In this episode, John and Tim spend some time picking apart the Donald Trump phenomena. They consider the way he has become irresistible for the media and discuss the reality of his electoral chances. Basically, they conclude, Trump is blitzing the field now but will have real trouble putting together a coalition of voters to get him up in a general election. They also consider how Trump will react if he doesn’t get the nomination.

John and Tim also discuss Ted Cruz’s consolidation of second place. They consider the idea that Cruz’s problems aren’t that different from Trump’s: if he actually gets the nomination, how does he reach out to anyone beyond the rusted-on conservative base?

The guys also look at Hillary’s arguably “brave” approach to gun control and the way she has been willing to spend some capital in prosecuting her views on this matter. But this is Hillary, and you can’t help but feel the moral position has been calculated to the nth degree.

Finally, our interlocutors discuss the Paris Climate Summit agreement (COP21) and how the candidates have reacted to that.

This is our last show for the year, but we will be back bright and early in the New Year, with the first of the primaries looming large.