Call The Briefing 

Listen to this episode from Perino on Politics on Spotify. Following a few sleepy weeks in Washington, D.C., Congress returns from recess, where a budget battle is already brewing. Senior Vice President of CRC Advisors Matt Whitlock explains why a funding fight won't work in the Democrats' favor; however, he notes that nobody wins in a government shutdown. Matt describes the current messaging problem that Democrats face and highlights President Trump's approval ratings, which are significantly better at this point in his term than it was during his first term. I Wish Someone Had Told Me: Matt touches on the rise of unaffiliated voters as the 2026 Midterm Elections inch closer.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices