Matt Lewis Can't Lose

On this week’s podcast, Chris Cillizza and I discuss: — The possibility of a 2006/1994/2010-style disaster for Republicans, with Democrats potentially gaining 5–9 Senate seats. — Polling reality check: Races remain stubbornly close (mostly 1–4 points) despite the expanding Senate map. — Fake polls and market manipulation: The Wedgewood Polling scandal, its claimed impact on Mallory McMorrow’s Michigan Senate primary exit, inclusion in aggregators, and how single polls can move prediction markets (Kalshi, Polymarket, etc.). — Speaker Mike Johnson is confidently declaring the polls to be wrong “wrong,” and why Trump’s dominance makes a leadership challenge unlikely. — Vivek Ramaswamy’s scummy ad, JD Vance’s defense of it, and potential backlash in Ohio. — Will fresh faces (Jon Ossoff, James Talarico, Rob Sand, AOC) run in 2028 and remake the Democratic brand? Timing is everything! — And MUCH more! Check out my latest piece, “Mike Johnson Really Needs to Stop Insisting the Polls Are Wrong": https://www.washingtonsun.com/perspectives/mike-johnson-really-needs-to-stop-insisting-the-polls-are-wrong Sign up here to get Matt's Washington Sun☀️ columns sent directly to your inbox! https://www.washingtonsun.com/matt-k-lewis-newsletter-sign-up Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A – Who is Matt Lewis? – Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians. Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937 Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On today's podcast, Charlie Sykes and Matt discuss: — Why November 3 is not the finish line, and the post-election period through January could bring chaos. — Trump’s “Kansas kickback” is a sign of Republican panic about losing the House and Senate. — Trump’s embrace of Putin and betrayal of Ukraine as a stunning historical act that further fractures his 2024 coalition — Endorsing Bibi Netanyahu (low U.S. approval) and other foreign meddling instead of focusing on America First. — The sickening feeling that comes from being right about Trump, reflections on the “Flight 93” narrative, and why a stable society chose to set itself on fire. — JD Vance’s weak CBS town hall performance, lack of charisma, baggage from Trump — Ted Cruz as an undervalued dark horse/Goldilocks candidate if Trumpism crashes further — Post-election dangers and what Democrats should do if they gain power: lean into economic populism, drop the woke excesses, maintain border control, prepare for AI-driven job disruption, and more! Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A – Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians. Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937 Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On today's podcast, Chris Cillizza and Matt discuss: — Is Trump looking to replace Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (per Politico Playbook) just 19 days before the midterms? — Why Wiles was the perfect non-traditional chief for Trump (mother figure, not James Baker) and why he still wants a new character for the next season — Top potential scapegoats if Republicans lose: John Thune, Pete Hegseth, Ken Paxton, Wiles, and more — New press secretary Katie Zacharia’s rough first briefing, and how the job has shifted under Trump — Trump’s aggressive midterm barnstorming and repeated “pretend I’m on the ballot” line — smart base play or self-own at record-low approval? — Trump in the twilight: aging, lame-duck status, better as outsider than governing, and the walnut-tree effect on the GOP bench — Democrats letting a thousand flowers bloom vs. Republican top-down control and the thin post-Trump pipeline — Mike Johnson’s decision to stay on as Speaker or Minority Leader (no matter what happens in the midterms) — Matt’s Senate races to watch: Texas and Kansas — And MUCH more! Make sure to check us out again next week!Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A – Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians. Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937 Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On this week's podcast, Charlie Sykes talks with Matt about: — Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation as ambassador to Greece: the “MAGA queen” deemed too grifty even for the Trump orbit. — Money versus money: Elon Musk’s roughly $366 million (and the potential for far more) versus voter concerns over affordability, consumer sentiment, and Trump’s checks. — Populist irony and conservative reversals: Trump capitalizing on anti-elite anger then surrounding himself with billionaires and swamp figures; the old small-government, anti-“jackbooted thugs” right now defending the opposite. — Culture-war distractions: GOP literature and messaging focuses on bathrooms, sports, and “tampons in men’s restrooms” while affordability dominates voter concerns. — Musk amplifies false claims about James Tallarico’s health. — Trump’s personal comments on examining Jon Husted’s “ass,” the new press secretary’s rocky debut, and MUCH more! Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A – Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians. Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937 Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC

On today's podcast, Chris Cillizza and Matt discuss: — Trump’s repeated Texas and Ohio stops as a sign of a Republican base-motivation problem — Ken Paxton’s leaked audio, and whether Senate Republicans are laying groundwork to throw him under the bus — Who actually decides? — John Thune and the Senate Leadership Fund versus MAGA Inc. — and the scapegoat risk if Texas is abandoned — Chuck Schumer might not be so stupid after all? — Mike Rogers’ Canada-tariff reversal, and other Republicans distancing from Trump on tariffs and Iran — JD Vance as a tenuous heir: charisma, shapeshifting, and the VERY ONLINE trap — Buy-low 2028: Why Ted Cruz is a dark horse to watch — And MUCH more! Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MattLewisDCTwitter: https://twitter.com/mattklewisInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattlewisreels/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVhSMpjOzydlnxm5TDcYn0A – Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians. Buy Matt's books: FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937 Copyright © 2026, BBL & BWL, LLC