Trump faces a midterm reckoning - if the polls are just days before the term, President Trump is staring at what could be a massive voter rebuke - if the polls are to be believed. His approval rating is 20 points underwater, dragged down by rising gas prices, an unpopular war with Iran and a steady stream of personal disputes. The result is a Senate map that has expanded dramatically in favor of Democrats, forcing Trump to campaign in states long considered Republican strongholds such as Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. Few insiders expect anything other than a Democratic House win — the only question is whether it's a solid or solid win — and Decision Desk Meta gives Democrats an 80 percent chance of taking the House and a surprisingly competitive shot at 58 percent in the Senate. A New York Times/Sienna poll showing South Carolina's Senate race virtually tied — a state Trump won by nearly 18 points in 2024 — sent shockwaves through the political world, with Democrats leading in Texas, North Carolina and Ohio. Democrats, however, are far from calm: They are concerned about poll reliability, a serious GOP spending advantage in Trump races, and the ever-present possibility of a heartbreak in Texas or a Collins surprise in Maine. Still, strategists like Joe Trippie see the Republicans' increasingly aggressive attacks as a sign of desperation, arguing that voters — including some 2024 Trump supporters — feel betrayed and ready to take it out on the president's party. Don't miss terms.

Trump faces a midterm reckoning - if the polls are just days before the term, President Trump is staring at what could be a massive voter rebuke - if the polls are to be believed. His approval rating is 20 points underwater, dragged down by rising gas prices, an unpopular war with Iran and a steady stream of personal disputes. The result is a Senate map that has expanded dramatically in favor of Democrats, forcing Trump to campaign in states long considered Republican strongholds such as Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas. Few insiders expect anything other than a Democratic House win — the only question is whether it's a solid or solid win — and Decision Desk Meta gives Democrats an 80 percent chance of taking the House and a surprisingly competitive shot at 58 percent in the Senate. A New York Times/Sienna poll showing South Carolina's Senate race virtually tied — a state Trump won by nearly 18 points in 2024 — sent shockwaves through the political world, with Democrats leading in Texas, North Carolina and Ohio. Democrats, however, are far from calm: They are concerned about poll reliability, a serious GOP spending advantage in Trump races, and the ever-present possibility of a heartbreak in Texas or a Collins surprise in Maine. Still, strategists like Joe Trippie see the Republicans' increasingly aggressive attacks as a sign of desperation, arguing that voters — including some 2024 Trump supporters — feel betrayed and ready to take it out on the president's party. Don't miss terms.