Let’s be real about what’s happening here. The midterms — Republicans lost the House and Senate, and the blame game is already in full swing. Trump’s Iran war and the cost-of-living squeeze turned what should’ve been a walk into a rout.
Now every ambitious Republican is circling like sharks, and the 2028 primary is shaping up to be a genuine civil war over what the party becomes after Trump.
The Front-Runners
JD Vance — 34% (Polymarket)
The heir apparent, though “heir” is doing a lot of work. He’s publicly blamed the midterm disaster on the war (“The reason we lost is the war”), which is a thinly veiled attempt to distance himself from the administration he’s been part of. Reports say he privately opposed the Iran escalation but went along with it — the classic VP dilemma. His challenge: convincing the base he was always against it while not seeming disloyal to Trump. He’s still the man to beat, but that 34% is softer than it looks.
Marco Rubio — 17%
The Secretary of State has cleverly kept his hands clean of the war mess and stayed off the midterm trail. His home state stayed red, which is a point in his favor. But here’s the tell: he’s explicitly said he won’t run if Vance runs. That’s either genuine deference or strategic positioning — betting Vance implodes and Rubio becomes the “unity” candidate. Some recent polls actually have him ahead of Vance in head-to-heads, so this could be a two-horse race sooner than people think.
The Surge
Ron DeSantis — 13% and climbing
The comeback kid nobody saw coming. After his disastrous 2024 campaign — the robotic handshakes, the boot-gate memes — he was written off. But he’s been untainted by the administration’s failures, came out swinging with a clear-eyed post-mortem (“a rebuke” to the president, “a lack of productivity”), and his pandemic-era resistance to lockdowns still resonates with the base. He’s up 9 points in a single day per Polymarket. The 2024 baggage is real, but a party desperate to move past MAGA’s failures might forgive a lot.
The Wild Cards
Tucker Carlson — 3%
The most interesting name on the board. He’s turned hard against Trump over the Iran war and become a fierce critic of Israel’s influence on foreign policy — a stance that could actually endear him to a GOP base that’s souring on the Middle East entanglements. He’s coy about running, but that 10-point “manifesto” livestream last month was a shot across the bow. His problem: he’s so critical of the GOP itself that a third-party run seems more likely than a primary bid. A Carlson third-party candidacy would be a wrecking ball for whoever wins the nomination.
Donald Trump Jr. — 2-24% depending on the poll
The name recognition play. He’s never held office but he’s beloved by the MAGA base and never shy about culture war fights. That Harvard/Harris poll showing him at 24% is probably a ceiling — dynastic succession rarely translates at the ballot box, but never count out the Trump name with this base.
The Rest of the Pack
Candidate
Position
Odds/Notes
Ted Cruz
TX Senator
Making no secret he’ll run. Vigorously conservative, deep donor ties.
Pete Hegseth
SecDef
Denied interest, but he was the face of the Iran war — that cuts both ways.
Tom Cotton
AR Senator
Younger Cruz, no 2024 baggage.
Sarah Huckabee Sanders
AR Governor
Only viable female candidate; book coming out this fall.
Brian Kemp
GA Governor
Term-limited, free to run, looks good on paper.
Rand Paul / Chris Christie / Mike Pompeo / Greg Abbott
Various
All sniffing around. Christie is the oddest — the anti-Trump never-Trump guy circling back.
RFK Jr.
HHS Secretary
9% in one poll — a fascinating dark horse given the MAHA movement.
The Big Question: What Happens to MAGA?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth the party is wrestling with: Trump leaves office in January 2029, and the movement he built doesn’t have an obvious owner. Vance is trying to inherit it. DeSantis is trying to reform it. Carlson is trying to radicalize it beyond the GOP entirely. Cruz and Cotton are trying to out-conservative everyone.
The Iran war is the fault line. Whoever can credibly claim “I told you so” — while still holding the base — wins. That’s why Carlson is dangerous: he was against the war from day one, and he has the audience to make that case loudly.
Add in the post-midterm recriminations, and you’ve got a primary that’s going to make 2016 look polite. The establishment vs. MAGA vs. post-MAGA fight is just beginning, and it’s going to define what the conservative movement looks like for a generation.
Bottom line: Vance is the front-runner, but he’s carrying the war’s baggage. DeSantis is the momentum play. Rubio is the safe pair of hands. Carlson is the chaos agent. Buckle up — 2028 is going to be a brawl.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/GOP-LOGO-IN-RED.jpg360636Dr. Richard M. Swier, LTC U.S. Army (Ret.)http://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDr. Richard M. Swier, LTC U.S. Army (Ret.)2026-11-07 08:58:002026-11-07 09:13:06The 2028 GOP Field: Post-Midterm Edition
On Thursday, the S&P 500 plunged 4.4%, wiping out Wednesday’s rally, while the Nasdaq sank 5.5% as investors confronted fears that Democratic victories would bring restrictions on the AI data-center construction fueling the technology boom. According to The Kobeissi Letter, roughly $2 trillion in S&P 500 market value vanished in just 40 minutes. AMD finished down approximately 17%, Nvidia 9% and Oracle 7%—a brutal repricing as investors weighed how much Washington could obstruct the next wave of American investment and innovation.
President Donald Trump blamed the current stock market volatility on voters electing Democrats in the 2026 midterm elections.
“The Stock Market crashed today because the Dumocrats had a big Tuesday — So sad to see, you only have yourselves to blame!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday evening.
Stock market tanks hours after MS NOW anchor brags about surge following election
President Trump blamed the Democrats’ blue wave election wins for Thursday’s unprecedented stock market sell-off that saw firms lose trillions of dollars in value in a single day.
“The Stock Market suffered one of the Worst Days in History based on the results of the Election,” Trump fumed on Truth Social.
“Such a sad thing to watch! It took so much work to get us to a level that no one has ever seen before, and then this,” the president continued. “Your 401(k)s have, therefore, dropped.
“Do not fear, however, we will soon, one way or the other, be BIGGER AND STRONGER THAN EVER BEFORE,” he wrote. “MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!”
S&P 500 and Nasdaq companies shed a combined $5.4 trillion in market value – single-day records – amid fears of a looming clampdown on artificial intelligence and data centers in the wake of Democrats securing majorities in the House and Senate.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,833 points, or 3.44%, while the Nasdaq dropped 5.52% and the S&P 500 dipped 4.36%.
In a subsequent post, Trump doubled down on his claim that the market “crashed today because the Dumocrats had a big Tuesday.”
“So sad to see, you only have yourselves to blame!” he added.
Democrats flipped more than 40 GOP-held House seats during Tuesday’s midterm elections, with dozens of contests still too close.
In the Senate, the blue party flipped seven seats. Races in Mississippi and Alaska are still too close to be called, but the Democratic challengers are in the lead.
do you think? Post a comment.
Stocks soared the day after the midterms, with the Dow jumping more than 1,500 points amid investor hopes that a divided government would be good for the economy.
Trump bragged that the market “just hit another Record High — 91 Days in just a short period of time — Less than two years.”
“Your 401(k)s are through the roof. Record Setting All!” he wrote on Truth Social Wednesday.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/Stock-Market-LOST-TRILLIONS-in-40-Minutes-After-Democrats-won-Congress.jpg360640The Geller Reporthttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngThe Geller Report2026-11-07 06:33:332026-11-07 06:36:28MARKET CRASH: Stock Market LOST TRILLIONS in 40 Minutes After Democrats won Congress
Conservatives are regrouping after midterm setbacks and already planning their 2028 comeback.
Kevin Roberts says affordability and the war were major factors in Republicans’ losses.
The Forum, taking place Nov. 10-12, will unite conservative leaders around a strategy for the future.
Conservatives are wasting no time regrouping after this year’s midterm election setbacks. Next week, hundreds of movement leaders will gather in a Washington, D.C., suburb to plot their comeback in 2028.
The inaugural event, called The Forum, will bring together disparate segments of the conservative movement for an honest reckoning about Tuesday’s results.
Policymakers will also debate solutions to some of America’s most vexing challenges, including affordability, China, Islamification, and socialism, with an eye toward shaping public opinion and countering an emboldened Left.
Kevin Roberts, president of The Heritage Foundation and Heritage Action, joined the final episode of the Daily Signal’s “Midterm Report” to share his aspirations for the event. He also diagnosed what went wrong for Republicans and explained why conservatives shouldn’t despair.
What Went Wrong
In the days following Republicans’ electoral drubbing, pollsters and pundits have analyzed exit polls for clues about voters’ dissatisfaction.
Roberts attributed the losses primarily to the war and lingering concerns about affordability.
“The Trump-Vance coalition was put together on a lot of issues, but two of the most central ones were that there would be no new wars and that prices would go down,” Roberts said. “This is just Politics 101 in any representative government.”
Roberts said he still defends President Donald Trump’s decision to go to war with Iran but believes “the war went on too long,” particularly given its economic consequences.
Trump returned to the White House last year after mounting one of the greatest political comebacks in American history. He did so by assembling a diverse coalition of voters who hadn’t traditionally supported the GOP.
Many of those voters were disillusioned by President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris’ policies, which contributed to inflation not seen in 40 years.
Trump benefited from Americans’ frustration with the high cost of living two years ago when he defeated Harris. Despite inheriting an economic mess, Trump quickly went to work addressing affordability through executive orders and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, also known as the Working Families Tax Cut.
Pollster Scott Rasmussen, who has consistently asked voters about their personal finances in his RMG Research surveys, said those were the best numbers he had seen in five years.
Then the U.S. attacked Iran at the end of February. The numbers have only grown worse since then.
It’s why Roberts said affordability must be an important focus for conservatives over the next two years.
“I think the 2028 presidential election will largely be determined by which side addresses these affordability concerns the most,” Roberts said.
He outlined several steps conservatives could take, beginning with restraining federal spending and continuing the Trump administration’s deregulatory agenda.
“We have to stop spending money we don’t have in Washington,” Roberts said, arguing that excessive federal spending has “cascading economic and fiscal consequences all the way down to the kitchen table.”
He also cited housing as an area ripe for action, pointing to regulations that restrict new construction and the large share of homes owned by corporations in some metropolitan areas.
Why Conservatives Shouldn’t Despair
Roberts, a historian, reflected on other moments in American history when presidents suffered midterm defeats, only to continue wielding great influence over the country’s direction.
He pointed to 1894, when President Grover Cleveland’s unpopularity helped Republicans pick up 130 House seats, as well as midterm setbacks suffered by Presidents Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama.
“Some of our most high-profile presidents—FDR, Truman, Reagan, Clinton, Obama—have suffered these kinds of defeats,” Roberts said. “And it’s not as if their respective political movements cease to exist.”
More importantly, Roberts rejected the notion that Tuesday’s results represented an ideological rejection of the conservative movement.
“This is not a repudiation of conservatism or America First,” Roberts said. “In fact, the Left very successfully co-opted the messaging and some of the policies of America First, especially economic populism.”
The lesson, Roberts argued, isn’t for conservatives to abandon their principles but to make a stronger case for them.
“We need to talk about what we stand for,” he said. “We need to talk about affordability. We need to hammer that freedom is more important than socialism.”
The Forum
That effort will begin almost immediately at The Forum from Nov. 10-12 in National Harbor, Maryland.
Roberts said Heritage began planning the gathering a year ago, long before anyone knew what the 2026 midterms would bring. The question guiding those conversations was bigger than a single election: Where is the conservative movement going?
“One of the great attributes of the Heritage enterprise is we have the power to convene people,” Roberts said. “The purpose of The Forum is to have this family meeting, if you will, of key conservative leaders.”
The gathering will feature leaders from government, conservative organizations, media, and business. Roberts cited Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and commentator Scott Jennings among the headliners, along with entrepreneur Palmer Luckey.
But Roberts stressed that The Forum isn’t intended merely as a postelection discussion.
“The point is not just to sit around and talk, but to really cohere the movement around these big focus areas,” he said.
Those priorities include making life more affordable for everyday Americans, defending freedom against socialism, confronting the Islamification of the United States, and countering China.
And if conservatives need time to process Tuesday’s losses, Roberts wants that period to be brief.
“If there’s any sort of additional emotional therapy that needs to happen as a result of the election,” he said, “that’s done by the end of the week.”
Heritage, he added, isn’t waiting until January to get started.
“Conservatives have their chins up. They have a plan for the future,” Roberts said. “And they are going to be doing a much better job of shaping public opinion about the issues that Americans care about.”
What Americans Can Do
Roberts also had a message for conservatives wondering what they can do after a disappointing election: Get involved locally.
For those looking for an organized way to participate, Roberts recommended becoming a Sentinel, part of Heritage Action’s grassroots activist program.
But political involvement doesn’t have to begin in Washington or with a national organization.
“The best way to kind of get back into the groove politically, or maybe into the groove for the first time, is to go to your local city council or local school board meeting,” Roberts said. “And just sit there. No one expects you to be an expert when you go there.”
What Americans will often discover, he said, is “a lack of transparency and competence and a need for good, virtuous, smart Americans to be involved.”
Roberts also encouraged conservatives interested in campaign politics to begin preparing now for the next election, whether that means organizing, passing out sample ballots, or helping candidates.
“We have to start planning already for 2028,” Roberts said. “It is not too early to be doing that.”
His final piece of advice was perhaps the simplest.
“Find the one thing locally that excites you,” Roberts said, joking that it could even mean running for a homeowners association to defend private property rights. “Just go get involved.”
For conservatives discouraged by Tuesday’s results, Roberts’ message was clear: The next election might be two years away, but the comeback starts now.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/What-Conservatives-Are-Planning-After-Midterm-Defeat.jpg360640The Daily Signalhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngThe Daily Signal2026-11-07 06:05:452026-11-07 06:20:43VIDEO: What Conservatives Are Planning After Midterm Defeat
Attorney General Ken Paxton has just dropped a bombshell announcement that is shaking the state to its core!
Date: October 31, 2026
Location: Austin, Texas
The Election Integrity Unit (“EIU”) has officially swooped in and executed arrests of convicted felons accused of illegally casting ballots! This isn’t just an investigation—it’s a full-scale battle for the sanctity of Texas elections!
How It All Went Down:
October 27, 2026: A hyper-vigilant concerned citizen stepped forward with explosive open-source information, blowing the whistle on incarcerated, paroled, or probation-bound convicted felons who allegedly cast illegal ballots right out of Harris County!
The Investigation Begins: The elite EIU members instantly mobilized, diving headfirst into gathering hardcore evidence of potential Texas Election Code violations.
The Data Breakdown: EIU analysts meticulously verified identities, scrubbed voter registration records, and cross-examined 2026 election participation. Investigators then turned to the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (“TDCJ”) to lock down criminal statuses.
The Confirmed Reality: TDCJ verified that multiple individuals were actively on parole when they cast their ballots, making them completely ineligible to vote under Texas law!
In Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Own Words: “Today, my office arrested convicted felons for voting illegally in Texas. My Election Integrity Unit is actively investigating additional reports of election crimes. We will continue working to protect the lawful votes of Texans.”
The Trap Closes:
October 30, 2026: Arrest warrants were officially stamped and issued in Montgomery County for the suspects identified so far!
The Take-Down: Officers from the Office of the Attorney General struck swiftly, making the arrests a reality!
THE FIGHT IS FAR FROM OVER!
The Office of the Attorney General vows to chase down every single additional allegation of illegal voting, standing completely committed to ensuring Texas elections remain free and fair!
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/TEXAS-FLAG-ABBOTT.jpg356640Lyle J. Rapacki, Ph.D.http://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngLyle J. Rapacki, Ph.D.2026-11-07 05:53:102026-11-07 06:24:11SHOCKING DEVELOPMENT IN TEXAS ELECTIONS!
The Florida chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations has suspended its operations. The suspension follows a ruling by a federal judge who denied the organization’s request to reverse an order from Gov. Ron DeSantis. The governor’s order labeled the group as a domestic terrorist organization.
U.S. District Judge Allen C. Winsor (Chief Judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Florida). Sun-sentinel
On November 4–5, 2026, Winsor denied CAIR and CAIR-Florida’s request for a preliminary injunction to block or reverse Florida’s designation of them as “domestic terrorist organizations” under House Bill 1471 (a 2026 state law creating a designation process). The designations (approved by Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Cabinet on September 29, 2026) took effect on November 5.
Winsor found the groups unlikely to succeed at this stage on their First Amendment and due process claims. He wrote that the designation targets conduct rather than speech, does not explicitly forbid communications, and is not a prior restraint, even if it effectively pressures the groups to shut down operations. He also held that the state’s process (including a state-court appeal option) was not shown to be constitutionally inadequate. He did issue a narrow injunction barring enforcement of the law’s penalties against CAIR, its employees, or third parties specifically for providing legal services/counsel.
CAIR has suspended Florida operations and plans to appeal. (Note: An earlier 2025 DeSantis executive order designating CAIR was preliminarily blocked in March 2026 by a different judge, Mark E. Walker, on First Amendment grounds; that case is separate and remains on appeal.)
BREAKING: Islamic organization CAIR confirms it has SUSPENDED all operations in Florida because Gov. Ron DeSantis designated them as a terror organization WHAT A HUGE WIN A bright orange sign is now taped to the window of CAIR’s Temple Terrace office near Tampa, which it has run for 20+ years The sign says the group shut down over the state’s “baseless and unconstitutional enforcement” of Florida’s new “domestic terrorist organization” laws The lawsuits are failing, CAIR IS DOA in Florida! DeSantis said he’d treat them like the threat they are, and now they are fleeing. Good freaking RIDDANCE And guess what? Our new Governor Byron Donalds is EQUALLY as opposed to Sharia and CAIR as DeSantis is.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/cair-terrorism-e1455989693242.jpg400640Florida Family Associationhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngFlorida Family Association2026-11-07 05:35:372026-11-07 06:25:05Florida CAIR suspends operations after federal judge upholds terrorism label
President Donald Trump has tapped top immigration adviser Stephen Miller as White House chief of staff.
Trump’s announcement came just three days after Republicans suffered losses in the midterm elections Tuesday night, resulting in the party losing control of both chambers of Congress.
In a post on Truth Social Friday, the president announced that Miller will fill the position starting Monday and thanked current Chief of Staff Susie Wiles.
“I am pleased to announce that Mr. Stephen Miller, the current Deputy Chief of Staff of the Trump Administration, and one of my most trusted advisors, will become the Chief of Staff starting Monday, November 9, 2026. Susie Wiles, who has done an outstanding job, will be moving over to the Trump Political Operation. I want to thank her for her service as Chief of Staff — She has done a great job!” the president wrote.
Following Trump’s announcement, Wiles confirmed in a statement posted to X that Friday would be her final day serving as White House chief of staff.
The Daily Caller can confirm that Wiles gave the President her resignation on Thursday night.
“Serving President Trump in the White House has been the honor of a lifetime. I’m so proud to have been a part of what we’ve accomplished together from securing our border and cutting taxes to strengthening our economy and putting America First,” Wiles said.
Today is my last day as White House Chief of Staff. Serving President Trump in the White House has been the honor of a lifetime. I’m so proud to have been a part of what we’ve accomplished together from securing our border and cutting taxes to strengthening our economy and putting America First. More than anything, I’m grateful for the extraordinary people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. While my role may be changing, my commitment to the President and the mission never will.
She added that she was grateful for the people she had worked alongside, emphasizing that while her role was changing, her commitment to Trump and his agenda would remain.
“More than anything, I’m grateful for the extraordinary people I’ve had the privilege of working alongside. While my role may be changing, my commitment to the President and the mission never will,” she added.
When asked about Trump’s announcement that Miller would replace Wiles, a former administration official told the Caller that Miller’s approach to immigration policy was focused on accomplishing policy goals rather than seeking publicity.
“He genuinely cares about accomplishing the policy goal. Not making a big fat show on Fox News like Kristi did,” the former official said, referring to former Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
The former official also said Miller “hated the Kristi theatrics,” predicting that he would be “getting dragged into that but that’s never what he wanted.” The official added that, if it had been up to Miller, mass deportations would have been carried out “with no one knowing it was happening.”
Miller has served as White House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser since the start of Trump’s second administration in January 2025.
In that role, he was a senior policy aide with major influence over immigration, border enforcement, domestic policy coordination, and broader executive actions.
He previously worked as a senior advisor and speechwriter in Trump’s first term, with a heavy focus on immigration policy.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/Trump-New-Chief-Of-Staff.jpg348640The Daily Callerhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngThe Daily Caller2026-11-07 05:27:312026-11-07 08:37:43Trump Taps Top Immigration Adviser As New Chief Of Staff
Our optimism about the economy, our confidence that most Americans were thankful to President Trump for having halted mass migration at our southern border on Day One, were all wrong.
We trumpeted Trump’s achievements over the past 20 months, from tax cuts to tariffs to increased NATO defense spending and getting Europe to cover the cost for the Ukraine war (instead of the American taxpayer).
And that’s not to mention the Greenland Deal. And ending 8 wars. And $22 trillion in direct foreign investment in the United States. And driving the transgender nonsense to the fringes of our culture where it belongs.
We thought those accomplishments were self-evident. But they were not.
On the contrary, every day the President, his administration and federal agencies such as ICE were denigrated, castigated, and vilified by the formerly mainstream media and on millions of social media channels that have increasingly taken their place as news sources for younger Americans.
And then came the Iran war, and the totally predictable rise in oil and gas prices.
Even conservatives griped about the price at the pump. My friend Morgan Murphy, a former DoD spokesman, retired U.S. Navy Captain and Afghan war veteran, went on Newsmax TV with me to kvetch about how the Republicans were just missing the point.
“We all just want to be able to buy our wives or girlfriends pumpkin spice lattes and to fill up our F-150s for less than $150,” he said.
Republicans should have been hammering home every single day how their policies had actually made things more affordable, such as tax cuts for working and middle class Americans. But they didn’t.
House Speaker Mike Johnson has accepted the verdict and has stepped down. Not so his cocky and clueless counterpart in the Senate, John Thune.
Thune has been saying all week how great the Senate Republicans performed over the past two years, so he just can’t quite understand why seven of them got hacked to pieces on Tuesday.
He doesn’t seem to have heard about the SAVE Act, the one thing Senate Republicans could have done to ensure that our elections were safe and secure by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote.
It passed the House several times, to accommodate Senate “concerns.” But still, Thune would not whip his colleagues to pass the bill. (And no, he didn’t necessarily have to nuke the filibuster to do so, but that gets down into the weeds).
Look at these election results. A rock-rib Republican state like Texas swung 25.77 percent to the left over the 2024 election, with all 254 counties swinging to the left.
Mississippi swung 22.9%, North Carolina 22.8%, South Caroline 22.4%. And in all of those states, “safe” Republican Senators got shredded on election day.
I find it hard to believe that Governor Greg Abbott of Texas, who turned out 4.5 million Republicans to vote for him this year, got beaten by a Democrat no-one had heard of and that he out-spent by 5 to 1.
Abbott beat Democrat challengers in 2018 and 2022 with roughly the same numbers, 4.5 million votes for Abbot and 3.5 million for the Democrat.
This year, Abbott still got his 4.5 million votes (so no lack of Republican enthusiasm, apparently), but out of nowhere 1.6 million new voters appeared and voted for the Democrat.
I have no idea how that happened and none of the explanations I have read so far makes any sense. But I trust that DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullen is on the case.
Michigan is another one that makes no sense to me. Abdul el Sayyed (not his real Muslim name) managed to alienate a good portion of the Democrat Party base, in particular Jewish Democrats and young black males. He also alienated nearly half of the Arab American population in Michigan, Christians and Muslims, who fled from Islamist oppression.
And yet, he won by just over 7%. How is that possible?
Not once during the campaign did he appear with his Sharia-clad Muslim wife. But once he won he trotted her out.
Happy now, Michigan?
And then came vice-president JD Vance, who blamed the election losses on the Jews for having snookered Donald Trump into the Iran war, and on the war itself.
My guess is that JD smells blood in the water, and he thinks it is not his own.
“The problem was not the Iran War. It was the cease fire. If you start a war, you need to win it and finish it – otherwise don’t start it.”
And who pushed and pushed for that ill-fated ceasefire? JD Vance, along with Steve Witkoff.
Over the summer, JD was telling us we could just “walk away” from the entire region, without having defeated Iran, and everything would be just fine.
Jew-hating does not make for winning campaigns with Republican. Maybe JD can hang out in Qatar with his buddy Tucker Carlson. But if you ask me, he just made a monumental political miscalculation and he couldn’t help himself.
Because it was a tell. He just revealed to us who he really is.
I discuss this, as well as the latest news on Russian arms sales to Iran, and Chinese efforts to subvert America, on this week’s Prophecy Today Weekend.
As always, you can listen live at 1 PM on Saturday in the Jacksonville, Florida, area on 104.9 FM or 550 AM or by using the Jacksonville Way Radio app. You listen later to the podcast by clicking here.
Ken Timmerman’s 14th book of non-fiction, THE IRAN HOUSE: Tales of Revolution, Persecution, War, and Intrigue,can be ordered by clicking here or by viewing my author’s page, here.
Raising Olives in Provence, can be ordered by clicking here.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/WE-WERE-WRONG.jpg360640Kenneth R. Timmermanhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngKenneth R. Timmerman2026-11-07 05:11:402026-11-07 05:19:47We Were Wrong
Democrats won big in the midterms. The House. The Senate. Governor races. It wasn’t even close in many states. But here’s the question: now what?
Host Casey Harper sits down with Family Research Council President Tony Perkins to break down the midterm results, why Democrats won, what it means for the country, and how Christians should think about it.
By The Washington Stand
Critical conversations on the news of the day and the issues that shape us.
Outstanding is a podcast of The Washington Stand, Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. We examine outstanding news and issues from TWS with an aim to take every thought captive for the obedience of Christ (2 Corinthians 10:5). Join us as we examine the headlines through the lens of Scripture, and explore how Christians should respond.
The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/Now-What-Tony-Perkins-on-the-Way-Forward-after-the-2026-Midterms.jpg360640Family Research Councilhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngFamily Research Council2026-11-06 13:10:052026-11-06 13:12:55PODCAST: Now What? Tony Perkins on the Way Forward after the 2026 Midterms
This should be called “The election of the broken heart,” and “The election of “the forgotten man” forgotten again,” active duty men and women in our Army, Navy, Airforce, Marines, Coast Guard and our veterans who felt like unwanted stepchildren.
Commander in Chief and President Donald J. Trump did not detach from the American People due to the Iran War, about which the President had no choice but defending America from eminent “Death to America” attacks from Iran and its proxies Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houtis.
Neither does our Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who boldly supported both God and our military.
As we celebrate Veterans Day on November 11th, 2026, never forget our forgotton men and women in our military. They are fighting against the greatest evils in the world — Iran and its proxies.
Comparing the “Loss” of an Election vs. Millions of Lives
In any ethical and practical framework, the loss of millions of lives is far greater than the loss of an election, because human life is irreplaceable and the scale of suffering is immeasurably larger than political outcomes.
Why millions of lives outweigh an election in value
An election is a political process that determines governance, policy direction, and representation. While it can have significant consequences — such as changes in leadership, laws, and economic policy — its impact is confined to the political sphere and can be reversed or altered through future elections, reforms, or policy changes.
By contrast, the loss of millions of lives involves:
Irreplaceable human beings — each life is unique and cannot be substituted.
Massive, immediate suffering — death, injury, and loss of family and community.
Long-term societal harm — loss of potential contributions, economic impact, and cultural loss.
Moral and ethical weight — most ethical frameworks (including human rights law) place the preservation of life above political outcomes.
Scale and irreversibility
The number of lives lost in a catastrophic event (war, disaster, pandemic) can be measured in the millions, while the number of votes in an election is in the millions but represents a single decision point. The loss of life is permanent; the loss of an election can be mitigated or reversed.
Ethical and legal perspective
International human rights law and moral philosophy consistently hold that the right to life is the most fundamental right. Political processes, while important, are secondary to the preservation of life. Therefore, in a direct comparison, the “greater loss” is always the loss of millions of lives, not the loss of an election.
In short: An election is a political outcome; millions of lives are human beings. The loss of human life is the greater and more profound loss, both morally and practically. CBS News+1
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Forgotten-Man-1.jpg360640Dr. Richard M. Swier, LTC U.S. Army (Ret.)http://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngDr. Richard M. Swier, LTC U.S. Army (Ret.)2026-11-06 11:49:252026-11-06 12:24:55What’s the Greater Loss — One Election or Millions of Lives? Remember “the forgotten man”!
IMHO, when dealing with ANY challenge, proper perspective is monumental.
Change your viewpoints, change your life — Pix credit.
Let’s look at what just happened in the US elections, and give it some much-needed perspective…
The K-12 Education Connection
Evidently, you are tired of hearing this from me, as almost no one is stepping up. OK, please watch at least the first 5 minutes of this brand new PragerU interview. Maybe you’ll respect what this experienced woman has to say. She spells out exactly why these election results are directly connected to K-12.
Some Historical Mid-term Results
Too many American adults have lost contact with history — even very recent events. If we don’t really learn from history, we are doomed to repeat it. A revealing chart was just published by the ever-insightful Sharyl Attkisson.
Her bar graph shows the Net Congressional Seats Lost in some fairly recent U.S. mid-term elections…
The clear takeaway is that what just happened is not the end of the world, as relatively recent far worse losses have been suffered by Democrats.
America has been through MUCH worse times
Compared to the Civil War, two World Wars, COVID-19, etc. America has been through MUCH more difficult times — and came out ahead. That will also happen here if we apply Critical Thinking to the election issue.
Look forward, not back
This setback will be wasted unless we actually learn the key lessons from it. This is a wake-up opportunity — and IMHO the most important message is that we simply must FIX K-12. Fortunately, I have spelled out a reasonable and affordable way to do exactly that.
What happened is likely good news for 2028
Give a key question some critical thought. Which would be our choice: 1) to lose badly in the 2026 mid-term elections, or 2) to lose badly in the 2028 Presidential elections? Clearly, the 2028 elections are FAR more important.
What just happened should be appreciated as a gift, a blessing in disguise! If the Dems are true to form, they will soon embark on promoting nonsensical policiesand also be taking foolish actions (like trying to impeach Trump). It is highly likely that those things will turn off many American independents, so numerous voters will be primed to switch back in 2028!
The Big Guy is still in charge
Too many Americans have been drifting away from religion. When our country was founded, we substantially benefited by having multiple insightful people contributing to our outstanding founding documents. All of those were premised on Judeo-Christian principles on things like individual rights. We should be following their outstanding examples.
We marginalize God’s involvement in our lives at our extreme peril.
One of my primary live-by mottos is: “Work as if everything depended on me, but pray as if everything depended on God.”
The Bottom Line
In the overall scheme of things, the 2026 election results are just a blip in America’s story. It’s up to us whether we give up or use the skills and knowledge available to us to turn this lemon into lemonade. Put in the terms of our fabulous Marines: Improvise, Adapt, and Overcome!
PS — A few other good commentaries that may help with perspective:
Here is other information from this scientist that you might find interesting:
I urge all readers to subscribe to AlterAI — IMO the absolute best AI option for subjective questions.
I will consider posting reader submissions on Critical Thinking about my topics of interest.
My commentaries are my opinion about the material discussed therein, based on the information I have. If any readers have different information, please share it. If it is credible, I will be glad to reconsider my position.
Check out the Archives of this Critical Thinking substack.
C19Science.info is my one-page website that covers the lack of genuine Science behind our COVID-19 policies.
Election-Integrity.info is my one-page website that lists multiple major reports on the election integrity issue.
WiseEnergy.org is my multi-page website that discusses the Science (or lack thereof) behind our energy options.
Media Balance Newsletter: a free, twice-a-month newsletter that covers what the mainstream media does not do, on issues from climate to COVID, elections to education, renewables to religion, etc. Here are the Newsletter’s 2026 Archives. Please send me an email to get your free copy. When emailing me, please make sure to include your full name and the state where you live. (Of course, you can cancel the Media Balance Newsletter at any time!)
Ron DeSantis: Dems will get 55 Senate seats and 250+ House seats. Looking at the Senate map and considering such a massive House margin, it is very unlikely Republicans will recapture the Congress in 2028. Might not have a shot at Senate control until 2032.
More from DeSantis, via Fox News: DeSantis predicted that in the 2028 election cycle, “You are not, as Republicans, going to be able to retake the Senate under this current map just two years from now. “And with all the House seats that have been done, probably not viable to take that back as well. So this is really going to have an impact,” DeSantis added. “Two years, four years, six years, maybe even longer before Republicans could exercise unified control in Washington again like we’ve enjoyed over the last two years”.
Hugh Hewitt: Realism is the best medicine for a party after a “thumpin”.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/The-GOP-Long-Road-Back.jpg360640The Geller Reporthttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngThe Geller Report2026-11-06 04:48:482026-11-06 06:10:20The Long Road Back
Victor Davis Hanson: I will say something, though, also about the midterms very quickly. Yes, what can he do now and what can he not do? There are no judicial appointments. If it was a reasonable Democratic opposition, maybe a lower court judge, district or circuit, they might approve. But he would have to appoint somebody antithetical to the whole MAGA movement for them to get …
So, they have veto power now. They run the Senate. He’s going to have to push judges through in the next November, December. I think the Congress is sworn in in early January. So, they’ve only got two months. They’ve got to get about 100 judges, but how can they do it with [Sen.] Lisa Murkowski and people? They have to get 51 senators, you know what I mean, to get it through.
So, that’s one thing they’re not going to be able to do next year. And Cabinet members, if they want to fire a Cabinet member, they better do it right now because they have to be approved. And they better go talk to Congress a lot more than they have in the past to see if there’s a vote there before you fire someone.
But after that, all he has to do is say, “Well, we took a shellacking,” in the words of Barack Obama. “Oh, we got our blank kicked,” in the words of Bill Clinton. “Oh, we got a thumping,” in the words of George W. Bush. However, Bill Clinton said, “Well, you know, I balanced the budget two years. I’m going to balance the budget again. If I have to work with [Newt] Gingrich, I’ll work with Gingrich.”
And he did. And then he said, “You know, Europeans, [Slobodan] Milosevic is killing people in Kosovo. We’re going to go help a little bit.”
Well, he turned out doing 85% of the missions without congressional authority. He bombed for 77 days. He hit bridges in the suburbs or the approaches to Belgrade. He hit the power grid. And he was a lame-duck president with a Republican Congress.
And then there was Obama. And he said, “Well, I’m going to get a pen and phone.” Remember that? Pen and phone. “And I’ll just do executive orders. And I’m sitting here with pen and phone.”
And then he got together with Ben Rhodes and the rest of that crowd, John Kerry, and he said, “I’m a constitutional lawyer, but I’m not a constitutional lawyer the next two years. So, you know what we’re going to do? We’re going to go do an Iran deal. We’re going to give them $400 million at night. We’re going to lift the sanctions on all of their creepy subordinates, and we’re going to have the Iran deal.”
And they did it. And everybody said, “Well, that’s a treaty. He has to have at least two-thirds, or maybe it’s 60 votes, depending on what the new rule is in the Senate.”
It should be two-thirds. And they didn’t do it.
And then he said, “Oh, you know, we got to have a green climate accord. We’re gonna go to the Paris climate accord and sign it away, and we’ll have a new Green deal.”
And everybody said, “Well, how about China? They’re cheating. They build two coal plants a month.”
“Oh, yeah, I’m president. I own executive.”
And he did that.
And then he said, “I’m gonna … We’ve been too mean to the Castro brothers. We’re gonna recognize Cuba.”
“What? They’re a communist thugocracy.”
“Oh, no, we’re gonna have tourism and everything. They’ll come around.”
So, he did all of that. And then he not only did all of that, he said, “John Brennan, James Clapper, Comey, come on in this office. Now, I told you to find dirt on Donald Trump, that he’s with the Russians, and you didn’t find it. Now you go back out there and get me some stuff that I can, that I can work on. And Susan, Susan Rice, you write her an email and record this that it would … We didn’t do this. Just write an email to yourself, send it to yourself. Everything that happened during this meeting was according to protocol and the law.”
And that’s what he did. He was unbound.
So, Donald Trump foreign policy, they’re not gonna cut off. They don’t have the votes to cut off. They don’t have 60 votes. He can do what he wants to do in Iran that what must be done quickly, efficiently, so they don’t have a bomb, and then we need to get out of there, and we need to keep the strait open.
And then he can deal with [Vladimir] Putin on Ukraine deal.
And I can tell you one thing: If by some hook and crook they denuclearize Iran, and within 18 months that regime is squeezed so it falls, and there’s a peace in Ukraine, he will be, go out of office popular.
And by the way, lowest time, what was the lowest rating for Obama? 37%, just where Trump, lower than Trump is today. And what was, Clinton? 38%. What did Clinton go out of office at? Almost 70%. And what did Obama go out? 60%.
So, if he wants to follow a paradigm where he will be very popular, then all he has to do is, A, use executive orders to get his conservative message where possible done.
Two, get them denuclearized and get out of Iran with the oil price low and the strait open. Work for a peace in Ukraine. That’s what he has to do. And he will go out.
And then you know what happens? He’s so absorbed with these things he’s doing, he doesn’t get into the fray. No Bill Maher stuff.
Obama, as I keep saying to people, the more you didn’t see him or hear him, the more you liked him. He got up 60% because he just played golf, and then he did it by executive order.
And then the other thing is the election’s gonna heat up, and there’s going to be … it’s gonna be in six months they’re gonna start.
Sami Winc: Yes.
Hanson: Well, what I’m saying is not only will he be able, with a free hand in foreign policy, and not only will he [issue] executive orders, there’s only two limitations on him.
No. 1, no judges after Jan. 3 will be nominated, no Cabinet member. But he can get them through now if he hurries, ’cause he has a Senate majority still.
And No. 2, he will have 45 seats, probably, 44. They want [34], so they have [enough] to override a veto. He’s got to go mend fences with Murkowski and some of the RINOs so that they don’t bolt.
He needs all 45 of those people to support him so that when he has a veto and they vote to override, they only get 57 or 55 or 58, but they do not get 66.
If he gets, we don’t know some of the races, if he gets up to 58 or 59, you’ve got people like Murkowski and a couple of others, you’re in trouble.
So he has to have discipline. And [John] Thune, the majority leader, if he’s still the leader, he’ll be a minority leader, but he will have to be ironclad about that.
But then the other thing is Donald Trump declared his candidacy for presidency on Nov. 15, 2022. It is now Nov. 4.
In 18 days, we might have a candidate do the same and declare his candidacy right now and then have the rest of 2026 and all of ’27 before the primaries of ’28.
So, what I’m getting at is, if you look what also Obama and Clinton did besides dissing themselves and executive orders and doing a free hand in foreign policy and not getting into squabbles. You’re gonna see the most bitter campaign.
I can remember when Al Gore said, “I don’t want Bill Clinton on. He’s marred with … ”
That was the stupidest thing you could ever do. He was 65% approval rating because of the impeachment, and he just …
And Clinton said, “OK, I’m not gonna be on the stump. I’m gonna be working with bipartisan and working across the aisle with, you know, Newt Gingrich and the two of us. We’re gonna get another third and fourth year of a surplus. And you know what’s gonna happen? We’re gonna have a problem because pretty soon the debt’s gone, and we don’t know what’s happening when all that money piles up.”
And that was a winning thing. But he didn’t get involved, and then George W. Bush and Gore went at it, and everybody said, “Oh, I wish politics wasn’t so mean.”
And Clinton said, “I’m not involved. I’m not involved. They don’t want me.”
And then same thing with, Barack Obama. They, as soon as it was Trump versus … Trump won very quickly, and it was Trump versus Hillary, archenemies, both controversial people, and they fought it out.
Russian collusion, the secure server, dumping the email. It was a mess.
And Barack Obama, “I don’t know. I haven’t talked to any of them. Don’t know what’s happening.”
And everybody said, “Well, look at Obama. Look at what Clinton. They’re not involved in this rough-and-tumble dirty—”
So, Trump, it’ll be dirty, but he doesn’t have to get into it, and people will see Trump as a statesman.
He’s working on Ukraine. He’s working to make sure that Iran is done with nuclear projects. He’s going to try to liberate Cuba. He’s got too much on his mind to get into another campaign.
Winc: Maybe he’s looking forward to golfing, like Barack Obama did.
Hanson: I hope so.
Yeah, he’s a very good golfer, and he should.
Winc: I have one question, though, a big one, on the DSA, the Democratic Socialists of America. They were saying before the election that if [Abdul] El-Sayed wins, then this will be bring [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez] in as a presidential candidate. There’s that question I would like.
But the other one is, how do you think it will be in the Democratic caucus with these new—with so many more DSA and so many more progressive—
Hanson: So, everybody, remind you, we gave the symptoms of this disease and then we gave a diagnosis and said it had to do with the, the two … explained the economy, we explained the border, we explained the war and the paradoxes of them.
And then we came up with a diagnosis that this was … And then we talked about the therapy, the medicine. I just said what we should do.
He’ll be a lame duck, but he will have problems. Speak softly, carry [a big stick].
And now we’re in our final cycle, and that is the prognosis of the patient.
I don’t think, number one, you can address this size loss. It’s not like 2028, you’re gonna get back those seats. It’s too much. You’d have to have a tsunami in a non-midterm, and that’s very rare.
So, what I’m getting at is this is a very critical election in 2028 because I think they’re going to nominate what you just said, a very radical leftist, not Josh Shapiro, maybe the new commie, or he thinks he’s a communist or socialist, [California Gov. Gavin] Newsom, but he could even be a Sayyed vice president or AOC.
Or somebody even more radical.
And so, what’s the outlook for that? That if they should win, they will have the Senate for sure and the House. Even if the Republicans pick up seats, [it’s not] gonna erase such a huge deficit.
So, what you’re talking about in 2028 is the first time in my life and many of the people listening’s lives where there is a real potential that in January of 2029, which is, you know, it’s only what, two year—a little over—it’s gonna be two years from now in January.
You could see people say, “We’re gonna get rid of the Electoral College. We don’t really care about the Constitution, whether you have to get three-quarters to amend it. We’re gonna pack the court. There’s nothing that says we can’t. We want 15 new judges. We’re gonna get all left-wing and ram them through, and the court’s gonna be more liberal than the Warren Court. We’re going to bring in two states. I don’t like the idea that we have to have three-quarters of the states vote for that. Screw that. We have the power.”
I think they’ll get rid of the filibuster, by the way, next year. The Republicans wouldn’t dare do that, but they will.
And then they’re going to open the border, and they’re gonna stop all deportations. They’re going to defund [Immigration and Customs Enforcement].
They are probably going to war as [Joe] Biden and … When Biden came into office, remember [Kamala] Harris and he said they were against fracking. They stopped new leases. And then they, for the midterms, they relented a little bit. But you’re gonna see windmills and solar panels and subsidies.
And then they’re gonna go after people. They are going to go after Don Jr., all of associates, Eric, all of the Trump family.
And what do I mean by that? Subpoena, subpoena, subpoena, investigation, investigation. And even if there’s nothing there, they’re going to say, you know, this is going to cost them a billion dollars in legal fees. They’re going to run out of cash when we get …
They’ve already said that. They’ve said subpoena and lawfare. [Rep. Robert] Garcia has already said that.
Winc: Well, Trump will pardon them, of course, before he leaves office.
Hanson: Yes, but that doesn’t mean that he’s not going to pardon them from a subpoena. They’re still going to have show there, and they’re still going to have to spend a fortune.
And then, in addition to that, they’re going to go after Elon Musk in Texas. The governor will go after him. [James] Talarico will go after him. They will call him in. They will …
Robert Reich’s already talked about nationalizing his company. I think the AI data centers, which will give it the lead to China, are dead. They will ban those.
And it’s going to be radical if they get elected. This is all predicated in 2028, if they elect … Because they’re going to have all branches of government by then. Because if they get elected, they will pack the court and they will have the presidency and they already have the House and Senate.
And so, that is scary, and that’s what they will try to do.
Then the next question is, as you said, well, are they going to have an agenda? No, they’re not going to have an agenda. They had an agenda and nobody liked it.
It was a 30% open the border. It was a 30% let’s let in 10,000 a day. It was a 30% let’s have drag shows on military bases. Let’s have trans women competing biologically as men in sports. Let’s say DEI runs the Pentagon and lose 50,000 volunteer [soldiers], let’s try to defund the police.
Nobody wanted that, so that’s why they didn’t have an agenda.
They never mentioned any of that in this election.
Their election was two things. Donald Trump is Satan, and he caused your gas to be high while he bombed poor kids in Iran for nothing.
That was it.
Well, after that’s over and there is no Trump around, and I mean, he won’t be in the campaign. He won’t be out there. He’s not the candidate. He won’t be on the ballot, and the Iran war will be over, and gas — and I think the economy’s gonna boom.
That’s gonna be another irony. You get all that foreign investment, the GDP growth, the inflation going down, cheap, cheap energy, it’s gonna go crazy, and they’re gonna try to take credit for it, even though it was Trump’s doing.
But my point is, they don’t have an agenda. Their agenda will be pack the court and everybody said, “Well, they’re not stupid. They’re not gonna show they’re radical.”
Well, did you hear El-Sayed victory speech? Tell everybody Mike Rogers and he, you know, and “Free Palestine, free Palestine.”
You think Talarico’s suddenly gonna say, “Get me a Big Mac”?
Is he suddenly gonna get his cowboy hat and his Ram and go visit an oil field? No. He is what he is for six years.
Winc: Yes.
Hanson: And they’re all going to do that. Is it wise for them to do it? No. They can’t help themselves. They’re socialists and Islamicists, and it’s gonna get ugly.
We publish a variety of perspectives. Nothing written here is to be construed as representing the views of the Daily Signal.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/What-Trump-Must-Do-After-the-Midterm-Losses.jpg360640The Daily Signalhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngThe Daily Signal2026-11-06 04:05:462026-11-06 06:09:46Victor Davis Hanson: What Trump Must Do After the Midterm Losses
Where do we go from here following the 2026 mid-term elections?
We will fight hard for the principles and values that made America great like we have for the past 38 years which included the hard times during the Clinton administration, Obama administration and Biden administration. I remember some people told me at the time that we were doomed during the Obama administration and especially during the Biden administration. Yet, we pressed forward, defending the American values that we cherish.
The mid-term election results was not a validation of leftist Democrats but was a rebuke by a significant margin of voters in all demographics of:
High gas prices and consumer product inflation caused by the Iran war.
President Trump’s failure to keep his 2024 primary campaign pledge to reduce consumer costs for all Americans and settle wars across the globe.
Republican Senate’s gross failure to pass the SAVE America Act and other important conservative legislation for two years.
Lack of transparency regarding the Jeffrey Epstein files.
Florida Family Association’s emails prepared to be sent by subscribers in 2025 and 2026 warned GOP Senators during many online campaigns that their failure to pass the SAVE America Act would hurt their reelection in 2026. A case in point is what happened in Ohio during this election, where voters approved Issue 3 Voter ID law by 66% but elected a Democrat US Senator and Governor.
The Democratic Socialist Party is pushing a lot of Marxist ideas that have proven to fail in all socialist countries. The left in general has a difficult time forming constructive issue policies. Their default issue, since they do not have real supportable issues, is to promote hate against President Trump. The left’s fall back and comfort issue is Trump Derangement Syndrome which is most likely what America will see as the newly led US Senate and House start business. Thankfully, President Trump is there to veto any radical left legislation for the next two years while American voters get to view the left’s newly elected priorities. These priorities will have nothing to do with real affordability solutions going into the 2028 elections.
Florida Family Association will keep its priority of challenging, confronting, countering and discrediting the Islamist political agenda in the coming months and years. We may oppose the newly elected congress’ attempts to pass radical left, socialist legislation just to sound off on such even though President Trump is most likely to veto it. Additionally, we will continue our current online campaigns and confront new issues as they arise.
My trust is in God almighty and His powerful Word.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/WHATS-NEXT-1.jpg360640Florida Family Associationhttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngFlorida Family Association2026-11-06 03:48:422026-11-06 06:12:15Where Do We Go From Here
The results are in, and for many conservatives, the reality is difficult to process. In a shocking political shift, a traditionally Republican stronghold in Texas has unexpectedly flipped blue. For decades, the Lone Star State stood as an unshakeable bastion of conservative values, free markets, and individual liberty since the 1980s. Yet recent electoral outcomes have proven an uncomfortable truth: no state is immune to political realignment if its base remains asleep at the wheel.
A primary driver behind this sudden shift lies in a familiar narrative: the massive wave of migration from coastal blue states. Millions of Americans, seeking refuge from high taxes, overregulation, and decaying infrastructure, fled California and other progressive centers looking for a better quality of life.
However, a concerning paradox has emerged. Many transplants brought the very political ideologies and policy preferences that ruined their home states right along with them. Instead of embracing the culture of freedom and fiscal responsibility that made Texas an economic powerhouse, some continue to vote for the exact big-government frameworks they supposedly escaped. When traditional communities experience rapid demographic shifts without a corresponding commitment to local civic values, the political balance inevitably fractures.
This paradox creates a deep frustration among locals who watched their neighborhoods transform overnight. The irony is stark: individuals pack up U-Haul trucks, leaving behind skyrocketing costs of living, soaring crime rates, and failing public schools, only to pull the lever for the exact policies that created those very crises. They treat conservative states like vacation homes — enjoying the economic freedom, low taxes, and safe streets while undermining the structural pillars that made those benefits possible in the first place. When civic duty is replaced by cultural tourism at the ballot box, the foundational fabric of the community begins to fray.
While external migration plays a significant role, looking outward only tells half the story. The other culprit is internal complacency.
For generations, long-term residents in red states have operated under a dangerous assumption: “Our side always wins; my single vote won’t change the outcome.” That apathy is precisely what hands victory to the opposition. Low voter turnout among conservatives who took victory for granted created a fatal vulnerability. When voters stay home, energized activist networks step into the vacuum, allowing candidates with minimal substantive platforms to slide into power.
Furthermore, the mechanics of modern elections often present an uphill battle for voters attempting to safeguard their communities. As recent reports from across the nation highlight, election day is increasingly fraught with administrative hurdles, technical glitches, closed polling sites, and logistical friction in crucial battlegrounds. When voters face long lines, confused procedures, or localized breakdowns, it dampens turnout precisely where every single vote counts. Complacency combined with institutional friction creates a worst-case scenario: a motivated minority outorganizing a distracted majority who assumed the system would simply protect itself.
We have seen this movie before. California was once a reliable, conservative-leaning state for many years before a slow, systemic cultural and political shift turned it completely blue. The trajectory of the Golden State serves as a stark, frantic warning for Texas, Florida, and every remaining conservative haven across the country.
If local patriots assume their way of life is permanent, they risk waking up to a reality where their home states no longer reflect their values. Complacency is a luxury the conservative movement can no longer afford.
We are watching a systematic reshaping of the American political landscape, where national organizations and well-funded progressive networks target historically red states with surgical precision. They know that if Texas falls permanently, the electoral map alters in a way that locks in one-party control nationally for generations. At this rate, the map of safe conservative havens is shrinking drastically. As voices across the conservative movement have warned, complacency today guarantees subjugation tomorrow. If we fail to actively protect the integrity of our voting systems, demand accountability from our leaders, and educate new arrivals on the value of liberty, we will soon run out of places to run.
Look at the map. Florida stands firm, but for how long? We are running out of ground to stand on. This is our final line of defense; if Texas goes, the blueprint for American freedom goes with it.
Texans — and Americans everywhere who cherish liberty — need to wake up, show up at the polls, and hold their communities accountable.
Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction; it must be fought for, defended, and voted for every single time.
https://drrichswier.com/wp-content/uploads/MARXIST-REVOLUTION-IN-AMERICA.jpg360640Amil Imanihttp://drrich.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/logo_264x69.pngAmil Imani2026-11-05 13:11:332026-11-06 06:10:58Complacency and Migration Are Costing Us Our Strongholds
President Donald Trump may order another round of strikes against Iran after Tuesday’s midterm elections. Before he does, the Pentagon owes Americans straight answers about eight months of fighting.
American forces have badly damaged Iran’s air defenses, navy, and missile infrastructure. Yet two new investigations show Tehran inflicted far greater damage on our forces than the public has been told.
An Associated Press analysis published Saturday found that more than 115 strikes by Iran or its proxies damaged or destroyed structures at 26 bases and other sites housing U.S. equipment through August. The Wall Street Journal separately counted 274 damaged structures at 24 installations with an American presence during the war’s first six months. The Journal also found Iran increasingly targeted buildings where our troops live and sleep.
That should alarm every family with a loved one in uniform, because the toll includes lives.
Six American Soldiers Who Should Not Be Forgotten
The most disturbing questions concern the March 1 Iranian drone attack at Port Shuaiba, Kuwait, which killed six Army Reserve soldiers and wounded dozens more.
An October AP investigation reported that Major General John Hinson, who oversaw logistics for U.S. Central Command, and Brig. General Clint Barnes, commander of the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, kept operations at the port despite warnings about its exposure to drones. Hinson declined to comment, and Barnes did not respond. Negligence has not been proven.
The AP interviewed 13 soldiers, most of them officers. Several said force-protection officers told both generals the port had no defense against drones, and that plans to move the headquarters out of Kuwait were rejected. “Kuwait was just too close, that’s the bottom line,” one officer told the AP.
The Army completed its investigation in June but still has not released its findings.
I spent 24 years as an active-duty Army infantry officer and another two decades in the Pentagon working on defense strategy. I know commanders must accept risk to accomplish the mission. No commander can guarantee every soldier’s safety.
But commanders have a fundamental obligation to assess threats, heed credible warnings, and take reasonable steps to protect the men and women entrusted to them.
Were these deaths foreseeable and preventable? The families deserve to know, and Congress should insist on it.
What Did the Pentagon Know?
Kuwait was only the beginning.
Iran went after our eyes first. According to the AP, Iranian strikes destroyed radar enclosures at Camp Arifjan in Kuwait and Naval Support Activity Bahrain in the war’s first two days. A radar in Jordan, one of only 13 the Army has worldwide at roughly half a billion dollars apiece, was reportedly destroyed. Yet Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell insists that “forces and bases are well protected, and America’s military is stronger than ever.”
Then there are the aircraft.
An October Congressional Research Service report listed 81 U.S. military aircraft and drones lost or damaged since February. The tally includes accidents and friendly fire, and some aircraft have returned to service.
Five KC-135 refueling tankers were reportedly damaged in an Iranian strike on Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia. Two more were lost or damaged in a March 12 midair collision over Iraq that killed six airmen, an accident rather than enemy action.
On October 21, the head of Air Force Materiel Command said at least two badly damaged KC-135s remain in depot repair.
These tankers carry American airpower across vast distances. Losing them, even temporarily, strains an aging fleet.
The administration has good reason to tout the damage inflicted on Iran’s military. But Tehran retained enough capability to keep striking American assets. Apparently no one told the Iranians their military was finished.
Americans can celebrate battlefield success and still demand an honest count of our own losses.
The Staggering Costs
A Pentagon estimate sent to Congress put war spending at $47.1 billion through October 16, and that figure excludes repairs to damaged bases.
The Pentagon prices that base damage at a minimum of $5 billion, according to the Journal, with one estimate running as high as $15 billion.
Does our regional posture match the threat? Iran is not the Taliban. Its missiles, drones, and targeting capabilities pose a far more demanding challenge.
And if Iran can impose such costs, consider the challenge of fighting China or Russia. Every month in the Gulf leaves fewer ships, aircraft, and crews for the Indo-Pacific, where deterring China remains our paramount concern.
Congress Must Demand Accountability
In 1941, Senator Harry Truman, a Missouri Democrat, launched a Senate investigation of the national defense program under a president of his own party. His committee exposed defective aircraft engines, faulty steel for shipbuilding, and wasteful military construction. “There is no substitute for facts,” Truman liked to say. The work saved taxpayers billions and put him on Franklin Roosevelt’s 1944 ticket.
Today’s Congress should apply the same standard. Asking whether commanders did enough to protect American troops is oversight, the job the Constitution assigns to Congress.
Before the president orders another round of strikes against Iran, Congress and the American people deserve answers to four questions.
What vulnerabilities did Iranian attacks expose, and have they been corrected?
Did command decisions needlessly endanger American personnel, and what have investigators found?
What are the actual losses, and how have they affected military readiness?
And what specific political objective would renewed attacks accomplish that eight months of fighting have not?
Congress should receive a classified assessment, and the public a candid accounting that protects operational security.
The President Owes Americans an Explanation
Reuters reported Monday that Iranian negotiators had left Doha after three days of talks with Qatari mediators, with a draft proposal circulating. Trump has said he would not strike before Tuesday’s vote. But over the weekend he told reporters the U.S. still has to “take care of” one or two sites and warned, “Either they’ll make a deal, or we’ll just end it.”
Diplomacy may fail. Iran’s regime remains dangerous, and the president must retain credible military options.
In his April 1 address, Trump said American forces were “on track to complete all of America’s military objectives shortly, very shortly.” Seven months later, he owes Americans an update on where this war stands, what victory now means, and what more fighting would cost.
Establish the facts. Correct the mistakes. Hold commanders accountable for decisions within their responsibility. Then decide what comes next.
America has proved it can strike Iran with extraordinary force. Washington must now show that it has done all it reasonably can to protect the Americans who bear the consequences.
Robert Maginnis is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel, senior fellow for National Security at Family Research Council, and the author of 15 books. His latest, “The Final Algorithm,” was released in July 2026.
The Washington Stand is Family Research Council’s outlet for news and commentary from a biblical worldview. The Washington Stand is based in Washington, D.C. and is published by FRC, whose mission is to advance faith, family, and freedom in public policy and the culture from a biblical worldview. We invite you to stand with us by partnering with FRC.
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