The Powers That Be: Daily

Leigh Ann Caldwell and Marianna Sotomayor join Peter to reflect on a whirlwind election week: They dig into what the blue tsunami really means, what Democrats can actually do to deliver on lower costs, and whether the party’s progressives and new crop of heartland moderates are on a collision course.

John Ourand joins Peter for a midseason check-in on the NFL: the highs, the lows, and why a crop of winning Midwest teams is fueling a ratings boom. They also dig into the WNBA’s hunt for Cathy Engelbert’s replacement, the MLB lockout bearing down on the sport, and more.

Puck’s campaign dream team reconvenes to digest the midterm results and dish out instant reactions, with Peter Hamby analyzing the final polls from California and Leigh Ann and Marianna tabulating the House margin in Washington. Plus: who takes the Senate, Hispanic turnout questions, Trump’s election challenges, and more exit poll madness

Peter convenes Leigh Ann Caldwell and Marianna Sotomayor for an Election Night bonanza and a viewer’s guide to the evening ahead. They flag the early East Coast House races that will tell us whether a blue wave is real, the Senate races that could deliver a shock, and the third-party candidates who could cost Republicans in close contests. They also survey the 2028 field: which Democrats boosted their stock this cycle, and which Republicans might be gearing up to challenge JD Vance.

Polling guru Nate Silver joins Peter to offer his final set of midterm election predictions, from the Deep South to the Midwest and explain why his model shows Democrats with a growing chance of retaking the Senate. They also discuss potential polling errors, the problem of ticket splitters, and why Jon Ossoff is Nate’s top pick for Dems in 2028.