Sep 28, 2026 · 1h 43m
Listen from 50:25
Listen at 50:25
Republicans face a midterm reckoning as Trump’s message falters
Madonna's Vile VMAs Performance, the Tom Brady Lesson, Plus How the GOP Can Avoid a Midterms "Nightmare," with Mark Halperin | Ep. 1407
The discussion examines whether Republican vulnerabilities among key voters and Trump’s political choices could produce major losses in 2026.
- 1Republicans face weakening support among Latino voters, independents, and young people across several competitive states.
- 2Mark Halperin argues Democrats could exploit Republican control of Congress, but their strategic execution remains uncertain.
- 3The episode contrasts celebrity grievance politics with Justin Verlander’s family-centered retirement decision.
Don't miss
Justin Verlander’s daughter joins him on the field during his emotional final game, underscoring his decision to retire for his family.
The brief
Megyn Kelly and Mark Halperin assess Republican vulnerability before the 2026 midterms, pointing to weak support among Latino voters, independents, and young people in several states.
They argue Trump’s media fights, shifting foreign-policy rhetoric, and public rapport with Zohran Mamdani may distract from the economic and domestic accomplishments Republicans need to emphasize.
The conversation then turns to celebrity culture, with Kelly criticizing Madonna’s provocative MTV Music Awards performance and Naomi Watts’s comments about identity and self-image.
The episode’s emotional center arrives with Justin Verlander’s final game, when his daughter joins him on the field as he retires to be more present for his family.
Taken together, the episode weighs political vulnerability and public spectacle against the quieter credibility of responsibility, family, and a well-timed exit.
What was said on this episode
23 statements · 4 positive · 16 negative · 1 mixed · 2 neutral
Republicans’ midterm position is currently very grim.
“this is the state of play right now”
Listen at 4:44
Democrats would currently gain at least 25 House and six Senate seats.
“Democrats would pick up at least 25 House seats net and at least six Senate seats net today”
Listen at 5:58
Republicans risk losing close races because independents have withdrawn support.
“The worry is any close race, they'll lose because they've lost a lot of support from independents.”
Listen at 7:13
A Republican-passed law restricted some people’s healthcare access.
“Republicans passed a law that restricted some people's access to health care.”
Listen at 9:42
Three consecutive polls showed the South Carolina Senate race virtually tied.
“there have been now three straight polls that have shown the race virtually tied”
Listen at 11:01
Roger Marshall is not currently leading the Kansas Senate race.
“I really don't think the Republican incumbent, Roger Marshall, is the leader at this point.”
Listen at 11:33
Republicans will retain a major financial advantage in the midterms.
“they'll have a big money advantage”
Listen at 13:30
A Democratic wave would reverse many Republican state legislative gains.
“in a blue wave, you're going to see so many of the gains that Republicans have made undone”
Listen at 16:07
Democratic congressional control could help lay groundwork for a 2028 presidential victory.
“there's a chance that the Democrats could use that power the way the Democrats did in 1990 to lay the groundwork for Bill Clinton to win”
Listen at 19:35
Democrats used congressional control to pressure Republicans and contrast Bush with public opinion.
“They used the power to control Congress to create uncomfortable votes for Republicans and to contrast President Bush's positions with public opinion.”
Listen at 20:00
Democrats lack politically saleable ideas for lowering prices.
“they have a socialist wing and they don't have any ideas that would lower prices that they think they can sell to the country”
Listen at 20:56
The Trump White House is using taxpayer money for political advertisements.
“using our tax dollars to run political ads”
Listen at 26:20
Taxpayer funds should not pay for the White House’s political messaging.
“our tax dollars shouldn't be paying for that”
Listen at 28:21
Trump’s continued public discussion of Iran produces only negative effects.
“it literally is only negative as best anybody I know can tell”
Listen at 35:13
Trump should stop discussing Iran and Ukraine absent meaningful developments.
“Stop talking about Iran. Stop talking about Ukraine unless you got something to say that's meaningful.”
Listen at 37:10
Trump should emphasize policies that materially improve people’s lives.
“They want to see him talking about stuff that means something to the real lives of real people.”
Listen at 37:33
Trump will be blamed for Republican midterm losses.
“he will be tagged”
Listen at 39:24
A Democratic-controlled chamber would launch investigations of the Trump administration.
“If the Democrats have either chamber or both. There will be investigations.”
Listen at 45:58
The political impact of Democratic investigations will depend on their execution.
“how skillfully are they done?”
Listen at 46:04
Hispanic voters are drifting from Republicans for the same broad reasons as other voters.
“if you talk to Hispanic voters who voted Republican but now have drifted either to Democrat or undecided, it's just the same thing as for everybody else”
Listen at 48:20
Gender-transitioning young people are unlikely to have happy lives.
“I don't think Kai Schreiber is likely to have a happy existence because none of them does.”
Listen at 1:13:41
New York Magazine’s Elliot Page cover could endanger other young people.
“New York Magazine, you are doing something very dangerous by putting this person on the cover”
Listen at 1:16:20
Professional NFL football cannot be pursued part-time.
“NFL football cannot be done part-time.”
Listen at 1:27:09
Statements are attributed to the speaker as said on the episode and reflect their view at the time, not PodLume's. They are not advice.
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