It's a Numbers Game: The GOP’s Last-Minute Trump Pivot: Will It Work?

Are Republicans beginning to distance themselves from President Donald Trump as the 2026 midterm elections approach? On this episode of It’s a Numbers Game with Ryan Girdusky, Ryan examines what he sees as a late Republican pivot away from Trump as GOP candidates confront voter concerns over the Iran war, rising costs, data centers and the president’s political standing. He looks at Republican Senate and House candidates who have broken with Trump on key issues and explains what the polling could mean for competitive races across the country. Ryan also digs into the enormous amounts of campaign money pouring into Texas and competitive House races, including the Senate contest involving Ken Paxton and James Talarico, and explains why Republicans are spending heavily to defend territory that previously leaned strongly Republican. Plus, Ryan takes aim at Nikole Hannah-Jones’ reflections on her daughter’s education, examining her decision to enroll her daughter in a struggling New York City public school and what Ryan believes the story reveals about education policy, school performance and parental responsibility. Finally, Ryan answers listener questions about Tulsi Gabbard and 2028, possible live midterm election-night coverage, the ideal podcast length, and his disagreements with Clay Travis and Buck Sexton.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.