00:00And now, America is heading into a crucial political test today.
00:04And for Donald Trump, the stakes could hardly be higher.
00:07The economy, immigration and Trump's own popularity have been dominating the midterm election campaign.
00:13So is this a referendum on the president?
00:15And what happens to the Republican Party if voters turn against him?
00:20Let's bring in Republican strategist and owner and president of consultancy firm Klink Campaigns, Matt Klink, who joins us from
00:28Los Angeles.
00:29Good morning, or rather good evening. Great to have you on.
00:33Thank you. Good morning.
00:35So with Donald Trump's approval ratings at 30 percent, is he a liability for Republican candidates in today's elections?
00:43Well, let's put it this way.
00:45The Republicans were always going to face headwinds heading into this election cycle.
00:51The party that holds power, his party tends to lose 22 seats in the House at a minimum.
00:57So that would give the Democrats a strong majority in the House.
01:02But Donald Trump's unpopularity that you just pointed to, that's a further drag.
01:07And the affordability issue, the war with Iraq or Iran, excuse me, those are the tariffs are the three main
01:15issues that have really caused Republicans across the country to really struggle this election cycle.
01:21Yeah, you mentioned the tariffs. Traditionally, the economy is one of the biggest factors in midterm elections.
01:28Why should Americans give Republicans another mandate if they remain unhappy about the cost of living?
01:35Well, I think that's the whole point of what the election is ultimately going to be fought on is, you
01:41know, look, that the memories of Biden and Harris are not that far in the rearview mirror.
01:45When we did have 9 percent inflation under Joe Biden and everything costs more.
01:52And Donald Trump promised that he was going to bring those numbers down and some are down.
01:57But frankly, a lot of them aren't down enough and some are actually up like gasoline prices.
02:02And I think the voters are going to take that anger out on Republican candidates across the country tomorrow.
02:08If Democrats win back one or both chambers today, would this mark the death knell for the Republican legislative agenda?
02:17And what would happen to the Republican Party then?
02:19Well, the Republican Party itself is absolutely strong.
02:23I mean, don't forget, you know, Donald Trump is still the president for two more years.
02:28I do think that it would if the Democrats take one or both houses, it will certainly put the squash
02:36on any Republican agenda for the last two years of the president's term.
02:43But that would frankly, that happens every time that that party, the parties switch power.
02:49So, you know, again, Donald Trump will rule by executive order and veto.
02:55And if the Democrats win one or both, they're not going to win by massive majorities.
03:00So I would think gridlock will be the word of the day for 2027 and 2028.
03:06Yeah, Trump has said he would be Mr. Veto in that case and then maybe strike deals.
03:12Now, Democrats are already threatening investigations into the Trump administration.
03:17Should Republicans be worried about subpoenas, hearings and potentially damaging revelations?
03:24Well, I think there always is the possibility.
03:27I mean, look, when when your party controls the executive and the legislative branches, let's just say that the oversight
03:33responsibility that Congress has isn't a top priority.
03:37It's moving the president's agenda forward.
03:39Now that the House and if the Senate goes Democrat, the Senate, they will exert that oversight.
03:45And that means holding hearings on the Iran war, on the tariffs, on some of the president's finances.
03:54So, yeah, there will be some some or some revelations and some things that will be quite shocking.
04:00Frankly, I wouldn't be surprised if the House impeached the president for a third time.
04:04It's doubtful that they will get the requisite two thirds vote in the Senate to formalize that impeachment.
04:12And don't forget, Donald Trump's already been impeached twice and it didn't hurt him.
04:16He got reelected for office.
04:18All right.
04:19Matt Klink, political consultant and Republican strategist.
04:22Thank you so much for your insights.
04:23Thank you so much for your insights.
