Shock Loss for "Hugely Problematic" Socialist Hong in Wisconsin Primary: Has Far Left Hit Its Limit?

Mark Halperin, Larry O’Connor, and Kevin Walling break down what Tuesday’s primary results mean for the 2026 midterms, including Wisconsin and Minnesota, the trouble facing Ken Paxton in Texas, questions about Republican message control, and the increasingly difficult choices facing President Trump in Iran.

TODAY’S TOPICS:

• What Wisconsin’s primary results mean for Democrats, the governor’s race, and the party’s broader 2026 strategy

• Why Republicans may target Minnesota’s Senate race, and the challenges they face turning it into a true battleground

• What to watch in South Carolina’s Senate runoff

• Why inexpensive primary polling can be especially unreliable, and what Tuesday’s results tell us about reading future polls

• Whether Ken Paxton can mount the political comeback he may need to win the Texas Senate race

• The White House’s challenge of maintaining message discipline as the midterm elections approach

• What Marco Rubio and his family reveal about his political future, including the possibility of a 2028 presidential campaign

• What the attention surrounding Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s personal life says about her evolving public image and political future

• Whether President Trump can achieve either a sustainable peace agreement or a clear military victory as Iran adapts its strategy and the war strains U.S. resources

The Morning Meeting is a live weekday political news program featuring analysis and debate from Mark Halperin, Larry O’Connor, and Kevin Walling, plus questions and commentary from members of the 2WAY community.

📅 Wednesday, August 12, 2026

🎙️ Season 7, Episode 68

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