The presidential cycle puzzle is getting interesting. Midterm 2026 should arrive on schedule, yet markets are already sending mixed signals. This year's equity performance actually mirrors a typical Year 1 presidency playbook—volatility, policy adjustments, investor caution. Meanwhile, 2025 followed the classic midterm script: consolidation, reassessment, sector rotations. The timing feels flipped. It's worth tracking whether this pattern continues or if markets eventually sync back with the traditional cycle. The disconnect between calendar years and actual market dynamics suggests either a structural shift or just noise in a transitional period.