2026 Mid-Term Elections

[Jimmy Higgins]

Project 2025 is fake nothing burger but this Piker guy is yuuuggggeee!

I'm certain weary of any far-left populism developing. Bad enough we have the right-wing populism saturating the GOP at the moment. I don't want to sell what remains of the soul of America to get some small majority in the Senate. We've already needed to respond in kind regarding gerrymandering, which is repugnant. And the GOP in the Senate refuse to rein in Trump even on things like tariffs which are exclusively anti-GOP. The GOP is forcing the Democrats to make awful compromises in order to try and get the train back on the tracks.

I will note, it does feel off when Derec refers to Piker (apparently a left-wing influence) in some false equivalence retort, when Pete Hegseth (right-wing influencer) is in charge of the military.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

Here are some old news articles I found under my rock.

Social Media Fraud. How Many Influencers Have Fake Followers and Why the "Inflated" Numbers Affect You » MOCAPP

What is the stake in “inflating” Fake Followers numbers and how can you avoid influencers with fake followers

mocapp.net

Twitch viewbotting controversy grows as Asmongold and Hasan Piker trade claims using live stream analytics numbers online - The Times of India

US Streamers News: Zack Hoyt, known online as Asmongold, found himself at the center of new viewbotting talk this week. The issue started during a live Twitch stream on .

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

For some perspective, found this Op-Ed on Platner, back when it seemed his campaign was somewhat doomed in October. Platner isn't the perfect candidate, in fact, he appears to have a decent amount of baggage. But he also has other qualities the public always says they are interested in, but sometimes don't actually vote for.

Platner isn't Herschel Walker, but he isn't the dream party nominee.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

Here are some old news articles I found under my rock.

Social Media Fraud. How Many Influencers Have Fake Followers and Why the "Inflated" Numbers Affect You » MOCAPP

What is the stake in “inflating” Fake Followers numbers and how can you avoid influencers with fake followers

mocapp.net

Twitch viewbotting controversy grows as Asmongold and Hasan Piker trade claims using live stream analytics numbers online - The Times of India

US Streamers News: Zack Hoyt, known online as Asmongold, found himself at the center of new viewbotting talk this week. The issue started during a live Twitch stream on .

timesofindia.indiatimes.com

Or influencers that aren't even real! This whole "influencer" thing is disturbing. Yes, we've had them before. They were newspapers at the turn of the 20th century or people like Walter Winchell. There are professional ones on cable news who are doing all sorts of damage, actually more probably.

However, online ClickBait Media and Influencers are just posting material for clicks and ad revenue. With followers who may or may not exist and may or may not be posting their "thoughts". It is the new wave of media, and it feels terribly insecure.

 

[Derec]

I will note, it does feel off when Derec refers to Piker (apparently a left-wing influence) in some false equivalence retort, when Pete Hegseth (right-wing influencer) is in charge of the military.

Well, there has been enough commentary on him and the rest of Trump's cabinet elsewhere. SecDef is also not really relevant to the 2026 Midterms. A political influencer who is playing a role in a number of campaigns, including for the Michigan US Senate seat, is highly relevant to this thread.

 

[Derec]

He hasn’t made the Economist or any midwestern papers I read. Don’t listen to NPR much.

Economist is British and mostly writes about international business issues. But I would be very much surprised if midwestern papers don't write about HP given his role in the Michigan Senate race. Which ones do you read?

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

I will note, it does feel off when Derec refers to Piker (apparently a left-wing influence) in some false equivalence retort, when Pete Hegseth (right-wing influencer) is in charge of the military.

Well, there has been enough commentary on him and the rest of Trump's cabinet elsewhere. SecDef is also not really relevant to the 2026 Midterms.

The issue I have is you love to bring this shit up for left-wing, but not much recognition on the right-wing. As noted, Piker online influencer of questionable influence on the primaries (you could feel free at any moment to provide data supporting said influence). Pete Hegseth running the US military. You complain about how the far left is taking over, when the far right is in charge!

 

[laughing dog]

He hasn’t made the Economist or any midwestern papers I read. Don’t listen to NPR much.

Economist is British and mostly writes about international business issues.

Not the one I read. The largest section is on the USA.

But I would be very much surprised if midwestern papers don't write about HP given his role in the Michigan Senate race. Which ones do you read?

Mn Star Tribune, sometimes St Louis Post Dispatch or Chicago Tribune.

Did get a begging for $ text from Platner today. I don’t donate to anyone for any reason over the phone.

 

[laughing dog]

I will note, it does feel off when Derec refers to Piker (apparently a left-wing influence) in some false equivalence retort, when Pete Hegseth (right-wing influencer) is in charge of the military.

Well, there has been enough commentary on him and the rest of Trump's cabinet elsewhere. SecDef is also not really relevant to the 2026 Midterms.

You think some online “influencer” will have more effect on potential voters that a clusterfucking warmongering white Christian nationalist Secretary of War?

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

In the above video, Hegseth evades the question of whether he would deploy the military uniformly across the US during midterm elections. He does a "but Biden" schtick and goes on the offensive against the person asking the question. At the very end he implies No by saying he would never do anything illegal. Two things here: Republicans are now calling the War Powers Act unconstitutional, meaning he is engaging in illegal activity but they reframe what is leagl/illegal. The other thing is these guys are okay with changing their stories on a daily basis.

 

[Jarhyn]

In the above video, Hegseth evades the question of whether he would deploy the military uniformly across the US during midterm elections. He does a "but Biden" schtick and goes on the offensive against the person asking the question. At the very end he implies No by saying he would never do anything illegal. Two things here: Republicans are now calling the War Powers Act unconstitutional, meaning he is engaging in illegal activity but they reframe what is leagl/illegal. The other thing is these guys are okay with changing their stories on a daily basis.

Do you recall "settled law"? This is "settled law".

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

So Trump was able to defeat 5 of 7 GOP incumbents in Indiana's state legislature primaries. Approximately $6 million was spent, which is roughly $6 billion in State legislature election budget currency. One survivor won by quite a bit. The final race is 50/50 and undecided.

Trump or whomever, unleashed the dogs after Indiana didn't redistrict their state.

President Donald Trump's supporters swept at least five Republican senators out of office in Indiana's primary election May 5, sending a warning sign to Republicans thinking of splitting with the president ahead of the midterms.

The senators had all helped block Trump's demand that Indiana redraw congressional districts to be more Republican friendly ahead of the midterms.

They could shave off one district for the Republicans by making Gary more diluted. But that is it.

The Trump machine, which is based on zero principles, wants to send a message. I'm not certain whether it is don't disagree with Trump or you will follow orders or else. Politics and policy are vanishing from the GOP.

 

[southernhybrid]

https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/maine/collins-vs-platner

I saw Platner interviewed recently. He sounded like a good candidate. He apologized for some of the things he has said in the past and mentioned that when a person is very young, they often do stupid things, but then a lot of them will mature and realize the mistakes they've made in the past. He seems to be moving ahead of Collins. Hope he wins. We need more younger people in Congress with new ideas.

2026 Maine Senate - Collins vs. Platner​

2020: Collins (R) vs. Gideon (D)

RCP Average	Platner+6.8
MPRC	Platner+9
Emerson	Platner+7
Quantus Insights	Platner+7
Pan Atlantic	Platner+4

​

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/maine/collins-vs-platner

I saw Platner interviewed recently. He sounded like a good candidate. He apologized for some of the things he has said in the past and mentioned that when a person is very young, they often do stupid things, but then a lot of them will mature and realize the mistakes they've made in the past. He seems to be moving ahead of Collins. Hope he wins. We need more younger people in Congress with new ideas.

2026 Maine Senate - Collins vs. Platner​

2020: Collins (R) vs. Gideon (D)

RCP Average	Platner+6.8
MPRC	Platner+9
Emerson	Platner+7
Quantus Insights	Platner+7
Pan Atlantic	Platner+4

Not to throw cold water on the polls, but as a reminder, the 2020 polling numbers, and these were much closer to the election. Even Emerson had Collins' opponent up by 6 pts.

And Sen. Collins pulled off the Truman despite the Democrats winning the Presidency and the state by 9 pts... and Collins didn't win, she soundly defeated her Democrat rival.

 

[southernhybrid]

https://www.realclearpolling.com/polls/senate/general/2026/maine/collins-vs-platner

I saw Platner interviewed recently. He sounded like a good candidate. He apologized for some of the things he has said in the past and mentioned that when a person is very young, they often do stupid things, but then a lot of them will mature and realize the mistakes they've made in the past. He seems to be moving ahead of Collins. Hope he wins. We need more younger people in Congress with new ideas.

2026 Maine Senate - Collins vs. Platner​

2020: Collins (R) vs. Gideon (D)

RCP Average	Platner+6.8
MPRC	Platner+9
Emerson	Platner+7
Quantus Insights	Platner+7
Pan Atlantic	Platner+4

Not to throw cold water on the polls, but as a reminder, the 2020 polling numbers, and these were much closer to the election. Even Emerson had Collins' opponent up by 6 pts.

And Sen. Collins pulled off the Truman despite the Democrats winning the Presidency and the state by 9 pts... and Collins didn't win, she soundly defeated her Democrat rival.

Sure. Polls are no guarantees, but it does seem as of more people are tired of people staying in Congress for decades, as well as those who are way past retirement age hanging on to their seats. Too bad, more people didn't realize what a psychopathic, narcissistic, dementedidiotic the current president is, but he is good at manipulating people into joining his cult, so we're stuck with that for now.

 

[laughing dog]

. You complain about how the far left is taking over, when the far right is in charge!

Do you find that surprising? I don't.

 

[Don2 (Don1 Revised)]

In the above video, Hegseth evades the question of whether he would deploy the military uniformly across the US during midterm elections. He does a "but Biden" schtick and goes on the offensive against the person asking the question. At the very end he implies No by saying he would never do anything illegal. Two things here: Republicans are now calling the War Powers Act unconstitutional, meaning he is engaging in illegal activity but they reframe what is leagl/illegal. The other thing is these guys are okay with changing their stories on a daily basis.

Do you recall "settled law"? This is "settled law".

When they say settled law, I think they mean they settled on Trump being the law.

 

[Jimmy Higgins]

. You complain about how the far left is taking over, when the far right is in charge!

Do you find that surprising? I don't.

No, I'm just whining about it.

 

[Derec]

And then came up with such a sweet plea bargain that the judge rejected it. Which suggests perhaps he received special consideration.

Judges review and demand them amended all the time. I see no reason to think it is "special consideration" rather than how prosecutors felt about the prospects of winning a retrial.

I didn’t say he was guilty. I said he was a creep.

If he isn't guilty of what is alleged here, how is he a creep?