Is MAGA still electable? | America, Actually
Left-leaning Democratic candidates have faced a lot of scrutiny in the last year about whether they’re “electable” in a general election. But why aren’t Republican candidates facing the same question?
Donald Trump’s approval ratings are at the lowest of his presidency, and he’s waging an unpopular war. Gas prices remain elevated, and the GOP has nominated a number of scandal-plagued candidates to run in November’s midterm elections.
So, do Republicans have their own electability crisis? This week on America, Actually, Vox’s Astead Herndon asks GOP influencer and activist CJ Pearson to defend his party’s record.
00:00 Do Republicans have an electability problem?
03:03 Trump’s second term report card
05:43 The GOP’s midterm messaging: “common sense vs. crazy”
07:10 Gas prices and Iran war fallout
11:20 Is Trump still cool?
14:27 The influencer void after Charlie Kirk’s death
15:50 DEI and Black voters
18:30 2020 election denial and January 6th
23:54 Astead’s takeaways
America, Actually publishes video episodes every Saturday tackling key issues in politics, culture, and the economy. Subscribe to Vox’s YouTube channel to get them. Listen to episodes of America, Actually on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite app.
If you enjoy our reporting and want to hear more from Vox journalists, sign up for our Patreon at patreon.com/vox. Each month, our members get access to exclusive videos, livestreams, and chats with our newsroom.
Subscribe to our channel! http://goo.gl/0bsAjO
Vox.com is a news website that helps you cut through the noise and understand what’s really driving the events in the headlines. Check out http://www.vox.com.
Watch our full video catalog: http://goo.gl/IZONyE
Follow Vox on Facebook: http://goo.gl/U2g06o
Or Twitter: http://goo.gl/XFrZ5H
@Danielevans2
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
What happend to vox. It's golden days are over
@jmoii_diversityselector
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
wdym 'still' ??
@Razear
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Compared to the four years of a literal vegetable in office with open borders, the censorship of dissent, and treating men and women as interchangeable, I'd pick a flawed Trump in a heartbeat.
The MSM actively suppressed the Hunter Biden laptop story in the leadup to the 2020 election. That alone could've swayed the outcome. We also know there was mass ballot harvesting from mail-in ballots. And as for Jan. 6th, the only person who passed away that day was a Trump supporter at the hands of a cop.
@129abz
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Focus on your own problems so we can all celebrate 🎉 we are doing awesome!
@VicThor1n
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Did this guy just say in 13:28 that he's basically ok with kidnapping wives and he's proud of of? Yep that explains the Republican mindset. That's sick. You know what kidnapping your wife means in war right?
@VicThor1n
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Famous word "socialism has never worked" yet they never point at Sweden, Norway or even China that overnight became the number 2 economy. Here in samerica socialism is only for the rich and boomers.
@aplantilla
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Through the first ten minutes of this episode it was just worthless. The guest didn’t give any insights of how anything will get done. Stopped immediately
@VicThor1n
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
This is 2018 all over again. Reps really didn't learn how the Trump effect is just his and can't be replicated, it's toxic after he wins.
@Bum_Hip
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
The grift is strong with this kid.
@mb12320
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Alright nevermind he is beyond delusion, he is disgusting and maliciously ignorant.
@mb12320
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
This man is living in a delusion.
@ElMamuco
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Pearson really deserved way more pushback. Host should take notes on Jubilee's fact check model.
@christopherchilton-smith6482
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
I think the most interesting part of this interview is its premise.
Electability politics is internal and of interest to those who plan to run as or vote for that party. I can only have even a passing interest in the electability of a Democrat because I want them to win.
Firstly, on policies I know will improve my quality of life or prevent me from dropping below a certain threshold of QOL.
Secondly, as a bulwark against a Republican that will actively seek to diminish my QOL.
The only time I would want to see a discussion about the electability of a Republican, especially with a Republican, is if the whole affair was a kind of psy-op to sabotage them.
With the premise so examined, it now practically begs for a certain question to be asked, it practically screams it.
Who is this episode for?
Certainly not I.
@mysticwonder22
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
So it's a war on Thanksgiving, but a "conflict" in Iran.
@GoldenboyFTW
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
This dude is acting like a campaign spokesman rather than his own person. Never once answered a question directly and continues to giah gallop.
I look forward to their downfall.
@619uribe
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Most republicans seem to just want to exist as contrarians. Not even for GOP, just we are not ‘those’ people
@visionchildofreform
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
why are you giving someone like him a platform?
@Mike23571113
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
You should have gone after this liar harder.
@RosscoAW
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
"Socialism has never worked anywhere" 😂😂😂 China, Vietnam, Cuba? 😂😂😂
@alternativepause
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
I hope this interview haunts him
@godisdead_
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Dude is delusional
@nuance8530
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
If you've talked to the average Trump voter you already know the talking points. Nothing new.
@christianladu1136
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Why platform someone who lies this blatantly
@z1510r
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
It's impressive that it's 2026 and people still mispronounce Nevada.
@KristoKorps
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
JUST A HEADS UP, CJ Pearson was supposed to be one of the false alternate slate of electors that tried to help in overturning the election, but avoided charges by not signing his name.
However, he was the plaintiff in challenging the election in Georgia, Pearson V Kemp.
This boy is a bot, thank you to the host for the critical interview.
@jasonrene
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Not sure why we would be asking liars can you share more lies
@GoodTimeGamerGuy
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Bruh why is Vox platforming this loser
@One-mole
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
Why do you always interview the dumbest from both sides 🙄?
@joshuafornelli
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
"We kidnapped…it doesn’t get more American than that." I mean, that is partially true. Is that really what he wants to celebrate. Yeesh.
@tompashkov
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
All tokens get spent.
@ashall4380
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
This is so difficult to watch, this kid is so high on delusion he won’t doesn’t even know
@joshuafornelli
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
You should reconsider platforming pundits who, starting in childhood, have chosen punditry and disconnection from baseline reality merely to make money.
@amberwaves001
August 23, 2026 at 5:58 am
“I offer a unique perspective” a DIVERSE perspective, some might even say