What is the current state of US politics?

Your question touches on fast-moving US politics — I'll pull today's picture of the White House, Congress and this week's elections.

As of November 6, 2026, the United States is in a period of divided government following the 2026 midterm elections:

1. Executive Branch - Second Trump Administration

Donald Trump's second and current tenure as the president of the United States began upon his inauguration as the 47th president on January 20, 2025. Alongside Trump's second presidency, the Republican Party also currently holds slim majorities in the House of Representatives and the Senate, thereby attaining an overall federal government trifecta.

Vice President is JD Vance.

The administration has been characterized by aggressive use of executive authority:

•During his first hundred days in office, Trump signed 143 executive orders, the most of any president in this period

•Agenda emphasizing centralization through sweeping actions on tariffs, immigration, and deregulation, challenging the traditional checks and balances

•Actions include mass deportations and expanded detentions, imposed tariffs which led to retaliatory tariffs, stock market volatility, and trade wars with Canada and Mexico while escalating the one with China

•Internationally, withdrawal from the World Health Organization, the Paris Climate Accords, and UNESCO, strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and Houthi targets, and intervention in Venezuela and Caribbean counter-narcotics operations.

Trump's approval rating is near a historic low heading into and just after the midterms:

•A Reuters/Ipsos poll found only 32% approve of Trump's job in office

•That was just above his record-low approval rating of 31%, with the Reuters/Ipsos survey finding that 31% of respondents approved of Trump's performance

•At the end of October, approval polling averages showed President Donald Trump (R) at 38% approval

•October also saw the lowest average approval rating of Trump's second term, at 37%, on Oct. 22, 2026

2. Legislative Branch - Democratic Sweep in November 3 Midterms

Heading into the 2026 general elections, Republicans control both chambers of Congress. They hold a 53–45 majority in the Senate, while two independents caucus with the Democrats. In the House, Republicans had a very narrow majority (219–214).

The midterm elections were held November 3, 2026, deciding all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships.

Results as of November 4-5, 2026:

•Democrats have secured control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives, confirming earlier signs of a "blue wave."

•The twin victories in the House and Senate return the Democratic Party to full control of Congress for the first time since 2023

•The US midterm elections have handed Democrats control of both the House of Representatives and the Senate, a reversal from current Republican majorities

Seat counts vary slightly as results are certified, but all major decision desks agree on Democratic majorities:

•Senate: 53–43 in favor of the Democrats. Together with allied independent senators, the Democrats currently control 53 seats, while the Republicans hold 43; four seats remain undecided. Other tallies put it at 54 seats to Republicans’ 44, or 54 D · 44 R

•Democrats have flipped at least seven seats—including in Texas, Kansas, Iowa, Ohio, and both Carolinas, specifically flipped seven Senate seats in Iowa, Kansas, Ohio, Maine, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. In Texas, Democrat James Talarico reportedly defeated Republican Ken Paxton

•House of Representatives: 223–132 in favor of the Democrats. The party has surpassed the 218-seat threshold required for a majority. Other projections ranged from 228 House seats to Republicans’ 139 to at least 244 House seats, with final distribution still shifting with ~80 districts pending

Turnout was historically high: About 124 million people voted, the highest midterm turnout since 1914 apart from 2018

3. New Era of Divided Government Starting January 2027

•Trump will govern with an opposition-controlled Congress. From January 2027, the Democrats' control over both chambers will limit the scope for implementing the Republican agenda

•With a Democratic-controlled Congress and Donald Trump in the White House, the next two years will be characterized by divided government

•Democrats have cemented control of both chambers of Congress, according to an NPR analysis based on a tally of race calls by The Associated Press

Implications:

•Further tax cuts, deregulation, and major legislative initiatives will become significantly more difficult to implement, while congressional oversight is likely to increase

•Trump, however, retains broad executive powers, particularly in trade and foreign policy. The election results therefore do not automatically signal a reversal of tariffs or a change in Washington's policy toward Iran

•Democrats have won a majority in the Senate, but this remains well below the three-fifths of senators needed to break a filibuster and two-thirds of both chambers necessary to override a presidential veto

4. Political Polarization and Recent Government Shutdowns

The current political environment is highly polarized:

•A JANUARY 2026 Gallup poll showed that 89 per cent of all Americans expect high levels of political conflict this year, preparing the country for "affective polarisation," where people no longer just disagree on political matters, but actively dislike each other

•Political polarization has affected this process, often forcing lawmakers to pass continuing resolutions to temporarily fund the government

Two shutdowns of the U.S. federal government occurred in 2026, both stemming from congressional disputes over federal immigration enforcement reforms following the killing of Alex Pretti by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents.

•The first shutdown lasted four days from January 31 to February 3

•The second shutdown, which lasted from February 14 to April 30, was caused by a stalemate in those negotiations and was limited to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS)

•On March 27, the second shutdown became the longest in U.S. history

Key issues driving voter behavior in the midterms, according to surveys, were the economy and the state of democracy, plus economic concerns, corruption, and the scope of presidential power, with the ongoing conflict with Iran and higher energy prices also weighing on Republicans.

Citations (3)

1wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
Second presidency of Donald Trump
Backs: “As of November 6, 2026, the United States is in a period of divided government following the 2026 midterm elections: 1. Executive Branch - Second Trump Administration. Donald Trump's second and current tenure as the president of the United States began upon his inauguration as the 47th president on January 20, 2025.”
2xtb.comNot yet classified
Morning wrap (04.11.2026)
Backs: “The midterm elections were held November 3, 2026, deciding all 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and 36 governorships. Results as of November 4-5, 2026:”
3wikipedia.orgEncyclopedias and referencequality 0.83
2026 United States federal government shutdowns
Backs: “A JANUARY 2026 Gallup poll showed that 89 per cent of all Americans expect high levels of political conflict this year, preparing the country for "affective polarisation," where people no longer just disagree on political matters, but actively dislike each other. Political polarization has affected this process, often…”