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Fireside Chats, Episode 62: Assessing the Midterm Elections (Patreon)

Published:
2018-11-08 17:01:00
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2026-06
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Content

Here in the United States, the 2018 midterm elections are behind us, and so our long national nightmare is finally over. Right?! Wrong! To make sense of the split decision rendered by the American people, I've brought in popular guest Jeff Cannata to talk through the results. With the House in Democratic control, the Senate in Republican control, and the US obviously more Balkanized than it's been in 150 years, it seems like things may just get worse before they get better. So join us for a robust, fair, and even-keeled discussion on just where we stand now, and where we collectively hope to be in the future.

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Comments

Kevin Theal

Can’t wait to get to this love when you and Jeff get together. Always a fantastic, difficult, but level headed conversation

TheSlayerGiant

So pleased of Fireside Chats carrying the torch for your political discussions. Best place for complete, fair and nuanced arguments to be had! Appreciate your work Colin!!!

Ryan Harvey

Awesome! Was hoping Cannata was coming on when I saw the switch yesterday!

Lockmort

Oh boy, this is gonna be awesome to listen to. Even though I practically always disagree with Jeff Cannata and especially the way he voices his opinions, the two of you discussing things has always been great. Great topic too! Thanks for all your hard work!

Joey Finelli

I am sooo excited about this!

James Galos

All the wedge issues will never get solved because both sides want them for different reasons. We need a 3rd the Common Sense and Truth party. Colin you can be the leader and find a running mate who is a counter balance.

Joe McPartlin

Great episode, Colin. Discussions like these are the reason I try to show your podcasts to as many people as possible. Fireside Chats is a shining light in a political sphere that overall lacks civility and compromise.

Cameron O'Neill

This was one of my favorite episodes to date, it really highlighted the need for more discussions. One thing that I took hope in on Tuesday is that the Democrats that were winning in more traditionally red areas were doing so by being reasonable and moderates. Not running on stoping Trump, but by coming with their own ideas and hopes for legislation. I hope the Democratic Party sees that America is starving for reasonable discourse, not obstructionism. Both parties could work to pass infrastructure, healthcare, and reasonable federal gun control and that would go a long ways with the American people. Is there any chance that we could get an episode about how to save the Republican/Democratic parties?

John Nelson

This is my least favorite guest. I think this just turned into a Trump-bashing episode. I don't understand the negative hysteria around Trump. I don't think he's a racist. What he says about other countries is candid, not hateful. I don't agree that he's authoritarian. He's a strong man and egotistical, but I don't think that should be confused with authoritarianism. I think it's perfectly acceptable for him to be a "winner" because that's the time we live in: everyone on both sides want to "win" now. (He's a product of the time, not a perpetrator.) And I don't agree that "multiple things can be true" because clearly, you rarely see that in politics today anyway. This "middle of the road/let's all come together" mentality is just not the reality on the ground. My personal opinion is that our society has gotten a little too comfortable, and all our arguments against each other are like being bitten to death by ducks. I can't take anyone seriously who brings up Russia again, or who bashes Trump, or who says that Hillary Clinton was a reasonable candidate. I just don't take to any if those idiotic, common-wisdom opinions. I think Trump is absolutely fine. I think it's the society that has to grow up a little bit.

Joey Finelli

I am so tired of hearing people complain about senate seats. CA gets 53 seats in the house and WY gets 1. Maybe the good folks in CA should move east and balance things out some more. Everytime someone brings this up i see a bunch of cry baby tears.

LastStandMedia
>>16999064

Well, I said this... though in kinder terms... The balance was intentional from the beginning. The Georgia example is a great one.

LastStandMedia
>>16997598

Well, I'm sure I'll have Jeff back in the future, and maybe that could be the topic of our next chat. Thank you for listening!

LastStandMedia
>>16998167

You are entitled to all of those opinions (and more!). I'm glad you listened to the episode, regardless. Thanks for giving it a shot.

Erik Peterson

Was it just me or did every time the conversation steered toward immigration Colin explained the legal logistics of controlled borders and ending birthright citizenship framing it entirely in non-race defined, terms the guest just said "yea but racism". WTF Dude?!?! This is the biggest problem: most people on the left don't understand actual immigration law in this or any other country. As an expat who has lived in two foreign countries I find it laughable when people like him think they have any reference or knowledge on the subject. Also "30 countries have birth right citizenship; thats not insignificant" First 30 out of 195 or 15% is pretty insignificant. Maybe some work on simple fractions/percentages and a globe are in order for this guest. Second, its USA and Canada and 28 countries you wouldn't want citizenship from except for maybe Fiji or one of the Caribbean nations. Sorry to be snide but his comments and rebuttals to your points were erroneous and uniformed.

Adam Niksch

Yesssss!! I know I asked for this the last time you had Jeff on (and when Laci was on too I think) so I’m totally taking credit for making it happen :p You both have such respectful conversations every time. Great episode. I’m glad to see you explained the rationale behind the structure of Congress to him, as that argument for proportional representation in the Senate is a little frightening to me. Isn’t amazing how easy it is to find common ground on issues when you actually talk to the other side respectfully?

Erik Peterson
>>16999535

That was the other thing that annoyed me when he brought it up. Did Jeff not pay attention in Civics class or something? To me the argument isn't as scary as the fact people actually think its a sound one,

FrogLantern

Jeff is your best guest. I want an ongoing quarterly political podcast with you guys. You can call it “J.C. Pennies: Our Two Cents with Jeff & Colin”.

Tanner Brant

I love when you have Jeff on. Great conversations

Travis Johnson

It's probably selfish of me to suggest adding to your work pile any further, but I can't help fantasizing about you both doing a separate weekly or bimonthly or even monthly political podcast. Your conversations are invigorating and I'm thirsty for more.

Jeff Pollard

I really enjoy these conversations between you two. 👍

Jason Stafford

I'm glad you have these conversations, but I've never spent so much time screaming at the radio in my truck. I know you like Jeff, and he's probably a fine dude outside of politics, but he's talking out of both sides of his mouth. He comes on the podcast and presents as a person who wants civil discussion, meanwhile his Twitter feed is a non stop festival of retweets and comments of "white people bad", "rural people are dumb", "Republicans are evil". He may be interested in civil conversation with you, but he would prefer that people like me were silenced or gone. Mr. Cannata speaks of privilege. But is so far removed from understanding that not everyone is privileged. I can tell you that there are plenty of hard working white people in the trailer park that can't even imagine having a freaking nanny while struggling to pay for day care with their huge privilege. I'm so tired of being pontificated to about how I should think and feel by people who have no idea what life is like when you can't even think about the future because you're struggling so hard to hold on to what you have. We don't vote Trump because we're racist. We don't vote red because we're bigots. We do these things to try to at least slow down those that would take the little that we have left, things that weren't handed to us, but that we worked for in hot, sweaty and dirty factories with our own scarred hands. I'm not trying to take anything away from anyone else. I want all people to live free, but I have to put my foot down and say "you can't take anything else". It may be futile in the end, but at least I can go to my destitution knowing that I worked and I fought. I really want to take the blue pill and go back to sleep to avoid the all politics all of the time cycle we're in, but short of being a Luddite it's almost impossible. It's really starting to mess up my day and my outlook. How I wish I could just play some games or watch some funny movies and escape, but it's all there too. Whew. Sorry for that. I don't have anywhere to speak and sometimes I just want to scream. Love ya, Colin.

Cooly-Z

Hey Colin, This was great. I know you basically read everything on Patreon, so I thought I’d take a second and share some thoughts. I like these conversations you have with left-leaning people. I follow you (and am a patron) mostly because I think you have great taste, and you have yet to steer me wrong with your recommendations (just watched Castlevania last night). But I also think your political perspective keeps my left-leaning (mildly socialist) one honest once in a while. So for what it’s worth, I hope you continue to have tough conversations with people from all over the political spectrum. And fuck the haters. That is all. Cody

Jeshua Anderson

Great episode, Jeff is great! I know this is a pipe dream, but I would love a Fireside chats round table episode between yourself Jeff, Laci and Lauren. But I know Lauren found a job, so maybe someone similar to her political ideals. That'd be awesome.

Ryan Harvey

This episode was so awesome, just wish the Jeff sessions resignation was covered, although I believe that happened perhaps only hours afterward.

Ryan T. Mandle

Good episode Colin! I love that politics have a home in Fireside Chats. I did find it unfortunate that Jeff used the gerrymandering argument to try and explain away the lack of “blue wave” and also frame the issue as a Republican way to cheat the system. I live in IL which is either the most or second most gerrymander state in the union. Democrats are just as bad and the argument doesn’t hold much water. As always, I’d love to hear your thoughts on the subject!

LastStandMedia
>>17016634

Thank you for your thoughtful feedback, Jason. You said this: "We don't vote Trump because we're racist. We don't vote red because we're bigots. We do these things to try to at least slow down those that would take the little that we have left, things that weren't handed to us, but that we worked for in hot, sweaty and dirty factories with our own scarred hands." I hope you realize, that's what I've been saying about Trump voters -- vocally and repeatedly -- since he started running, and particularly after he won the nomination. Keep your head up. As someone who frankly isn't living paycheck to paycheck, who isn't in a low income area, who didn't grow up or ever live hand-to-mouth or truly and really struggling, the reality is such: I want a better life for you and yours, too. And I think you and I have a similar idea of how we'd get there. I feel for you and yours, and everyone in your position, because it's a seemingly impossible one to be in.

LastStandMedia
>>17021924

I'm glad to hear that you find some utility in these conversations, Cody. It means a great deal to me to hear that.

LastStandMedia
>>17024389

I don't even have the audio setup to accommodate three people! But maybe one day we can get those kinds of things happening.

LastStandMedia
>>17027329

Jeff texted me half an hour after he left and said "Jeff Sessions resigned when we were recording." Alas!

LastStandMedia
>>17035723

I'm not sure that I was able to make the point on this show, but the gerrymandering argument often falls on deaf ears for me, as if both parties haven't been in on the game for generations. It's an argument that rings hollow to me, like arguments against voter ID laws.

Anthony Stewart

Loved the episode this is what I wish I heard more of in mainstream a real conversation not yelling about each other's sides

Tony Rivera

<a href="http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/st-anne-anti-abortion-display-irks-voters/article_c6e7f15b-c4ce-55b7-848e-bb830595f9cc.html" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">http://www.kenoshanews.com/news/local/st-anne-anti-abortion-display-irks-voters/article_c6e7f15b-c4ce-55b7-848e-bb830595f9cc.html</a> Thought you might find this article interesting. I’d like to hear your opinion of it, but I respect you if you decide to stay moot on the subject. This happened to my church, that I live literally across the parking lot from. We placed the crosses in our backyard of the church 3-4 weeks before the polling. Now the church has been revoked from being a polling place. I would like to see how many other voters disagree with this display that now results in them having to find a new location to vote that is not as convenient. I would also like to see how this affects the voter numbers in the future. Having a central, convenient place to vote is a big reason why voters come out, especially in the freezing cold states like Wisconsin! Lol - anywho, love your shows, Colin. Gladly support such a brilliant mind that has thoughtful conversations on varied topics. Cheers, sir.

LastStandMedia
>>17124767

This is super interesting. Obviously, that's a political display, which isn't allowed at a polling place... but, I dunno. Churches are part of the community and voting in them is common. That's a tough one. Thank you for your kind words and support!

Dave Carsley

People need to understand that not wanting the entire population of the world's poor -- OF ANY COLOR -- all freely pouring into your country is not racist. It's just not. There are other reasons for not wanting millions and millions and millions of economically depressed, low skilled people flowing into your country than their color.

Dave Carsley

I think Jeff, unfortunately like many people (particularly, in my opinion, on the left, but indeed on both sides) spends too much time attributing motives to people that may not actually exist. Like when Jeff was saying that the talk about changing birthright citizenship is to "throw these people out" or take their citizenship. That's rediculous! I'm a politically tuned-in person, and I've not heard a single politician, nor a single everyday person - not *one * - in all my conversations about this suggest stripping the citizenship of natural born, full-on AMERICANS (including with illegal parents) away from them. And yet Jeff says that's what "people" mean when they talk about this issue. I'm sorry, but again, that's rediculous. It's fear mongering, and it's simply not true.

Cody Howell

Since I share a lot of your frustrations, I’m not sure that saying I *enjoy* listening to these conversations is accurate, but I always find them helpful and valuable. I live in one of eight states that still allow straight-ticket voting, and around 65% of my state’s voters took advantage of that option. Needless to say, that isn’t encouraging. Your podcast(s) and your following, on the other hand, are. It’s heartening to know that not everyone is blindly choosing sides, and conversations between people who disagree are absolutely essential. I won’t go into the amendments that were overwhelmingly passed in my state, but suffice it to say, as an atheist who tries to stay informed, I often feel like an alien. Thank you for making me feel less so. -Cody

Oklahomie

Great episode Colin, been a lurker patron till now. One of the things that stands out to me about thing episode is when Jeff made the comment if I could snap my fingers and get rid of guns I would. It’s so sad to hear someone say that when they don’t use them and think they are the problem, they just want to voluntarily give up their own and others rights like it’s nothing. (Small edit) just listened to his clarification, and I get what he was trying to say, my point still stands, just wanted to clarify I heard his response. Actively listening to the show haha

Riley Smith

I'm from Utah and voted for Romney, kinda hope he will call Trump on his bullshit like he did before

crispyn64

I feel like I gain more appreciation for Jeff every time he's on the show. He's a nice man, even if I don't agree with him a lot and don't really care for some of the stuff he tweets on a regular basis.

LastStandMedia
>>17135875

I don't really feel like it's that complicated, either, particularly because a country has allegiance to its own population first, and the well-being (including economic well-being) of that population.

LastStandMedia
>>17136396

Yeah, I concur. No one is pitching removing citizenship from those who have it. Well, I'm not, anyway, and, like you, I've heard no one else say they were. Just the fear mongers.

LastStandMedia
>>17162166

Yeah, I'm glad he was able to clarify his stance, 'cause I don't quite think he got across what he actually meant the first time around. I actually agree with him. A world without guns would be great. We just don't live in that world.

LastStandMedia
>>17218213

I'm glad to hear that, and I will say that some of his Tweets don't reflect who he is... though you could certainly say the same thing about me, I suppose.

Richard Kikuchi

What’s the total number of seats the Dems picked up? 39? Also, the fact that people are calling it a blue “tsunami” is kind of weird given the fact that many of these races were so close. One thing that I’d like to point out is that progressive candidates didn’t do well in Florida, and Texas. In Texas, I think the reason why it was so close was because Ted Cruz is not particularly a popular figure in American politics. Another factor that I think is overlooked in the Texas race is the fact more and more younger people are moving to Texas, especially moving from Blue states. A lot of tech start up companies are in Austin because Texas is a tax haven for businesses. What I think the Dems should do is have a centrist candidate, and have Beto be the VP candidate. Beto raised a lot of money during his campaign in Texas, and he’s pretty well liked within the younger parts of the Democratic Party. I don’t buy the fact that Texas will flip blue, because I think a lot of conservatives held their nose at the polls to vote for Cruz. Not to mention that they did the same thing with Trump in ‘16, and I believe that Texas was within 9 points, and Romney won it by 16.