| | As the week ends, we can look ahead to the path forward. In the lead-up to the midterms, there was a lot of preparation for what could have been a flashpoint moment for democracy. The urgency anticipated in the moment was luckily unnecessary, as efforts to organize voters and get them to the polls led to results that were unequivocal in sending a message. Now, we can use much of that bandwidth to address people’s needs. As the holidays quickly approach, there will be thousands of people around the country who have trouble keeping food on their table. With cuts to SNAP, we have seen access to food restricted as we continue to see prices grow. Many of us can see just how this spreading suffering through hunger is affecting our communities, as many churches themselves are feeling the strain of meeting this growing need through food banks. This gives us a unique perspective to share in advocating for a budget and policies to feed the hungry. We also understand that we cannot turn away from opposing the militarism that has led to the war in Iran, the continued build-up of forces to threaten Cuba, and the continued strikes in the Caribbean and Pacific Ocean. As Christians committed to honoring the image of God in every person, we have a moral obligation to demand an end to this continued violence. As we are given an opportunity for a reprieve from the worst-case scenario we could have seen, we can now turn to the enduring work that we have always been called to do. –– Rev. Moya Harris and Chad Stanton, Sojourners | | |
| | With the elections mostly decided across the country, both Republicans and Democrats are already busy making their plans for the upcoming lame-duck session as well as the new Congress, which begins in January. Rumors are flying around the possibility that one of the conservative Supreme Court justices could decide to retire in the next few days, setting up the possibility of Republicans confirming a replacement before the Democrats take control of the Senate on January 3. Many experts are skeptical that such an effort would succeed or that any of the justices will agree to retire in the first place. Congress has a crowded agenda for the lame-duck session, including funding the government to avoid a pre-holiday shutdown and passing the annual defense authorization bill. The Trump administration also wants a war spending supplemental, funding for Trump’s ballroom and triumphal arch, and a third budget reconciliation package that would unleash military spending and attack social safety net programs in the name of fighting alleged fraud. Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., plans to run for Senate minority leader, seeking to retain his post as the top GOP senator. House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on the other hand, will not seek to remain the Republican leader in the next Congress. On the Democratic side, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) is poised to become the first Black speaker of the House in U.S. history, despite a group of incoming progressive and Democratic Socialist members who want to see bolder leadership for the party. Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) predicted he would be elected Senate majority leader, despite a number of incoming senators calling for someone else to take the reins. With their new majorities, early signs indicate Democrats are planning to advance proposals to lower the costs of housing and health care while investigating the Trump administration and Trump’s business interests.
The U.S. military and foreign affairs did not take a break for our midterm elections. The House of Representatives could vote as soon as next week to impeach Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Many Republican lawmakers are eager to pin the blame for the midterm election results on Hegseth based on his role in the decision to go to war with Iran and how the war has gone. Donald Trump is now in a difficult situation with respect to the Iran war given its resounding repudiation at the polls. Reporting and analysis suggest he is weighing whether to focus entirely on negotiations to end the war for good, or seek to strengthen his position first by resuming bombing despite lacking the ability to control the escalation that would likely result. On Thursday, the United States government issued a determination that paves the way for sanctions on Cuban electronics, manufacturing, technology, and the marine sector. The government also imposed fresh sanctions on a crude oil shipping network, state-owned entities, and China-based suppliers of Cuba’s military.
We’re learning more about what motivated voters in this week’s elections, and we’re tracking developments in the races that have not yet been called. The two most consequential uncalled races as of this writing are the U.S. Senate races in Mississippi and Alaska. In Mississippi, Democrat Scott Colom, leads incumbent Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by just over 1,700 votes with over 95% of the votes counted. In Alaska, Mary Peltola, the Democrat, leads incumbent Republican Sen. Dan S. Sullivan by just 637 votes with 78% of the votes counted. Exit polls suggest that economic frustration was a major factor in the election results, with parts of the Democratic coalition that Trump made inroads with in 2024 swinging back toward Democrats. It was also a broad referendum on Trump’s presidency, with most voters disapproving of his tariffs, saying his immigration efforts went too far, and he shouldn’t have gone to war with Iran. There were significant shifts towards Democrats in a number of different demographic groups, including young voters, Latines, Asian Americans, urban and suburban voters, men, and independents. Interviews with pollsters, campaign operatives, and voters suggest that the huge swing towards Democrats among Latine voters was motivated not just by the economy but also by the Trump administration’s cruel deportation regime and its impact on families and communities. We did see some incidents of at the very least misinformation aimed at suppressing the vote. For example, in Fulton County, Georgia, some voters reported receiving false texts about polling place changes that were not sent by the county. It’s currently unclear who sent them. In the end, the Trump administration’s efforts to deceive, disrupt, and deny the 2026 midterms largely failed due to the lopsided result in favor of his opposition, along with resistance from local election officials and federal courts. Election Day was mostly smooth and uneventful across the country due to years of efforts to thwart Trump administration interference and ensure a free, fair, and safe election.
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| | The Long Journey One of the things that I’ve been reflecting on this week is the long history of the fight for justice in our country. One of the most satisfying things I’ve found about studying history is seeing the way so many people choose to continue the work over decades. I’m reminded of the words of Theodore Parker, who has been oft-quoted in regard to the moral arc of the universe, but it is this quote that has struck me this week as I considered all the ways we are responsible for the moral arc of the universe. – Chad Stanton, Political Director, Sojourners “Peace and justice are the moral foundation of our faith, and of many of the faith communities in the world. Let us remember that and live with the insight and integrity exemplified by all the greats we so honor throughout the ages. In this way, we help bend that moral arc of the universe a little bit closer toward justice.” – Theodore Parker | | |
| | The Truth and Action Roundup is compiled by Sojourners staff: President: Rev. Adam Russell Taylor
Senior Research Associate: J.K. Granberg-Michaelson
Digital Content and Community Specialist: Kassandra Tapia
Chief Program and Impact Officer: Bryan Epps
Political Director: Chad V. Stanton
Senior Program Director: Rev. Moya Harris
Education and Engagement Program Manager: Cortnie Brooks Mobilizing & Policy Fellows: Alyssa Parker & Aleah LaForce | | |
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