Amanpour The Eyes of the World are Watching the US Midterm Elections
Oct 3, 2026
Marc Short, former chief of staff to Mike Pence, discusses Republican struggles, rising costs, AI, immigration and the party’s post-Trump identity. Anand Giridharadas, author of Winners Take All, explores abandonment and DIY violence in America. Ben Macintyre, acclaimed espionage historian, recounts a Soviet spy’s bizarre defection. Also: passengers avert an aviation disaster and Germany’s reunification fears return.
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Episode notes
Tariffs Made Iran’s Energy Shock Worse
- Rising energy costs are compounding earlier tariff damage to Republican heartland voters.
- Farmers face higher diesel and fertilizer prices while trade retaliation has already closed export markets.
Republicans Need More Than Data Center Dismissals
- Republicans risk losing voters by dismissing data-center fears instead of explaining AI’s strategic importance.
- Marc Short says the party needs to describe competition with China and offer a credible alternative to regulation.
Border Security And Deportation Split Voters
- Trump’s border strategy separates two issues voters do not treat alike: securing borders and deporting people.
- Marc Short says Hispanic support eroded because deportations lacked the public backing that border enforcement initially enjoyed.
