It’s the most important week of the year for the Federal Liberal Party.

This Saturday the 103,000 people registered to vote in the Sydney electorate of Wentworth get to do two things - choose a replacement for Malcolm Turnbull, and decide if Scott Morrison gets to hold on to majority government or has to preside over a hung parliament.

For new prime ministers by-elections are always high-stakes - but Wentworth is also high-cost. The Liberal Party is throwing everything at retaining the seat, including huge amounts of money, and even some unexpected foreign policy.

It’s a week of fear and loathing in United States democracy.

On this episode, Tory Maguire calls up Matthew Knott in New York, and former US correspondent Nick O'Malley, to understand the ructions of America's midterm elections. And expert eye Steve Bartholomeusz reflects on the impact Trumpism and US politics are having on global markets.

You can listen to all that right now, or even better, you can subscribe for free and have Please Explain arrive every week in your app of choice - Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, or Spotify. 

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