In this episode, hosts Chris Vance and Dr. Merrill Matthews are joined by preeminent Republican pollster Whit Ayres as they delve into the latest across the political landscape. Whit shares his expertise on the upcoming 2024 midterm elections, potential control of Congress, the current state of the polling industry, and the future direction of the GOP leading into 2028.
In our Week in Review segment, our panel discusses the upcoming midterm elections, the current state of the Republican and Democratic parties, and the potential field of future presidential candidates. They also examine Dr. Merrill Matthews’ latest column in The Hill, which argues that President Trump’s recent speech simultaneously undermined confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections while refuting President Biden’s false accusations. Finally, they discuss Lynn Schmidt’s recent column on the Trump administration’s approach to Americans with disabilities and the implications for disability rights.
Chapters
00:00 Midterm Election Outlook
05:58 Key House Races and Redistricting
09:46 The Road to 2028
12:03 Attorney General Nomination
13:58 Election Integrity and Disability Rights
17:30 Whit Ayres on the Midterms
21:57 Why Polling Has Changed
27:37 Affordability and the Political Message
30:34 The Changing American Electorate
33:37 The Republican Party in 2028
40:46 Guardrails for Democracy
Links