Life After Trump: Astead Herndon On What’s Next for American Politics

On with Kara Swisher

New York Magazine

Society & Culture

4.2 • 3.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 April 2026

⏱️ 63 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Political journalist Astead Herndon is using his new Vox podcast America, Actually with Astead Herndon to ask what feels like an unfathomable question: What does our country look like after President Trump; and can we even talk about politics without putting him at the center? As we head towards its first truly open presidential election since 2016, Kara and Astead talk about the ways politics has changed in the last decade, and what it takes to attract voters today. They discuss the growing disillusionment and splintering amongst Trump’s base and toss around predictions about who might in the GOP be in line to replace him. And they analyze the structural impediments that could blunt a Democratic wave in the midterms and beyond. Questions? Comments? Email us at on@voxmedia.com or find us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, and Bluesky @onwithkaraswisher. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	You don't break the Pope. You don't. Like, it's really, even among people who don't agree with him.
0:06.2	Also, this Pope, you know, don't mess up the South Side of Chicago. Like, pick different fights to Trump.
0:15.1	Hi, everybody from New York Magazine and the Vox Media Podcast Network.
0:26.1	This is on with Kara Swisher, and I'm Kara Swisher.
0:29.1	My guest today is Ested Herndon, a political reporter and formerly the host of the run-up
0:33.5	podcasts at the New York Times.
0:35.6	He made a name for himself with his on-the-ground reporting
0:38.2	and ability to connect with voters. Astead is now a host and editorial director at Vox. He has a new
0:44.4	video podcast called America Actually with Ested Herndon. The show asks, what does America
0:50.3	look like after Trump? And can we even talk about politics without putting Trump at the
0:55.4	center? I'm excited to talk to him because this dad's an amazing reporter at the heart of it, and he's
0:59.7	been talking to actual voters rather than just being a pundit. He also has incredible analytical
1:04.2	skills and is able to sort of parse things out in an incredibly fair way, which I think is important
1:09.3	right now in these polarizing times.
1:11.5	We have two expert questions this episode, one from Lulu Garcia-Navarro, host of the New York
1:16.4	Times podcast, The Interview, and another from Ben Collins, CEO of the Onion. Both sent in
1:21.8	great questions, so stick around.
1:33.4	Support for this show comes from Backmarket.
1:38.2	You don't always need the newest tech, no matter what your social media algorithm says.
1:40.8	Sometimes newer doesn't exactly mean better.
1:45.5	Backmarket is the world's leading premium refurbished tech marketplace. Backmarket offers a range of high-quality tech inspected and refurbished by professionals. It's all they do.
1:51.1	They have phones, computers, gaming consoles, vacuum cleaners, and even iPods. Backmarket is also
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from New York Magazine, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of New York Magazine and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.