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Trump names scapegoats as Republicans sweat in Texas
Texas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988, and the president is already naming who he would blame if Ken Paxton loses; a tidy head start.
On air: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on Late Night BBNPublished
Photo: Beethoven · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0Watch it as it aired: Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger on this story, from Late Night BBN at 1:55 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Axios's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by Axios: “Trump names scapegoats as Republicans sweat in Texas”.
- Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 17, 2026, at 1:55 AM ET on Late Night BBN, by Gloria Vance and Hank Ledger.
- Topics: Republicans, Texas, Trump.
- BBN covered this story before: Trump lashes out at Republicans as Ken Paxton struggles in Texas (October 15).
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
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorIn Texas tonight, President Trump is already blaming Senator John Cornyn and Karl Rove for making it hard for Ken Paxton to win the Senate race, and Texas has not elected a Democrat to that chamber since nineteen eighty-eight.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorSo the election hasn't happened, and somebody already has the blame in a drawer.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorAxios calls it spin ahead of a possible disaster for Republicans.
Gloria Vance · World News AnchorI have watched leaders explain defeats after the fact, but rarely before the ballots were printed.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThat's efficient. Nobody ever lost an election by apologizing early.
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Photo: Bryan Berlin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Chezki Mozes · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Daniel Case · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Wilfredor · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Photo: Chris Walts · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: Jean-Pol GRANDMONT · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Federalreserve · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
The story so far
- Trump pollster says GOP needs better offensive messaging for midterms · The Washington Times
- Trump rallies in Youngstown for Husted and Ramaswamy · The New York Times
- Trump's Russia moves rattle Republicans before midterms · Axios
- Some Republicans in key races break with Trump over tariffs · NBC News
- Trump hits Cornyn, Rove over Paxton; teen arrested in temple plot · The Hill
- Trump lashes out at Republicans as Ken Paxton struggles in Texas · Politico
- Trump names scapegoats as Republicans sweat in Texas (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Saturday, October 17, 2026 · the World archive · all months
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