NEW: September “8 for ‘28” Rankings

My new top 8 might surprise you…

Sep 15, 2026

Today on “Next Up,” I take a fresh look at the Democrats’ evolving 2028 presidential field.

I unveil my new September “8 for ’28” Democratic presidential leaderboard, drawing on conversations with sources at the highest levels of American politics to assess where the field stands and what could come next.

Then I sit down with Professor Richard Werner, who coined the term “quantitative easing,” for an in-depth discussion of the markets, Kevin Hassett’s economic outlook, federal spending, the deficit, rising interest payments, and the future of AI.

I also talk with Democratic strategist Hyma Moore about the developing 2028 field, including Harris, Newsom, Buttigieg, Shapiro and Emanuel.

What could the Democratic field look like? And how might the latest economic and political developments shape the road to 2028?

My September “8 for ‘28” Rankings:

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UP NEXT

Former Democratic Congressman Joe Cunningham and Republican strategist Austin Barbour join tonight’s conversation LIVE at 5pm ET on “2WAY Tonight.”

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You can watch it on YouTube here.

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“The Group Chat” is LIVE at 7pm ET.

Jack Posobeic, Author of Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions & Contributor at Turning Point USA joins today’s conversatoin.

To join LIVE and INTERACTIVE by Zoom, sign up here.

You can watch it on YouTube here.

“NEXT UP”

Richard Werner and Hyma Moore join me later today on a new episode of “Next Up.”

New episodes of “Next Up” drop every Tuesday and Thursday.

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https://www.youtube.com/@NextUpHalperin

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“The Morning Meeting”

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Lacking Clarity

Harris vs. Newsom on today’s “Next Up”

Mark Halperin

Sep 15, 2026

The fate of the Clarity Act seems to be anything but clear.

As the Senate prepares to vote on whether to advance the crypto market-structure bill, the politics surrounding it are becoming just as complicated as the policy itself.

We dug into what is really driving the debate — the politics, the industry pressure and the larger questions surrounding government’s role in emerging technology.

AI was only part of the conversation.

Larry, Kevin, and I also took a close look at Gavin Newsom’s latest comments about 2028. Newsom said he would not run if Kamala Harris decides to seek the presidency, raising a whole new set of questions about his own ambitions, Harris’ timeline and what he may be trying to accomplish with the declaration.

Plus, Trump’s renewed criticism of the Supreme Court, the latest moves in the midterm advertising wars, and plenty of questions and conversation from the 2WAY community on “The Morning Meeting.”

“THE MORNING MEETING” ON SIRIUSXM

“The Morning Meeting” is available on The Megyn Kelly Channel on SiriusXM (ch. 111) — airing live Monday through Friday from 10–11am ET.

COMING UP

Former Democratic Congressman Joe Cunningham and Republican strategist Austin Barbour join Hogan Gidley LIVE at 5pm ET on “2WAY Tonight.”

To join LIVE and INTERACTIVE by Zoom, sign up here.

You can watch it on YouTube here.

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“The Group Chat” is LIVE at 7pm ET.

Jack Posobeic, Author of Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions & Contributor at Turning Point USA joins today’s conversatoin.

To join LIVE and INTERACTIVE by Zoom, sign up here.

You can watch it on YouTube here.

“NEXT UP”

Richard Werner and Hyma Moore join me later today on a new episode of “Next Up.”

New episodes of “Next Up” drop every Tuesday and Thursday.

Like, download, subscribe, share, and leave a review wherever you consume podcasts.

Apple:

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YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@NextUpHalperin

2WAY ON APPLE & SPOTIFY

Enjoy “The Morning Meeting” and “2WAY Tonight” as audio podcasts on Apple, Spotify, and all your favorite platforms.

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Join the 2WAY community and be part of the conversation!

“The Morning Meeting”

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The First Goes Last

S7E92: “The Morning Meeting” at 9:00am ET today

Mark Halperin

Sep 15, 2026

“THE MORNING MEETING” DAYBOOK

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026

By Michael Dailey and Mark Halperin

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TODAY

* “The Morning Meeting” with Larry O’Connor, Kevin Walling, and me is LIVE at 9am ET.

* “The Morning Meeting” airs at 10am ET on SiriusXM’s Megyn Kelly Channel (ch. 111).

* A new episode of “Next Up” drops later today.

* Hogan Gidley, former Democratic Congressman Joe Cunningham, and Republican strategist Austin Barbour LIVE at 5pm ET on “2WAY Tonight.”

* “The Group Chat” is LIVE at 7pm ET.

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Join us this morning LIVE at 9am ET for “The Morning Meeting.”

Start your morning with “The Morning Meeting” LIVE at 9am ET with Larry O’Connor, Kevin Walling, and me.

Watch LIVE at 9am ET this morning by Zoom here.

You can watch it on YouTube LIVE here.

Please share the links above with your circles and invite them to be a part of “The Morning Meeting.”

And please subscribe to our YouTube channel here.

“THE MORNING MEETING” ON SIRIUSXM

“The Morning Meeting” is available on The Megyn Kelly Channel on SiriusXM (ch. 111) — airing live Monday through Friday from 10–11am ET.

PRESENTED BY: WALKING DUCK

“Going live is the easy part. Doing it well, every day — that’s the part that takes a real team. Walking Duck is that team for me.”

Check out their work here and drop them a note at: info@walkingduck.com

- Mark Halperin

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Former Democratic Congressman Joe Cunningham and Republican strategist Austin Barbour join tonight’s host Hogan Gidley LIVE at 5pm ET on “2WAY Tonight.”

To join LIVE and INTERACTIVE by Zoom, sign up here.

You can watch it on YouTube here.

********

“The Group Chat” is LIVE at 7pm ET.

Jack Posobeic, Author of Unhumans: The Secret History of Communist Revolutions & Contributor at Turning Point USA joins today’s conversatoin.

To join LIVE and INTERACTIVE by Zoom, sign up here.

You can watch it on YouTube here.

“NEXT UP”

Richard Werner and Hyma Moore join me later today on a new episode of “Next Up.”

New episodes of “Next Up” drop every Tuesday and Thursday.

Like, download, subscribe, share, and leave a review wherever you consume podcasts.

Apple:

Spotify:

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/@NextUpHalperin

2WAY ON APPLE & SPOTIFY

Enjoy “The Morning Meeting” and “2WAY Tonight” as audio podcasts on Apple, Spotify, and all your favorite platforms.

Don’t miss out—download, subscribe, and share with your friends and family.

Join the 2WAY community and be part of the conversation!

“The Morning Meeting”

Apple:

Spotify:

“2WAY Tonight”

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DAYBOOK, all Eastern Time unless otherwise noted

DONALD TRUMP

JD VANCE

Addresses House Republicans at a political conference meeting at the Capitol Hill Club.

FLOTUS

11:40am: The First Lady travelS to Ashe County, North Carolina nearly two years after Hurricane Helene to promote community resiliency and education technology in American schools as part of her focus on preparing children and youth for success in the digital era.

CABINET

9:00am: FBI Director Kash Patel testifies before the Senate Judiciary committee.

10:00am: Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appears before the House Financial Services committee for a hearing on the international financial system.

CONGRESS

11:15am: The Senate votes to confirm Matthew Byrne as a federal judge for the Southern District of Ohio.

1:30pm: The House votes on an Iran war powers resolution.

2:15pm: The Senate votes to advance the Clarity Act, a landmark cryptocurrency bill.

3:00pm: Official Portrait Unveiling: The Honorable Kevin McCarthy, 55th Speaker of the United States House of Representatives.

4:00pm: The House Oversight committee holds a markup of a resolution recommending that the House find Leon Black in contempt of Congress.

2026

Delaware will hold the final primary races of the 2026 midterm calendar. Polls close at 8pm ET.

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer hosts a fundraiser this morning for NRCC Vanguards’ lawmakers running in safe Republican seats.

AI

The Future of Life Institute hosts the “Pro-Human Assembly” in Washington, D.C., featuring speakers including Senator Bernie Sanders and Steve Bannon.

ECONOMY

The Federal Open Market Committee two-day meeting begins.

“The Morning Meeting” topics:

* AI.

* Newsom-Harris ’28.

* Supreme Court, the Post Office, and voting.

* New ads.

* The Saudis.

* Energy prices.

* Clarity.

* McConnell.

* Don, Jr.’s wedding aftermath.

2WAY TODAY

What Do We Do About AI?

Matt Bennett and Tim Rice joined me on “2WAY Tonight” for a conversation worth your time…

Mark Halperin

Sep 14, 2026

What’s the risk of AI going rogue?

As AI reaches a crescendo moment — spooking markets, reshaping industries, and driving political messaging — we took a closer look at the cost-benefit analysis on “2WAY Tonight.”

Third Way’s Matt Bennett and Daily Wire DC Bureau Chief Tim Rice joined me to share their perspectives and assess how politicians across the political spectrum are approaching the AI debate.

Tim put his finger on the question facing policymakers and voters alike: “What do we actually do about it?”

From there, we zig-zagged through the midterm map and examined Gavin Newsom’s indication that he would not run for president in 2028 if Kamala Harris enters the race.

And the 2WAY community came through with tough questions — this time on AI doomerism, and more.