Five Predictions That Will Define 2026 - The Chris Cuomo Project

Episode Summary: "Five Predictions That Will Define 2026"

The Chris Cuomo Project | January 1, 2026 | Host: Chris Cuomo

Episode Overview

In this episode, Chris Cuomo lays out five interconnected predictions he believes will shape America by 2026. Speaking in his signature candid and reflective style, Cuomo weaves together analysis of political, cultural, and technological trends. He warns listeners that his outlook is somber, driven more by realism than pessimism, and urges listeners to find opportunity in the coming turbulence. The episode is a call for critical thinking, self-reflection, and, ultimately, societal renewal.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. A Major Internal Attack Will Shake America

Cuomo predicts a significant, internally-driven attack will occur in the U.S., escalating societal tension.
He compares the current climate to the pre-9/11 era, expressing concern over polarized rhetoric and the “increased ante” for gaining public attention (02:00).
Quote:
“Something bad is going to happen in America this year, and it's going to be an attack, and it's going to be internal, and it's going to be something that ups the stakes from what we've seen thus far. I don't want this to happen. I hope it's averted. I hope it's avoided.” — Chris Cuomo [02:00]

2. Backlash Against Social Media Algorithms

In the aftermath of such a crisis, Cuomo foresees bipartisan outrage directed at social media algorithms, which feed divisive and provocative content.
He asserts: Never before has an American institution “by design fomented the worst of what is available—until now” (06:40).
Predictions of legislative or regulatory actions to rein in algorithmic amplification, framing it as society’s safest and most actionable response after tragedy.
Quote:
“The algorithms will absolutely feed us what is most provocative, most outrageous, most destructive, most divisive by design... There's gotta be something. Someone's gotta pay the price for this.” — Chris Cuomo [07:25]

3. Collapse of MAGA as a Political Movement

Cuomo predicts MAGA (the Make America Great Again movement) will “collapse on itself” due to its unsustainability, both in public support and internal coherence.
He references a societal weariness of “spraying BS all over the place” and divisions driven by controversy (12:30).
He distinguishes his critique of MAGA from the accusation that all its supporters are racist, emphasizing that many were driven by other motivations.
Quote:
“MAGA is going to collapse on itself. There's going to be something terrible that happens. There's going to be a reckoning with the algorithms and social media and the control they have.” — Chris Cuomo [12:45]

4. The 2026 Midterms: A Watershed Moment

Outcomes of the 2026 midterms will hinge on how Democrats handle the collapse of MAGA. The results could be a massive sweep or an exceptionally tight race (14:25).
He posits that “if [Democrats] become their own approximation of MAGA, be the outrage machine, be the retribution, then it's going to be a really tight midterm. If they call out what got us here...there's going to be a humongous sweep...” (14:40).
Notes historic opportunity given all 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are up for grabs.

5. Age of Disruption: New Leadership from the Outside

Cuomo’s boldest prediction: the next U.S. president will be someone unknown or not currently viewed as a likely candidate.
He argues the electorate’s exhaustion and desire for radical change means “there will be no steward of the status quo.”
Quote:
“Our next president is not somebody you know right now or...if you do know them, you don't see them in that way. There is such an appetite for disruption.” — Chris Cuomo [16:00]

Notable Reflections on Exhaustion as Change Agent

On Exhaustion:
Cuomo believes the underlying driver of all his predictions is societal exhaustion—“exhaustion on every level”—which, rather than being a negative, may act as a catalyst for positive change (17:30).
“The exhaustion can work for us also because people won't want to put energy into the same things that seem to be getting them where they don't want to be.” — Chris Cuomo [18:30]
On the Opportunity Within Exhaustion:
He encourages personal and societal growth in moments of fatigue, arguing that true change often becomes possible “when someone is just exhausted, they finally give up. What happens in that moment isn’t simply just death or defeat—but there's opportunity for change” (19:45).

Memorable Moments & Quotes

On Social Media’s Corrosiveness:
“We've never allowed any tool in our society...by design, to foment the worst of what is available, until now.” — Chris Cuomo [07:00]
On Political Performances:
Referencing a Rush song, Cuomo observes:
“All the world's indeed a stage and we are merely players, performers and portrayers...each another's audience. Isn't that interesting?” — Chris Cuomo [25:30]
On Independence and Critical Thinking:
“I refuse to just pick a side. I refuse to do right and left because I know that just as Dr. King taught us about the arc of time and history bending towards justice, but it just takes a long time. I'm not about right and left because I know there's going to be a return to right and wrong and the more we focus on that, the better.” — Chris Cuomo [27:05]
Closing Wish for Listeners:
“I wish you perspective without penalty. That is my wish for all of us in 2026...I hope your own reasoned choice is rewarded without fealty to some pack or some side or some party.” — Chris Cuomo [22:54]

Timestamps for Key Segments

(02:00) — Prediction 1: A major internal attack looms
(07:25) — Prediction 2: Social media algorithms in the crosshairs
(12:45) — Prediction 3: The collapse of MAGA
(14:40) — Prediction 4: 2026 Midterms hinge on Democratic response
(16:00) — Prediction 5: The new outsider president
(17:30) — On exhaustion driving social and political change
(22:54) — “Perspective without penalty”: closing wish for the new year

Tone and Final Thoughts

Cuomo is frank, urgent, occasionally self-deprecating, and always encourages independent thinking. He distances himself from partisanship, insisting on “right and wrong” over “right and left.” Listening to this episode leaves the audience with a mix of warning and hope: a belief that the chaos of the coming years could finally bring about much-needed systemic renewal—if only exhaustion creates the will for honest change.

Summary prepared for listeners who missed the episode. For the full experience, visit The Chris Cuomo Project wherever you get your podcasts.

Transcript

A (0:00)

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B (0:30)

You want predictions? I have them. And it's going to be a little different, and you're going to have to string them all together. Chris Cuomo here. Welcome to the Chris Cuomo Project. I see five things headed this way, and one of them is a catalyst for the next. So it's kind of a chain reaction as opposed to just predictions like I'm going to gain £20 and then lose £20 and then gain it again, which is probably also true. Here's what I see happening, and it's a little heavy, and I know that. And it's not by design. It's just because I don't think I can avoid it, to be honest. Okay, here's the first one. Something bad is going to happen in America this year, and it's going to be an attack, and it's going to be internal, and it's going to be something that ups the stakes. From what we've seen thus far. I don't want this to happen. I hope it's averted. I hope it's avoided. But the increase in the rhetoric, the increase in the ante of what it takes to get attention feels just so eerily similar to where we were after 9, 11, and when the bad guys knew that they could get our attention, that they knew that if they did something to hurt us, it would really hurt us in that moment. And I feel that again. I just don't believe that the bad guy is going to be the same as the last time. It could be. I mean, we've had an amazing avoidance of clashing with extreme Islamism in this country in terms of having terrorists hit us here. Our government has done amazing work. I know you're not used to hearing that, but recently we heard about the FBI. Taking down a plot was not extreme Islamist. It was really up homegrown American kids, right? That's what I consider someone in their 20s or 30s, if they're male. Their brain wasn't even fully developed until they're like 25. So maybe that's just my age. Maybe it's my understanding of where people are in life as a stage. But there's going to be an attack and it's going to hurt us and it's going to shock us and it's going to create a lot of what we didn't see after 911 because we're in a different place now. And what is that? One of the beautiful things, one of the things that tapped into my understanding of philosophy as, as a real, not just a search for truth, but a truthful way to live your own life is President Bush was not doing great before 9 11. And no, this isn't some bullshit conspiracy theory about why he was. It was an inside job. That's all nonsense. But the way he handled 911 changed perspective on him. Now it would change again. And that's politics. But people came together because there was a common fear that transcended any dispute they were having between the two at that time. Same thing with Giuliani. We were more afraid of the jihadis, of the terrorists, of Osama bin Laden than we were about tax policy or any culture war or anything that was going on at the the time. Now we are not that way. And maybe it's because we've already been through it once, but I believe that there's going to be an attack, it's going to be bad, and we're going to point fingers. And in that pointing fingers, there will be an opportunity that I think may bubble up. So number one is something really bad is going to happen. And again, I hope I'm wrong, but this is what I see. And I can't believe it hasn't happened already, to be honest. And now look, you can say, yeah, it is. They tried to shoot the President. Yeah, it is. They did shoot the President. Yeah, it is. Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Yeah, it is. This happened to these Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and this happened to Pelosi's husband in California. All these different things I know. And that only ups the ante. And don't think the bad guys don't think that way because we know that they do. So there's an attack, there's a lot of blame, and then there is going to be a demand that something has to change. And there is only one thing that I can think of that would be big enough and yet at the same time safe enough for both sides to agree on. Now look, I know that all of us don't see ourselves as being on one side or another. I know this is exaggerated for effect on social media. I know I do. But it is becoming more and more contagious. There's only one thing that I see that could be targeted as something that has to change now. I'm hoping it is not some kind of perverse or profound source of xenophobia. And I do not think it will be because of my third prediction. But let me stick with the second one. It's going to be social media, it's going to be the algorithms, because the response to the attack are going to be a second wave of devastation. The misinformation, the disinformation, the who was involved, who wasn't involved, and who's going to say stupid things and who's going to make advantage out of it and how, and the stupid conspiracy theories and the Candace Owens type trying to say who did it and who didn't do it. I think there'll be so much disgust and so much outrage that the one direction that everyone can point and say this is part of the problem that we can fix are the algorithms. The algorithms will absolutely feed us what is most provocative, most outrageous, most destructive, most divisive by design. Remember, we have never allowed any tool in our society, any institution by design, to foment the worst of what is available until now. And you can say, well, this is what you get. You in the legacy media, whatever that means. You and the mainstream media, you know, you sucked for so long, you broke trust. So now we have this. Here's what's wrong with that rationale. You are justifying doing something that is demonstrably worse than what anybody that you're criticizing has ever done and saying, yeah, but that's. That's what you get. It doesn't work for me. It's illogical, okay? It's immature. It's inane. To be honest. There's. There's a fundamental idiocy to that because I don't like how you did it. I'm now going to do it much worse. It doesn't work for me, and I don't think it's going to work for we either, in the aftermath of whatever happens. I'm hoping this happens anyway. By the way, not, number one, God forbid, God forbid, God forbid. Number two, which is at some point we start saying, hey, you know how it's like a game of telephone where, like, you finally wind up seeing the person that you think has beef with you, and you're like, what's up? And they're like, you tell me what's up? You're the one who's got. Wait, I'm the one you're the one who said. And it turned out you'd never talked to each other, so you really didn't know what was going on. And then you realize it was this other mofo who set this up in the first place. That's what I think is happening with social media. We're getting to the point where there's a level of exhaustion of all the BS and what it takes to get known and viral and how, how disgusting a susceptible people are who want influence, who want the money, who want the attention. If even for a moment that I think it's gonna, I think number two can come true even if number one does not. And I really hope number one does not. But if number one does, number two is coming, which is there's gotta be something. Someone's gotta pay the price for this. And I do believe that a lot of fingers will be pointing at the algorithms because it'll be first of all safest for the people in power, but also want a secret to free holiday gifts TikTok slash and free makes it real. Share a link slash the price to zero. Free item, free shipping. Download and open TikTok search slash free tap to join and start slashing now. True now. Why do I not think it will be ostracizing a specific group of people, minority group almost certainly, or maybe not. Maybe with the perversity of white fright and antagonism towards whites that we're seeing, maybe it will be that whites will start getting blamed for and I don't know. That's not my prediction. I see it going a different way, which is MAGA is going to collapse on itself. MAGA is unsustainable. And this year, before the midterms, MAGA is. There's going to be a move away from it. Not as in obvious a way as like a Marjorie Taylor Greene, but you will see as you did after the Rob Reiner moment. God, I have to tell you, Rob would have been so tickled. As ugly and as horrible and just devastating as his demise and his wife's is, if it was truly at the hand of their child, as terrible as that is for him to think that his death brought about a death blow to Donald Trump's persuasiveness over our country, that would have really tickled him. And as perverse as that is, that's how important the country was and politics was to Rob. It wasn't that he was some flamethrower crazy psycho person who had Trump Derangement syndrome. He did not have Trump Derangement syndrome. He really believed. The guy is a fascistic autocrat who wanted only things that are good for him, that would necessarily be bad for everybody else. That's what he believed. But what you saw in that moment of the President being at his worst, when people just weren't. Weren't there for it, okay? They saw it for what it was on both sides. They're embarrassed by it. They don't want to have to own it. They don't want to have to defend it on maga. And that has been true again and again and again and again. They're not how they were painted because of Trump. And I believe that. And I've always given deference to a lot of people who voted for Trump. That saying that, that doesn't mean they're racist. It doesn't even mean that they're accepting of racism. It doesn't mean anything like that. It means that they believe something else more than that that was what he is or what it was about. MAGA is going to collapse on itself. There's going to be something terrible that happens. There's going to be a reckoning with the algorithms and social media and the control they have. The attack may even come through that medium. MAGA is going to collapse on itself, and there's going to be something else heading into that midterm. I'm not saying Trump won't be here. I'm saying it won't be the way it is right now, where it's just him spraying BS all over the place and figuring out points of controversy to create division all the time. That leads me to number four, the midterms. The outcome of the midterms are going to be a function of the Democrats response to number three. If the response to number three for the Democrats is to become their own approximation of maga, be the outrage machine, be the retribution, then it's going to be a really tight midterm. If they call out what got us here or there at that point in time for what it is and lean heavily on how many need more and better than what our politics have become, there's going to be a humongous sweep in the midterms, the likes of which we haven't seen in a few cycles. Why? Well, you got all 435 congressional seats up, and you have 35 Senate seats. Those are big margins. And if you do have a seminal event that creates momentum within the population, that resets the board, which is what number one would be, there's an opportunity within number four with the midterms for The Democrats look, because is there a chance that MAGA imploding on itself creates a new opportunity for something else on the right that is really appealing to a majority of the country? Yeah, but I don't see it. Why? Takes too long to adapt to your own destruction, your own failure, your own downfall. Growth doesn't usually happen that quickly. It's usually an opportunity for the people who've been on the outside. And there's a natural swing towards those who weren't in power. When you're trying to change what was in power. Okay, now number five, which is my biggest prediction now, I mean, number one would be the biggest prediction, but I really hope I'm wrong. This one's going to be right. Our next president is not somebody you know right now or. And if you do know them, you don't see them in that way. There is such an appetite for disruption. There is such an appetite to get people who are outside this system and we keep trying to get farther and farther away from it. That was the lesson to me of what we saw in the mayoral race in New York City. You can't really tell me that anybody who's being sober minded thinks that my brother isn't more capable at the job than a 33 year old who's never had a job. That just doesn't make sense. But what is Mamdani? He's not Andrew Cuomo. He's not anybody else who was running. He is not Curtis Sliwill, he is not Brad Lander. He is not anybody who has ever had anything to do with any kind of real power before. And that is what people want. They want disruption. Why? It's a simple solution to change. And I believe that the Democrats especially, I don't think they're going to be happy picking up from what is known right now. Sure, I see all the numbers. You do. I'll tell you what's most telling to me about the field you keep looking at is how big it is. When you have 17, you have nobody. That doesn't mean you have a big tent party. That doesn't mean you have a range of ideas and agendas. It means you have no one. That's what it is. And I think that's exactly how they're headed. Why Kamala Harris believes, or who is believing anyone telling her that she can come into an environment like this and offer what seems to be an acceptable solution to a majority of the country, I don't know. It seems to me to be the height of hubris. But we'll see how it unfolds. Number one major attack. Number two, there's going to be something done about social media. Number three MAGA's going to collapse on itself. Number four, depending on the Democrats response to number three, you're going to have one of the biggest margins or one of the tightest ones that we've seen in recent midterm history. And number five, we are going to be in the age of disruption where there is going to be such a rejection of everything as it is that the man and or woman that will rise on both sides are going to be people who are seen as being outside this system. There will be no steward of the status quo. We will want complete disruption destruction. All of those tear it down words will be highly Running a business is.