2026 midterms: best, mid, worst cases

It’s that time of year again. Self-indulgent mailbag time. Thanks to all who sent questions, and apologies to those who didn’t get answers.

In this episode, Matt and Brian discuss:

* Whether Gavin Newsom is doomed to become yesterday’s news;

* Why there’s never been a better time to tax rich people;

* How (and if) liberals can coexist politically with authoritarians in a two-party democracy.

* What, if anything, the Biden people told themselves about the Epstein files?

Then, what’s the bull case for A.I., where we look back from 10 or 20 years on and feel like the transition, and all the resources society poured into it, were worthwhile? Would Pat Buchanan have won in 2016 on Donald Trump’s platform? And how do a couple middle-aged coastal-elite squares keep in touch with the common man—and the youth of the nation?

All that, plus the full Politix archive are available to paid subscribers—just upgrade your subscription and pipe full episodes directly to your favorite podcast app via your own private feed.

Further reading:

* Matt on how we all deserve a stake in the financial upside of A.I.

* Brian on why Merrick Garland deserves our contempt.

* Senator Barack Obama at the launch of the Hamilton Project.