Republicans may have inadvertently revealed just how worried they are about the midterms by bringing their unusual convention to deep-red Texas, according to progressive podcaster Brian Tyler Cohen.
Cohen joined “Pod Save America” co-host Tommy Vietor Wednesday to dissect the two-day Republican gathering in Dallas, where President Donald Trump is scheduled to speak on both nights despite his weak approval ratings.
“Even the fact that they’re doing it in Texas is a tacit admission that they’re in big trouble,” Cohen said. “There is no world where the Republicans should be holding an emergency convention just unto itself, but an emergency convention in, like, their big red bastion.”
Cohen argued that the event could hurt Republican candidates by forcing them to embrace Trump when they should be trying to create distance from the MAGA leader.
“It could hurt the people who are tying themselves to Trump at the exact moment when they want to be away from the guy,” he said.
Cohen also slammed the reported cost of attending the event, saying struggling Republican candidates must hand over between $25,000 and $100,000 for access while Trump sits on an enormous political war chest.
“These people should be on the campaign trail talking to their actual voters, not genuflecting at the altar of Trump,” Cohen told listeners.
Vietor noted that Vice President JD Vance was originally expected to headline one night alone — before Trump claimed major speaking roles on both nights.
“Oh no, can’t have that!” Tyler replied.
“It’s so funny that he’s now keynoting, like de facto both nights,” Vietor added.
