Leland Vittert’s War Notes: See you Next Year

NewsNation Chief Washington Anchor and On Balance host Leland Vittert was a foreign correspondent for four years in Jerusalem. He gives you an early look at tonight’s 9 pm ET show. Subscribe to War Notes here.

Editor’s note: This is the last War Notes until Jan. 5, 2026 — a huge thank you to our new War Notes editor-in-chief Amanda Kinderman and founding editor Katie Oglesby.

I intend to delete X, Instagram and turn off all phone notifications for the next two weeks — I will let you know the most meaningful reflections and revelations of time spent outside of D.C. when I return.

THANK YOU: Without your support we wouldn’t have jobs – it’s that simple

I remain grateful every day for your interest in what we have to say. It is an awesome responsibility.
Data: Thanks to you for telling your friends about War Notes and On Balance. It’s been an incredible year.
- Big growth: We started the year with 13,200 subscribers — NOW we are at 34,200 subscribers
  - Wow: That’s a 159% increase!
  - 64% plus of you open the newsletter every day. That’s over double the national average.
- Not to mention War Notes subscribers helped put “Born Lucky” on the New York Times bestseller list.
  - Don’t forget, you can still order “Born Lucky” in time for Christmas —
    - We have already helped so many families realize they aren’t alone.
    - “Born Lucky” is hope for every family of a kid having a hard time.
Thank you to my kind, gorgeous and understanding wife Rachel who put up with more late nights, early morning calls, canceled dates and missed weekends this year than last.

🎄Rachel, Dutch and I wish you a very merry Christmas and happy New Year spent with the people you love.

Your Turn

We asked our favorite guests to answer the following questions with one-word answers. Reply to this email with your answers, and we’ll endeavor to save them and recognize the winner next year.

By this time next year:

How many Cabinet members will Trump fire?
Will Russia and Ukraine agree to a peace deal? Would Putin honor one if he does?
Will Maduro be in charge of Venezuela?
Trump named Biden seven times in his Christmas speech last night. Will he use Biden’s name more or less in next year’s speech?
Will Trump put any of his political opponents in jail?
Will stocks be up or down?
Will Democrats take back the House?
Who will be leading the betting markets for the 2028 Democratic nomination.
Will we still be talking about the “Epstein files”?

Midterms Start Tonight

Tonight: President Trump will rally in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, alongside Republican Senate Candidate Michael Whatley

Whatley faces an uphill battle against the state’s former and popular governor Roy Cooper
North Carolina is the perfect test for the midterms — it flipped Trump to Biden to Trump.
Whatley is a moderate to MAGA Republican and Cooper is the current Democratic version of a moderate.

Mission: Trump and Republicans must find a message that matches the mood of America today.
Look back: President Trump won in 2024 because his message best captured how people felt:

Gaslit on the economy by President Biden and Harris who kept saying things were great
Fed up with mass illegal immigration and the problems arising from it
Scared about the future of a country where one had to accept boys in girls sports
- It’s not hard.
What’s different today is that Trump is now in charge — the economy may not be his fault but how Americans feel is his problem.
- According to Quinnipiac University poll:
  - One third of voters say the economy is excellent or good 65% say it no good or poor
- Trump needs to show America that he feels and understands their pain and is working to fix it.
  - He has already made some improvements:
    - Inflation is down
    - Gas prices are down
    - Rent prices are down
    - The stock market is near record highs
    - Massive investment is promised.