The GOP Convention, MAGA Fractures, and Trump's Midterm Moment | 09-24-26
Sam Bushman and Curt Crosby welcome Nathan Worcester, senior political reporter for The Epoch Times, for a look back at the unprecedented Republican midterm convention in Dallas. They discuss John Fetterman's surprise video appearance, the lack of foreign policy focus despite the Iran war looming over everything, the absence of Senate Majority Leader John Thune, and how the House passed a historic number of bills only to see them die in the Senate. They dig into the MAGA fracturing as figures like Thomas Massie, MTG, Tucker Carlson, and Joe Kent increasingly identify as America First rather than MAGA, the Gen Z conservative movement behind James Fishback, JD Vance's plea for more time, and polling showing young men who powered Trump's 2024 win may sit out or flip Democrat. Plus Trump's $5,000 DOGE dividend promise, the case for abolishing the IRS and Federal Reserve, how Susie Wiles froze out the alt media that elected Trump, and what a 90-day diesel export freeze could mean for the midterms. Key Timestamps: 0:00 Show open and guest introductions 0:42 Nathan Worcester from The Epoch Times on the GOP convention 1:30 Unprecedented Republican midterm convention in Dallas 2:01 John Fetterman's surprise video message at GOP convention 2:44 Little foreign policy discussion despite Iran war looming 4:52 Convention impact: economic headwinds and affordability concerns 6:02 Groundwork for a lasting Trump coalition beyond midterms 7:18 Congress undermining Trump on tariffs and courts 8:24 Senate Majority Leader Thune absent from convention 9:12 House passed historic number of bills, Senate killed them 10:26 Senate GOP heel turns: Cornyn and Tillis turning on Trump 11:06 MAGA fracturing: Massie, MTG, Tucker shift to America First 12:00 America First candidates floundered in primaries 12:20 James Fishback and the Gen Z conservative contingent 13:04 What can Democrats even offer besides being anti-Trump? 14:03 Trump's $5,000 DOGE dividend promise 14:52 JD Vance: "Give us another chance, these things take time" 15:48 Voter disappointment on foreign policy and Epstein files 16:15 Young men who powered Trump's 2024 win may sit out 17:14 Job gains among women, not men, plus housing costs 17:48 Trump needs a shock-the-world moment before midterms 18:23 Abolish the IRS, shut down the Fed, mint the $40 trillion Donald coin 19:04 whitehouse.gov/newmedia was a nothingburger for alt media 19:22 Trump TV is just switching government media from NPR to Trump 19:55 Shut down Education Department, eliminate gun-free zones 21:08 Fund alt media through private money, not government 21:42 Susie Wiles froze out the grassroots alt media 22:21 DC is access-driven, lobbyists have more weight than grassroots 22:57 Possible 90-day diesel export freeze and midterm PAC spending 23:57 Show close Call to Action: Read Nathan Worcester's political reporting at The Epoch Times at theepochtimes.com. Listen to Liberty Roundtable Live at libertyroundtable.com. Support honest independent media, share this broadcast everywhere, and God save our constitutional republic.
