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The Odd Years

The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter

Join Amy Walter, the celebrated editor-in-chief of the Cook Political Report, every other Tuesday, for conversations on the surprising — and often odd — times we live in. Amy brings her smart and sought-after insights on politics to a podcast that covers a range of subjects.

What makes this moment interesting, unpredictable, and surprising? Amy will talk to people who live and breathe politics (like ourselves) and plenty who do not. We think you can learn stuff — and have fun at the same time. So be sure to follow and listen in.

To learn more about The Cook Political Report, go to www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe.

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S1 · E1
September 24 · 42 min
How C-SPAN's Coverage of Downballot Races Is Helping Fill Local News Gaps
If there's any television network out there that intentionally tries to buck the trends of modern day media consumption, it's C-SPAN. With its live unedited broadcast of political events and congressional hearings and call-in shows featuring the full range of the country's political views, C-SPAN has held firm to its mission of providing unfiltered access to political decision makers since it first streamed from the U.S. Capitol in 1979. But that doesn't mean they don't innovate. Leading that effort is Amy's guest today, Sam Feist. Sam joined C-SPAN in 2024 after 30 years at CNN, where he was involved with pretty much every facet of that cable news outlet's political coverage. Feist has helped C-SPAN launch a new project that he hopes will not only give viewers that same unfiltered access to candidates, involved in the most competitive races this cycle, but it can also help struggling state and local news media. This project, Road to the Capital: Candidate Coverage from the Trail, has C-SPAN video journalists out on the road, tracking and capturing the candidates and their campaign events. C-SPAN then shares this coverage with local media outlets in those states, helping them with political reporting they need but can no longer afford. Sam and Amy talked about this project, but also the role he sees C-SPAN playing at a time of changing consumer habits and massive media upheaval. We recorded this conversation on Monday, September 14th.
S1 · E1
September 8 · 1 hr 4 min
Sarah Longwell on What Democrats Should Borrow From Trump
There are a lot of different ways to introduce our guest this week, Sarah Longwell. She is a former Republican operative who has decades of experience in political messaging and communications. She's also an entrepreneur and media pioneer who has, in just a few short years, built an influential media company called The Bulwark. Last year, The Bulwark, with its anti-MAGA, never-Trump messaging, brought in more than $20 million. She's a dedicated student of politics who conducts thousands of focus groups of voters from around the country to get outside the bubble of DC group think and understand what's really motivating voters. Sarah isn't just interested in playing the game or winning the game. She wants to redefine the game. While she's clearly working against the current president and the Republican Party she is also not afraid to criticize and, in many cases, upset Democrats with some of her advice. Amy is a frequent guest on her podcast, The Focus Group, where they listen to voters and analyze what their opinions may or may not mean for individual candidates or their campaigns. So it was a real treat to turn the tables and get to interview Sarah about her new book, How to Eat an Elephant: One Voter at a Time. In it, Sarah traces her political journey from young GOP operative to prominent Never Trumper and she lays out a roadmap for what she thinks needs to happen to fully defeat the MAGA movement. ** Learn more: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe. New subscribers can use the discount code "odd10" ** **Check out our podcast Editors Roundtable! Find it on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 Find it on Substack: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable
S1 · E1
August 12 · 41 min
The Real Threats to Voting This November Might Not Be What You Think
Election administration may not be the sexiest topic out there but it’s something many of us have started paying close attention to these days. President Trump, who still refuses to accept the results of the 2020 election, has made influencing how we vote a major part of his second term from attempts to force states to turn over voter rolls to changing rules on mail-in voting to broader attempts to “nationalize” election oversight ahead of the midterms. That’s why Amy wanted to talk with someone who is covering these issues closely and can separate real threats to election integrity from ones that are unlikely to pan out. Nathaniel Rakich is the managing editor of the nonpartisan Votebeat. They cover the administration of elections and voting and with journalists on the ground in five states. Nathaniel explains where the pressure points in our voting system are, when President Trump’s efforts have stalled, when they have succeeded and what to watch for as we move toward Election Day this November. Or as Amy puts it: if you are freaking out about whether this election will be free fair and functional, Nathaniel will help you to feel a little less stressed. We recorded this conversation on Thursday, August 6. ** Learn more: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe. New subscribers can use the discount code "odd10" ** **Check out our podcast Editors Roundtable! Find it on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 Find it on Substack: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable
S1 · E1
August 10 · 23 min
Are Democrats Blowing Their Chance to Take Back the Senate?
This is special edition of the Odd Years! Today, we bring to you Cook Political Report's other podcast: Editors Roundtable. If you don’t know Editors Roundtable, it is a weekly conversation between Cook Political Report analysts where we discuss the issues, trends, and individual races that we think are the most important and impactful. Think of it as an opportunity to be a fly on the wall during our editorial meetings. On this Editors Roundtable, is the Senate still in play for Democrats after Michigan? Amy, Jessica and Carrie get together to discuss what they’re watching in the contest between Abdul El-Sayed and Mike Rogers, the latest in the Maine Senate race and what the expanding field for Democrats means. ** How to listen to Editors Roundtable ** -> On Apple podcasts for 1.99/month: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 -> On Substack by becoming a paid subscriber: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable -> By subscribing to the Cook Political Report. New subscribers can use the discount code: "Odd10" www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe
S1 · E1
July 10 · 44 min
Democrats Are Counting on Latinos to Come Home in 2026. It’s More Complicated Than It Seems.
It is not an exaggeration to say that Amy has been wanting to have our guest today, Carlos Odio, on this podcast for at least a year now. Carlos, co-founder of Equis Research, has a deep and nuanced understanding of a Latino voters, a group that gets discussed a lot in the media but not with the complexity the topic deserves. Carlos is working to understand what’s been driving these voters from Democrats, and what could be pulling them back. He is now emerging with new information to share with us including national polling of Latino voters. (Our colleague Carrie Dann wrote about this new research and you can read her story here: https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/national/national-politics/democrats-are-counting-latinos-come-home-2026-its-more) Amy and Carlos talk about what the new polling reveals about Latino perceptions of Trump, the economy and what it all means for 2026. And we take a deep dive into the high stakes races for the House and Senate in Texas, a state where Latino voters shifted considerably toward Trump in 2024. **Check out our podcast Editors Roundtable! Find it on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 Find it on Substack: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable **Learn more: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe. New subscribers can use the discount code "odd10"
S1 · E1
July 1 · 28 min
Separating the Signal from the Noise in What We've Learned from the 2026 Primaries So Far
This is special edition of the Odd Years! Actually, it’s more like a collab with the Cook Political Report’s other podcast, Editors Roundtable. If you don’t know Editors Roundtable, it is a weekly conversation between Cook Political Report analysts where we discuss the issues, trends, and individual races that we think are the most important and impactful. Think of it as an opportunity to be a fly on the wall during our editorial meetings. On this Editors Roundtable, we discuss what we’ve learned thus far from the primaries that have been held, and we drill down specifically on what to make of the success progressive Democrats have had over establishment candidates. We recorded this last Friday, June 26, before Tuesday’s Colorado primary, where longtime Denver Congresswoman Diana DeGette lost a primary to the more progressive DSA-backed challenger, Melat Kiros. ** How to listen to Editors Roundtable ** -> On Apple podcasts for 1.99/month: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 -> On Substack by becoming a paid subscriber: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable -> By subscribing to the Cook Political Report: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe
S1 · E1
June 16 · 35 min
Both parties' voters are freaked out by AI. So what is Congress going to do about it?
It’s rare for voters from different political leanings to share feelings on the major issues of the day. But when it comes to AI, it’s pretty clear that no matter the party, Americans have a lot of apprehension around this new technology. The worries range from job security to kids’ online safety to the environmental impact of massive data centers. This also presents a rare opportunity for policy makers in Washington to work together - across party lines - to come up with a solution. To gauge whether that’s possible and to understand how policy makers in D.C. and state capitals around the country are thinking through these issues, Amy spoke with Ashley Gold, senior tech policy reporter at Axios and co-author of the AI+ Government newsletter. She has some really great insights into what we should expect from lawmakers and the tech industry. We recorded this conversation on Wednesday, June 10. **Check out our podcast Editors Roundtable! Find it on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 Find it on Substack: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable Learn more: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe
S1 · E1
May 12 · 44 min
"Redistricting giveth and redistricting taketh away." A conversation with elections expert Sean Trende.
When the Supreme Court released their decision to limit the scope and scale of Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act in late April, Amy knew she wanted to dig into the political and legal repercussions with someone who is well-versed in both of those areas. She immediately turned to Sean Trende, a senior analyst at RealClearPolitics and a lawyer who has deep expertise in redistricting law. In fact, back in 2022, Sean was one of two special masters assigned to draw Virginia’s congressional maps. He's also an astute analyst of political trends and elections. It doesn’t hurt that Sean lives in Ohio - a key epicenter for the battle for the Senate this year. As fate would have it, we recorded this just a couple days before the Virginia Supreme Court struck down the Virginia map voters had approved earlier this spring. While we weren’t able to address it directly, we did discuss the possibility of this very scenario and its broader impact on the U.S. House map for 2026. Amy's goal for the interview was to look past the immediate impacts in 2026 and ask what impact of the tit-for-tat redistricting wars could be on our politics in the near and far term. We recorded this conversation on Wednesday, May 6. Check out our Redistricting Tracker: www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/redistricting/2025-2026-redistricting-tracker-how-many-seats-could-flip-0 Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers. **Listen to our weekly podcast Editors Roundtable** Find it on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 Find it on Substack: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable
S1 · E1
April 10 · 42 min
Does Congress Even Matter Anymore?
Americans have a pretty dismal view of Congress. Lawmakers in the U.S. House and Senate are seen as ineffective and a much diminished power under President Trump. Last year, for example, Congress passed a record low number of laws while President Trump issued the most executive orders in modern history. Paul Kane, a veteran Capitol Hill reporter and one of its smartest chroniclers recently wrote a column for the Washington Post in which he argued that “Congress needs a major course correction or else it will slide into a permanent state of weakness that further empowers the presidency.” To find out whether Congress is indeed headed for irrelevance, Amy checked in with Molly Reynolds, vice president and director of governance studies at Brookings. Her work focuses on Congress and how congressional rules and procedure affect policymaking. Molly has a more nuanced opinion about the state of the modern Congress and helps put its dysfunction into context. Amy and Molly also talk about what a potential flip in congressional control in 2027 would mean for President Trump and for legislating overall. We recorded this conversation on Tuesday, April 7. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers. **Listen to our weekly podcast Editors Roundtable** Find us Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 Find us on Substack: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable
S3 · E26
March 13 · 41 min
The Real Impact of AI and Making Sense of the Disconnect in Our Economy. A Conversation With the Wall Street Journal’s Greg Ip.
Amy has long been an admirer of this week’s guest, The Wall Street Journal's chief economics commentator Greg Ip. She finds his insights into how our economy functions to be thoughtful as well as approachable. It’s also why she thought he'd be the perfect person to talk with about the central disconnect we've seen in perceptions of our economy over the last few years - namely that the markets and Wall Street suggest everything is going great. Meanwhile American consumers are saying the economy is not great, at all. They also talk about AI, why Greg thinks it's not likely to have a huge impact on our jobs, but why it's potentially contributing to Americans' generally pessimistic views of their economic futures. Of course, the war with Iran is adding its own economic uncertainty to the mix. So they start the conversation there. We recorded this on Wednesday, March 11th. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers. **Listen to our weekly podcast Editors Roundtable** Find us Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 Find us on Substack: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/s/editors-roundtable
S1 · E1
February 11 · 48 min
Why the GOP's voter ID push could backfire. Plus, ICE fallout after Minneapolis.
The Odd Years is back with our first episode of this midterm year! Political news and events seem to be breaking faster than the human brain can process, so we wanted to take a step back and talk to people with experience, insight, and perspective who can help us make sense of it all. That is why we kicked off the inaugural 2026 episode with two political reporters who embody those traits: The Wall Street Journal's Annie Linskey and Puck's Peter Hamby. They are known for their smarts and scoops, but also their level headedness and ability to separate the buzzy from the newsworthy. In this episode, Annie discusses Trump's rare backtrack on immigration enforcement in Minnesota. Peter's been doing a lot of great reporting and survey research on young voters and gives us a timely update on their views of Trump and how they see the potential 2028 Democratic presidential candidates. Plus, we talk about what we should make of Trump's talk of “nationalizing elections” and whether the Republicans proposed voter ID law could actually make it harder for their own supporters to cast a ballot. We recorded this conversation on Tuesday, February 10. You can watch part of the conversation our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecookpoliticalreport Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Check out our weekly podcast Editors Roundtable. On Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/editors-roundtable/id1765349026 On Substack: https://thecookpoliticalreport.substack.com/ Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers.
S3 · E24
Dec 9, 2025 · 51 min
SCOTUS' Starring Role in Trump 2.0
It's a consequential week in the Supreme Court as justices hear a case that could reorient the bounds of executive authority and overturn a ninety year precedent that insulates independent government agencies from political interference from the president. President Trump has tested those bounds of his executive power on everything from tariffs and trade to immigration to government spending. It's now up to the Supreme Court to determine just how far that authority can stretch, and that's why Amy wanted to talk to our guest today, Josh Gerstein, a reporter at Politico, who covers the intersection of law and politics -- which these days feels like just about everything under the sun. Amy and Josh talked about the dynamics in this Supreme Court, how they may rule on these upcoming cases, including ones like the Voting Rights Act. We recorded this conversation on Thursday, December 4th, right before the court announced they were taking up the birthright citizenship case and before they issued their stay on Texas' redistricting map. You can watch part of the conversation our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecookpoliticalreport Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers.
S3 · E23
Nov 25, 2025 · 49 min
How can political journalism meet the moment? Astead Herndon has ideas.
In Amy’s opinion, Astead Herndon is one of the sharpest and most thoughtful political journalists out there. His New York Times podcast, The Run-Up, did an amazing job pulling back the cover on how national politics is done and showing the gulf that exists between the parties, the insiders and actual voters. It’s this kind of journalism that has set Astead apart from the pack. He picks apart conventional wisdom and elevates the complexities and gray areas that are critical in understanding this political moment. He's also been skeptical of the idea that traditional forms of political journalism can keep up with the significant changes we've seen in the way Americans receive and process the fire hose of digital media coming at them every single day. It's one reason why he made the decision to leave the New York Times for a role at Vox. There, he’ll take on the position of host and editorial director and create a new weekly video podcast about, of course, politics starting next year. This was a really interesting conversation that covered everything from the media to the midterms to the World Cup. We recorded it on Wednesday, November 19th.
S3 · E22
Nov 11, 2025 · 38 min
California, Here We Come: Prop 50, Pelosi and Newsom's Future
Californians often like to think of themselves as the center of the universe. But when it comes to politics, this deep blue state is rarely in the spotlight - until now. The passage of Prop 50 in last Tuesday's election was the most consequential development to date in the redistricting wars. The new Democratic drawn map will cost Republicans three to five seats in 2026 and also shores up five vulnerable Democratic incumbents. The win is also a feather in the cap of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom who hopes to ride the momentum from the Prop 50 landslide win all the way to the White House. And if that news wasn't enough last week, Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, the San Francisco icon who led House Democrats through multiple wars, economic crises, and impeachments, announced she would retire after nearly four decades in Congress. Her decision unleashes pent up political floodgates and kicks off a fierce primary fight for the chance to fill her district. To talk through all of this, we've invited Cook Political Report U.S. House Editor Erin Covey, who's covering the redistricting wars as closely as anyone in the country. And also joining us is Mark Barabak, an LA Times columnist and expert in all things political in California. We recorded this conversation on Thursday, November 6th. Follow all our Redistricting coverage: https://www.cookpolitical.com/redistricting Check out our interactive Redistricting Map (in front of the paywall!): https://www.cookpolitical.com/redistricting/2025-26-mid-decade-map You can watch part of the conversation our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecookpoliticalreport Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers.
S3 · E20
Oct 28, 2025 · 42 min
Here's what two top reporters will be watching in NJ and VA on Election Day
One week from today, voters in New Jersey and Virginia will go to the polls. These are state and not federal elections. But they can serve as bellwethers for the upcoming midterm election next year. Topics that resonate in a purple state like Virginia this year, for example, are likely to be issues that are significant in swing states and districts in 2026. Next Tuesday, we’ll also look closely at voter turnout for some early clues as to which party is more excited to show up and vote next year. Even as our politics has become more and more nationalized, these contests in Virginia and New Jersey are also impacted by unique state and local issues and trends. And that's why we wanted to discuss these contests with two people who really understand the issues, the electorate, and parts of the state will be most important to watch on November 4th. Amy is joined by Joey Fox of the New Jersey Globe and Chaz Nuttycombe, founder and executive director of State Navigate, who's following the Virginia contests. We recorded this conversation on Wednesday, October 22nd. You can watch part of the conversation our YouTube channel. Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief. Interested in subscribing to CPR? Lear more here. Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers.
S1 · E21
Oct 13, 2025 · 28 min
"We have a message problem, a messenger problem, an ideas problem and a brand problem." Dem strategist Lis Smith has some advice for her party.
It's safe to say Democrats are going through something of an identity crisis at the moment. They have no clear leaders, no driving issues, and no real power in Washington. And that makes the current government shutdown an interesting test case for Democratic leaders like Chuck Schumer over what they think their voters want and how best to fight Donald Trump. Our guest today, Democratic strategist Lis Smith, has not minced words when it comes to perceptions of her party. She told the New York Times that the Democratic brand was “in the toilet” and recently called for Democrats to “burn the party establishment down.” Smith, however, is not some upstart campaign disruptor. She's a veteran of twenty political campaigns, most recently as a senior adviser to Pete Buttigieg's 2020 presidential campaign. This makes her critique of the party and the work she's doing this cycle to try and fix it worth understanding and exploring more deeply. We recorded this conversation on Wednesday, October 7th. You can watch part of the conversation our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecookpoliticalreport Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers.
#1
Sep 30, 2025 · 37 min
Eight months into Trump 2.0, the economy is great for the top 10% and meh for everyone else
We're about eight months into Donald Trump's second term, a victory driven in large part due to voter frustration with the economy and their belief that he would help get inflation down. So what does the economic picture look like today? That's not as easy a question to answer as you would think. Stock market set record highs, but consumers remain pessimistic about inflation. The tariffs implemented by the Trump administration haven't caused the kinds of economic damage many economists predicted they would, yet it's also clear that tariffs are impacting economic decision making in ways that aren't altogether obvious. And then there's AI. If you work for or invested in a company making AI, you're doing great. But what about those folks, especially new graduates entering the workforce who are being displaced by the new technology? Thankfully, we found someone to help us better understand this moment. Heather Long is chief economist at Navy Federal Credit Union and a contributing columnist for The Washington Post. She's not only super smart, but she can make very confusing and complicated subject like this one understandable and approachable. We recorded this conversation on Wednesday, September 24th. Check out our CPR 2025-2026 Redistricting Tracker: https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/redistricting/2025-2026-redistricting-tracker-how-many-seats-could-flip-0 You can watch part of the conversation our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecookpoliticalreport Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe. Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers.
S3 · E18
Sep 16, 2025 · 34 min
Are we heading towards the gerrymander apocalypse with David Wasserman
We took a late summer break, but we're back with a new slate of really great interviews! When we started this year, redistricting was not something we thought would be driving our politics this cycle. But, of course, that's no longer the case with Texas unleashing a domino effect of redistricting efforts across the country. Thankfully, we know someone really well who can help us understand what's happening: The Cook Political Report's very own David Wasserman. If you follow Dave on X, you know him as Redistrict. Redistricting itself is a topic Dave's been fascinated with for a very long time. He was pouring over maps and congressional data as a kid, which we talk about in this conversation. (It's pretty adorable.) Now as one of the most trusted sources in the country on congressional maps, we literally can't think of anyone better to help us navigate this complicated and unprecedented mid-cycle redrawing of districts. We recorded this conversation on Thursday, September 11th. Check out our CPR 2025-2026 Redistricting Tracker: https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/redistricting/2025-2026-redistricting-tracker-how-many-seats-could-flip-0 You can watch part of the conversation our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecookpoliticalreport Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe. Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers.
S3 · E17
Jul 22, 2025 · 51 min
This pollster predicted Trump's surprising 2024 coalition. How's it holding up?
Back in 2023, Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini wrote a book that laid out a path for how the party could win future elections with a working class multiracial coalition. Later that year, Amy talked with Patrick on this very podcast where they discussed whether Trump could expand his base to include those voters of color. Well, as we saw, he did. In fact, in 2016, the coalition that elected Trump was 88% white. By 2024, it was down to just 78% white. So we wanted to have Patrick Ruffini back on for a conversation about how well that same coalition is holding up six months into Trump 2.0, whether these voters will show up for Republicans in 2026, and whether the next Republican nominee for president will have a similar appeal these voters. Patrick is a partner and pollster for Echelon Insights and writes a great Substack, The Intersection. Also, a quick programming note: we are taking a bit of a summer break in August, but never fear! We'll be back in September with new episodes of The Odd Years. You can watch part of the conversation our YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@thecookpoliticalreport Sign up for our free weekly newsletter, In Brief: https://www.cookpolitical.com/in-brief-sign-up Interested in subscribing to CPR? Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe. Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers.
S3 · E16
Jul 2, 2025 · 29 min
The center of the political universe is Michigan
This week we are diverging from our normal Odd Years format to introduce you to another Cook Political Report product, Editors Roundtable. This podcast features a rotating cast of our Cook Political Report team breaking down the latest news, analysis and insights about the most important House, Senate and Gubernatorial contests in the country. We like to think of this podcast as an opportunity for you to get the behind the scenes access to the conversations we are having at our weekly Cook Political Report editorial meetings. This week, our talented colleagues talk about the most interesting and consequential state in the 2026 midterms: Michigan. The Wolverine state has it all; a three-way gubernatorial contest featuring the former Democratic Mayor of Detroit, who is running as an Independent; competitive primaries for one of the most competitive Senate races in the country, and a slew of critical House contests that could determine control of Congress next year. And, we can’t have a conversation about Michigan without using a mitt (in this case our Managing Editor’s own oven mitt), to help illustrate where each important congressional district and key cities are located in the state. That “U” shape between the thumb and index finger, that’s Detroit, BTW. We hope you enjoy this episode. And, more importantly, if you do like it, and to hear more of it, subscribe to the Cook Political Report where you can get the kind of deeply sourced, non-partisan and accurate analysis of every race up in 2025 and 2026. Go to: www.cookpolitical.com/subscribe. Listeners can use the discount code"ODD10" to save 10% on any subscription. This offer is available only to new subscribers. You can also get Editors Roundtable for just $1.99 a month on Apple podcast. Read Jessica on Michigan's open Senate seat here: https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/senate/michigan-senate/republicans-aim-avoid-messy-michigan-senate-primary-may-not-get Read Erin's 2026 House analysis here: https://www.cookpolitical.com/analysis/house/michigan-house/2026-michigan-house-analysis-democrats-fight-upper-hand

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