Trump's Iran war deepens the GOP's midterm challenges: From the Politics Desk

From the Politics DeskTrump's Iran war deepens the GOP's midterm challenges: From the Politics DeskPlus, Trump vs. the pope. Listen to this article with a free account00:0000:00Add NBC News to GoogleTrump says 'I don't care' whether Iran returns to negotiating table00:35Get more newsLiveonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleApril 13, 2026, 5:00 PM EDTBy The Politics DeskWelcome to From the Politics Desk, a daily newsletter that brings you the NBC News Politics team’s latest reporting and analysis from the White House, Capitol Hill and the campaign trail.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.In today’s edition, Sahil Kapur explores how the Iran war is further clouding Republicans’ prospects in this fall’s elections. Plus, we dive into President Donald Trump’s feud with the pope. Sign up to receive this newsletter in your inbox every weekday here.— Adam WollnerTrump's Iran war deepens the GOP's midterm challenges Analysis by Sahil KapurCongress returns to Washington today from a two-week Easter recess to a growing to-do list, including a showdown over the war in Iran that carries implications for the 2026 midterm elections. Republicans have previously voted down Democratic proposals to end the war. Now, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., is vowing to force another vote this week to stop President Donald Trump from waging military action unless he gets approval from Congress first.For many Republican lawmakers, it’s not an easy vote. The war has sparked a backlash in U.S. public opinion that threatens to further tilt the political environment away from Republicans.Apart from the deployment of military assets and personnel as well as the death toll, the war has created economic fallout: Iran responded to the U.S.-Israel strikes by effectively shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway through which about 20% of the world’s oil transits.The price of gas at the pump has ri...