Upshot: Our 10 most popular stories of 2026 so far

Upshot: Our 10 most popular stories of 2026 so far

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The Upshot

August 5, 2026

A LOOK BACK AT THE MOST-READ UPSHOT STORIES IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE YEAR

The New York Times

Trump’s Ballroom Design Has Barely Been Scrutinized

A stairway to nowhere: Three months that could change the White House for generations.

By Emily Badger, Junho Lee and Larry Buchanan

Donald Trump holds a rendering in front of reporters.

Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters

Trump Reveals New Look for White House Ballroom After Times Article

Architects and preservation organizations have warned that little scrutiny has been given to the project’s design plans.

By Emily Badger

President Trump, wearing a white cap underneath a blue sky, walks away as security personnel look on.

Tom Brenner for The New York Times

A Crack in the Polling Floor Puts Trump in New Territory

A 37 percent approval rating in a new Times/Siena poll suggests the G.O.P. is facing a big midterm problem despite recent redistricting gains.

By Nate Cohn

Marco Postigo Storel for The New York Times

The Voters Who Have Taken a U-Turn on Trump

One year later, the second Trump coalition has come apart, a Times/Siena poll finds.

By Nate Cohn

Ash Adams for The New York Times

Why a Democratic Senate, Once Unthinkable, Is a Real Possibility

Helped by a favorable national environment and strong candidate recruitment, Democrats are tied or ahead in four Republican-held seats, polls show.

By Nate Cohn

Consider subscribing to the Tilt and the 10-Minute Challenge.

MORE FROM THE TOP 10

The New York Times

Why U.S. Test Scores Are in a ‘Generation-Long Decline’

The drops go beyond the pandemic and cut across income, geographic and racial divides, new data shows.

By Claire Cain Miller, Francesca Paris and Sarah Mervosh

The New York Times

Look Up Your School District’s Test Scores

See how your district’s scores have changed since 2015, and compare it with other districts.

By Francesca Paris

Jonah Markowitz for The New York Times

Why Two Big Companies Just Cut Paid Family Leave

Deloitte and Zoom are among the employers reducing support for working parents, signaling a retreat from family-friendly benefits.

By Claire Cain Miller

QUIZZES AND GAMES IN THE TOP 10

The New York Times

Flashback 250: The Great U.S. History Quiz

Can you sort 25 historical events — before getting three wrong answers?

By Emily Zauzmer

Eden Weingart/The New York Times

Crossplay Game Review

Review your recent games.

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