Schumer's Decade as Democratic Leader Meets Another Midterm

PBS NewsHour notes a useful bit of Washington arithmetic: Chuck Schumer has won and lost Senate majorities since becoming Democratic leader a decade ago, and this year's midterm elections could be the New York senator's most important yet. The pressure is not only electoral. Some in the party, PBS reports, have said he needs to step down.

That makes the midterm result a verdict on more than seats. A leader who has already survived majority flips now faces a question about whether his own caucus wants him at the podium for the next one — and the two questions don't necessarily have the same answer.