The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Raging Moderates: Why Progressives Won’t WIN in the 2026 Midterms (ft. David Frum)

October 22, 2025

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  • Midterm elections are best fought by the out-party running flexible, localized attacks against the incumbent, rather than relying on a single, stale affirmative message for the presidential race. 
  • The Democratic Party's tendency to prioritize ideologically driven, economically progressive messaging risks alienating moderate voters who prioritize competence and governance. 
  • Taking responsibility for past controversial actions must be proactive (disclosed by the candidate) rather than reactive (uncovered by opponents) to maintain moral authenticity and staff loyalty. 

Segments

Banter and Guest Introduction
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(00:01:39)
  • Key Takeaway: David Frum is guest hosting for Scott Galloway on this episode of Raging Moderates.
  • Summary: Jessica Tarlov introduces guest host David Frum, noting Scott Galloway is absent. They share a brief, lighthearted exchange referencing a past quote by Frum regarding liberals and fascists enforcing borders. The banter concludes with a joke about the Toronto Blue Jays winning the pennant.
Democratic Strategy Against Trump
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(00:03:49)
  • Key Takeaway: Running exclusively against Donald Trump risks sounding stale to voters seeking forward-looking messages, despite Trump’s unpopularity and autocratic actions.
  • Summary: Democrats are criticized for relying on anti-Trump messaging in recent elections, which may energize the base but lacks an affirmative vision. David Frum argues that in midterm elections, the out-party benefits from running different races in different places, attacking the incumbent’s record where it resonates locally. The argument is that an affirmative message is more crucial for a presidential election than for midterms.
Economic Progressivism vs. Social Moderation
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(00:11:07)
  • Key Takeaway: Recent electoral successes suggest economically progressive but socially moderate or conservative candidates are currently winning in key districts.
  • Summary: Analysis of recent winners indicates a formula favoring economically progressive stances (like taxing billionaires) paired with social moderation, contrasting with the traditional need to be socially liberal. David Frum cautions that this formula is not universal, emphasizing that the out-party must be flexible based on local district needs. He notes that Democratic weak points often involve social issues like crime and immigration.
Governance and the Anti-State Message
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(00:15:59)
  • Key Takeaway: As the party of government, Democrats require politicians who understand bureaucratic mechanics, making anti-state, purely ideological candidates like those favored by the far-left problematic for effective governance.
  • Summary: Democrats must elect responsible politicians who understand how government functions because they aim to implement policy. This contrasts with anti-state parties, where ignorance of mechanics is less consequential. The need for practical understanding of bureaucracy and revenue measures is essential for any redistributive agenda to succeed.
Trump’s Caribbean Strikes Rationale
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(00:22:11)
  • Key Takeaway: The Trump administration’s strikes on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean, resulting in civilian deaths, appear to be a less dangerous substitute for desired strikes inside Mexico.
  • Summary: The strikes have killed 32 people across seven incidents, with Colombian officials claiming the vessels carried cocaine bound for Europe, not fentanyl for the U.S. This action risks destabilizing the crucial U.S.-Colombia relationship, which was built on decades of security cooperation and trade agreements designed to shift the economy away from cocaine production. Blowing up boats fails to address the fundamental issue: demand for drugs within the United States.
Congressional Oversight and Executive Overreach
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(00:27:16)
  • Key Takeaway: The Trump administration’s actions, including the Caribbean strikes, exemplify a unitary executive subverting the role of Congress in authorizing military action.
  • Summary: The executive branch is operating as if it is a unitary state, bypassing Congress for authorization, particularly regarding potential actions in Venezuela. While Rand Paul has voiced concerns, many Republicans remain silent on this executive overreach. The administration’s actions are driven by instinct rather than comprehensive planning, seeking areas where they face no immediate blockage.
Graham Plattner’s Candidacy Crisis
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(00:36:27)
  • Key Takeaway: Taking responsibility for past offensive remarks only holds moral weight if the candidate discloses them proactively, not after they are publicly exposed.
  • Summary: Graham Plattner’s apology for offensive Reddit posts, attributed to PTSD, is viewed skeptically because it was reactive rather than self-disclosed, unlike Barack Obama’s handling of his past. Staffers are more likely to defend a candidate who is straight with them about past failings than one who conceals them until discovered. The Maine Senate race is now divided between progressives defending Plattner’s authenticity and party leaders favoring the safer incumbent, Janet Mills.
Gerontocracy and Leadership Age
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(00:42:43)
  • Key Takeaway: The longevity of public health advancements has created a political class unprepared for rapid physical decline, leading to leadership crises when vigor fades quickly.
  • Summary: Politicians often misjudge their remaining vigor when running for re-election at advanced ages, sometimes leading to diminished capacity to resist internal party pressures, as seen with President Biden’s administration. The decision to keep schools closed in 2021, influenced by teacher unions, is cited as an example where a vigorous leader might have prioritized the rising generation’s future over immediate risks to older populations. Effective governance requires leaders who understand mechanics, which can be an advantage of experience, but physical decline poses a significant, unpredictable risk.