Americast

Midterms! Democrats make historic shift in US politics (results, part 2)

2026-11-04

What’s next for the Democrats, and for the last two years of Trump’s presidency? As Democrats make sweeping gains across traditional red states in America, Justin, Anthony and Sarah discuss how it was done, and the impact for Democrats and Donald Trump.

Kansas has elected its first Democratic senator since the 1930s. South Carolina has rejected a Senate candidate strongly endorsed by Donald Trump. And Iowa and Ohio have also gone to the Democrats. Mississippi, meanwhile, is still too close to call. The president has said he will accept the results. But with Democrats in control of Congress, what can he still get done?

Justin, Sarah and Anthony ask what this means for the rest of the Trump presidency, and which way both parties might now turn as they look ahead to 2028.

HOSTS: • Justin Webb, Radio 4 presenter• Sarah Smith, North America Editor• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

GET IN TOUCH: • Join our online community: https://discord.gg/qSrxqNcmRB • Send us a message or voice note via WhatsApp to +44 330 123 9480• Email [email protected]• Or use #Americast

This episode was made by George Dabby with Oliver Bowbrick, Alix Pickles and Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Dafydd Evans. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

If you want to be notified every time we publish a new episode, please subscribe to us on BBC Sounds by hitting the subscribe button on the app.

You can now listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say "Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers.

US Election Unspun: Sign up for Anthony’s BBC newsletter: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-68093155

Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nlTop Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssmRadical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6rThe Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd

No. of episodes

665

Latest episode

2026-11-04

Where can you listen?

Insight and analysis on what's happening inside Donald Trump's White House. Podcast episodes Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Watch on iPlayer here: https://bbc.in/4j3DjKy. Each week we provide audiences with the best analysis from across the BBC, with on-the-ground observations and big picture insights about the stories which are defining America right now. The podcast is hosted by trusted BBC journalists including the BBC’s North America editor, Sarah Smith, BBC Radio 4 presenter, Justin Webb, the BBC’s social media investigation correspondent, Marianna Spring, and BBC North America correspondent, Anthony Zurcher. As well as political analysis, we also specialise in social media. Each week Marianna Spring brings listeners the latest updates from the BBC’s Undercover Voters, our award-winning investigation into the content that is recommended to US voters on social media. The team is also joined by special guests each week. Podcasts are published every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. As well as being a podcast, we are also available every Friday on BBC Radio 4 and every Saturday on the BBC World Service. Oh, and you can now watch us on YouTube and on iPlayer: https://bbc.in/4j3DjKy.

Also, you can listen to Americast on a smart speaker. If you want to listen, just say ‘”Ask BBC Sounds to play Americast”. It works on most smart speakers. Every Monday we answer your questions on Americanswers, with some help from our friends, including BBC Radio 5 Live's Matt Chorley. Got a question or a comment? Get in touch with us on email at [email protected] or WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480.