President Trump is escalating his doomsday warnings about a Democratic takeover of Congress, painting a nightmarish vision of an America consumed by burning cities, economic collapse, mutilated children and the destruction of Western civilization.

Why it matters: Trump has long portrayed Democrats as an existential threat to the country. But in an effort to preserve Republicans' grip on Washington, he's taking that rhetoric to new extremes as he casts the election as a choice between Republican rule and national catastrophe.

At the same time, Trump is offering voters a financial incentive to keep Republicans in power: $5,000 checks for every adult American citizen if the GOP retains control of Congress.

The pledge would cost more than $1 trillion and has no clear path to becoming reality.

What they're saying: "President Trump is the unequivocal leader, best messenger, and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party, and he is committed to maintaining Republican majorities in Congress," White House…