Judge Orders Trump Administration to Pull Taxpayer-Funded TV Ads Weeks Before Midterms
The campaign cost up to $20m; the administration says it was ending Sunday anyway. Also: a Newsom death-row move and Kansas Senate polling.
Three Weeks to the US Midterms: Trump Approval at 34%, Voters Blame GOP for Rising Costs
Photo: The National
The US midterm elections are on 3 November, and the latest signals look rough for Republicans. A Financial Times poll of registered voters (margin of error 2.5%) finds 34% approve of President Trump and 59% disapprove, according to Political Wire's summary.
CNN's Ron Brownstein writes that voters frustrated by high costs tend to blame Trump and GOP policies on tariffs and the Iran war. At a rally, Trump said he will be blamed if Republicans lose the midterms but will get no credit if they win, per NBC News via Political Wire.
Other items from the week: the Justice Department loosened guidelines to allow the attorney general and other senior appointees to take part in political campaigns (CBS News), and the D.C. Board of Elections asked that National Guard troops stay away from ballot drop boxes after troops were reported near one.
A New York Times investigation found thousands of violent threats against elected officials from 2024 through August 2026. Writers cited by Political Wire say signs point to a Democratic wave but warn about polling reliability, and note that the out-party has held a Senate majority in only four of the last 24 years.
Sources: Political Wire: Trump approval remains deeply negative · Political Wire: Voters frustrated with Trump’s agenda blame the GOP · Political Wire: National Guard asked to stay away from ballot drop boxes
