Podcast Summary: The Bulwark Podcast
Episode: Dave Weigel: Now That's a Landslide
Date: November 5, 2025
Host: Tim Miller
Guest: Dave Weigel (Semaphore reporter, author)
Brief Overview
This episode breaks down the results and repercussions of a “landslide” set of elections, with a particular focus on key races in New York, Virginia, and New Jersey. Tim Miller and Dave Weigel analyze the shockwaves sent through both major parties—especially the Republicans—by unexpectedly large Democratic wins. Major themes include the normalization of political backlash against Trump’s policies, the impacts on redistricting and congressional maps, the turnout surge, Hispanic and immigrant voters’ reactions to GOP messaging, and what Democrats might learn from upstart Zoran Mamdani’s mayoral win in NYC.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Trump Backlash & Political Normalization
[01:51–04:00]
- The episode opens on the impact of Trump’s direct threats to punish cities and states led by political foes, highlighting this as “new” in American politics.
- Both parties had an interest in using the NYC mayoral race as a proxy for national arguments, but the results reflect a return to “normal” politics, with voters rejecting the idea of presidential retribution.
- High turnout in NYC, the highest since the Beatles era, helped drive the Democratic win.
Memorable Quote:
“There has been a normalization of the idea that the president can stop funding states and politicians he doesn’t like… that is new.”
—Dave Weigel, [03:15]
2. Democratic Victories and Factional Narratives
[04:00–05:43]
- The elections were a reaction to the failure to deliver on economic promises, with backlash in Hispanic and immigrant communities over costs and Republican immigration overreach.
- Both progressive (DSA) and moderate Democrats found success, but the backlash against costs and “Trump’s tariffs” defined the race.
Memorable Quote:
“There was an across the board backlash to costs continuing to be high in Hispanic communities, to the overreach… on immigration, and just a general sense of enthusiasm on the side of the out party.”
—Dave Weigel, [04:40]
3. Immigration and the Hispanic/Immigrant Vote
[09:20–13:13]
- New Jersey and Northeast races provided a test for Trump’s mass deportation rhetoric, revealing that Latino and other immigrant communities are not receptive to aggressive deportation policies.
- The episode notes that the Trump-era appeal to working-class minorities may have peaked, with reversals possible when Democrats stay focused on costs and basic economic grievances.
Memorable Quote:
“Latino voters are very different, but in the Northeast, the answer is: not really much at all. They were very easy for Democrats to flip back.”
—Bowen Yang, [11:00]
4. Republican Messaging & Disconnect
[14:43–20:34]
- Republicans fell back on crime and violence narratives, but these didn’t resonate beyond their media bubbles.
- Attempts to use incidents like the Charlie Kirk assassination to tar Democrats with violence fell flat with voters.
- Dave recounts how Republican talking points were only registering with deeply embedded conservative media consumers.
Key Moment:
“It’s a dumb dad joke. And then Ron DeSantis, Mike Lee, the whole conservative ecosystem jumped on this as if a bunch of teachers got together and went to school like, ‘We’re going to do a fuck you Charlie Kirk costume.’”
—Dave Weigel, [19:04]
5. Redistricting Shockwave
[29:55–36:39]
- The Democratic landslides, especially in Virginia, radically strengthen their hand in upcoming redistricting, with the potential to reclaim several congressional seats.
- Republican plans to “gerrymander their way to a hard-to-penetrate majority” have been thrown into doubt.
- Gavin Newsom’s bold pursuit of partisan redistricting in California serves as a model for other Democratic governors.
Notable Quote:
“I think that chilling effect on [Republican] effort is really—the most meaningful story of the night for me.”
—Dave Weigel, [35:25]
6. What Democrats Can Learn From Zoran Mamdani
[44:05–48:47]
- Zoran’s NYC mayoral campaign engaged a new electorate by focusing relentlessly on tangible working-class issues.
- His speeches hyper-personalized the struggles of “the dude whose knuckles are burned because he’s a fry cook” instead of using vague platitudes—seen as a model for broader Democratic messaging.
- Guest discussion notes that this approach may not be one-size-fits-all but illustrates a way to reach non-engaged voters.
Memorable Quote:
“He just starts by listing out random working class jobs and how this victory is for those people. Just a notably different strategy than Democrats being like, ‘I care about working people.’”
—Tim Miller, [45:32]
7. New York & Public Statements on Immigration
[51:20–52:25]
- The episode features a notable soundbite from the newly elected NYC mayor:
“New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants, and as of tonight, led by an immigrant. So hear me, President Trump… to get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
—Zoran Mamdani (quoted by Tim Miller), [51:39]
- Discussion follows about how Republicans may attempt to make Zoran a national “face” for Democratic supposed radicalism in 2028—and whether that can backfire.
8. Downballot Notes & Ballot Initiatives
[56:39–58:51]
- Democrats won a string of downballot races, flipping Republican offices in historically red or swing districts (e.g., Bucks County DA in Pennsylvania).
- The podcast highlights the importance of successful yimby (pro-housing) ballot measures and the rise of new Democratic constituencies in suburban and exurban areas.
9. Final Diversions: GOP Personalities in Chaos
[61:45–65:31]
- A lighter segment on Nancy Mace’s erratic behavior in the South Carolina governor’s race, with Tim and Dave lampooning her conspiracy-minded tweeting and self-martyrdom.
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
-
On the “Normalization” of Political Retribution:
“[The] president can stop funding states and politicians he doesn’t like, which is new… I don’t remember Joe Biden saying, ‘Sorry about the hurricane aid, Ron DeSantis, I’m giving it to my friends.’”
—Dave Weigel, [03:15] -
On the Lesson for Democrats:
“He’s got a lot of focus on that. That is a good lesson… The positivity, the happiness, he’s smiling, it’s an upbeat message.”
—Tim Miller, [46:01] -
On Republicans’ Loss of Narrative Control:
“Their first gambit here seems to be potentially—I don’t want to overstate it—but, like, potentially rebuffed.”
—Tim Miller, [37:01]
Important Segments & Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:51–04:00 | Opening analysis of the Trump/NYC dynamic, presidential retribution | | 04:00–05:43 | Factional narratives and “reaction” effect in Democratic coalition | | 09:20–13:13 | Hispanic/immigrant vote and the backlash to mass deportation | | 14:43–20:34 | Crime messaging and the conservative media bubble | | 29:55–36:39 | Redistricting implications and Democratic resurgence | | 44:05–48:47 | Lessons from Zoran’s campaign and personalization of political messaging | | 51:20–52:25 | Immigrant pride/NYC, Zoran’s victory speech | | 56:39–58:51 | Downballot wins, Pennsylvania and Midwest; limits of progressive criminal justice | | 61:45–65:31 | Nancy Mace segment, GOP chaos, lighter closing |
Tone and Language
- Smart, irreverent, and wonky, with moments of snark (e.g., frequent jokes about GOP Twitter, use of pop culture, “crepiness”).
- Critical of both parties’ strategic missteps but openly supportive of liberal-democratic principles.
- Dialogue is high-energy, opinionated, and, at times, personal.
Summary
This episode thoroughly examines the “landslide” Democratic victories in key 2025 elections and what they signal for 2028. Dave Weigel and Tim Miller argue that backlash to Trump’s overt retribution, rising costs, and harsh immigration policies have re-energized Democrats at multiple levels, complicating GOP gerrymandering strategies and offering valuable lessons for Democratic messaging. The episode highlights a rising “screw it, we’re fighting too” attitude among Democrats, best embodied in Zoran Mamdani’s personalized, upbeat approach. The GOP, meanwhile, is portrayed as increasingly out of touch, stuck in a feedback loop with partisan media, and at risk of losing their strategic edge in future elections, unless they reconnect with real-world voter concerns.