Saturday, February 28, 2026

We've overestimated Russia for too long -- Ukraine's Flamingo manufacturer unveils new FP-7 ballistic missile in launch test video -- US lifts sanctions on Malian officials linked to Russian Wagner Group -- Flamingo threat triggers unprecedented missile alert across Russia ... and more

https://activitypub.writeworks.uk/2026/02/saturday-february-28-2026/

What will Donald Trump say in his State of the Union? Key focus areas include the midterms, immigration, the economy, DHS shutdown and foreign policy tensions. https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/world/what-to-expect-trump-state-of-the-union-address-midterms-si5b5hx7?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=mastodon #StateOfTheUnion #TrumpSpeech #USMidterms #USPolitics
Zelenskyy Has A Theory As To Why Trump Is In Such A Hurry To End Ukraine War

The Ukrainian president also offered up some new peace proposals to assuage his American counterpart.

HuffPost UK
Unfree and unfair is the goal. #historyshorts #logicalargument #trump #usa

YouTube

2025 U.S. Midterms Update: Full-Year Politics, Economy, Polls, and Key Events (Jan–Dec 2025) – DrWeb’s Domain

2025 U.S. Midterms Update: Full-Year Politics, Economy, Polls, and Key Events (Jan–Dec 2025)

Editor’s Note: This consolidated 2025 annual report bridges the gap between the August 2025 and February 2026 monthly updates. I was assisted in this report by ChatGPT. –DrWeb

Major Political Events in 2025

President Donald Trump’s second term began on January 20, 2025, with a wave of executive actions that set the tone for the year. Among the first moves were pardons for more than 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack, withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change, suspension of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, and the creation of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk.

Trump also renamed the Gulf of Mexico the “Gulf of America” and issued an executive order attempting to end birthright citizenship, which was quickly blocked by a federal judge. The administration re‑designated the Yemeni Houthi movement as a foreign terrorist organization and expanded ICE’s authority to conduct immigration arrests at schools, hospitals, and public gatherings.

Throughout the year, Trump’s agenda centered on rolling back Biden‑era regulations, shrinking the federal workforce, and using tariffs and tax cuts as core economic tools. By late 2025, the U.S. experienced negative net migration for the first time in at least 50 years, reflecting the impact of the administration’s immigration policies.

Economy and Social Issues

The Trump administration pushed through additional tax cuts and pro‑crypto policies that benefited allies and family members, while continuing to reduce the size of the federal workforce. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) oversaw large‑scale layoffs and hiring freezes across multiple agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which saw its grant‑review and research activities severely curtailed.

Although inflation had cooled from the 2021–2023 surge, many voters continued to feel that the economy was difficult and expensive, and Trump’s sweeping tariffs were widely blamed for raising prices. Off‑year elections in November 2025 showed Democrats gaining ground in Virginia and New Jersey by focusing on affordability and economic concerns, signaling that the economy would be a central issue in the 2026 midterms.

Domestically, the year saw multiple mass shootings, including at Antioch High School in Nashville and a warehouse in New Albany, Ohio. Federal and state responses to gun violence remained highly polarized, and gun‑control advocates pointed to the shootings as evidence of policy failure.

Trump Approval and 2026 Midterm Polling Trends

Nationally, President Trump’s approval rating began 2025 around 48% and gradually declined over the course of the year, dipping to roughly 41% by October before recovering slightly to about 43% by December. Net approval remained negative throughout 2025, reflecting persistent dissatisfaction with his handling of the economy and immigration.

By late 2025, national polls showed Democrats with a double‑digit lead on the generic congressional ballot for House races, suggesting that Republicans were on track to lose seats in the 2026 midterms unless the political environment shifted. Democrats also made gains in key off‑year elections, including gubernatorial wins in Virginia and New Jersey and a redistricting‑related ballot initiative in California, which strengthened their position heading into 2026.

Editor’s Note: The charts are missing, ChatGPT failed to produce them accurately. I will update later. Apologies… –DrWeb

Key Takeaways for the 2026 Midterms

  • The 2025 political landscape was dominated by Trump’s second‑term agenda, including immigration crackdowns, federal workforce cuts, and aggressive use of executive power.
  • Economic dissatisfaction and concern about affordability helped Democrats win key off‑year races in Virginia, New Jersey, and California, giving them momentum heading into 2026.
  • National polling suggested that Republicans were vulnerable in the House, while the Senate map remained more favorable to the GOP, setting up the potential for divided control after the 2026 elections.
#2025 #DrWebSDomain #Economy #FillsGapAugust2025ThroughFebruary2026Updates #JanDec2025 #KeyEvents #Politics #Polls #USMidterms #Update #Updated

Trump is now floating the US Federal government taking over the administration of elections from many states and counties.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-says-republicans-should-nationalize-voting-least-15-places-2026-02-02/

Why would he push for that? Well, because "The dispersed responsibility for running elections also makes it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to rig U.S. elections at the national level." https://www.ncsl.org/elections-and-campaigns/election-administration-at-state-and-local-levels

#TrumpAdministration #USpol #USpolitics #AmericanElections #USelections #USmidTerms #USstatesAuthority #USFederalGovernment #ElectoralFraud #ElectionSafety #ElectionIntegrity

#USPol #USmidterms

Was anyone else aware that there is a theoretical coalition of 2026 congress critter candidates who have agreed to impeach Trump if elected?

https://citizensimpeachment.com/courage-candidates/

If you look at that and go "nah, I could do better" pls note that the candidate filing deadline varies by location and maybe you literally could.

Citizens' Impeachment's Courage Candidates - Citizens' Impeachment

Our Courage Candidates have what it takes to meet the moment. Trump must be removed, and it will take bold leadership — courage — to take that first step in the face of adversity. Our Courage Candidates are unafraid. They won't be intimidated, and they won't back down.

Citizens' Impeachment

Tổng thống Trump lo ngại Đảng Cộng hòa có thể mất quyền kiểm soát Hạ viện trong bầu cử giữa kỳ 2026 dù nền kinh tế Mỹ được cho là "vĩ đại nhất lịch sử".
#Trump #USA #Bầucử #ĐảngCộnghòa #Hạviện #Thếgiới #Politic #USMidterms #Economy #TinTứcThếGiới

https://vietnamnet.vn/ong-trump-lo-dang-cong-hoa-khong-giu-duoc-ha-vien-trong-bau-cu-giua-ky-my-2472669.html

Ông Trump lo đảng Cộng hòa không giữ được Hạ viện trong bầu cử giữa kỳ Mỹ

Tổng thống Mỹ Donald Trump không chắc chắn việc đảng Cộng hòa của ông có thể tiếp tục giành quyền kiểm soát Hạ viện trong cuộc bầu cử giữa kỳ năm sau dù Mỹ đang có nền kinh tế 'vĩ đại nhất lịch sử'.

Vietnamnet.vn

The Missouri Senate has passed a redistricting plan that could give Republicans an additional U.S. House seat at next year's midterms. Opponents have announced a referendum petition that could force a statewide vote on the map. @AssociatedPress has more.

https://flip.it/kNPWVy

#Missouri #USPolitics #USElections #USMidterms #Republicans #GOP

Missouri passes Trump-backed redistricting plan

The Missouri Senate has passed a plan backed by President Donald Trump that could help Republicans win an additional U.S. House seat. The Senate’s vote Friday sends the measure to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe for his expected signature. But opponents immediately announced a referendum petition that could force a statewide vote on the new map. Missouri is the third state to take up congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections. Republicans in Texas passed a new House map aimed at winning five more seats. Democrats in California countered with their own redistricting plan aimed at picking up five seats, but it still needs voter approval.

AP News

Thrilled to share that I have a chapter out in the PSA American Politics Group briefing paper on the 2022 US Midterms. In this chapter, I explore challenges and opportunities for the Democratic Party going into 2024 and discuss who the midterms have put on the map.
Link: https://ukpsaapg.co.uk/exploring-the-2022-us-midterms-brief/

@politicalscience #polisci #americanpolitics #uspolitics #usmidterms #elections #democraticparty #briefingpaper #publication @academicchatter

Exploring the 2022 US Midterms Brief

Published in February 2023, this briefing paper is an output from the American Politics Group of the Political Studies Association Key Fact: Features eight chapters written by academics based in th…

American Politics Group