This week on Practically Political, the gang reunites with a familiar voice—Carrie Sheffield returns for a lively holiday debate that doesn't pull any punches.

With Trump's approval numbers hitting historic lows and 75% of Americans feeling the economy is on the wrong track, Dave, Kurt, Ashley, and Carrie dig into whether the administration can course-correct before the 2026 midterms. Is "blame Biden" messaging running out of runway? And why does it feel like we're watching a political rerun of 2022—just with different jerseys?

The conversation heats up over tariff chaos (Liberation Day, anyone?), the summer deadline Republicans face to turn kitchen-table concerns around, and why credit cards are doing the heavy lifting this holiday season.

Then the panel pivots to Ukraine, where Trump's "bromance diplomacy" has hit a wall. With Russia publicly dunking on peace talk progress, the hosts debate whether Tomahawk missiles could force Putin's hand—or open Pandora's box.

Topics covered:

  • Trump's cratering poll numbers and the "don't gaslight the voters" problem
  • Tariff whiplash: courage or chaos?
  • The summer 2026 deadline for economic vibes to shift
  • Ukraine stalemate: can anyone move the needle?
  • Why China is quietly winning the global perception game

Guest: Carrie Sheffield (Independent Women's Forum)

Starting January 9th, 2026—Practically Political goes weekly!