Why Trump might be about to get angry about elections

April 10, 2026·16 min·1 clip

The US midterm elections might be the beginning of the end for Donald Trump.

Host Neil opens the episode by taking a listener question from Jackie in Glasgow about how US congressional elections work. He brings in James Matthews, Sky News US correspondent and co-host of the Trump 100 podcast, to explain the structure of US government to a British audience. Matthews explains that Congress — split between the 435-member House of Representatives and the 100-member Senate — functions as America's parliament and co-equal branch of government. In midterms, all House seats and one-third of Senate seats are contested, while the president and vice president are not on the ballot. Matthews explains why senators serve six-year terms: the founders intended longer tenure to provide experience and insulation from short-term political pressure. He argues that even non-Americans should care about the midterms because Congress is the primary check on presidential power, and cites the Iran war as a current example of Democrats arguing Trump has acted unconstitutionally. Matthews notes that midterms historically serve as a referendum on the sitting president, with the president's party typically losing ground. He outlines what Trump has at stake: his legislative majority that has enabled immigration enforcement, deregulation, tax cuts, and deportation efforts. Matthews reveals that Trump told Republican lawmakers several months ago they must win the midterms or Democrats would find grounds to impeach him — his third impeachment attempt would follow two prior acquittals. Polling shows Trump's second-term approval at its lowest point, with a Fox News survey showing two-thirds of voters disapproving. Matthews connects this to Trump's 2024 coalition — white working class voters, Latin American communities — who supported him on economic promises that have not yet materialised. The Iran war has pushed US petrol prices up by roughly one dollar, compounding cost-of-living concerns. High-profile MAGA figures including Marjorie Taylor Greene have publicly criticised Trump for involvement in foreign wars contrary to his America First pledges. Matthews also describes how Trump has directed Republican-controlled states to redraw congressional maps, with Democrats in California responding in kind — a legal standoff now working through the courts. The proposed Save America Act would mandate official ID to register to vote, a requirement critics say would disenfranchise millions of Americans who lack passports or whose surnames differ from birth certificates, disproportionately affecting non-white voters. Matthews warns of a broader democratic crisis stemming from repeated claims by the president that elections are rigged, and suggests post-election legal challenges are likely if results are unfavourable to Trump.

As heard by us

A clear, practical guide to why the midterms could matter well beyond election night.

The episode does a solid job of explaining why the US midterms matter, beginning with the House and Senate and how both chambers fit around the presidency.

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Want the midterms explained through Trump's political trouble?

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