AI Summary
5 min readTrump’s unpopularity, the affordability crisis, and election security fears define the midterms
The latest NBC News survey shows Donald Trump at his lowest approval rating ever, with 41% of Republicans strongly approving of his job performance — down 11 points from the spring. Even his own allies are worried. “We have to reorient the conversation that we’re having as a party around these domestic issues,” MAGA influencer CJ Pearson told the show. “Or if not, we will lose disastrously in November.”
Both parties are in turmoil
On the Republican side, Trump’s unpopularity is driven primarily by the economy. Voters feel he hasn’t delivered on his core promise of lowering costs. One Pennsylvania voter who supported Trump said: “I voted for him with his promises to the American people. And I think he’s led us down.” At Trump’s UFC event in Washington, D.C., another voter put it simply: “I’m middle class. I want things that affect my life. I want to see change in my regular day-to-day.”
But the economy isn’t the only factor. The Epstein files controversy has damaged Trump’s image among some Republicans, who now see him as part of the insider club he once campaigned against. “After the Epstein files and everything, should have just ramped up,” one attendee said. “I feel like it was a lot more chill before that.”
Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.
Read Full Summary →Free • No credit card required
Never miss an episode of Today, Explained
Get every new episode summarized in your inbox — free, ~5 minutes to read.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
What you'll learn
- 1 (00:15) **The Core Question** - The host reframes the episode as a midterm study guide, answering audience questions based on a year of on-the-ground reporting.
- 2 (02:17) **1. Both Parties Have Changed Since 2024** - The host argues that the Republican and Democratic parties are in fundamentally different positions than they were during the last presidential election.
- 3 (07:04) **2. The U.S. Relationship with Israel** - The host identifies the U.S.-Israel relationship, particularly the war with Iran, as a huge and visceral issue for voters in the midterms.
- 4 (11:27) **3. Everything is About Affordability** - The host explains that "affordability" has become the ubiquitous campaign buzzword, but its meaning is being contested.
- 5 (12:07) **4. AI and the Future of Work** - The host connects voter anxiety about the economy to a broader fear about artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs.
- 6 (14:53) **5. Election Security** - The host identifies election security as the number one topic of concern from listeners, introducing Vox political editor Benji Sarlin to help answer the questions.
- 7 (19:03) **The State of Redistricting** - Benji Sarlin explains the structural advantage Republicans have gained through redistricting and what it means for the election.
+ Full timestamped outline available in the app
Guests on this episode
Show Notes
With the 2026 midterms fast approaching, we’re asking a simple question: What actually matters to voters right now?
This show was edited by Kasia Broussalian, fact checked by Esther Gim, mixed by Shannon Mahoney, video edited by Christopher Snyder, and hosted by Astead Herndon.
A polling station at Colebrook Academy and Elementary School in Colebrook, New Hampshire, on Election Day, November 5, 2024. Photo by Joseph Prezioso / AFP via Getty Images.
You can also watch this episode on youtube.com/vox. Listen to Today, Explained ad-free by becoming a Vox Member: vox.com/members. New Vox members get $20 off their membership right now. If you enjoy our reporting and want to learn more, sign up for Astead’s weekly newsletter, Midterms, Actually. Just go to www.vox.com/midtermsactually to learn more, and get in-depth analysis about this year’s election right to your inbox.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
More from this podcast
Today, Explained →