Reid J. Epstein
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
You know, like anybody who reaches that stage in their life, you know, there is some level of diminishment.
You know, like anybody who reaches that stage in their life, you know, there is some level of diminishment.
You ready, Reed? I'm ready. My phone is on do not disturb. Get that last sip of Svendritin. I have a backup here, too. We have more water.
You ready, Reed? I'm ready. My phone is on do not disturb. Get that last sip of Svendritin. I have a backup here, too. We have more water.
Yeah, this really began about a week after Trump was inaugurated in a state Senate election in eastern Iowa, in a rural Republican part of the state, where the Republican who had held the seat before had won by 22 points the last time the seat was up. Safe Republican seat. A safe Republican seat.
Yeah, this really began about a week after Trump was inaugurated in a state Senate election in eastern Iowa, in a rural Republican part of the state, where the Republican who had held the seat before had won by 22 points the last time the seat was up. Safe Republican seat. A safe Republican seat.
And the Democrat prevailed by four points in an election that hadn't gotten a lot of attention or investment from the parties. Wow. But it was a sign that there was some grassroots organic enthusiasm for Democratic candidates in this new Trump era. And fast forward to a week ago, there was another special election campaign.
And the Democrat prevailed by four points in an election that hadn't gotten a lot of attention or investment from the parties. Wow. But it was a sign that there was some grassroots organic enthusiasm for Democratic candidates in this new Trump era. And fast forward to a week ago, there was another special election campaign.
In Pennsylvania, for another state Senate seat, this one got a little bit more attention, but not really any money. And it was a district that Donald Trump had won by 15 points last fall. And again, the Democratic candidate won. In a district where Trump won by 15 points. By 15 points, yeah.
In Pennsylvania, for another state Senate seat, this one got a little bit more attention, but not really any money. And it was a district that Donald Trump had won by 15 points last fall. And again, the Democratic candidate won. In a district where Trump won by 15 points. By 15 points, yeah.
And the people in the party took it as evidence that there was some real anger bubbling up about what Trump was doing in the White House that was reaching all the way down to some of these local races.
And the people in the party took it as evidence that there was some real anger bubbling up about what Trump was doing in the White House that was reaching all the way down to some of these local races.
Right. And that brings us to Florida, where we have a pair of special congressional elections today to fill seats held by former congressmen who were Trump loyalists in districts where Republicans win by 25 or 30 or 35 points typically. So these are not districts that even in a Democratic wave that the party would expect to be terribly competitive.
Right. And that brings us to Florida, where we have a pair of special congressional elections today to fill seats held by former congressmen who were Trump loyalists in districts where Republicans win by 25 or 30 or 35 points typically. So these are not districts that even in a Democratic wave that the party would expect to be terribly competitive.
But their candidates have outraised the Republican favorites in these races. Wow. And put a bit of a spook into House Republicans. We saw last week Elise Stefanik, the nominee to be the ambassador to the United Nations, have her nomination be pulled back in part because Republicans couldn't afford to have another seat vacant in case one of these special elections goes haywire.
But their candidates have outraised the Republican favorites in these races. Wow. And put a bit of a spook into House Republicans. We saw last week Elise Stefanik, the nominee to be the ambassador to the United Nations, have her nomination be pulled back in part because Republicans couldn't afford to have another seat vacant in case one of these special elections goes haywire.
Right. There is a lot of concern on the Republican side about these House seats. I should say the concern on the Republican side is not shared by optimism on the Democratic side. They do not think that they're going to win these seats, but they are enjoying watching Republicans fret about them.
Right. There is a lot of concern on the Republican side about these House seats. I should say the concern on the Republican side is not shared by optimism on the Democratic side. They do not think that they're going to win these seats, but they are enjoying watching Republicans fret about them.