Is Donald Trump’s Unpopularity Catching Up with Republicans?

The New Yorker staff writer Jason Zengerle joins Tyler Foggatt to discuss how Republican candidates are responding to Donald Trump’s historically low approval ratings. They talk about the races in which the President’s endorsements may be hurting Republicans, the political fallout from his immigration policies and the war in Iran, and his decision to campaign in deep-red states rather than in competitive districts. They also consider whether a blue wave could weaken Trump’s grip on the Republican Party, and how the midterms might affect its next slate of Presidential candidates.

This conversation was recorded for a live video on Substack. Follow The New Yorker on Substack (newyorker.substack.com)»

Recommended reading:

• “The Republicans’ Remarkably Bad Midterm Campaigns (newyorker.com/magazine/2026/11/02/the-republic…),” by Benjamin Wallace-Wells

• “Trump’s Repudiation Is at Hand, Right? (newyorker.com/news/letter-from-trumps-washingt…),” by Susan B. Glasser

• “The State Officials Defending the Midterms from the President (newyorker.com/magazine/2026/11/02/the-state-of…),” by Barton Gellman

• “How ICE Is Targeting the 2026 Midterms (newyorker.com/news/the-political-scene/how-ice…),” by Jonathan Blitzer

• “Can Democrats Win Back Labor? (newyorker.com/news/the-lede/can-democrats-win-…),” by Dan Kaufman

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.

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