The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway

Raging Moderates: Why Politicians are Launching Podcasts Ahead of 2028

Date: October 29, 2025
Hosts: Scott Galloway & Jessica Tarlov

Overview of the Episode

In this lively edition of "Raging Moderates," Scott and Jessica dissect the closing days before the election, focusing on major races in New York, Virginia, and California. They explore the phenomenon of politicians launching their own podcasts as we head into the 2028 election cycle and analyze the impact of economic issues—especially affordability—in shaping urban politics. The episode also features a spirited discussion of Vice President Harris’s future prospects, new trends in campaign media, and how political communication is changing in the digital era, all delivered in the show’s centrist and candid style.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Major Races One Week Out from Election Day

(04:08—13:20)

• New York Mayoral Race Drama

  • Zoran Mamdani, Andrew Cuomo, and Curtis Sliwa are the major players.

  • Cuomo's late-game appeal to independents and Republicans is gaining minor traction, but Mamdani still leads.

  • Social media algorithms amplify political drama; viral moments mean exposure from both supporters and detractors.

  • Voter demographics at early polls skew older, whiter, and more Jewish—helpful for Cuomo.

    "The vibe at the polls is older... A little older and whiter, definitely Jewish. You know, Mamdani's odds of winning were at 95% a couple days ago. It's down to 90% right now..." —Jessica (05:22)

• Islamophobia and Campaign Fear-Mongering

  • Jessica notes disturbing recent upticks in Islamophobic rhetoric in the NYC race.

  • Sliwa’s on-air resignation highlights behind-the-scenes pressure in city politics.

    "Some of the ways that it's manifesting itself, like the blatant Islamophobia ... images of planes going into the Twin Towers and saying, 'vote like your life depends on it.'" —Jessica (08:55)

• Scott’s Ethical Dilemma & Jewish Community’s Role

  • Scott reflects on being pressured by Jewish friends to speak out, emphasizing that some issues don’t necessitate his opinion as an outsider.

    "You don't have to have an opinion on everything. Every issue does not demand your judgment." —Scott (09:04)

  • On his vote:

    "If I were a New York resident, I could not vote for him. I think some of the things he has said... are disqualifying for me." —Scott (10:45)

2. Urban Affordability: The New York Example

(15:43–24:11)

• Affordability Crisis

  • Both hosts discuss in detail how only the extremely wealthy or well-connected young people can now afford NYC’s lifestyle.

  • Scott compares today’s elite NYC to staying at the Rosewood hotel—wonderful, but "lubricate it with millions of dollars" (19:05).

  • Rising childcare, rent, and school costs are pushing even high-earners to reconsider living there.

    "There's no fucking way... There's only three types of people in Manhattan right now. You're either in tech, finance, or your parents are putting you through New York." —Scott (17:00)

  • Jessica adds how even couples with high incomes debate if they can feasibly stay, and shares anecdotes about young people splitting cocktails at bars and hustling through multiple jobs.

    “They told me now when you go to bars, the bartender will split a drink for three of them. Like, this is a known thing... They babysit every night of the week that they can get a job.” —Jessica (23:00)

• Policy Implications

  • Both criticize the lack of meaningful political focus on housing stock or structural changes to affordability.

    "Mamdani's genius is the same as Trump's: they focused on affordability... and we aren't talking about major structural issues." —Scott (24:11)

3. Virginia, New Jersey, and California: Moderation and Redistricting

(24:11–29:30)

• Spanberger & Sherrill as Moderate Model

  • Both hosts expect Democrats Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill to win key races.

    "You have two very moderate candidates... I think both will win. Mikey Sherrill's race will be a bit closer. Spanberger I think could be quite big, close to 10 points." —Jessica (13:20)

• Virginia House of Delegates

  • Jessica flags these races as a bellwether for the midterms.

    "Those are generic Democrats... Do Democrats have a big night next Tuesday in the Virginia House of Delegates? I think will say more about the midterms necessarily than anything else." —Jessica (25:56)

• California’s Prop 50 and the Redistricting War

  • California’s Prop 50 (the “screw Trump” measure) could shift up to nine seats.

  • Both parties are escalating redistricting battles, with new ruthlessness on the Democratic side seen as necessary pushback against GOP tactics.

    "It is good to see the ruthless spirit on the Democratic side. You know, these are not normal times." —Jessica (27:39) "I think Prop 50 is going to be another feather in Newsom's cap... He’s seen as the first Democrat who is effectively pushing back..." —Scott (28:27)

4. The Rise of Politician-Hosted Podcasts

(32:33–47:13)

• Podcasting: The New ’Ground Game’

  • Politicians (notably Gavin Newsom, Ted Cruz) are launching podcasts to connect with voters. Newsom’s podcast is now just behind Cruz’s in monthly downloads.

  • Scott predicts that podcasts will be the decisive medium in coming elections.

    “I think the manosphere and podcast elected Trump, and I think they've all figured that out.” —Scott (34:46)

• Why Podcasting Works

  • Podcasts cater to the critical swing demo—young, diverse, economically-focused males—unlike cable news whose audience skews much older.

  • Politician podcasting provides authenticity and center-leaning content, but most aren’t yet using the medium effectively—they’re too scripted.

    “When they come on, it's like, you know, it's like dogs watching television... they don't say anything.” —Scott (45:31)

• Notable Examples & Strategy

  • Newsom’s willingness to bring controversial figures like Charlie Kirk onto his show is framed as electorally savvy, signaling pragmatism to centrists and independents.

    “Smart move to bring on these guys. Pulls them towards the center, makes them more electable... I think he's already focused on the general.” —Scott (36:16)

• Debate on Podcast Length & Content

  • Jessica points out that the public’s attention span is pushing toward 12–15 minute interviews, while traditional long-form podcasts may be losing relevance.

    “Sometimes, you know, making a more impactful 10 minutes is going to have a lot more value to you than 35 minutes where we glean two things that were actually important...” —Jessica (42:58)

• Podcasting’s Democratic Surge

  • Scott notes the growing success of Democratic-leaning podcasts (e.g., Midas Touch) as a new trend, indicating a levelling of what’s been longstanding GOP dominance in the medium.

    “The podcast ecosystem right now is sending very positive signals for the Democratic side…” —Scott (46:23)

5. Vice President Harris’s Future & Political Finales

(48:55–57:43)

• Harris and the 2028 Speculation

  • Harris is publicly “keeping the door open” for a potential run but Jessica is skeptical, viewing it as more about book promotion than political ambition.

    “I don’t think that Kamala Harris is going to be on the 2028 stage. I just don’t.” —Jessica (51:04)

• Karine Jean-Pierre’s Public Break with the Party

  • Jean-Pierre’s critical book and her fallout with the Democratic establishment are discussed as emblematic of the party’s post-Biden struggles.

    “She is being met with hostility in even the safest of places like The View is dressing her down...” —Jessica (52:04)

• Legacy, Endings, and Life Hacks

  • Scott and Jessica use the political moment as a segue into life advice: always end well, because “the last ten minutes” shape the legacy—whether in politics, jobs, or social events.

    “The last ten minutes of anything... have a disproportionate amount of impact. And so what is the lesson? When you leave a job, you want to be gracious. Try and resist the temptation to stick up the middle finger on your way out.” —Scott (55:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Social Media Viral Moments:

  “I keep seeing these little clips of you... I see like 11 billion people have liked it. Are you the biggest on social media of everyone on The Five?” —Scott (02:10)

• Political Cynicism:

  “We have a mayoral race between a handsy 60, 70 year old and an anti Semite. That's where we are, you know. This is just not a great place to be...” —Scott (11:55)

• Affordability in NYC:

  “New York has become basically the Rosewood [hotel]. It’s amazing if you can afford it, but affordability really is a huge issue here.” —Scott (19:06)

• Changes in Podcasting:

  “This is the new arbiter of the next president. This will be it—is podcast.” —Scott (46:40)

• On Political Media:

  “I just saw a clip from Abby Phillips... I literally thought, this is the equivalent of an ice raid. It is just so depressing and disgusting, these two people screaming at each other...” —Scott (40:38) "The algorithms are like a Tyrannosaurus rex. They're drawn towards movement and violence." —Scott (40:54)

• On Exiting Gracefully:

  "The last ten minutes of anything ... have a disproportionate amount of impact... When you leave a job, you want to be gracious. Try and resist the temptation to stick up the middle finger on your way out.” —Scott (55:46)

Important Timestamps for Reference

• Main Races & NYC Analysis: 04:08–13:20
• Affordability & Urban Crisis: 15:43–24:11
• Spanberger, Sherrill, Prop 50: 24:11–29:30
• Podcasting & Political Media: 32:33–47:13
• Harris, Jean-Pierre, and Political Legacy: 48:55–57:43

Overall Tone & Language

Scott and Jessica maintain their signature centrist, skeptical, and sardonic style. The conversation is fast-paced, witty, deeply informed, and frequently self-deprecating, filled with industry insight but always grounded in an everyman’s concern for economic fairness and political sanity.

Summary

This episode is essential listening for anyone tracking the intersection of urban politics, elections, media strategy, and the new digital political landscape. With a week before Election Day, much is in flux, but Scott and Jessica highlight that the issues shaping voters' daily lives—and the media that conveys those stories—are changing fast. The message: for better or worse, in politics and life, how you close is as important as how you start.