Semafor’s Dave Weigel stops by to talk the five big takes that will shape the 2026 midterms, with a focus on how political operatives are already jockeying to frame the results before election night even arrives. The discussion highlights how standout candidates like Abdul Sayed, Pete Buttigieg, Mark Kelly, AOC, and governors such as Wes Moore and J.B. Pritzker could become examples in the 2028 conversation, while also noting that gerrymandering and the aftermath of the election will influence how people interpret what happens. A major theme is the shifting Latino vote, especially in Texas and Florida, where Republicans may have overextended and Democrats are likely to fight over credit if gains materialize. Ohio gets special attention as a key test of whether Democrats can rebuild support with white working-class voters by running as economic populists rather than leaning on the national party brand, with Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton serving as examples of that approach. The discussion also touches on Iowa, Kansas, Alaska, and other places where Democrats are trying to separate themselves on cultural issues like transgender sports while keeping the focus on the economy, and the broader point is that the first people to define the post-election narrative will shape how the party’s future is understood. Subscribe to Fast Politics and listen 4x a week for interviews just like this on your favorite podcast app: https://episodes.fm/1645614328