The Final 5: June 12, 2025
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
Spanberger on affordability agenda, weighs in on Trump-Newsom
Democratic candidate for Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger joins The Final 5 to lay out her plan to tackle housing costs, eliminate the car tax, and defend Virginia?s autonomy in the face of federal overreach.
Democratic candidate for Virginia governor Abigail Spanberger joins The Final 5 to lay out her plan to tackle housing costs, eliminate the car tax, and defend Virginia?s autonomy in the face of federal overreach.
The Final 5: June 11, 2025
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
Getting the pulse of the people on Trump & immigration
As immigration protests flare up nationwide, Ipsos President Cliff Young joined The Final 5 with Jim Lokay to break down the latest polling trends. Young says immigration has surged back into the top tier of voter concerns, especially among Republicans, though it's still eclipsed at times by the economy and threats to democracy. While Trump?s overall job approval hovers around 48%, his immigration approval has slipped amid controversy over mass deportations. Ipsos polling shows deep partisan divides, with stark disagreements on deporting undocumented parents of U.S. citizen children and due process rights. Young says immigration will remain a defining issue in the weeks ahead.
As immigration protests flare up nationwide, Ipsos President Cliff Young joined The Final 5 with Jim Lokay to break down the latest polling trends. Young says immigration has surged back into the top tier of voter concerns, especially among Republicans, though it's still eclipsed at times by the economy and threats to democracy. While Trump?s overall job approval hovers around 48%, his immigration approval has slipped amid controversy over mass deportations. Ipsos polling shows deep partisan divides, with stark disagreements on deporting undocumented parents of U.S. citizen children and due process rights. Young says immigration will remain a defining issue in the weeks ahead.
Former diplomat: troop deployment to LA "a dangerous overreach"
Former State Department official Joel Rubin told Jim Lokay on "The Final 5" that deploying active-duty troops to Los Angeles is a ?national security blunder? that undermines democracy and misuses military resources. While he says the U.S. has ?too many undocumented people? and that the issue must be addressed through the rule of law, he warned the response sets a dangerous precedent that could be repeated in other cities if left unchecked.
Former State Department official Joel Rubin told Jim Lokay on "The Final 5" that deploying active-duty troops to Los Angeles is a ?national security blunder? that undermines democracy and misuses military resources. While he says the U.S. has ?too many undocumented people? and that the issue must be addressed through the rule of law, he warned the response sets a dangerous precedent that could be repeated in other cities if left unchecked.
The Final 5: June 10, 2025
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
Kaivan Shroff on the Democrats' youth problem
Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff joined "The Final 5 with Jim Lokay" to discuss the party?s struggles with young voters after 2024. He criticized the DNC?s use of David Hogg as a token youth leader and called out the party?s influencer strategy as ineffective. Shroff urged Democrats to elevate authentic, grassroots young leaders if they want to win back trust and turnout.
Democratic strategist Kaivan Shroff joined "The Final 5 with Jim Lokay" to discuss the party?s struggles with young voters after 2024. He criticized the DNC?s use of David Hogg as a token youth leader and called out the party?s influencer strategy as ineffective. Shroff urged Democrats to elevate authentic, grassroots young leaders if they want to win back trust and turnout.
John Reid on Lt. Gov. campaign, Loudoun County school controversy
John Reid, former radio host and now the Republican nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor, joined "The Final 5 with Jim Lokay" to discuss key issues facing the commonwealth, including the controversy in Loudoun County Public Schools over a Title IX investigation involving a transgender student using the boys? locker room.
John Reid, former radio host and now the Republican nominee for Virginia lieutenant governor, joined "The Final 5 with Jim Lokay" to discuss key issues facing the commonwealth, including the controversy in Loudoun County Public Schools over a Title IX investigation involving a transgender student using the boys? locker room.
Newsom sues Trump over National Guard deployment
On The Final 5 with Jim Lokay, former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould discussed the legal fight between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the White House over National Guard deployment. Gould said federal law clearly gives the President authority to federalize the Guard during times of unrest. He pointed to past examples, including civil rights-era interventions, and criticized the shift in how states handle immigration enforcement based on political control, warning that it could erode public trust in the legal system.
On The Final 5 with Jim Lokay, former Arizona Supreme Court Justice Andrew Gould discussed the legal fight between California Governor Gavin Newsom and the White House over National Guard deployment. Gould said federal law clearly gives the President authority to federalize the Guard during times of unrest. He pointed to past examples, including civil rights-era interventions, and criticized the shift in how states handle immigration enforcement based on political control, warning that it could erode public trust in the legal system.
The Final 5: June 9, 2025
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5: June 6, 2025
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
What the Trump/Musk feud says about our political process
Democratic strategist Kevin Walling and Republican political commentator Christopher Johnson join "The Final 5 with Jim Lokay" to talk about what President Trump's public spat with Elon Musk will do to his agenda, the "Big Beautiful Bill," and what the reaction to it all says about the state of the nation's body politic.
Democratic strategist Kevin Walling and Republican political commentator Christopher Johnson join "The Final 5 with Jim Lokay" to talk about what President Trump's public spat with Elon Musk will do to his agenda, the "Big Beautiful Bill," and what the reaction to it all says about the state of the nation's body politic.
Trump/Musk feud continues; Abrego-Garcia back on U.S. soil
While the news cycle was consumed with the public spat between President Trump and Elon Musk, the man mistakenly deported by the Trump administration was returned to the United States on Friday after a grand jury indictment. Kilmar Abrego-Garcia was charged in connection with a 2022 traffic stop where federal prosecutors allege he was involved in human smuggling. Jim gets reaction from Dr. Allison Gill of the Daily Beans podcast on "The Final 5."
While the news cycle was consumed with the public spat between President Trump and Elon Musk, the man mistakenly deported by the Trump administration was returned to the United States on Friday after a grand jury indictment. Kilmar Abrego-Garcia was charged in connection with a 2022 traffic stop where federal prosecutors allege he was involved in human smuggling. Jim gets reaction from Dr. Allison Gill of the Daily Beans podcast on "The Final 5."
Capitol Hill reacts to Trump/Musk feud
The explosive conflict between President Trump and Elon Musk is reverberating on Capitol Hill, where the fate of the President's "Big Beautiful Bill" remains in flux. Jim Lokay discusses the feud with NOTUS reporter Riley Rogerson, plus how Musk's fortune could factor into next year's midterm elections.
The explosive conflict between President Trump and Elon Musk is reverberating on Capitol Hill, where the fate of the President's "Big Beautiful Bill" remains in flux. Jim Lokay discusses the feud with NOTUS reporter Riley Rogerson, plus how Musk's fortune could factor into next year's midterm elections.
The Final 5: June 5, 2025
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5: June 4, 2025
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5: June 3, 2025
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
The Final 5 is a daily recap of the roller coaster that is American politics. It's not your regular newscast and that's something we're proud of.
Texas Democrat chair vows to reclaim working-class message
On "The Final 5 with Jim Lokay," Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder criticized what he calls Republican hypocrisy over spending and condemned President Trump?s recent conspiracy-laced posts. Emphasizing the need to reconnect with middle-class voters, Scudder outlined his grassroots strategy to revamp Democratic messaging across Texas, especially in overlooked mid-sized cities.
On "The Final 5 with Jim Lokay," Texas Democratic Party Chair Kendall Scudder criticized what he calls Republican hypocrisy over spending and condemned President Trump?s recent conspiracy-laced posts. Emphasizing the need to reconnect with middle-class voters, Scudder outlined his grassroots strategy to revamp Democratic messaging across Texas, especially in overlooked mid-sized cities.
GOP-led Senate faces uphill battle to pass "Big Beautiful Bill" after Musk's about-face
Odds of the Senate passing President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" took a hit on Tuesday, when former DOGE head Elon Musk lambasted the legislation as "a disgusting abomination." While GOP leaders have a wider margin for error in the Senate than they did in the House, the bill's passage is far from a done deal. Jim gets perspective from Republican strategist Amanda Makki on "The Final 5."
Odds of the Senate passing President Trump's "Big Beautiful Bill" took a hit on Tuesday, when former DOGE head Elon Musk lambasted the legislation as "a disgusting abomination." While GOP leaders have a wider margin for error in the Senate than they did in the House, the bill's passage is far from a done deal. Jim gets perspective from Republican strategist Amanda Makki on "The Final 5."
Harry Jarin announces primary bid vs. Hoyer in Maryland's 5th
More than a year before Maryland voters cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections, the race for Maryland's 5th congressional district has an entrant. Businessman Harry Jarin announced he will challenge longtime incumbent Rep. Steny Hoyer in the Democratic race. He joined Jim Lokay on "The Final 5" to talk about his candidacy and why he thinks Hoyer is "still operating in this 1980s information environment."
More than a year before Maryland voters cast ballots in the 2026 midterm elections, the race for Maryland's 5th congressional district has an entrant. Businessman Harry Jarin announced he will challenge longtime incumbent Rep. Steny Hoyer in the Democratic race. He joined Jim Lokay on "The Final 5" to talk about his candidacy and why he thinks Hoyer is "still operating in this 1980s information environment."