Today, Explained · Podcast summary
Your midterms study guide
This week, Vox political editor Benji Sarlin joins us to answer your audience questions about the upcoming midterm elections.
Listen on the show ↗Key takeaways
- 📉Donald Trump's approval rating is at an all-time low, even among his own base, driven by dissatisfaction with his economic policies and handling of the Epstein files.02:37
- 👑Despite his declining popularity, Trump maintains significant control over the Republican party, evidenced by his success in primaries and the loyalty of his base.05:02
- ⚔️The Democratic Party is experiencing an internal 'civil war' between progressive and moderate wings, rethinking its identity and priorities for future elections.05:34
- 🇮🇱The U.S. relationship with Israel has become a highly divisive issue, with public opinion souring and influencing both Republican and Democratic candidates.07:07
- 🤖Affordability and the future of work in the age of AI are central concerns for voters, with candidates actively addressing the potential impact of artificial intelligence.12:11
- 🗳️Voter concerns about election integrity are high, stemming from redistricting, the Supreme Court's role, and past threats of national emergencies.14:55
Chapters
- 0:20Introduction: Your Midterms Study Guide
- 3:36The Shifting Republican Landscape
- 5:25Why is Trump Unpopular?
- 8:16Trump's Enduring Influence
- 8:53The Democratic Civil War
- 11:47The Israel Question
- 18:46The Affordability Crisis and AI
- 24:15Election Security and Integrity
The digest
This week, we're diving deep into the upcoming midterm elections, answering your most pressing questions with the help of Vox political editor Benji Sarlin. We've covered a lot of ground this year, from data centers in New Jersey to redistricting volunteers in Virginia, and even a UFC event in Washington D.C. Now, with the midterms just around the corner, we're focusing on a simple question: What matters most to voters when it comes to November?
The Shifting Political Landscape
Both parties have changed significantly since 2024. On the Republican side, the most important thing to know is that Donald Trump is deeply and increasingly unpopular. The latest NBC News survey shows Trump at his lowest approval rating ever, a number driven by a change among his own base. Only 41% of Republicans strongly approve of Trump's job performance, down 11 percentage points from the spring. Even self-identified MAGA Republicans show a decline, with 62% supporting the president, down from 71% in the spring. Trump's own allies admit he may be in trouble for the midterms. CJ Pierson, a MAGA influencer, emphasized the need to "reorient the conversation that we're having as a party around these domestic issues, or if not, we will lose disastrously in November."
Keep reading in The Digest
The full 9-minute article, 6 more sections, and every new episode from Today, Explained and the creators you follow.
- Why is Trump Unpopular?
- Trump's Enduring Influence
- The Democratic Civil War
- The Israel Question
- The Affordability Crisis and AI
- Election Security and Integrity
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