What makes these midterms so pivotal?

Al Jazeera presenter Josh Rushing convened a discussion with U.S. journalists Krystal Ball and Jude Russo to examine why the 2026 congressional midterms matter. The conversation set out to map the issues shaping voters' views and the broader political conversation ahead of next year’s contests.

Participants focused on a range of topics that are influencing public opinion, including economic concerns, foreign policy debates, immigration, and the growing role of artificial intelligence. They also addressed how shifts in the media environment are changing how information reaches voters and how campaigns communicate.

A recurring theme in the discussion was the widening splits inside both major parties. Ball and Russo explored how these internal divides intersect with voter priorities and what that might mean for candidates and party strategies as they seek to win seats in Congress.

Throughout the segment, the contributors tied these strands together to explain why these factors are central to the 2026 midterm conversation: voters’ issue priorities, intraparty tensions, and changes in media and technology are all shaping the electoral landscape being covered on the program.