Conservative podcasters have dramatically scaled back their discussions of Donald Trump in recent months, a shift that has become impossible to ignore as the 2026 midterm elections approach.
According to sources, The Wall Street Journal conducted an extensive analysis of nearly 70,000 hours of conservative podcast content, tracking mentions of the president across 147 shows.
The findings reveal a striking pattern: Trump’s name came up nearly 40 times per hour on these programs around the time of the 2024 presidential election.
By late February, when the United States entered the Iran conflict, that figure had dropped to just under 20 mentions per hour. The current rate sits at approximately 12 per hour, marking a decline of nearly 70% from the post-election peak.
The Journal employed an in-house AI tool for the analysis, which also incorporated more than 10 million TikToks and Instagram posts, thousands of hours of broadcast news coverage, and the publication’s own reporting. Researchers note that the system tracks frequency rather than sentiment, meaning a mention doesn’t necessarily indicate support or criticism.
Monthly Trump mentions have fallen 30% since the Iran conflict began in late February. Some conservative hosts have expressed reservations about the military engagement, while Tucker Carlson, one of the most prominent voices in right-wing media, has publicly broken with the administration over the issue.
The contrast with left-leaning podcasts is notable. According to the Journal’s data, these programs have maintained steady Trump mention rates of roughly 35 to 38 times per hour. White House spokesperson Allison Schuster suggested that progressive commentators continue focusing on Trump because he “continues to deliver for the American people.” She characterized the ongoing discussion as an attempt to redirect attention from what she called the “crazy policies” of Democratic candidates.
As Trump’s presence in conservative podcast conversations has diminished, other subjects have filled the void. James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for Texas Senate, has become the most frequently mentioned Democrat on these programs who isn’t a former president.
During the period examined by the Journal, Talarico received more attention than Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Gavin Newsom, and Bernie Sanders. His mentions nearly tripled those of Zohran Mamdani.
Talarico is challenging Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, who has received Trump’s endorsement and backing from national Republican organizations. A Marist poll showed Talarico leading with 50% to Paxton’s 44%, a six-point margin in a state where no Democrat has won statewide office since 1994.
Trump himself has engaged in the race, referring to his opponent as “Talafreako” and criticizing him at the GOP midterm convention. Conservative podcasters have targeted Talarico over past statements, particularly his comment that “God is nonbinary” and positions on transgender rights and immigration. Talarico has acknowledged that he “missed the mark” on some of his previous remarks.
Meanwhile, Trump has attempted to nationalize the midterm elections, asking voters to “pretend I’m on the ballot.” He has also offered $5,000 to voters if Republicans maintain control of both congressional chambers.
Some Republican candidates have begun creating distance from Trump amid concerns about his standing on economic issues and the Iran conflict. Byron Donalds, the Trump-endorsed candidate for Florida governor, removed Trump’s name from his campaign website. A Republican congressional candidate in Kentucky made a similar modification.
Even Joe Rogan, whose podcast has been influential in conservative circles, has expressed second thoughts. In a recent conversation, Rogan acknowledged that he “bought what Donald Trump sold” but admitted the first year of the second term has not met expectations.
“People also connect me to that [conservatism] … mostly think that’s cuz they don’t know me. Because I look right-wing and I did kind of help Trump,” Rogan said. “But other than that, I’ve been left-wing my whole life. I have very left-wing views on a lot of things. I also recognize when government is taking over our lives. And what we were sold with the Trump administration would be that it would drain the swamp. Obviously, it’s not been ideal in that regard.”
