Political Experts React to Republicans BREAKING with Trump Before Midterms

September 28, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Mike Rogers, a Republican Senate candidate in Michigan, stands in a grocery store wearing a vest that looks like it has never been worn, calling for an end to the Iran war and a temporary embargo on American diesel exports. The ad is a transparent attempt to distance himself from Donald Trump’s unpopular policies, and the hosts of Political Experts React—former Obama communications director Jen Psaki and MSNBC’s Alex Wagner—spend the episode dissecting why this and similar Republican strategies are failing. The throughline is that Republican candidates are panicking about Trump’s sinking poll numbers and trying to pivot on issues like the war, immigration, and trans rights, but their efforts ring hollow because voters see through the desperation, and because the candidates themselves are known quantities with long, contradictory records.

The Grocery Store Gambit: Why Mike Rogers’ Pivot Falls Flat

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

Never miss an episode of Breaking News from Pod Save America

Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (00:03) **Intro & Hosts** - Dan Pfeiffer and Alex Wagner introduce the show and the topic: Republican candidates panicking about Trump's polls and trying to distance themselves.
2 (01:02) **Mike Rogers' Grocery Store Ad** - A Republican candidate for Senate in Michigan, Mike Rogers, runs an ad in a grocery store, calling for an end to the "Iran War" and proposing a diesel export embargo.
3 (02:35) **Analysis: Why the Rogers Ad Fails** - The hosts argue Rogers' pivot is inauthentic, transparent, and unlikely to win over skeptical voters.
4 (06:12) **Anti-Trans Attack Ads in Ohio** - The discussion shifts to a Republican super PAC ad attacking Senator Sherrod Brown on trans issues, followed by Brown's response ad.
5 (07:38) **Will the Anti-Trans Strategy Work for Republicans?** - Dan and Alex debate the effectiveness of the anti-trans attacks against Sherrod Brown, arguing they are less potent than they were against Kamala Harris.
6 (10:44) **Debating Brown's Response Strategy** - The hosts analyze Sherrod Brown's tactical decision to fact-check the trans attacks and then pivot to the economy, rather than offering a robust defense of trans rights.
7 (14:58) **ZipRecruiter Ad Break** - A pre-recorded advertisement for ZipRecruiter, using a humorous analogy about a doctor's test results to illustrate the value of candidates who "go the extra step."

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Alex Wagner

Show Notes

As the midterms heat up, Republicans are struggling with Trump and some are starting to break with him. Alex Wagner joins Dan Pfeiffer to break down the latest midterm ads and what they say about the GOP’s growing problems.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices