The Iran War (for Now) Dominates the Midterm Conversation

Democrats are focused on the economy, while Republicans wish they were focused on the economy.

“Advertisement Newsletter Democrats are focused on the economy, while Republicans wish they were focused on the economy”

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Asgas prices spike, war in the Middle East rages and economic anxiety simmers among many voters, I’ve been thinking abouta line I heardfrom an on-the-fence Philadelphia voter in the lead-up to the 2024 election.

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“I don’t care about what goes on overseas,” she said.

“I care about where I live.”

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A lot of working-class voters felt that way in 2024 — disillusioned by the Biden administration’s focus abroad, frustrated by the soaring cost of living at home.

Manybacked Donald Trump that year, or skipped the election altogether.

As the war in Iran enters its second week, the big risk for Trump and his party is that voters see them in the same light they once saw the Democrats: as more invested (literally and figuratively) in foreign affairs than in the pocketbook issues that feel most urgent in their lives.

“Advertisement Newsletter Democrats are focused on the economy, while Republicans wish they were focused on the economy”

New York Times

Of course, this president is famously unpredictable, and todayhe declared to CBS News thatthe war against Iran “is very complete, pretty much.”

We’ll see.

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Even just today, he contradicted himself, telling Republican lawmakers in a speech that the U.S. “will not relent until the enemy is totally and decisively defeated.”

But in the meantime, here’s a look at how both political parties have been approaching an issue upending the midterm elections.

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