Charlie Sykes says Donald Trump is fixated on vanity projects like a ballroom and a “triumphal arch” instead of the midterms, calling it ironic and a sign of his bottomless neediness and narcissism, especially as his approval ratings slide and Republicans risk making the elections a referendum on him. He argues that Trump’s obsession is hurting GOP candidates, who have limited time to campaign while being pushed to attend “Trumppalooza,” and he warns that Trump’s own PAC money may not even go to them. Sykes also describes a broader pattern of people damaging their careers to stay close to Trump, cites the destruction of Kennedy Center trees as an example of his pettiness, and says Trump is surrounded by sycophants in a bubble that hides political reality. He then turns to the Senate and governor’s races, saying Republicans’ redistricting advantage may not hold if turnout shifts, while economic pressures like gas prices, heating oil, farming, and polluted groundwater could make unexpected states competitive. Finally, he criticizes Susan Collins for dismissing Liz Cheney while remaining tied to Trump, calls it the “doom loop of relevance,” and argues Republicans should be pressed on Elon Musk, whom he portrays as a powerful, unpopular bigot and major force in GOP politics. Subscribe to Fast Politics and listen 4x a week for interviews just like this on your favorite podcast app: https://episodes.fm/1645614328