{"id":2648897,"date":"2026-08-24T12:28:01","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:28:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-focus-groups-warning-to-republicans-farm-tariff-pain-could-cost-you-the-senate\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T12:32:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:32:22","slug":"iowa-focus-groups-warning-to-republicans-farm-tariff-pain-could-cost-you-the-senate","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/iowa-focus-groups-warning-to-republicans-farm-tariff-pain-could-cost-you-the-senate\/","title":{"rendered":"Iowa focus group&#8217;s warning to Republicans: Farm tariff pain could cost you the Senate"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fiowa-focus-groups-warning-to-republicans-farm-tariff-pain-could-cost-you-the-senate%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2648897&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The article discusses recent shifts in the U.S. Senate races, especially in Iowa, where changing voter sentiments challenge Republican hopes of maintaining control. Exclusive focus group research reveals that self-reliant voters are highly concerned about economic issues like tariffs and cost of living, with many skeptical about politicians&#8217; ability to enact meaningful change. The focus group participants also highlighted pressing issues such as Iowa&#8217;s high and rising cancer rates linked to water pollution from farming chemicals. Despite recognizing candidates like Republican ashley Hinson and Democrat Josh Turek,voters are largely uninformed about their platforms,and their voting intentions are influenced more by broader national concerns than candidate specifics. The findings suggest that the race remains competitive and that Democrats see an chance to challenge Republican dominance in the state. the article underscores the fluid nature of the race and the importance of effective messaging and voter engagement in the coming weeks.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>Welcome to Monday\u2019s <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>. A lot has changed in the Senate races during the past week. What was supposed to be an easy hold for Republicans now looks like a proper contest. Today, we have exclusive focus group research from Iowa, detailing the issues that matter to independent voters there and how they will make their decision. It is not good news for Republican hopes of holding the seat vacated by Joni Ernst.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The road to the Senate runs through <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iowa\/\">Iowa<\/a>.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4696038\/iowa-focus-group-warning-republicans-farm-tariff-pain-cost-senate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Iowa focus group\u2019s warning to Republicans: Farm tariff pain could cost you the Senate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4694819\/white-house-report-card-republican-strategists-say-no-good-news-this-week\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>White House report card: Even our Republican strategists say there\u2019s no good news this week<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/washington-secrets\/4693229\/why-three-republican-senators-backed-massachusetts-candidate-late-term-abortion\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Why did three Republican senators back a Massachusetts candidate who <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/becerra-i-hope-to-find-common-ground-on-late-term-abortions\/\" title=\"Becerra: I hope to find common ground on late-term abortions\">supports late-term abortion<\/a>?<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Technically, Republicans can lose the Hawkeye state and hold the upper chamber. Their three-seat majority means they have a little wiggle room.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in reality, losing Iowa, where <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a> triumphed by more than 13 points just two years ago, would spell the sort of Democratic dominance that would put huge pressure on Republican-held states such as Alaska, Maine, North Carolina, and even Ohio and Texas. It would be game over.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week, things shifted in the wrong direction for Republicans. The influential <em>Cook Political Report<\/em> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4694781\/texas-iowa-senate-races-shift-democrat-cook-political-report\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4694781\/texas-iowa-senate-races-shift-democrat-cook-political-report\/\">moved Iowa (and Texas)<\/a> from its \u201cleans Republican\u201d column to \u201ctoss-up.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To test the terrain, J.L. Partners recruited a panel of six Independent voters \u2014 four men, two women; four who described themselves as \u201cmoderate,\u201d one who said they were \u201csomewhat left-wing\u201d and one \u201csomewhat right-wing\u201d \u2014 to talk about the issues that matter to them.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The results may make difficult reading for Republican strategists, but they also suggest ways to craft a message that could yet see the state stay red.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-top-concern-tariffs-and-cost-of-living\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top concern: Tariffs and cost of living<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">No surprises here. It\u2019s always the economy, stupid. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/affordability\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/affordability\/\">Affordability <\/a>worries propelled Trump to power and have stayed at the top of voters\u2019 concerns ever since.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem for Republican Ashley Hinson is that the president is tied to high prices in a very specific way in Iowa.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIt\u2019s all Trump,\u201d said Don, 68, of Chariton. \u201cTrump and Republicans. Higher <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tariffs\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/tariffs\/\">tariffs<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">He said he didn\u2019t think tariffs were necessarily a bad thing in themselves, \u201cbut the shotgun approach at tariffs that Trump is doing\u2026 It\u2019s not good business sense.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Tariffs have been a huge issue in a state where farming communities have struggled with rising costs and falling crop prices.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jessica, 44, of Grimes, said: \u201c\u200aFor our state, I think the biggest issue \u2014 just from what I\u2019ve seen online \u2014 is that the farming community\u2019s been really messed with by this tariff situation. A lot of farmers are having trouble finding a market for the soybeans, but now that China\u2019s backed out.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-cancer-worries\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cancer worries<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" id=\"h-iowa-has-the-second-highest-and-fastest-growing-cancer-rate-in-the-united-states-and-is-one-of-the-few-states-where-cancer-rates-continue-to-rise\">Iowa has the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4606720\/gubernatorial-candidates-make-iowa-healthy\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/healthcare\/4606720\/gubernatorial-candidates-make-iowa-healthy\/\">second-highest cancer rate<\/a> in the United States. It is growing at a time when rates are declining elsewhere across the country. Those worries are tied to high levels of nitrates in the water.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don, 68, from Chariton, said: \u201cCancer is increasing enormously in the state of Iowa. Why? Because we\u2019re dumping so much chemicals into our farm fields that are going into our water supply.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But participants were skeptical that elected officials could actually change the issues they care about, and criticized politicians for talking rather than actually delivering results. Even when participants had a favorable impression of a candidate, they said they were unsure whether they could actually follow through.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u200a\u201dI just don\u2019t think that, like, a senator or a representative or even a governor is really gonna affect it that much,\u201d said Aaron, 36, from Des Moines, who said he considered himself somewhat right-wing.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-national-politics-dominate\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">National politics dominate<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Half of the group was largely unaware of the Senate race, the candidates, and their platforms. Even those who had tuned in said they would be voting against the party they liked least.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overall, they saw the election as a way to define the country\u2019s direction.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe gotta take Washington back,\u201d was how Scott, 63, from Ames, put it. He describes himself as somewhat left-wing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c[I\u2019m voting for] Control of Congress, which will rein in the administration\u2026 I think Mike Johnson has been incapable of using congressional authority to be that third leg of the stool and has let the administration run rampant,\u201d Scorr said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the other hand, Darrell, 71, from Humeston, said: \u201cIf it comes down to it, and it\u2019s a really close race, I\u2019ll probably go Republican because it\u2019ll help Trump.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-ashley-hinson\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ashley Hinson<\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, arrives at a campaign rally with local residents, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26150738236536.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, arrives at a campaign rally with local residents, Saturday, May 30, 2026, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo\/Charlie Neibergall)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/rep-ashley-hinson\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/author\/rep-ashley-hinson\/\">Republican candidate<\/a> \u2014 a former local TV news anchor who has represented Iowa\u2019s 2nd Congressional District since 2021 \u2014 is well regarded by the party hierarchy. That doesn\u2019t matter to the panel.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Participants didn\u2019t seem to know much about her platform (one even thought she was a Democrat at the start of the interview), but recognized her as a Republican moderate, in line with the party\u2019s agenda but not a blind loyalist to the MAGA movement.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe\u2019s not jumping on the MAGA train,\u201d said Scott. \u201cShe\u2019s not using Trump endorsements. I don\u2019t hear anything that scares me about her.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But there were worries about her support for Trump\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/big-beautiful-bill\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"23263\">One Big Beautiful Bill Act<\/a> and her moves to reform Medicare and Medicaid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cShe\u2019s not doing anything for the tariffs, which are hurting our farmers\u2026 cutting Medicare and Medicaid, and we have outlying medical facilities shutting down because they can\u2019t afford to stay open,\u201d said Don.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-josh-turek\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Josh Turek <\/h2>\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\">FILE \u2013 Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek speaks during a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/senate-race-tightens-in-north-carolina-as-democrat-beasley-closes-on-budd\/\" title=\"... ... Tightens in North Carolina as Democrat Beasley Closes on Budd\">primary election night watch party<\/a> after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, June 2, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo\/Bryon Houlgrave, File)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/08\/localimages\/AP26210408694265.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FILE \u2013 Iowa state Rep. Josh Turek speaks during a primary election night watch party after winning the Democratic nomination for U.S. Senate, June 2, 2026, in Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo\/Bryon Houlgrave, File)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hinson is up against <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4677492\/josh-turek-trail-ashley-hinson-emerson-college-poll-favorability-name-recognition\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4677492\/josh-turek-trail-ashley-hinson-emerson-college-poll-favorability-name-recognition\/\">Josh Turek<\/a>, a two-time basketball Paralympic gold medalist and state legislator.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democratic candidate won more support from the panel, largely because he was seen as a political newcomer and underdog rather than as someone offering a platform that excited people. The consensus was that he would do a better job on healthcare than Hinson, even if they were vague on his positions.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cHe\u2019s handicapped, in a wheelchair,\u201d is how Don described him. \u201cThree-time [Paralympian]\u2026 he\u2019s young and up-and-coming. He\u2019s got a lot of great ideas, and that\u2019s what we need.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jessica, 44, from Grimes, said she had the same concerns with him as she did with any politician: \u201cWho\u2019s funding their political campaign, who are their biggest donors and what do they want?\u2026 I need to research that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But in a sign of the work still to be done by each campaign, none of the participants mentioned either candidate\u2019s plans to address their biggest concerns: cost of living, water quality, cancer, and safeguarding farming.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-the-verdict\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">The verdict<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This isn\u2019t a poll. This is six people. It is designed to represent a strand of thinking among Independent voters, to tease out the issues and concerns that drive the headline poll numbers. So with that proviso, this is how the panel said they planned to vote.<\/p>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Scott<\/strong>: Intends to vote for Turek but added that he \u201cwouldn\u2019t be horrified\u201d if Hinson won. He prefers Turek because of what he sees as the Democrat\u2019s focus on action rather than words, and ultimately Scott\u2019s priority was to \u201ctake Washington back.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Jessica<\/strong>: She originally thought Hinson was a Democrat, and expressed support for her before she knew which candidate was which. But she said she plans to vote for Turek because she \u201cdoesn\u2019t want Republicans in the Senate for Iowa, period.\u201d<\/li>\n<li><strong>Darrell<\/strong>: Though he tends to vote for the Republican Party, he said if the election were today, he\u2019d vote for Turek because of his distrust of Hinson. However, he said that if the race were close, he\u2019d likely change to Hinson to retain Trump\u2019s Senate majority.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Don<\/strong>: Plans to vote for Turek because of Hinson\u2019s tariff votes, her perceived opposition to Medicaid\/Medicare funding protections, and her support for the war in Iran.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Aaron<\/strong>: Plans to vote third-party as a protest of the two-party system. Though he tends to vote Republican on the local level, neither Turek nor Hinson motivates him.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Denise<\/strong>: Intends to vote for Turek because she feels Hinson would be a continuation of Ernst, and says she will not vote for a Republican this cycle (on the national level).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Secrets<\/em>\u2018 view is that this is bad news for Republicans, but it is not the end of the story. Many voters are not much engaged in the races yet. And this was clear from a panel that seemed to know little about the candidates\u2019 platforms. Jessica didn\u2019t even know which candidate was which.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yet there is still time. Republicans have an opportunity to define the race and their opponent with an advertising blitz once the party\u2019s high command weighs in with its huge war chest. But they have a fight on their hands in a state that was safe territory just two years ago.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-quote-of-the-day\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Quote of the day<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last week\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/ded0ef2a-fb61-4960-981d-5bcf5f0c6bf2?syn-25a6b1a6=1\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.ft.com\/content\/ded0ef2a-fb61-4960-981d-5bcf5f0c6bf2?syn-25a6b1a6=1\">Lunch with the FT featured Errol Musk<\/a>, father to the world\u2019s richest man. He was interviewed over steak at a restaurant on South Africa\u2019s west coast and delivered what author David Pilling called several fork-drop moments during their four-hour conversation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Like many aging white South Africans, he says he never saw signs of oppression during apartheid.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI was not in favor of apartheid,\u201d he says. \u201cWe never practiced any kind of apartheid at home with our staff.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you want to understand more about the man described variously by Elon Musk as a \u201cterrible human being\u201d and \u201cevil,\u201d then the full piece is well worth a read if you have a subscription.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"h-lunchtime-reading\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Lunchtime reading<\/h2>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4695210\/leftist-network-working-to-sabotage-trump-dc-prosecutions\/\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/in_focus\/4695210\/leftist-network-working-to-sabotage-trump-dc-prosecutions\/\"><strong>Inside the leftist network working to sabotage Trump\u2019s DC prosecutions<\/strong><\/a>: Two <em>Washington Examiner<\/em> reporters attended a training session for Trump opponents who want to ensure they can get through jury selection without being spotted.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/democrats-senate-midterm-election-odds-9844b4aa?st=Ek2tix&#038;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/policy\/democrats-senate-midterm-election-odds-9844b4aa?st=Ek2tix&#038;reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink\"><strong>Why Democrats still have a shot at winning the Senate<\/strong><\/a>: And this follows on from the Iowa focus group. Michigan and Maine may not have gone quite as planned for Democrats, but voter enthusiasm is high among their supporters, bringing more states into play.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><em>You are reading <\/em>Washington Secrets<em>, a guide to power and politics in D.C. and beyond. It is written by Rob Crilly, who you can reach at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#acdfc9cfdec9d8dfecdbcddfc4c5c2cbd8c3c2c9d4cdc1c5c2c9de82cfc3c1\"><span class=\"__cf_email__\" data-cfemail=\"6a190f09180f1e192a1d0b190203040d1e05040f120b0703040f1844090507\">[email\u00a0protected]<\/span><\/a> with your comments, story tips, and suggestion<strong>s. If a friend sent you this and you\u2019d like to sign up, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/click1.trk-washingtonexaminer.com\/xprvgynrhhctscghtpnrptnqlrtypjmjlkrlcnpvhgpdcr_jtjrvfbrrsmwbqmnsbmvsv.html?a=Washington+Secrets+Lara+Trump&#038;b=01%2F21%2F2026&#038;c=WEX_Washington+Secrets&#038;d=25812206&#038;e=da31c45955c9411a6c40ecd0e967fa8def1f0fc08362faaa0dee09386ff5c41b\">click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Iowa voters&#8217; issues threaten GOP Senate hold<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4136,"featured_media":2648898,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ashley-hinson-josh-turek-e1787586136667.jpg?1787571731&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[84591,33183,5626,3756,3740],"class_list":["post-2648897","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-farm-tariffs","tag-focus-group","tag-iowa","tag-republicans","tag-senate"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/ashley-hinson-josh-turek-e1787586136667.jpg?1787571731&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648897","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4136"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2648897"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648897\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2648901,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2648897\/revisions\/2648901"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2648898"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2648897"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2648897"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2648897"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}