Alaska's fuel crisis

In rural Alaska, gas prices reach twenty four dollars per gallon, keeping residents off the road. Retired Army Major Josh York, a three-time Trump voter, blames the Iran war for the spike.

“The gas prices don't seem to be coming down, and believe me, I watch.”

War slows global oil flow

The Iran war has substantially slowed traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas transited before the war, experts say.

Four states hold Senate power

Midterm elections on November three will see voters in Alaska, Iowa, New Hampshire and Maine wield outsize impact on control of the United States Congress.

Alaska Senate race tightens

Trump traveled to Alaska to boost Republican Senator Dan Sullivan against Democratic congresswoman Mary Peltola. The race is analyzed as a toss-up in a state Trump won by thirteen points in twenty twenty four.

Trump defends war, promises relief

At a rally in Wasilla, forty five miles north of Anchorage, Trump defended the Iran war and said prices would come down when it ended. He said opponents caused the problem.

“But we have reduced it very substantially.”

Trump's approval hits record low

Just over half of Americans, fifty two percent, strongly disapprove of Trump, according to a new ABC News, Washington Post and Ipsos poll.

York's vote hinges on economy

York told ABC News he disapproved of Trump's handling of the economy, the Iran war and the country's direction. His vote would come down to what was best for his family and kids.

“I've got to look at what's best for my family. I've got to look at what's best for my kids.”

Iowa farmers squeezed by diesel

Rising diesel prices have crunched farmers who rely on it for transport. Cattle farmer Dan Pederson, a three-time Trump voter, said filling his thirty five hundred gallon tanks now costs twenty thousand dollars, up from…

“The ripple effect, hauling cattle, pickups, trucks, everything is just, it's just astronomical. It's crazy.”

Republicans wavering on Trump

Pederson said among his staunch Republican friends there was a lot of wavering on Trump. Republican Senate candidate Ashley Hinson has broken with the president, urging him to end the Iran war.

Trump's Russia diesel deal

Trump announced a diesel deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin that would allow Russian diesel, blocked by sanctions, to enter world markets.Many Republican lawmakers said the move would benefit an autocratic government that invaded Ukraine.

Hinson rejects Russia solution

Representative Ashley Hinson said the country needs to lower diesel prices but not by making a deal with Russia. Republican congressman Don Bacon called Trump's move a betrayal of Ukraine.

“We need to lower gas prices in this country. We need to lower diesel prices, but I don't think we need to be making a deal with Russia to do it.”

Collins' independence appeals

In Maine, Democratic-leaning voters respect Republican Senator Susan Collins for her independent streak. Self-described life-long Democrat Mary Anne Lynch plans to vote for Collins, saying she is the most bipartisan member of the Senate.

“I think that objectively speaking, she is the most bipartisan member of the Senate, and I think we need more Susan Collins, not fewer.”

Collins loses some support

Brenda Garrand, who voted for Collins three times, says she will not in twenty twenty six. She argues Collins has not done enough with her powerful perch as top appropriator in Congress.

“She has gone a step too far … [I'm] deeply disappointed in her behavior as a woman who has really reached the apex of an ability to make a difference.”

New Hampshire Democrats gain ground

Democratic Senate nominee Chris Pappas told ABC News that Democrats' margins in New Hampshire had improved since Vice President Kamala Harris's narrow victory there in twenty twenty four.