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How the midterms could change Trump's presidency

Democrats need a net gain of four seats in both the House and Senate to overturn Republican majorities; a fifty-fifty Senate split would still favour Republicans.

On air: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on BBN After Hours
Published
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on this story, from BBN After Hours at 2:54 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Al Jazeera's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: Donald Trump
Photo: Daniel Torok · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

From the show

At a glance

  • First reported by Al Jazeera: “How the midterms could change Trump’s presidency”, with reporting from Reuters (via Detroit News), Reuters (via Investing.com), Reuters (via Yahoo News) and Chatham House.
  • Covered on BBN on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 2:54 AM ET on BBN After Hours, by Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger.
  • Topics: Trump.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

What BBN said about it

  1. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorQuick question. Donald Trump isn't on the ballot this November, so why is everyone talking about him?

  2. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorBecause the vote decides who controls Congress for the final two years of his term, Al Jazeera reports. Americans vote on November third.

  3. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorDoes this touch my life, or just my television?

  4. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorDemocrats need a net gain of four seats in each chamber to flip Republicans' narrow majorities, which are two hundred eighteen to two hundred fourteen in the House and fifty-three to forty-seven in the Senate.

  5. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorReuters says Trump's approval is at the lowest of his presidency.

  6. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorFour seats. And he's not in any of them.

  7. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe House is widely expected to go Democratic.

  8. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorThe Senate is too close to call, and a fifty-fifty split stays Republican because Vice President Vance breaks ties.

  9. Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorAnd what happens next, assuming he's still not on the ballot?

  10. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAnalysts interviewed by Reuters expect fights over the debt ceiling and government funding in twenty twenty-seven, whatever the result.

  11. Gloria Vance · World News AnchorVerdict: a referendum on a man who isn't running.

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