The 2026 Political Scandal Survival Guide and Why 2028 Contenders May Sit Out Entirely, Plus Larry Wilmore on the Comedy Renaissance

Next Up with Mark Halperin

MK Media

News, Daily News, Politics

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 16 April 2026

⏱️ 76 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Mark Halperin delivers his reported monologue on what it really takes to survive a presidential campaign, drawing on decades of experience covering politics at the highest level. He breaks down how Bill Clinton navigated major scandals during the 1992 race and why his approach to crisis management still stands apart today, then broadens the lens to 2028 to explain why many potential candidates may ultimately decide not to run at all. From George W. Bush to Donald Trump, Halperin examines how past controversies surface, how candidates respond under pressure, and why the ability to withstand scrutiny may be the single most important factor in determining who can actually win. Later, Stephen Moore joins to discuss why artificial intelligence could transform the economy faster than any shift in modern history, from its impact on jobs and productivity to the massive energy demands it will require. Plus, comedy legend Larry Wilmore weighs in on the evolving entertainment landscape, breaking down the current comedy boom and why audiences are returning to live experiences, before sharing his candid thoughts on Trump, the state of the arts, and why Marco Rubio stands out to him in the Trump cabinet. Dutch: Switch to prescription flea protection and save $50 on your Dutch membership at https://Dutch.com/Mark using code MARK. Acre Gold: Start building physical gold with simple monthly payments and enter to win two Ancient Collection gold bars at https://GetAcreGold.com/MARK Bank On Yourself: Discover the retirement plan banks Don't want you to know about—get your free report at https://BankOnYourself.com/Mark Apple — https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/next-up-with-mark-halperin/id1810218232 Spotify — https://open.spotify.com/show/2f0n8G4xqUo8aGxbbbtRjH%3Fsi%3D8e4ff54000cc438d Follow Next Up with Mark Halperin on all social platforms: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nextuphalperin TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nextuphalperin X (Twitter): https://x.com/NextUpHalperin Connect with Mark Halperin on social media: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markevanhalperin X (Twitter): https://x.com/markhalperin

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, everybody. Welcome to Next Up with Mark Kalper. I am Mark Kalper, editor-in-chief of the live
0:06.7	interactive video platform two-way and your host for the next hour or so of stuff that's next.
0:13.1	Very grateful to you for being here. Have a great show. A couple of topics I'm super interested,
0:17.2	a couple of great guests. Comedy legend. Larry Wilmore will be here.
0:21.7	Economist Stephen Moore. We're going to try to unpack the comedy of the economy and the economy
0:27.3	and the economy of comedy with both of them. I can't wait to talk to them both, and I think
0:32.4	you'll enjoy them both before they join us, though. My reported monologue on running for president
0:37.4	with skeletons in the closet.
0:39.0	We've seen this week a prospective presidential candidate, Ruben Gallego caught up in the controversy involving Eric Swalwell.
0:47.1	And I've got some reporting for you on what it takes to run for president with skeletons in the closet.
0:55.6	People run with skeletons in the closet all the time. Some of them survive and some of them don't. And I'm going to explain to you
1:00.0	what sets them apart, the survivors and the ones who decline and perish if they run for president.
1:07.0	That reported monologue is next up.
1:19.8	So a quick question for anyone with a dog or a cat, have you ever bought a flea treatment, used it exactly like the instruction said, and the fleas just didn't care.
1:21.4	You're not imagining it.
1:25.0	Fleas actually, they build resistance to over-the-counter treatments over time.
1:28.6	Frontline advantage, duresso, they work for a while,
1:34.9	and then they just stop. Meanwhile, you spend 150 bucks, 200, maybe more, and your dog is still scratching. Here's what most people don't know. The stuff your vet prescribes, Prevecto,
1:40.8	simperica, next guard, it hits differently. Prescription strength is a completely different
1:46.6	class of treatment. But getting it, it usually means an appointment, a waiting room, and a bill that makes you wince.
1:52.5	That's where Dutch comes in. Dutch is an online vet service that connects you with a real license,
1:58.2	vet, no waiting room, no office visit fee.
	...

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