News imageAmericast, Your US Midterm Election Guide (A Global News Podcast collab)

Americast

Your US Midterm Election Guide (A Global News Podcast collab)

14 October 2026

Available for over a year

What happens if Donald Trump loses the midterms, and why does this election matter for Republicans and Democrats? In this episode, Anthony and Sumi de-jargon and explain some of the basics in this November’s election, unpicking key terms such as ‘gerrymandering’, super PACs, dark money, stump speeches, and what it really means to be an ‘informed voter’.

We’re joined by Celia Hatton from the Global News Podcast, with questions from around the world.

HOSTS:

• Celia Hatton, Global News Podcast presenter

• Sumi Somaskanda, BBC Chief Presenter

• Anthony Zurcher, North America Correspondent

GET IN TOUCH:

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• Or use #Americast

This episode was made by Emma Close and Helena Burke with Nik Sindle. The technical producer was Mike Regaard. The series producer is Purvee Pattni. The senior news editor is Sam Bonham.

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Americast is part of the BBC News Podcasts family of podcasts. The team that makes Americast also makes lots of other podcasts, including Newscast. If you enjoy Americast (and if you're reading this then you hopefully do), then we think that you will enjoy some of our other pods too. See links below.

Newscast: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/series/p05299nl

Top Comment: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m001mssm

Radical: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/p0gg4k6r

The Global Story: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/w13xtvsd