As the midterm elections approach, polls continue to suggest we are headed for a blue wave election. One thing that could stop this is if Republican voters turn out in large numbers on Election Day. But is MAGA united behind their candidate? Do they have a plan to motivate voters who seem dissatisfied with a second Trump administration?
Conservative radio host John Fredericks, a longtime Trump supporter whose show provides a window into the MAGA mentality, believes the Republican Party can prevail. Fredericks acknowledged that affordability is a real issue for Republicans, who rode to victory in 2024 promising an improved economy but have been unable to reverse course. But he sees Trump as a finisher — someone with the ability to step in at the last minute, galvanize his supporters and help the Republican Party out of trouble.
America, actually Host Astead Herndon talks with Fredericks about the financial pressures voters are feeling and why they may not matter to the president’s most ardent supporters. Fredericks thinks things are improving and thinks voters know it. He also shared his predictions for how Republicans can take the Senate and offered three races to watch that could be early bellwethers on election night.
Below are excerpts from their conversation, edited for length and clarity. There’s a lot more to the full show, so listen America, actually No matter where you get your podcasts or watch them on Vox’s YouTube channel.
You stay connected with Republican voters and people in government. I think you represent the voice of the MAGA community. In that world, what is the ultimate argument for the midterm elections?
Stay the course. Things are getting better. The fundamentals of the economy are amazing. Everything we do exceeds expectations. Now, consumer spending is rising sharply. It reached record levels. If people don’t think things will go well in the future, they won’t spend money. They just don’t do it.
You have a college football game on Saturday. Every stadium was packed. You play an NFL game. Every stadium was packed. You can’t enter the game. People have disposable income. That doesn’t mean they don’t get mad about gas and they don’t get mad about groceries. Their utility is too high. Everyone is upset about the cost of living and the cost of petrol and diesel. This is a real problem.
But ultimately, jobs are going up, wages are going up, and I think our voters, our Trump voters, are going to be patient enough to wait this out.
Look, he has to go to Iran. Apparently, he got intelligence there that they were too close to getting the bomb and deploying it on a ballistic missile. what would happen if they did [would] What is the gas now? [would] Oil is? Will it be $90 a barrel? The price per barrel is $400. They will hold the entire world hostage.
Five years later, President Trump has made a decision about Iran. He’s had enough. This is where we are now. We need patience and grace.
I’ve heard that, but the last inflation report before the election showed that the CPI Annual growth of 3.7%. your gas hovers About $4 nationwide. We all know that this government’s fundamental commitment is to lower prices. They’re referring to grocery prices, meat prices, etc. They were referring to gas prices under Biden.
Can’t we at least acknowledge that Trump has failed to deliver on his promises on this front?
If affordability wasn’t an issue, Republicans would win this election in a landslide. There is no doubt about it. Things are too expensive for people and raising interest rates won’t help. Everyone can see this. Everyone feels it. I went to the store with my family and we felt it. You put gas in your car. It’s like $4. These [prices] Must come down.
I appreciate you saying that because we hear a lot of Republican candidates basically say, “Well, Biden is worse.” But we’re talking about it now.
The final argument here is that the fundamentals are getting better.
President Trump’s plan is working. It just takes time. Of course, he decided to prevent Iran from getting the bomb from intelligence obtained by our intelligence agencies [matters]. We don’t know how far Iran would have gone now had he not done this. Therefore, President Trump must make this decision. Very painful. It would cost us our seats. There is no doubt about it. Can we hold on? I still think we can. The MAGA base is right there.
The argument that MAGA’s base is collapsing comes from right-wing clickbait parties. Do you know who clicks on them? Democrats. That’s the doom loop, right? All is doom. Everything is somber.
Even you admit that this administration has a slight affordability problem. You acknowledge that the Iran war will cost the party some seats. So can we say that this is all fabricated by the doom charlatans?
This is not slight, but real.
I have nothing against affordability issues, the price of petrol or diesel, or the price of meat. No one disagrees with this. Most fundamentally, will MAGA voters stay home and abandon the president?
Trump voters [are] It’s going to be like this, and I think they’re going to trust this president. Now comes the polls. Here’s the problem for Democrats: The polls are fake. They won the summer. We are winning the fall. Trump is a terminator. I think patience is going to be there.
This is not where we want to be. But you can see the fundamentals are getting better [in] In this economy, you have jobs. The main thing is that you have a job and you don’t feel that your job is at risk.
You have a job, your income has increased, you have disposable income. It’s not where you want to be, but that’s what drives this thing. If you think you’re going to get fired, you won’t spend at record levels. You just don’t do it.
As you look ahead to election night, what do you think success looks like for the Republican Party?
Control the Senate and control the House of Representatives. Anything else is a failure. Now I happen to think we’re going to get two seats in the United States Senate. I’m the only one in America who says that. I have no doubt about it.
Who are you. If that happens, we’ll definitely give you the credit.
I think the House is going to be very, very close. I’ll tell you the games to watch. By nine o’clock, it’s over at nine-fifteen.
If you go to Virginia, go to Hampton Roads, Virginia’s Second District. Jane Keegans [versus] Elaine Luria, Democratic challenger. [Luria] was [in the office] Before, then Kigans was there. This seat has come and gone since Obama.
It’s an early bellwether seat that tells a lot about what the night will bring.
That’s the leader’s seat. If Keegans holds this seat, it will be a very good night for the Republican Party. There are two other games worth watching. [One of the] Two early ones to watch are Rob Wittman [of Virginia’s First District]. If he wins that game, that’s a good sign. If he was defeated, they would be in trouble.
The other is [Brian] Fitzpatrick, of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, is a moderate Republican from suburban Philadelphia. if [Democrats are] Once wanted to occupy that position, they will occupy it now.
I want to predict whether these three people [candidates] Win and Republicans will keep the House.