2026 American Mid-Terms

[Thumpalumpacus]

This is the thread where we ponder the potential effects of current events in the upcoming American elections.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades caused a sharp spike in inflation in March, creating major challenges for the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve and heightening the political challenges of rising costs for the White House.

Consumer prices rose 3.3% in March from a year earlier, the Labor Department said Friday, up sharply from just 2.4% in February and the biggest yearly increase since May 2024. On a monthly basis, prices rose 0.9% in March from February, the largest such increase in nearly four years.

It’s the first read on inflation to capture the effects of the Iran war.

Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, core prices rose 2.6% in March from a year earlier, up from 2.5% in February. But last month core prices rose a modest 0.2%, suggesting that rising gas prices haven’t yet spread to many other categories.

The gas price shock stemming from the Iran war has shifted inflation’s trajectory, from a slow, gradual decline to a sharp increase further away from the Fed’s 2% target. As a result, the central bank will almost certainly postpone any cut in interest rates for months and many Fed officials have said a rate hike may be needed if inflation doesn’t cool. Gas prices are also a highly visible cost that has outsize impacts on consumer confidence and political sentiment.

https://apnews.com/article/inflation-pri...107ed4ecee

[Mister Agenda]

Hypothetically, it's a Blue Wave. But the regime seems to be doing everything it can to suppress voting or even take over the elections of certain states.

[awty]

Every so often the Trump administration starts dangling the refund/rebate carrot. It's happening again. That 6,000 DOGE ck would have been nice, heck, the 2,000 rebate for tariffs would have been okay too. Now I see that they are muttering about 2,400 which I will plan to spend right after receiving the other checks. Not that they are trying to buy votes with money that never appears.

I hope for a Blue Wave but the "look, a squirrel" crowd is easily distracted by things like an empty promise.

[Nay_Sayer]

I am heavily debating on if I want to bother with voting. I'd rather not get added to a list when Amerikkka doubkles down on the pile of shit they made.

[Thumpalumpacus]

I am heavily debating on if I want to bother with voting. I'd rather not get added to a list when Amerikkka doubkles down on the pile of shit they made.

I'm voting. If they want to come after me, so be it. Don't be cowed.

[BrianSoddingBoru4]

Like everyone else, I expect the House to flip, but I’m not as confident about your Senate. I don’t foresee a veto-proof majority in either case.

That said, I have an enviable track record of guessing wrong about USian politics. 😀

Boru

[Paleophyte]

I am heavily debating on if I want to bother with voting. I'd rather not get added to a list when Amerikkka doubkles down on the pile of shit they made.

If you don't vote, then you don't get to complain about the outcome.

[Ivan Denisovich]

I am heavily debating on if I want to bother with voting. I'd rather not get added to a list when Amerikkka doubkles down on the pile of shit they made.

More than a few years back when there was law in Poland prohibiting speaking about Poles killing Jews during WWII* I wrote about it on forums and when reviewing books. Later when Poland was ruled by fascists I didn't hide my atheism in census. I also voted left wing when fascists were in power. Unsurprisingly no one came for me. Granted Poland isn't USA but I very much doubt that you would end at any list.

Now I don't want to be misunderstood. I don't think myself brave for this. It's simply that risk of being hit by the car when I cross the street is far, far, far higher than risk of some random ending on some kind of "enemy of the state" list.

*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amendment_to_the_Act_on_the_Institute_of_National_Remembrance

[awty]

I am heavily debating on if I want to bother with voting. I'd rather not get added to a list when Amerikkka doubkles down on the pile of shit they made.

I am too angry about them trying to take away the vote to let them scare it out of me.

Christian America has always been down with women taking their husband's name after marriage.  Now they want to take that away simply because it could stop the ability to vote for at least a third of the voting age public.

I see it backfiring and more women keeping their last name.  Of course, then it will be some other ploy...grumble, grumble.

[Thumpalumpacus]

Like everyone else, I expect the House to flip, but I’m not as confident about your Senate. I don’t foresee a veto-proof majority in either case.

That said, I have an enviable track record of guessing wrong about USian politics. 😀

Boru

I think this reading is pretty spot-on. I think the Senate is out of reach for the Dems barring a major surprise (the Republicans losing Cornyn's or McConnell's seat, neither of which will happen imo), but the House is within a thin grasp. Even with a slender majority, the Dems will be able to move ahead with investigations these crooked Republicans have been stone-walling.

I am too angry about them trying to take away the vote to let them scare it out of me.

You're goddamned straight.