As we countdown to 2026, we gathered our columnists to make another prediction. Did I hit the mark this year? Only time will tell.
Times Square numbers installed ahead of New Year’s Eve ball drop
Numbers have been installed atop historic One Times Square in preparation for the city’s iconic New Year’s Eve ball drop and celebration.
At USA TODAY Opinion, we like to end each year by looking ahead to the next year and pretending we can predict the future. Sometimes it’s done right (and sometimes it’s done wrong). Sometimes our predictions are completely wrong, but we can’t win everything.
As we countdown to 2026, we’ve gathered our columnists to make another prediction. Read predictions from both sides of the aisle or share your own here. Did it go well this year? Only time will tell.
We fully guarantee that these 7 things will happen in 2026 and cost just $100.
As one of the nation’s top never-wrong columnists, my annual New Year’s predictions are considered ironclad. And I’m sure these predictions for 2026 will be no different.
Here’s what I’m sure will happen, in no particular order.
- President Donald Trump will lie. I know this is hard to imagine, but I guarantee you this will be the year he finally says something dishonest.
- An NFL team wins the Super Bowl. For all the money, the winner of this year’s NFL Championship will undoubtedly be the team of football players who play better football than the rest.
- Every reader sends me $100. (Hey guys, let’s manifest this and you’ll end up with $700!)
- Conservatives online are going to be offended by something.
- Liberals on the internet are going to be offended by something.
- Online centrists will be mildly upset about something, but no one will care because, hahahaha, who are the losers anyway? Which side are you on?
- As always, thank you very much to everyone who read my nonsense. (Especially those who sent me $100.)
— Rex Hupke
America will turn 250 years old in 2026. Can we celebrate together?
On July 4, 2026, we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the United States of America and the origin of the words of the Declaration of Independence: “We hold these truths to be self-evident: all men are created equal, endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”
The president wants to celebrate. The White House has been planning for months how to mark this milestone. I’m proud that the Trump Administration is working with my alma mater, Hillsdale College, to create an outstanding series of short videos documenting our nation’s founding. I highly recommend everyone to see it, even if you consider yourself a history buff.
But I’m also concerned about the future of our country. This landmark birthday comes at a time when Americans feel more divided than ever. The assassination of conservative star Charlie Kirk in September brought these divisions to the forefront, with a surprising number of people on the left celebrating his killing, all because of political differences.
And in December, President Trump himself appeared to downplay the horrific murder of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and his wife at the hands of their son. Just as Kirk’s detractors did, Trump’s past political grievances with Reiner have erased his basic humanity.
It’s unsightly and I’m worried about where it’s connected. My hope is that next year we can come together to celebrate what makes our country the greatest in the world. But I’m far from convinced that it can be done.
— Ingrid Jacks
President Trump’s economy will help Democrats gain an advantage in midterm elections
In 2026, I predict that the Democratic Party will dominate in the midterm elections, despite their own missteps, simply because they will harshly criticize President Trump’s economic struggles.
Mr. Trump can claim that all the good is his fault and that all the bad is former President Joe Biden’s fault. But the fact that Americans disapprove of his second term job and are extremely concerned about the economy is likely enough to shorten the hold on elected Republicans. President Trump’s approval rating remains at just 36%, and the number of people who think the economy is not working well for them has increased to 61%.
While the Senate may remain out of reach due to seating constraints, Congressional Democrats seem very likely to retake the House of Representatives, which would be enough to cause problems in parts of President Trump’s policies that cannot be achieved with the stroke of a pen.
Unless there is a major economic reversal in the near term, or some other significant event, there may be little Republicans can do to lessen the damage this important issue will do to their medium-term hopes.
—Dace Potassium
MAGA chaos may finally bring down the Republican Party
Three things seem certain heading into 2026.
President Trump has spent much of 2025 doing just that, occasionally acknowledging how unconstitutional it is while hinting that he might consider a different campaign.
Two old friends, mega-donor Miriam Adelson and lawyer Alan Dershowitz, are egging him on. Adelson, who spent $250 million supporting President Trump’s 2024 re-election bid, recently said publicly that he would be happy to do it again. Mr. Dershowitz gave Mr. Trump a draft of a book he plans to publish on whether a third term is legally possible.
Trump’s “Make America Great Again” coalition has devolved into a knife fight, with some of the tension stemming from the question of what happens after Trump and who decides it.
As I suggested in my Dec. 11 newsletter, Democrats need to accept Trump’s selfish need to be at the center of everything. Democrats should dare President Trump to challenge him in 2028.
The resulting turmoil in the already shaky MAGA wing of the Republican Party will be quite a sight to see. Imagine President Trump teasing a third term while his most prominent followers grapple with succession issues.
— Chris Brennan
