What’s at Stake in the 2026 Midterms

The New Yorker staff writers Isaac Chotiner and Benjamin Wallace-Wells join Tyler Foggatt to discuss what Democrats might do after the midterms if they win a majority in the House or the Senate, and how Donald Trump might respond to attempts to check his power. If Trump has been willing to circumvent Congress on issues like military action and tariffs, how much difference would a Democratic majority make during the remainder of his second term? They also talk about how large a Democratic victory could be, and ask what the results might reveal about voters’ views of Donald Trump and the Republican Party. This conversation was recorded for a live video on Substack. Follow The New Yorker on Substack » Recommended reading: “Donald Trump After the Midterms,” by David Remnick “The Dumocrats Are Coming for Trump, and All He Can Do Is Call Them Names,” by Susan B. Glasser “Who Won the Redistricting War?,” by Jon Allsop “The Well-Funded Fight to Keep Latinos Voting Republican,” by Jesús Rodríguez “A Populist Revival in Iowa,” by Peter Slevin The Political Scene draws on the reporting and analysis found in The New Yorker for lively conversations about the big questions in American politics. Join the magazine’s writers and editors as they put into context the latest news—about elections, the economy, the White House, the Supreme Court, and much more. New episodes are available three times a week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices