Episode 965: The Winston Group on the 2026 Midterm Elections

In this episode of Newt's World, host Newt Gingrich discusses the geopolitical implications of the Iran nuclear deal and the broader Middle East truce, questioning whether the U.S. has truly secured strategic gains. He expresses skepticism about the durability of any agreement, citing Iran's continued missile development, regional influence, and the lack of evidence that Tehran sees itself as having lost. The core of the episode, however, centers on the 2026 midterm elections, where Gingrich is joined by longtime political strategists Dave Winston and Myra Miller of The Winston Group. They analyze the economic context of the upcoming election, emphasizing that voters are not satisfied with merely slowing inflation—they want tangible progress in wages and prices, especially given the 21% cumulative inflation under Biden. The guests highlight a critical Republican weakness: failing to effectively communicate the benefits of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, particularly the impact on the standard deduction, which many voters remain unaware of. They stress that Republicans must focus on a clear economic narrative and a targeted strategy to win independents, who now make up 60% of the electorate. The Democrats, they argue, are in crisis, defined only by opposition to Trump, with high unfavorables and a shrinking base. The episode concludes with a call for Republicans to adopt both an economic and independent-voter strategy, drawing lessons from past failures and successes, including the 2010 and 2018 elections.