On today's podcast, Chris Cillizza and Matt discuss:

— Is Trump looking to replace Chief of Staff Susie Wiles (per Politico Playbook) just 19 days before the midterms?

— Why Wiles was the perfect non-traditional chief for Trump (mother figure, not James Baker) and why he still wants a new character for the next season

— Top potential scapegoats if Republicans lose: John Thune, Pete Hegseth, Ken Paxton, Wiles, and more

— New press secretary Katie Zacharia’s rough first briefing, and how the job has shifted under Trump

— Trump’s aggressive midterm barnstorming and repeated “pretend I’m on the ballot” line — smart base play or self-own at record-low approval?

— Trump in the twilight: aging, lame-duck status, better as outsider than governing, and the walnut-tree effect on the GOP bench

— Democrats letting a thousand flowers bloom vs. Republican top-down control and the thin post-Trump pipeline

— Mike Johnson’s decision to stay on as Speaker or Minority Leader (no matter what happens in the midterms)

— Matt’s Senate races to watch: Texas and Kansas

— And MUCH more!

Make sure to check us out again next week!Subscribe to Matt Lewis on Substack: https://mattklewis.substack.com/Support Matt Lewis at Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mattlewis

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– Who is Matt Lewis? –Matt K. Lewis is a political commentator and the author of Filthy Rich Politicians.

Buy Matt's books:

FILTHY RICH POLITICIANS: https://www.amazon.com/Filthy-Rich-Politicians-Creatures-Ruling-Class/dp/1546004416TOO DUMB TO FAIL: https://www.amazon.com/Too-Dumb-Fail-Revolution-Conservative/dp/0316383937

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