Did Trump's Supreme Court Rig the Midterms?

Episode of Pod Save America · May 1, 2026 · 1 h 41 min

Dan Pfeiffer and Alex Wagner discuss the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act ruling, Trump's grudges and Hegseth's testimony; Tommy Vietor interviews Iowa Senate candidate Zach Wahls.

Summary

Dan Pfeiffer and guest co-host Alex Wagner opened with Donald Trump's campaign against perceived enemies, including a second indictment of former FBI director James Comey over an Instagram photo of seashells spelling "86 47," which Wagner predicted would be dismissed, and an FCC review of ABC's broadcast licenses following a Jimmy Kimmel joke. They praised Jerome Powell's decision to remain on the Federal Reserve board after his chairmanship ends, mocked a Justice Department filing defending Trump's White House ballroom, and criticized Pete Hegseth's combative congressional testimony on the war with Iran. They also discussed an Atlantic article portraying Trump as indifferent to the midterms and focused on his legacy.

The hosts then turned to the Supreme Court decision striking down Louisiana's congressional map and further weakening Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act. Pfeiffer argued the ruling would give Republicans a lasting structural advantage in the House and urged Democrats to redraw maps aggressively in blue states and pursue court reform, while Wagner framed it as part of a long conservative project to unwind civil rights. Pfeiffer explained why Florida's new map could become a "dummymander" if Latino voters swing back to Democrats. They discussed Maine Governor Janet Mills ending her Senate campaign, clearing the way for Graham Platner, and a reported Amazon reboot of The Apprentice hosted by Donald Trump Jr.

In the second half, Tommy Vietor interviewed Zach Wahls, who recounted his viral 2011 marriage-equality testimony and his upbringing with two mothers. Wahls discussed the Iran war's effect on Iowa farmers through diesel and fertilizer costs, his opposition to Chuck Schumer remaining Democratic leader, an anti-corruption platform including filibuster reform, overturning Citizens United, term limits and a stock-trading ban, and his primary against Josh Turek. He accused Republican nominee Ashley Hinson of killing his bipartisan mobile-home bill as a favor to a lobbyist and named Tom Harkin as his political hero.

Chapters

1:23
Introduction
Dan Pfeiffer introduces Alex Wagner as co-host and previews the episode.
3:00
The second Comey indictment
The hosts ridicule the indictment of James Comey over a seashell "86 47" photo and discuss the Justice Department's staffing.
9:19
FCC pressure on ABC and Jimmy Kimmel
Wagner and Pfeiffer assess the FCC's early review of ABC's licenses and the chilling effect on media.
18:53
Jerome Powell stays at the Fed
The hosts praise Powell's decision to remain as a Fed governor after his term as chair ends.
22:22
The ballroom filing and Hegseth's testimony
They mock a DOJ brief defending Trump's ballroom and criticize Pete Hegseth's combative Iran war testimony.
32:45
The YOLO Presidency
The hosts discuss an Atlantic piece portraying Trump as focused on his legacy and indifferent to the midterms.
38:57
Supreme Court guts the Voting Rights Act
Wagner and Pfeiffer analyze the Louisiana map ruling, its effect on Black representation and the midterms, and court reform.
51:05
Florida's new map and Janet Mills exits
Pfeiffer explains the dummymander risk in Florida, and the hosts discuss Mills leaving the Maine Senate race.
1:02:02
Apprentice reboot with Don Jr.
The hosts criticize Amazon's reported talks on reviving The Apprentice and Jeff Bezos's courting of Trump.
1:06:35
Zach Wahls's story
Wahls describes his viral 2011 marriage-equality speech, his family and why Iowa swung to Trump.
1:15:46
Iran war, Schumer and reform
Wahls discusses the war's cost to farmers, his opposition to Schumer's leadership and his anti-corruption plan.
1:26:40
Ashley Hinson, the primary and Tom Harkin
Wahls attacks Hinson's record, disputes a VoteVets poll and names Tom Harkin as his political hero.

Key points

What was said, by whom, with the exact words. Timestamps jump to the moment.

Alex Wagner
Wagner predicted that the seashell-based threat indictment of James Comey would be dismissed.
“I don't even think Jim Comey really needs an attorney here. I am fairly confident that this is going to get dismissed”
Listen from 3:58 · Indictment of James Comey
Alex Wagner
Wagner argued the FCC's license review of ABC was an escalation from its earlier action against Kimmel.
“it is, I think, an escalatory move from the last time the FCC took on ABC and Jimmy Kimmel, which was just to pull them off the air”
Listen from 10:13 · Jimmy Kimmel correspondents' dinner joke controversy
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer argued the real harm of FCC pressure is the self-censorship it induces.
“we don't know about are the stories and the jokes that don't happen because people are afraid of the response”
Listen from 12:58 · Jimmy Kimmel correspondents' dinner joke controversy
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer said Powell staying on the Fed board matters because it denies Trump another vacancy and gives Powell leverage.
“Yeah, the reason why it's specifically important is it denies Trump another vacancy on the Fed board to a point”
Listen from 21:11 · Federal Reserve
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer argued Trump responded to the correspondents' dinner attack by pushing for his ballroom, which he called politically unpopular.
“Trump used that moment to push for the ballroom because that is the thing he truly wants more than anything else”
Listen from 25:13 · White House ballroom project
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer argued Hegseth sees himself as accountable only to Trump rather than to Congress or the public.
“in his mind, he is not accountable to Congress. He's not accountable to the Senate that approved his nomination”
Listen from 30:19 · United States war with Iran
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer cited estimates that maximal Republican gerrymandering after the ruling could eliminate about 30% of the Congressional Black Caucus.
“by some estimates, 30% of the Congressional Black Caucus would be gone if the Republicans push forward to maximum advantage with gerrymandering”
Listen from 42:28 · Louisiana v. Callais
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer argued that John Roberts's central project as chief justice has been dismantling the Voting Rights Act.
“long before Trump, John Roberts' main project as Chief Justice was the dismantling of the Voting Rights Act”
Listen from 42:42 · Voting Rights Act of 1965
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer said the ruling likely would not cost Democrats the House in 2026 but would hurt them in the long run.
“I don't think it's not going to cost us the House this election, but it's going to hurt in the long run”
Listen from 46:41 · Louisiana v. Callais
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer argued Democrats must gerrymander blue states aggressively until they can pass a national ban on partisan gerrymandering.
“we have to do this up until the moment where we have enough power to pass a national ban on partisan gerrymandering”
Listen from 48:01 · 2026 United States midterm elections
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer endorsed pursuing Supreme Court term limits, expansion and an ethics code once Democrats regain power.
“We should look at term limits. We should look at court expansion”
Listen from 49:22 · Supreme Court of the United States
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer argued Florida's new map risks becoming a dummymander if Latino voters swing back toward Democrats.
“then some of these seats Republicans are counting on may turn out to be Democratic”
Listen from 53:02 · Redistricting in Florida
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer argued Janet Mills paid a political price for the Democratic establishment's defense of Joe Biden.
“a 78 year old establishment politician endorsed by the same establishment politicians who told everyone that Joe Biden was good to go”
Listen from 58:25 · 2026 United States Senate election in Maine
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer said Democrats have no path to a Senate majority without winning Maine.
“Susan Collins, there is no path to the majority without this. without Maine, like we absolutely have to win Maine”
Listen from 59:36 · 2026 United States Senate election in Maine
Dan Pfeiffer
Pfeiffer argued Jeff Bezos courts Trump to win Pentagon contracts for Blue Origin.
“he wants Trump's Pentagon to give Blue Origin, his space company, some contracts so they can compete with SpaceX”
Listen from 1:04:23 · The Apprentice
Zach Wahls Prediction · due Nov 2026
Wahls predicted he would defeat Ashley Hinson in November and become the youngest U.S. senator.
“when we defeat Ashley Henson in November, I will be the youngest member of the U.S. Senate”
Listen from 1:09:14 · 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa
Zach Wahls
Wahls argued that Obama's change message and Trump's MAGA message sounded similar to voters Democrats lost in Iowa.
“to a lot of the voters that our party has lost, they sound very similar”
Listen from 1:13:17 · 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa
Zach Wahls
Wahls said most Iowa farmers had already bought spring fertilizer, so the war's price effects would bite if prices stay high into the fall.
“the vast majority of Iowa farmers had already bought their fertilizer for the spring. So if these fertilizer prices stay elevated into the fall”
Listen from 1:16:32 · United States war with Iran
Zach Wahls
Wahls said he would not support Chuck Schumer continuing as Senate Democratic leader.
“I would not support Senator Schumer to remain as the leader”
Listen from 1:18:16 · 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa
Zach Wahls
Wahls pledged to serve only two Senate terms as part of an anti-corruption platform that includes overturning Citizens United.
“I've made a promise. I'm only going to serve two terms in the U.S. Senate if elected”
Listen from 1:24:30 · Citizens United v. FEC
Linked moment · 1:28:10Skip to 1:28:10 using a listen link in the info box.
Zach Wahls
Wahls recounted that Ashley Hinson, as a state representative, killed his bipartisan mobile-home lot rent bill as a favor to a lobbyist.
“I watched as Ashley Hinson killed my bipartisan bill as a favor to that lobbyist”
Listen from 1:28:10 · 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa
Zach Wahls
Wahls dismissed a VoteVets poll showing Turek up 20 points as a thinly detailed internal poll from a group that had spent heavily.
“it's an internal poll, very little detail provided about it. But look, they've spent $5.5 million”
Listen from 1:33:27 · 2026 United States Senate election in Iowa
Zach Wahls
Wahls named Tom Harkin as his political hero, citing the ADA's impact on his family after his mother's multiple sclerosis diagnosis.
“without the Americans with Disabilities Act, and this is a point where Representative Turk and I, I think both are incredibly grateful to Senator Harkin”
Listen from 1:38:12 · Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

People

In the conversation

Dan PfeifferCo-host of Pod Save America, author of the Message Box newsletter, and former White House communications director
Alex WagnerMSNBC host who hosts episodes in the Pod Save America feed
Tommy VietorCo-host of Pod Save America and Pod Save the World who conducted the Josh Turek interview
Zach WahlsIowa state senator and Turek's rival for the Democratic Senate nomination

Discussed

James ComeyFormer FBI director cited as another target of unusual federal prosecution
Jimmy KimmelABC late-night host targeted by the White House
Jerome PowellChair of the Federal Reserve
Kevin WarshIncoming Federal Reserve chair
Pete HegsethU.S. Secretary of Defense overseeing the Iran campaign
Elena KaganSupreme Court justice who read her dissent from the bench
John RobertsChief Justice of the United States
Ron DeSantisGovernor of Florida
Janet MillsGovernor of Maine who suspended her Senate campaign
Graham PlatnerPresumptive Democratic nominee for Senate in Maine
Susan CollinsRepublican senator who noted Congress holds the power of the purse
Chuck SchumerSenate Democratic leader
Jeff BezosFounder of Amazon
Donald Trump Jr.Son of Donald Trump, reportedly discussed as Apprentice host
Ashley HinsonRepublican congresswoman from Iowa, cited as tied with Turek in a poll
Josh TurekIowa state legislator, Paralympic gold medalist in wheelchair basketball, and Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Iowa
Joni ErnstRepublican U.S. senator from Iowa who withdrew from reelection
Tom HarkinFormer Democratic senator from Iowa and author of the Americans with Disabilities Act, cited by Turek as his political hero
Lindsey HalliganProsecutor whose earlier Comey indictment was tossed

Topics

Have Republicans Already Blown the Midterms?
Pod Save America · Oct 18, 2026 · 1 h 11 min
Dan Pfeiffer and Cook Political Report's Amy Walter assess the 2026 midterm landscape two weeks out, covering Senate and House races, polling, Trump, and redistricting.
Choosin' Texas with Bobby Pulido
Pod Save America · Sep 27, 2026 · 1 h 2 min
Live at the Texas Tribune Festival, the Pod Save America hosts assess Texas and national midterm races, Xi Jinping's visit, and interview congressional candidate Bobby Pulido.
Colbert's Hissy Fit Farewell Tour, Xi's Ominous Comment, and Murdaugh's New Trial, with Glenn Greenwald | Ep. 1318
The Megyn Kelly Show · May 15, 2026 · 1 h 43 min
Megyn Kelly and Glenn Greenwald discuss Stephen Colbert's farewell, fame, Kamala Harris, Trump's China summit and Iran war, the Murdaugh retrial, and 'pretendians.'
What Got CUT From CBS' Netanyahu Interview, Plus Spencer Pratt's Secret Ingredient, with Michael Knowles | Ep. 1314
The Megyn Kelly Show · May 11, 2026 · 1 h 41 min
Megyn Kelly dissects the unaired parts of CBS's Netanyahu interview, then discusses Iran, redistricting, Spencer Pratt's LA mayoral run and the JPMorgan lawsuit with Michael Knowles.
Will Raphael Warnock Hear the Call?
Pod Save America · May 10, 2026 · 1 h 9 min
Jon Favreau interviews Senator Raphael Warnock about the Supreme Court's Voting Rights Act ruling, ICE detention, JD Vance and the Pope, political violence, and Dr. King's legacy.
Trump Is Falling. Are Democrats Rising?
Pod Save America · May 5, 2026 · 1 h 39 min
Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor discuss the Iran war, Spirit Airlines, redistricting, Fetterman and the DNC, then Favreau interviews Melissa Murray on mifepristone, Callais and her Constitution book.

From the publisher

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court guts the Voting Rights Act, setting the stage for Republicans to grab more Democratic seats — but will they be able to do it in time for the midterms? Dan and Alex Wagner tackle all the latest with redistricting, Pete Hegseth's testy appearance on the Hill defending the war in Iran, and Trump's new pursuit of some very familiar enemies. Then, Iowa Senate candidate Zach Wahls stops by to talk to Tommy about the primary there and what's at stake for farmers in Trump's America. For a closed-captioned version of this episode, click here . For a transcript of this episode, please email transcripts@crooked.com and include the name of the podcast, episode title, and episode date.

Summary, chapters and key points were generated from the episode transcript on September 27, 2026. Quotes are checked word for word against the transcript.

Categories: Politics·Government·News Commentary