The last word this morning....

The Democrats have swept to victory in the US midterm elections, taking control of Congress.

While the incumbent president's party generally tends to have a bad night in these elections, the scale of the Republican defeat is being viewed as a resounding rejection of Donald Trump's two years in the White House.

From angry voters to an unpopular president, here are five reasons why the Republicans lost so many seats. From coast to coast, voters across the US have been grappling with the soaring cost of essentials. That anger was palpable on the ground in key races. "Gas prices, grocery prices, everything's going up," one North Carolina voter told the BBC ahead of the elections, adding that she had switched her vote from Republican to Democratic this election. Prices increased by 3.7% in the year to September, driven higher by fuel and energy prices. Average US retail diesel prices in early October were just shy of the record of $6.52 (£4.83) per gallon seen in September, according to government data. Almost eight in 10 voters (79%) said inflation had caused them and their family a severe or moderate hardship in the past year, according to data from voter polls. And more than six in 10 respondents laid the blame for that at the feet of Trump, saying they thought higher than usual prices were because of the president's policies. A major factor in surging prices has been the war with Iran which the US and Israel launched in February. Fuel prices then shot up after Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, strangling a key artery for the passage of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).

US voters have been paying the price at the petrol pump ever since.The war has proved broadly unpopular with most Americans. For Maga Republicans it also felt like a broken promise in Trump's America First campaign agenda in which he pledged there would be no more wars.Around six in 10 (63%) of those asked in a voter poll said the US made the wrong decision to take military action against Iran.Separately, three-quarters of voters (74%) said the conflict was a crucial or major factor in their vote for Congress.The morning after the election, Trump conceded the war had played a role in the defeat but insisted in an interview on Fox that he had no choice but to intervene to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon. The scale and breadth of this Democratic wave was made possible by some strong candidates who came across as authentic, especially in traditional Republican heartlands.

They stuck to a disciplined message about the cost of living and healthcare access.Former teacher James Talarico and pastor Adam Hamilton also talked about their faith in a way that struck a chord in Texas and Kansas respectively. In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews pulled off a shock upset. A former paediatrician, her focus on health care affordability resonated in a country where many see the system as broken.

Former public health official Abdul El-Sayed, who triumphed in Michigan to keep that seat Democratic, made getting "money out of politics, money in your pocket" a key slogan. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who won re-election in Georgia, made the cost of living and corruption a central message. The 39-year-old's comfortable victory in a state Trump won twice will only fuel rumours of a 2028 presidential run. Even Trump himself praised the Democrats, telling Fox News they "did a good job". Conversely, some Republican candidates like Ken Paxton in Texas were criticised for running poor campaigns that were not focused enough on voters' concerns. Two of the issues voters were most unhappy with - rocketing prices and the Iran War - were directly linked to the president. His approval ratings had even fallen among Republican voters, which made some of these states which backed him in 2024 especially vulnerable. He urged voters to imagine he was on the ballot in an effort to galvanize his supporters. Angry Republicans blame Trump for midterms defeat

But after more than a decade as the central figure in American politics, some see these results as evidence that the glitz may be wearing off Trump's brand. Against a backdrop of increasing anger, making himself the focus of the Republican campaign was risky and appears to have backfired. In the months leading up to the vote, polling indicated that many Americans wanted Trump to focus more on their concerns about rocketing prices.

In his final campaign speech on Monday in Washington DC, he talked at length about his controversial renovation project of the Reflecting Pool behind him.

 

The last word this morning....
The Democrats have swept to victory in the US midterm elections, taking control of Congress.
While the incumbent president's party generally tends to have a bad night in these elections, the scale of the Republican defeat is being viewed as a resounding rejection of Donald Trump's two years in the White House.
From angry voters to an unpopular president, here are five reasons why the Republicans lost so many seats.&nbsp;From coast to coast, voters across the US have been grappling with the soaring cost of essentials. That anger was palpable on the ground in key races.&nbsp;"Gas prices, grocery prices, everything's going up," one North Carolina voter told the BBC ahead of the elections, adding that she had switched her vote from Republican to Democratic this election.&nbsp;Prices increased by 3.7% in the year to September, driven higher by fuel and energy prices. Average US retail diesel prices in early October were just shy of the record of $6.52 (&pound;4.83) per gallon seen in September, according to government data.&nbsp;Almost eight in 10 voters (79%) said inflation had caused them and their family a severe or moderate hardship in the past year, according to data from voter polls.&nbsp;And more than six in 10 respondents laid the blame for that at the feet of Trump, saying they thought higher than usual prices were because of the president's policies.&nbsp;A major factor in surging prices has been the war with Iran which the US and Israel launched in February.&nbsp;Fuel prices then shot up after Tehran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, strangling a key artery for the passage of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
US voters have been paying the price at the petrol pump ever since.The war has proved broadly unpopular with most Americans. For Maga Republicans it also felt like a broken promise in Trump's America First campaign agenda in which he pledged there would be no more wars.Around six in 10 (63%) of those asked in a voter poll said the US made the wrong decision to take military action against Iran.Separately, three-quarters of voters (74%) said the conflict was a crucial or major factor in their vote for Congress.The morning after the election, Trump conceded the war had played a role in the defeat but insisted in an interview on Fox that he had no choice but to intervene to stop Iran getting a nuclear weapon.&nbsp;The scale and breadth of this Democratic wave was made possible by some strong candidates who came across as authentic, especially in traditional Republican heartlands.
They stuck to a disciplined message about the cost of living and healthcare access.Former teacher James Talarico and pastor Adam Hamilton also talked about their faith in a way that struck a chord in Texas and Kansas respectively.&nbsp;In South Carolina, Democrat Annie Andrews pulled off a shock upset. A former paediatrician, her focus on health care affordability resonated in a country where many see the system as broken.
Former public health official Abdul El-Sayed, who triumphed in Michigan to keep that seat Democratic, made getting "money out of politics, money in your pocket" a key slogan. Democratic Senator Jon Ossoff, who won re-election in Georgia, made the cost of living and corruption a central message. The 39-year-old's comfortable victory in a state Trump won twice will only fuel rumours of a 2028 presidential run. Even Trump himself praised the Democrats, telling Fox News they "did a good job". Conversely, some Republican candidates like Ken Paxton in Texas were criticised for running poor campaigns that were not focused enough on voters' concerns. Two of the issues voters were most unhappy with - rocketing prices and the Iran War - were directly linked to the president. His approval ratings had even fallen among Republican voters, which made some of these states which backed him in 2024 especially vulnerable. He urged voters to imagine he was on the ballot in an effort to galvanize his supporters. Angry Republicans blame Trump for midterms defeat
But after more than a decade as the central figure in American politics, some see these results as evidence that the glitz may be wearing off Trump's brand.&nbsp;Against a backdrop of increasing anger, making himself the focus of the Republican campaign was risky and appears to have backfired.&nbsp;In the months leading up to the vote, polling indicated that many Americans wanted Trump to focus more on their concerns about rocketing prices.
In his final campaign speech on Monday in Washington DC, he talked at length about his controversial renovation project of the Reflecting Pool behind him.
&nbsp;

November 6, 2026 - The Last Word

Josh Brewer of Lifelight joins Greg to discuss the organization’s exciting announcement that Sioux City has been selected to host its next full-scale, free festival.

Brewer shares what attendees can expect from the event, along with opportunities for community members to get involved and be part of this special experience.

Josh Brewer of Lifelight joins Greg to discuss the organization&rsquo;s exciting announcement that Sioux City has been selected to host its next full-scale, free festival.
Brewer shares what attendees can expect from the event, along with opportunities for community members to get involved and be part of this special experience.

November 6, 2026 - Interview with Josh Brewer with LifeLight

Harmeet Dhillon resigned yesterday as head of the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division. She is the first senior official out after the midterms. She spent 18 months pointing that office at ending illegal DEI programs, protecting women’s and girls’ sports, and pushing election integrity cases. She says she told White House chief of staff Susie Wiles in early October that she planned to leave after the election, and Wiles asked her to stay until it was over.

Harmeet Dhillon resigned yesterday as head of the Justice Department&rsquo;s Civil Rights Division. She is the first senior official out after the midterms. She spent 18 months pointing that office at ending illegal DEI programs, protecting women&rsquo;s and girls&rsquo; sports, and pushing election integrity cases. She says she told White House chief of staff Susie Wiles in early October that she planned to leave after the election, and Wiles asked her to stay until it was over.

November 6, 2026 - How Much of the Work She Started on DEI and Women’s Sports Do You Expect to Survive Under the New Congress?

In Belf's News Gallery, Greg Belfrage goes over the latest in trending news.

In Belf's News Gallery, Greg Belfrage goes over the latest in trending news.

November 6, 2026 - Belf's News Gallery

In the Top of the News Stack, fears of a Democrat-led clampdown on AI slammed the markets Thursday – sparking unprecedented dollar losses just a day after a massive, post-election rally. S&P 500 firms shed $2.9 trillion in market value and Nasdaq companies lost $2.5 trillion – both single-day records. The Nasdaq entered correction territory as investors panicked over a looming datacenter reckoning in the wake of Democrats’ midterm sweep. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1,833 points, or 3.44%, to close at 51,523.06. It completely wiped out its 1,500-point post-election rally – which was its best day in 18 months– as industry leaders grew convinced the new Congress will slow the pace of projects, potentially hitting revenue at top AI labs. 

Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon is resigning as head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, telling Fox News Digital exclusively that she made the decision weeks before Republicans' midterm losses and was asked by White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to delay her departure until after the election. "I wasn't asked to resign," Dhillon told Fox News Digital. "I resigned three weeks ago, and Susie asked me to please wait until after the midterms." Dhillon formally submitted her resignation on November 5, according to a letter obtained by Fox News Digital. Dhillon said she informed Wiles three weeks before Election Day that she believed she had "accomplished everything" she came to Washington to do and wanted to return to private practice. Asked if she would testify before Congress if subpoenaed after leaving the administration, Dhillon said there would be limits on what she could discuss because of executive privilege but indicated she would seek legal advice and follow it. "I would certainly take legal counsel and follow it in that regard," she said. Dhillon was also asked whether she expected Trump to pardon her or other administration officials if congressional Democrats sought to target them. "I have no idea. I haven't ever discussed that with him, asked for it," Dhillon said. "And I have done nothing, in my opinion, that would require that, but, you know, that's up to the president." She revealed that the decision to leave the DOJ ultimately came down to wanting to return to the work she had done for much of her career in the private sector.

 

A federal judge blocked construction of President Trump's arch, stopping work the administration had hoped to begin immediately.  Just before midnight Friday, District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan issued an order — finalized and made public minutes later - barring the government from any construction work for 14 days, granting a request filed days earlier by the governments of D.C. and Virginia. She laid out her reasoning in a 33-page opinion, in which she scrutinized the administration's competing justifications for the arch — particularly its sudden emphasis on national security — and agreed that the local governments are likely to be harmed by its construction. The 250-foot arch would stand in Memorial Circle, a traffic island on the bridge linking the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery. Trump administration officials have said work would take place 20 hours a day, year-round, for two to three years. In addition to questioning the arch's legality, D.C. and Virginia argue the construction would cause all sorts of financial and logistical disruptions.

In the Top of the News Stack, fears of a Democrat-led clampdown on AI slammed the markets Thursday &ndash; sparking unprecedented dollar losses just a day after a massive, post-election rally. S&amp;P 500 firms shed $2.9 trillion in market value and Nasdaq companies lost $2.5 trillion &ndash; both single-day records. The Nasdaq entered correction territory as investors panicked over a looming datacenter reckoning in the wake of Democrats&rsquo; midterm sweep. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plummeted 1,833 points, or 3.44%, to close at 51,523.06. It completely wiped out its 1,500-point post-election rally &ndash; which was its best day in 18 months&ndash; as industry leaders grew convinced the new Congress will slow the pace of projects, potentially hitting revenue at top AI labs.&nbsp;
Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon is resigning as head of the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division, telling Fox News Digital exclusively that she made the decision weeks before Republicans' midterm losses and was asked by White House chief of staff Susie Wiles to delay her departure until after the election. "I wasn't asked to resign," Dhillon told Fox News Digital. "I resigned three weeks ago, and Susie asked me to please wait until after the midterms."&nbsp;Dhillon formally submitted her resignation on November 5, according to a letter obtained by Fox News Digital.&nbsp;Dhillon said she informed Wiles three weeks before Election Day that she believed she had "accomplished everything" she came to Washington to do and wanted to return to private practice.&nbsp;Asked if she would testify before Congress if subpoenaed after leaving the administration, Dhillon said there would be limits on what she could discuss because of executive privilege but indicated she would seek legal advice and follow it.&nbsp;"I would certainly take legal counsel and follow it in that regard," she said.&nbsp;Dhillon was also asked whether she expected Trump to pardon her or other administration officials if congressional Democrats sought to target them.&nbsp;"I have no idea. I haven't ever discussed that with him, asked for it," Dhillon said. "And I have done nothing, in my opinion, that would require that, but, you know, that's up to the president."&nbsp;She revealed that the decision to leave the DOJ ultimately came down to wanting to return to the work she had done for much of her career in the private sector.
&nbsp;
A federal judge blocked construction of President Trump's arch, stopping work the administration had hoped to begin immediately.&nbsp;&nbsp;Just before midnight Friday, District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan issued an order &mdash; finalized and made public minutes later - barring the government from any construction work for 14 days, granting a request filed days earlier by the governments of D.C. and Virginia.&nbsp;She laid out her reasoning in a 33-page opinion, in which she scrutinized the administration's competing justifications for the arch &mdash; particularly its sudden emphasis on national security &mdash; and agreed that the local governments are likely to be harmed by its construction. The 250-foot arch would stand in Memorial Circle, a traffic island on the bridge linking the Lincoln Memorial to Arlington National Cemetery.&nbsp;Trump administration officials have said work would take place 20 hours a day, year-round, for two to three years. In addition to questioning the arch's legality, D.C. and Virginia argue the construction would cause all sorts of financial and logistical disruptions.

November 6, 2026 - Top of the News Stack

Greg continued the conversation on what you think made the Republicans lose. 

Vice President JD Vance said yesterday the reason Republicans lost the House and Senate is the Iran war. He said people who voted for Trump in 2024 voted Democrat this time because they wanted the war ended, costs down, America first, and a different approach with Israel. Governor Ron DeSantis called it close to an extinction-level event. He said it was a meteor strike that hit red states and blue states. He said the midterms were a rebuke of the president and the Congress.

Greg continued the conversation on what you think made the Republicans lose.&nbsp;
Vice President JD Vance said yesterday the reason Republicans lost the House and Senate is the Iran war. He said people who voted for Trump in 2024 voted Democrat this time because they wanted the war ended, costs down, America first, and a different approach with Israel. Governor Ron DeSantis called it close to an extinction-level event. He said it was a meteor strike that hit red states and blue states. He said the midterms were a rebuke of the president and the Congress.

November 5, 2026 -DeSantis called it a Meteor Strike, Is That What You Saw? 

Vice President JD Vance said yesterday the reason Republicans lost the House and Senate is the Iran war. He said people who voted for Trump in 2024 voted Democrat this time because they wanted the war ended, costs down, America first, and a different approach with Israel. Governor Ron DeSantis called it close to an extinction-level event. He said it was a meteor strike that hit red states and blue states. He said the midterms were a rebuke of the president and the Congress.

Vice President JD Vance said yesterday the reason Republicans lost the House and Senate is the Iran war. He said people who voted for Trump in 2024 voted Democrat this time because they wanted the war ended, costs down, America first, and a different approach with Israel. Governor Ron DeSantis called it close to an extinction-level event. He said it was a meteor strike that hit red states and blue states. He said the midterms were a rebuke of the president and the Congress.

November 5, 2026 - Do You Believe the War is the Main Reason Republicans Lost Both Chambers?

Greg sat down with Jeff Gould this morning to talk about A Prairie Christmas: Under the Stars. 


The event will be December 6th and 13th at the Washington Pavilion and tickets are on sale now. 


You can get all the information at A Prairie Christmas | I Like That Story

Greg sat down with Jeff Gould this morning to talk about A Prairie Christmas: Under the Stars.&nbsp;
 The event will be December 6th and 13th at the Washington Pavilion and tickets are on sale now.&nbsp;
 You can get all the information at&nbsp;<a href="https://ilikethatstory.net/a-prairie-christmas/">A Prairie Christmas | I Like That Story</a>

November 5, 2026 - Interview with Jeff Gould

November 5, 2026 - Belf's News Gallery

In the Top of the News Stack, outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that the Republican losses in the midterm elections are "close to an extinction-level event" for the party "in many parts of the country, as we have seen probably in the last 100 years." DeSantis spoke after Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate on Election Day. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida House Republican, won the contest for DeSantis' seat despite other GOP candidates losing their gubernatorial races around the U.S. "Here's the thing. Democrats are unpopular. They were able to win based off the sentiment that exists in the country right now. They did not earn a mandate to indulge all their left-wing fantasies. And they're going to be in there governing, and we'll see what ends up happening," DeSantis said. "But this was not a positive view of the Democrats. This was a rejection of Republicans in Washington," he added. "And Democrats just happened to be the beneficiary." DeSantis, who has not ruled out a 2028 presidential bid, said, "In January, when everyone in office leaves, who were either term-limited or got voted out of the 10 largest states in this union, only one state will have Republican control of their state, the state of Florida. "Last night we witnessed — to call it a wave, I don't think would be fully accurate — it's the political equivalent of a meteor strike that went all around the United States. Blue states, red states, everything in between," DeSantis said. "And the one state that was able to hold the line and withstand that is right here in the free state of Florida. "If you look at our chief rival, in a healthy sense, the state of Texas, and I would say over my lifetime, Texas has been the crown jewel of Republican politics. I think we've been the leader for Republicans and conservatives since I've been governor. But if you go over the whole generation, no one holds a candle on the Republican side to the Lone Star State. And yet, not only did they lose a very highly publicized U.S. Senate race, they lost everything," DeSantis continued.

Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the Trump administration's ongoing war with Iran was to blame for Republicans' massive losses in Tuesday's midterm election, during which Democrats reclaimed control of both chambers of Congress. But President Donald Trump, asked about Vance's comments, remained committed to the ongoing military action despite "largely" agreeing with Vance about the impact of the war on the election. The vice president wrote in a lengthy social media post that "the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone." "The reason we lost is the war," Vance said of the Trump administration's ongoing conflict with Iran. "The president himself said so last night." Vance said he spoke with pollsters who told him that many people who voted for Trump in 2024 switched to the Democrats in this election because they were "angry." "If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest. But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there," Vance wrote. The vice president in the past has publicly been supportive of the war and slammed the president's critics over the issue.

In the Top of the News Stack, outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Wednesday that the Republican losses in the midterm elections are "close to an extinction-level event" for the party "in many parts of the country, as we have seen probably in the last 100 years."&nbsp;DeSantis spoke after Republicans lost control of both the House and Senate on Election Day. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Florida House Republican, won the contest for DeSantis' seat despite other GOP candidates losing their gubernatorial races around the U.S.&nbsp;"Here's the thing. Democrats are unpopular. They were able to win based off the sentiment that exists in the country right now. They did not earn a mandate to indulge all their left-wing fantasies. And they're going to be in there governing, and we'll see what ends up happening," DeSantis said.&nbsp;"But this was not a positive view of the Democrats. This was a rejection of Republicans in Washington," he added. "And Democrats just happened to be the beneficiary."&nbsp;DeSantis, who has not ruled out a 2028 presidential bid, said, "In January, when everyone in office leaves, who were either term-limited or got voted out of the 10 largest states in this union, only one state will have Republican control of their state, the state of Florida.&nbsp;"Last night we witnessed &mdash; to call it a wave, I don't think would be fully accurate &mdash; it's the political equivalent of a meteor strike that went all around the United States. Blue states, red states, everything in between," DeSantis said. "And the one state that was able to hold the line and withstand that is right here in the free state of Florida.&nbsp;"If you look at our chief rival, in a healthy sense, the state of Texas, and I would say over my lifetime, Texas has been the crown jewel of Republican politics. I think we've been the leader for Republicans and conservatives since I've been governor. But if you go over the whole generation, no one holds a candle on the Republican side to the Lone Star State. And yet, not only did they lose a very highly publicized U.S. Senate race, they lost everything," DeSantis continued.
Vice President JD Vance said Wednesday that the Trump administration's ongoing war with Iran was to blame for Republicans' massive losses in Tuesday's midterm election, during which Democrats reclaimed control of both chambers of Congress.&nbsp;But President Donald Trump, asked about Vance's comments, remained committed to the ongoing military action despite "largely" agreeing with Vance about the impact of the war on the election.&nbsp;The vice president wrote in a lengthy social media post that "the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone."&nbsp;"The reason we lost is the war," Vance said of the Trump administration's ongoing conflict with Iran. "The president himself said so last night."&nbsp;Vance said he spoke with pollsters who told him that many people who voted for Trump in 2024 switched to the Democrats in this election because they were "angry."&nbsp;"If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest. But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there," Vance wrote.&nbsp;The vice president in the past has publicly been supportive of the war and slammed the president's critics over the issue.

November 5, 2026 - Top of the News Stack

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