The Daily

A User's Guide to the Midterm Elections

Sep 6, 2022

Astead W. Herndon, a political reporter for The New York Times and host of "The Run-Up," dives into the complex landscape of the midterm elections. He discusses how these elections serve as a referendum on the Biden administration and the influence of Trumpism on the GOP. The conversation explores shifts in voter sentiment, particularly around key issues like abortion, and the impact of President Biden's recent legislative wins. Astead also highlights Democrats' strategies to mobilize crucial voter demographics in a rapidly changing political climate.

42:44

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Episode guests

Astead W. Herndon

Highlights

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Episode notes

The Democratic Party's Official Kick Off to the Democratic Midterms

03:53

Intro

2min

Navigating Midterm Elections

14min

The Dynamics of Healthcare Enrollment and Breaking News Coverage

2min

Shifts in Political Fortunes: The Impact of Roe v. Wade and Trumpism

5min

Political Dynamics and the Midterms

19min

Analyzing Political Division and Midterm Election Dynamics

3min

Commitment to Future Political Victories

2min

Today marks the unofficial start of the campaign for the midterm elections. This year’s midterms will be the first major referendum on the Biden era of government — and a test of how much voters want to reinstall the Trump wing of the Republican Party.

On today’s episode, Astead W. Herndon, a political reporter and the host of our new podcast, “The Run-Up,” offers a guide to the campaign. He’ll explore the forces at play in this election and how we arrived at such a fraught moment in American politics.

Background reading:

Listen to the premiere of "The Run-Up," a podcast dedicated to the 2022 midterms.
Democratic leaders, once beaten down by the prospect of a brutal midterm election in the fall, sense a shift in the political winds. But it may not be enough.
Heading into 2022, Republicans were confident of a red wave. But now some are signaling concern that the referendum they anticipated on President Biden is being complicated by former President Donald Trump.

For more information on today’s episode, visit nytimes.com/thedaily. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday.

Unlock full access to New York Times podcasts and explore everything from politics to pop culture. Subscribe today at nytimes.com/podcasts or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

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