Lew Moore Talks Massie, Midterms

* * *

James Edwards: You recently appeared with me on the radio to offer a comprehensive post-mortem of U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie’s electoral defeat. Can you offer a Cliff’s Notes version for the readers about what stood out to you most about that race?

Lew Moore: Sure. In bullets:

• The Israel Lobby revealed their true role in American politics for all to see, as a brutal enforcer of Mideast interventionism on behalf of a foreign power.

• The magnitude of the lobby’s participation shows their desperation. They know they are losing the youth of both parties, of left and right.

• Massie performed very well among voters aged 18 to 29 and 29 to 46, winning these groups by a ratio of 3-to-1. However, he lost significantly among the over-65 age group, with more than 2-to-1 against him, which ultimately cost him the election. They simply turn out to vote in much greater numbers.

• Trump’s popularity in the district with $40M behind it overwhelmed a sitting congressman (do you know who your congressman is, many don’t), but only by 10 points.

• Massie’s opponent ran on “loyalty to the president” in a district that supported Trump with 2/3rds of the vote in 2024, not on any issues related to Israel.

• Massie’s not completely stellar voting record on immigration was a secondary factor.

• This election featured the most money ever spent per voter in the history of the planet, but turnout was still only 1/3 of registered Republicans, voting in a closed primary.

Every campaign makes mistakes, but I don’t know what I would have changed. Massie ran a great race, had a robust social media presence, raised over $15M, and set himself up for a future presidential bid.

Edwards: Many people are demoralized by how this played out. How would you lift their spirits?

Moore: There is no reason to be demoralized about this race. Trump was very popular in this district, and there’s no way Massie was more popular than Trump at the start of this campaign. A significant amount of money was spent to challenge Massie, yet his opponents only managed to drive turnout to 33%. They only defeated him by ten points.

The key point is that it’s evident the youth and non-boomers in that district and across America are aligned with us. This indicates that the future belongs to nationalists, critics of Israel, and those opposing the current power structure in D.C. This was clearly demonstrated in this race, and there are countless other data points to support this conclusion.

Edwards: Looking now at the bigger picture, the GOP was able to pull a rabbit out of the hat when the Supreme Court ruled in favor of gutting the Voting Rights Act, which opened the door for many states, especially in the South, to redraw congressional district boundaries. This will put many seats in play that the Republicans would otherwise have had no chance of winning. What is your overall assessment?

Moore: This was a definite win for the GOP, but it’s questionable how much they can capitalize on it during this election cycle. Trump has demoralized his base due to the war, the lack of mass deportations, the handling of the Epstein files, and other issues. Additionally, independents, Hispanics, women, and young voters are moving away from Trump and the party.

The GOP is running a campaign reminiscent of George W. Bush, focusing on special interests and relying on substantial amounts of corporate funding and 30-second TV ads. This strategy may further dampen the enthusiasm of volunteers needed to engage in grassroots efforts to secure victories. Some of the new GOP districts have a Republican advantage of R+3 or R+4, which are not overwhelming cushions and certainly not guaranteed wins.

The Democrats, on the other hand, are feeling very energized. Ultimately, grassroots energy will be crucial in determining the outcome of races where the partisan matchup is close. It’s still too early for November predictions, but it’s looking very bad for the Republicans right now.

Moore: Not well at the present moment. Trump has allowed his administration to be influenced by corporate interests, including big pharma, big tech, big agriculture, and, of course, the Israel lobby. His political operation appears to be comfortable with this situation. However, as I mentioned, there is growing dissatisfaction among his base due to the lack of mass deportations, no significant legal actions against Deep State actors, and a failure to uphold the pledge of “no new wars,” and other perceived betrayals.

Furthermore, the cornerstone of his economic policy, which emphasizes cheap energy, is now entangled in the Straits of Hormuz. Additionally, his political operation is endorsing establishment candidates over capable grassroots favorites across the country, which is seen as yet another betrayal. He is also on the wrong side of the emerging issues related to data centers.

Edwards: Is the debacle in Iran enough to sink Trump’s presidency?

Moore: Yes, especially if a Democratic Congress is elected, which will mire his last two years in impeachment drama.

Edwards: Inflation is high, the costs for essentials like gas and food are skyrocketing, people can’t afford health insurance, and the prospect of young married couples becoming homeowners is almost non-existent. How real is the affordability crisis, and how much will it matter in November?

Moore: You just highlighted how real these issues are. As I mentioned earlier, one key to lowering prices in the economy is affordable energy, which Trump has undermined. Another approach would be significantly reducing government spending, but that metric is also moving in the wrong direction. A third factor would be mass deportations, which could impact the housing market, but that isn’t happening.

Additionally, Social Security is projected to go into default in the next few years, and Medicare is precariously close to crisis. However, our president informed a national television audience that he is too busy managing the war to focus on these critical issues. Furthermore, there’s nothing about this GOP Congress that inspires the average voter. All of these are massive warning signs for the GOP as we approach November.

Edwards: If you had to sell Trump right now, what would be your pitch?

Moore: He’s better than a Bolshevik? The issue is that after apparent betrayals, he has been sending “reset” signals, but this is falling into a pattern in which surrogates promise action on various issues, yet nothing substantial ever seems to materialize. They are currently discussing an ICE surge in New York, which would be a positive development, but where is the comprehensive action needed for mass deportations?

He clearly wants to end the conflict with Iran, but circumstances of his own making, along with Israel’s apparent influence, seem to be obstructing that goal. Moreover, there isn’t a thorough plan in place to disrupt the organizations and actors — both inside and outside the government — who have repeatedly shown their desire to undermine our culture and freedoms.

At this point in Trump’s presidency, I can only offer the old “lesser of two evils” argument. Grassroots MAGA supporters, like Steve Bannon, are hopeful for this reset and are calling for the reinstatement of Greg Bovino at Customs, for example, but I don’t believe it will happen.

Edwards: Some on the right are so disgusted with Trump that they are vowing to vote for the Democrats in the midterms and whoever the Democrats may nominate in 2028. What does a seasoned and rational political operative like yourself think of such a strategy?

Moore: I have heard Nick Fuentes and others talk about voting Democrat this year “to send a message.” While I understand the frustration with the GOP, I do not support this strategy. Every congressional office has power and influence that may not be obvious to the average voter. The demand for a disruptor, which is brought us Trump to begin with, has only increased among the general public. The opportunity for a genuine and successful populist rebellion has grown significantly.

Edwards: You host a podcast called Hour of Decision w/ Lew Moore that offers listeners insightful takes from the perspective of a man who knows firsthand how Washington works. Where can we learn more?

Moore: You can hear more of my thoughts on politics, history, and what we can do at this juncture in the fight on my weekly show on www.LibertyNewsRadio.com. You can also get the latest news and resources for election integrity activists at www.SecureVote.news, where I also do a weekly commentary.

This article was originally published by American Free Press – America’s last real newspaper! Click here to subscribe today or call 1-888-699-NEWS.

Lew Moore

When not interviewing newsmakers, James Edwards has often found himself in the spotlight as a commentator, including many national television appearances. For more than 20 years, his radio work has been featured in hundreds of newspapers and magazines worldwide. Media Matters has listed Edwards as a “right-wing media fixture” and Hillary Clinton personally named him as an “extremist” who would shape our country.