One Week Until the Midterms

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and RCP Senior Elections Analyst Sean Trende discuss the state of the midterms one week before election day and the potential effect of midcycle redistricting. They also look at the prospects for passage of a Maryland ballot measure that would allow politicians to redraw congressional districts, and what it would mean for Governor Wes Moore’s (D-MD) national profile. Then, they discuss a new PAC attack ad aimed at Republican candidate Mike Rogers in the Senate primary race in Michigan that some say is antisemitic. And, they talk about Ohio Democratic gubernatorial candidate Amy Action responding to an ad by Vivek Ramaswamy that featured her estranged mother calling her a liar. Then finally, they discuss President Donald Trump’s recent Truth Social post attacking comedian Bill Mahrer following a White House dinner, and they talk about President Barack Obama coming under fire for remarks about the décor at The Cheesecake Factory. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and RCP contributor and author of A Declaration of Independents Greg Orman discuss the Justice Department's suit to block the certification of Alaska’s Senate results if GOP candidate Dan Sullivan loses due to voter confusion over a second candidate with the same name appearing on the ballot. Then the team talks to RCP columnist and author of Explaining Israel: The Jewish State: The Middle East and America Peter Berkowitz discuss what is at stake in tomorrow’s national elections in Israel and the future of US/Israeli relations. Also, a look at a just released Gallup poll on how Republicans, Democrats and Independents rank key American values, including patriotism, equality and freedom.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and RCP White House correspondent Carolina Lumetta discuss Vice President JD Vance’s campaign swing this week to Ohio and Nebraska. Also, Vance and President Donald Trump endorse a campaign ad produced by the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign in Ohio that features his opponent Amy Acton’s biological mother calling her daughter a liar, while outgoing governor Mike DeWine (R-OH) condemns the ad as “deeply, deeply troubling," but still endorses Ramaswamy for governor. Then, they discuss a Wall Street Journal article that asks whether Americans are "still afraid of socialism". Plus, they talk about, DSA member New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani campaigns for New York governor Kathy Hochul as they jointly appear in an ad touting “free” childcare for New York City residents, and President Trump announces a $25 million fund to reward Americans who report government fraud and abuse. Then, they discuss the start of the World Series and the role of money in baseball and politics. And finally, the guys give up their “You Cannot Be Serious” stories for the week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and RCP Senior Elections Analyst Sean Trende discuss last night’s Senate debates in Michigan and Kansas. Then, they talk about new polling by RCP of ten critical House races and what the data suggests about control of he House after the midterms. And, they take a look at new poll numbers on the Texas Senate race, and whether midterm polls are under-sampling Republican voters. Next, they discuss this morning’s announcement that Louise Lucas, the Virginia state senator who played a central role in the state's redistricting effort last year, was taken into federal custody, charged with bribery and racketeering related to marijuana. She has denied the charges. And finally, they look at AIPAC’s decision to cease making candidate endorsements and campaign contributions from its political action committee, while continuing to operate its superPAC. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon and RCP Senior Elections Analyst Sean Trende discuss fake polling data released by an outfit called Wedgewood Polls, which called their actions ““an experimental project to demonstrate the vulnerabilities, lack of oversight and overall low barrier to entry in the modern political polling industry”. They also take a look at a new campaign ad produced by the Vivek Ramaswamy campaign in Ohio, that features his opponent Amy Acton’s biological mother calling her daughter a liar. Next, James Robbins, Dean of Academics at the Institute of World Politics in Washington DC, joins them to discuss the latest news on the Ukraine War, including Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s statement this morning that he would accept a ceasefire based on the current battlefront if provided sufficient security guarantees by the West. Then, they discuss United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby who called for a national wealth tax and a nearly 100% inheritance tax in an interview with The New York Times. And finally, they discuss a new article in Wired magazine which profiles Americans who left the country for Europe after President Donald Trump’s inauguration and have come to regret the decision. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss midterm polls two weeks before Election Day, including Bret Baier’s Fox News report predicting a possible 52–48 Republican Senate majority if Republicans outperform their polls, as they have in the past. Then, Gad Saad, author of "Suicidal Empathy: Dying to be Kind" and a scholar at the University of Mississippi’s Declaration of Independence Center for the Study of American Freedom, joins the guys to discuss riots in France, civil unrest spreading across Europe, and the dispute between Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) and Vice President JD Vance over the causes of political violence in France. Next, they discuss Elon Musk’s announcement that he will give every child in America one share of SpaceX stock, and a Politico report that Democrats are preparing major investigations into Musk if they win the House in November. And finally, they talk about Vladimir Putin’s proposed Russia/U.S./China summit to end the Ukraine war without Ukrainian participation. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Carl Cannon and RCP White House correspondent Carolina Lumetta discuss President Trump’s travel schedule for the week and what it reveals about the GOP’s inside view of the midterms. Also, a look at where Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) are campaigning, and a discussion of the short tenure of former White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia. Then, RCP Senior Elections analyst Sean Trende joins the team to discuss his new Substack page “The Poll Vault” and his post today on why early voting data is “irresistible, addictive and flawed.” And they take a look at the most recent polls and political advertising. Next, they discuss Senator Elise Slotkin (D-MI) who said last week that Democrats should prosecute current White House staffers as a “deterrent” to young conservatives who might consider serving in the Trump Administration. And finally, they look at Saturday’s “No Kings” rallies and Meta’s suspension of the group’s Instagram account due to an uptick in activity that it mistakenly attributed to Claude, the AI assistant. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Tom Bevan, Carl Cannon, and Richard Porter discuss the DOJ's lawsuit against California over suspected noncitizens voting via mail, news that Katie Zacharia failed the California bar exam, and the probe into Representative Ilhan Omar. Then, author Brett McGurk joins the guys to talk about his new book "Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages". Next, they discuss Elon Musk's unveiling of a "rocket car" last night. And finally, they dish up their "YOU CANNOT BE SERIOUS" stories for the week. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss new inflation data and what it may mean for the midterms, the economic and political impact of President Trump’s diesel deal with Russia, and Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky’s remarks that he feels betrayed by the Trump Administration over diesel and alleged throttling of Starlink data transmission speed by the U.S. government, which affects Ukraine’s ability to intercept Russian missile attacks. Then, Director of Emerson College Polling - Spencer Kimball; joins the guys to discuss new polling from Iowa and whether polls may be overstating Democratic turnout in the 2026 midterms. Next, they discuss a New York Times report on women cabinet members in the Trump Administration and a Politico report that President Trump is considering replacing Chief of Staff Susie Wiles. And then finally, former President Bill Clinton will make his first appearance on the campaign trail for the midterms in Florida next week, and Hillary Clinton returns with a new podcast on the midterms cohosted by Kara Swisher. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Andrew Walworth, Tom Bevan and Carl Cannon discuss last night’s candidate debates, including debates for the Georgia, Maine and Iowa Senate races. Then, Mathew Bunson, editorial director and vice president of EWTN News and author of Leo XIV: Portrait of the First American Pope joins the guys to discuss the latest news on the Pope’s cancer diagnosis and treatment. And finally, they talk about President Trump visiting Wasilla, Alaska, hometown of Sarah Palin, who did not appear at the President's rally. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.