{
  "id": 17249149,
  "title": "The Final Countdown: MAGA’s Racist Blitz and Trump’s Next Big Lie",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/30/the-final-countdown-magas-racist-blitz-and-trumps-next-big-lie",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-30T15:32:22.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Mother Jones",
    "slug": "mother-jones",
    "url": "https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2026/10/maga-campaign-midterms-racism-stress-test-black-voters-podcast-video/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The final countdown is upon us, with Republicans employing Islamophobia as a weapon in their efforts to maintain control of Congress. This episode of Stress Test reveals that Donald Trump, JD Vance, cabinet secretaries, senators, and representatives have all contributed to a surge of hateful bigotry aimed at Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed. Vance coined El-Sayed as a \"cancer\" with \"zero attachment\" to America's land or history, while Ted Cruz labeled El-Sayed a \"theocratic zealot\" and a Muslim Brotherhood supporter. Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno declared El-Sayed unfit for Congress due to his beliefs about Jesus coming to America. David Corn expressed disbelief at Moreno's claim, stating that such a religious test for service in Congress is contrary to the Constitution. Donald Trump warned of El-Sayed and Democrats inviting \"hordes of jihadists\" who would disrupt Christmas celebrations. Garrison Hayes pointed out that Vance, a Yale Law graduate and recipient of financial backing from Peter Thiel, has shamelessly code-switched by dropping Hebrew words like \"G-dropping\" when speaking informally. The GOP has been shifting towards a view that only white Christians are true Americans, and this midterm election will determine whether these divisive tactics are sufficient for Republicans to win, even in conservative states. Mother Jones national voting rights correspondent Ari Berman discussed the impact of the recent Supreme Court decision gutting the Voting Rights Act on black voters, who are now motivated to exercise their rights. The return of Trump's election interference schemes poses another threat, with legal challenges already underway. The Republicans' strategy appears to be suppressing the vote, energizing the base, and then attempting to challenge the legitimacy of the election results.",
  "summary": "“Let’s start off by saying, Garrison, this is all lies. It’s ludicrous. I mean, they’re saying things that are just not true.” That’s Stress Test host David Corn, describing to his co-host Garrison Hayes the barrage of Islamophobic attacks from Republicans desperate to hold on to Congress. As this episode shows, the GOP—from Donald Trump […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}