Welcome to today’s daily update for Thursday, November 5, 2026. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Breakdown
Democrats have secured control of the US House and the US Senate. However, what does that mean for the Trump administration, Republicans, and the US as a whole?
The Democratic Party won a sweeping majority in Tuesday’s midterm elections, taking control of the House and the Senate by significant margins after flipping various districts and states, respectively. This gives them the majority in both chambers of Congress, effectively guaranteeing that President Donald Trump becomes unable to pass any sort of legislation – political analysts label a president in this situation a “lame-duck president.”
Many citizens have raised the possibility of Trump being impeached, though there are two key reasons why this is unlikely to happen. Firstly, impeachment requires a two-thirds majority in the Senate, which Democrats do not exactly have. They would need to flip multiple Republican senators to even get close to this two-thirds majority – only then would they be able to convict and remove the president from office.
However, more importantly, analysts have raised another key question: would Democrats choose to impeach Trump in the first place? Many would say that, throughout his second term, he has, in fact, dug his own grave with unpopular policies on tariffs and immigration alongside the incredibly costly war in Iran.
Some predict that Democrats will simply allow Trump to continue doing what he has been doing for the last two years, securing a Democrat win in 2028 rather than impeaching him and allowing J.D. Vance a shot at the candidacy in 2028.
Other than election implications, though, Democrats’ fresh majority is likely to give them a means to expand on their growing agenda. A war powers resolution will be the first idea on the minds of many – the approval of such a resolution would require the executive branch to end the war in Iran within 60 days. Investigations into the conduct of Trump, his family members, and his closest government officials are likely also on the way.
Democrats could also attempt to pass legislation regarding healthcare and affordability, attempting to expand Affordable Care Act subsidies that expired last year, reverse Republican cuts to Medicaid, and lower costs of food and gas. To get these approved by Trump, they could attach these policies to must-pass legislation like the federal budget – a temporary resolution for federal funding is projected to expire on December 11, though representatives and senators will not be sworn into their new terms until January.
Many analysts have cited the fact that Democrats secured such a substantial win due to Trump, not necessarily due to their policies or viewpoints. Earlier in Trump’s term, Democrat approval ratings were significantly lower than they are now, primarily due to Democrats that are simply unhappy with the way the left is handling national issues. Nevertheless, it means that the party’s new majority gives them a valuable opportunity to show the public what they can do and what they aim to do ahead of the presidential elections in 2028.
The Global Snapshot
A major cyberattack hit plasma refrigeration systems across France yesterday, with hackers attempting to raise the temperatures to destroy the blood products. According to authorities, the cyberattack affected at least three refrigeration centers but was successfully fended off before the hackers could do any further damage. Plasma is usually stored around -22°F (-30°C), but temperatures higher than 0°F (-18°C) usually cause heat-sensitive proteins to begin breaking down. Hackers had set the temperatures in the facilities to rise to a staggering 230°F (110°C), but the system’s alarms quickly checked back against the attempted attack and saved the products. Local police are currently investigating who could have been behind the hack.
Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): Foxes have whiskers on their legs known as carpal whiskers. This helps them with their bearings, especially when it’s dark outside.
Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): Reading is an exercise in empathy; an exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while. (Malorie Blackman)
Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Fullsome (adj, FULL-sum) - Fulsome describes someone or something that is generous in amount, extent, or spirit.
In a Sentence: They were fulsome in their praise of her efforts to raise money for the new wing of the children’s hospital.
Image: Sargeant Matt Hecht / Public Domain
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