From the New York Times, I'm Michael Bavarro. This is the Daily.

In Texas today, amid the president's sinking popularity and his widening war with Iran,

Democrats and Republicans will head to the polls for an election

that will send both parties a message

about what voters want and don't want in Trump's America.

Fighting or healing.

Loyalty or defiance.

I spoke with my colleague, national political correspondent Shane Goldmacher,

about the Senate primary that everyone in U.S. politics is watching.

It's Tuesday, March 3rd.

Shane.

Michael. Good to see you.

Nice to you in person.

So the midterm elections, which we promised

were really around the corner, are actually now. They are starting. Starting. Starting on Tuesday,

and of all places, Texas, state known for very big political personalities and political dramas.

Are you ready for it? I'm ready for it. Yeah. Texas is the big kickoff of the midterm season.

Literally the first. Yeah. There's three states, but this is the central one. And we're not actually

interested in it just because it's the first, although that's plenty of reason to be interested in it.

We're interested in the Texas midterm primary on Tuesday because it looks to be a race on both sides,

the selection of a Democratic nominee and a Republican nominee for U.S. Senate that is really

capturing the big, soul-searching battle for the identity of both parties in this era of Trump's America.

...