The Morning Roundup – November 12, 2026

Good morning from The Monolith Media. The fallout from last week’s Democratic midterm wave is still dominating the conversation: Republicans are searching for explanations without blaming President Trump, analysts are crediting Black voters in the South for powering the blue surge, and Scott Colom’s win in the Mississippi Senate race is adding to the scoreboard. The left is zeroing in on the Trump administration’s lame-duck moves, including new food assistance cuts, while the right is warning about a migrant caravan heading north and pushing back on claims about who flipped Texas. Here’s how all three sides are covering it.

LEFT

Matthew Lally (CNN) – “Indiana GOP Rep. Stutzman says ‘several things’ cost Republicans in the election”

In this CNN video segment, Indiana Republican Rep. Stutzman responds to his party’s midterm losses. He argues that no single factor sank the GOP, pointing instead to “several things” that cost Republicans at the ballot box, as the party continues to sort through what went wrong.

Charles P. Pierce (Esquire) – “Happy Holidays! The Trump Administration Is Cutting Food Assistance Programs Again!”

Pierce argues that after losing spectacularly in the midterms, the GOP has immediately set out to do as much damage as possible before Democrats take over. His target is the Trump administration’s renewed effort to cut SNAP food assistance heading into the holidays, a move he says comes as no surprise.

CENTER

NBC News – “Live updates: Republicans in Congress avoid blaming Trump policies after election losses”

NBC’s live blog tracks how congressional Republicans are reacting to their election losses while steering clear of blaming President Trump’s policies. The coverage also follows Scott Colom’s win in the Mississippi Senate race and the latest on the Alaska Senate contest.

POLITICO – “The feds are looking at the NJEA”

POLITICO’s New Jersey Playbook reports that there is a federal investigation into the New Jersey Education Association, one of the state’s most powerful unions. The newsletter looks at what the probe could mean for the teachers’ union and New Jersey politics.

RIGHT

Bryan Hyde (American Greatness) – “Migrant Caravan Heads for U.S. Border Following Democrat Midterm Wins”

Hyde reports that a migrant caravan is moving toward the U.S. border in the wake of Democrats’ midterm victories. Members of the caravan are hoping last week’s election will lead to reopening the border and make it easier to enter the United States.

Ross O’Keefe (New York Post) – “California transplants erupt after being blamed for blue tsunami flipping Texas: ‘Ignorant nonsense'”

In a Post exclusive, Californians who relocated to Texas push back on claims that they were responsible for the Democratic wave in the state’s 2026 midterms. They dismiss the theory as “ignorant nonsense.”

Nicholas S. Kass (John Kass News) – “John Kass the Writer”

Nicholas S. Kass reflects on his father, legendary Chicago journalist and political analyst John Kass. He argues that John Kass is first and foremost a writer, an artist whose work can reveal truth in a way that transcends other ways of knowing.

Riley Cardoza (Page Six) – “‘Insulted’ Kris Jenner left raging over line in Kim Kardashian biography”

Page Six reports that Kris Jenner was left insulted and angry over a line about her in a new Kim Kardashian biography.

Samantha Nungesser (Page Six) – “Jen Affleck reveals the shocking final straw that led to Zac divorce: ‘The money’s gone'”

Jen Affleck opens up about what she describes as the final straw that led to her divorce from Zac Affleck, pointing to money troubles.

Lanae Brody (Page Six) – “David Charvet details son’s role in shocking fitness transformation before ‘Special Forces'”

In a Page Six exclusive, actor David Charvet describes how his son helped him get in shape physically before competing on “Special Forces.”