Trump leans into unprecedented power ahead of midterm elections

Less than two weeks before the election, Trump continues to crash through barriers that he wouldn't dare cross in his first term.

<img src='https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/3696x2464+0+0/resize/3696x2464!/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2F21%2F79%2F862e525740a7843c1ae541373a7b%2Fgettyimages-2301039729.jpg' alt='U.S. President Donald Trump boards Air Force One on October 19, 2026 in Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. President Trump is traveling to Kansas for a campaign rally.'/><p>Less than two weeks before the election, Trump continues to crash through barriers that he wouldn't dare cross in his first term.</p><p>(Image credit: Anna Moneymaker)</p><img src='https://media.npr.org/include/images/tracking/npr-rss-pixel.png?story=nx-s1-6009395' />