Is the Progressive Takeover Real?

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
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**Alex Wagner** (1:43)
Welcome to Pod Save America, I'm Alex Wagner. On today's show, MS Now's Chris Hayes stopped by to talk about recent progressive wins, how Democrats find their path to victory in 2026 and beyond, and who is winning the war for American attention. Chris and I dug into candidate strategies as the midterms draw ever closer, as well as how the Democratic Party can rally around its new Senate candidate in Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed. We also talked 2028 and how these midterms this November might influence the party in the wild ride ahead. It was a great conversation, and we're going to get to it in just a minute, but first a little housekeeping. If you have not gotten tickets for Crooked Con yet, what are you doing? Here's another reason why you should. At Crooked, we believe the answer to right-wing authoritarianism is a big, welcoming, fun, pro-democracy movement. We have invited some of the biggest, funniest voices online to All Day Crooked Con. At Crooked Con, you will have the chance to meet creators and new media personalities who make sense of the news with humor and hot takes. They'll be popping around the Washington Convention Center, hosting happy hours, Q&As and workshops for attendees. They will also be, of course, making content. Because what happens at Crooked Con ends up online for every political nerd to see. Check out which creators are joining us so far at crookedcon.com, and grab your tickets today. Post Hayes, see you in DC. Here's my conversation with Ms Now's Chris Hayes. Joining me now in a tank top, for those of you who are not watching on YouTube, you should be. Please hit subscribe while you're at it.
Is the one, oh my, look at those guns season. What does it say? Suns out, guns out, guns season.

**Chris Hayes** (3:23)
Suns out, guns out.

**Alex Wagner** (3:23)
Suns out, guns out. Is the great Chris Hayes. Buddy, it's always great to see you, especially in the summer.

**Chris Hayes** (3:31)
It's pure August right now, so I'm not even.

**Alex Wagner** (3:33)
It's giving real pool side vibes.

**Chris Hayes** (3:35)
It's also recording this on a Friday in August.

**Alex Wagner** (3:37)
We sure are. So you know, if you didn't think he was wearing a hot pink tank top and a gold chain drinking Celsius, like there's no Sunday.

**Chris Hayes** (3:44)
Got my Topo Chico.

**Alex Wagner** (3:46)
Okay, I was hoping it was Celsius. That would have just been a little bit more on brand.

**Chris Hayes** (3:49)
There's a show tonight, and that's a hard rule.

**Alex Wagner** (3:52)
Got it.

**Chris Hayes** (3:53)
It's a hard rule one has had to enforce.

**Alex Wagner** (3:56)
Learn the hard way.

**Chris Hayes** (3:57)
Yeah.

**Alex Wagner** (3:58)
I was really excited when we had a big primary on Tuesday, and we thought, who can help us unpack what the fuck happens now, who is wise, but also just ballsy enough to say what they really think, and Chris Hayes, you're up.

**Chris Hayes** (4:15)
I won.

**Alex Wagner** (4:16)
You won. Let's start with kind of where we sit, as you say, on Friday, after the Michigan primary, ahead of the Wisconsin primary. Are progressives having a moment, yes or no?