The Josh Marshall Podcast Another Special Night
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Dec 3, 2025 The hosts dissect the recent Tennessee special election, exploring its implications for GOP popularity. A controversial Democratic candidate's comments raise questions about race dynamics and voter turnout. They debate whether messaging or the broader anti-Trump context affects voter behavior. A discussion on Chuy García's seat highlights ethical concerns surrounding political handoffs. Finally, they delve into a scandal involving Olivia Nuzzi, examining journalistic ethics and the ramifications of personal relationships in media.
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Special Election vs. National Trend
- Special-election swings can signal national discontent but don't directly translate to general-election outcomes.
- Josh Marshall notes a 13-point swing shows Trump and congressional GOP unpopularity but cautions against overgeneralizing.
Unpopularity Is Cumulative
- Voter attitudes often reflect a blend of grievances, not a single issue like affordability.
- Kate Riga argues Trump's low approval stems from many unpopular actions that compound into broad disapproval.
Party Label Often Trumps Positioning
- Candidate positioning (progressive vs. centrist) often matters less than party label in polarized cycles.
- Josh Marshall says the D label plus district fit generally dominates in a binary Trump/no-Trump environment.