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Thursday, November 5, 2026
Tracking narrative movement in the weeks before an election can become laboriously redundant as parties and candidates harden into familiar talking points. As such, newsletters that track narratives can sometimes feel similarly repetitive. Well, good news, dear reader. We’ve reached the oasis of new ideas and narratives to discuss! Huzzah! For example, fascinating new throughlines are just emerging, like JD Vance openly criticizing the Iran War and, ostensibly by proxy, Donald Trump’s decision to lead us into a conflict that spiked gas prices and caused an existential threat to the Republican Party, at least according to Ron DeSantis. Also, conservative media are actively searching for a new leading man, as the nation, and its audience, has grown tired of the old guy. And “woke is back!” is a thing that was actually said on CNN following the midterm results, an idea that was so predictable and tired that Republicans did the thing they do so well… they pounced, and deservedly so.
01. Et Tu, JD? Vance Blames Trump’s War for the Midterm Wipeout
[Gaining Traction]. The vice president blamed a disastrous Iran war for the GOP blowout. Trump called it largely true before saying Vance may not run.
Vice President JD Vance posted about 600 words Wednesday morning following a Blue Tsunami and repudiation of his party, and named the cause. “The reason we lost is the war,” he wrote. “The president himself said so last night.” He told anyone who thinks it was worth it to argue that “losing the Senate for the next six years was worth it.” Donald Trump Jr. added THREE 100 emojis in his reposting it on X.
President Trump was asked about it during a press tour of the construction of the White House ballroom. He was remarkably chill in calling the post “largely true” and took a principled approach in saying he’d do it all again. Asked about 2028, he said, “Maybe he won’t run.”
Fox News contributor Marc Thiessen called the post “disloyal to the president” on Special Report. Bret Baier’s clear answer was “He wants to run for president.” Fox & Friends opened its first hour Thursday arguing with Vance. MS NOW never quoted the post in five hours of prime time. Axios quoted a source close to the administration who said Vance “acted like he wanted to become” president. Ya think?
TAKEAWAY: It’s not just that JD Vance made a remarkably early play for 2028 and basically broke the 11th commandment of speaking ill of a fellow Republican (even if by subtweet). The larger issue is that the Republican Party is basically auditioning for its next leading man, and the reaction to this very early play is doing Vance no favors among his own party in terms of getting cast in the role he so sorely wants.