{"podcast":{"title":"Trailblaze 2028","slug":"trailblaze-2028-7022119","podcast_index_feed_id":7022119,"rss_url":"https://audioboom.com/channels/5139651.rss","website_url":"https://audioboom.com/channels/5139651","image_url":"https://audioboom.com/i/43356562/s=1400x1400/el=1/rt=fill.jpg","author":"Trailblaze 2028","episode_count":88,"summary":"Trailblaze: The Road to 2028 is your insider’s guide to the next great American political showdown. As both parties begin lining up their runners and riders for the 2028 presidential election, this podcast pulls back the curtain on the candidates, the strategists behind them, and the high-stakes decisions that will shape the race long before the first votes are cast. With sharp insight, behind-the-scenes reporting, and a healthy dose of fun, hosts Jamal Simmons and Matthew Butler explore the personalities, power plays, and pivotal moments that will define the road to the White House—making sense of the politics while never losing sight of the passion. Jamal Simmons has spent years inside the rooms where presidential politics actually happen—and now he’s pulling back the curtain. A veteran strategist and former senior White House adviser, Jamal knows how campaigns are built, how messages break through, and how small decisions can change the course of history. He’s equal parts insider, storyteller, and straight-talker, bringing sharp insight, humor, and a deep love of the political game. Matthew Butler lives at the intersection of politics, media, and strategy. He’s worked behind th…","last_synced_at":"2026-07-24T08:18:44.598379+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/trailblaze-2028-7022119"},"episode":{"title":"67: Will They or Won't They? Candidate Predictions","slug":"67-will-they-or-won-t-they-candidate-predictions","published_at":"2026-02-25T10:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/trailblaze-2028-7022119/67-will-they-or-won-t-they-candidate-predictions","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/trailblaze-2028-7022119","url":"https://audioboom.com/posts/8865640","audio_url":"https://dts.podtrac.com/redirect.mp3/audioboom.com/posts/8865640.mp3?modified=1771976122&sid=5139651&source=rss","summary":"Jamal & Matt discuss the dynamics of the 2028 presidential campaign, focusing on the emerging trend of candidates embarking on book tours as a means of gaining visibility and support. They discuss various potential candidates, including Gavin Newsom, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Kamala Harris, weighing their chances of running for president and the implications of their decisions. The conversation also touches on the evolving political landscape, the significance of celebrity candidates, and the future of the MAGA coalition amidst shifting public sentiments. CHAPTERS 00:00 The Rise of Book Tours in Politics 02:13 Candidates: Will They or Won't They? 04:16 Gavin Newsom: The Presidential Contender 06:01 AOC: The Future of Progressivism? 08:56 Kamala Harris: The Vice President's Dilemma 10:27 Gretchen Whitmer: A Potential Candidate? 12:07 Wes Moore: The Next Generation of Leadership 12:54 The Role of Celebrity in Politics 13:42 Abigail Spanberger: A New Contender? 15:43 The State of the Union Response: A Launchpad for Candidates? 17:18 The Future of the MAGA Coalition","meta_description":"Jamal & Matt discuss the dynamics of the 2028 presidential campaign, focusing on the emerging trend of candidates embarking on book tours as a means o…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1265,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/trailblaze-2028-7022119/episodes/67-will-they-or-won-t-they-candidate-predictions/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/trailblaze-2028-7022119/67-will-they-or-won-t-they-candidate-predictions.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}