Midterms or mad-terms?
  October 20, 2026 Greetings, Meteor readers, I realize there is a very important midterm election going on, along with a lot of very harrowing and urgent news across the globe, but all I can think of is how to get out of doing kid bedtime so I can sneak off to the Nathan Fielder-Elizabeth Holmes ballet aka “You Can See Everything.” (But can I see everything? This thing is three hours long and I’m tired.)  Jkjk, we are very much locked in and paying attention to November 3rd. Today, we check in with three women working on elections about what they’re witnessing up close. Plus, updates on France and Puerto Rico. NEED TO SEE EVERYTHING, Nona Willis Aronowitz  WHAT’S GOING ONOn the road again: That crispness we all feel in the air signals two things: One, it’s time to rewatch “Gilmore Girls” and recall just how shit of a person Rory was, and two, midterms are right around the corner. While there are guides galore on what to expect for the big day, we decided to hit up three of our friends to ask what they’ve seen firsthand and what, if anything, we can do to conjure all the luck we need to survive this election cycle. Shockingly, no one suggested a road trip to Stars Hollow. But these answers are good too! What’s the most surprising thing you’ve seen on the trail? “How far down the ballot people’s enthusiasm goes. In Atlanta, I talked to voters who knew exactly who Rohit Malhorta was, a candidate for Fulton County Commission, before I said more than his name…Voters understand the line from the Republicans on their ballot to what they’re dealing with every day from the Trump administration.” —Shaniqua McClendon, vice president of politics, Crooked Media “I’ve seen some incredibly powerful, articulate college student organizers on the trail recently, just absolutely crushing their organizing work.” —Lauren Groh-Wargo, CEO, Fair Fight and Fair Fight Action “Donald Trump having to stump in red states (lol).” —Sarah Sophie Flicker, cofounder, Joy to the Polls What’s most on the minds of the women you’re meeting? “Dobbs is still right there…[Women in] Texas and Georgia have lived through some of the most tragic consequences of that decision, and the women I’ve met have not forgotten the women who have died or nearly died attempting to get reproductive health care.” —Shaniqua McClendon “Rage, fury—across parties!” —Sarah Sophie Flicker  JOY TO THE POLLS BRINGS JUST THAT. (SCREENSHOT VIA INSTAGRAM) What do you want Meteor readers to know about this Election Day, as opposed to ones in the past? “This Election Day is not the finish line…Even if Democrats win both chambers of Congress, we are up against a motivated, funded, deeply organized autocratic and white supremacist movement…that we will be fighting against for the rest of our lives.” —Lauren Groh-Wargo “Early voting is a very good way to ensure that your vote is counted.” [Editors’ note: But if you didn’t vote early…vote on Election Day!] —Sarah Sophie Flicker What’s your Election Day superstition or ritual? “Harassing everyone I know to make sure they voted.” —Shaniqua McClendon “I have a mini-dress from the ‘70s that is handmade from red, white, and blue ‘vote’ fabric. I wear it every election!” —Sarah Sophie Flicker AND:
 THE NEWLY UNVEILED STREET SIGN. (IMAGE COURTESY OF CINDI LEIVE)
 ONE MORE THING: JOIN US IN NYC ON OCTOBER 27! Furious? Same. Bring your righteous rage—at the world and the people who claim to run it—to Joe’s Pub in New York City on October 27 at 9:30 PM for SAY THE WORD! We’ve got an all-star lineup of fantastically furious artists and visionaries—like actor Ashley Judd, poet Patricia Smith, writer Bess Kalb, scholar Dr. Brittney Cooper, comedian Phoebe Robinson, performer Peppermint, singer Lea Delaria and many more—for a night of music, monologues, and action to make our world better. Proceeds will benefit Survivor Justice Network, a coalition of organizations centering survivor voices and building survivor power (hell yes to that). Get tickets here.  FOLLOW THE METEOR     Thank you for reading The Meteor! Got this from a friend? |
