Hillary Clinton launching podcast ahead of midterms

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is launching a new podcast Wednesday focused on the final stretch of the midterm elections that will run through mid-November.

Clinton will co-host “High Stakes” with tech journalist and former CNN host Kara Swisher, the former first lady posted on social media Tuesday. The Vox Media-produced series will be distributed through the same feed as Swisher’s “On” podcast.

“On Nov. 3, every seat in the House is on the ballot, along with 35 Senate seats and 36 governors,” Clinton said in a video. “What you pay for groceries, rent and healthcare is on the line. So I’m teaming up with Kara Swisher to dig into the issues that matter most before the country heads to the polls.”

The video ends with Swisher saying she approves this message, quipping that she “always wanted to say that.”

The podcast developed after Clinton and Swisher met at the home of former owner of The Atlantic David Bradley in Washington’s Kalorama neighborhood, The New York Times reported . After the two spoke and Swisher asked her questions on several topics, Swisher told the outlet that Clinton’s answers were “concise and intelligible,” leading to a test-run between the two on Swisher’s “Pivot” podcast.

“There’s a thing about the secretary, where it’s like, ‘Oh, if you knew her in the room, she’s so funny,'” Swisher told the Times. “We’re going to try to show you that room.”

Vox Media CEO Jim Bankoff told the newspaper that podcast equipment was sent to Clinton’s Chappaqua, N.Y., home.

Clinton noted that if the series draws a large enough audience, the podcast could continue further past the midterms, adding that she is willing to read her own ads.

“I don’t think the stakes for the country and the world could be any higher,” Clinton said about the podcast. “If we don’t reverse this chaos and corruption and cruelty that is being visited upon us by this administration, we won’t recognize our country.”

Clinton made her first endorsement in the midterms last week, backing Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan (D) in her bid for the Senate. The former top diplomat used the endorsement to take a swipe at her 2016 presidential opponent, saying President Trump has made affordability a greater issue for voters.

“His tariffs and war in Iran are driving up prices, and his budget ripped healthcare and food assistance away from children so billionaires could get another tax cut,” Clinton said.