Sep 21, 2026 · 21 min
Midterm ads expose Republican fractures over Trump
Republicans Turn On Trump In Brutal New Midterm Ads
The ads show how Democrats are trying to turn immigration, war costs, and corruption into doubts about Republican candidates and Trump.
- 1Maria Elvira Salazar’s immigration break with Trump tests Republican discomfort and his standing with Latino voters.
- 2An attack on Mike Rogers links Trump, the Iran war, military spending, and high gas prices to everyday costs.
- 3James Tallarico’s assault on Ken Paxton makes corruption emotionally vivid while raising the possibility of a Texas Senate undervote.
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The hosts consider whether James Tallarico’s corruption ad could persuade Texas voters to skip the Senate race rather than vote for Ken Paxton.
The brief
Dan Pfeiffer and Addisu Demissie examine three midterm ads built around Republican vulnerability: immigration, war-related costs, and corruption.
Maria Elvira Salazar’s break with Donald Trump over immigration signals Republican unease while testing whether his standing with Latino voters can hold.
An attack on Mike Rogers ties support for Trump and the Iran war to military spending, casualties, and high gas prices—a template that could travel.
James Tallarico’s viral attack on Ken Paxton turns corruption into a concrete, emotionally charged story, aiming beyond online activists at Texas Republicans and independents.
The discussion’s sharpest question is whether an ad can make voters skip a Senate race rather than support Paxton, while Democrats court less-enthusiastic Trump voters.
Featuring
Donald John Trump
Ken PaxtonListen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.