2026 midterms

Wednesday

Charles Lipson

Is Trump becoming a lame-duck president?

From our US edition

American presidents face an inescapable dilemma as soon as they are reelected. Because they cannot run again, they find it increasingly difficult to dominate the national agenda. This constitutional limitation makes it increasingly difficult for presidents to “herd the cats” in their own party, filled as it is with prospective successors, and to defeat the opposing party, which sees the golden opportunity of winning the next midterm election. Those upcoming elections almost always go against the party-in-power since it is far easier to mobilize angry, negative voters than satisfied, complacent ones. Donald Trump is fighting tenaciously to postpone the impact of these indelible features of American politics, but he cannot escape them entirely.

Tuesday

Cockburn

Jasmine Thee Senate Candidate

From our US edition

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett of Texas announced her bid for the US Senate yesterday with a video in which she listens implacably while President Trump insults her. The President sarcastically brands Crockett the “new star of the Democratic party.” “Wait until she gives it back,” tweeted Representative Eric Swalwell (D-Moron). “Turning Texas blue is what I want to talk to y’all today. There are people who say ain’t no way. We tried it 50 kinds of ways,” Crockett said in yesterday’s campaign announcement speech. “Let me be clear: y’all never tried it the JC way... they have no idea what Crockett’s crew will do!” Later, on CNN, Crockett said that she doesn’t need to convert Trump’s supporters. “That’s not our goal,” she said.

Wednesday

Jacob Heilbrunn

Trump is creating a political Frankenstein

From our US edition

During the 2016 presidential campaign, Donald Trump depicted himself as synonymous with winning. “We’re gonna win so much,” he said, “you may even get tired of winning and you’ll say please, please, it’s too much winning we can’t take it anymore.” Lately, however, Trump has been losing – losing not only in the court of public opinion, but also the courts themselves. The latest instance came with the decision of Utah judge Dianna Gibson to reject a congressional map that Republican lawmakers drew to try and ensure that a Democrat cannot win even a single seat in the state. Gibson ruled that the map “unduly favors Republicans and disfavors Democrats.” Utah Democrats rejoiced.

Tuesday

Aidan McLaughlin

Will AOC be the next leader of the Democrats?

From our US edition

What are we to make of an America in which David Brooks, the mild-mannered moderate of the New York Times opinion pages, calls for a “comprehensive national civic uprising” to fight back against the tyranny of President Donald Trump? It’s one in which the traditional thinking about how the Democratic party can wield power has been crushed to dust. It’s one in which voters, disillusioned by repeat defeats to Trump, have felt their hopelessness turn to rage. Moderates, such as Kamala Harris, are not channeling that fury.

alexandria ocasio-cortez

Wednesday

Aidan McLaughlin

Can the Democrats rediscover themselves in the age of Trump?

From our US edition

Even on the placid streets of London’s Mayfair, James Carville cannot find peace. “Every five minutes I get stopped and asked about Chuck Schumer,” says the Democratic strategist when I speak to him. “I can’t even enjoy a $30 martini by myself.” Carville’s party is in dire straits. The humiliation of losing to Donald Trump had not yet worn off when the Donald stormed back to the White House with a vengeance, unleashing the chainsaw-wielding Elon Musk on the federal government, assembling a cabinet intent on carrying out even his most radical policies – and scaring the few Republican would-be dissenters in Congress into submission.

democrats