Donald Trump and his enablers sent JD Vance to Montana to try to save Republicans from an ugly midterm defeat, and one sentence exposed the problem with what they are telling Americans. Standing inside an airport hangar in Belgrade, Vance said fuel prices skyrocket whenever a tin-pot dictator throws a tantrum. He might not have meant to describe the connection between Donald Trump and the price of gas, but that is what he said. His remarks came as CNN reported that American forces could be prepared to launch major new operations against Iran within 96 hours of receiving an order. The report described possible strikes on infrastructure and nuclear sites. We should be asking what another escalation would mean for families already struggling, especially if its consequences arrive after their ballots have been counted.
The military preparations described in the news are not limited to the Middle East. Fox News Digital reported on FORTRESS, an initiative that would require major military installations in the continental United States to sustain essential operations independently for at least 90 days. Back in Montana, Vance kept telling Americans whom to fear. He attacked diversity programs and transgender people, then declared that he wanted a healthy two-party system. Less than ten seconds later, he accused congressional Democrats of not believing in their own country. Protesters were dismissed as yahoos. Near the end, he spoke about the inheritance we owe our children and the sacrifices of generations before us. Those words should bring us together. Instead, he used them to make the circle of people who count as American smaller. Loving America has never meant loving whoever happens to hold power. It means holding them accountable to the country we are supposed to be.
Thankfully, people are choosing something better. In Michigan, voters speaking with Nick Pringle explained their support for Abdul El-Sayed through morals, competent policies, and human rights. In Texas, Neil Bush announced that he voted for James Talarico over Ken Paxton, citing Paxton’s conduct and his attempt to overturn the 2020 election. Barbara Bush contributed to a PAC supporting Talarico, too. These are people with deep Republican roots putting their conscience and democratic institutions ahead of party loyalty. With seven days left, that is the choice in front of all of us. We cannot let a president or vice president frighten us into giving up our values, our compassion, or our responsibility to the people who will inherit this country. Vote, bring someone with you, call your friends, and talk to the neighbor who is still unsure. America belongs to its people, including those who love it enough to protest and tell the truth.
See the full story in the video.
We are living through a pivotal moment for our country, and my goal is to reach as many people as possible with clear, factual information about what is happening. The more people who understand what is unfolding, the better our chances of pushing back against chaos, cruelty, and corruption ahead of the midterms.
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I’ll see you tomorrow,
Heather
This video is based on my written post, available HERE, and based on the events of 10-26-2026.
This commentary represents my personal opinions and analysis of matters of public concern, informed by publicly available information. Any references to individuals constitute opinion and commentary protected under the First Amendment.
Sources:
Full speech: Vice President JD Vance stumps for GOP in Montana: YouTube Video
https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/us-has-plans-for-major-iran-strikes-if-trump-chooses/
https://dailymontanan.com/2026/10/26/vance-visits-belgrade-stumps-for-alme-and-flint/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/vance-shouted-down-for-the-6th-time-as-hecklers-wreak-havoc
https://www.krtv.com/news/watch-live-vance-stops-in-belgrade-to-rally-for-montana-gop-candidates
https://nbcmontana.com/news/local/vance-to-headline-midterm-rally-oct-26-in-belgrade
https://www.kera.org/2026/10/16/barbara-bush-james-talarico-super-pac-us-senate/
