{"id":45181,"date":"2026-07-16T19:02:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T00:02:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/?p=45181"},"modified":"2026-07-16T19:02:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T00:02:29","slug":"the-2026-senate-campaign-updates-26","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/huewhite.com\/umb\/2026\/07\/16\/the-2026-senate-campaign-updates-26\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Senate Campaign: Updates"},"content":{"rendered":"

TWO BLACK HOLES, RIPPING THEM APART<\/strong><\/p>\n

Is it an example of spaghettification<\/a>? Over there, picking a direction at random, is President Trump and his influence over MAGA<\/strong> and MAGA<\/strong>-inclined voters, while some other random direction has all the other voters who might be conservatives, but are furious<\/strong> because of the imposition of tariffs; the obstruction of the full release of the Epstein Files;<\/strong>\u00a0people recently shot dead<\/a>, wounded, or at least improperly jailed by incompetent ICE<\/strong> agents, and defended by Secretary of DHS<\/strong><\/em> Mullin; inflation; foreign conflicts and interference, along with incompetence at same; and continual lying, boasting, and all the other nonsense that erupts from the mouths of President Trump and his minions.<\/p>\n

In between them is an exceptionally uneasy mob of GOP<\/strong> Senators and Senator-wannabes, pulled one way and then the other. If they stick with President Trump then they may not attain or be reelected; if they separate from him and resume their traditional role of judging the suitability of new laws, sometimes certifying and sometimes rejecting, then the President may attack them, and it’ll be tantamount to admitting their Party put an infamous incompetent in the seat of the Presidency.<\/p>\n

And actions they felt were safe have become nightmares. Consider Maine. Joan Sebastian Guerrero was shot to death by ICE<\/strong> agents<\/a> in Biddeford, Maine on 13 July, and a consequence of this was a protest of the tragic incident<\/a>, including of Senator Collins (R) and her vote to certify the ICE<\/strong> budget.<\/p>\n

The Republicans’ association with government-sponsored murder on the streets isn’t a positive, even if we consider the consequent prosecutions of the ICE<\/strong> agents responsible, because those people are still dead.<\/p>\n

Pressure on GOP<\/strong> Senate hopefuls will continue to intensify.<\/p>\n

DANCING THE TIGHTROPE<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>President Trump, snarling imprecations, tried to avoid biting off his own tongue by not signing the\u00a021st Century ROAD to Housing Act<\/a><\/strong> … but not vetoing it, either. This means it became law, on 11 July 2026, not<\/strong> through a Congressional override of a Trump veto<\/a>, which would have been interpreted as yet another sign of Trump’s eroding prestige and influence, but through Trump’s lack of action on the matter. For those voters paying attention, this may seem to be the moral equivalent; the rest may wonder if the President is becoming overly-forgetful.<\/p>\n

Will voters notice the difference? Well, in households that watch conservative news, it’s likely that Trump’s lack of action will be downplayed or even omitted. A strongly bipartisan piece of legislation will have passed, meant to increase the affordability of housing, and that will be celebrated. Unless Fox News<\/strong><\/em> makes the mistake of bringing on popular Democrat Pete Buttigieg on for an interview, viewers will probably not notice.<\/p>\n

On independent and liberal outlets there will be a higher likelihood of a mention of Trump’s frantic behavior, and if viewers are concerned with affordability or fear the SAVE AMERICA ACT<\/strong>, which has been characterized as a vote suppression tactic, their attraction or loathing for Trump will be in accordance with their previous inclination. Whether that will extend to GOP<\/strong> Senate candidates will depend on the allegiance of said candidates to Trump.<\/p>\n

Or so I’d expect.<\/p>\n

CAN MAGIC FLOW FROM THE MENDACIOUS MOUTH AGAIN?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>President Trump has announced<\/a> that he’ll address the nation tonight, probably right after I post this, so my reader may know more than I.<\/p>\n

The subject? Beats me.<\/p>\n

But it’s worth remembering that the President’s entire life and career has been hallmarked by mendacity. That’s been his path to whatever he calls success, and so why should he stop now? I recommend taking nothing at his word. What can be verified should be verified. Ignore the rest.<\/p>\n

Steve Benen would have me believe<\/a> the President’s addresses of the nation have been failures; I wouldn’t know as I’m invariably busy when these addresses come through, and, like most politicians, he makes my skin crawl, only moreso. Maybe tonight, though, Thursday nights are more idle than most.<\/p>\n

But the garden needs weeding.<\/p>\n

THE SORDID DETAILS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Starring … ummm … I know I put those notes down around here somewhere<\/a>….<\/p>\n