{"id":229945,"date":"2026-11-06T12:14:06","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T12:14:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/how-trump-lost-control-of-congress-and-musks-texas-businesses-brace-for-blue-wave-morning-rundown-nbc-news\/"},"modified":"2026-11-06T12:14:06","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T12:14:06","slug":"how-trump-lost-control-of-congress-and-musks-texas-businesses-brace-for-blue-wave-morning-rundown-nbc-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/quixnet.net\/wpinstance\/how-trump-lost-control-of-congress-and-musks-texas-businesses-brace-for-blue-wave-morning-rundown-nbc-news\/","title":{"rendered":"How Trump lost control of Congress and Musk\u2019s Texas businesses brace for blue wave: Morning Rundown – NBC News"},"content":{"rendered":"

Morning Rundown: Judge blocks Trump\u2019s arch, Mississippi on cusp of historic Senate upset, and are we approaching a new era of Alzheimer\u2019s prevention?<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

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The Republican missteps that led to the party losing control of Congress. Musk faces scrutiny from Democrats in Texas. And Trump is considering Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth\u2019s position, sources say.
Here\u2019s what to know today.
A day after Democrats won back control of Congress, President Donald Trump largely skirted talk about the Republican Party\u2019s election night performance. He instead boasted about the White House ballroom<\/strong><\/a> construction \u2014 though when asked, said he didn\u2019t regret starting a war in Iran.
This is Morning Rundown, a weekday newsletter to start your day. Sign up <\/strong><\/em>here<\/strong><\/em><\/a> to get it in your inbox.<\/strong><\/em>
Still, the GOP is reeling. The president\u2019s party almost always loses ground in midterms, but Trump\u2019s policies in the past two years \u2014 from tariffs, cuts to Medicaid and food stamps, as well as Iran \u2014 offered few promising angles for reversing that curse.
NBC News spoke to more than 50 people close to the Trump campaign who detailed the plans and missteps that set the stage for a shocking upheaval.
Despite bleak poll findings in late August that showed voters were most concerned about the economy, Trump took to the campaign trail with a familiar and fateful message: \u201cPretend I\u2019m on the ballot.\u201d There was no course correction on policy, no bow to the frustrations voters felt.
And in primary contests nationwide, Trump threw his support behind candidates who would end up losing. He urged Sen. Darline Graham of South Carolina to run for a full term despite questions about her qualifications. And he endorsed Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for Senate, setting off a \u201ctotal, major freakout,\u201d one Republican said.
As Republicans pointed fingers at one another, Democrats coalesced around their nominees.
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After more than 80% of midterm voters said they were worried about the price of necessities, a \u201cblue tsunami\u201d came through for Democrats who pledged to make life more affordable. Now comes the daunting task of turning this promise into a reality.
Congressional Democrats will have several policies they can pursue to push down consumer costs \u2014 assuming they make it past Trump, who has the power to veto any legislation Congress passes. Incoming leaders, including Michigan\u2019s Abdul El-Sayed and Texas\u2019 James Talarico, and party mainstays, like Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, have pushed ideas such as \u201cMedicare for All<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d free preschool and reversing Republican cuts to healthcare.
But Trump\u2019s own policies \u2014 and Republicans\u2019 lackluster midterm results \u2014 serve as a cautionary tale for Democrats as they attempt to address affordability.
What Dems are saying about affordability.<\/strong><\/a>
In recent years, Elon Musk has moved his home and businesses, SpaceX and Tesla, from California to Texas in a bid to avoid Democratic regulators and left-wing policies. Now, he\u2019s surrounded again, despite $168 million worth of campaign donations to Republicans.
Already, incoming Texas Attorney General Nathan Johnson, a Democrat, has pledged to investigate the world\u2019s richest man. \u201cHe\u2019s demonstrated his interest in pay-to-play,\u201d Johnson said in an interview with NBC News. \u201cHe\u2019s demonstrated interest in exerting control over public power through his own wealth and his own commercial interests.\u201d
Democrats Gina Hinojosa<\/strong><\/a>, the projected winner in the governor\u2019s race, and James Talarico<\/strong><\/a>, who won a Senate seat, also called out Musk on the campaign trail. The attitude in Texas may prove to be a dress rehearsal of what awaits him in Washington next year.
More on Musk\u2019s relationships with Trump-aligned Republicans.<\/strong><\/a>
Trump has told some allies that he\u2019s considering replacing Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to two people familiar with the discussions. Some of Hegseth\u2019s upcoming travel was put on hold, sources said, and he was one of the few members of Trump\u2019s Cabinet who were not in the White House East Room to watch the election results this week.
Two sources said the change could be over a potential resumption of major military action in Iran, or it could be related to post-midterm politics. But Trump said yesterday that he is not planning to replace Hegseth.
Why members of Congress are frustrated with Hegseth.<\/strong><\/a>
It\u2019s never too early to start decorating for the holidays, and these retailers seem to agree. Several prelit Christmas trees<\/strong><\/a> are up to 50% off right now. Plus, if you\u2019re getting a head start on your holiday shopping, we rounded up the best cooking gifts<\/strong><\/a>, best gifts for coffee lovers<\/strong><\/a> and best service gifts<\/strong><\/a> that\u2019ll make anyone\u2019s life easier.
Sign up for The Selection<\/strong><\/em><\/a> newsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.<\/em>
Thanks for reading today\u2019s Morning Rundown. Today\u2019s newsletter was curated for you by Elizabeth Robinson. If you\u2019re a fan, please send a link to your family and friends. They can sign up <\/em>here<\/em><\/a>. <\/em>
Elizabeth Robinson is a newsletter editor for NBC News, based in Los Angeles.
Josh Feldman is a platforms editor for NBC News.
Josephine Murphy is an NBC News platforms intern based in Los Angeles.
© 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC<\/p>\n

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