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The State of It: USA

Trump's midterm circus

October 30, 2026
Trump's midterm circus

The countdown to the midterms is on, and Trump’s campaign is descending into chaos. He’s cancelling rallies in crucial states, berating reporters over their looks and praising Nicki Minaj’s bum. Texas is surprisingly close, while Democrats have resorted to some seriously dirty tricks in Alaska.


With Republican fortunes looking grim, could Democrats take both the House and Senate? And if they do, will they go after Trump himself — or set their sights on Pete Hegseth?


Meanwhile, what damage has the campaign done to the presidential ambitions of JD Vance and Marco Rubio? Clue: not much good.


Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times

Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal


Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson


Picture: Getty Images

This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today


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The State of It: USA is a weekly US politics podcast from The Times and The Sunday Times, offering agenda‑setting analysis of American power and its global impact. It promises frank, in‑depth conversations that cut through spin, conspiracy and partisanship to explain what is really happening inside the White House and beyond.

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