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The Early Vote Totals Are Not What You Expect: Midterm Update artwork

The Early Vote Totals Are Not What You Expect: Midterm Update

Ruthless Podcast

October 14, 2026

What do the early votes tell us about Republicans' chances in November? Ruthless breaks down the latest early voting numbers in Ohio, Michigan, North Carolina, and Florida, revealing what they mean for the midterms.

Speakers Josh Holmes, Michael Duncan, John Ashbrook, Comfortably Smug

TopicsPoliticsNews

Josh Holmes (0:00)

We're looking at early votes as they've come in.

Michael Duncan (0:03)

Early vote numbers, especially when they're based off of model can tell you, is just a part of the overall equation.

John Ashbrook (0:10)

Do not blackpill. Everybody says the environment's terrible for Republicans. You can change that simply by going out and voting.

Josh Holmes (0:18)

I'll tell you, my first initial reaction to these numbers is pleasantly surprised.

Comfortably Smug (0:22)

Same thing.

Michael Duncan (0:22)

One of these numbers surprised me and they don't scare me.

The midterm elections are here.

If DSA Democrats win, they'll push a radical socialist agenda and drown President Trump in endless investigations. We've seen their playbook before. They tried impeaching him. They tried putting him in prison. They've tried everything. Don't let them win. Because if we lose, they'll undo everything our movement has fought for. I need you to vote early. You can bank your vote and fight back against the left's turnout machine. Go to gopvotes.org right now and find out where you can vote.

SPEAKER_5 (1:05)

Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please.

SPEAKER_6 (1:10)

This program has become one of the most influential podcasts in America. I love the personality.

Comfortably Smug (1:15)

You guys are killing it.

SPEAKER_5 (1:16)

I just saw you're number one.

Comfortably Smug (1:17)

Congratulations.

Josh Holmes (1:18)

It's an honor and a pleasure to welcome the great Sean Hannity.

Michael Duncan (1:23)

Guys, I love you.

SPEAKER_5 (1:25)

Congratulations on all your success.

SPEAKER_6 (1:27)

This is why you listen to the Ruthless Podcast, because nobody else would ask that question. The only political podcast we're listening to is the Ruthless Podcast.

John Ashbrook (1:34)

It's time for our main event.

SPEAKER_6 (1:38)

The Ruthless Podcast.

Josh Holmes (1:41)

Well, happy hump day to you and welcome back to the Ruthless Variety Program. Josh Holmes along with comfortably Smug, Michael Duncan and John Ashbrook, left to right across your radio dial. Recall our hump day episode is for us to ascertain who's doing the humping in the upcoming midterm elections.

So what we'll do for you here is provide you a little bit of data, if you will, on a couple of states that have enough intel where you can glean what's happening, critical states that will make up majorities in the House and the Senate. We'll do that. We'll talk about a couple of different stories, but I have to tell you.

Comfortably Smug (2:23)

Big news.

Josh Holmes (2:24)

Fox News has perhaps made a tremendous error in judgment. And I can't say that often, but this is one of those times where they've offered to put the fellas here on the airwaves on Fox News for our very own show for consecutive weeks as we get closer here to the midterm, starting at noon on Sunday.

Comfortably Smug (2:51)

This Sunday. Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.

SPEAKER_5 (2:54)

Sunday, Sunday, Sunday.

Comfortably Smug (2:56)

So this Sunday, you're going to do it on Fox News at noon, and you're going to see us, and it's going to be an incredible episode. And the timing could not be better. Timing could not be better. You can go to church, come home, you watch a show, and then you throw it on Fox, and you watch the football game. It is going to be the best Sunday ever.

Josh Holmes (3:12)

We're piloting you from the Lord to football, right there, getting you caught up on the world's events as it pertains to elections and all kinds of different things. And so we need you to tune in to this bad boy, because it's sort of important for the fellas that we're...

Michael Duncan (3:29)

Yeah. Set a reminder.

Comfortably Smug (3:30)

And you're going to want to see these episodes. They're going to be some of the best stuff that we've put out there. You're going to have a great time.

Josh Holmes (3:35)

We'll tighten the screws on it a little bit, you know?

John Ashbrook (3:38)

You won't be disappointed. You are absolutely going to love it.

Comfortably Smug (3:42)

Yeah.

Josh Holmes (3:42)

It's going to be fantastic. Very excited about the opportunity. And so that is Sunday at noon Eastern time. So set your reminders accordingly. We do want to jump right into this bad boy.

In ascertaining who's doing the humping, fellas, I've taken the liberty of putting together some kind of a graphic so we can see what it is that we're talking about here, just as a visual reminder of what we're talking about. There it is.

Comfortably Smug (4:11)

Oh yeah.

Josh Holmes (4:12)

Who's humping who.

Comfortably Smug (4:14)

This is why you want to have the YouTube. So you can see this AI generated five legged camel.

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