Podcasts · The Briefing with Jen Psaki

Psaki: It's not just Trump's curse. GOP put flawed candidates in tight races.

· 42 min · Episode 202610089

Episode Psaki: It's not just Trump's curse. GOP put flawed candidates in tight races.

0:00 41:50

October 8, 2026 - Jen Psaki explains that while a popular president may be able to carry a lackluster candidate with the help of local partisanship, the combination of Donald Trump's abysmal public approval and deeply flawed Republican candidates appears to not only be tipping races toward Democrats, but also changing the minds of voters who might have previously voted Republican by reflex.

Democratic candidate for Senate from Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed, fresh from his debate with Mike Rogers, talks with Jen Psaki about how little Republicans have to run on when they are complicit and compliant with Donald Trump's failures and unpopular policies.

Senator Jon Ossoff, having also just finished a debate, talks with Jen Psaki about the character of his opponent, Mike Collins, and the urgent stakes of this year's midterm elections.

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