Nov 5, 2026 · 1 hr 7 min · 25 segments
Today, we’re bringing you a new episode of “*Stay Tuned with Preet*” from CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. A panel joins Preet Bharara to break down the midterm election results: historian…
Susan GlasserGuest
Charlie SykesGuest
Joanne FreemanGuest
Preet BhararaHost
Kara SwisherHost
On the things that echo throughout history level, midterm elections, which we normally, we don't pay so much attention normally to midterm elections, Often in the past, when there has been a little political creativity, it's been the midterm elections where that happens because the presidency isn't involved.
So like the radical Republicans after the Civil War, they rise up in a midterm election and then they take over with Reconstruction.
So midterm elections tend to be Actually, the Tea Party, too, comes up in a midterm election.
And then also, obviously, they tend to be a reaction against whoever is president.
To me, one of the things that's distinctive about what just happened is that the actual process of democracy is was on the table.
Like the actual functioning of elections, the fact that the folks who have power right now aren't so keen on the institutions of democracy, and that the simple fact that Trump this morning said, yes, I will abide by the election.
The fact that he said that, that he was asked that, and that he said that, shows you the degree to which this isn't a normal time.
It's like, wait, you're going to actually do what you're supposed to do? Be democratic?
Can I push back a moment? So you think democracy was on the table, not just high prices?
But I don't think in the way, I don't think Americans were like, oh, she'll support democracy.
I think it was on the line because the fundamentals of it, the accountability of people who have office, the rule of law.
free and fair elections, all of those things, which are the absolute foundations of any kind of small d democratic government, they were absolutely on the table.
On the things that echo throughout history level, midterm elections, which we normally, we don't pay so much attention normally to midterm elections, Often in the past, when there has been a little political creativity, it's been the midterm elections where that happens because the presidency isn't involved.
So like the radical Republicans after the Civil War, they rise up in a midterm election and then they take over with Reconstruction.
So midterm elections tend to be Actually, the Tea Party, too, comes up in a midterm election.
And then also, obviously, they tend to be a reaction against whoever is president.
To me, one of the things that's distinctive about what just happened is that the actual process of democracy is was on the table.
Like the actual functioning of elections, the fact that the folks who have power right now aren't so keen on the institutions of democracy, and that the simple fact that Trump this morning said, yes, I will abide by the election.
The fact that he said that, that he was asked that, and that he said that, shows you the degree to which this isn't a normal time.
It's like, wait, you're going to actually do what you're supposed to do? Be democratic?
Can I push back a moment? So you think democracy was on the table, not just high prices?
But I don't think in the way, I don't think Americans were like, oh, she'll support democracy.
I think it was on the line because the fundamentals of it, the accountability of people who have office, the rule of law.
free and fair elections, all of those things, which are the absolute foundations of any kind of small d democratic government, they were absolutely on the table.
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