Lost in the Middle
44% of American voters self-identify as centrists. 71 million bewildered, frustrated political orphans. We'll explore how we got into this mess. But we will also tell you uplifting stories of people around the country trying to change the current zeitgeist.
Scott Klug · Civic Media
Show overview
Lost in the Middle launched in 2023 and has put out 25 episodes in the time since. That works out to roughly 10 hours of audio in total. Releases follow a monthly cadence.
Episodes typically run twenty to thirty-five minutes — most land between 13 min and 34 min — with run-times ranging widely across the catalogue. None of the episodes are flagged explicit by the publisher. It is catalogued as a EN-US-language News show.
The catalogue appears to be on hiatus or wound down — the most recent episode landed 1.5 years ago, with no new episodes in over a year. The busiest year was 2024, with 18 episodes published. Published by Civic Media.
From the publisher
44% of American voters self-identify as centrists. 71 million bewildered, frustrated political orphans. We'll explore how we got into this mess. But we will also tell you uplifting stories of people around the country trying to change the current zeitgeist. Listen Live: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm Saturday
Latest Episodes
View all 25 episodesPost-election special with Justin Young and Andrew Heaton
So what did the political orphans do in the Presidential election? Check this out. Self-identified independents accounted for a larger share of voters than Democrats and were tied with Republicans, Edison Research exit polling data showed. The independent turnout share was up 8 percentage points from 2020, when it was at 26%. Here at the Lost in the Middle podcast we are not surprised. We told you so. I joined forces this week with two other political podcast hosts to give our own twisted post-mortem in our final episode of ’24. Joining me is Justin Young, a journalist, comedian and host of “Politics, Politics, Politics,” and Andrew Heaton a comedian, author and political satirist who hosts “The Political Orphanage.” As always podcast episodes and my blog at scottklug.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
The undecided voter
When you keep looking at polls that say Trump is up one here, Harris up 2 there—you need to keep one fact in mind. It’s not uncommon for pollsters to push undecided voters and leaners to pick a candidate. To say, “if you were going to vote today who would you choose?” It distorts the true state of the race. If you live in a swing state like I do in Wisconsin we have been carpet bombed for months. Mailboxes jammed full of campaign postcards, the incessant tv and radio commercials have pushed the car dealers and home remodeling crowd off the air. So, OMG who is still waffling at this moment? Many are what the Cook Reports Amy Walter likened to casual NFL fans like herself. They don’t pay attention to the draft, free agent signings, or the exhibition season. The closer we get to the Super Bowl they become engaged. With a handful of days to go until election day now they are stocking up on chips and coke to watch NBC’s Steve Kornack after voting in person. I also think a pile of them are voters who like much of what Trump did in the White House, but cannot get over January 6th, or his personality and boorish behavior. Read this passage from This morning by Washington Post columnist Marc Thiessen A Washington Post-Schar School poll conducted Sept. 30 to Oct. 15 showed 26 percent of swing-state voters were still uncommitted — and they were much more negative about the Biden-Harris administration than the wider electorate…Other polls have found similar results. Recent New York Times-Siena polls found that 18 percent of voters in key swing states were not firmly committed to either candidate.” Will they vote for the ex-President, or if they are still double haters, will they even vote? In that same WaPo poll only 52 percent of uncommitted voters said they definitely will vote. And just 42 percent believed their vote matters At the Lost Middle podcast, we have been doing a series of countdown episodes and today we turn to Colorado to get a perspective. There are a zillion political scientists at colleges around the country, most are dry and mind numbing, Seth Masket is one of a handful who is both entertaining and insightful. He’s a perfect guest for our Lost Middle Countdown series because he manages to cut through the clutter and spin. He is the Director of the Center on American Politics and his column at Substack is a must read. We look at tiny shifts in voting blocs that could tilt the election. We are looking at you political orphans, swing voters and independents. You can find the whole episode right here at scottklug.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Election Countdown special with guest Seth Masket
There are a zillion political scientists at colleges around the country, most are dry and mind-numbing. Seth Masket is one of a handful who is both entertaining and insightful. He’s a perfect guest for our Lost in the Middle Countdown series because he manages to cut through the clutter and spin. He is the director of the Center on American Politics and his column at Substack is a must read. In our final countdown episode, we look at tiny shifts in voting blocs that could tilt the election. We are looking at you political orphans, swing voters and independents This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Balanced news coverage?
Frustrated by the media coverage of the election? Boy, am I with you. Look, I spent a third of my career working as a journalist. And then became a Republican Congressman. Add in an MBA and that makes me unicorn of sorts. What is frustrating you with media coverage today is not driven by some weird cabal of the right or left. It is driven by economics. And by a demographic and geographic bubble. Flip the channel between Fox and MSNBC and you’ll discover parallel universes. Places I choose not to visit. Faced with mounting economic pressures, even the mainstream media has been forced to tilt. Could anything be smugger than the Washington Post cutline “Democracy dies in Darkness.” Since Craigslist destroyed classified advertising which accounted for 45% of newspaper revenue, papers fold weekly. National news magazines have disappeared. The print industry is desperate for subscribers. Meanwhile consumers are cutting the cord, eroding revenues for CNN and every other platform. So where are we today? Only 31% of Americans trust the media. 36% have no trust. 33% don’t have much all. That’s from a Gallup poll this month. When I graduated from Northwestern in the post-Watergate era it was at 71 percent. And then there are the nagging questions of fairness when only 7% of journalists identify as Republicans. Longtime Politco media columnist Jack Shaffer took a deep dive after the 2016 election. If you want to know why the Washington and New York press corps missed Trump’s election, consider these facts. “Nearly 90 percent of all internet publishing employees work in a county where Clinton won, and 75 percent of them work in a county that she won by more than 30 percentage points. When you add in the shrinking number of newspaper jobs, 72 percent of all internet publishing or newspaper employees work in a county that Clinton won. “ As Jack concluded ‘“so when your conservative friends use “media” as a synonym for “coastal” and “liberal,” they’re not far off the mark.”Since I spent 8 years as a Member of Congress and 13 years as a journalist, listeners and readers ask me all the time where can I find solid political coverage that is not slanted? I’d suggest two things. Look at the website “All Sides” which rate major news outlets for bias. The site was founded by three Silicon Valley veterans who were crestfallen that rather than bringing people together, the internet was driving us apart. The website plays it straight.If you are looking for balanced, old fashioned, both sides of an issue reporting, nobody does a better job than “Tangle News” founded by veteran political journalist and podcaster Issac Saul. In episode 3 of our Lost in the Middle Election Countdown specials we get his insights on the state of the election and our mutual concerns about America’s mainstream press. You can find the full episode and our other reporting on the Lost Political Middle: America’s Political Orphans. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Election Countdown special with Isaac Saul of ‘Tangle News’
60% of Americans say they are worn out by so much coverage of the 2024 presidential election (Pew research). And then there are the nagging questions of fairness when only 7% of journalists identify as Republicans.Since I spent 8 years as a Member of Congress and 13 years as a journalist, listeners and readers ask me all the time where can I find solid political coverage that is not slanted?Nobody does a better job than “Tangle News” founded by veteran political journalist and podcaster Isaac Saul. In episode 3 of the Lost in the Middle Countdown we get his insights on the state of the election and our mutual concerns about America’s mainstream press. Episodes at scottklug.substack.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Calling all political orphans, independents and undecideds
For the last year we’ve been tracking America’s bewildered 71 Million voters who are lost in the middle and can’t abide today’s politics. They are frustrated by the partisan hatred swirling around the political class. Join me tomorrow for an appearance on 5 things I learned about America. Part Ted Talk/Master Class. And better yet, it’s free. 7 p.m. We’ll talk about the 44% of Americans who want collaborations in politics, not Ted Cruz or AOC. Independents are now the largest bloc of voters in Nevada, Arizona and New Hampshire. and tick, tick, the election is oh so close. Sign up here: https://myfivethings.com/class/by-talking-to-americans-lost-in-the-middle This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Election Countdown special with guest Justin Young
Justin Young, host of the podcast “Politics, Politics, Politics,” is a comedian, magic aficionado, and the inventor of the card game “The Contender” about how to run a presidential campaign. In our second episode of the Countdown, we arm wrestle over the debate, what is the key state to watch election night and the eerie echoes of the ’16 race. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Election countdown special with guest Andrew Heaton
In our first episode of our election countdown special, political podcaster and comedian Andrew Heaton files his observations from Scotland from a phone booth in Edinburgh. He’s the host of “The Orphanage” podcast where some of my fellow political orphans happily live. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Tips to win a bar bet on Election Night
The United States has 3,242 counties. But we will tell you the seven to watch on Election Night, which are loaded with political orphans. Episode 13, “Tips to win a bar bet on Election Night.” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Episode 12: The ghost of Bob La Follette
Today, everyone has an election reform idea. A noble cause, or just trying to change who wins? Episode 12 of Lost in the Middle: America’s Political Orphans. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Tinkering around under the hood of American politics
Better maps, open primaries, more parties, ranking candidates–a roadmap to a souped-up democracy with the same clunky, beat-up sedan. Hear all about it in part one of Lost in the Middle, America’s Political Orphans’ series on election reform, “Improvements or Illusions?” This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Can a Washington bowling league get Congress to work together?
If you are a Democrat Texas makes you scream in outrage at the sight of pickup trucks, cowboys boots and open-carry guns. If you are a Republican the vegan-lecturing, global-warming, charter-jet-flying Hollywood red carpet speeches tell us everything we need to know about California. Political stereotypes make governing harder, but comedy easier. A proposal for a bowling league to heal America. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
AI & Election Security
With half of US election oficials quitting in the last two years it is a scary scenario this November. We still haven’t figured out guard rails for social media, much less AI and its ability to create deep fakes and penetrate the election infrastructure. More in our podcast episode From hanging chads to deep fake videos, American democracy wobbles lostmiddle.com This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
From hanging chads to deep fake videos, American democracy wobbles
Once upon a time working as an election worker was a badge of honor, a commitment to democracy. Now nobody wants the job. And now here comes AI. From hanging chads to deep fake videos, American democracy wobbles in this episode of Lost in the Middle. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Ugly campaign ads and car wrecks: Why we can’t turn away
Scientists will tell you that if they scan people's brains while listening to negative campaign ads, it will light up a spot that triggers disgust and revulsion. Did they have to spend a lot of money to figure that out? You can just talk to any one of America's 71 million political orphans. Ugly campaign ads and car wrecks. Why we can't turn away in this month's Lost in the Middle. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Professional wrestling and the rise of the independent voter: Lessons from the American Southwest
If Republican and Democrats were listed on the New York Stock Exchange, I would sell right now. The two legacy parties are tied at 27% in January polling. And dropping. And the buy signal is flashing bright green on independents. Now at 44% of voters —most members of the lost political middle. Can a surge of candidates for statewide office be far behind? Lessons from the pro wrestling ring. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
How the Democrats swapped the headquarters of Walmart to the Republicans for a fleet of Maine lobstermen: The never-ending realignment of American politics
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
Klug talks ticket-splitting on North Georgia’s WDUN
Former Congressman Scott Klug, host of “Lost in the Middle: America's Political Orphans,” joined “The Martha Zoller Show” on North Georgia radio station WDUN to talk about ticket-splitting. Listen to the ticket-splitting episode and subscribe here. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
The joy of ticket splitting: How voters threw off their political shackles in 2022
Political Scientists tell us ticket splitting is disappearing. But it sure didn’t in the '22 elections where voters in Kansas, Nevada, Georgia, Vermont, New Hampshire and Wisconsin shopped around. We focus on two states: Wisconsin, where ticket splitting seems to be wired into the state’s DNA, and Georgia, which switched from deep blue to deep red 20 years ago and is now fading to purple. Fierce partisans hate ticket splitting. But you’ll meet Georgia and Wisconsin voters who find it liberating. Learn more in the Reading Room: https://www.lostmiddle.com/reading-room/#Episode-5 This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com
How the sale of a used car in 1995 blew up the American media
Meet an old friend of mine from my broadcasting days in Seattle who we are going to blame for the long slow decline of TV news. And have you ever checked out a website called Newspaper Death Watch? You should before all the papers are out of business. And in Palm Springs, California, you’ll meet a brave editor who came up with a formula to undercut partisanship in her community. See more information relating to the episode in the Reading Room. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit scottklug.substack.com