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Are Republicans trying to keep Donald Trump away from the campaign trail—even in his home state? Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried joins Jennifer Taylor-Skinner on The Margin to discuss the 2026 midterms, Trump's influence on Republican candidates, and the race to replace Governor Ron DeSantis. Fried says she's hearing that Florida Republicans are urging the White House to limit Trump's campaign appearances. She also discusses why Trump-endorsed Byron Donalds is attempting to establish some distance from the president as he faces Democrat David Jolly. In this conversation: • Why Trump's influence is becoming a campaign issue in Florida• Byron Donalds, David Jolly, and the governor's race• Billionaire donors and their influence on Florida politics• AI data centers, environmental concerns, and Republican-led states• Florida's attorney general race and political accountability• Why Fried believes Florida could signal a broader national political shift• The Democratic Party's long-term strategy for rebuilding in the South Florida hasn't elected a Democratic governor in nearly 30 years. Could the 2026 midterms mark a turning point? The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette, produced in collaboration with URL Media. Subscribe to The Electorette for more conversations about politics, power, and the people shaping American democracy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With the 2026 midterm elections just weeks away, what does political desperation look like—and how far might an administration go to hold on to power? In this episode of The Margin, Jennifer Taylor-Skinner is joined by political analyst and scholar Dr. James Peterson for a wide-ranging conversation about the Pentagon's controversial plan to livestream an execution, its timing ahead of the midterms, and the political implications of turning capital punishment into a public spectacle. They also examine the growing enthusiasm gap between Democratic and Republican voters, Trump's campaign appearances in traditionally Republican strongholds, and what these developments may reveal about the political landscape heading into November. On the Democratic side, they discuss the enduring influence of Barack Obama and Kamala Harris, the role of Black voters in the midterms, and whether Harris's political future could include another presidential run in 2028. The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette in collaboration with URL Media. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The leaders of Intersections for Our Lives — Christina Baal Owens, Regina Davis Moss, and Lupe Rodriguez — join The Margin to discuss a new national study examining the priorities, concerns, and political outlook of women of color. The survey found deep anxiety around affordability, healthcare, economic security, and the future of the American Dream. Among its findings: three in five women of color said politicians are not talking about the issues that matter in their daily lives, while many described the cost of raising a family, buying a home, accessing healthcare, and simply making ends meet as increasingly out of reach. The conversation explores what those findings reveal about political trust and belonging, as well as why reproductive justice extends far beyond abortion access — encompassing the ability to have children, not have children, and raise families safely and with dignity. The guests also discuss immigration as a reproductive justice issue, barriers to healthcare for immigrant communities, and the policy changes they want lawmakers to pursue. And with the midterms approaching, they examine the gap between asking women of color to show up at the ballot box and actually delivering meaningful change in their lives — and why solidarity across Black, Latina, and AANHPI communities remains central to their effort to build political power. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Maryland governor on ICE, AI guardrails, and governing beyond the base Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins The Margin for a conversation about the power—and the limits—of state government as the 2026 midterms approach. The interview begins with election security. Moore responds to attacks on Maryland’s election administration and discusses threats to send federal agents to polling places, arguing that states have an essential role in protecting free and fair elections. The conversation then turns to ICE, including recent confrontations in Maryland, the agency’s dramatic growth in funding, accountability for federal agents, and what governors can do when federal immigration enforcement reaches into their communities. Moore also discusses artificial intelligence, calling for stronger guardrails around children, deepfakes, national security, infrastructure, and weapons systems while arguing that AI can still deliver meaningful benefits in areas such as health and education. And with the midterms approaching, the conversation turns to persuasion. Moore explains why he believes politicians have to talk to voters across party lines and tells the story of a Republican mayor in western Maryland who did not support him the first time he ran—but later endorsed his reelection after working with his administration following devastating flooding. His takeaway: politicians have to “show and prove,” make their case, and accept that persuasion begins with showing people who you’re willing to fight for. The Margin is a collaboration between The Electorette and URL Media, focused on the voters, communities, and issues shaping the margins of the 2026 midterm elections. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. James Peterson of WURD Radio on the political legacy of 9/11, the GOP’s unusual midterm convention, Trump’s $5,000 promise, and the road to November. Twenty-five years after 9/11, what does this moment mean to an electorate increasingly too young to remember it? This week on The Margin, Jen Taylor-Skinner is joined by Dr. James Peterson, host of Evening WURDs on WURD Radio, to break down some of the biggest political stories shaping the midterms. They reflect on their own memories of September 11 and the policies and political realignment that followed — including what it means to teach 9/11 to a generation with no living memory of the attacks. Then they turn to the Republican Party's unusual midterm convention, Donald Trump's attempt to put himself at the center of an election in which he isn't on the ballot, his promise of a $5,000 “dividend” if Republicans win, and why some Republican candidates appear reluctant to tie themselves to him heading into November. The conversation also gets into Tim Scott's role at the convention and Peterson's argument about why Republicans want prominent Black surrogates while pursuing policies he describes as anti-Black. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ACLU Deputy Director Ming-Qi Chu on the Trump administration’s latest effort to gut Head Start—and the larger agenda behind it. The Trump administration is taking aim at Head Start, the 60-year-old program that provides early education, healthcare, nutrition, and other critical services to low-income children and their families. Jen talks with Ming-Qi Chu, deputy director of the ACLU’s Women’s Rights Project, about a proposed rule that would eliminate roughly 90% of Head Start’s performance standards, weaken health and developmental screening requirements, reduce services for children with disabilities, impose English-only instruction, and make enrollment more difficult for some of the country’s most vulnerable families. They also examine the larger agenda behind the attack: the Project 2025 vision of traditional gender roles, the dismantling of America’s care infrastructure, and why weakening childcare ultimately threatens women’s ability to work and remain economically independent. Plus, Jen shares her own connection to Head Start—and why the program mattered to her family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Skye Perryman on reclaiming our power ahead of the midterms In this episode of The Margin, a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media, Jen Taylor-Skinner speaks with Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward and author of Ordinary People, Extraordinary Times. Perryman discusses the erosion of democratic guardrails, why Americans need “information sobriety” in an overwhelming news environment, and what history teaches us about the power of ordinary people to protect and expand democracy. With the midterms approaching, she explains why voting matters—but why the work of defending democracy cannot begin or end on Election Day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Daniella Mestyanek Young grew up in the Children of God, left at fifteen, and went on to become a U.S. Army intelligence officer. She has spent her career since studying how high-control groups are built — and arguing that the tactics are the same whether the group is a commune, a military unit, or a political movement. In this conversation she and Jen Taylor-Skinner examine what separates a political movement from a cult, and why the distinction matters less than the tactics being used. They discuss the role race has played in American cults from the 1960s onward, the "validity mascot" — the woman brought in to make a leader look normal — and why cult leaders become fixated on birth rates and gender roles. Young explains what she calls trance talk: the deliberate cadence cult leaders use, and a simple test for hearing past it. They also discuss what it takes to leave. Young is direct about the limits: there is no reliable, ethical way to pull someone out of a cult, and the deprogramming of the 1970s amounted to soft torture. What works, she argues, is waiting for the crack — and knowing what to ask when it appears. Daniella Mestyanek Young is the author of The Culting of America and Uncultured. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ICE raids often make headlines. But what happens after an arrest receives far less attention. In this episode, LA Public Press reporter Martín Macías, Jr. takes listeners inside what advocates describe as the "hidden" side of the deportation system: immigration courtrooms, where volunteer observers say due process is increasingly difficult to access and deportation cases are moving at an accelerated pace. The conversation explores the recruitment of new immigration judges, conditions inside Southern California detention facilities, hunger strikes over alleged mistreatment, and what election officials are doing to prepare amid concerns that federal immigration enforcement could have a chilling effect on voters during the 2026 midterms. Martín Macías, Jr.⁠ also discusses why ICE has become less visible in national headlines—even as arrests continue—and what that shift may mean for the future of immigration enforcement. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five years ago this month, Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated inside his own home by a group of foreign mercenaries. His wife survived. The president's phone disappeared. Prosecutors were threatened. And, five years later, no one has been brought to trial in Haiti. In this conversation, journalist Macollvie J. Neel takes listeners back to the night of July 7, 2021, explains what investigators believe happened inside the president's home, and examines why the assassination remains one of the most consequential—and unresolved—political crimes in the Western Hemisphere. The conversation also explores the political vacuum left behind, the international investigation that continues in U.S. courts, and why understanding the events of that night is essential to understanding Haiti today. For more on this story, see Macollvie J. Neel's reporting for The Haitian Times, linked below. After midnight in Pèlerin —The killing of Haiti's president, the suspects scattered across borders, the convicted — and a justice system that still cannot find his phone. ‘Don’t panic, mobilize instead,’ Haitian leaders urge after TPS ruling Temporary Protected Status (TPS): What Haitians Need to KnowReporting, guidance and verified resources from The Haitian Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ten years after filing the lawsuit that brought down Roger Ailes and ignited a national conversation about workplace sexual harassment, Gretchen Carlson joins The Electorette to reflect on what has—and hasn't—changed. In this conversation, Gretchen discusses the lasting personal cost of speaking out, why she says she still doesn't fully own her voice, the creation of Lift Our Voices, the fight to end forced arbitration and NDAs in cases of workplace harassment, and what still needs to happen to protect workers. A decade after one of the most consequential moments in media history, this is a candid conversation about power, accountability, and what justice really looks like after the headlines fade. Guest: Gretchen Carlson Journalist & Founder, Lift Our Voices #spotlight Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Months before Graham Platner ended his campaign, EMILY's List publicly warned Democrats that nominating him would make it harder—not easier—to defeat Senator Susan Collins. In this episode, Jen Taylor-Skinner sits down with Jessica Mackler, president of EMILY's List, to discuss what the organization knew at the time, why it believed Platner was the wrong candidate to take on Collins, and what this series of events reveals about candidate vetting, electability, and the growing influence of "vibes-based" politics. Their conversation explores: Why EMILY's List took the unusual step of speaking out during a Democratic primary. The difference between a candidate being "human" and being disqualifying. How political media and online echo chambers can manufacture momentum around a candidate. Why women candidates continue to face different standards than men. What Democrats should learn from the Maine Senate race heading into the 2026 midterms. The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media, hosted by Jen Taylor-Skinner. If you found this conversation helpful, like this video and follow @electorette for more political midterm coverage, election analysis, and nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

(Archive Episode) Long before today's debates over Supreme Court legitimacy, ethics, and reform dominated the headlines, The Electorette explored one of the central questions facing American democracy: How do we fix the Supreme Court? In this archival conversation, host Jen Taylor-Skinner sits down with Meagan Hatcher-Mays to discuss one of the most debated reform proposals—expanding the Supreme Court—and whether adding justices alone is enough to restore public trust in the nation's highest court. Together, they examine the legislative path to court expansion, the political challenges of passing reform through Congress, and why many advocates argue that structural changes—including term limits, stronger ethics rules, and greater transparency—are also essential to preserving the Court's legitimacy. This conversation also explores how Supreme Court decisions shape issues ranging from voting rights and reproductive freedom to immigration and the health of American democracy, making the case that judicial reform extends far beyond partisan politics. Originally released in 2021, this conversation offers timely context for today's ongoing debates over the future of the Supreme Court. If you found this conversation helpful, like this video and follow @electorette for more political midterm coverage, election analysis, and nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, Rebekah Caruthers, President and CEO of Fair Elections Center, joins The Margin to examine why this moment may be the most consequential for American democracy since Reconstruction. Using the All Roads Lead South march in Selma, Alabama, as a starting point, this conversation explores why today's fight for voting rights feels fundamentally different—and why many civil rights leaders believe the South is once again at the center of the nation's democratic future. Caruthers shares the remarkable story of her great-great-great-great-grandfather, who was enslaved, emancipated after Juneteenth, and went on to found a town in Texas. His extraordinary journey becomes a powerful lens for understanding Reconstruction, the violent backlash that followed, and what that history reveals about the unfinished work of American democracy. In this episode: Why Selma feels like the beginning of a new civil rights movement What America's 250th anniversary reveals about the unfinished work of democracy The parallels between Reconstruction and today's political moment The impact of recent Supreme Court decisions on voting rights Why Black political representation has reached Reconstruction-era levels What history teaches about democratic backsliding—and how to prevent it Why today's generation refuses to lose another century of civil rights "It took 87 years for Black folks to get their rights back. I'll be damned if we're gonna take another 90 years to get our rights back." — Rebekah Caruthers The Margin is a special midterm election series from The Electorette and URL Media, hosted by Jen Taylor-Skinner. If you found this conversation helpful, like this video and follow @electorette for more political midterm coverage, election analysis, and nuanced discussions that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A timely re-release exploring the history behind one of the Supreme Court's most consequential constitutional questions. With the Supreme Court poised to issue a landmark ruling on birthright citizenship, I'm re-releasing one of the most important conversations we've had on the subject. In this episode, historian Martha S. Jones discusses her groundbreaking book, Birthright Citizens: A History of Race and Rights in Antebellum America, which traces the origins of birthright citizenship long before the Fourteenth Amendment—and long before today's immigration debates. We explore how free and formerly enslaved Black Americans fought to define who belonged in the United States, challenged efforts to deny them citizenship, and helped lay the foundation for one of the Constitution's most consequential guarantees. We also discuss the Dred Scott decision, the colonization movement, the legal strategies Black Americans used to claim their rights, and why understanding this history is essential to understanding the debate today. Although this conversation was originally recorded in 2019, its historical context is arguably even more relevant today. If you found this conversation helpful, like this episode and follow @electorette for more conversations on democracy, constitutional rights, and the people shaping America's future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices