The Blue Tsunami Explained: Why Everyone's Reading the Midterms Backwards
Tom Bilyeu and co-hosts break down the 2026 midterm blue wave, arguing it was a vote against Trump more than for Democrats, then cover market swings, renewed Iran strikes and viewer questions.
The gist
-
Bilyeu reads the blue wave as a rejection of Trump, citing exit polls: 62% disapproved and 74% told CNN the Iran war mattered.
-
After Nasdaq 100 futures fell up to 2.4%, Dow futures jumped 800 points; Bilyeu credits Trump accepting results and expected gridlock from vetoes.
-
Bilyeu worries about a leftward cultural drift and recommends Not Stolen, a book arguing the history of Native Americans is more complicated than taught.
-
Bilyeu says US strikes on Qeshm Island were reportedly defensive, and suspects Israel's chemical weapons warning is hype meant to draw in the US.
-
To build toughness, Bilyeu promised himself 30 days of cold showers and kept going for 13 months, alongside lifting, cold plunging and avoiding sugar.
Tom Bilyeu recommends it
"There's an incredible book. I'm in the middle of reading it right now, so the punchline I suppose could all fall apart, but the book is called Not Stolen. And it is about how Americans treated Native Americans, or how Europeans, more truthfully, treated Native Americans when t..."
▶ Play at 48:38
Tom Bilyeu uses it
"I made a promise to myself that I was going to do 30 days of cold showers, and by the end I ended up doing 13 months of cold showers... But I said I was going to do it, and I did it. It teaches you something about yourself. It really does wire your brain in a unique way."
▶ Play at 1:48:312 creators recommend it, including Joe De Sena.
See all on the Cold showers page
Tom Bilyeu uses it
"This is hard, this sucks — the gym, this is hard, this sucks — cold plunging, it's hard, it sucks. But I said I was going to do it, and I did it. It teaches you something about yourself."
▶ Play at 1:48:4211 creators recommend it, including Joe Rogan, Andrew Huberman, and Mark Hyman, MD.
See all on the Cold plunge pageWhat they recommend · 4 picks
"I made a promise to myself that I was going to do 30 days of cold showers, and by the end I ended up doing 13 months of cold showers... But I said I was going to do it, and I di..."
"There's an incredible book. I'm in the middle of reading it right now, so the punchline I suppose could all fall apart, but the book is called Not Stolen. And it is about how Am..."
"This is hard, this sucks — the gym, this is hard, this sucks — cold plunging, it's hard, it sucks. But I said I was going to do it, and I did it. It teaches you something about ..."
Tom, This Week in Startups, Greg and Ali agree on 25 things
See what they all use, in their own words. Paid ads are left out.
See what they all swear by Or pick your own peopleAlso mentioned
Ads in this episode
Tailor Brands. They're paid, so we keep them out of the picks above.
See what Tom recommends without being paid →Related episodes
Episodes covering similar topics
More from Tom Bilyeu