On today’s “Next Up with Mark Halperin,” Mark’s reported monologue reveals why Marco Rubio is enjoying an extraordinary golden moment in the political sun and what it means for 2028. Beyond Rubio’s love affair with the Dominant Media and the favorable comparisons to JD Vance. Mark looks at some of the Secretary of State’s past bumps in the road and lays out what his sources say are the most likely outcome of the search by President Trump and the party for a successor to the incumbent.

Then, NewsNation’s Leland Vittert joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about what the media is fundamentally missing about Iran, the reshaping of the Middle East, and the broader geopolitical stakes beyond the daily headlines. Mark also tackles the backlash to his latest “8 for ’28” rankings, unpacking the criticism, the political implications, and why the loudest reactions may actually validate the conversation. Finally, Hyma Moore maps out how Democrats can slow down Marco Mania (and Rubio’s momentum) before he becomes a major 2028 threat.

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Why Marco Rubio Is Suddenly a 2028 Frontrunner, Vance’s GOP Challenge and Iran’s Real Story

Next Up with Mark Halperin

Why Marco Rubio Is Suddenly a 2028 Frontrunner, Vance’s GOP Challenge and Iran’s Real Story