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US veterans revolt as Trump’s Iran war causes $6 diesel spike ahead of 2026 midterm elections
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US military veterans are turning on Donald Trump and the Republican party as the Iran war drives fuel prices past $6 a gallon ahead of the 2026 US midterm elections.

In today’s bonus episode of Iran: the Latest, Venetia Rainey is joined by US reporters Poppy Wood and Ben Smith, who have been speaking to ex-military voters and candidates at the Naval Air Station Oceana in Virginia and key midterm races. They examine why Republican ex-servicemen are increasingly choosing to sit out the vote and how an ex-Green Berets independent candidate is part of a broader veteran movement to challenge both mainstream parties.

Plus, leaked audio shows Ken Paxton, a close Trump ally running for a Republican Senate seat in Texas, criticising the war’s economic fallout for Americans, and the latest predictions for who will win what in Congress.

CHAPTERS:
00:00:00 - US-Iran War & 2026 US Midterm Elections Breakdown
00:01:05 - Reporting from Virginia: Air Shows, Veterans, and US Politics
00:02:40 - How American Veterans Plan to Vote in the 2026 Midterms
00:05:01 - Will Low Republican Voter Turnout Benefit Democrats?
00:07:01 - On-the-Ground Perspectives: Military Veterans React to Iran War
00:08:58 - Virginia's 2nd District Race: Key Bellwether for Congress
00:12:30 - Midterm Campaign Tactics: Highlighting Hard-Left vs. Moderate Candidates
00:15:20 - The Rise of Independent Candidates & Gen Z Political Shifts
00:17:30 - Why Ex-Military Independents Are Gaining Traction in Senate Races
00:21:20 - Gas Prices, Diesel Costs & Economic Impact on Unseat Projections

CONTRIBUTORS:
Venetia Rainey, co-host and executive producer @venetiarainey
Poppy Wood, US correspondent @poppyeh
Benedict Smith, Washington correspondent @bsmithjourno

CONTENT REFERENCED:
Veterans turn on Trump over Iran war
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/09/28/veterans-trump-iran-war-midterms-dispatch/

Green Beret leads ‘double haters’ in mission to blow up midterms
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/politics/2026/10/05/rhodes-scholar-green-beret-end-two-party-politics-montana/

The Left-wing streamer becoming a toxic liability for Democrats
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2026/09/25/hasan-piker-controversy-abdul-ed-sayed-us-midterms/

Winner Best News and Analysis Podcast - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026
Bronze Best News, Politics and Current Affairs - British Podcast Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - Society of Editors News Podcasts Awards 2026
Nominated Podcast of the Year - London Press Club Awards 2026
The Telegraph, Winner Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026 - Publisher Podcast Awards 2026

Producers: Peter Shevlin and Max Bower
Researcher and Social Producer: Anna Hindmarsh
Studio Operator: Andy Watson
Executive Producer: Venetia Rainey
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#Iran #War #News #Today #Trump #US #Latest #Live #Midterms #2026 #Veterans #Ken #Paxton #Gas #Prices #Diesel #Spike #Virginia #Beach #Green #Beret #Independent #Candidates #Texas #Senate #Race
Tags
Diesel Spike, Gas Prices, Green Beret
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