Content note: this episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse.

The Dispatch is The Mayday Network’s rapid response show covering the stories we think you should care about. Michelle Kinney and Julie Roginsky react to the ad from Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign for Ohio governor that features Democratic nominee Amy Acton’s estranged mother, and to Ramaswamy’s decision to put four million dollars behind it. They walk through Acton’s story in her own words, her brother’s rebuttal ad, J.D. Vance’s response to reporters, and a resurfaced Ramaswamy clip mocking his opponent. Then Michelle takes a step back to show how campaigns got here, from Lee Atwater’s 1981 interview and Reagan’s “welfare queen” to the Willie Horton ad, the Max Cleland attack, and the Swift Boat ads. Michelle and Julie, who have both made negative ads, talk about the line they won’t cross and why it matters for both parties. They also play James Talarico’s hopeful Texas ad as a contrast, and close with new polling, voting reminders, and what’s coming next on The Mayday Network.

0:00 Welcome 0:42 The Ramaswamy ad and how we got here 1:34 Content note 2:34 Julie on Roger Ailes, Willie Horton, and the road to today 4:24 Who Amy Acton is 6:15 Who Vivek Ramaswamy is 9:41 The ad 10:47 What the ad leaves out, and Acton’s brother responds 12:36 Amy Acton responds 13:52 Julie on ads that backfire, and on parenting 19:07 J.D. Vance’s response to reporters 20:33 A resurfaced Ramaswamy clip 25:56 Context on the arrest warrant and the sheriff who signed it 26:58 Pritzker, Megyn Kelly, and the reaction 35:42 How the ad was tested, and how it leaked 36:27 Michelle and Julie on making attack ads and where they draw the line 39:32 Lee Atwater’s 1981 interview 42:35 Reagan and the “welfare queen” 46:07 The Willie Horton ad 48:30 Max Cleland and the 2002 Georgia Senate race 54:41 The Swift Boat Veterans ads against John Kerry 57:08 Julie on Fox News, Swift Boat, and who spoke up 1:06:50 Excusing bad behavior on your own side 1:09:26 James Talarico’s Texas ad 1:15:37 “The white hoods are in the window display” 1:16:44 Trump at 34 percent, and the Texas Senate polling 1:17:19 Voting reminders 1:19:25 Program notes: Ken Harbaugh on Pax Americana, and what’s next

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Part of The Mayday Network, an independent, women-led independent media where politics meets culture.

Recorded live on Tuesday September 29, 2026 -- Julie Roginsky and Michelle Kinney are joined by Ben Lazarus, one of the best Democratic pollsters in the country, for real hopium about the midterms. Ben explains why a red wave is off the table, how a collapse in Republican turnout could make the blue wave much bigger, and why Trump's numbers are softening even among his own base.

They dig into why polling is so hard, how pollsters account for voters who won't take surveys, and why data centers have become a potent issue in some of the reddest parts of the country. Then it's a lightning round on Michigan, Minnesota, and Texas, plus a case for funding state legislative races, where every dollar goes furthest. Julie and Michelle close with the Cornell case (more on this later) and the Joe Biden story in The Atlantic.

Follow The Mayday Network for more commentary, analysis, and rapid response — new content every day.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-mayday-network/id6754000270 Substack: https://substack.com/@themaydaynetwork Website: https://www.themaydaynetwork.com

Support our friend and grassroots activist Blue Moreno, who flies all around the country every election season to knock doors in crucial races: https://bluemoreno.com/hats

The Mayday Network is an independent, women-led independent media where politics meets culture. 0:19 Welcome and intro 1:04 Ben's midterm outlook: is a blue wave coming? 6:36 Why polling is so hard 15:04 Trump's softening support among Republicans 19:30 Gas prices and swing districts 22:00 Does money still matter? 27:45 Why data centers are a political problem 35:00 Voter distrust of both parties 42:55 Finding the "double haters" 47:00 The horseshoe effect and 2028 50:10 Lightning round: Michigan, Minnesota, Texas 1:02:04 Blue Moreno hats and voting reminders 1:04:40 The Cornell case 1:11:20 Joe Biden in The Atlantic

Breaking: the Supreme Court just sided with the Trump administration, reviving DHS's flawed SAVE database and letting states use it to challenge and purge voters — including naturalized citizens — right as early voting is already underway in contested Senate races across North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Iowa, Alaska, and Kansas. Julie Roginsky and Michelle Kinney break down what just happened, why it's timed for maximum midterm chaos, and the one thing you need to know if you show up to vote and get told you're not eligible: ask for a provisional ballot, and do not leave until you get it.

The Dispatch airs live — new episodes every week on The Mayday Network YouTube channel, wherever you get your podcasts.

Follow The Mayday Network for more commentary, analysis, and rapid response — new content every day.

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/the-mayday-network/id6754000270 Spotify: search "The Mayday Network" Substack: https://substack.com/@themaydaynetwork Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheMaydayNetwork Threads: https://www.threads.net/@TheMaydayNetwork Website: https://www.themaydaynetwork.com

Timestamps: 0:00 Breaking: SCOTUS sides with Trump admin on voter database 1:56 What the SAVE database ruling actually allows 3:06 Why the timing hits swing-state Senate races right now 4:29 Julie: the Court is "the in-house general counsel for the Republican National Committee" 8:29 What to do if you're told you're not eligible to vote: demand a provisional ballot