In hour 1 of The Mark Reardon Show, Mark is joined by Brian Kilmeade, co-host of Fox & Friends, host of One Nation with Brian Kilmeade, and morning host on 97.1 FM Talk, to analyze the widespread fallout from the midterm election results. Kilmeade reacts to stunning Republican losses and margins in Texas, Kansas, South Carolina, and Missouri's 2nd Congressional District, while examining how the war in Iran, fuel prices, and economic frustration drove independent and Hispanic voters away from the GOP. He also explores emerging divisions within the party following critical commentary from JD Vance, discusses the foreign policy ramifications of Abdul El-Sayed's Senate victory in Michigan, breaks down the ranked-choice voting controversy in Alaska, and previews his upcoming live appearance at The Factory in Chesterfield. Mark is joined by John Lamping, former Missouri State Senator, to unpack the widespread fallout from the midterm election results and examine the path forward for the Republican Party. Lamping discusses the razor-thin margins in battleground Senate races like Mississippi and Alaska, the mathematical reality of Democrats holding the Senate majority through at least 2032, and the urgent necessity for the GOP to unify around a strong presidential nominee for 2028. He also analyzes why economic populism and working-class struggles drove voters away from Republicans, evaluates Missouri's shift back toward purple-state dynamics following Scott Fitzpatrick's win, and emphasizes the need for generational leadership across the party. In hour 2, Sue hosts, "Sue's News" where she discusses the latest trending entertainment news, this day in history, the random fact of the day and more. Mark is later joined by Andrew Bailey, former Missouri Attorney General and former Deputy Director of the FBI, to conduct an election autopsy following widespread Republican defeats across the nation and in Missouri. Bailey examines how the conflict with Iran, gas prices, and inflation impacted working families at the ballot box, while calling out leadership failures and legislative missteps in Jefferson City. He points to controversial rate hikes for Ameren customers under Senate Bill 4, redistricting blunders that cost the GOP congressional seats under Proposition A, and the decline of the party's legislative supermajority as proof that state leaders have lost touch with working-class voters. In hour 3, Mark is joined by Duane Patterson, senior producer of The Hugh Hewitt Show, writer for HotAir.com, and host of the Duane's World podcast, to dissect the catastrophic midterm election results for the Republican Party. Patterson explains his theory that Donald Trump's "dual superpower" faltered because a key portion of the MAGA base felt betrayed by the war in Iran and chose to sit out, allowing the anti-Trump vote to dominate across battlegrounds like Kansas, Iowa, and Texas. The two also debate whether the military action was worth losing the Senate for the next six years, discuss the impact of high gas prices and inflation on working families, and look ahead to potential GOP primary challengers like Ron DeSantis. Mark is later joined by David Barklage, GOP political strategist and consultant, to conduct an election post-mortem following dramatic Republican losses both nationally and across Missouri. Barklage breaks down the $60 million influx of progressive and dark money that helped dismantle the GOP's legislative supermajority and flip key seats, explains why the swing against Republicans exceeded post-Watergate 1974 levels, and examines the erosion of suburban support in St. Charles County that contributed to Congresswoman Ann Wagner's defeat. He also outlines how Governor Mike Kehoe and state lawmakers must refocus on core issues like infrastructure and education to rebuild voter trust, analyzes the national shifts in Texas, and assesses where polling turnout models missed the mark. He wraps up the show with the Audio Cut of the Day.
