The Gas Guilt Trap: How Politicians are Held Hostage by Fuel Prices The war drums are beating again, and gas prices are soaring.
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, President Donald Trump's Iran strategy has become entangled in a familiar narrative: the economy is struggling, and voters feel the pinch at the pump.
This connection between gas prices and electoral fortunes is nothing new. In the 1970s, two energy crises shook the US economy.