The Country

From the Left · Watch · November 4, 2026

Nov 4 · Why Republicans lost the midterms: Ron DeSantis calls it a rejection of Republicans in Washington, Sarah Matthews faults Karoline Leavitt's spin, and James Fishback asks what the GOP runs for

The Bulwark: .@SarahAMatthews1 reacts to Karoline Leavitt blaming the media for the GOP’s devastating midterm losses and suggesting Americans don't realize they're financially better off under Trump.

The Bulwark: .@SarahAMatthews1 reacts to Karoline Leavitt blaming the media for the GOP’s devastating midterm losses and suggesting Americans don't realize they're financially better off under Trump.

Grade F (46/100). Sarah Matthews reacts to a Fox News clip of Karoline Leavitt blaming the media for the GOP's losses and saying Americans are better off

F: Mixes in the reporter's opinion.

  • Adds the reporter's own opinion or claims as fact (minus 24 points): [1:06] 'his war of choice with Iran that caused gas to absolutely skyrocket or his tariffs that he imposed that raised the cost of literally everything' (Sarah Matthews' own causal claims; no source)
  • Relies on an unnamed source or a number with no source (minus 18 points): [0:52] 'more than $4 for a tank of gas, more than $6 for diesel, and paying up to $8 a pound for ground beef' (no source for the prices)
  • Uses loaded words (minus 12 points): [0:36] 'Republicans got their asses handed to them' and [1:18] 'shellacked' (Matthews' own wording; the post adds 'devastating midterm losses')

Splits: Sarah Matthews reacts to a Fox News clip of Karoline Leavitt blaming the media for the GOP's losses and saying Americans are better off

Same story: C-SPAN, PBD Podcast

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