Donald Trump and the Republicans are struggling to frame their historic defeat in the US midterms as anything other than a repudiation of their agenda.
The election was the most expensive in American history, with nearly $12 billion spent—most of it on advertisements that overwhelmingly favored Republican candidates. Yet voters largely rejected the messaging, resulting in a Democratic wave unseen for a half‑century.
In the wake uptrend of the vote, President Trump—long accustomed to turning controversy into spectacle—appeared to lose command of the narrative. The scale of the Republican loss reflects a broader rejection of Trump’s policies, particularly the US‑Israel stance toward Iran. Meenakshi Ravi and Richard Gizbert examine the political and media fallout.
Contributors:
Alex Shephard – Senior editor, The New Republic
Rob Arlett – former Trump state campaign chair & Republican strategist
Maya Berry – Executive director, Arab American Institute
On our radar
Serbia’s new political leadership has yet to form a government, but the country’s media institutions are already being purged of voices that gave former president Aleksandar Vucic years of favourable coverage. Tariq Nafi reports on the news outlets now being held to account.
Equator: a magazine for a post‑American world
Equator magazine was founded by a group of writers and editors—several formerly of mainstream media—who united during what they described as a “moment of moral despair” as Israel’s war on Gaza unfolded. One year after launch, the publication has produced high‑quality stories and essays on global politics, culture and art, presented with strong design sensibilities. Co‑founder and former Guardian editor Jonathan Shainin discusses the magazine’s vision and progress.
Featuring:
Jonathan Shainin – Founding Editor, Equator magazine
