High rates, a midterm election, and a bad week: is this time different?

Every midterm year, the same question shows up in my inbox. This year it came with higher interest rates and a rough week in the markets, and some of you have been calling and emailing to ask: Joe, is this time different? In this episode I go back through every midterm election year since 1966 when rates were also rising, and look at what actually happened. Then I look at where markets stand this year. If you're listening in the car, don't worry about the numbers. Just take the context. The point isn't to predict anything. Nobody can do that, certainly not me. The point is that a plan made in a calm year is the one to trust in a loud one. I'd ask you to think about your portfolio the way you'd think about a business you own. You wouldn't sell a good company because of one bad month. Recorded September 24, 2026. 0:00 Why we do this podcast 0:52 Midterm years and "is this time different?" 3:26 Where Treasury rates are right now 4:42 Six midterm years with rising rates, 1966–2022 9:27 What it means for right now 11:14 Where markets stand this year 14:06 Think of your portfolio as a business 15:22 So, will the market crash? joedelisi.com