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4 key Senate seats Republicans aim to flip in 2026 midterms to expand their majority

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Republican Sen. Tim Scott’s goal in next year’s midterm elections is not only to defend the GOP’s 53-47 margin in the Senate, but to expand the majority.

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Scott, the conservative senator from South Carolina, told Fox News Digital soon after taking over late last year as chair of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) that he aimed to increase the GOP’s control in the chamber to at least 55 seats.

And he’s standing by his goal.

«The bottom line is, I believe that we can defend our current seats while adding at least two more seats to our numbers,» the NRSC chair told Fox News Digital earlier this year.

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THIS REPUBLICAN JUST JUMPED INTO BATTLEGROUND GEORGIA’S HIGH-PROFILE SENATE RACE 

Sen. Tim Scott spoke to a South Carolina GOP delegation breakfast on Wednesday (pictured speaking on the RNC stage). (Getty Images)

Senate Republicans enjoyed a favorable map in the 2024 cycle as they flipped four seats from blue to red to win back the majority.

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But the party in power—clearly the Republicans right now—traditionally faces political headwinds in the midterm elections. Nevertheless, a current read of the 2026 map indicates the GOP may be able to go on offense in some key states.

In battleground Georgia, which President Donald Trump narrowly carried in last year’s White House race, Republicans view first-term Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Democrat incumbent up for re-election next year.

TRUMP-BACKED RNC CHAIR JUMPS INTO THE NATION’S ‘MARQUEE’ SENATE RACE

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They’re also targeting battleground Michigan, where Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring at the end of next year, and swing state New Hampshire, where longtime Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen decided against seeking a fourth six-year term in the Senate.

Also on the NRSC’s target list is blue-leaning Minnesota, where Democratic Sen. Tina Smith isn’t running for re-election.

At the top of their list is Ossoff, who narrowly won election to the Senate in a January 2021 runoff contest.

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Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff of Georgia was first elected in 2021. He is running for re-election in the 2026 midterms.

Republicans view Sen. Jon Ossoff as the most vulnerable Democrat running for re-election in the 2026 midterm elections. (AP)

But Ossoff is off to a very hot fundraising start, and a GOP primary in Georgia between Reps. Mike Collins and Buddy Carter, and former college and professional football coach Derek Dooley, is starting to turn combustible.

DNC CHAIR TELLS FOX NEWS DIGITAL DEMOCRATS HAVE HIT ‘ROCK BOTTOM’ – HERE’S HIS PLAN TO REBOUND

Republicans are also confident they can flip Michigan, another battleground Trump narrowly carried last November.

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Former Rep. Mike Rogers, the 2024 GOP Senate nominee who lost last year’s race by a razor-thin margin, has at this point cleared the Republican primary field, thanks in great part to Trump’s endorsement.

Mike Rogers is backed by President Donald Trump as he runs for the Senate in Michigan

Former Rep. Mike Rogers, a Republican Senate candidate in Michigan for a second straight election cycle, is interviewed by Fox New Digital in Grand Rapids, Michigan on April 2, 2024. (Paul Steinhauser – Fox News )

Democrats, meanwhile, have a very competitive primary on their hands. The primary race includes three well-known Democrats: Rep. Haley Stevens, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow and former gubernatorial candidate Abdul El-Sayed, who enjoys the backing of progressive champion Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont.

With Shaheen, who made history as the first woman in the nation’s history to win election as a governor and a senator, out of the running in New Hampshire, the GOP is hoping to win a Senate election in the Granite State for the first time in 16 years.

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Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire isn't seeking reelection in 2026

Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, seen at a policy event in Concord, N.H. on Oct. 22, 2024, isn’t seeking a fourth term in the Senate when she’s up for re-election in 2026. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

They’re encouraged by the gains Trump made in New Hampshire in last year’s election, as he improved on his showing from four years earlier and came close to carrying the state.

But four-term Rep. Chris Pappas’ announcement in early April that he would run to succeed Shaheen has cleared the Democratic primary field, as of now, of any potential rivals for the party’s Senate nomination.

Meanwhile, a Republican primary in the state—where the GOP hasn’t won a Senate race in 15 years—is heating up between former Sen. Scott Brown and state Sen. Dan Innis, with the possibility of more candidates entering the race.

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In Minnesota, the leading candidates in the Democratic primary to succeed Smith are Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan and Rep. Angie Craig.

Former professional basketball player Royce White, who won the 2024 Senate nomination in Minnesota, and former Navy SEAL Adam Schwarze are currently running in the GOP primary. But another Republican Senate hopeful may soon enter the field.

While Republicans will work to defy political history in next year’s midterms, they point to the Democratic Party’s current brand issues.

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«Democrats have historically low approval ratings because candidates like Jon Ossoff and Chris Pappas keep prioritizing radical policies like men in women’s sports, protecting sanctuary cities for criminal illegal aliens, and raising taxes on working families,» NRSC communications director Joanna Rodriguez argued in a statement to Fox News.

And Rodriguez touted that «Republicans are delivering on policies that keep Americans safe and let families and workers keep more of their hard-earned paychecks. Voters will reward us for it in 2026.» 

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La ciencia desmiente mitos sobre gamers y salud psicológica en relación a los videojuegos

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Un estudio internacional revela que los gamers no presentan desventajas psicológicas frente a quienes no juegan (RDNE Stock project)

Frente a una computadora, muchos jóvenes encuentran en los videojuegos una parte central de su vida cotidiana. Lejos de las pantallas, surgen dudas y advertencias en la sociedad sobre los posibles efectos psicológicos de pasar tantas horas ante un juego.

Sin embargo, una investigación reciente aporta claridad al debate y demuestra que los gamers no presentan desventajas psicológicas significativas frente a quienes no juegan. Los resultados señalan que la práctica habitual de los videojuegos no implica un daño o alteración relevante en la salud mental.

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Según un trabajo publicado en Psychological Reports, expertos analizaron aspectos fundamentales como la regulación de las emociones, las relaciones interpersonales y los mecanismos de defensa de personas que destinan tiempo a jugar videojuegos. El objetivo consistió en responder si se diferencian de quienes no participan en esa actividad bajo parámetros clínicos.

De acuerdo con los autores, el interés por el tema surgió ante la percepción social que asocia los videojuegos con adicción, aislamiento y dificultades emocionales, una visión que genera preocupación y debate.

La investigación incluyó a 762 personas de entre 18 y 44 años. Se clasificó como gamers a quienes jugaban ocho horas o más por semana y consideraban el juego parte importante de su vida. El grupo de no gamers estaba compuesto por quienes jugaban menos de ocho horas semanales, o bien no atribuían relevancia a esa práctica.

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Para evaluar las características psicológicas, los investigadores utilizaron tests reconocidos que miden trastornos de personalidad, dificultades en la gestión emocional y estilos de defensa ante el estrés o conflictos internos.

La investigación destaca que los
La investigación destaca que los videojuegos no afectan negativamente la salud mental ni las relaciones interpersonales (Freepik)

De acuerdo con los resultados, solo se advirtieron diferencias pequeñas en la frecuencia de ciertos rasgos de personalidad. Los no gamers presentaron puntajes levemente más altos en indicadores vinculados con rasgos paranoides, histriónicos, narcisistas, evitativos y dependientes.

Por otra parte, los gamers mostraron niveles un poco superiores en rasgos antisociales y esquizotípicos. Sin embargo, una vez ajustados los resultados por edad —ya que los gamers eran en promedio dos años mayores—, la mayoría de esas diferencias perdió relevancia estadística.

Según detallaron los autores, tras el ajuste por edad persistieron tres diferencias: los gamers mantuvieron leves aumentos en rasgos antisociales y esquizotípicos, mientras que los no gamers conservaron una tendencia mayor hacia rasgos evitativos y dependientes. Estas variaciones fueron consideradas menores y no alcanzan a definir perfiles patológicos.

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Además, la edad se mostró como un factor relevante, dado que algunos rasgos tienden a disminuir con el paso del tiempo, como la impulsividad o la sensibilidad en las relaciones interpersonales.

Los gamers muestran estrategias de
Los gamers muestran estrategias de afrontamiento más maduras y no presentan aislamiento social, según el estudio (Freepik)

Los investigadores también analizaron el área de las relaciones con otras personas, un punto esencial para el desarrollo emocional sano. De acuerdo con el estudio, no existen diferencias significativas entre gamers y no gamers en dimensiones como la capacidad de vincularse, el sentimiento de alienación o la seguridad afectiva. Este hallazgo resulta relevante, ya que sugiere que el contacto regular con videojuegos no provoca aislamiento social ni dificulta la construcción de relaciones sanas, al menos en los parámetros medidos.

El estudio observó los mecanismos de defensa, es decir, las estrategias inconscientes que las personas usan para enfrentar el malestar interno. Según los datos, los gamers emplean mecanismos maduros con mayor frecuencia, estrategias consideradas sanas como el humor, la anticipación y la sublimación.

Los no gamers, en cambio, manifestaron más uso de mecanismos de defensa de tipo neurótico, como la represión o la formación reactiva. No hubo diferencias entre grupos en los mecanismos de tipo inmaduro, como la negación o la proyección.

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El análisis incluyó a 762
El análisis incluyó a 762 participantes y utilizó tests reconocidos para evaluar personalidad y regulación emocional (Freepik)

Respecto a la regulación emocional, tanto gamers como no gamers mostraron niveles similares de capacidad para manejar sus emociones. Según los autores, la gestión emocional suele mejorar al llegar a la adultez joven, lo que habría influido en los resultados observados.

El estudio fue llevado a cabo por el profesor Ekin Emiral y Yıldız Bilge, quienes, según sus declaraciones difundidas por Psypost, buscaron cuestionar la tendencia a patologizar comportamientos que se alejan de las normas tradicionales. El objetivo no fue identificar a los videojuegos como causa de problemas de salud mental, sino explorar si las personas que dedican mucho tiempo a esta práctica presentan diferencias estructurales notorias frente a quienes no lo hacen.

Según Emiral, “los gamers no presentan más problemas psicológicos que quienes no juegan”, y en determinadas dimensiones, demuestran incluso una mayor capacidad de adaptación.

Las diferencias de personalidad entre
Las diferencias de personalidad entre gamers y no gamers son menores y pierden relevancia al ajustar por edad (REUTERS/Luc Gnago)

Los autores reconocen algunas limitaciones en su trabajo. Según el informe, el grupo de gamers incluyó más hombres que mujeres, lo que podría haber influido en los resultados relacionados con el perfil de personalidad y el uso de mecanismos de defensa.

Además, la división entre gamers y no gamers dependió del auto-reporte, por lo que pueden existir matices o situaciones no contempladas. El diseño transversal del estudio tampoco permite establecer causas o efectos a largo plazo.

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De acuerdo con los investigadores, los futuros estudios deberían incorporar una muestra más equilibrada en relación al género y generar clasificaciones más detalladas en función de los tipos de juegos y las motivaciones de cada participante.

También sugieren realizar seguimientos prolongados para observar si determinados rasgos de personalidad se desarrollan debido a la experiencia de jugar, o si quienes ya tienen esos rasgos optan por los videojuegos.

A pesar de estos puntos, el estudio representa uno de los análisis más integrales sobre las funciones psicológicas de gamers y no gamers. Según sus conclusiones, la participación frecuente en videojuegos no altera el desarrollo psicológico normal y puede asociarse, en algunos casos, con estrategias de afrontamiento más maduras. Los resultados invitan a abandonar miradas simplistas y considerar al gaming como un espacio de expresión y desarrollo similar a otras actividades culturales.

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Russia launches massive drone and missile barrage on Ukraine hitting Kyiv, other targets throughout country

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Russian forces launched a massive barrage of drones and missiles into Ukraine on Sunday, killing at least four people.

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The strike, mostly targeting the capital city of Kyiv, was the first major aerial assault since Russia launched its largest barrage of the war last month. Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv City Administration, confirmed Sunday’s casualties via Telegram and said 10 people were also wounded in the attack. One of those killed was a 12-year-old girl, he said.

«The Russians have restarted the child death counter,» Tkachenko wrote.

Russia fired a total of 595 exploding drones and decoys and 48 missiles, Ukraine’s air force said Sunday. Of those, air defenses shot down or jammed 566 drones and 45 missiles, they said.

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UN SECURITY COUNCIL REJECTS CHINA-RUSSIA RESOLUTION EXTENDING IRAN NUCLEAR SANCTIONS RELIEF BEFORE DEADLINE

Rescuers work at the site of an apartment buildings damaged during a Russian attack in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the bombardment targeted the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Khmelnytskyi, Sumy, Mykolaiv, Chernihiv, and Odesa in addition to Kyiv. He said at least 70 people were injured nationwide.

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«This vile attack came virtually (at) the close of UN General Assembly week, and this is exactly how Russia declares its true position. Moscow wants to keep fighting and killing, and it deserves the toughest pressure from the world,» Zelenskyy wrote in a statement on social media.

WORLD LEADERS LAUGH, SQUIRM AS TRUMP BLASTS UN ON CLIMATE, UKRAINE, GAZA AT GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that Russia’s attack landed on the end of the United Nations’ general assembly week. (Antonio Masiello/Getty Image)

Sunday’s barrage comes after President Donald Trump displayed a shift in tone toward Ukraine during the United Nations General Assembly last week. Rather than emphasizing a peace deal with Putin, Trump instead urged Ukraine to go after Russia in whatever ways possible.

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RUSSIA SHIFTS FROM TALK TO ACTION, TARGETING NATO HOMELAND AMID FEARS OF GLOBAL WAR

«I think Ukraine, with the support of the European Union, is in a position to fight and win all of Ukraine back in its original form,» he said Tuesday on social media.

«With time, patience, and the financial support of Europe and, in particular, NATO, the original borders from where this war started, is very much an option,» Trump added. «Why not?»

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President Donald Trump

U.S. President Donald Trump shifted his tone on the Ukraine war during the United Nations general assembly. ( Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

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Trump’s comments present a stark reversal from where he stood when he first re-entered office and, in an infamous February Oval Office meeting told Zelenskyy he «[didn’t] have the cards» to take on Russia, and repeatedly suggested Kyiv would need to make significant concessions to end the war.

Fox News’ Caitlin McFall and The Associated Press contributed to this report

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Harris recalls stun over Biden’s botched debate response about fallen service members in Afghanistan

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Former Vice President Kamala Harris revealed in her new political memoir, «107 Days,» that she was stunned by then-President Joe Biden’s debate response about his administration’s botched withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, which left 13 service members dead. 

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Biden’s debate performance against Donald Trump in 2024 was viewed as an abject failure, with the Democratic president tripping over his words, losing his train of thought and displaying a raspy voice attributed to a cold during the event. 

Harris argued that Biden whiffed an easy question on the military and omitted any acknowledgment of the 13 U.S. service members who died during the Afghanistan withdrawal. She also pointed to his claims that he was «the only president this century» and «this decade» who did not have any troops «dying anywhere in the world.» 

KAMALA HARRIS REJECTS IDEA THAT BUNGLED ‘VIEW’ INTERVIEW WAS TIPPING POINT IN CAMPAIGN

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Harris in her book, however, identified those who were killed as «13 marines,» — except it was not all Marines who died during the withdrawal. Eleven Marines, one soldier and one Navy corpsman were killed in a suicide bombing at the Kabul Airport’s Abbey Gate. 

Harris explained in her book that Biden first faced a question on the economy during his debate in June 2024, which she said was rushed, with Biden showing «no light in his eyes, no expression in his voice.»

Former Vice President Kamala Harris published a book Sept. 23, 2025, recapping her experiences on the 2024 campaign trail while also taking shots at former President Joe Biden.  (Saul Loeb/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

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The next question was on the military, and included Biden omitting an acknowledgment of the horrific attack that plagued his administration as one of its greatest failures. 

«He’s got so much material on this—Trump calling our fallen soldiers ‘suckers and losers,’» Harris wrote of what ran through her head when Biden was asked about his role as commander-in-chief. 

KAMALA HARRIS BREAKS SILENCE ON BIDEN DROPOUT, ADMITS SHE HAS REGRETS ABOUT HER HANDLING OF SITUATION

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President Biden at debate

President Joe Biden during his debate against President Donald Trump June 27, 2024, in Atlanta.  (Kyle Mazza/Anadolu via Getty Images)

«He managed to get off that line but had stepped on it earlier by saying no one had died in wars overseas on his watch, seeming to forget the thirteen marines who died in the bomb blast at the airport during the evacuation of Afghanistan. I’d been on Air Force Two when it happened, and we had to change our flight plan to get back to DC in the face of that tragedy. How could he overlook that day?» she wrote, expressing her surprise over the response, but misidentifying those who were all killed as members of the Marines Corps. 

«I know his deep feelings for those men and women. It’s personal to him,» she added. 

KAMALA HARRIS REVEALS WHAT BIDEN TOLD HER JUST BEFORE CRUCIAL DEBATE WITH TRUMP THAT LEFT HER ‘ANGRY’

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Afghan Taliban

Taliban fighters celebrate the third anniversary of the withdrawal of US-led troops from Afghanistan, in Kabul, Aug. 14, 2024. (Siddiqullah Alizai/The Associated Press)

The Biden administration repeatedly came under fire for its handling of the Afghan withdrawal. It was viewed as paving the road for adversaries such as Russia to invade Ukraine, as the U.S. looked weak on the international stage, critics such as Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said at the time. The Taliban regained control of Afghanistan upon the U.S.’ withdrawal. 

The families who lost loved ones during the botched withdrawal previously slammed Biden and Harris for their deaths, including launching a scathing defense attack against Harris when she was running for president. Parents and other loved ones claimed that the «administration killed my son» and that they «have not seen any support from you or your administration.»

KAMALA HARRIS COMPLAINS ABOUT ‘IMPOSSIBLE’ LACK OF SUPPORT FROM BIDEN’S COMMS TEAM, INNER CIRCLE

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Biden added fuel to the fire of the botched withdrawal criticisms when he appeared on a tarmac during a dignified transfer ceremony of those killed in 2021 and was seen looking at his watch. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Harris’ office for comment on the section of the book, including a response as to why Harris stated the 13 service members were all identified as «marines,» but did not immediately receive responses. Biden’s office declined to comment. 

Former Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House

Then-Vice President Kamala Harris listens during an event with President Joe Biden in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Sept. 26, 2024. (Susan Walsh, File/AP Photo)

Harris’ book, «107 Days,» hit store shelves Tuesday and reflects on the former vice president’s truncated presidential campaign cycle after Biden dropped out of the race amid mounting concern over his mental acuity. 

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Harris is set to go on tour promoting her book in cities such as New York, San Francisco and London. 

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