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October 1, 2026

90 posts · Thursday

Republicans Agonize Over Their Economic Inaction

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“Senate Republicans are departing Washington to defend their majority — and many are carrying with them real fear that the party didn’t do enough to address constituents’ economic concerns ahead of the impending election,” Semafor reports.

“Despite passing a huge tax cut law last year, Republicans are fretting they have not demonstrated to voters that they are tackling high gas prices, stubborn inflation, and sky-high interest rates that threaten their House and Senate majorities come November.”

Quote of the Day

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“If you’re not worried, you’re living in a cave. There’s no question that there’s people out there that are hurting.”

— Sen. Jim Justice (R-WV), quoted by Semafor.

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Senate GOP Leaves Town Wondering: Did We Do Enough?

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“Republicans made a last-gasp bid Wednesday to answer simmering anger in the electorate, holding a pair of failed show votes on high costs and corruption, then recessing until after the midterms,” the Washington Sun reports.

“Republican leaders had considered leaving sooner so members could campaign, as the House did, but stuck around after GOP senators clamored for votes on items they could use in those campaigns.”

Tennessee Once Again Botches Execution

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“Convicted murderer Christa Pike continued to breathe for nearly an hour after she was administered two rounds of lethal injection drugs Wednesday night, according to court filings by her legal team, prompting the state to halt her execution and begin emergency medical care,” the Washington Post reports.

”Representatives of the media who were in the death chamber in a Nashville prison described a harrowing scene, as Pike continued to talk, breathe and snore long after the proceeding was underway.”

MS NOW: Tennessee unable to complete Christa Pike’s execution after hours of uncertainty.

Trump’s Signature Issue Loses Potency with Voters

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“Immigration — the issue that helped propel Donald Trump to the presidency and rally his supporters over the past decade — has become an afterthought for voters,” Axios reports.

“It’s another ominous sign for Trump and the GOP heading toward November. What was once a rallying cry for the party is losing salience with voters across the spectrum — and harsh crackdowns have even made it a liability among some Republicans.”

The Flailing President

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Jonthan Lemire: “At the risk of understatement, Trump has never been one to think all that many moves ahead. But his impulsive decision to ban media outlets spawned unintended consequences that derailed his own plans. Again. That’s been a real theme for much of this year: Many of Trump’s actions—quite a few impetuous and ill-considered—have only hurt him and his fellow Republicans ahead of November’s midterm elections.”

”He was elected two years ago to drive down prices, but his tariffs have done the opposite, and a recent reignited trade war with Canada has hurt Republican candidates whose state shares a border with our neighbor to the north. His war of choice in Iran continues to sputter along, leaving gas prices elevated as Trump threatens annihilation one day and offers negotiation the next. He insists on championing AI while the public has swiftly turned on it. And he’s obsessed with vanity projects—including, yes, that helipaid that cost at least $5 million—even as polls suggest that many Americans feel that he is out of touch with the Everyman he once claimed to represent.”

Senate Leaves Town Until After the Midterms

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“The Senate adjourned Wednesday for the last time before the midterm elections after Democrats blocked Republicans’ last-ditch push to pass more legislation,” the Washington Post reports.

”Several Republicans facing tough races in November took to the Senate floor to make the case for passing bills they could run on. But Democrats blocked them, leaving Republicans to head home to face voters without fresh legislative victories.”

”Republicans are confronting the once-unthinkable prospect that they could lose the Senate as polls show Democrats running competitively in states that President Donald Trump won by double-digit margins in 2024.”

Third Way Proposes Supreme Court Overhaul

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“Democratic efforts to revamp the Supreme Court gained momentum Thursday as an influential center-left think tank released a plan to limit justices’ terms and misconduct,” Politico reports.

“Third Way’s proposal highlights growing unity across the ideological spectrum in the Democratic Party for significant changes to the high court as Americans’ trust in the institution hovers at historic lows.”

Inside Trump’s Red-State Travel Swing

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“President Donald Trump’s decision to kick off a month of midterm campaign travel with rallies in red states like Oklahoma and Alabama has confounded some Republicans, but those involved in the plans argue there’s a strategy behind them,” Semafor reports.

“Both rally sites — Durant, Oklahoma, and Mobile, Alabama — ‘hit multiple states and media markets’ because of their proximity to neighboring states, a Republican official familiar with the strategy said.”

“Trump officials hope to turn out low-propensity voters, particularly in close races that Republicans need to win to keep control of Congress.”

Early Voting Shows Emerging Signs of a Democratic Edge

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“Election Day is still a month away, but more than 690,000 Americans have already voted across at least 29 states. There are signs emerging of the advantage Democrats have in motivating their voters – a trend that’s played out in polling all summer long,” CNN reports.

“In several states with key Senate or governor races this fall, Democrats make up a larger share of voters requesting ballots so far than they did at this point in 2024.”

Young, Male Crypto Fans Have Turned Against Trump

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Washington Post: “Across Trump’s 11-year political career, his image as a savvy businessman insulated him from charges of corruption and self-dealing. Even moves such as paying no federal income taxes in some years and using government funds to pay his own businesses, which historically might have sunk other politicians, left Trump’s image intact in the eyes of supporters, who saw them as proof of his shrewd dealmaking.”

“Now, as dissatisfaction grows with Trump’s economic performance, questions about how he and his family profit from the presidency have taken on more bite. Some of the loudest complaints are coming from young, male crypto enthusiasts who were initially energized by candidate Trump’s embrace of the industry — and now are better equipped than the average voter to understand the ventures that earned the president $1.4 billion last year.”

Texas Governor Race Puts Pressure On Andy Beshear

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“As polls suggest that Gina Hinojosa, a Democrat, is competitive in her campaign to become the first Latina governor of the usually reliably Republican state of Texas, a growing number of prominent Latino officials are angry that she is not getting more help from the party,” the New York Times reports.

“Now there are veiled threats that if the Democratic Governors Association fails to invest in her bid, some Latino leaders could withhold their support from the group’s chairman, Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky, should he, as expected, run for president in 2028.”

Oil Is Flowing From the Gulf, but Prices Remain High

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“More oil is flowing from the Middle East than at any point since the start of the war with Iran, yet crude still costs almost $100 a barrel, much more than at other times when supplies were more constrained,” the New York Times reports.

“That seeming conundrum can partly be explained by a change in traders’ views about how long the conflict is going to last. Optimism that an enduring peace deal might be around the corner has given way to concern that hostilities could restart.”

Trump’s Visitor Screening Center Poised for Approval

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“President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping changes to the White House and its campus, many controversial,” the Washington Post reports.

”But on Thursday he’s set to win approval for a project with bipartisan appeal: a new White House visitors screening center, which would end the long-derided process of accessing the mansion’s grounds through temporary trailers and tents.”

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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