Is Running From Trump Enough to Save Republicans on Tuesday?

About this episode

<p>A look at candidates from President Trump’s party who are running on a platform of criticizing him.&nbsp;</p><p>In next week’s midterm elections, a specific kind of Republican candidate is appealing to disillusioned voters of both parties: moderates willing to criticize President Trump.</p><p>Jess Bidgood explains how some Republicans are trying to bring back an older version of their party.</p><p>Guest: <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/by/jess-bidgood" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><strong>Jess Bidgood</strong></a>, a political journalist for The New York Times</p><p>Background reading:&nbsp;</p><ul><li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/14/us/politics/susan-collins-trump-maine-senate.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">A Trump backlash endangers Susan Collins</a>, the only blue-state Republican senator.</li><li>From Opinion: John E. Sununu is running a model campaign. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/10/opinion/john-sununu-new-hampshire-republican-trump.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">He might still lose</a>.</li></ul><p>Photo: CJ Gunther/Getty Images; Sophie Park/Getty Images</p> <p><p>For more information on today’s episode, visit <a href="http://nytimes.com/thedaily?smid=pc-thedaily"><strong>nytimes.com/thedaily</strong></a>. Transcripts of each episode will be made available by the next workday. </p><p> </p><p>Subscribe today at <a href="http://nytimes.com/podcasts">nytimes.com/podcasts</a> or on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music. You can also subscribe via your favorite podcast app here <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher">https://www.nytimes.com/activate-access/audio?source=podcatcher</a>. For more podcasts and narrated articles, download The New York Times app at nytimes.com/app.</p></p><br/> <p>Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See <a href="https://pcm.adswizz.com">pcm.adswizz.com</a> for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.</p>