Idris Kaloun, The Economist's Washington bureau chief, shares insights on the impending midterm elections and the potential for a Republican-controlled Congress. Shashank Joshi highlights the alarming vulnerabilities of undersea infrastructure following the Nord Stream pipeline breaches. Meanwhile, Moeka Iida unpacks the Japanese concept of ikigai, emphasizing its cultural importance and the misconceptions surrounding it in Western contexts. Together, they navigate the intersections of politics, infrastructure security, and personal fulfillment.