The 2026 US midterm elections feature firebrand progressives trying to stake out new territory, moderate Republicans struggling in the shadow of Donald Trump, and a host of scandals that have made races closer than they should be.
These candidates could shape not only power in Washington, but public and political understanding of what works " and wins votes " in different places across the country.
Can a Democrat win in red Kansas? Could Texas finally flip away from Republicans?
Will abuse allegations or absenteeism tank incumbents? How important is capturing online attention?
Polish police have launched a special operation to secure the area along the border with the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad after receiving information that acts of sabotage may take place there in the coming days. read more
"NYT/Siena released their presumably final set of polls this evening, and they showed what can only be described as fantastic numbers for Democrats, putting them ahead " sometimes narrowly, sometimes not -- in basically every Senate battleground and in the associated governor's races, including in Texas," Silver wrote in his newsletter, noting that much of the polling is in line with his modeling. read more
Ukrainian drone strikes targeted three major Russian oil refineries over three consecutive nights, hitting facilities that together account for approximately 10% of Russia's total oil refining capacity. read more
Conservative attorney Cleta Mitchell has shaped virtually every aspect of the Trump administration's norm-busting agenda on American elections. read more
"The final round of polls released by The Times on Sunday showed Democrats leading in many of the key Senate battlegrounds, including in Michigan by 11 percentage points, in Texas by 7, Kansas by 5 and Alaska by 1.
Silver said the poll's results were close but not within his model's "weird" territory, adding that the data suggests Democrats are likely to take the Senate.
"Democrats could actually absorb a modest-sized polling error and perhaps still prevail given the latest round of surveys," Silver wrote.
With less than a day before Election Day, Democrats hold the edge in the polls. They are poised to win or seriously compete in historically red states, including South Carolina, Kansas and Iowa.
Silver pointed out that even if Democrats lose a handful of these red state races, they won't necessarily be complaining.
"Even if Democrats were to lose a couple of these races " and there's actually some bad news for them here in Alaska, I think " absolutely no Democrat is going to complain if they only flip the top five races in this chart, especially if it comes along with the Texas governorship," Silver wrote."
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"Am I Blue"
Excerpt from "To Have And Have Not" (1944)
Hoagie Carmichael, on piano, sings with Lauren Bacall." (great Bogart/Bacall moment)
www.youtube.com
one min, 40 secs
- threatening to kill federal judges.
He's challenging for Marco's job!