Democrats and unaffiliated voters cast about 73% of ballots in NC’s record-setting early turnout + Trump’s DOJ angles for last-minute power over midterms

By Ashley Murray

WASHINGTON — One day before his party is forecast to lose control of the U.S. House, and possibly the Senate, President Donald Trump gathered guests and press at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool to tout the “magnificent” renovation of the monument — a monthslong project plagued by algae, reclosure and false accusations of vandalism.

Trump spoke for roughly 45 minutes, bouncing from topic to topic. His remarks included but were not limited to unfounded allegations of “unprecedented” vandalism to the pool’s lining, accusations that former FBI Director James Comey is a “dirty cop,” a mention of “rave reviews” for the new White House helipad, and assertions that “we got Greenland on an unlimited basis” and “we won” the war with Iran that moments later he said is “not a war.”

By Rob Schofield

Crime. For decades, it’s long been a tried-and-true election tactic of the American political right to campaign under the “get tough on crime” banner.

The model was cynically perfected during the 1988 presidential campaign in the infamous and racially charged “Willie Horton” ads crafted by supporters of then-Vice President George H.W. Bush to attack Democratic nominee Michael Dukakis.

By Clayton Henkel

Months of campaigning and endless political commercials draw to a close Tuesday as voters cast their final ballots in the 2026 midterm elections.