I Can't Believe These 2026 Polls...

In this solo episode, Ben Shapiro examines three significant developments shaping the current political and economic landscape. The first major topic focuses on recent polling data showing Democrats pulling ahead of Republicans in the generic Congressional ballot ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. This metric is considered a key indicator of voter sentiment and potential outcomes for House and Senate races. Shapiro analyzes what factors might be contributing to this Democratic advantage and what it could mean for the political landscape heading into the next election cycle.

The episode then pivots to economic developments in the corporate world, contrasting the fortunes of two major American companies. Nvidia continues to report massive profits as the artificial intelligence boom drives demand for their semiconductor products and services. Meanwhile, Target, a major American retailer, reports disappointing financial results that reflect broader challenges facing traditional brick-and-mortar retail. This disparity illustrates the ongoing economic divergence between technology companies benefiting from AI and automation trends versus traditional retail facing consumer spending pressures and operational challenges.

The third major topic explores New York City's ghost apartment problem, a phenomenon where apartments remain vacant despite the city's significant housing shortage and affordability crisis. These empty units represent wasted resources and contribute to the housing market dysfunction affecting millions of New Yorkers. Shapiro examines the regulatory, economic, and policy factors that allow this situation to persist, and what it reveals about how government policies and market incentives interact in ways that often produce counterproductive outcomes.

Throughout the episode, Shapiro connects these three disparate topics to broader themes about market dynamics, government policy, and the changing American economy. The contrast between Nvidia's success and Target's struggles illustrates how technological disruption continues to reshape which companies thrive. The ghost apartment issue in New York demonstrates how housing policy failures can coexist with market demand, creating inefficiencies that harm residents and the broader economy. Meanwhile, the shifting political landscape reflected in congressional polling data may be influenced by economic concerns facing middle and working-class Americans.