INTERNACIONAL
Blue-leaning state emerges as top GOP trouble spot as Senate campaign chief sounds midterm alarm
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The Senate Republican campaign chair has a stark warning for his party as the GOP defends its 53-47 majority in the chamber in this year’s midterm elections.
National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Chair Tim Scott pointed to a ballot box deficit the GOP’s facing in a new Fox News national poll, saying it could impact specific Senate races this year.
And Scott said that the toughest challenge may be in Maine, where longtime GOP Sen. Susan Collins is running for re-election in the blue-leaning northern New England state.
The straight talk from Scott, which came at a closed-door meeting Tuesday with fellow GOP senators, comes as Republicans, as the party in power in the nation’s capital, face traditional political headwinds in the midterms. But the GOP is also facing a rough political climate, with President Donald Trump’s approval ratings remaining underwater while Democrats are energized as they work to win back the House majority and possibly recapture the Senate.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST FOX NEWS POLL IN THE 2026 MIDTERM ELECTIONS
An exterior view of the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol, on Jan. 12, 2026. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
Scott, in his briefing, pointed to the Democrats’ six-point margin over Republicans on the generic ballot — which asks respondents whether they’d back the Democrat or Republican candidate in their congressional district without mentioning specific candidate names — in the latest Fox News national poll. Scott’s briefing was first reported by Axios and confirmed by Fox News Digital.
Maine, which Scott pointed to, and battleground North Carolina, where Republicans are defending an open seat in the race to succeed retiring GOP Sen. Thom Tillis, are the Democrats’ top two targets in the 2026 election cycle.
REPUBLICAN WAKE-UP CALL: SPECIAL ELECTION SHOCKER HIGHLIGHTS GOP TURNOUT ISSUES
«The Democrats are targeting a number of our incumbents. And so we’ve got some races that are going to be expensive and hard fought in places like Maine and North Carolina,» Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters following the NRSC briefing.
But Thune added, «We feel really good about… where our Senate races are.» And he emphasized that «incumbents in our conference are seasoned veterans who will outwork any of their opponents.»
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., center, arrives for a news conference after a policy luncheon on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Washington (Mariam Zuhaib/AP Photo)
The Fox News poll was the latest national survey to give Republicans pause.
More than half (54%) surveyed in the poll, which was conducted Jan. 23–26, said the nation was worse off than it was a year ago, when Trump took office, with only 31% saying the U.S. was in a better position. And only three in 10 said the economy was in excellent or good shape.
The Democrats’ brand image remains in negative territory, according to the latest polls. But thanks in part to their laser focus on the issue of affordability amid persistent inflation, Democrats scored decisive victories in the 2025 elections, and have overperformed at the ballot box in other off-year and special elections since the start of Trump’s second administration.
That was vividly illustrated this past weekend, when Republicans suffered a stunning setback at the hands of Democrats: a double-digit shellacking in a special Texas state Senate election, in a Fort Worth area district that Trump won by 17 points in 2024 just 15 months ago.
GOP CALLS TRUMP ITS ‘SECRET WEAPON’ — BUT POLLS SHOW WARNING SIGNS HEADING INTO MIDTERMS
Thune said the special election results in Texas «remind us that we need to up our game and do a better job of not only putting up a record of accomplishment for the American people, but then, being able to deliver that message. And I think if you look at what we’ve accomplished in this last year, it’s a it’s a terrific record of accomplishment for our candidates to run on.»
Thune pointed to the GOP’s sweeping «One Big Beautiful Bill Act,» Trump’s signature second-term domestic achievement, which includes numerous tax cuts that many voters will feel this spring.
President Donald Trump signs sweeping spending and tax legislation, known as the «One Big Beautiful Bill Act,» during a picnic with military families to mark Independence Day, at the White House in Washington, D.C., on July 4, 2025. (Reuters/Ken Cedeno)
«I think what happened in Texas should capture our attention and remind us that we need to up our game and do a better job,» Thune said. «We’ve got to get out and tell that story. And I think over the course of the next several months, we’ll do that.»
Scott, in a Fox News Digital interview late last year, touted that «2026 is shaping up to be the year where Donald Trump’s activities, his actions, the legislation we’ve passed, shows up for the American voter. And consumers all across the country will see a more affordable economy because of President Trump and the Senate majority and the House majority in the hands of the Republican Party.»
Democrats are happy to have that fight.
«President Trump is creating a toxic agenda that’s harming people,» Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chair Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand told Fox News Digital last month.
And she added she’s «optimistic that we have a shot to take back the majority.»
Gillibrand argued that Trump «is creating this massive backlash because of his bad and hurtful and harmful agenda,» which she said «adds more to the map.»
Besides Maine and North Carolina, Democrats are also trying to flip GOP-held Senate seats in Texas, Ohio, Alaska and Iowa, which are all red states.
But they’re playing defense as they defend open seats in battleground Michigan, swing state New Hampshire, and blue-leaning Minnesota. And the NRSC’s targeting battleground Georgia, where they consider first-term Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff very vulnerable as he seeks re-election.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
While Scott offered a sobering presentation to his Senate GOP colleagues this week, he told Fox News Digital in December that in the battle for the majority, «54 is clearly within our grasp right now, but with a little bit of luck, 55 is on our side.»
Asked about Scott’s aspirations to pick up one or two seats, Gillibrand last month responded, «No chance.»
elections,midterm elections,senate elections,republicans elections,maine,donald trump,campaigning,democrats elections
INTERNACIONAL
El ataque a Irán afectó también los viajes en Medio Oriente: caos en vuelos y aeropuertos
El ataque de Estados Unidos e Israel a Irán en la madrugada del sábado cambió sorpresivamente los planes de vuelos en todo Oriente Medio por el cierre del espacio aéreo en la región y las complicaciones se extendían este fin de semana por los ataques contra algunos aeropuertos y la suspensión de las operaciones en estaciones clave que conectan Europa, África y Occidente con Asia.
Cientos de miles de viajeros quedaron varados o fueron desviados a otros aeropuertos luego que Israel, Qatar, Siria, Irán, Irak, Kuwait y Bahréin cerraron sus espacios aéreos. Tampoco hubo actividad de vuelos sobre Emiratos Árabes Unidos, según el sitio web de rastreo FlightRadar24, después que el gobierno allí anunciara un “cierre temporal y parcial” de su espacio aéreo.
En ese marco se produjeron el cierre de aeropuertos clave de conexión en Dubái, Abu Dabi y Doha, y a la cancelación de más de 1.800 vuelos por parte de las principales aerolíneas de Oriente Medio. Las tres aerolíneas más importantes que operan en esos aeropuertos —Emirates, Qatar Airways y Etihad— suelen tener alrededor de 90.000 pasajeros por día transitando por esos centros y aún más viajeros con destino a lugares en Oriente Medio, según la firma de análisis de aviación Cirium.
En medio hubo un ataque de represalia iraní que impactó en el Aeropuerto Internacional de Dubái, el más grande de Emiratos Árabes Unidos y uno de los más transitados del mundo, donde al menos un hombre de nacionalidad asiática murió y otras tres personas resultaron heridas.
Emirates condenó el “ataque flagrante que involucró misiles balísticos iraníes”. También se reportaron ataques en otros aeropuertos comerciales de la región, incluido el Aeropuerto Internacional de Kuwait.
Henry Harteveldt, un analista de la industria aérea y presidente de Atmosphere Research Group, alertó que los pasajeros “deberían prepararse para retrasos o cancelaciones durante los próximos días a medida que estos ataques evolucionen y, con suerte, terminen”.
Las aerolíneas que están cruzando Oriente Medio tendrán que desviar los vuelos alrededor del conflicto, con muchos vuelos dirigidos hacia el sur sobre Arabia Saudí. Eso añadirá horas a esos viajes y consumirá combustible adicional, sumándose a los costos que las aerolíneas tendrán que absorber. Por lo tanto, los precios de los boletos podrían comenzar a aumentar rápidamente si el conflicto se prolonga.
Los vuelos adicionales también ejercerán presión sobre los controladores de tráfico aéreo en Arabia Saudí, que podrían tener que ralentizar el tráfico a fin de asegurarse de manejarlo de manera segura. Y los países que cerraron su espacio aéreo dejarán de percibir las tarifas de sobrevuelo que las aerolíneas pagan por cruzar por encima.
Por ahora no está claro cuánto tiempo durará la interrupción de las operaciones de vuelo. A modo de comparación, el ataque israelí y estadounidense a Irán en junio de 2025 duró 12 días.
En ese contexto, algunas aerolíneas estaban emitiendo exenciones para los viajeros afectados, lo que significa que los pasajeros pueden reprogramar sus planes de vuelo sin pagar cargos adicionales ni tarifas más altas.
Al menos 145 aviones que se dirigían a ciudades como Tel Aviv y Dubái a primera hora del sábado fueron desviados a aeropuertos en ciudades como Atenas, Estambul o Roma, según FlightAware. Otros dieron la vuelta y regresaron al lugar desde donde despegaron.
Un avión pasó casi 15 horas en el aire después de salir de Filadelfia y llegar hasta España antes de dar la vuelta y regresar al lugar donde comenzó.
Numerosas aerolíneas cancelaron vuelos internacionales a Dubái durante el fin de semana, y la agencia de aviación civil de India designó gran parte de Oriente Medio —incluidos los cielos sobre Jordania, Arabia Saudí y Líbano— como una zona de alto riesgo de seguridad a todas las altitudes.
Air India canceló todos los vuelos a destinos de Oriente Medio. Turkish Airlines señaló que los vuelos a Líbano, Siria, Irak, Irán y Jordania se suspenderán hasta el lunes, y que los vuelos a Qatar, Kuwait, Bahréin, Emiratos Árabes Unidos y Omán se suspenderán hasta nuevo aviso.
Delta Airlines, con sede en Estados Unidos, y United Airlines suspendieron los vuelos a Tel Aviv al menos durante el fin de semana, y la aerolínea holandesa KLM ya había anunciado a principios de semana que suspenderá sus vuelos con origen y destino en Tel Aviv.
Aerolíneas como Lufthansa, Air France, Transavia y Pegasus han cancelado todos los vuelos a Líbano, y American Airlines suspendió los vuelos de Filadelfia a Doha.
La inglesa British Airways informó que sus vuelos a Tel Aviv y Bahréin se suspenderán hasta la próxima semana, y que los vuelos a Amán, Jordania, se cancelarán el sábado.
Con información de AP / SMB
INTERNACIONAL
Concerns rise over DHS shutdown in shadow of Iran strikes: ‘Now would be a good time’ to end it
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
The partial government shutdown has Department of Homeland Security employees missing their paychecks even as the U.S. has engaged Iran with airstrikes that have brought the nation to the brink of war.
Earlier Saturday, the U.S. and Israel commenced targeted Iranian positions including the palace of dictator Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei – who was later declared dead by Jerusalem officials. The strikes have prompted concerns of retaliation, possibly inside U.S. borders.
«I am in direct coordination with our federal intelligence and law enforcement partners as we continue to closely monitor and thwart any potential threats to the homeland,» DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement.
As Friday rolled into Saturday, Transportation Safety Administration officers began effectively working pro bono, with the agency calling them «true models of selflessness and sacrifice.»
«Right now, the men and women of TSA are showing up to work without a paycheck due to the reckless DHS shutdown — despite the fact that Democrat members of Congress are still getting paid,» the agency said in a statement, calling out Democrats’ «political theater making life harder for these officers and their families.»
Lawmakers took notice of the disparity on Saturday as eyes turned to the security of America’s homeland amid Iran’s pledge to strike back.
«Given developments in the Middle East and the ongoing threat posed by Iran and its terrorist proxies, Democrats in the house, and Senate must cease the politics and must immediately fund the Department of Homeland Security,» said Rep. Daniel Meuser, R-Pa.
The Blue Mountain congressman – whose district is home to the agency’s latest immigration center purchase in Shartlesville, which is simultaneously being lambasted by Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro – added that blocking DHS funding is «irresponsible and dangerous» amid the rising global tension.
«Democrats in Congress must join Republicans, act responsibly and stop blocking efforts to fund DHS,» said Meuser.
Meuser added that protecting American people is a fundamental federal responsibility and that the U.S. cannot afford national security-related delays.
DHS SHUTDOWN TRIGGERS TSA ‘EMERGENCY MEASURES’ AS LAWMAKER WARNS AIRPORTS COULD FEEL ECONOMIC PAIN
His Keystone compatriot Sen. David McCormick echoed that sentiment in a Saturday statement:
«Now would be a good time for Democrats to drop their opposition to DHS funding and pass the bill to support our homeland security,» McCormick said.
«Continuing to play political games with our national security given the unfolding situation in the Middle East is dangerous.»
While many Democrats voiced concern or opposition to the Trump administration’s strikes, McCormick’s counterpart, Sen. John Fetterman, ridiculed critics on X – retweeting an alert that Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei had been killed, writing: «Let’s see who grieves for that garbage.»
The top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, however, did criticize the operation.
Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi told NOTUS News on Saturday that Trump’s attack lacks «a clear strategy» while saying the U.S. is «vulnerable to ensuing terrorism attacks today because of Trump’s reckless, inflammatory actions.»
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Iranian worshippers hold up their hands as signs of unity with Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during an anti-Israeli rally to condemn Israel’s attacks on Iran, in downtown Tehran, Iran, on June 20, 2025. (Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
«I am deeply concerned about the administration’s attention to possible threats and its ability to protect Americans,» he added.
Just prior to the strikes, the Senate and House Democratic leaders released a joint statement addressing the DHS shutdown’s current conditions.
«We have received the White House’s counteroffer and are reviewing it closely. Democrats remain committed to keep fighting for real reforms to rein in ICE and stop the violence,» said New York Sen. Charles Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries.
Fox News Digital reached out to DHS for additional comment.
Related Article
war with iran,iran,donald trump,immigration,homeland security,republicans
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
In coordinated, sweeping U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran in the predawn hours of Saturday, key military and nuclear-linked sites were targeted inside the country.
The strikes focused on what U.S. officials described as high-value Iranian targets, which included Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) command and control facilities, naval assets and underground sites believed to be associated with Iran’s nuclear program.
In addition, Iranian air defense weapons, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields were also targeted, according to officials.
Israeli forces targeted sites linked to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a senior Israeli official confirmed to Fox News.
President Donald Trump confirmed Saturday afternoon that Khamenei had been killed in a strike. He is among more than 40 senior Iranian security and regime figures killed in the attack, a senior Israeli official told Fox News.
In coordinated, sweeping U.S.–Israeli strikes on Iran in the predawn hours of Saturday, key military and nuclear-linked sites were targeted inside the country. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)
«Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,» Trump wrote in a Truth Social post. «This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.»
He also claimed that the IRGC is seeking immunity from the U.S.
The leaders had all been meeting at a compound in Tehran on Saturday morning.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the strikes, President Donald Trump confirmed. (Iranian Leader Press Office/Anadolu via Getty Images)
FBI RAISES COUNTERTERROR TEAMS TO HIGH ALERT AMID IRAN TENSIONS
The strikes were moved up due to the «target of opportunity,» multiple sources told Fox News, which is why the strikes happened in the daytime in Iran, keeping the element of surprise. «There was a deliberate decision to accelerate the timeline,» one source said.
The campaign, which Trump described overnight from Mar-a-Lago as the beginning of «major combat operations» in the region, encompasses multi-geographic targets in an effort to overwhelm Iran’s defensive capabilities.
People watch as smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran on Saturday. (AP Photo)
ISRAEL’S LARGEST EVER MILITARY FLYOVER HAMMERS IRANIAN MILITARY TARGETS
The strikes could also continue for multiple days.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Trump said the campaign aimed to devastate Iran’s military, dismantle its nuclear program, and he urged the Iranian people to «take over» their government.
Tomahawk cruise missiles were used in the first strikes of the operation, called Operation Epic Fury, along with one-way attack drones that were used for the first time, according to a U.S. official.
Fox News’ Liz Friden, Morgan Phillips, Amanda Macias, Alexandra Koch and Kelley Kramer contributed to this report.
Related Article
war with iran,iran,world,israel,military
El Gobierno evocó a las víctimas del atentado a la AMIA tras la muerte de Alí Jamenei
Se duplicó la cantidad de cheques rechazados por falta de fondos en el último año
La barra de Vasco Da Gama cruzó al jugador que le pidió la camiseta a Neymar
Encontraron escondido en una cueva de la precordillera al femicida de Natalia Cruz en Salta: llevaba más de 10 días prófugo
El ataque a Irán afectó también los viajes en Medio Oriente: caos en vuelos y aeropuertos
Alejandro Bongiovanni, diputado de La Libertad Avanza: “La Ley de Glaciares argentina es única en el mundo y necesita ser reformada”
Catherine Fulop contó el difícil momento que atraviesa su madre en Venezuela: “Está postrada”
Jorge Macri prepara su discurso para abrir el año legislativo: el deseo de reelección y el espejo en Bukele
Crisis en la industria: otra multinacional se achica y cierra una planta en la Argentina
Alarma por la salud de Divina Gloria tras salir de Gran Hermano: “La internaron directamente en terapia intensiva”
CHIMENTOS2 días agoAlarma por la salud de Divina Gloria tras salir de Gran Hermano: “La internaron directamente en terapia intensiva”
- CHIMENTOS2 días ago
Ginette Reynal dio una rotunda marcha atrás con una decisión que tomó hace dos meses: “No aguanto más”
- CHIMENTOS2 días ago
¡Titi revolucionó Gran Hermano! Cuáles son las 5 cosas que ya extraña: «Accesorios, pilates, bondiola, auriculares y bailar»
