Trump Ditches GOP in Secret Midterm Panic

Nico Hines and Daily Beast political correspondent Farrah Tomazin discuss Donald Trump’s increasingly risky strategy for the 2026 midterms, as the president looks to make himself the centerpiece of Republican campaigns despite growing concerns about his approval ratings, the economy, and his party’s chances in key races. They break down Trump’s control of a $400 million super PAC, his controversial intervention in Republican primaries, and the warning signs emerging from candidates he has backed—including a South Carolina race where Republican voters openly booed his name. They also examine the mystery surrounding Trump’s massive political war chest and Karoline Leavitt’s move from the White House to MAGA Inc., raising fresh questions about what Trump is building beyond the midterms. The episode then turns to Trump’s health, his weight, stamina, and growing public references to his own mortality, with his age becoming an increasingly important factor as he prepares to put himself at the center of another election campaign. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices