Summary
Republicans face rising fears of a 2026 midterms backlash after defeats in key races, with some blaming Trump’s tariffs and Elon Musk’s influence.
Trump announced sweeping new trade levies Wednesday, alarming GOP strategists who warn of higher prices and economic risks.
Vulnerable Republicans urge a return to economic messaging, citing concerns the party is overreaching. Democrats are leveraging Musk’s unpopularity, linking him to GOP policies.
The GOP remains divided over how to respond.
People used to say Reagan and his courting of the ‘moral majority’ were going to fracture the party and cause it to destroy itself with the embrace of a massively divisive religious rhetoric. It’s wishful thinking at best.
I want this to be true, but it just isn’t. A third of the country will follow along with whatever mental gymnastics are required to blame democrats. Another third are just not paying enough attention and vote on pure vibes, if at all. If dems try to run an unlikable, centrist candidate with a mixed at best record it will end up a toss up. And the electorate at large will forget everything that is happening now within eight years.