Overview
- The Bulwark’s Andrew Egger published transcriptions and audio excerpts of Joe Gruters’ radio interviews quoting phrases like “pending, looming disaster” and “we’re facing almost certain defeat.”
- The RNC, led by spokesperson Kiersten Pels, denounced the report as manipulated, arguing it omitted Gruters saying “I like our chances in the midterms.”
- Official RNC accounts posted longer passages to defend context, asserting the party can prevail by centering President Donald J. Trump and highlighting historical midterm headwinds for incumbents.
- Egger says the RNC deleted the SoundCloud recordings he linked in his piece after accusing him of misreporting, a claim made public in posts on X.
- The dispute went viral as Democrats promoted the clip and weighed in online, with figures like Gavin Newsom and Nancy Pelosi using the remarks to attack GOP prospects.