The Very Bad Midterms to Come for the GOP
Summary
Host Steve Hayes and colleagues Kevin Williamson, Michael Renault, and Jonah Goldberg discuss the likely Republican losses in the 2026 midterms and the ensuing "post-Trump reality." They argue that a significant electoral defeat is necessary to force the GOP to abandon its current statist, personality-driven approach and return to limited government principles. The panel also critiques the "post-liberal" movement and emphasizes the urgent need for both parties to address the national debt and foreign policy crises with serious, adult leadership rather than political theater.
Topics discussed
Sponsor: Prenuvo whole body scan
Introduction and episode overview
Predictions for the 2026 midterm elections
The Dispatch editorial on post-Trump reality
Republican party identity and limited government
Critique of current Republican leadership
Trump's impact on business and state power
Erosion of ideological differences between parties
Effective governance and constituent services
Why now: The urgency of the editorial
Sponsors: Vacher watches and Mint Mobile
Debunking 'Common Good' conservatism arguments
The future of the MAGA movement
Youth politics and the end of the Trump era
The need for grown-up political discourse
Capitalism, polling, and partisan hacks
Critique of US-Ukraine negotiations and Putin
Sponsor: The Dispatch membership
Roundtable: Jobs that taught us the most
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