Welcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.
asserted
that → welcome → House
In today’s edition, Bridget Bowman digs into a major development in the battle for the Senate.
asserted
Bowman → dig → Senate
Plus, Kristen Welker examines the headwinds facing the GOP as President Donald Trump kicks off his midterm tour.
asserted
Trump → examine → tour
A big move today from a leading Republican super PAC underscores the increasingly tough Senate landscape the party is confronting as it tries to hang on to its majority.
asserted
it → lead → majority
Senate Leadership Fund, which is aligned with Senate GOP leadership, canceled its future ad spending in the Senate race in battleground North Carolina and launched a new ad effort in deep-red Kansas.
asserted
which → align → Kansas
(Semafor was first to report the news.)
asserted
Semafor → report → news
Republicans have been pessimistic for weeks about their prospects in North Carolina, with former Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper leading in recent polling and outspending former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley.
SLF had been heavily involved in the race: In September, it spent more than $17 million, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact.
uncertain
it → lead → firm
President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance also each traveled to the state last month to boost Whatley, whom Trump personally encouraged to run for retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis’ seat.
asserted
Trump → travel → seat
I hope he wins,” Trump told reporters of Whatley today.
asserted
Trump → hope → Whatley
“He’s a great man.”
asserted
He → ’ → ?
The GOP’s confidence is also dwindling in another swing state, Georgia, where Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff has similarly established a clear polling and fundraising advantage over Republican Rep. Mike Collins.
asserted
Ossoff → dwindle → Collins
But one person familiar with SLF’s spending noted the group has not paused its spending in that race.
asserted
group → note → race
Meanwhile, in solidly Republican Kansas, the race between GOP Sen. Roger Marshall and Democratic pastor Adam Hamilton has become more competitive in the homestretch, even though the state has not sent a Democrat to the Senate since 1932.
asserted
state → become → 1932
So far, SLF has reserved more than $8 million in airtime in Kansas, according to AdImpact.
uncertain
SLF → reserve → AdImpact
The diversion of resources to Kansas reflects that the battle for Senate control has shifted to red states.
asserted
battle → reflect → states
Trump carried eight of the 10 states where SLF is spending money on ads from October through Election Day.
asserted
SLF → carry → Day
Vance is set to travel to one of those states, Alaska, next week.
asserted
Vance → set → states
Trump broadcasts midterm anxieties as he begins a 17-state tour
Analysis by Kristen Welker
President Donald Trump doesn’t just want voters to pretend he’s on the ballot this midterm election, he is going to ask for their support in person as well.
asserted
he → broadcast → person
As NBC News reported yesterday, Trump is set to travel to 17 states for 36 events in 30 days, according to a White House official.
uncertain
Trump → report → official
It’s an ambitious schedule that further emphasizes what the president told a crowd in Oklahoma last night: “We’re worried.”
asserted
We → ’ → Oklahoma
“We’re worried about Michigan.
asserted
We → ’re → Michigan
We’re worried about Texas.
asserted
We → ’re → Texas
We’re worried about a few states,” Trump said, “but it’s all about 35 different contests; not states, contests.
asserted
it → ’re → states
And I’m going to just about all.
asserted
I → go → all
I’m going to Alaska.”
asserted
I → go → Alaska
There are a number of factors creating obstacles for Republicans heading into Election Day, including the president’s record low approval ratings on his handling of the economy, which is the No. 1 issue for voters across the board.
asserted
which → be → board
Today, the final jobs report ahead of the midterms showed a slowing job market and wages lagging behind inflation.
asserted
report → show → inflation
The job numbers, which were much lower than expected, come just as Trump is due to rally in many rural, blue-collar communities.
asserted
Trump → expect → communities
During his Oklahoma rally, he once again promised that “if the Republicans win, you will each have $5,000 in your pocket and the economic success for our country like you’ve never seen before,” addressing the financial pressure voters are feeling.
asserted
voters → promise → pressure
It’s not just the economy where Trump’s facing the headwinds — it’s immigration, too.
asserted
it → ’ → headwinds
As a candidate, he promised to oversee the “largest deportation program in American history.”
asserted
he → promise → history
But his hard-edged deportation policies have been deeply unpopular with Americans, including many of the Hispanic voters who helped him win in 2024.
asserted
him → include → 2024
So while Trump tours red states to help motivate his base, one of the key factors in determining the outcome of November’s elections will be the president’s standing with Latino and independent voters.
asserted
one → tour → voters
NBC News polling averages show independents’ approval of Trump’s job performance is at just 26%.
asserted
approval → show → %
And this Sunday on Meet the Press, Steve Kornacki will unveil the results of a new NBC News/Telemundo poll of Latino voters.
asserted
Kornacki → unveil → voters
I’ll also talk to former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel and Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., about the midterm fight ahead.
asserted
I → talk → fight
Today's other top stories
- 🗳️ Exclusive: In an interview with Henry J. Gomez, Vice President JD Vance talked about Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential aspirations and how a tough midterm climate could factor into his own future.
uncertain
climate → talk → future
After suffering massive voter registration losses in the wake of the last presidential election, Democrats regained ground in several key states this year, according to an NBC News Decision Desk analysis.
uncertain
Democrats → suffer → analysis
A statistically unproductive Congress has officially left town until after the midterms, punting a long list of tasks into the lame-duck session.
asserted
Congress → leave → session
Member countries in the G7 agreed to release tens of millions of barrels of diesel fuel and crude oil, the latest move by industrial economies around the world to cap soaring gas prices.
asserted
countries → agree → prices
…and 7 more, not listed.
The Aporia
