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Astead Herndon

Things Astead Says on Podcasts

Political journalist and editorial director of political coverage at Vox, and a political analyst and contributor for CNN. Previously a national politics reporter at The New York Times, where he covered Kamala Harris's 2020 presidential campaign and hosted The Run-Up. Hosts America, Actually with Astead Herndon, a Vox podcast on elections and the Democratic Party, and writes the weekly newsletter Midterms, Actually. Appears as a guest on On with Kara Swisher, Prof G Media, Conversations with Coleman and On the Media.

“He certainly has the fresh face quality and I think is introducing himself on the national stage where there's a desire to hear from some new people. So I could definitely see him making something work.” — Astead Herndon on Wes Moore, America, Actually with Astead Herndon “I could see a group of kind of progressive candidates or candidates fighting for that group, splitting votes, and someone like Josh Shapiro being able to really kind of do what Biden did in 2020 and coalesce a moderate lane.” — Astead Herndon on Josh Shapiro, America, Actually with Astead Herndon “On one hand, I get that his focus is local. It is a governor's race after all. But I still think it's notable that when Ramaswamy talks about things like bringing jobs back to Ohio, he makes no mention of Trump's tariffs. The administration's signature economic policy aimed at regions just like this one.” — Astead Herndon on Vivek Ramaswamy, America, Actually with Astead Herndon

Where to Find Them

Astead Herndon hosts America, Actually with Astead Herndon , hosts Pivot (Kara Swisher & Scott Galloway) and hosts The Daily (NYT) . They have also been a guest on On with Kara Swisher (3 times) , Question Everything , Why Should I Trust You? , Prof G Media , On the Media and Conversations with Coleman .

Recently: “Nevada's Trump slump” on America, Actually with Astead Herndon (October 2026); “Sports in midterm America” on America, Actually with Astead Herndon (October 2026); “Can Trump steal the midterms?” on America, Actually with Astead Herndon (October 2026); “Who gets to lead Democrats next?” on America, Actually with Astead Herndon (October 2026); “Can you buy the midterms?” on America, Actually with Astead Herndon (October 2026); “Can Dems flip state legislatures?” on America, Actually with Astead Herndon (October 2026).

What They Said

“He certainly has the fresh face quality and I think is introducing himself on the national stage where there's a desire to hear from some new people. So I could definitely see him making something work.” — Astead Herndon on Wes Moore, America, Actually with Astead Herndon

Astead Herndon on America, Actually, responding to Don Lemon's pick of Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in a fantasy draft of 2028 Democratic contenders.

America, Actually with Astead Herndon · 2026-08-01 Permalink → Listen →
America, Actually with Astead Herndon Around 30:32 into the episode
Kara Swisher

He's like, not grinder with that thing here.

Don Lemon

No, no, no, not like that. I love him like a brother. And his wife, I mean, his wife's a friend. And I just think that he is brilliant. He has a good heart. He's handsome. And people really like him. He is a charismatic personality.

Speaker 1

I mean, he certainly has the fresh face quality and I think is introducing himself on the national stage where there's a desire to hear from some new people. So I could definitely see him making something work. I think I'm going to go with the senator from Georgia, John Osoff. Very good. Because I think that it is an electability thing. And I think about what you're saying about Jewish candidates. And I honestly think there is some way that it can insulate some folks from some criticism too. And that if you kind of play, if you speak to your kind of anti-Zionist, but also not overtly left-wing…

Don Lemon

We're on the same page because that was going to be one of my picks again. And the reason I was going to pick him is because the ladies love him. Ladies vote. Black women love him. They call him Senator Mayboo. And we know that the road to the White House in the Democratic Party runs through black…

Kara Swisher

right. It's hard here because I'm going to go. I'm between two people that I like a lot. And I've spent a lot of time with. One is Gina Ramundo, who I think in any other world would be very qualified.

Speaker 1

Is your concern is gender. Gender.

Speaker names come from our own diarization. The position is estimated from where the line sits in the episode.
“I could see a group of kind of progressive candidates or candidates fighting for that group, splitting votes, and someone like Josh Shapiro being able to really kind of do what Biden did in 2020 and coalesce a moderate lane.” — Astead Herndon on Josh Shapiro, America, Actually with Astead Herndon

Astead Herndon on his podcast America, Actually, explaining why he picked Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro in a fantasy draft of 2028 Democratic contenders.

America, Actually with Astead Herndon · 2026-08-01 Permalink → Listen →
America, Actually with Astead Herndon Around 34:46 into the episode
Speaker 1

All this talk about electability. We need white guys, straight people, all out the window. We're going limbs in 2028. Okay, it is my turn, and I am torn between a couple. I like Raphael Warnock. I'm going to go against the grain and say Josh Shapiro. I

Kara Swisher

was just going to pick

Speaker 1

Josh. That was my next pick. Because while I agree about the kind of tide turning, particularly against Israel among the Democratic base, I could see a group of kind of progressive candidates or candidates fighting for that group, splitting votes, and someone like Josh Shapiro being able to really kind of do what Biden did in 2020 and coalesce a moderate lane. So obviously, moderate lane means black voters means I think some people we haven't necessarily seen him win with just yet, but I do think there is an opportunity, particularly if we see a split electorate among the AOCs and Kamala Harris's and everyone else. So I am going to go with Josh Shapiro and the moderate wing striking back.

Don Lemon

If he were the nominee, I'd vote for him yesterday. And

Kara Swisher

we are down to our

Speaker 1

final rounds, y'all. So this is the time for the spicy or maybe out-the-box picks. Think about where your team might need some new voices or maybe someone who can gobble up a lane you don't have.

Speaker names come from our own diarization. The position is estimated from where the line sits in the episode.
“On one hand, I get that his focus is local. It is a governor's race after all. But I still think it's notable that when Ramaswamy talks about things like bringing jobs back to Ohio, he makes no mention of Trump's tariffs. The administration's signature economic policy aimed at regions just like this one.” — Astead Herndon on Vivek Ramaswamy, America, Actually with Astead Herndon

Astead Herndon, host of America, Actually, reporting from a Vivek Ramaswamy town hall in Parma, Ohio, on how Republican candidates are handling President Trump's unpopularity ahead of the 2026 midterms.

America, Actually with Astead Herndon · 2026-10-03 Permalink → Listen →
America, Actually with Astead Herndon Around 15:10 into the episode
Speaker 1

…Capitalism is not a bad word. It is the greatest system we have to lift people up from poverty. There are three branches of government, not four, not the administrative state. And the U.S. Constitution, it is the strongest and greatest guarantor of freedom in human history. That is the truth. And

Speaker 2

we stand up for the truth. That is who we are as conservatives. And I want Ohio to be the state that leads our country back to greatness, for us to be the state that Texas and Florida and Tennessee look up to rather than the other way around.

Speaker 1

On one hand, I get that his focus is local. It is a governor's race after all. But I still think it's notable that when Ramaswamy talks about things like bringing jobs back to Ohio, he makes no mention of Trump's tariffs. The administration's signature economic policy aimed at regions just like this one.

Speaker 2

At the turn of the last century, we were the wealthiest state of the union. We led the first Industrial Revolution. Even in 1950, six of the top 15 wealthiest cities in America were here, Dayton-led in computing. My hometown of Cincinnati was known around the world as the Queen City, the machine…

Speaker 1

In fact, I had heard a lot of this speech already. It's basically the same one that Ramaswamy would give back when he was running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024.

Speaker 2

I will still say, as a father of three young kids myself, there is no other country on planet Earth where I would rather have been born and raised. There is no other country on planet Earth where I would rather be raising our kids than this one. There is no other time in human history where I would…

Speaker names come from our own diarization. The position is estimated from where the line sits in the episode.

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