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5 min readThe Case for Showing Up: Dan Bongino on the 2026 Midterms and California's Republican Revival
Dan Bongino opens his show with a single, insistent message: there is no excuse not to vote in the 2026 midterms. He is not preaching or lecturing, he says, but he is also not too proud to beg. The episode revolves around a central argument that Bongino returns to again and again — that the Republican coalition is not fractured, that polling is unreliable as a predictor, and that the only guaranteed way to lose is to stay home. The conversation with California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton serves as the concrete example of why Bongino believes this election is winnable even in deep blue territory.
The Trump Coalition Is Holding
Bongino pushes back hard against what he calls "doomer slop" — the narrative that the Republican Party is fractured and that President Trump has lost support within his own coalition. He plays a clip from CNN analyst Harry Enten showing that Trump received 99% of the MAGA GOP vote in 2024 and currently holds a 98% approval rating among that group. "That's effectively 100%," Bongino says. "Don't tell me the party's fractured. You're just making that up to keep people at home."
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What you'll learn
- 1 (00:10) **Show Opens with Urgent Tease** - Dan introduces a last-minute interview with Steve Hilton, the Republican candidate for California governor, and promises a "bevy of news."
- 2 (04:39) **"Popourry" Segment: No Excuse Not to Vote** - Dan delivers a passionate call to action, urging listeners to vote and bring 10 people with them, citing the sacrifices of Trump, Musk, and Hilton.
- 3 (08:55) **The Flying Tesla & American Optimism** - Dan reacts to a video of a Tesla Roadster flying, using it as a launching point for a broader message of technological optimism and patriotic entrepreneurship.
- 4 (12:40) **AOC as the Alternative** - Dan plays a clip of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez calling Elon Musk "unintelligent," using it to frame the choice between progress and leftist ideology.
- 5 (15:05) **Democrat "Communist" in Maine** - Dan highlights a debate moment where Democrat Troy Jackson tells a female opponent to "shut up," arguing it reveals the party's true, anti-woman character.
- 6 (16:35) **Defending Katie Zachariah** - Dan dismisses conservative infighting over the new White House Press Secretary's performance, pivoting to the larger stakes of the election.
- 7 (18:13) **Trump the Dealmaker (98% Coalition)** - Dan argues that President Trump is the best coalition-builder in the GOP in 50 years, using polling data and the Nidal Hassan execution decision as proof.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
In this episode, I'll explore Elon's latest "real life" tech flex lighting up the timeline, and why the innovation gap keeps widening.
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