Pitchfork Politics

Pitchfork Politics is a podcast about how to run and win on the economy. Hosted by Zach Silk, president of Civic Ventures, and Richard Trent, executive director of the Middle Out Center, the show brings the middle-out perspective of the Pitchfork universe into politics—examining how economic ideas become political power. Through conversations with candidates, strategists, organizers, pollsters, and policymakers, Pitchfork Politics explores the messages, campaigns, elections, and policies shaping people’s lives to understand what works, what doesn’t, and what political leaders can learn from both.

Politics chart: #131
Episodes: 2
Typical length: 39 min
On air since: 2026
Latest episode: 5 days ago

Episodes

2 episodes, newest first

Who Are The New Swing Voters?

Show notes

Working-class voters are now the most volatile bloc in American politics, and they are judging both parties by a simple test: are paychecks rising faster than costs?

Hosts Zach Silk and Richard Trent connect decades of change elections to economic dissatisfaction, explain why the old “soccer mom” model of the swing voter no longer fits, and assess what the coming election will reveal in places including Alaska, Texas, Kansas, and Maine. The takeaway for campaigns is direct: earning power requires a credible economic agenda that voters can feel at the kitchen table, and governing power requires delivering on it.

Pitchfork Politics is a project of Civic Ventures and the Middle Out Center, produced by Sam Holman and Larj Media. Tina Nole and Isaac Kaplan-Woolner produced and edited this episode. Greg Shishman engineered the episode.

Mentioned in This Episode

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Ethan Chen / DeCalibrate

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2024 minimum-wage / paid-leave ballot measures in Alaska, Missouri, and Nebraska

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Marist Poll: Maine Senate race

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Steve Rattner / wealth-inequality graphic

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Pitchfork Economics

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The Pitch

Oct 29, 2026 39 min
Pitchfork Politics Trailer Trailer

Oct 29, 2026 2 min