Lost in the Middle

Better maps, open primaries, more parties, ranking candidates–a roadmap to a souped-up democracy with the same clunky, beat-up sedan.

Hear all about it in part one of Lost in the Middle, America’s Political Orphans’ series on election reform, “Improvements or Illusions?” 

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

If you are a Democrat Texas makes you scream in outrage at the sight of pickup trucks, cowboys boots and open-carry guns.

If you are a Republican the vegan-lecturing, global-warming, charter-jet-flying Hollywood red carpet speeches tell us everything we need to know about California.

Political stereotypes make governing harder, but comedy easier.

A proposal for a bowling league to heal America.

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

With half of US election oficials quitting in the last two years it is a scary scenario this November. We still haven’t figured out guard rails for social media, much less AI and its ability to create deep fakes and penetrate the election infrastructure.

More in our podcast episode From hanging chads to deep fake videos, American democracy wobbles lostmiddle.com

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

Once upon a time working as an election worker was a badge of honor, a commitment to democracy.

Now nobody wants the job. And now here comes AI.

From hanging chads to deep fake videos, American democracy wobbles in this episode of Lost in the Middle.

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

Scientists will tell you that if they scan people's brains while listening to negative campaign ads, it will light up a spot that triggers disgust and revulsion.

Did they have to spend a lot of money to figure that out? You can just talk to any one of America's 71 million political orphans.

Ugly campaign ads and car wrecks. Why we can't turn away in this month's Lost in the Middle.

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

If Republican and Democrats were listed on the New York Stock Exchange, I would sell right now. The two legacy parties are tied at 27% in January polling. And dropping.

And the buy signal is flashing bright green on independents. Now at 44% of voters —most members of the lost political middle.

Can a surge of candidates for statewide office be far behind? Lessons from the pro wrestling ring. 

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

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

Former Congressman Scott Klug, host of “Lost in the Middle: America's Political Orphans,” joined “The Martha Zoller Show” on North Georgia radio station WDUN to talk about ticket-splitting.

Listen to the ticket-splitting episode and subscribe here.

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

Political Scientists tell us ticket splitting is disappearing. But it sure didn’t in the '22 elections where voters in Kansas, Nevada, Georgia, Vermont, New Hampshire and Wisconsin shopped around.

We focus on two states: Wisconsin, where ticket splitting seems to be wired into the state’s DNA, and Georgia, which switched from deep blue to deep red 20 years ago and is now fading to purple.

Fierce partisans hate ticket splitting. But you’ll meet Georgia and Wisconsin voters who find it liberating.

Learn more in the Reading Room: https://www.lostmiddle.com/reading-room/#Episode-5

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

Meet an old friend of mine from my broadcasting days in Seattle who we are going to blame for the long slow decline of TV news.

And have you ever checked out a website called Newspaper Death Watch? You should before all the papers are out of business.

And in Palm Springs, California, you’ll meet a brave editor who came up with a formula to undercut partisanship in her community.

See more information relating to the episode in the Reading Room.

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