Vox has launched a new weekly newsletter titled "The Midterms, Actually," featuring Astead W. Herndon. The newsletter aims to explore the significant ideas and influential individuals driving political changes that will shape the 2026 elections and offer insights into the future direction of American politics.
Each issue will delve into one major idea identified by Herndon and a notable observation from his conversations with voters, candidates, organizers, and other political figures. The newsletter's objective is to analyze what the midterm elections reveal about evolving party dynamics, emerging coalitions, underrepresented voices, and the broader implications beyond the November elections.
This launch signifies Vox's initial expansion onto the Substack platform. Readers can subscribe to "The Midterms, Actually" directly through Vox or by following it on Substack. Herndon is also slated to host regular Substack Live sessions, providing ongoing opportunities for engagement with readers and guests throughout the election cycle.
Herndon serves as the host and editorial director for Vox's podcast "America, Actually," which focuses on understanding political change across the nation. He joined Vox in 2025, following a tenure as a national political reporter for The New York Times, where he also hosted "The Run-Up," the publication's primary politics podcast. His journalistic work has centered on examining American politics from the perspective of voters, tracking the evolution of the country and its political parties from the ground up.
Additionally, Vox's daily newsletter, "Today, Explained," written by Caitlin Dewey, is now also available on Substack in addition to its regular home on Vox.com. This newsletter, published weekday afternoons, aims to help readers comprehend the core ideas behind prominent news stories.