Politico's Jonathan Martin on Trump Chaos, GOP Fears & Midterm Path

Matt Lewis Can't Lose · Feb 10, 2026 · 19m

Jonathan Martin, POLITICO's senior political columnist and politics bureau chief, joins Matt Lewis for a candid deep dive into the 2026 midterms. With Donald Trump in year two of his second term, is the Senate truly in play for Democrats?

Martin breaks down:

— Why the map is a structural nightmare for Dems (tough targets in Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, plus defending Michigan & Georgia)

— How 2025 special elections show Democratic energy and turnout potential Democrats' pushback against the "questionnaire-industrial complex" — why filling out extreme litmus tests (e.g., trans surgery for…