The Media and The Midterms: Determining America’s Future

The 2026 midterm elections promise to be unlike any congressional contest in American history. With control of the House and Senate at stake, the elections will help determine the nation’s political direction for the next two years. Campaigns and voters are navigating an increasingly fragmented information environment, where traditional news organizations, television, podcasts, social media, and digital creators all play a role in shaping political conversations and public understanding. Against a backdrop of intense debate over the economy, jobs, immigration, health care, climate change, and other pressing issues, the program will examine how these forces are shaping the issues, narratives, and voter decision-making at the center of the race.

For the latest installment of its annual Media Impact Series, the Paley Center is gathering leading journalists, political strategists, and scholars to explore how campaigns and political parties are working to reach and persuade voters, the growing influence of digital creators and alternative news platforms, and the challenges of navigating misinformation, competing narratives, and shifting levels of trust in news. The panel will also examine what the election could mean for the country’s future and America’s standing in the world.