Ep 287 | Midterm Reality Check: Where Both Parties Stand | Mark Halperin | The Glenn Beck Podcast

October 17, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Midterm Reality Check: Where Both Parties Stand

Mark Halperin, a veteran political analyst, tells Glenn Beck that Republican prospects in the upcoming midterms are significantly worse than most people realize. The core problem, he argues, is not about campaign tactics or messaging gimmicks—it is structural. Voters are in a sour mood over high costs for gas, food, diesel, and housing, and they blame the party in power. Republicans have not offered a compelling response, and the clock is running out.

The Sour Mood Is the Dominant Factor

Halperin's assessment is not based on public polling or media narratives. It comes from direct conversations with Republican campaigns. "They do not have an answer yet in most of these races for the economy, the sour mood voters are in, and the war and tariffs," he says. The economic pain is visceral: Halperin recounts filling a friend's diesel truck and paying $207. "It's unfathomable," he says. "Affording health care—he's speaking to the most gut level of money in your pocket."

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 The Glenn Beck Program

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

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

What you'll learn

1 (00:00) **Midterm Panic Warning** - Mark Halperin explains why he advised Republicans to start panicking about the midterms, based on private campaign conversations rather than public polls.
2 (02:52) **Why Republicans Aren't Acting** - The hosts debate whether concrete actions like suspending the gas tax would work, and why Republicans haven't taken them.
3 (05:33) **How Bad Could It Get?** - Halperin lays out the worst-case scenario for Republicans, based on his campaign sources.
4 (07:12) **Trump on the Trail: Help or Hurt?** - The hosts assess whether President Trump's campaign appearances are a net positive or negative for down-ballot Republicans.
5 (09:11) **Will Democrats Impeach Trump?** - Halperin gives an inside view on whether a Democratic Congress would pursue impeachment.
6 (11:04) **What a Democratic Congress Means for Policy** - The hosts discuss the practical consequences if Democrats control both chambers.
7 (12:22) **The Undercovered Story: How Far Left the Democrats Have Gone** - Halperin identifies a massive blind spot in media coverage of the Democratic Party.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Guests on this episode

Mark Halperin Glenn Beck

Show Notes

The 2026 midterm elections are not looking good for Republicans, journalist Mark Halperin warns. But is it time to panic? Is there still a way for conservatives to win? And is that even the best-case scenario for the Right, especially with the 2028 presidential elections in mind? Mark and Glenn discuss what Republican candidates must immediately start doing to combat Democrats who are hammering them on high gas and food prices, the war in Iran, and corruption claims. The Democratic Party is much weaker than it seems, Halperin says. But it’s not enough for Republicans to just condemn socialism while the DSA and Islamists take over the party. Mark and Glenn also discuss the Trump administration’s raid on Minnesota Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar’s home in D.C., the real reason for Abdul El-Sayed’s popularity, and the Democrats’ new attempts to claim that Trump will steal the election.

GLENN’S SPONSORS

PreBorn:

PreBorn invites mothers considering abortion to meet their baby through an ultrasound. For $28, you can sponsor an ultrasound and help save a baby’s life. Donate securely at https://PreBorn.com/Glenn. All gifts are tax-deductible.

Chapter:

Chapter’s independent advisers are the only Medicare advisers who compare every plan nationwide, and they’re not paid to steer you anywhere. It’s free and takes less than 20 minutes. Dial #250 and say the keyword “Chapter.”

Home Title Lock:

Make sure you’re not already a victim of home title theft and protect your home against cyber criminals with Home Title Lock. Use the promo code “glenn” at https://hometitlelock.com to get a free title history report, plus a free trial of their million-dollar TripleLock Protection.

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