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Donald Trump’s approval rating has plummeted to a record low as the military and economic toll of the US-Iran war collides with the upcoming 2026 midterm elections - and the pressure is on.

On today’s episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey speaks to US correspondents Ben Smith and Poppy Wood to examine how the conflict in the Middle East is threatening Trump’s control of Congress and driving inflation at American gas pumps. With oil prices surging past $90 a barrel due to sustained disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, Republican candidates from Texas to Maine are increasingly worried.

Plus, amid a growing mutiny inside the Pentagon over the Iran war, could Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth be on the chopping block if the midterms go badly for Trump?

#Trump #USIranWar #2026Midterms #GasPrices #PeteHegseth #IranTheLatest #TrumpApprovalRating #StraitOfHormuz #USEconomy #MiddleEastConflict

00:00 - Introduction and Midterms Overview
00:56 - Trump's Approval Rating and the War's Impact
02:52 - Republican Dilemma Ahead of Midterms
04:45 - Democrats' Strategy and Inflation Focus
05:43 - Generational Shift in the Democratic Party
07:33 - The Role of Israel in Democratic Primaries
08:31 - Laredo, Texas: Border Town Perspective
10:14 - Economic Strains and Gas Prices in Texas
14:04 - Border Patrol, ICE, and Local Paranoia
19:24 - Texas Political Outlook and Senate Race
21:45 - Chaos at the Pentagon and Hegseth's Leadership
23:44 - Media Access and Reporting on the Pentagon
27:04 - Conclusion

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Ben Smith, Washington correspondent @bsmithjourno
Poppy Wood, US correspondent @poppyeh

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Out with the old: Democrats replace stalwarts with young blood
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us..../politics/2026/08/15

US army secretary to step down after tension with Hegseth
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us..../politics/2026/08/21

Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
Nominated Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Audio Producer: Max Bower
Video Producer: Peter Shevlin
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh and Lucy Hadlow
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey
► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor
► EMAIL US: Contact the team on battlelines@telegraph.co.uk
► GET THE LATEST HEADLINES: Find all our latest Iran coverage here: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/iran-war/

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