Public disputes concerning the 2026 U.S. midterm election cycle, including campaigns, candidates, conventions, advertising, endorsements, and election-related policy promises.
A livestream passage prompted dispute over whether Hasan Piker warned that conflating Jewish identity with Israel could fuel antisemitic violence or instead blamed and implicitly threatened American Jews.
At an Atlanta rally, Jon Ossoff said Donald Trump wanted to “travel with Natalie” on a Qatari aircraft instead of doing presidential work. Trump allies alleged misogyny and an affair insinuation; Ossoff defended scrutiny of powerful, taxpayer-paid aides.
At an August 11 event, Mike Collins said the federal government has a liability when it harms someone, answering a pardoned January 6 defendant’s question about compensation. Jon Ossoff called that support for taxpayer-funded payments to violent participants; Collins’s campaign denied automatic or blanket payouts.
Jon Ossoff’s campaign used Mike Collins’s “get off of Social Security” remark to say he would push beneficiaries off the program. Collins’s campaign said he misspoke and meant Medicaid; Ossoff’s campaign said the ad fairly reflected his support for pressuring beneficiaries into work.
Role at the time: Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan, interviewed on Fox & Friends
Mixed or conditional
Responding to
Appearing at a political event with Hasan Piker does not establish agreement with all of Piker’s statements.
"Of course I don’t think 9/11 was justified."
Why we used this label
He combined rejection of the underlying sentiment with a defense of the campaign appearance; neither unconditional endorsement nor complete disavowal describes both parts.
Role at the time: U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan
Defended or excused
Responding to
The Temple Israel attack should be understood in part through the cycle of violence created by the regional war and the Israeli airstrike that killed members of the assailant's family.
"It was a risk."
Why we used this label
On the recorded campaign call he positively justifies publishing his explanation as principled leadership. This is substantive defense of his decision, not merely disputing a label.
Dana Loesch is an American radio host, author and political commentator. She hosts The Dana Show and publishes commentary on politics and culture through her website and video channels.
Jesse Watters is an American television host and political commentator at Fox News. He hosts Jesse Watters Primetime and co-hosts The Five, after previously working on The O’Reilly Factor and hosting Watters’ World.