Damaged oil infrastructure in the Middle East means high gas prices are likely to stick around for months, which is bad for American drivers and for Republicans heading into the midterms.

• Iran-backed militias in Iraq hit pumping stations on the Saudi east-west pipeline, the route built to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.
• Pumping stations take a month or two to rebuild — valves, piping, and electrical gear that can't be bought off a shelf.
• The Trump administration claims oil is flowing again through the Strait of Hormuz, but ship-tracking firms say far less is getting through than officials say.
• Shortages are showing up on store shelves too, with Costco rationing motor oil.
• Saudi Arabia is now the target because of its ties to the US and Israel, and its fight with Ansar Allah is escalating rather than winding down.

Outlook: Expect gas prices to keep climbing and stay high well past the midterms, since repairs can't start while the fighting continues.