Left, Right & Center

The 2026 midterms are closer than they appear


Listen Later

2026’s first primary is just two months away. Both parties are trying to get voters to believe in their ability to address the affordability crisis. Republicans are combatting President Trump’s conflicting perspective on the economy. Democrats are hoping to solidify their voice for voters after struggling to find a message that connected with them in 2024. Our panel breaks down which races could help define their identities - and reshape Congress - in the year ahead.


Online prediction markets have reintroduced election betting to the American public. Companies like Kalshi and Polymarket have grown in popularity for allowing users to wager on everything from wars to the weather - as well as elections. Now, major media outlets are looking to embed their odds into their news coverage. Is there any upside to gamifying politics?


As one listener writes, admitting when you’re wrong is a key part of engaging with politics. So where did our panel miss the mark in 2025?


...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Left, Right & CenterBy KCRW

  • 3.9
  • 3.9
  • 3.9
  • 3.9
  • 3.9

3.9

4,903 ratings


More shows like Left, Right & Center

View all
The NPR Politics Podcast by NPR

The NPR Politics Podcast

25,840 Listeners

Bookworm by KCRW

Bookworm

579 Listeners

On the Media by WNYC Studios

On the Media

9,213 Listeners

Political Gabfest by Slate Podcasts

Political Gabfest

8,491 Listeners

Nocturne by Vanessa Lowe

Nocturne

1,283 Listeners

The Treatment by KCRW

The Treatment

611 Listeners

The Business by KCRW

The Business

673 Listeners

Good Food by KCRW

Good Food

1,117 Listeners

Today's Top Tune by KCRW

Today's Top Tune

537 Listeners

Press Play with Madeleine Brand by KCRW

Press Play with Madeleine Brand

154 Listeners

1A by NPR

1A

4,671 Listeners

Pod Save America by Crooked Media

Pod Save America

87,276 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,451 Listeners

Up First from NPR by NPR

Up First from NPR

56,745 Listeners

Lost Notes: Groupies by KCRW

Lost Notes: Groupies

738 Listeners

Bodies by KCRW, Allison Behringer

Bodies

1,905 Listeners

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

7,241 Listeners

Advisory Opinions by The Dispatch

Advisory Opinions

3,905 Listeners

The Dispatch Podcast by The Dispatch

The Dispatch Podcast

3,341 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,001 Listeners

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart by Comedy Central

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

10,610 Listeners

Central Air by Josh Barro, Megan McArdle & Ben Dreyfuss

Central Air

337 Listeners

Serious Trouble by Josh Barro and Ken White

Serious Trouble

434 Listeners

The Opinions by The New York Times Opinion

The Opinions

619 Listeners