The Political Scene | The New Yorker
The New Yorker
Join The New Yorker’s writers and editors for reporting, insight, and analysis of the most pressing political issues of our time. On Mondays, David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, presents conversations and feature stories about current events. On Wednesdays, the senior editor Tyler Foggatt goes deep on a consequential political story via far-reaching interviews with staff writers and outside experts. And, on Fridays, the staff writers Susan B. Glasser, Jane Mayer, and Evan Osnos discuss the latest developments in Washington and beyond, offering an encompassing understanding of this moment in American politics.
Episodes
Mentioned books
6 snips
Nov 9, 2026 • 34min
Pete Buttigieg on the Democrats’ Sweep of Congress, and Where They Go from Here
Pete Buttigieg, former South Bend mayor and U.S. transportation secretary, discusses Democrats’ sweeping midterm victory and the road ahead. He explores how the party can turn popular economic priorities into political momentum, move beyond restoring the old status quo, confront Trump-era policies, reform institutions and campaign finance, and build a compelling path toward 2028.
46 snips
Nov 7, 2026 • 44min
The Voters Have Spoken. What Comes Next?
Evan Osnos, a New Yorker writer covering politics and democracy, joins Susan B. Glasser, a veteran Washington and presidential journalist. They examine the midterm election’s stunning repudiation of Donald Trump, the GOP’s emerging civil war, and Democrats’ challenge to balance investigations with affordability legislation. The discussion also explores Trump’s remaining leverage, billionaire influence, voter frustration, and what the results could mean for 2028.
53 snips
Nov 5, 2026 • 37min
The Democrats’ Big Night and the Repudiation of Donald Trump
Vinson Cunningham, a political and cultural writer; Benjamin Wallace-Wells, an elections and social-change reporter; and David Remnick, The New Yorker’s editor, unpack sweeping Democratic midterm victories. They explore voters’ rejection of Donald Trump, surprising rural gains, Texas’s blue turn, Democratic power to investigate and restrain the White House, and whether Republicans can reinvent themselves beyond Trump.
30 snips
Nov 2, 2026 • 35min
Democrats Might Take Back the House. Then What?
Jamie Raskin, a Maryland congressman, constitutional scholar, and former impeachment manager, discusses what Democrats could do after reclaiming the House. He explores election certification threats, impeachment, corruption investigations, Supreme Court strategy, and the party’s generational leadership shift. Raskin also weighs Trump’s likely response to defeat and Democrats’ struggle to define a vision of social democracy.
38 snips
Oct 31, 2026 • 49min
The Washington Roundtable Live: The Final Stretch with David Plouffe
David Plouffe, the strategist behind Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign, joins a lively discussion of the midterm map. They explore surprising Democratic opportunities in deep-red states, Trump’s weak approval ratings, rising living costs, and whether Elon Musk’s spending can shift voters. Plouffe also weighs campaign lessons from past wave elections, standout candidates, Democratic strategy, and the wide-open 2028 presidential field.
Oct 28, 2026 • 37min
Is Donald Trump’s Unpopularity Catching Up with Republicans?
Jason Zengerle, a New Yorker staff writer covering American politics, explores Republicans’ precarious balancing act around Donald Trump. They discuss his weak approval ratings, risky endorsements, unpopular immigration policies and Iran war, and why he’s avoiding competitive districts. The conversation also considers whether midterm losses could loosen Trump’s grip and shape the 2028 Republican field.
Oct 26, 2026 • 31min
Gina Hinojosa Aims to Make Texas Blue Again
Gina Hinojosa, a Texas civil-rights lawyer and former state representative, discusses her bid to challenge Greg Abbott. She makes the case for public schools, criticizes data-center expansion and corporate favoritism, and explores economic anxieties shaping Latino voters. Hinojosa also addresses immigration enforcement, culture wars, winning Trump voters, and the possibility of a Democratic blue wave in Texas.
56 snips
Oct 24, 2026 • 45min
Rahm Emanuel is “Cautiously Optimistic” About the Democrats’ Midterm Prospects
Rahm Emanuel, former Obama chief of staff, Chicago mayor, and U.S. ambassador to Japan, assesses the Democrats’ path to victory in the midterms. He discusses Senate battlegrounds, economic populism, tax reform, ethics legislation, corruption, younger voters, and the party’s ideological boundaries. He also considers how Democrats could pursue accountability under divided government.
71 snips
Oct 19, 2026 • 34min
Has MAGA Lost Faith in Donald Trump?
Rich Baris, the Big Data Poll founder known as the People’s Pundit, examines MAGA’s growing disillusionment with Donald Trump. He discusses Trump’s fading outsider appeal, economic pain, foreign policy, the Epstein files controversy, and shifting Hispanic support. Baris also forecasts a Democratic wave, Republican Senate vulnerabilities, and a succession battle involving J.D. Vance and Tucker Carlson.
35 snips
Oct 17, 2026 • 44min
Elon Musk Is Trying to Buy the Midterms, and He Doesn’t Care Who Knows It
Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, author of investigative documentaries, joins political reporters Jane Mayer and Susan B. Glasser to examine Elon Musk’s extraordinary campaign spending. They explore his influence over elections, government contracts, Ukraine, AI, and federal data, as well as his transformation from environmentalist to Trump ally. The conversation also probes billionaire power, myth-making, and the midterms’ test of democratic resilience.
