What is the current state of US politics?
Current State of US Politics (as of October 20, 2026)
The dominant story right now is the 2026 midterm elections, just two weeks away on November 3. Here's a snapshot of where things stand:
Midterms & Electoral Landscape
The 2026 midterm elections are taking place during President Donald Trump's second nonconsecutive term, with all 435 House seats, roughly a third of the Senate, and 36 governorships up for grabs. Democrats appear to have momentum: a PBS News, NPR and Marist poll from late September showed unaffiliated voters breaking for Democrats at 57 percent compared with 32 moving towards Republicans.
National polling backs this up — recent polls show voters generally prefer Democrats over Republicans for Congress by close to 10 points on the generic ballot, and when asked to choose between a Democratic-controlled Congress as a check on Trump versus a GOP-controlled Congress that could pass his agenda, voters preferred the blue side by 19 points in a new Washington Post-ABC News poll. Relatedly, a new NBC News poll found 71% of U.S. adults think the country is on the "wrong track."
Money is pouring into the race: more than 100 million people are expected to vote, with a record $3.8 billion spent on political ads so far, with top spending in battleground Senate races in Texas, Ohio and Michigan. Elon Musk alone has spent about $366 million to support Republicans. Despite heavy spending, GOP groups have spent $740 million since Labor Day, yet the midterm map has barely moved.
Trump has been campaigning aggressively, though his midterm travel blitz ahead of Election Day includes several red states he won easily in the last election, suggesting the electoral landscape is more challenging for Republicans. One notable example is Kansas, where Democrats are hoping to pull off their first Senate victory in the state since 1932, as Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces a surprisingly competitive challenge.
Foreign Policy Controversy
A major flashpoint is Trump's Russia policy. He waived sweeping new sanctions against Russia passed by Congress, arguing the move "is in the national interests of the United States", following a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market as fuel prices soar. This has drawn bipartisan pushback — six Democratic and six Republican senators wrote a letter calling on Trump to withdraw from his deal with Putin.
White House Turmoil & Legal Battles
Civic Tension
Grassroots activism remains high: the "No Kings" coalition behind nationwide anti-Trump protests shifted its focus this past weekend to early voting turnout, drawing thousands to rallies, marches and community gatherings. Meanwhile, election security concerns have emerged, as Congress and a federal agency are threatening to weaken the country's historic preservation law, fueling backlash, and separately suspicious mailings to election officials and congressional offices are under investigation.
In short: the country is in the thick of a high-stakes midterm cycle, Democrats appear to have the wind at their backs in polling, Trump's Russia diplomacy is causing friction even within his own party, and the administration is dealing with staffing turnover and legal challenges on multiple fronts.
Citations (19)
- 2026 United States House of Representatives elections
Source excerpt: “2026 United States House of Representatives elections All 435 seats in the United States House of Representatives 218 seats needed for a majority | L...”
- ‘Bordering on angry’: The state of play as US midterms enter final month
Source excerpt: “spelt trouble for Republicans when it comes to swaying independents, with a PBS News, NPR and Marist poll from September 23 showing unaffiliated voter...”
- Midterm election live updates: Trump says ‘polls are fake’ as he campaigns for GOP candidate in deep-red Kansas
Source excerpt: “What to know **Polls:** Recent polls show voters generally prefer Democrats over Republicans for Congress **by close to 10 points** on the all-importa...”
- Live updates: Trump stumps in Kansas, Vance rallies in North Carolina
Source excerpt: “Cao went on to say “a congressional campaign” asked it last week whether its candidate could stop by for “a cafecito and to greet the community,” addi...”
- Explainer-What You Need to Know About the 2026 US Midterm Elections
Source excerpt: “Hovering over all of this are questions over whether Trump will try to meddle in the elections, which are administered ... # Explainer-What You Need ...”
- Explainer-What You Need to Know About the 2026 US Midterm Elections
Source excerpt: “Elon Musk alone has spent about $366 million to support Republicans, according to campaign finance records. ”
- Politics and Government News
Source excerpt: “Here's what needs to happen first ## More In Politics & Policy Trump touts his power at Kentucky rally to energize voters ahead of midterms Trump to...”
- Politics : NPR
Source excerpt: “He's going to a lot of very red states ## With an ad aimed at Trump, this Republican exposed GOP angst about Latino voters ### Elections October 17,...”
- Midterm election live updates: Trump says ‘polls are fake’ as he campaigns for GOP candidate in deep-red Kansas
Source excerpt: “## "Everything is so expensive": In reliably red Kansas, voters feel the economic pinch Kansas has emerged as one of the most unexpected battlegrounds...”
- Trump doubles down after waiving new Russia sanctions, calling it a ‘very good decision’
Source excerpt: “… Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Saturday evening that the sanctions “include tariffs, sanctions on other countries” and that Trump wan...”
- Trump doubles down after waiving new Russia sanctions, calling it a ‘very good decision’
Source excerpt: “Trump’s decision to put a hold on the sanctions package comes after he announced a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week to release hun...”
- U.S. News and National Top Stories : NPR
Source excerpt: “## Bipartisan group of senators call on Trump to rescind Russian diesel deal ## CNN, MS NOW and Politico prevail against White House — for now ### Po...”
- Politics : NPR
Source excerpt: “## Trump's ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, resigns after allegations of improper conduct October 14, 2026 The White House publicly asked f...”
- U.S. News and National Top Stories : NPR
Source excerpt: “## CNN, MS NOW and Politico prevail against White House — for now ## In Kansas, a newly competitive Senate race tests limit of Trump's unpopular polic...”
- Politics : NPR
Source excerpt: “## Do Americans own the president's papers? ”
- Politics : NPR
Source excerpt: “And, DOJ sues California over alleged noncitizens ### Law October 16, 2026 The administration says papers created in the White House belong to Don...”
- U.S. News and National Top Stories : NPR
Source excerpt: “# National ## No Kings draws crowds with focus on early voting October 17, 2026 The coalition behind nationwide anti-Trump protests shifted its stra...”
- Politics : NPR
Source excerpt: “## U.S. historic preservation law faces the most serious threat in its 60-year history ## Suspicious mailings to election officials, congressional off...”
- Politics : NPR
Source excerpt: “Postal Inspection Service are looking into the mailings, some of which included an unidentified powdery white substance. ”