PODCAST

Trump Tailspins as Leaks about GOP Midterm Panic Take Humiliating Turn

As Republicans reveal fresh angst over the midterms, a veteran political handicapper explains why he’s surprised at how bad a situation Trump’s cratering numbers have created for them.

Donald Trump makes an exaggerated pouting face with his eyes closed while seated
Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

Donald Trump’s tailspinning continues. A CNN analysis finds that Trump has a lower approval rating than any of his predecessors going into midterms in this millennium. That’s worse than Joe Biden in 2022, Barack Obama in 2014 and 2010, and even George W. Bush in 2006. Meanwhile, Trump says he’ll campaign heavily this fall, but humiliatingly, Republicans are leaking to Politico that they don’t want him anywhere near them on the trail. And The Washington Post reports that amid GOP fears of his toxicity, he’s running ads about himself and his super PAC may hoard its funds. Why? Because his team fears its fundraising ability may dry up after the midtermsmeaning they anticipate a big loss. We talked to veteran political handicapper Charlie Cook about his new piece digging into the GOP “nightmare,” why Trump’s unpopularity may be historically unique, and why that’s making conventional midterm patterns unusually bad for the GOP. Listen to this episode here.