Study Shows That Political Podcasts Surge As Midterms Approach

BusinessMediaStudy Shows That Political Podcasts Surge As Midterms ApproachByFrank Racioppi,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Frank Racioppi is the owner of Ear Worthy, focusing on podcasts.Follow AuthorAug 21, 2026, 07:23am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryA new Q2 U.S. Podcast Ranker by Triton Digital reveals significant shifts in the audio landscape. Comedy remains the dominant genre, widening its lead, particularly among younger adults, as late-night TV personalities transition to audio. Concurrently, political and news podcasts saw a substantial surge, with News gaining 8.4% in reach, fueled by personality-driven commentary ahead of the midterms. Show More Left, Right & Center is a weekly public radio program and political podcast produced by KCRW in Santa Monica, California. Award-winning journalist and former NPR Morning Edition host David Greene acts as the host and "The Center" and panelists include former Democratic strategist Mo Elleithee and former Republican strategist Sarah Isgur, alongside various guest experts. The show brings together differing political viewpoints from the left, right, and center to unpack major news, policy decisions, and political culture without name-calling or easy answers.KCRWDoesn’t it seem that there is always an important election around the corner? The Primaries. The Runoff. The General Election. In today’s hyper-conspiratorial culture, the loser always claims fraud. For example, “The Pillow Guy” AKA Mike Lindell said he would pay for a recount of the Minnesota gubernatorial GOP primary, despite the fact that he lost by 11 percentage points and the election involved his own political party.Even President Trump, the ultimate election denier, remained mum about Lindell’s claims.ForbesLindell Says He’ll Pay For Recount After Losing Minnesota Race—As Trump Stays SilentBy...