🌍On MoneyFM 89.3’s International News Review, Steve Okun  joins Saturday Mornings Show host Glenn van Zutphen discuss the political earthquake now shaking Washington.

The historic 2026 US midterm elections delivered a powerful Democratic wave, flipping Congress and dramatically weakening President Donald Trump's governing power.

Steve argues this was more than a routine midterm correction. It was a voter backlash against affordability concerns, tariffs, immigration policies and a growing sense of economic unease. The scale of the Democratic victories surprised even seasoned observers, with gains extending deep into traditionally Republican territory, including Texas and Georgia.

The conversation explores how candidate quality, shifting Hispanic voter sentiment and voter resistance to gerrymandering helped fuel the political realignment. They also examine the role of billionaire influence in politics, including Elon Musk's massive campaign spending, which failed to prevent key Republican losses.

Beyond Washington, the implications could be global. With Democrats set to control Congress while Trump remains in the White House, attention turns to bipartisan "horseshoe issues" including China, AI regulation, data centres, technology investment and economic competitiveness. For Asia and Southeast Asia, the changes could influence everything from trade policy to the future of AI infrastructure and US-China relations.

The message from voters was unmistakable: performance matters more than ideology, and the political landscape entering 2028 has been fundamentally transformed.