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If/When [1]

['Lorraine Evanoff', 'Citizen Earth']

Date: 2026-07-30  

By Lorraine Evanoff, July 30, 2026 – 480 Words

The cost of Trump’s illegal war in Iran officially at $37.5 billion is shocking. The Pentagon putting the internal cost closer to $100 billion, not even including higher gas prices, the damage to our reputation, possible International Criminal Court charges for war crimes, and the loss of American lives is outrageous. The national debt has surpassed 100% of GDP, and by 2030 will hit a record high.

The war is an unpopular money pit. If/when Democrats retake Congress in the midterm elections on the promise to end the war and stabilize the economy and the country, what can they deliver? The House has passed concurrent resolutions to end the war in Iran, but those are not a law. The Senate has taken up a Joint Resolution, which is a law that, if passed, would go to Trump for signature. But the Senate declined to even advance the resolution 47 to 49.

If/when Democrats retake Congress, how much damage control can they do during Trump’s remaining two years wielding veto power? He can be impeached again, more than once. In the unlikely event Democrats gain a 60-seat majority, the Senate could convict him. But more likely, Democrats can undo a lot of the damage Republicans did with the Big Bullshit Bill that destroyed healthcare and turned ICE against Americans, through reconciliation.

A Democratic House also will have subpoena power and can investigate the worst Republican corruption since President Harding’s Teapot Dome scandal. They can challenge Trump’s illegal pardons, 17 recipients of which have already received inquiry letters from Democrats.

Governments often have an “institutional gravity” where systems under transition revert to historical norms of control, i.e. Russia and China toward autocracy, European countries and the U.S. toward democracy. Hitler lost the election then came to power appointed as chancellor and never left. Orban got a second non-consecutive term and held it four more terms. It ended poorly for both. Trump’s second term is undeniably a disaster.

Despite Republican mid-cycle gerrymandering, continued purging of voter rolls, dark money, and the media depicting Democrats in disarray, we are still favored to take the House and maybe the Senate. The media is once again spreading the lie that House Republicans will try to dispute the midterm election results and refuse to seat the new House. Robert Hubbell mercilessly corrected the New York Times David French, explaining that the current 119th House expires at 11:59 a.m. on January 3, 2027, and the 120th Congress begins with a new House Speaker selected by the majority. Also, ignore voter turnout fears. In presidential elections, voter turnout is usually over 50%, and the midterms are always less than 50%. In 2018, when Democrats retook the House, turnout was 47%, the highest since the 1966 record of 49%. Therefore, in the November 3rd midterms, anything over 50% would shatter the 1969 record. VOTE BLUE.

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