Republicans Are Getting Spooked
Summary
Josh and Kate analyze the 2026 midterm landscape, noting that Republicans are in "crisis mode" as polls show worsening trends despite their internal optimism. They discuss recent rating downgrades for key Senate races in Kansas, Michigan, and Iowa, attributing the shift to low Trump approval ratings and a 35-point Democratic lead among Hispanic voters in Florida and Texas. The hosts also cover the fallout from weak Republican candidates, internal GOP infighting in Texas, and the potential for a Democratic "blue tsunami" if current polling holds.
Topics discussed
Midterm election backdrop and crisis mode
Prognosticators and the shift in race ratings
Kansas Senate race: Hamilton vs. Marshall
Polling disputes and GOP candidates calling for war end
Internal polling leaks and state muscle memory
Weak Republican candidates in key Senate races
Winnability of red states: Iowa and Ohio
Texas primary infighting: Paxton, Cornyn, and Crockett
Jasmine Crockett's criticism of Tallarico
Governor races in Florida and Texas
Trump's endorsement of Byron Donalds in Florida
Hispanic voter approval and the collapse of realignment
Immigration politics and House seat vulnerabilities
Republican spending advantages and incumbent funding gaps
Missouri gerrymander legal battle and Supreme Court orders
Judicial maneuvering and state court dynamics in Missouri
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