Sunday shows preview: Election Day inches closer; Middle East tensions at ultimate high

Candidates are gearing up with less than 50 days to go until Election Day. Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah are at an all-time high following a series of explosions in Lebanon this week, raising fears that a larger Israeli attack on Hezbollah is imminent. Both topics will likely be main talking points on this week’s Sunday shows.

Former Ohio Rep. Tim Ryan (R) will appear on NewNation’s “The Hill Sunday” where he will discuss a tight Senate race between incumbent Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and Trump ally Bernie Moreno. Ohio’s electorate makes it a key state in the race for control of the Senate. Brown leads Moreno, 48.2 percent to 45 percent, according to The Hill/Decision Desk HQ.

Amb. Wendy Sherman, a former deputy state secretary under Biden, is set to discuss fears of a widening war following Hezbollah attacks inside Lebanon and threats from Iran after Israeli police said Thursday that agents thwarted a recent Iranian assassination attempt on NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday.”

CNN’s “State of the Union” will feature Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D), an outspoken supporter of Harris and whose name was previously floated as a possible running mate for the vice president. She will likely talk about her support for Harris as the governor has previously criticized Trump on abortion and reproductive rights.

NBC’s “Meet the Press” will host Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), who recently voice his support for Nebraska Republican’s effort to flip the state’s way of distributing Electoral College votes to a winner-take-all electoral system — a move that would benefit former President Trump come November. 

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) is also set to appear on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Fetterman made headlines this week after saying he thinks former President Trump has a “special” place among Pennsylvania voters — and it only deepened after a gunman opened fire at a Trump rally in the state in July.

Pennsylvania is a critical battleground state in the upcoming election. Recent polling showed Vice President Harris tied with or leading Trump in Pennsylvania, but Fetterman warned there is real support for Trump in the Keystone State.

House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) will appear on Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” along with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, where they will likely discuss the deadly pager and hand-held radio attacks, as well as strikes on military leaders in Lebanon last week.

Here’s the full list of appearances on this week’s Sunday talk shows:

NewsNation’s “The Hill Sunday” — Ambassador Wendy Sherman, former deputy Secretary of State; Former Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio)

NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.); Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.).

CNN’s “State of the Union” — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D); Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.). 

CBS’s “Face the Nation” — Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D); Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).

Fox News’s “Fox News Sunday” — North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R).

ABC’s “This Week” — Rep. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.); Rep. Jason Crow (D-Colo.).

MSNBC’s “The Weekend” — Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.); Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.); Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.).

MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki” — Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.).

Fox News’s “Sunday Morning Futures” — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R); Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), Homeland Security Committee, Budget Committee, Finance Committee; James Comer (R-KY), House Oversight Committee Chairman; Antonio Tajani, Italian Foreign Minister; Erik Prince, Blackwater Founder, former U.S. Navy Seal Officer