Why 2026 Could Be a Political Bloodbath for Republicans

In a rambling, low-energy press conference this morning, Trump ordered the National Guard into Washington, D.C. In a time long past (May 2025), this story would be filling up your news feed, and social media would be on fire. Today, though, it’s another headline.

That actually might not be a bad thing (it might not be a good thing, either, of course). Trump’s party, up and down the proverbial ticket — from White House to the House of Reps to state house — is not governing. This move into D.C., too, is more of a distraction than any actual policy move. Sadly, though, this distraction will have big consequences.

Joel Payne

, Democratic strategist and regular contributor to CBS News, joined

Sam Osterhout

to explain why moves like this are likely to backfire on Trump and the party. They simply aren’t doing anything to solve the real problems that elected officials are elected to solve. And the more videos of troops marching through the streets of our great American cities we see, the more obvious it becomes.

And the thing is: They know it. In Texas, on Trump’s orders, a hasty effort to redistrict Dems out of their few remaining seats is ongoing. But that, too, argues Mr. Payne, could come back to bite those Republicans.

Trump is doing everything to remain in power except make our lives better. The irony is that the Supreme Court gave him the power to do whatever he wanted. We could all be on our way to universal healthcare right now. Our lives could be noticeably better.

Instead, we watch while our fellow Americans live in terror as troops march through their neighborhoods, financed with money that could have solved so many of our very real, very urgent problems.

But immigrants, right?

Watch the latest with Joel & Sam, and leave your comments below.

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