When the Trump administration launched its controversial mid-decade redistricting effort earlier this term, it was met not only with howls of outrage from Democrats but also with steadfast opposition from Indiana Republicans. Now, the president and Governor Mike Braun are weighing in on the state senate primaries, endorsing challengers over the defectors. To take us through the twists and turns of this exceptional drama, Henry sits down with Brian Howey of State Affairs Pro Indiana.

Plus, Henry dives into Florida’s own GOP-friendly demography to consider whether Governor DeSantis will have better fortune in the map-making endeavor. And we examine an ad trifecta from Democratic super PAC Priorities USA that may portend the future of targeted political messaging.

It’s no secret that ordinary Americans are often puzzled by the fights animating partisans inside the Beltway. A question emerges, however: What would our representatives talk about if they thought more like the people who elected them? Today, Henry sits down with Tim Goeglein of Focus on the Family to discuss his new book, What Really Matters: Restoring a Legacy of Faith, Freedom, and Family.

Plus, Henry breaks down how the economic fallout from the war with Iran is weighing down Trump’s approval and the chances for Republican congressional hopefuls. And stay tuned until the end for a closer look at two clever attack ads—one aimed at Thomas Massie and another with sights on Sherrod Brown.

Henry’s in Hungary this week, calling in from Budapest to detail the mood around the Danube ahead of an election that’s drawing unprecedented attention from the rest of the West. Tune in to get up to speed on Viktor Orbán, the longtime leader of the governing Fidesz Party, and his frenzied race against Péter Magyar, a former Fidesz member who now leads the suddenly invigorated Tisza Party.

Given the emphasis on national elections in our hyper-partisan era, one might forgive young people their ignorance about the workings of our many-layered federal system. But this week’s guest, Chaz Nuttycombe, isn’t your typical youth. He joins Henry to discuss his election site, State Navigate, which brings exceptional election analysis to the granular level.

Plus, Henry looks at the presidential approval and generic ballot numbers from April 2018, and…let’s just say it’s time for a serious chat. We also examine ads from two cunning MAGA Republicans in Kentucky, exploring how they imply close ties to the president (who hasn’t endorsed either of them).

Some follow elections because they’re in the business, others out of enthusiasm for the whole democracy thing, and if you’ve been around long enough, you can appreciate how much easier it is to track the races that matter—big and small, all over the world. One resource that’s upped the ante for right-leaning political data fanatics is RRH Elections, and Henry sits down with two of RRH’s contributors to hear how and why they built this top-notch site.

Plus, Trump’s approval ratings have hit a new low for this term. Tune in to hear what’s driving the latest dip and what it could mean for the midterms. Stay until the end to hear Henry’s review of three noteworthy ads from the Democratic camp.

Thanks to the ballooning interest in political polling over the last few decades, Americans can closely track daily changes in matters like the president’s approval rating. But it is the rare outfit like the Rainey Center that digs beyond basic questions to provide a substantive survey of American sentiments. This week, Henry sits down with Russ Walker, Rainey’s Vice President of Policy, to discuss their recent polling reports on attitudes about affordability and the American Dream, immigration enforcement, and artificial intelligence.

Plus, Henry breaks down the establishment Democrats’ victory over restless progressives in Chicagoland, along with responses to this year’s many foreign policy adventures.

In one-party states, turnover is rare. So when Dick Durbin gives up the Senate seat he’s held since 1997, we’d expect some movement. And, wow oh wow, are ambitious Illinis on the move! To introduce us to the ensemble casts crowding up key races, Henry sits down with Cook Political Report’s Erin Covey.

Henry also explains the Iron Law of Primaries and digs further into early findings on public attitudes about the war in Iran. Plus, we have competing ads from the Illinois Senate race, along with an attack ad against Thomas Massie that indicates midterm party priorities. (And we’re flagging an innovative ad featuring Bobby Rush that uses artificial intelligence to boost his endorsement of Jesse Jackson Jr.)

The first primaries for the 2026 midterms came last week, and Henry’s flying solo to survey the results. Tune in for analysis on James Talarico’s victory over TX-30 Rep. Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic Senate nomination; incumbent John Cornyn’s top-finish against Ken Paxton in the runoff-bound Republican bid; House seats in the Lone Star State and North Carolina; along with thoughts on President Trump’s recent approval ratings bump and polling on condition-based sentiments about the sudden onset of war in the Middle East.

Plus, this week’s dueling ads provide a contrast in style and sensibility that overshadows even the partisan divide.

Voters in Texas will cast ballots for aspiring nominees next Tuesday, so Gromer Jeffers of The Dallas Morning News returns to Beyond the Polls for a close look at the Lone Star State’s key races: From James Talarico’s attempt to catch Jasmine Crockett for the Democratic Senate nomination, to the seemingly runoff-bound duel between Ken Paxton and incumbent John Cornyn; and let’s not forget some of the hotshots fighting for House seats: Brandon Harerra gunning for scandal-ridden Tony Gonzalez in TX-23 and Colin Alred making a go for familiar territory in the newly-redrawn TX-33.

Henry draws our attention abroad this week. Another opening for ReformUK in the Gorton and Denton by-election, along with positive polling for Australia’s One Nation Party, reminds us that conservative-populism is a global phenomenon.

It’s rant time! The president’s approval numbers are looking awfully similar to those from February of his first term, and such a depletion of political capital since Inauguration Day 2025 ought to make Republicans more than a little nervous. Henry breaks down public opinion polling on the hot-button issues in the headlines, and adds an analysis of self-described MAGA and non-MAGA voters within the GOP. He also takes a look at the astounding fundraising numbers that midterm hopefuls are walking around with these days.

Plus, progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh has her eye on the Illinois-9 House seat, and she has a couple of new ads out that are sure to earn the attention of would-be constituents.

In safe and many-mandered Illinois, Democratic primary elections are where the action is. And when an abiding figure like Dick Durbin announces he’s giving up his US Senate seat, you can expect an eventful season. To take a close look at the flurry of ambitious hopefuls in that race, along with the ensemble-sized casts running in US House districts 2, 7, and 9, Henry sits down with Greg Bishop, Illinois editor at The Center Square.

Stay tuned til the end for breakdowns of subtle, yet effective ads from Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy and New Jersey 11 hopeful Brendan Gill.