Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Nationwide attention and endorsements are flooding into Michigan as voters get ready to pick their Senate candidates Aug. 4. Why is everybody from President Trump to Bernie Sanders so interested? The path to win the Senate runs straight through this purple state, and that has Democrats battling over whether the progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed or the more centrist U.S. Representative Haley Stevens is the right candidate to put forward. Host Adam Harris talks to Atlantic writer Russell Berman about why Michigan matters and what the outcome of this race could mean for the future of the Democratic Party and the Senate at large.
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#theatlantic #radioatlantic #election2026 #michigan #michiganprimary #abdulelsayed #haleystevens
00:00 Introduction
00:49 Meet the Candidates
02:46 On the Ground in Michigan
03:32 Stevens’ Strategy
06:07 Why Michigan Decides Senate
08:33 Change vs. Compromise in Congress
15:25 Primary Countdown and Momentum
16:47 Atlantic Archive Segment on Congress
Subscribe to The Atlantic on YouTube: bit.ly/subAtlanticYT
Nationwide attention and endorsements are flooding into Michigan as voters get ready to pick their Senate candidates Aug. 4. Why is everybody from President Trump to Bernie Sanders so interested? The path to win the Senate runs straight through this purple state, and that has Democrats battling over whether the progressive candidate Abdul El-Sayed or the more centrist U.S. Representative Haley Stevens is the right candidate to put forward. Host Adam Harris talks to Atlantic writer Russell Berman about why Michigan matters and what the outcome of this race could mean for the future of the Democratic Party and the Senate at large.
Subscribe to the “Radio Atlantic” podcast on Apple Podcasts:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/radio-atlantic/id1258635512
Subscribe to the “Radio Atlantic” podcast on Spotify:
open.spotify.com/show/4vlgAVfHGyzoHYVmY67yFL
Follow The Atlantic on Instagram: instagram.com/theatlantic/?hl=en
Get more from your favorite Atlantic voices when you subscribe. You’ll enjoy unlimited access to Pulitzer-winning journalism, from clear-eyed analysis and insight on breaking news to fascinating explorations of our world. Atlantic subscribers also get access to exclusive subscriber audio in Apple Podcasts. Subscribe today at TheAtlantic.com/Listener.
#theatlantic #radioatlantic #election2026 #michigan #michiganprimary #abdulelsayed #haleystevens
00:00 Introduction
00:49 Meet the Candidates
02:46 On the Ground in Michigan
03:32 Stevens’ Strategy
06:07 Why Michigan Decides Senate
08:33 Change vs. Compromise in Congress
15:25 Primary Countdown and Momentum
16:47 Atlantic Archive Segment on Congress
Subscribe to The Atlantic on YouTube: bit.ly/subAtlanticYT
