Jamelle Bouie

All right, so moving right along, we spent our last episode of 2025 looking back, so now we've got to look forward.

As a political writer, I am already obsessed with the midterms.

Both parties have red-hot primaries coming up as early as March 3rd in Texas, and then the drama just keeps on rolling straight through November.

So, okay, as political nerds, we keep close tabs on this, but for our more normal listeners, and I am so happy for y'all's sanity, let me give a quick lay of the land in terms of what's at stake in these midterms and what the parties need to do for success in November.

I'll briefly get the ball rolling, and then I want you guys to have at it, too.

So as far as what is at stake, the midterms are a referendum on the sitting president.

So for everyone, Republicans, Democrats, all of us, what is on the line is basically the shape and power of the remainder of the Trump presidency.

If Republicans keep unified control of Congress, Trump is going to take that as a mandate to just do whatever the hell he wants for as long as he can hold on to the office.

Does that seem right to you guys?

So nothing focuses the political mind, though, like a good butt whipping.

So if voters rebuff his team, Republicans are going to need to decide if they really want to go down with that ship.

Right.

It's like trying to break up with somebody who just won't take no for an answer.

But the Dems, if they underperform, this is a disaster for them because they are desperate to show that they heard voters' unhappiness in 2024 and have been working to correct some of those errors.

And if the party cannot manage to—

beat a broadly unpopular president in a cycle when, historically, whatever party is out of power in the White House does better.

If they can't manage that, then I believe it's hit the red button, break the glass, full-blown panic mode for them.

And his wife is divorcing him on biblical grounds, despite the fact that he has been a huge player in Christian politics and driving out the evangelical vote.

Okay, so let's dig in a little bit to the Democrats.

Looking at a midterm, which we all understand is different than a presidential year, what message should the party be focused on?