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Republicans lean into anticommunism midterm argument
House Republicans are making warnings about communism a central part of their midterm-election message, seeking to portray the Democratic Party’s left wing as extreme. The strategy matters because Republicans are attempting to turn recent successes by democratic socialist candidates into a broader argument about the direction of the Democratic Party. Republicans argue that some self-described…
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States play defense amid Trump’s latest election fraud claims
State election officials have rejected or qualified President Trump’s renewed claims of widespread weaknesses in US voting systems ahead of the midterm elections. They say public explanations of safeguards, investigations and audits are needed to counter misinformation and maintain confidence in the electoral process. Trump cited a 2020 Michigan voter-registration case, postal voting in California…
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The battle for Congress gets a Wall Street-style scoreboard powered by real-money bets
Kalshi, the prediction market platform, has launched a “Midterms Hub” offering live, real-money betting odds alongside polling data to track the battle for control of Congress ahead of the November midterm elections. The move highlights the growing role of prediction markets as a complement to traditional opinion polling, giving campaigns, journalists and voters a continuously…
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Trump has campaigned more so far in 2026 midterms than he did at this point in 2018
President Trump is campaigning far more actively ahead of the 2026 midterm elections than he did at the equivalent point in 2018, breaking with the usual pattern of unpopular presidents keeping a low profile during midterms. The approach is notable because his approval rating is currently worse than it was in 2018, when Republicans lost…
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Trump-backed candidates, 2020 election deniers, win Arizona primaries
In Arizona’s 2026 primaries, held on 22 July, Republican voters chose several Trump-endorsed candidates who have questioned or actively contested the outcome of the 2020 presidential election. Congressman Andy Biggs won the Republican nomination for governor, beating three rivals including moderate David Schweikert, while attorney Alexander Kolodin secured the nomination for secretary of state. The…
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Musk pledges historically accurate AI film of The Odyssey
Elon Musk has escalated his months-long feud with Christopher Nolan’s blockbuster The Odyssey by announcing on X that his AI tool Grok Imagine would produce a “full-length” and “historically accurate” film version of Homer’s epic poem before the end of 2026. The claim drew scepticism given that Homer’s tale is a work of mythology rather…
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SARAH VINE: I was the worst-dressed woman in Westminster… so I know how hard it is to be thrust into the spotlight
Sarah Vine reflects on the intense media scrutiny female politicians face over their clothing, sparked by recent commentary on the outfits worn by women ministers appointed to a new Cabinet. Drawing on her own experience of being photographed in unflattering outfits during major public moments, she argues that while such scrutiny of women’s appearance is…
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How farmers could fix Wales’ polluted rivers and save money
A new study has found that farmers in Pembrokeshire could help clean up the heavily polluted Eastern and Western Cleddau rivers while also cutting their costs, by better managing the phosphorus in fertiliser and animal feed. The rivers, which are protected special areas of conservation, have been rated Wales’ poorest performing waterways, with excess nutrients…
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Trump-backed Andy Biggs to face Katie Hobbs in Arizona governor race
Arizona’s 2026 governor’s race is now formally set, with Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs and Republican Andy Biggs confirmed as their parties’ nominees following the state’s primary election. Hobbs advanced unopposed as she seeks a second term, while Biggs secured the Republican nomination with the backing of Donald Trump, setting up a closely contested general election…
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The Morning Poll: Will Burnham’s VAT cut on electricity bills make a big difference to you?
Andy Burnham used his first full day as Prime Minister to announce a cut to VAT on electricity bills, a move being tested by the Daily Mail’s Morning Poll asking readers whether it will make a noticeable difference to their household finances. The measure marks an early cost-of-living intervention from the new premier, signalling how…