Republicans in Congress find themselves at a crossroads as the 2026 midterm elections loom closer, with mounting internal strife and a growing sense of panic over the party’s handling of economic issues. According to recent reports from CNN and other outlets, the party is grappling with a messaging crisis, particularly around the hot-button topic of affordability—a concern that has rapidly climbed to the top of voters’ priorities as everyday costs continue to climb.
On November 26, 2025, President Donald Trump addressed the nation from his residence at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, following the tragic shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C. (as reported by the official White House photographer Daniel Torok). Yet, even as the president spoke to the nation about national security, the political conversation in Washington was dominated by worries about the Republican Party’s prospects in the upcoming midterms—and the economic pain many Americans are feeling.
With the House majority hanging by a thread, congressional Republicans are increasingly pointing fingers at House Speaker Mike Johnson. The criticism is fierce: many believe Johnson has failed to focus on the affordability crisis that is top of mind for voters. GOP Representative Tim Burchett of Tennessee did not mince words in an interview with CNN after Republicans suffered a disappointing result in a special election in his state. “The best friend the Democrats have right now is the Republicans messaging, because we do a terrible job of messaging,” Burchett said. “We got a real problem, and we better wake up.”
But messaging, it seems, is only part of the problem. According to reporting by CNN and other sources, the actual policy solutions advanced by Republican leadership may be making matters worse for the very voters they hope to win over. Earlier this year, Speaker Johnson championed what he called the “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” assuring Americans that relief was on the way. When pressed about the rising cost of living, Johnson told a reporter that Americans simply needed to “relax” and wait for the bill’s provisions to take effect. “We are exactly on the trajectory of where we’ve always planned to be. Steady at the wheel, everybody. It’s gonna be fine. Our best days are ahead of us,” Johnson said.
Yet, beneath the surface, the bill includes deep cuts—tens of billions of dollars slashed from Medicaid and food stamps, programs relied upon by millions of low-income Americans. Policy analysts and critics warn that these cuts will only exacerbate the affordability crisis, making it harder for vulnerable families to make ends meet. The looming expiration of Affordable Care Act subsidies at the end of 2025 adds another layer of anxiety. If Congress fails to extend these subsidies, millions could see their health insurance premiums more than double, a scenario that would hit working- and middle-class families especially hard.
“No amount of messaging on affordability can save Republicans, because their plans to tackle the issue do the exact opposite of lowering costs for the American people,” one report bluntly stated. The situation has left many Americans feeling anxious and frustrated, with little faith that their elected leaders are listening to their concerns.
Complicating matters further are President Trump’s trade policies, which have become a lightning rod for criticism within both parties. Trump’s tariffs, intended to bolster American manufacturing and punish foreign competitors, have instead led to economic pain at home. Companies facing higher costs due to the tariffs have responded by raising prices for consumers or, in some cases, laying off workers. Some Americans have even received surprise bills for online orders, forced to pay the tariffs themselves. Polls consistently show that Americans blame Trump’s trade policy for rising costs, and many now view the tariffs as a direct contributor to their financial woes.
Despite the growing backlash, Speaker Johnson has refused to allow Congress to assert its constitutional authority over tariff policy. This decision has left many lawmakers—on both sides of the aisle—frustrated and powerless to offer relief to their constituents. With no clear plan to address the expiration of health care subsidies, the cuts to safety net programs, or the economic fallout from tariffs, Republicans are bracing for a tough fight in 2026.
As the party’s internal divisions deepen, the atmosphere in the House of Representatives has become increasingly chaotic. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries captured the mood in a press conference on December 4, 2025, painting a vivid picture of the infighting tearing the GOP apart. “Donald Trump is fighting with Marjorie Taylor Greene. Marjorie Taylor Greene is fighting with the House Republican Conference. Corey Mills is fighting with Nancy Mace. Nancy Mace is fighting with Mike Johnson. Mike Johnson is fighting with Elise Stefanik. Elise Stefanik is fighting with Lisa McClain,” Jeffries said. He went on, “The whole thing is a mess. The 119th Congress has turned into a bad episode of ‘Republicans Gone Wild.’ And here’s the problem. Republicans are so busy fighting each other, they can’t be bothered to fight for the American people.”
This public airing of grievances has only added to the sense of dysfunction. According to reporting from CNN and other outlets, the Republican caucus is riven by personal feuds and policy disagreements, with little consensus on how to move forward. Some members, like Rep. Burchett, are sounding the alarm, warning that unless the party unites and addresses voters’ real concerns, it risks losing its tenuous grip on power. Others, however, remain defiant, insisting that the party’s core message will eventually resonate with the electorate.
The stakes could hardly be higher. If Republicans lose the House in 2026, it would mark a dramatic reversal of fortune after their victories in 2024. Many in the party worry that failure to act on affordability could alienate key voting blocs—especially working-class Americans who have felt the brunt of rising prices and stagnant wages. Meanwhile, Democrats are watching the GOP’s internal struggles with a mix of schadenfreude and strategic calculation, hoping to capitalize on the disarray and present themselves as the party of practical solutions.
For now, the path forward remains uncertain. With the clock ticking on crucial policy deadlines and the midterms fast approaching, Republicans face a daunting challenge: to bridge their internal divides, craft a compelling and credible agenda on affordability, and convince skeptical voters that they are up to the task. Whether they can do so—or whether the chaos and confusion will continue to define the 119th Congress—remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: the battle over affordability, and the political fortunes of the Republican Party, will shape the national conversation in the months ahead.
As Americans brace for another turbulent election season, the question on everyone’s mind is whether their leaders can rise above partisan squabbles to deliver real relief—or whether the dysfunction in Washington will leave them to navigate the cost-of-living crisis on their own.