Oct 27, 2026 · 57 min
Midterm power hangs on affordability, election rules and coalition math
October 26, 2026 - PBS News Hour full episode
The episode connects U.S. control of Congress to wider questions about election legitimacy, democratic trust and political change abroad.
- 1U.S. candidates close the midterm campaign with affordability messaging, record spending and unresolved battles over election administration.
- 2Israel’s first election since the October 7 attacks pits Gadi Eisenkot against Benjamin Netanyahu, with coalition arithmetic limiting either bloc.
- 3Lula’s narrow Brazilian victory and Serbia’s student-led upheaval show how polarization, refusal to concede and youth movements reshape politics.
Don't miss
The closing panel argues that President Trump’s rallies primarily energize existing supporters rather than persuade swing voters, while avoiding affordability concerns.
The brief
The U.S. midterm closing push centers on control of Congress, affordability and a record political ad blitz, while personal attacks and AI-generated videos intensify the campaign.
Legal challenges over election certification and ballots cast by noncitizens raise questions about federal influence over state-run elections, even as experts view many claims skeptically.
Israel’s first election since the October 7 attacks turns on security, accountability and Gaza, but coalition math may constrain any government’s ability to change course.
Brazil’s Lula wins narrowly as Flavio Bolsonaro refuses to concede, while Serbia’s student-led protests illustrate how corruption and government failures are mobilizing younger voters.
Amy Walter and Tamara Keith assess the final U.S. outlook, while Arizona clergy train as poll chaplains and peacekeepers amid fears of intimidation and conflict.
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