After bursting onto the scene as the newest swing state just a few years ago, Georgia will be a top battleground in next year's midterms up and down the ballot. Joining us on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast is Charlie Bailey, the new chair of the Georgia Democratic Party, to share his insights on 2026. Bailey tells us about the most critical tasks he faces in building up the party and shines a spotlight on key races—including the "full-on MAGAthon" he expects to see consume Republicans.

Co-hosts David Nir and David Beard also dive into the huge election in Omaha on Tuesday night, which saw Democrats win the mayor's office for the first time since 2009. The race offers a smart playbook for Democrats seeking to fight back against transphobic GOP attacks. It also serves as a warning sign for Republicans as they try to protect a vulnerable House seat in the area next year.

On the latest edition of Nir & Rupar, our live weekly video show, David Nir of The Downballot and Aaron Rupar of Public Notice talk with Taegan Goddard, founder of the must-read site Political Wire.

On the show, Taegan tells us:

* How a feature in the Wall Street Journal inspired him to create his own news site—all the way back in 1999.

* How he handles the daily firehose of news to deliver pithy summaries for the hardcore news junkies who rely on his work.

* Why businesses and investors who imagine they can plan around Trump’s erratic tariff policies are deluding themselves.

And much more!

If you missed our livestream, you can watch it by clicking above! You can also find a complete transcript by clicking here and looking for the “Transcript” button.

Nir & Rupar goes live every Friday at 2 PM ET. The easiest way to participate is by downloading the free Substack app.

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At long, long, long last, Republicans have abandoned their effort to overturn the election for North Carolina's Supreme Court—which took place all the way back in November. We've closely followed every twist and turn, so naturally we're exploring what it all means, both for Democrats and democracy, on this week's episode of The Downballot podcast.

And joining us as our guest is Matt Hildreth, executive director of Rural Organizing, who tells us how Democrats can actually succeed in rural areas—and the common pitfalls they face. Hildreth says that "the messenger matters more than the message" and emphasizes two huge issues of overriding importance to rural voters: housing and child care. He also explains how Donald Trump's tariffs, which are disproportionately impacting farmers, create an opening for Democrats this year and next.