“Republicans say their party will need to do a lot of soul searching to find its direction before President Trump leaves office in 2029, something that is coming into sharper focus with the approaching midterm election and the realization that Trump will soon become a lame duck,” NewsNation reports.

“GOP strategists and political experts say the discussion about what comes next will begin to ramp up considerably after the November election. It’s a discussion likely to be impacted by how effective the GOP is this fall in defending its House and Senate majorities.”

Washington Post: “It is a risky strategy two months before Election Day. Vulnerable Republicans cannot afford to antagonize Trump because they need his help to turn out his base and tap into the $400 million war chest he controls. And he is not extending the leeway past presidents have for candidates to run their own races, even if that means keeping their distance.”

”Trump has told aides he wants ads paid for by his super PAC, MAGA Inc. to tout his second-term record, according to two people familiar with the conversations. Advisers already prepared some ads for the Texas Senate race and showed them to Trump, who provided detailed feedback, said the people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss internal strategy.”

”Some donors, skeptical of the strategy, have become resistant to giving more money to Trump’s super PAC while it sits on hundreds of millions of dollars without sharing any plans about how it will use the money.”

Financial Times: Trump has put himself on the midterm ballot — should Republicans be worried?

Ed Kilgore: “The heart of the 2026 midterm-election battle is a struggle for the high ground of public opinion between supporters and opponents of the president of the United States.”

“That’s generally true of midterm elections, and it’s particularly true given the unparalleled visibility — ubiquity, really — of Donald Trump and the polarizing effect he has on the whole country. The outcome of the 2026 midterms may depend on whether 2024 Trump supporters bother to go to vote at all.”

“Republicans will have some stiff competition for eyeballs when they hold their first-ever midterm convention next month in Dallas — the NFL, American television’s undisputed champion of ratings,” Axios reports.

“The GOP’s Sept. 9-10 convention in Dallas will go head-to-head with the two opening games of the NFL season, which are expected to draw huge audiences each night.”

“Some GOP operatives are privately incredulous that a convention designed to draw attention to the party’s fall candidates was scheduled opposite the NFL.”

“President Trump has been the most potent force in Republican primary elections, elevating allies and foiling foes with endorsements, social media posts and rally appearances,” the New York Times reports.

“But as the end of primary season draws near and the sprint to the general election begins, Mr. Trump may soon be something entirely different for Republican candidates. A liability.”

“The president’s approval rating is well underwater, dragged down by rising prices and an unpopular war. And Democrats have made clear that they hope to target Republican candidates in battleground races by tying them to Mr. Trump, believing they can ride voter anger with his administration to congressional majorities.”

“Republicans are gearing up for a party in the coming weeks that will require an unusually delicate dance to make it a success,” Bloomberg reports.

“The GOP will hold an unprecedented midterm ‘convention’ in September, hoping to draw enthusiastic supporters to Dallas to celebrate their party and their standard bearer, President Donald Trump, with one of his favorite types of gatherings: a big show.”

“In fact… it will feel like two nights of back-to-back Trump rallies, lasting from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. The question is whether it will be a show voters want to watch.”