The Run-Up: The Stakes of the 2022 Midterm Elections

Hello?

Hi, my name’s Astead Herndon. I’m a politics reporter at “The New York Times” and hosting a new politics podcast from “The Times.” I’m looking for Belinda. Is this her?

It is.

Thank you for picking up. We are hoping that you had maybe 5, 10 minutes today for us to ask a few questions about how you’re feeling about politics right now, and then record that. Is that something you think we could do right now?

How long have you been a reporter at “The New York Times?”

Since 2018. I worked at “The Boston Globe” before that.

And what area are you in?

I write about politics. So I was on the election trail last cycle covering the presidential election.

OK. And record it for what purpose? Will it be replayed later, or what?

Yeah, no problem. We are talking to a lot of different types of voters so that some of our listeners get a sense of how people across the country are feeling.

OK, we can try it. I don’t read “The Times.” It’s way too liberal for me. I’m not expecting a whole lot from this conversation. But I’ll give it a shot, OK?

[MUSIC PLAYING]

We are in Beaverdale, Iowa.

We’re in Charleston, South Carolina. What direction are we? West?

North?

North? I haven’t seen this church, but late —

As a pastor’s son, I know that is a cardinal sin.

I’m walking up to this house.

We see some Trump signs.

More Trump signs.

Do you think that Biden becoming president will lead to more unity in the country?

I’m not optimistic about that.

You can’t force people into unity.

First of all, all this talk about unity and healing and stuff?

We’re not unifying and healing with these guys.

When I hear those calls from Biden for unity, I’m thinking like, OK, but what are the steps for justice that need to happen before we can get there?

Let’s have some consequences for things that have happened here.

You know, Biden says that he’ll be a president for you. That he’ll listen to you. That he wants to bring people together. When you hear that, what do you think?

I don’t believe it.

[CHUCKLING]

I’m sorry. (SARCASTIC) Oh, yeah, let’s all come together. You have not earned it.

I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but unify. Who doesn’t see red states and blue states, only sees the United States.

[CHEERING]

I sought this office to restore the soul of America.

And now the work of making that vision is real. It’s a task — the task — of our time.

(CHANTING) — the steal! Stop the steal! Stop the steal! Stop the steal!

Took over the Capitol. Overran the Capitol.

We’re in the fucking Capitol, bro!

Where are the fucking traitors? Drag them out by their fucking hair! (CHANTING) Do not comply! Nobody has the right to tell me what is best for this child. This is my child. Put your mask on!

Masking children is child abuse!

65 percent of Americans say they are concerned about how things are going in the US.

(CHANTING) — that’s a lie! Babies never choose to die! Pro-choice, that’s a lie!

The election is rigged.

72 percent of respondents believe America is headed in the wrong direction.

They have the devil in them, and they’re all going to burn in hell one day. What kind of ridiculous idea is to put a gun in my hand when I have to defend my students?

We have to stand between a shooter and our kids.

We didn’t sign up for this shit!

85 percent of Americans say they are dissatisfied with how things are going, regardless of political party.

(CHANTING) My body, my choice! My body, my choice!

[AUDIO FADING]

[PHONE INTERNAL RINGING]

[DING]

Hello, is this Bishop Myers? This is Astead Herndon from “The New York Times.”

Hello, how are you?

I’m doing well. How are you?

I’m well. Thank you. Good to hear your voice.

[CHUCKLES]: It’s good to hear you too. It’s been a couple years!

Yes, it has been.

— what’s been the biggest change in the way that you view politics, if any, from two years ago to now?

I guess the one thing that has bothered me is it’s very disheartening. I’ve really lost faith in a lot of the political —

Feeling homeless in politics is — it seems like there isn’t a place for anybody to be. I know —

That political homelessness, that’s exactly how I feel.

A lot of people feel like everything is getting too extreme.

It’s like the land of no more moderates.

I definitely do not think the election was stolen, but I understand why the rioters on January 6 were upset.

I can understand the frustration and the helplessness they feel, and the need to revolt just because the system’s not working for them.

The voting system is not secure, and I’m just having doubts as to whether or not it’ll make a difference if I vote at all.

I have very little hope for the future of the country.

There’s nothing in this country here really gives me hope.

It’s really hard to have hope in politics when the news is so bad.

This country just — it makes me sick, and I wish I can go to another country, but you can’t.

I think the state of democracy right now is very shaky.

I’m worried that democracy is being eroded —

Our democratic system is under direct threat.

— by nationalists and authoritarian groups.

I think democracy, I think it’s much more fragile than I realized.

Biden was not, he was not elected.

Poor man. He’s just — he was not elected. This is wrong. I feel like I’m living in a banana republic.

If you could look ahead to politics, and where you think the country is headed, the direction of the country, what do you think your guess is?

Oh, we’re headed for destruction. I mean, whatever this country is supposed to mean, it never represented — it don’t represent this country. It doesn’t care about the people.

We are just 76 days away from the midterm elections that will determine which party controls Congress next year.

I have introduced articles of impeachment to impeach Joe Biden, impeach Kamala Harris —

And I’ll say this. If there’s a prosecution of Donald Trump for mishandling classified information, there’ll be riots in the streets.

The 2022 fall election will now be a referendum on abortion rights.

Candidates who ran on the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen won primaries up and down the ballot.

Tonight, concerns and frustrations over the integrity of our local elections.

Republicans have a slight two-point edge when it comes to which party voters want to control Congress.

A new polling shows a swing back toward Democratic candidates ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Doug Mastriano, who did march to the Capitol on January 6, is going to be the projected winner of that Republican primary for governor.

This is going to be an epic battle between a conservative businesswoman and mother and a far-left birthing parent and career politician.

When I’m governor, we’re going to take a sledgehammer to these damn electronic voting machines. [CHEERING]

75 percent of Democrats saying they want someone besides President Biden to be the Democratic nominee in 2024.

And former President Donald Trump still the most favored person for a potential 2024 presidential —

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis continues to raise his profile as the possible GOP frontrunner for 2024.

[INAUDIBLE] Clyburn.

Hi, Congressman Clyburn. Thank you so much —

Kellyanne Conway. Thank you so much for your time.

I gave you a lot of it. Try not to be too snarky and barky.

I’m Maggie Haberman, and I cover politics and —

I’m Lisa Lerer, and I cover campaigns, elections —

I’m Shane Goldmacher. I’m a national political correspondent.

I’m Jenny Medina, and I’m a national politics reporter —

I’m Reid Epstein, and I cover campaigns and elections —

I’m Maya King, and I cover Southeast politics for —

I’m Adam Nagourney, and I have been covering national politics on and off since 1988.