Nov 3, 2026 · 15 min
Midterm races could reveal who controls Congress
As Midterm Election Results Roll In, These Are the Races to Watch
Early results in a handful of competitive states may show whether either party is outperforming expectations and how soon congressional control could be known.
- 1Michigan, Georgia and Texas offer early tests of turnout and partisan strength in competitive contests.
- 2Kentucky and New York House races, alongside Iowa’s Senate and governor contests, could clarify the national political picture.
- 3The episode links Trump’s Israel aid decision, Russian strikes in Ukraine and China’s economy to a broader global news agenda.
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Ken Thomas explains how early House results in Kentucky and New York, together with Iowa contests, could reveal the direction of congressional control.
The brief
The episode opens on midterm election contests in Michigan, Georgia and Texas, where turnout, monitoring and early results could signal the country’s political direction.
Ken Thomas points to House races in Kentucky and New York as early measures of partisan performance, then explains why Iowa could serve as a Senate and gubernatorial bellwether.
The timing of congressional control is part of the story: results from a small number of competitive races could establish the broader balance before every contest is decided.
Robbie Gramer examines President Trump’s plan to end traditional U.S. military aid to Israel, including its political timing, congressional funding role and implications for Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.
The episode then turns to deadly Russian strikes in Ukraine, China’s economy and Trump’s push to replace “artificial intelligence” with “superintelligence,” a rebrand technology companies have not embraced.
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