Does Trump Want to Lose the Midterms?
Summary
Ezra Klein argues that Donald Trump prioritizes controlling the Republican Party over winning midterms, risking Senate losses to purge disloyal members. Republican strategist Liam Donovan discusses Trump’s low approval ratings and controversial endorsements, such as backing Ken Paxton in Texas. They analyze competitive Senate races in North Carolina, Maine, and Ohio, assessing how Trump’s actions impact Republican electoral prospects.
Topics discussed
Intro: Death of a Salesman Tony Award nominations
Trump's midterm strategy and party control
Interview with Liam Donovan on Trump's unpopularity
Republican coalition limits and Trump's priorities
Texas Senate race: Paxton vs. Cornyn dynamics
Trump's power base vs. Republican Party interests
Midterm outlook and generic ballot trends
Competitive Senate races: North Carolina and Maine
Ohio and Texas Senate races analysis
Iowa and other potential Democratic pickups
Alaska and Iowa Senate races and ranked-choice voting
Michigan Senate race and Democratic primary issues
Republican schism: Tucker Carlson vs. establishment
Foreign policy divides and the attention economy
The role of attention in modern political campaigns
Future of the Republican Party post-Trump
Book recommendations and episode credits
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