It’s Monday, November 9. This is The Front Page, your daily window into the world of The Free Press—and our take on the world at large. Today: Carrie McKean reports on the rural Texas voters who flipped the state. Charles Lane on why trans is still Democrats’ biggest loser. And much more.
But first: Is Trump doubling down?
With the Republican Party still reeling after last Tuesday’s results and amid a deluge of obituaries for Donald Trump’s political movement, one important question risks getting lost: How will the president govern for his final two years in office?
As he enters his lame-duck era, Trump is sending mixed messages. On the one hand, he has suggested that he would be open to compromise with Democrats on immigration, including in his first post-election sitdown interview, with 60 Minutes correspondent and Free Press columnist Ross Douthat. On the other, he has installed hard-line and loyal adviser Stephen Miller as his new chief of staff. Read Eli Lake on whether Trump will find a dealmaking groove, or double down.
The president’s biggest headache after last week’s vote is the same as it was before: the Iran war. In the days since the election, the conflict has been blamed—most prominently by Vice President J.D. Vance—for the Republicans’ poor performance. But how will the midterms change Trump’s strategy in the Middle East? The answer, according to Michael Doran, depends on whether the president agrees with his deputy’s postmortem. Vance didn’t just say that the Iran war was to blame for the defeat, but that America needs to “change our relationship to Israel.” Does Trump feel the same way? Read Michael’s column to understand the issue dividing the right after the midterms—and which side Trump will take.
—The Editors
Blue Wave or Purple Tornado?
Last week, Democrats across the country were hoping for a blue wave—and they got a tsunami. Among all the victories, none is more totemic than the wipeout of statewide GOP candidates in Texas. Progressives celebrating may be tempted to wear their Texas wins like a bluebonnet in their caps (in fact, you can purchase celebratory “Blue Y’all” shirts).
But despite their astonishing success up and down the ballot, Carrie McKean, who lives in rural Texas and reported from there extensively for The Free Press on everything from the fight over prayer in schools to ICE overreach—warns against reading too deeply into the results. She spoke to first-time Democrat voters and reports that what looks like a blue wave is more like a purple tornado. “I hope I never have to vote for a Democrat again,” said one.
What do the new Democratic stars from unlikely parts of the country have in common? River Page covered the rise of the likes of Kansas Senator-elect Adam Hamilton, and Sam Forstag, the Montana smoke jumper heading to Congress. Read his piece on how normies won the middle, what their success says about 2028, and why the key to maintaining Democratic dominance depends on “middle-aged white women who smoke.”
One further indicator of the moderate mood: the fate of ballot measures relating to transgender issues across the country. In states blue and red, almost without exception, voters gave a thumbs-up to the idea that sports should be organized by biological sex, and that gender transition surgery should not be performed on minors. Today, Charles Lane reviews these results, and what they mean.
MORE FROM THE FREE PRESS
THE NEWS
-
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang is under intense scrutiny after admitting to an affair with an alleged Chinese spy. “I owe my family and all of you an apology,” Huang said in a letter to his employees. “There is no excuse for what I did. I am deeply sorry.”
-
The House is reportedly set to vote on the impeachment of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth this week. The effort has been led by Republican Thomas Massie, and top Democrat Hakeem Jeffries said he’s a “hard yes” on ousting Hegseth.
-
President Trump announced in a Truth Social post this weekend that he offered UFC CEO Dana White the job of White House press secretary. White said he declined, and the president clarified Sunday that he was “only kidding” about the offer.
-
Former White House health aide Calley Means alleged that corporations and special interest groups heavily influenced policy during his tenure in an interview last week. His comments specifically targeted Susie Wiles and political adviser James Blair, adding to the divide between President Trump’s administration and the Make America Healthy Again movement.
-
Israeli president Isaac Herzog tapped Gadi Eisenkot to attempt to form a governing coalition. The former military chief has 28 days to do so, with a possible two-week extension.
-
The historic ocean liner the SS United States will be sent to the bottom of the sea this week. The ship once carried celebrities across the world, but will now form the world’s largest artificial reef, off the coast of Florida.
