The Last of the Three Amigos: Remembering Lindsey Graham

July 14, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

The Last of the Three Amigos: Remembering Lindsey Graham

Meghan McCain opened her show raw and unscripted, apologizing in advance because she almost canceled. Senator Lindsey Graham had died Saturday night from an aortic dissection, and for McCain, the loss felt like the end of something larger than one man's life. She was 11 when she first met him, right after he was elected to Congress. He sat down next to her at a hotel after a political event and told her how much he loved her father. She liked him immediately.

The Three Amigos and a Lost Era

The "Three Amigos" was the nickname for John McCain, Lindsey Graham, and Joe Lieberman—three senators who traveled together, drank together, and governed across party lines. Meghan McCain described them as the three most significant men in her life growing up. Going to dinner with them was like being out with rock stars; they stayed late, talked to every waiter, took every selfie. Politics, in that world, was fun.

That era ended gradually, then suddenly. Graham was the last of the three still serving. His death, McCain said, felt like the last piece of her father was gone. She is 41; her father has been dead nine years. But this felt more final. She regretted that she and Graham had not spoken in three years, letting politics get in the way. "It's stupid," she said. "Reach out to the people in your life."

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What you'll learn

1 (02:59) **Meghan’s Raw Opening** - Meghan McCain, visibly emotional, announces the death of Senator Lindsey Graham on Saturday night from an aortic dissection due to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
2 (03:36) **The “Third Amigo” and a Lost Era** - Meghan recounts meeting Graham at age 11, his deep friendship with her father John McCain and Joe Lieberman, and his constant presence in her life.
3 (09:09) **President Trump’s Final Call** - A video clip of President Trump on Fox & Friends describes his last phone call with Graham the night of his death, discussing the “Save America Act.”
4 (10:46) **Cory Booker’s Tribute: The “Unguided Missile”** - A video plays of Senator Cory Booker remembering Graham as an unpredictable but effective legislator who could “get things done that other people couldn’t.”
5 (12:07) **A Prophetic Movie Night** - Meghan shares a personal anecdote about watching *The Three Amigos* with her husband the night Graham died, finding it eerie given the nickname for Graham, McCain, and Lieberman.
6 (14:09) **Miranda Reflects on a Complicated Legacy** - Co-host Miranda admits to being tough on Graham lately, feeling unresolved about not being “nice to him until today.”
7 (17:38) **Trey Gowdy: The Shock of Loss** - Former Congressman Trey Gowdy joins, sharing his shock and a story of receiving the news from Graham’s staffer.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Meghan McCain Trey Gowdy

Show Notes

The Citizen McCain family comes together to remember Senator Lindsey Graham after his sudden passing.

In an emotional opening, Meghan McCain reflects on knowing Lindsey Graham since childhood, his decades-long friendship with Senator John McCain and Senator Joe Lieberman, and why his death feels like the end of an era in American politics.

Former Congressman Trey Gowdy shares deeply personal stories about Graham's humor, loyalty, military service, and extraordinary life, while Democratic strategist Kevin Walling reflects on Graham's bipartisan relationships, his influence in the Senate, and the lasting impact he leaves behind. Together, they discuss the legacy of a senator who built friendships across party lines and never lost his love for public service.

This episode is less about politics and more about friendship, service, and remembering a complicated man who meant different things to different people, but left an undeniable mark on Washington.

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