The Lincoln Project 18 DAYS TO GO AND MAGA IS PANICKING: Diesel Prices, Data Centers, and the end of a Ten Year Spell
Oct 16, 2026
With 18 days until Election Day, Republican panic grows as the House appears within reach and Trump’s declining presence unsettles supporters. The discussion covers early voting, election-day intimidation, post-election accountability, and the economic fallout surrounding diesel prices, lost health coverage, farms, and data centers. It closes with a call for Democrats to keep fighting corruption and curb presidential tariff power.
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Republicans See Trump’s Political System Collapse
- Rick Wilson argues Republicans increasingly recognize that Trump’s political system is collapsing, not merely facing an ordinary election setback.
- He describes a sweeping preference cascade unlike 2006 or 2018, driven by inflation, energy prices, uncertainty, and Trump’s unpopularity.
Trump’s Supporters Watch Their Father Figure Fade
- Rick Wilson compares Trump’s visible decline with watching an aging parent lose strength, clarity, and capability.
- He says many supporters projected a powerful father figure onto Trump and now see that figure fading.
Vote Early Before Trump’s Final Scare Tactics
- Rick Wilson warns that an apparent victory does not eliminate danger because Trump may still provoke fear and chaos.
- He urges supporters to work relentlessly and vote early rather than waiting for Election Day.