Ep. 2534 - Obama's Big Return Is Not Going Well

Summary of Ep. 2534 - Obama's Big Return Is Not Going Well

by The Daily Wire

1h 0m•October 26, 2026
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Overview of Ep. 2534 - Obama’s Big Return Is Not Going Well

This episode argues that Democrats are showing desperation, not confidence, by bringing Barack Obama, Bill Clinton, and Kamala Harris back onto the trail in key races. The host frames Obama’s return as a sign that Democrats are trying to juice turnout and demoralize Republicans, while also revisiting familiar criticisms of Obama’s record on Iran, Obamacare, and the political realignment that led to Donald Trump. The second half broadens into a warning about the modern left: open-borders politics, anti-Israel activism, institutional manipulation, and a broader civilizational decline he says is visible in U.S. politics, Brazil, and Europe.

Main Argument

Democrats are “emptying the cupboard”

  • The show’s core claim is that Democrats would not be relying so heavily on Obama and other high-profile figures if they were truly confident about the midterms.
  • The host says this is a turnout play: energize Democrats, suppress Republican enthusiasm, and make the race feel inevitable.

Obama is portrayed as a symbol of elite Democratic politics

  • Obama is described as personally charismatic but politically damaging.
  • The episode argues that his popularity came more from persona than policy, and that his agenda left the country worse off.
  • The host repeatedly says Obama’s record is being sold again because the party lacks a stronger message.

Key Political Targets and Races

Michigan: Obama stumps for Abdul El-Sayed

  • The episode focuses heavily on Obama campaigning in Michigan for Abdul El-Sayed.
  • The host portrays El-Sayed as a radical candidate and attacks his past statements and associations, including alleged links to the Muslim Brotherhood and pro-Hamas or anti-Israel politics.
  • Mike Rogers is presented as the stronger, more normal alternative.
  • The host also criticizes a pro-El-Sayed ad that uses Tucker Carlson clips, calling it evidence that parts of the “Republican tent” are not truly aligned with Republicans.

Alaska: ballot confusion lawsuit

  • The episode highlights a legal fight over a candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan, who shares a name with incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan.
  • The host describes it as an attempt to confuse voters and siphon votes away from the real Sullivan.
  • The DOJ lawsuit is presented as a necessary response to what the host calls a cheap election trick.

Other battlegrounds mentioned

  • Maine: Susan Collins is described as likely to win.
  • Arkansas: Tom Cotton is portrayed as safe despite media claims that the race is close.
  • Mississippi: Cindy Hyde-Smith is presented as heavily favored.
  • Iowa, Kansas, Texas, Florida: The host argues Democrats are exaggerating competitiveness and that Republicans are being underestimated.

Criticism of Obama’s Record

Iran and foreign policy

  • Obama is accused of misleading the public about the Iran nuclear deal and the strategic effects of his approach.
  • The host argues the deal weakened U.S. leverage and made later military action necessary.

Obamacare

  • The episode says the Affordable Care Act did not solve the health-care problem and instead helped drive up premiums.
  • Obama is mocked for still campaigning on health care after claiming to have fixed it.

Obama as a political catalyst for Trump

  • One of the episode’s recurring themes is that Obama’s style and 2012 campaign helped create the conditions for Donald Trump’s rise.
  • The host calls Obama a major source of the modern political divide.

The Left’s “Future” as Framed by the Episode

Open borders and anti-ICE politics

  • The host points to figures like Zoran Mamdani as examples of the Democratic future: helping illegal immigrants avoid ICE rather than enforcing immigration law.

Ilhan Omar and broader radicalism

  • Ilhan Omar is used as another example of where the party is headed—more radical, more anti-Israel, and more hostile to mainstream American norms.

Anti-Israel and anti-West politics

  • The episode repeatedly argues that left-wing politics increasingly align with anti-Israel and anti-civilization sentiments.
  • A campaign ad attacking Israel’s influence and framing “they, them” as the enemy is cited as proof of how extreme things have become.

International Comparisons

Brazil as a warning

  • The episode spends considerable time on Brazil’s election and claims the process looked heavily skewed in favor of Lula da Silva.
  • The host uses Brazil as an example of how left-wing leaders and allied institutions can manipulate election rules and legal systems.

Europe as a cautionary tale

  • Protests in France, Italy, Spain, and elsewhere are presented as evidence of a broader left-wing, anti-civilizational movement.
  • The host argues these are not isolated protests but part of a coordinated global mentality hostile to Western institutions and norms.

Trump, Bill Maher, and GOP Strategy

Don’t alienate moderates

  • The host criticizes Donald Trump for attacking Bill Maher, saying Republicans should not waste energy fighting people in the political middle.
  • The argument is that Republicans need to make it easy for moderates to vote for them, not harder.

Keep the focus on turnout

  • The final strategic advice is straightforward:
    • Don’t believe the media’s “Democrats are inevitable” narrative.
    • Don’t stay home.
    • Vote early.
    • Focus on defeating radical Democrats rather than winning online fights.

Takeaway

The episode’s central message is that Democrats are not cruising to victory—they are scrambling. Obama’s return is framed as a sign of weakness, not strength, and the broader warning is that Republicans need to take turnout seriously or risk handing power to a left-wing movement the host sees as radical, institutionally aggressive, and hostile to American values.