Days before the 2026 midterms, Claudia from the podcast @OverHereOverThere walked through Washington DC. National Guard troops on the streets, fences, and a lone protester on the Lincoln Memorial steps. Is this what normal looks like there?

In this episode of Over Here, Over There, Claudia shares what she saw in the capital: the security fences around Lafayette Park, the White House, and the Ellipse, the enormous concrete wall of the new ballroom, and the subtle signs of dissent, from “Stop him” stickers to “Free DC” messages. She also talks with a protester on the Lincoln Memorial steps about why he comes back every day, whether it works, and what he thinks is driving the anger behind this election.

Subtitles are included because the street audio is lively.

🎙️ Over Here, Over There: real talk from the road across the States, comparing what we see with what we’re told.

Claudia Koestler is a Senior Editor of the Süddeutsche Zeitung, Germany's largest quality newspaper, and is co-host of the 'Over Here, Over There' podcast.