SCROLL NEWS / DISCOVERY
Search headlines
Find the stories shaping the conversation.
Results for " midterm " 2,353 found 🔀 AI-powered Shuffle
Politics & Power: Democrats expand target map, Republicans push turnout amid AI misinformation worries
Rising public anxiety about election fairness and the spread of misinformation mean both parties must confront organizational, legal and ethical challenges as they prepare for a consequential midterm season.
7+ Florida Politics Now: Discussing Florida’s Farm bill and midterm elections
This week we’re discussing this year’s farm bill and midterm elections.
The Race to Succeed Newsom Has All the Democrats’ Problems
After more than a year in disarray, Democrats finally seem to be getting it together. The party is heading into the midterm elections with an edge in both polling and messaging. Voters are energized — see this weekend’s No Kings rallies — and that has led to a string of wins in special elections, including one last week that flipped a district in Florida that takes in President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort.
New Political Group to Push Trump’s A.I. Agenda in Midterms
The group, Innovation Council Action, says it plans to spend at least $100 million. It will be led by a former administration official.
Tech: The scrambled data center politics
One thing is clear: data centers are an increasingly salient political issue heading into the midterm elections.
Will: What gladiatorial politics will bury in the midterms
Candidates in this year’s elections will soon be bouncing around like corn being popped. By November, the nation might long for a rebirth of political reticence.
Trump’s approval ratings just hit a new low. A Latino voter shift could reshape the midterms
Trump approval hits lows as Latino voters and young men peel away, with economy concerns and Iran war backlash reshaping 2026 midterm outlook.
Red flare for Trump: 'No Kings' rallies a show of political force
With a Revolutionary-era slogan, the protests had the deepest geographic reach in U.S. history. What does that mean for November's midterms?
How Dems are committing political suicide over anti-ICE obsessions
Democrats now risk a midterm-elections fiasco if they can’t let go of their anti-ICE obsession, and their related insistence on protecting even violent-criminal illegal immigrants from deportation.
AI deepfakes blur reality in 2026 U.S. midterm campaigns
There is no federal regulation constraining the use of AI in political messaging, leaving only a patchwork of largely untested state laws.
Democrats are trying to connect the dots on Trump’s 2026 plan
The next election is always the most important for politicians on the ballot, which in this year’s midterms will be every member of the US House and about a third of the Senate.
The idea-free gladiatorial season also known as the midterms
Never underestimate the Democrats’ ability to make a sow’s ear out of a silk purse.
Scoop: Cabinet to huddle to talk midterms, economy
The meeting comes as the Iran war has sent gas prices soaring, and after the stock market's worst day since Trump launched the war.
U.S. conservative conference aims to rein in Republican infighting ahead of midterms
Some of the biggest MAGA voices have broken with Trump over the Iran conflict as well as his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
‘Enormous cost’: GOP Rep. Nancy Mace says war with Iran could cost Republicans in midterms
Trump Calls for Law Cracking Down on Crime and ‘Rogue Judges’
Ahead of the midterms, President Trump told a Republican gathering that he wants to go after repeat offenders and “rogue judges that are criminals.”
What a GOP loss in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago district says about the midterms
Including off-year elections last year, Democrats have flipped 30 Republican seats since the start of 2025.
Democrats' win in Trump's 'backyard' is another sign of midterm momentum
"If Democrats can win in Trump’s backyard, we sure as hell can win anywhere across the country," DNC Chair Ken Martin said on social media.
States Brace for a Potential Supreme Court Ban on Late-Arriving Ballots
The court’s conservatives appear skeptical of laws allowing mail ballots to arrive after Election Day. A decision could come as late as June, potentially scrambling midterm elections.
Biden political priorities impeded Iran negotiations, former secretary of state admits
Former Secretary of State Antony Blinken admitted that midterm elections complicated the Biden administration's push for a stronger Iran nuclear deal.
Brian Nathan edges out Josie Tomkow in SD 14 as she pledges a rematch in November
The race was being watched as a potential bellwether ahead of the November Midterms.
Missouri court upholds mid-decade congressional redistricting backed by Trump
A Missouri court has upheld a mid-decade redistricting plan that gives Republicans a chance to win an additional congressional seat in this year’s midterm elections
Sherrill flexes political muscle in midterm battle between moderate Democrats and progressives
New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill launches Mission to Deliver PAC, aiming to boost moderate Democrats in key federal and statewide 2026 midterm races.
Trump and Republican National Committee Lean Toward Dallas for Unusual 2026 GOP Midterm Convention
Parties normally hold conventions every four years to nominate presidential candidates, but Republicans hope to hold one this year in the face of midterm headwinds.
Republicans at Risk of Losing Latino Support Ahead of Midterms
The economy, inflation and immigration are the top issues for Latinos ahead of the US midterms.
ICE officers at airports a ‘test run’ for midterms, Steve Bannon suggests
Former White House strategist says current situation at airports will help ‘really perfect ICE’s involvement in the 2026 midterm elections’
‘It’s a big deal’: Election expert weighs in on the Supreme Court case that could upend midterms
Trump puts Republicans in a bind on the DHS shutdown: From the Politics Desk
Plus, the Supreme Court hears a case with big midterm implications.
The View: Politicians Disappear From ABC Show After Trump FCC Threat
The ABC panel show hasn't had any political guests on since the FCC announced it was investigating it. That changed today as the network fights the feds ahead of the midterms.
Supreme Court leans toward Trump-backed push to limit mail-in ballots
The Supreme Court's conservative majority seemed skeptical of late- arriving ballots. The case could lead to stricter rules in this year's midterm elections.
LISTEN LIVE: Supreme Court considers late-arriving mail ballot laws in case that may affect midterms
If Mike Johnson Goes, Who Runs House GOP?
The possibility of losing the majority in the midterms has put the Republican spotlight back on Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan and Tom Emmer.
Column: Republicans fearing a midterm rout revive Islamophobia as political strategy
The latest twist on replacement theory is the idea that white Americans are in need of saving from dark-skinned "others."
White House navigates vaccine politics, midterm risks in CDC director search
The Trump administration faces complicated political dynamics as it seeks someone to helm the key public health agency suffering a prolonged leadership vacuum.
White House navigates vaccine politics, midterm risks in CDC director search
The Trump administration faces complicated political dynamics as it seeks someone to helm the key public health agency suffering a prolonged leadership vacuum.
The Supreme Court Could Make it Harder to Vote by Mail in the Midterms
The Republican National Committee wants to toss ballots arriving after Election Day. Critics say thousands of votes — a majority cast by Democrats — are at stake.
The Antidote to Our Growing Crises Must Transcend Politics
Each day, the challenges in our nation pile up. In just recent weeks, there has been the ongoing war in Iran and the Middle East, and ongoing debates about the growing negative impact of the Internet, looming AI challenges, and the Epstein files. The anticipation of divisive, even ugly, midterm elec...
G.O.P. Bid to Target Transgender Athletes Falls Flat in the Senate
In moving to bar transgender women and girls from women’s and girls’ sports, Republicans sought to put Democrats in an awkward political spot on a sensitive issue ahead of the midterm elections.
Super PAC spending passes $200M, with some groups hiding their cause
Groups that include pro-Israel organizations obscured their spending in some midterm races to try to defeat candidates that oppose their cause.
High Gas Prices, Driven Up by the Iran War, Loom Over the Midterms
The war has complicated the Republican message on affordability. Democrats see an opportunity to drive their economic message while tying President Trump to an unpopular overseas conflict.
GOP, Dems battle over Trump's SAVE Act. But who will it really help?
The president says the election security bill 'will guarantee the midterms' for Republicans. Available data is far less clear cut. Here's why.
Exclusive | Growing Frustration With Chuck Schumer Spurs Talk of Replacing Him
Some Democrats on Capitol Hill are discussing how to get New York’s senior senator to step aside as minority leader amid concerns about his negotiating style and midterms strategy.
What a day at a gas station in Pennsylvania reveals about the midterms: From the Politics Desk
Plus, an update on the talks to end the Department of Homeland Security shutdown.
Democrats vow political reckoning if they win midterms as campaign season heats up
Democrats threaten to break up major mergers and launch congressional investigations against Trump-aligned companies if they regain power after midterms.
How the Iran war is becoming ‘the soundtrack of the midterm election campaign’
Democrats prepare for health care overhaul
Democrats are outlining a new vision for the health care system ahead of the midterms.
Texas GOP lawmakers head to Washington for White House meeting
The visit comes as the Trump administration is trying to find ways to reduce costs on American families ahead of the midterms.
Senate Democrats lay out plans to overhaul health insurance after setbacks under Trump
Democrats are sharpening their health care message as the midterms loom.
Cryptocurrency and AI industries tested their influence in Illinois. It didn't go well
The artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency industries have suffered a setback as they try to reshape the midterm elections and establish themselves as power players in American politics.
Looking for leverage: China keeps close eye on US politics after summit delay
Beijing seeks to decipher effect of Iran war on US midterms and best way to apply pressure when Trump meets Xi
Group plans $50 million push to make child care a top issue in midterms
An advocacy group is providing support to candidates who want to expand support for child and elder care in the midterm elections.
Live Results: Illinois midterm primary elections
Illinois voters are deciding primaries Tuesday for six open U.S. House and Senate seats that will spur a new generation of leadership in the state’s heavily Democratic congressional delegation.
A Massive Midterm Wave Isn’t Forming Yet. Here’s Why.
This is an era not just of hyperpartisanship, but of negative partisanship, in which partisans often hate the other side even more than they love their own. Many voters thus tend to see everything on a binary basis. Any given election outcome is seen as either a landslide victory or an unmitigated disaster. There is little appreciation, or even tolerance, for gradations between those outcomes.
Trump’s Gutting of Election Security Fuels Worries for Midterms
Officials say the crippling of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, which the president himself created, could open elections to cyberattacks and foreign influence.
The 2026 primary could reshape Illinois politics ‘for decades to come'
The 2026 Illinois primary is not your average midterm election.
A Democratic fight for an Illinois Senate seat is testing the sway of JB Pritzker, pro-crypto forces and anti-ICE messaging
The retirement of Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin after nearly 30 years in office sparked an expensive three-way Democratic primary that has showcased the party’s divisions over how to confront President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and introduced pro-crypto forces as an influence seeking to shape the midterm elections. The contest is also setting up a test of Gov. JB Pritzker’s political clout in the state as he eyes a potential 2028 presidential bid.
Young voters helped elect Trump, but some have regrets over the Iran war
They were a key part of the coalition that powered the president’s comeback, and their frustrations signal vulnerability for Republicans ahead of the midterms.
Inside our swing voter project (Politics+)
Swing voters will play a pivotal role in this year's midterms, and we wanted to hear directly from them. So NPR has partnered with Engagious (a messaging group led by Rich Thau) and Sago (a market research firm) to run focus groups — once a month in a different swing state. How do these focus groups work? And what have we learned from them so far? In today's bonus episode, Mara Liasson and Ashley Lopez pull back the curtain on the project. To unlock this and other bonus content, and get sponsor-free listening, sign up for NPR Politics Podcast+ via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org. Regular episodes haven't changed and remain available every weekday!
Exclusive | RFK Jr.’s HHS Is Under Tighter White House Leash After MAHA Setbacks
Aides close to the president grew worried that perceived disorganization and an antivaccine focus could prove damaging in the midterms.
Trump signs executive orders aimed at home affordability ahead of midterms
President Donald Trump on Friday signed a pair of executive orders aimed at showing his commitment to improving home affordability — a key issue for many voters going into November’s election for control of the House and Senate.
WATCH: Vance speaks in new North Carolina district seen as competitive for GOP in 2026
Vice President JD Vance delivered remarks on the economy Friday in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in a newly redrawn congressional district seen as competitive for the Republican Party in the November midterms.
Republicans release AI deepfake of James Talarico as phony videos proliferate in midterm races
Senate Republicans released an online ad this week in which a real-looking but fake version of a Democratic candidate, fabricated with artificial intelligence, appears to speak directly into the camera for more than a minute.
Trump pushes GOP to focus on health care in midterms, which would be fine with Democrats
The president told GOP lawmakers this week: “We can own the issue.” Republicans shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Trump pushes GOP to focus on health care in midterms, which would be fine with Democrats
The president told GOP lawmakers this week: “We can own the issue.” Republicans shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Trump’s Tour of States Is About More Than the Midterms
Beyond talking about the economy and voters’ hardships, the president is showing that he still has control over the Republican Party.
Iran war complicates the economic pivot GOP badly wants to see from Trump
President Donald Trump has tried — at least occasionally — to maintain focus on the domestic priority his advisers believe is essential for GOP success in November’s midterm elections. But the Iran war has badly complicated his attempts at an economic pivot.
Trump visits northern Kentucky, pushes economic record and midterm message
Trump visits a logistics facility to promote his economic record, highlight tax law and weigh in on the midterms and Rep. Thomas Massie’s reelection.
Trump has one prescription for the midterms. House Republicans have another
As House Republicans close out their annual ideas conference on Wednesday, an election year disconnect is emerging.
Republicans Concede They Need a Pivot on Immigration Ahead of Midterms
In public comments and private meetings at a House G.O.P. retreat, top officials allowed that President Trump’s immigration crackdown had hurt the party and that they needed a course correction on the issue.
Live Results: Mississippi midterm primary elections
Mississippi Democrats on Tuesday will decide between longtime U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson and his 34-year-old primary challenger in a race that reflects generational struggle for control of the party.
Can Trump run a war and a midterm campaign at the same time?
The push-and-pull between the Iran conflict and the November elections is contributing to mixed messages now and difficult choices ahead.
Senate Moves Toward Passing Sweeping Housing Bill, but Challenges Lie Ahead
The legislation’s progress is all the more surprising because it addresses an issue that is shaping up to be the main battleground of the midterm elections: affordability. The effort could still stall.
Stagwell CEO Sees Turmoil at Rivals Bringing In New Business
Stagwell Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Penn said disruption among competitors and a contentious midterm cycle will support the company’s performance this year.
Gov. Tim Walz says he’ll play active role in midterms as he mulls his political future
Walz said he’ll travel the country during this year’s election to campaign for Democratic governor candidates.
Trump’s War in Iran, and Rising Gas Prices, Collide With Midterm Agenda
The attack on Iran has led to a surge in energy prices at a moment when the cost of living is a major issue heading into the fall elections.
Iran War Overshadows Midterms as Democrats Focus on Economy
Democrats are focused on the economy, while Republicans wish they were focused on the economy.
Poll: Most Americans oppose war in Iran, but most Republicans support it
A majority of Americans oppose the United States' military action in Iran, according to a new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. However, that opposition breaks down along party lines, with a majority of Republicans saying they support the war. We discuss whether the lack of public support could alter President Trump's next steps and how the war could affect this year's midterm elections.This episode: voting correspondent Miles Parks, senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Trump Threatens to Crowd Out Republicans’ Midterm Message
As the G.O.P. gathered in Miami for a party retreat where lawmakers hoped to focus on the economy, the president was threatening to block his own party’s legislative agenda.
Pre-midterms, GOP confronts cooling support from young men over Trump
Polling suggests a softening of support among young men over Trump's policies, threatening Republicans' hopes of retaining majorities in Congress.
Health care costs and access will feature prominently in 2026 congressional midterms
“Health care policy is going to be a top issue in all of these competitive House races this cycle,” said Cook Political Report analyst Erin Covey.
Poll: Trump struggles on immigration, prices and Iran as Democrats hold a midterm edge
Voters give Trump higher marks on border security, but they disapprove of his handling of several key issues, according to a national NBC News poll.
The legislative session is over — but Utah’s busy political year is just beginning
Utah's 2026 legislative session may have come to a close, but politicking in Utah is just starting during a busy midterm election year.
In Kentucky, Trump Allies Clash With Massie Over Iran War
Representative Thomas Massie’s race against a rival backed by President Trump is shaping up as a key midterm testing ground for G.O.P. attitudes on the war.
Ahead of Midterms, Economic Warning Signs Pile Up for Republicans
With employers cutting jobs and gas prices rising amid the war in Iran, Democrats see an opportunity to press their advantage.
Big Beautiful Bill 2.0 May Cut Health Care to Fund Iran War
Republicans want a second reconciliation bill before the midterms. But another vote cutting popular programs could be disastrous.
Obama endorses Virginia redistricting push with early voting set to begin
Former President Barack Obama on Thursday threw his support behind a redistricting effort in Virginia that aims to flip four Republican-held US House seats ahead of November’s midterm elections.
Texan James Talarico becomes a fresh face of Democrats’ midterm hopes after Senate primary win
The 36-year-old state lawmaker is now a front man for the left's opposition to President Donald Trump, not just in his own state but around the country.
The one big takeaway for Democrats and Republicans out of Texas
The first primaries of the 2026 midterms are in the books, and they offered some very interesting storylines.
James Talarico Says ‘New Politics’ Is Being Born After Texas Primary Win
After clinching the Democratic Senate primary, he told supporters in Austin that the country’s real divide is between “top versus bottom,” not the left versus right.
Runoffs, voting mishaps and Trump endorsements in TX and NC primaries
The results are in from the first primaries of the midterm election cycle, and Senate races are starting to take shape. We discuss key takeaways from primary contests in North Carolina and Texas.This episode: senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith, political correspondent Ashley Lopez, and senior political editor and correspondent Domenico Montanaro.This podcast was produced by Casey Morell and Bria Suggs, and edited by Rachel Baye.Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.Listen to every episode of the NPR Politics Podcast sponsor-free, unlock access to bonus episodes with more from the NPR Politics team, and support public media when you sign up for The NPR Politics Podcast+ at plus.npr.org/politics.
Takeaways from the first elections of 2026 midterms
For all the focus on Texas, elections in North Carolina could have a bigger impact on which party ultimately wins the Senate majority in the fall.
Texas election results: Here's how key primary races finished
Texas primary results could send smoke signals for November midterms.
Takeaways from the first elections of 2026 midterm campaigns
The 2026 campaign kicked off Tuesday with high-profile primary elections in Texas and North Carolina
Five takeaways from Texas primaries, as march to US midterms gets going
Contests in the southern state are signalling which way the Republicans and Democrats are heading.
5 takeaways from the first primaries of the 2026 midterms
Voters headed to the polls Tuesday in the first primaries of the midterm election season. The latest results from Arkansas, North Carolina and Texas.
What you need to know for the first midterm primary day of the year: From the Politics Desk
Plus, the Trump administration's varying Iran war explanations.
Primary election live updates: Results and news from Texas, NC, Arkansas
Voters in Texas, North Carolina and Arkansas are kicking off the 2026 midterm season. Follow live updates.