An American president experiencing a drubbing in a “midterm” election is nothing new in American politics – it’s happened to most every incumbent dating back to Harry Truman. But is there something different about the GOP’s current plight as it relates to a Trump presidency in decline and Republicans now a decided minority in Congress? Robert Grady, a Hoover Institution overseer and past aide and confidante to state and federal officeholders, discusses the fragile state of America’s two political parties – Democrats facing the challenge of how not to squander their election success, while Republicans ponder the realpolitik of life after Trump. Fresh off a visit to China as part of a Hoover delegation, Grady also discusses the state of U.S.-Sino relations and, drawing upon his experience as an investor and venture capitalist, the left’s anti-wealth obsession, the state of the American economy and the perils of cutting-edge companies defined in part by their larger-than-life CEOs, as evidenced by the downfall of Nvidia chair Jenson Huang.
Recorded on November 12, 2026.
ABOUT THE GUEST
Robert Grady is a vice chair of the Hoover Institution’s Board of Overseers and a commentator on America’s political and economic landscapes. In addition to several decades of investment experience as a venture capitalist, Grady’s public service resume includes stints as a senior policy advisor to President George H.W. Bush and chair of the New Jersey Investment Council, which oversees the Garden State’s pension fund, as well as serving as an advisor and confidante for numerous presidents, governors, and members of Congress.
