#election2026

A Louisiana resident who identified himself as Marshawn delivered a fiery, emotional speech to lawmakers during a state Senate hearing over redistricting Monday, accusing Republicans of trying to “cheat” Black voters out of political power.

“The MAGA party is the last breath of the Confederacy,” he told lawmakers. “If y’all could give us less than zero seats, you would do it.”

Marshawn’s testimony came as Louisiana Republicans advance a new congressional map after the Supreme Court weakened key protections in the Voting Rights Act.

“There will be no more of your party,” he said. “The midterms gonna come, y’all gonna get wiped out,” he said.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Enthusiasm among Republican voters for President Donald Trump’s second term appears to be softening, according to a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS, with only about one in five Republicans saying they are enthusiastic about the next two years of his presidency.

The survey found that 19% of self-identified Republicans describe themselves as “enthusiastic” about the remainder of Trump’s term. A much larger share, 58%, said they remain “optimistic” about the administration’s future, while 13% reported feeling “pessimistic” and 11% said they are “afraid” about what lies ahead.

The findings suggest that while Trump continues to retain support from most Republican voters, the level of excitement within his political base has declined compared with earlier periods of his presidency. The poll comes as the White House faces growing public scrutiny over issues including the economy, inflation, and foreign policy challenges.

Among Americans overall, the outlook is considerably more negative. According to the poll, 67% of U.S. adults said they feel either afraid or pessimistic about the nation’s future under Trump’s leadership, highlighting a stark partisan divide in perceptions of the administration.

The survey also reflects broader challenges for the president as he approaches the second half of his term. Recent polling has shown Trump’s overall approval rating remaining below 40%, while concerns about economic conditions continue to weigh heavily on public opinion.

WASHINGTON — A massive political war chest is becoming one of the biggest questions surrounding the 2026 U.S. midterm elections.

Trump-aligned super PAC MAGA Inc. has accumulated more than $400 million, giving President Donald Trump and his Republican allies a potentially powerful financial tool heading into a critical election year.

The money could be used to support Republican candidates in some of the country's most competitive races, particularly as the GOP works to defend its congressional majorities.

The size of the fund has attracted growing attention because Trump's name will not appear on the ballot in the midterms. That makes campaign spending, advertising and voter turnout efforts especially important for Republicans seeking to maintain control of Congress.

Trump has highlighted the size of his political operation's financial reserves, while questions remain over exactly how aggressively the money will be deployed and which races will receive the biggest investments.

For Democrats, the Republican war chest represents a major challenge. For Republicans, it could provide the financial firepower needed to defend vulnerable seats and compete in closely contested races.

As Election Day approaches, one question is becoming increasingly important: