Light Beer Dark Money
by Chris Clements
Hosts Chris Clements and Sean Noble cover politics, culture, and the intersection of faith, freedom, and free enterprise. “Agree on something.”LIGHT BEER - Christopher W. Clements (Chris) is the former Vice Chairman and CEO of Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc. For nearly 75 years, Golden Eagle served as a family-owned, Arizona-based wholesaler for several major national brewers including: Anheuser-Busch-InBev and Sierra Nevada. Golden Eagle was sold to Phoenix-based, Hensley Beverage Company.DARK MONEY - Why pay attention to what Phoenix’s Sean Noble has to say? Well, for more than 20 years, a pretty elite cast of characters has been doing just that. His observations and ideas have impacted politics and public policy across the nation, from his home state of Arizona all the way to Washington, D.C. Sean is a founding partner of DC London, Inc., which provides political, public relations, and public affairs consulting services.
Episodes
-
The Final Week: Senate Trouble, Campaign Misfires & Your Responsibility to Vote (Audio)
With less than a week until Election Day, Chris and Sean return to the Big Show to break down what’s true, what’s false, and what’s just plain crazy. They examine Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign misfire in Ohio and whether the fallout could damage Republicans beyond the governor’s race. Then they…
more -
Jon Kyl: The Workhorse Arizona Won’t See Again (Audio)
Chris and Sean spend this episode remembering the life and legacy of former Arizona Senator Jon Kyl after attending his memorial service in Phoenix. For both of them, Kyl was far more than a senator they admired from afar. He was a mentor, a teacher, and an example of what public service could…
more -
Blue Wave or Blue Rivers? Polling, Senate Surprises & the Final 12 Days (Audio)
Small samples. Big headlines. How much are the polls actually telling us? With Election Day just 12 days away, Chris and Sean break down the battle for the Senate—and why Sean sees “blue rivers” running through individual races instead of a blue wave sweeping the country. First, they tackle the...
-
12 Days Out: George Khalaf Breaks Down the Numbers Behind the Election (Audio)
With just 12 days until Election Day, George Khalaf, founder and president of Data Orbital and candidate for Arizona's Legislative District 3, joins Chris and Sean on Light Beer | Dark Money to bring some much-needed perspective to the state of the election in Arizona and across the country. As...
-
What America Forgot About the Declaration | Michael Auslin (Audio)
Hoover Institution historian Michael Auslin joins Chris Clements to talk about his new book, National Treasure: How the Declaration of Independence Made America—and what Americans have lost by losing touch with their own history. Before getting to the book, Chris and Michael compare notes on...
-
Polls, Polls, and More Polls: Who to Believe and What to Predict? (Audio)
With less than three weeks until Election Day, Chris and Sean return to Light Beer | Dark Money for a deep dive into the polls, predictions, and pivotal races that could determine the balance of power in Washington and across the country. From Texas, where Sean boldly predicts James Talarico will...
-
Adrian Fontes: Same Arizona Roots. Different Politics. One Good Conversation. (Audio)
They’re the same age. They grew up in small Arizona towns. And one of them leads an organization that sued the other. Sean Noble sits down with Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes for a candid, surprisingly personal conversation on Light Beer Dark Money. They’ve taken different political...
-
Fathers, Grandfathers & the Fight for America (Audio)
Chris and Sean return to the Big Show, and this one gets personal fast. Chris is celebrating his daughter’s 13th birthday. Sean is celebrating his daughter’s 23rd. That opens a reflective conversation about fatherhood, the consequences of absent fathers, and the role grandparents and extended...
-
Five Weeks Out! (Audio)
Chris and Sean are back in the Cave with five weeks to go before the Arizona election. They start with the governor’s race and the arguments surrounding Katie Hobbs and Andy Biggs on taxes, vetoes, affordability, and the direction of the state. Then the conversation jumps ahead to 2028. J.D.…
more -
John Hart: The Gentleman Farmer Returns! (Audio)
The Gentleman Farmer is back. John Hart joins Chris and Sean for a conversation about U2, campaigns, and the future of government transparency. With U2’s 50th anniversary approaching, the three revisit the note Larry Mullen Jr. posted at his Dublin school, the band’s beginnings, their first U2...
-
Cody Ritchie Guest Hosts: Remembering Jon Kyl, Tucson & Arizona Politics (Audio)
Cody Ritchie of Crest Insurance joins Chris in the guest-host chair for a wide-ranging conversation on Arizona, Tucson, politics, business, and the state of leadership in the Old Pueblo. Crest Insurance is a multi-state insurance agency and a longtime supporter of Light Beer | Dark Money, and…
more -
Remembering Senator Jon Kyl: A Mentor, a Workhorse, and an Arizona Statesman (Audio)
Longtime guest and great friend of the show John Desser joins Chris from the Beltway to remember their mutual friend and mentor, former Arizona Senator Jon Kyl, who passed away today at the age of 84. Kyl represented Arizona in Congress for nearly three decades and was widely known for his work...
-
Jenna Bentley Returns: Politics, Policy, Sports & Remembrance (Audio)
Jenna Bentley of the Goldwater Institute is back with Chris Clements and Sean Noble — and there is plenty to rant about. The Republican Party is holding its first-ever midterm convention, and we have a pretty basic question: Why? With control of Congress on the line, we debate whether that money,...
-
Katie Hobbs’ Pay-to-Play Questions Aren’t Going Away (Audio)
The questions surrounding Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs and the Sunshine Residential pay-to-play controversy are back — and Chris and Sean dig into the new evidence raising even more questions about what happened inside the Hobbs administration. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes declined to…
more -
Katie Hobbs Has a Debate Problem (Audio)
Katie Hobbs has declined to debate Andy Biggs, and Sean and Chris think that decision raises a bigger question about what voters should expect from candidates asking to lead the state. After watching Democratic Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Republican challenger Alexander Kolodin actually...
-
Jay Feely Wants Your Vote (Audio)
Jay Feely joins The Big Show with Chris and Sean to discuss his campaign for Congress in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District—and why he believes he’s the right person to represent one of the most competitive districts in the country. Jay talks about the realities of campaigning door to door, his...
-
Republicans Are Joining the AI Backlash (Audio)
Sean and Chris are bullish on AI. But as opposition to data centers starts spreading into Republican politics, they think conservatives are risking something much bigger than a fight over local development. They break down why data centers have suddenly become an election issue, the jobs and...
-
Parents Win: Victorious Lead Plaintiff Jenny Clark’s Fight for Educational Freedom (Audio)
Jenny Clark is a social entrepreneur, educator, wife, mother—and the victorious lead plaintiff behind a monumental win for educational freedom in Arizona. This week, the Arizona Supreme Court struck down an anti-choice, anti-ESA initiative that threatened to upend Arizona’s nationally recognized...
-
Is the Democratic Polling Surge Real? Nate Silver’s “Summer Sugar High” and the Hobbs–Biggs Outlier (Audio)
Are Democrats riding a real political wave—or just enjoying a summer polling sugar high? Chris and Sean revisit Nate Silver’s FLIPR election model and his latest analysis of an argument first advanced by Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini: summer polling has consistently overstated Democratic...
-
Democrats Are Already Trying to Stop AOC (Audio)
The fight over the Democratic Party’s future may already be underway. After a democratic socialist defeated a heavily funded establishment favorite in Florida’s Senate primary, we look at where the energy inside the Democratic Party is moving — and why the 2028 presidential primary could become a...
-
Can You Trust the Polls? Nate Silver’s 2026 Midterm Election Forecast (Audio)
Can election forecasts really tell us what will happen in November—or do they simply give political junkies a false sense of certainty? Chris and Sean break down Tuesday’s primary results, beginning with a massive polling miss in Wisconsin. Democratic socialist Francesca Hong had led Milwaukee...
-
The Fauci Texts Are Out (Audio)
Newly released messages from Dr. Anthony Fauci’s government phone are reopening the debate over how COVID vaccines were discussed during the pandemic, and for Sean Noble, this one is personal. Sean and Chris react to the messages concerning COVID vaccination and pregnancy, Sean shares what his...
-
Arizona Treasurer Candidate Nick Mansour On the Big Show | A Democrat's Vision for Arizona's Future (Audio)
Arizona Democratic candidate for Treasurer Nick Mansour joins The Big Show with Chris Clements. Chris and Nick have known each other for decades, growing up in Tucson before reconnecting through the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). As a successful entrepreneur and capitalist, Nick brings a...
-
Katie Hobbs Won’t Face Andy Biggs (Audio)
Katie Hobbs has officially ruled out debating Andy Biggs. Chris Clements and Sean Noble examine what the governor may be trying to avoid, Biggs’ selection of former Arizona State Senator Sine Kerr as his running mate and why refusing to debate could create problems for both halves of the…
more -
Battle Lines Drawn: Arizona's Reckoning, Fauci's Fifth & Mamdani's America (Audio)
The Big Show is back! After a month-long hiatus filled with family, travel, and a little Rush, Sean and Chris are back behind the microphones—and they return just as the political battle is entering a whole new phase. With Arizona's primaries finally settled, the attention shifts to November.…
more -
The Biggs Blowout: Arizona Primary Results, Hobbs’ Warning Signs & Iran’s Oil Shock (Audio)
Arizona voters sent a message Tuesday night—and Andy Biggs delivered a landslide. In this solo episode of Light Beer Dark Money, Sean breaks down the biggest winners, losers and surprises from Arizona’s 2026 primary election. Biggs captured nearly 74% of the Republican vote for governor…
more -
Arizona's School Choice Fight Just Escalated (Audio)
Victor Riches, President and CEO of the Goldwater Institute, joins Sean Noble to discuss a major legal challenge that could determine the future of Arizona's nationally recognized Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program. Victor explains why the Goldwater Institute believes a union-backed...
-
Lindsey Graham's Final Legacy (Audio)
The political world was stunned by the sudden passing of Senator Lindsey Graham, prompting tributes from Republicans and Democrats alike. Sean Noble and Chris Clements reflect on Graham's decades of public service, why he earned respect across the political spectrum, and what his absence means…
more -
The Battle for American History (Audio)
Sean Noble is back with another solo episode, this time breaking down a newly released White House report examining the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of American History. Sean walks through the report's findings, including changes to the museum's mission, the growing role of...
-
Kill the Corn Tax: The Hidden Gas Tax Washington Won’t Touch (Audio)
Jared Whitley joins Light Beer Dark Money to make the case for repealing the Renewable Fuel Standard — the 2005 Washington mandate that forces refiners to blend renewable fuels into America’s fuel supply or buy compliance credits. What started as a promise to reduce foreign oil dependence and…
more -
The Left's Rising Star COLLAPSES + Why We Expect Too Much From Politicians (Audio)
Sean Noble is back with a solo episode breaking down one of the biggest political stories of the week—and reflecting on a much bigger lesson about politics, leadership, and the American experiment. Sean begins with the stunning collapse of Democratic Senate candidate Graham Plattner in Maine...
-
America at 250: Supreme Court Power, Colorado Upheaval and the Socialist Surge (Audio)
Sean goes solo for a special Independence Day episode marking the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. He begins with a reflection on the radical ideas at the heart of the American experiment: that our rights come from God, government derives its power from the consent of the...
-
America at 250, Fauci’s Reckoning & the Socialist Surge (Audio)
Sean Noble and Chris Clements are back for a Fourth of July episode of Light Beer Dark Money, reflecting on America’s 250th anniversary and the ideas that have sustained the country for nearly two and a half centuries. They begin with Independence Day traditions, small-town celebrations, family...
-
Comrade Mamdani's Revolution: The Red March Comes to America (Audio)
Chris Clements and Sean Noble return for a hard-hitting discussion on the accelerating march of Marxism in America—and why the New York City primary elections should be viewed as a national wake-up call. This wasn't the Democratic establishment at work. This was Zohran Mamdani's coming-out party....
-
Tucker Walks, JD Gets Snubbed & America Shines (Audio)
Sean Noble and Chris Clements are back for another episode of Light Beer Dark Money, covering politics, media, foreign policy, social media, and an unexpected wave of American pride. Sean opens with stories from Disney World, an ultramarathon relay, and a Father’s Day spent recovering from both....
-
Half Monk. Half Hitman. Full Dad (Audio)
Jon Hunter joins Chris Clements for one of the most personal and reflective conversations ever recorded on Light Beer Dark Money. Chris lost his father, Bill Clements, unexpectedly in 1995 when he was just 58 years old. What began as a lung cancer diagnosis became a two-month journey that forever...
-
Doug Ducey: Leadership, Education, and the Future of Conservative Governance (Audio)
Former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey joins Chris and Sean for a wide-ranging conversation that feels more like three old friends sharing a beer than a political interview. Ducey takes listeners back to the beginning, from building Cold Stone Creamery into a nationally recognized brand to his first...
-
Rubio, Rush & the Media Meltdown (Audio)
Sean Noble and Chris Clements are back for another episode of Light Beer Dark Money, covering politics, culture, media, and a little classic rock. Chris opens the show with a firsthand recap of Rush’s return to the stage in Los Angeles, including the band’s tribute to Neil Peart, the debut of new...
-
Victor Riches on Water, Growth, and Arizona’s Economic Future (Audio)
Victor Riches, President and CEO of the Goldwater Institute, joins Chris Clements and Sean Noble for a timely discussion on the growing battle over water policy, economic development, and the future of Arizona. With state budget negotiations still stalled and critical policy decisions hanging in...
-
Dems Panic, Bernie Wants AI, Rubio Destroys TikTok Politics, and Dylan Mulvaney Hits Broadway (Audio)
Sean Noble and Chris Clements are back for another episode of Light Beer Dark Money, covering a mix of politics, policy, culture, and a few personal stories from the week. They start with Texas politics and a look at James Talarico, whose repeated campaign story raises questions about…
more -
John Trobough on AI, Big Tech, and the Fight for Arizona’s 1st Congressional District (Audio)
John Trobough, Republican candidate for Congress in Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, joins Chris and Sean for a wide-ranging conversation about one of the most competitive House seats in the country — and one of the biggest policy fights of the next decade: artificial intelligence. Trobough...
-
🎙️ New Episode Alert: Camille Kayyem and the Faith Generation (Audio)
What does it mean to be young, faithful, and unafraid to lead in today’s culture? New Notre Dame Prep graduate Camille Kayyem — daughter of frequent LBDM guest Luke Kayyem — joins Chris and Sean for an inspiring and insightful conversation about faith, leadership, identity, and the growing...
-
Trump’s GOP Purge Rolls On as the DNC’s 2024 Autopsy Implodes (Audio)
Trump’s grip on the Republican Party is no longer theoretical—it’s playing out in primaries across the country. Chris and Sean break down a wild week in 2026 politics, from Rep. Thomas Massie’s Kentucky primary loss to Brad Raffensperger getting knocked out in Georgia, Trump-backed wins in…
more -
Marco Rubio’s America, Redistricting Chaos, and the End of Schweikert’s Governor Dream (Audio)
Sean Noble and Chris Clements are back with a classic rant episode that jumps from Arizona governor polling to congressional staffing, redistricting warfare, Kamala Harris fantasy-land reforms, and a closing reflection on why faith is still the foundation of the American experiment. They start in...
-
Trump’s Iran Gamble, Xi’s China Play, and the Midterm Fallout (Audio)
President Trump just handed Democrats a made-for-TV attack line — but did he also show the kind of political courage presidents are supposed to have? Chris and Sean kick off this episode with Trump’s explosive comments about not weighing Americans’ financial pain the same way when deciding how to...
-
L.A. Collapse, Tucker’s Meltdown, AOC Economics, and Rubio 2028 (Audio)
Sean Noble and Chris Clements break down a packed rant episode that starts with a rough family road-trip disaster and quickly turns into a broader conversation about collapse, credibility, and the political future of the country. What begins with Sean getting stranded in Blythe after the family...
-
US National Treasure: Michael Auslin on the Fragile Birth of the American Republic (Audio)
Distinguished Hoover Institution scholar Michael Auslin joins Chris and Sean to discuss his powerful new book, National Treasure, which explores the turbulent and uncertain beginnings of the United States. Far from a guaranteed success story, America’s founding was marked by division, sacrifice,...
-
Redistricting Wars: The Supreme Court, Indiana’s Warning Shot, and the Battle for the 2032 Map (Audio)
The fight for control of the U.S. House is no longer just about candidates, fundraising, or the national mood. It is increasingly about the maps. In this episode of Light Beer Dark Money, Chris and Sean break down the fast-moving redistricting war reshaping American politics in real time. Florida...
-
How to Win an Election: John Shadegg on the Lost Art of Campaigning (Audio)
Former Arizona Congressman John Shadegg joins Chris and Sean for the first episode in a new Light Beer Dark Money series: “How to Win an Election.” Shadegg brings a rare perspective: he served eight terms in Congress representing Arizona, grew up inside one of the most influential political...
-
Tackling the Men’s Mental Health Crisis with Luke Kayyem (Audio)
Luke Kayyem joins Chris and Sean for a forward-looking conversation on Fathers of the Future—what it means to lead, provide, and model strength in a rapidly changing world. They explore the evolving role of fatherhood, the cultural pressures facing families today, and why intentional leadership…
more
About this show
Hosts Chris Clements and Sean Noble cover politics, culture, and the intersection of faith, freedom, and free enterprise. “Agree on something.”LIGHT BEER - Christopher W. Clements (Chris) is the former Vice Chairman and CEO of Golden Eagle Distributors, Inc. For nearly 75 years, Golden Eagle served as a family-owned, Arizona-based wholesaler for several major national brewers including: Anheuser-Busch-InBev and Sierra Nevada. Golden Eagle was sold to Phoenix-based, Hensley Beverage Company.DARK MONEY - Why pay attention to what Phoenix’s Sean Noble has to say? Well, for more than 20 years, a pretty elite cast of characters has been doing just that. His observations and ideas have impacted politics and public policy across the nation, from his home state of Arizona all the way to Washington, D.C. Sean is a founding partner of DC London, Inc., which provides political, public relations, and public affairs consulting services.
Hosted by
Chris Clements