naval blockade of Iran through the Strait of Hormuz as his primary leverage strategy, driving oil and gas prices sharply higher while increasing global economic strain. Iran has hardened its military posture, China and Russia are warning...
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04-27-2026 - From the Strait to the Senate: War, Economy & Power Struggles
The US-Iran ceasefire and Israel-Hezbollah truce remain in place but are under growing strain as Iran attacked ships in the Strait of Hormuz, Israel intensified operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and regional tensions stayed high despite ongoing diplomacy. The war is driving up energy…
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04-22-2026 - Trump Extends Iran Ceasefire + Reconciliation Drama
The U.S.–Iran ceasefire remains in place but is increasingly strained. President Trump extended it to allow negotiations, but tensions in the Strait of Hormuz continue, with Iran targeting vessels and the U.S. maintaining its blockade. Iran refuses talks unless the blockade is lifted, and…
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04-20-2026 - War Powers, Petroyuan & Senate Gridlock: Inside the High-Stakes Iran Endgame
A U.S.–Iran crisis is escalating across military and diplomatic fronts. In early April, a U.S. F-15E was shot down over Iran, triggering a high-risk rescue mission that recovered both crew members, one seriously injured. At the same time, initial high-level talks in Islamabad—the first since...
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04-15-2026 - US Blockade of Strait of Hormuz
The 2026 Iran war, sparked by U.S.-Israeli strikes, is in its sixth week under a fragile ceasefire, with tensions focused on limited access to the Strait of Hormuz and conflicting reports on shipping activity. Ongoing negotiations show some progress, but escalation risks remain amid U.S. troop...
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04-13-2026 - US-Iran Ceasefire Collapses as Trump Sets New Deadline
After U.S. strikes and an ultimatum, Washington and Tehran reached a short-lived, Pakistan-brokered ceasefire tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but it quickly unraveled as Israeli operations continued and talks collapsed over U.S.-backed demands for a long-term halt to Iran’s uranium...
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04-08-2026 - Fragile Peace or Setup for Round Two? Iran War Updates
The US–Israel–Iran war, which began in late February 2026 with major strikes on Iran, escalated through missile attacks and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, but a fragile two-week ceasefire was reached on April 7–8 requiring Iran to reopen the strait in exchange for a pause in US bombing…
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04-06-2026 - Iran’s Oil Premium, Trump’s Tuesday Deadline & the Pentagon’s Rescue Disaster
On day 38 of the US–Israel–Iran war, the US and Israel maintain air superiority and continue major strikes, but Iran still retains significant missile and drone capabilities while holding partial control of the Strait of Hormuz. This week included the downing of a US F-15E and a large,...
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04-03-2026 - Interview with Tom Joseph
As the founder of Bookminders, he developed a transformative approach to outsourced bookkeeping and pioneered a remote-first employment model that prioritizes flexibility and work-life balance. As an activist and media producer, he launched Wilson's Fountain and America's Main Street Party,...
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04-01-2026 - Iran Says No to Talks — Trump Prepares to Address the Nation
In week five of the war following the killing of Ali Khamenei, U.S. and Israeli forces have carried out sustained airstrikes on Iran’s military and industrial infrastructure while Iran retaliates with missile and drone attacks across the region, intensifying a partial blockade of the Strait of...
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03-30-2026 - Maximum Pressure Backfires? Iran's Oil Profits, US Ground Prep & Shutdown Stalemate
The U.S.–Israel war against Iran illustrates modern politics through a blend of military action, economic warfare, and domestic strain. Israel is targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure to weaken the regime, while the U.S., led by Marco Rubio, aims to cripple Iran’s military without a full ground...
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Ramon Perez Interview
Mikal sits down with Ramon Perez, who is a former U.S. Air Force intelligence officer and NSA veteran who served for over 13 years, including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan. After leaving the military in 2017, he became an AI consultant before founding and serving as Executive Director of…
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03-25-2026 - On the Brink: US Troops Surge Toward Iran While Senate Gridlock Paralyzes DHS at Home
The U.S. is escalating its military posture near Iran by deploying rapid-response airborne forces and maintaining the option of targeting Kharg Island, a key oil export hub. Iran has taken a defiant stance, strengthening defenses, tightening control over the Strait of Hormuz, and insisting any...
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03-23-2026 - S-Iran War Update: Trump’s 5-Day Pause Sparks 10%+ Oil Plunge, Alleged Backchannel Talks Emerge, Israel Launches Fresh Strikes
As the U.S.–Israel–Iran war entered its fourth week, markets rallied after President Donald Trump announced a five-day pause in planned strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure to allow indirect diplomacy, briefly lowering oil prices and easing fuel concerns tied to Strait of Hormuz disruptions....
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03-18-2026 - US-Iran War Further Escalates
Israeli strikes on Iran’s South Pars gas field sparked major regional escalation, with Iranian retaliation targeting Gulf energy infrastructure and threats to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz as the U.S. and NATO considered steps to keep trade routes open. The conflict has rapidly expanded,...
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03-16-2026 - US-Iran War – Domestic & Global Dimensions
Pentagon officials said the first six days of U.S. operations against Iran cost over $11.3 billion, prompting Democrats to demand public hearings on strategy and authorization amid frustration over classified briefings and rising civilian and economic concerns. President Trump delivered mixed...
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Mussab Ali - Candidate for NJ-8
Mikal sits down with Mussab Ali, Mussab Ali is a Pakistani-American educator, activist, and politician who became the youngest elected official in Jersey City history after winning a seat on the Jersey City Board of Education in 2017 at age 20, later serving as its president from 2021 to 2022.…
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03/09/2026 - Trump's War Gamble: Regime Change, Backchannels, and Midterm Mayhem
The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran—now in its second week—has escalated from initial U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites into a wider regional conflict marked by retaliatory attacks, civilian casualties, and major economic disruption. Strikes on Iranian oil...
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03-06-2026 - No Surrender: Iran Closes the Strait, Oil Surges, Jobs Tank
President Donald Trump fired Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and nominated Sen. Markwayne Mullin as her replacement amid criticism over immigration policy, while the DOJ released additional Epstein files that triggered congressional scrutiny of Attorney General Pam Bondi. The Supreme…
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03/04/2026 - War Without End? US-Iran Conflict Escalates
The war began when the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, missile facilities, air defenses, and leadership targets in Tehran, killing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggering immediate Iranian retaliation with missiles and drones against U.S. bases...
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03-02-2026 - America & Israel Strike Iran
The February 28 U.S.–Israel assault on Iran—Operation Epic Fury (U.S.) and Operation Roaring Lion (Israel)—has expanded into a broader regional war after precision strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials using shared U.S.-Israeli intelligence. Nearly 2,000…
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02-27-2026 - National Voting Emergency? The Legal Memo Behind Trump's Election Power Grab
Reports indicate President Trump and allies are considering major federal actions ahead of the 2026 midterms, including a draft executive order tightening voting rules and renewed legal battles over election control, while the SAVE Act has stalled in the Senate due to Republican divisions. At the...
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02-25-2026 - SOTU Claims, Epstein Update, ICE Whistleblower, & Anthropic Shakeup
President Donald Trump’s record-long State of the Union speech focused on the economy, immigration, tariffs, crime, and foreign policy, portraying his first year back in office as a major national turnaround. However, fact-checkers found dozens of false or misleading claims, especially on the...
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02-23-2026 - Tariff Refunds Battle, Supreme Court Climate Case, Recent Polling
After the Supreme Court of the United States struck down President Trump’s IEEPA-based tariffs, Senate Democrats proposed the Tariff Refund Act of 2026 to return roughly $175 billion in collected duties, prioritizing small businesses. Trump’s approval has fallen to 39%, with about 60%…
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02-20-2026 - Tariffs Overturned, War Drums on Iran, & Trump's Agenda Tested
In a 6–3 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping “Liberation Day” tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), with Chief Justice John Roberts writing that the law was not meant for broad trade policy, leaving up to $200 billion in...
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02-18-2026 - James Talarico & CBS News, Supreme Court, Iran Developments, and More
This week saw mounting political turbulence: Stephen Colbert accused CBS of caving to regulatory pressure after it refused to air his interview with Senate candidate James Talarico over FCC “equal time” concerns, while UN experts urged independent investigations into the “Epstein Files” and Rep....
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02-16-2026 - Flashpoints: Shutdowns, Files, Tariffs & Midterm Mayhem"
A partial DHS shutdown began after Senate Democrats blocked a GOP funding bill over immigration enforcement reforms, leaving thousands of federal workers unpaid while ICE operations and a major new detention center in New York move forward. At the same time, the House passed the SAVE America Act,...
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02-11-2026 - Disaster in D.C: Pam Bondi's Testimony & Netanyahu's 6th visit
Amid rising fears of a Department of Homeland Security shutdown, Pam Bondi testified that Senate Democrats’ blockade of the DHS funding bill jeopardized national security and border operations, arguing the White House had offered reasonable compromises that were rejected. She framed the standoff…
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Meet Jackson Franklin - IN-5 Congressional Candidate
Mikal sits down with Jackson Franklin, Jackson Franklin is a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. House of Representatives in Indiana’s 5th Congressional District (IN-5) in the 2026 election. He’s a 25-year-old progressive, a Staff Sergeant and combat medic in the Indiana Army National…
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Meet Brendan Gill - Candidate For NJ District 11
Brendan Gill is an Essex County Commissioner and Democratic candidate running in the special election for New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District to fill the seat vacated by Gov. Mikie Sherrill. He has a long background in Democratic politics, including serving as a senior advisor to prominent…
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Midterm Shadows: FBI Raid on Fulton, ICE Shootings Spark Shutdown Threat, Rubio on Venezuela
A Senate hearing featured Secretary of State Marco Rubio defending the Trump administration’s operation to remove Nicolás Maduro and outlining a cautious transition plan for Venezuela, while drawing sharp bipartisan scrutiny over military authority and long-term strategy. Simultaneously…
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01-27-2026 - Political Crisis - Government Shutdown Showdown
Democrats see leverage in the DHS funding fight and are pressing for real ICE and Border Patrol reforms, fueled by political fallout from the Minneapolis killing. Trump and Senate Republicans, unusually conciliatory, are seeking to avoid a shutdown through administrative actions, while Schumer…
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01/22/2026 - Kneepads in Davos: Trump's Greenland Pivot and ICE Door-Kicking Power
Mikal & Muhamed sit down to discuss Trumps latest (and very interesting) speech in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum where he discusses Greenland and more. Pam Bondi is under fire and facing possible charges for contempt in her handling of the Epstein files.
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01/20/2026 - Trump's Global Gambit
Mikal & Muhamed sit down to discuss the recent comments from PA Governor Josh Shapiro on vetting questions from then Presidential Candidate Kamala Harris regarding his Israeli loyalty, the two state solution is discussed, Trump's recent remarks on Greenland, as well as economic changes and issues...
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01-15-2026 - Cancel The Midterms, Carry Your Papers, & Iran
Mikal & Muhamed sit down to discuss the statements by President Trump discussing cancelling the midterms in fear he will be impeached and press secretary Karoline Leavitt calling it a "joke". ICE and their growing unethical behavior is in the national spotlight once more, and international...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Engaged, Balanced, Informative. Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World. Our hosts Mikal Jenkins and Muhamed Alic dive into modern American politics and offer insights and views into the ever shifting political landscape.
HOSTED BY
Mikal Jenkins, Muhamed Alic
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How many episodes does Behind The Ballot have?
Behind The Ballot currently has 86 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Behind The Ballot about?
Engaged, Balanced, Informative. Finding Common Ground in a Polarized World. Our hosts Mikal Jenkins and Muhamed Alic dive into modern American politics and offer insights and views into the ever shifting political landscape.
How often does Behind The Ballot release new episodes?
Behind The Ballot has 86 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
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You can listen to Behind The Ballot on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Behind The Ballot?
Behind The Ballot is created and hosted by Mikal Jenkins, Muhamed Alic.
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