What did the Oracle of Allentown predict about Hispanic voters and the 2026 midterms?

Sam, a Republican canvasser for the PAC Pennsylvania Republicanos, has been nicknamed the Oracle of Allentown. Two years earlier he correctly predicted that a rally insult about Puerto Rico would not hurt Trump with Hispanic voters. This time he says polls showing falling Hispanic support are wrong. He predicts a red wave, Republican gains in the House and Senate, and Stacy Garrity beating Josh Shapiro for Pennsylvania governor. The episode notes that all of these run against the polls.

• At a barbershop, Willie, a barber, still backed Trump even though friends of his had been deported by ICE.
• A younger man, AJ, said he did not regret his Trump vote.
• Rolando, an older Puerto Rican voter who liked Shapiro, said after Sam's pitch that he would not vote for him.

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on This American Life (2026-11-01). Read the whole episode summary →

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