Lost in the Middle: America's Political Orphans

Nov 20 2024 25 ep. 26 mins 179

Lost in the Middle: America's Political Orphans Podcast artwork

44% of American voters self-identify as centrists. 71 million bewildered, frustrated political orphans. We'll explore how we got into this mess. But we'll also tell you uplifting stories of people around the country trying to change the current zeitgeist.

scottklug.substack.com

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Post-election special with Justin Young and Andrew Heaton

Nov 20 2024 62 mins

So what did the political orphans do in the Presidential election? Check this out. Self-identified independents accounted for a larger share of voters than Democrats and were tied with Republicans, Edison Research exit polling data showed.The independent turnout share was up 8 percentage points from 2020, when it was at 26%. Here at the Lost in the Middle podcast we are not surpris

The undecided voter

When you keep looking at polls that say Trump is up one here, Harris up 2 there—you need to keep one fact in mind. It’s not uncommon for pollsters to push undecided voters and leaners to pick a candidate. To say, “if you were going to vote today who would you choose?” It distorts the true state of the race.If you live in a swing state like I do in Wisconsin we have been car

Election Countdown special with guest Seth Masket

Oct 29 2024 46 mins

There are a zillion political scientists at colleges around the country, most are dry and mind-numbing. Seth Masket is one of a handful who is both entertaining and insightful. He’s a perfect guest for our Lost in the Middle Countdown series because he manages to cut through the clutter and spin. He is the director of the Center on American Politics and his column at Substack is

Balanced news coverage?

Frustrated by the media coverage of the election? Boy, am I with you. Look, I spent a third of my career working as a journalist. And then became a Republican Congressman. Add in an MBA and that makes me unicorn of sorts.What is frustrating you with media coverage today is not driven by some weird cabal of the right or left. It is driven by economics. And by a demographic and geogr

Election Countdown special with Isaac Saul of 'Tangle News'

Oct 23 2024 46 mins

60% of Americans say they are worn out by so much coverage of the 2024 presidential election (Pew research). And then there are the nagging questions of fairness when only 7% of journalists identify as Republicans.Since I spent 8 years as a Member of Congress and 13 years as a journalist, listeners and readers ask me all the time where can I find solid political coverage that is no

Calling all political orphans, independents and undecideds

Oct 20 2024 1 mins

For the last year we’ve been tracking America’s bewildered 71 Million voters who are lost in the middle and can’t abide today’s politics. They are frustrated by the partisan hatred swirling around the political class. Join me tomorrow for an appearance on 5 things I learned about America. Part Ted Talk/Master Class. And better yet, it's free. 7 p.m. We'll talk about the 44%

Election Countdown special with guest Justin Young

Oct 10 2024 46 mins

Justin Young, host of the podcast “Politics, Politics, Politics,” is a comedian, magic aficionado, and the inventor of the card game “The Contender” about how to run a presidential campaign.In our second episode of the Countdown, we arm wrestle over the debate, what is the key state to watch election night and the eerie echoes of the ’16 race. This is a public episode. If

Election countdown special with guest Andrew Heaton

Oct 02 2024 46 mins

In our first episode of our election countdown special, political podcaster and comedian Andrew Heaton files his observations from Scotland from a phone booth in Edinburgh.He’s the host of “The Orphanage” podcast where some of my fellow political orphans happily live. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus epi

Tips to win a bar bet on Election Night

Aug 21 2024 22 mins

The United States has 3,242 counties. But we will tell you the seven to watch on Election Night, which are loaded with political orphans.Episode 13, "Tips to win a bar bet on Election Night." This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com

Episode 12: The ghost of Bob La Follette

Jul 23 2024 26 mins

Today, everyone has an election reform idea.A noble cause, or just trying to change who wins?Episode 12 of Lost in the Middle: America’s Political Orphans. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com