Updated

The war with Iran is reshaping US politics ahead of the midterms, with President Trump deflecting responsibility for the conflict's length in a Time interview, dismissing low poll numbers as 'fake,' and declining to rule out declaring a state of emergency before the elections. The White House has aired a taxpayer-funded ad on Fox News celebrating Trump's decision to go to war with Iran, while Iran's IRGC published an open letter appealing directly to American voters to reject Trump. Guardian correspondents have been fielding reader questions on how the war could affect voters, reflecting broader debate over the political and economic costs of the conflict as it enters its seventh month ahead of the 2026 midterms.