Summary
Overview
Pod Save America hosts John Favreau and Dan Pfeiffer discuss the state of the 2026 midterm elections with just 18 days to go. They analyze Republicans' retreat from competitive races, Trump's increasingly chaotic rallies, mounting corruption scandals in the White House, and the departure of Kimberly Guilfoyle as ambassador to Greece. The episode concludes with Dan's interview with Senator Sherrod Brown about his tough reelection fight in Ohio against massive Republican spending.
Trump's Chaotic Closing Argument
With 18 days until the midterms, Donald Trump is barnstorming the country with rallies full of bizarre statements and off-message ramblings. From comments about examining Arnold Palmer's body to claiming tariffs cause wealth instead of inflation, Trump is single-handedly undermining Republican chances while making himself the main character in races where he's deeply underwater in polling.
- Trump claimed his son leaves as Jimmy and comes back as Janet, referencing anti-trans fear-mongering
- Trump said "leakers should be shot" when discussing press leaks
- Trump claimed the country is making more money than ever because oil prices are high
- Trump stated "I've won my election. I'm here whether we win this or not"
- Trump doesn't understand ranked choice voting, comparing it to a "test tube"
" I've won my election. I'm here whether we win this or not. "
" Our country is making more money than it's ever made because of the fact that oil is so high. "
Republican Retreat: Trimming the Electoral Map
Republicans are pulling out of races they once expected to win, abandoning House contests in New York, Nevada, New Jersey, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Texas, and Nebraska. Super PACs have withdrawn from North Carolina Senate races and are now defending supposedly safe seats in Nebraska, Kansas, and South Carolina. Five senior Republican members have told Politico that keeping the House is "likely impossible," with strategists acting like they're facing a "blue tsunami" rather than just a wave.
- Democrats lead the generic ballot by over nine points and are ahead by about three points in the closest Senate races
- Republican super PACs have pulled out of house races in New York, Nevada, New Jersey, Iowa, Michigan, Ohio, Texas and Nebraska
- Republicans have pulled out of North Carolina Senate race and are pouring millions into defending Nebraska, Kansas and South Carolina
- Five senior Republican members told Politico that keeping the House is now likely impossible
- Republicans are abandoning districts they specifically redistricted to flip, including Henry Cuellar's seat in Texas
" If you don't want to follow the polls, you should follow the money. Because these are the people who are tasked with, this is their job. They are steeped in data of all kinds of voting data, polling data, focus group data, fundraising data. It is their job to maintain the Republican majority within the House and the Senate. And they are acting like it is not just a blue wave, but we are on the cusp of a blue tsunami. "
" John Ossoff entered the cycle as the most vulnerable Democrat in the country. He's in a state that Trump won two or three times. A state Democrats have rarely won before 2020. And they've abandoned it. It's over. "
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