Misery has plenty of company in Trump's second term
#Donald Trump #2026 Midterms #Texas Special Election #Mass Deportation #Authoritarianism #Inflation #Republican Party
📌 Key Takeaways
- A massive 31-point swing in a Texas special election signals deep vulnerability for Republicans ahead of the 2026 midterms.
- Public disapproval is mounting over aggressive immigration enforcement, including child separations and fatal shootings of protesters.
- Trump's economic policies, specifically tariffs, are being blamed for rising costs and the devaluation of the U.S. dollar.
- The administration's authoritarian rhetoric regarding the nationalization of voting has further polarized the electorate and alarmed moderates.
📖 Full Retelling
🏷️ Themes
Political Instability, Electoral Shift, Governance
📚 Related People & Topics
Authoritarianism
Political system
Authoritarianism is a political system characterized by the rejection of political plurality, the use of strong central power to preserve the political status quo, and reductions in democracy, separation of powers, civil liberties, and the rule of law. Authoritarian regimes may be either autocratic ...
Inflation
Devaluation of money's purchasing power
In economics, inflation is an increase in the average price of goods and services in terms of money. This increase is measured using a price index, typically a consumer price index (CPI). When the general price level rises, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services; consequently, inflation...
Donald Trump
President of the United States (2017–2021; since 2025)
# Donald John Trump **Donald John Trump** (born June 14, 1946) is an American politician, media personality, and businessman currently serving as the **47th president of the United States**. A member of the Republican Party, he previously served as the **45th president** from 2017 to 2021. --- ##...
🔗 Entity Intersection Graph
Connections for Authoritarianism:
- 👤 Sheikh Hasina (1 shared articles)
- 👤 Muhammad Yunus (1 shared articles)
- 🌐 Bangladesh (1 shared articles)
📄 Original Source Content
By Jackie Calmes Columnist Follow Feb. 5, 2026 3 AM PT 6 min Click here to listen to this article Share via Close extra sharing options Email Facebook X LinkedIn Threads Reddit WhatsApp Copy Link URL Copied! Print 0:00 0:00 1x This is read by an automated voice. Please report any issues or inconsistencies here . p]:text-cms-story-body-color-text clearfix max-w-170 mt-7.5 mb-10 mx-auto" data-subscriber-content> If you wake each morning already angry at news of some latest outrage from President Trump or some unhinged, malevolent message he posted online overnight, and if you then go to bed already burdened by nightmares from the headlines of the day, there’s good news: You’re not alone. Being social animals, humans find comfort in company. Except, in this case, for Republicans nationwide who will face voters in November. And that’s another thought that should be comforting: that those Trump-enabling Republicans are dis comfited. Those were my reflections this week as I read the Wall Street Journal’s report on a Texas Democrat’s 14-point victory on Saturday in a special state Senate election to represent a Fort Worth-area district that Trump won by 17 points in 2024. That’s a 31-point swing from red to blue. So sure, consider all the caveats about special elections being low-turnout affairs that aren’t exactly representative of the larger electorate that comes out in a general November election. But 31 points ? What struck me even more, however, was independent voter Shanna Abbott’s explanation to the Journal for why she supported Democrat Taylor Rehmet in that race: “Every day there’s something insane happening.” See? You’re not alone in thinking that same thing. Misery loves company: an adage for our Trumpian times. And from solidarity comes action. Advertisement That’s what has Republicans quaking in this midterm election year. They’re especially unnerved because they also know that every day Trump will say something, do something or do nothing — say, to rein in th...