Ep. 208 | Are Republicans About to Blow the Midterms? - WaPo Collapse, Kamala's Cringe Relaunch
Thu Feb 05 2026
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit riveraandreeves.substack.com
Are Republicans losing the messaging war before the midterms even begin? This week, Meseidy and Rachel break down a Ross Douthat commentary that’s rattling normie conservatives—and why the anxiety might be overblown. They cover the Texas state Senate seat flip that has GOP strategists sweating, the Trump administration's adjustment of course in Minneapolis after initial missteps, and whether the “far-right” label even applies. Plus: Washington Post lays off a third of its staff, and corporate journalists are flooding Substack (should indie creators be worried?). And in peak cringe news, Kamala Harris relaunches her social media machine as “Headquarters”—a Gen Z-led progressive content hub that’s already fumbling the rollout. The ladies share why they’re cautiously pessimistic about 2026 but more hopeful for 2028.
🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app, or watch the full video on Substack. Paid subscribers get this episode ad-free the moment it drops. Not a paid subscriber yet? You’re missing out on our unfiltered archive and monthly live streams.
Episode Highlights
* Ross Douthat’s warning: Why even pro-Trump conservatives are nervous about midterm optics
* Texas Senate flip: What a split Republican ticket in a reliably red district actually means
* Minneapolis pivot: How the administration course-corrected on ICE enforcement messaging
* Washington Post collapse: One-third of staff gone—and they’re heading to Substack
* Kamala’s cringe relaunch: “Headquarters” debuts with a middle-finger emoji and outdated Gen Z humor
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Chapters
00:00 – Welcome Back + Recording Disasters
02:57 – Who Is Ross Douthat?
06:06 – Listening to Douthat’s Commentary
09:40 – Texas Senate Seat Flip Explained
13:05 – What the Split Ticket Means
15:42 – Douthat on Trump’s Messaging Problems
19:11 – Minneapolis: What Actually Happened
20:36 – Trump’s Fox Interview on ICE Enforcement
22:11 – Midterm Predictions: Should We Panic?
26:08 – Democrats Overplaying Their Hand?
30:44 – Economy, Optics, and Low-Information Voters
34:45 – Gender Ideology: The Tide Is Turning
37:40 – De-Transitioner Wins $2M Verdict
43:03 – Washington Post Layoffs: One-Third Gone
48:15 – Legacy Media’s Original Sin
50:35 – Corporate Journalists Flooding Substack
56:00 – Heather Cox Richardson’s Substack Dominance
59:28 – Kamala Harris Relaunches as “Headquarters”
1:04:11 – The Rollout Is Already Fumbling
1:11:11 – Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Missing
1:13:24 – Wrap-Up + Subscribe
More
This is a free preview of a paid episode. To hear more, visit riveraandreeves.substack.com Are Republicans losing the messaging war before the midterms even begin? This week, Meseidy and Rachel break down a Ross Douthat commentary that’s rattling normie conservatives—and why the anxiety might be overblown. They cover the Texas state Senate seat flip that has GOP strategists sweating, the Trump administration's adjustment of course in Minneapolis after initial missteps, and whether the “far-right” label even applies. Plus: Washington Post lays off a third of its staff, and corporate journalists are flooding Substack (should indie creators be worried?). And in peak cringe news, Kamala Harris relaunches her social media machine as “Headquarters”—a Gen Z-led progressive content hub that’s already fumbling the rollout. The ladies share why they’re cautiously pessimistic about 2026 but more hopeful for 2028. 🎧 Listen now on your favorite podcast app, or watch the full video on Substack. Paid subscribers get this episode ad-free the moment it drops. Not a paid subscriber yet? You’re missing out on our unfiltered archive and monthly live streams. Episode Highlights * Ross Douthat’s warning: Why even pro-Trump conservatives are nervous about midterm optics * Texas Senate flip: What a split Republican ticket in a reliably red district actually means * Minneapolis pivot: How the administration course-corrected on ICE enforcement messaging * Washington Post collapse: One-third of staff gone—and they’re heading to Substack * Kamala’s cringe relaunch: “Headquarters” debuts with a middle-finger emoji and outdated Gen Z humor Follow Us On Youtube! Listen For Free at 6pm Get R&R Merch! Our official merchandise store is NOW OPEN! 🛍️ We've launched with our first four items to get things started, including coffee mugs, oversize t-shirt and a tote bag. You can check out everything available right now. Chapters 00:00 – Welcome Back + Recording Disasters 02:57 – Who Is Ross Douthat? 06:06 – Listening to Douthat’s Commentary 09:40 – Texas Senate Seat Flip Explained 13:05 – What the Split Ticket Means 15:42 – Douthat on Trump’s Messaging Problems 19:11 – Minneapolis: What Actually Happened 20:36 – Trump’s Fox Interview on ICE Enforcement 22:11 – Midterm Predictions: Should We Panic? 26:08 – Democrats Overplaying Their Hand? 30:44 – Economy, Optics, and Low-Information Voters 34:45 – Gender Ideology: The Tide Is Turning 37:40 – De-Transitioner Wins $2M Verdict 43:03 – Washington Post Layoffs: One-Third Gone 48:15 – Legacy Media’s Original Sin 50:35 – Corporate Journalists Flooding Substack 56:00 – Heather Cox Richardson’s Substack Dominance 59:28 – Kamala Harris Relaunches as “Headquarters” 1:04:11 – The Rollout Is Already Fumbling 1:11:11 – Savannah Guthrie’s Mother Missing 1:13:24 – Wrap-Up + Subscribe