By MIKE MAGEE
This week, New York Times political columnist, Linda Kindler reflected on “How Silicon Valley Stole the Future.” Signaling that this wasn’t simply another article on the binary choices of an AI world – or as she put it “either a world in which A.I. has eliminated all jobs, unleashed bioengineered viruses and enabled catastrophic warfare or a utopia in which the technology gives people ‘greater power to live life as they choose.’”
Instead, the AI discussion steered away from Fellow Times columnist, Thomas Friedman’s scary Halloween AI piece the day before (“We Just Set Off the Second Big Bang”) and focused instead on the work of Jonathan White, the Professor of Politics at the London School of Economics and Political Science where he teaches on democracy, political thought and political theory.
Professor White’s message was a clear warning not to abdicate control over AI to the Tech bro’s, in that “the capacity to imagine alternatives that may be improbable and to pursue them against the odds” is a “democratic resource.” In Kindler’s words, White argues, “When the future increasingly seems like something to avoid rather than something to look forward to, the very foundations of democracy are weakened. The future has been the primary terrain upon which all politics are practiced since the French Revolution challenged the divine right of kings.”
And Americans have made it pretty clear over the past two years that they reject Kings in the White House. Last week’s “No Kings” rally at thousands of sites across the nation were in fact a recurring event. Back in June 19, 2025, the Guardian took notice commenting that “The scale of last weekend’s “No Kings” protests is now becoming clearer, with one estimate suggesting that Saturday was among the biggest ever single-day protests in US history.”
Americans apparently want control of their own future destinies, AI and otherwise. With 5 days remaining before the 2026 Mid-Term elections, the levels of participation by the electorate are projected to set a record nationwide at 54% (past record was 49% in 2022) with a projected 135 million of the eligible 250+ million casting votes.
More than 40 million votes have already been cast with 5 days remaining. The demographic breakdown shows a sharp increase in Hispanic participation which makes up 16% of the electorate. Black participation, now 12% of eligible voters, is also historically high. Whites are 61% of the voters and Asian Americans represent 5% of likely voters.
Current polling from The RealClearPolitics and CNN polls averaging for the generic congressional vote show Democrats leading Republicans by roughly 8 to 9 points (averaging around 52% to 43%).
According to one forecaster, DDHQ, “Forecasters such as Decision Desk HQ and prediction markets (like Kalshi) indicate a strong statistical probability—ranging from an 80% to over 90% chance—of Democrats winning back a majority in the 435-seat House, with current model projections anticipating a pickup reaching into the vicinity of 238 seats.”
As for the Senate: “Current forecasting models lean slightly toward Democrats retaining or narrowly securing a 51-seat majority, giving them roughly a 58% probability of controlling the chamber, though outcomes remain closely tied to a handful of toss-up states.”
The US polling data site has these additional insights:
“Three structural factors push 2026 turnout above the midterm baseline. First, Democratic base enthusiasm in opposition to Trump’s second term mirrors 2018 conditions. Early indicators — special election overperformance, record small-dollar donations, grassroots volunteer sign-ups — all suggest elevated Democratic motivation. This is the single biggest driver.”
“Second, the expansion of mail and early voting infrastructure since 2020 means the structural floor for participation is higher. States that added permanent mail voting options between 2020 and 2024 saw turnout increases averaging 4–6 points. These structural changes do not disappear between elections. Third, Gen Z voters (now 18–27 in 2026) are adding roughly 3–4 million new eligible voters per election cycle, and this cohort has shown higher midterm participation rates than prior generations at the same age.”
What Professor White would suggest is that the future is what is really on the ballot, in the middle of a massively disruptive technologic revolution and “generational social change.” Who gets to decide the future. In a democracy, you do. VOTE!
Mike Magee MD is a Medical Historian and regular contributor to THCB. He is the author of CODE BLUE: Inside America’s Medical Industrial Complex. (Grove/2020)
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