The Post-MAGA Midterms? (w/ David Weigel)

About this episode

Dave Weigel is a longtime favorite political reporter of ours—someone we've both read for years, and find unusually unblinkered by partisan loyalties—so we couldn't think of a better guide to the 2026 midterms elections than him. What everyone knows is that, right now, polls show a possible Democratic wave in the offing; we try to understand why, and the ways both parties are responding to a genuinely new phenomenon of the Trump Era: the economy struggling, and voters blaming Trump directly. We discuss the flop of a GOP convention in Texas; how Republicans seem to be re-running outdated campaigns—in part because they've already achieved so many of their policy goals on "hot-button cultural issues"; the Democratic strategy of conceding on such cultural issues to seem "normal" and focus on the economy; and more. Register to see Matt and Sam live and in person at Jewish Currents Live on Sunday Oct 11 here. Sources: Read all of Dave's reporting and columns at Semafor here. David Weigel, "Researchers Probe How Democrats Could Win Working-Class Voters," Semafor, Sept 14, 2026 — "Candidates Contend with the Rise of 'Resurfaced' Old Clips," Semafor, Sept 9, 2026 ...and don't forget