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Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 194

What Just Happened?

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Trial Balloon · Ep. 194: What Just Happened?

Six Months Out from the Midterms

May 9, 2026 · 9:15 am ET · Leave a Comment

I joined John Ellis on the News Items podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about the state of American politics.

We talked about Donald Trump’s sinking approval numbers, Democratic momentum heading into the midterms, the races that could determine control of the Senate and the political backlash building around AI data centers.

We also looked ahead to the future of the Republican party after Trump — and whether someone not yet on the radar could define the 2028 presidential race.

The discussion was part campaign analysis, part media conversation and part political shop talk. You can listen here: 

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Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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