The State of It: USA

Jensen Huang has resigned as chief executive of Nvidia after admitting to one extramarital affair and facing allegations of a second. One of the women involved, Alice Huang, has been accused of being a Chinese spy. Nvidia has been leading the AI boom and so the damage to this one company has huge implications for the US economy, and beyond: Jensen Huang is a close ally of President Trump. Andrew Neil joins Gerard Baker to discuss the economic, political, geopolitical and technological implications.
And the Republican losses in the midterms keep coming: Scott Colom has won his race, making him the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Mississippi since 1982. Where do the Republicans go from here, and what will the Democrats do next? Does either party really know what it stands for?

Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal
Andrew Neil, presenter of The Andrew Neil Report

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pete Hegseth, Donald Trump's war secretary, has narrowly survived an attempt to impeach him. He was lucky that the Democratic political operation was chaotic. But how long will he be safe?

Stephen Miller has taken over from Susie Wiles as President Trump's chief of staff. He is an expert at exerting the power of the executive as far as it will go. What's on his agenda?

After their victories in the midterms, you might think the Democrats would be happy and united, but the battle is on for the soul of the party. Progressives want to challenge Chuck Schumer, their longstanding Senate leader. Could Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez be the Democratic candidate in 2028, and is a newly empowered left carving out an “America First” agenda of its own?

Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist, The Times and The Sunday Times

Max Kendix, Washington correspondent, The Times

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images

Audio: Reuters
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s been a long night for President Donald Trump in the US midterm elections. The Democrats have taken control of both the House and the Senate, inflicting defeat on the Republican Party. Despite him not being on the ballot, this was for many, a referendum on Trump and his record in office.
The Iran war, rising gas prices, tariffs, aggressive immigration enforcement, allegations of corruption and scandal have all played a part. But perhaps most damagingly, the coalition that carried Trump to victory two years ago has fallen apart: Hispanic voters, young people and working-class Americans have all turned against him.
So what does this mean for Trump’s final two years in office? And is it an end to MAGA as we know it?

Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The countdown to the midterms is on, and Trump’s campaign is descending into chaos. He’s cancelling rallies in crucial states, berating reporters over their looks and praising Nicki Minaj’s bum. Texas is surprisingly close, while Democrats have resorted to some seriously dirty tricks in Alaska.

With Republican fortunes looking grim, could Democrats take both the House and Senate? And if they do, will they go after Trump himself — or set their sights on Pete Hegseth?

Meanwhile, what damage has the campaign done to the presidential ambitions of JD Vance and Marco Rubio? Clue: not much good.

Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson

Picture: Getty Images
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been confirmed that Elon Musk ordered a slowdown of the Starlink internet that Ukraine relies on to defend itself from Russian attacks. President Trump has said he didn't know who was responsible but is this a Henry II-Thomas Becket situation?
In Moscow, Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has called President Putin a humanitarian. Russia has released retired American teacher Stephen Hubbard after four years in prison. But the overall strategy with regard to Russia seems flawed and naïve. It could leave the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, with a dreadful choice: does he want to be like South Korea or like South Vietnam?

Donald Trump once referred to his chief of staff, Susie Wiles, as the "ice maiden". She was accused of arranging a "sanctioned hit" on Katie Zacharia, who ended up leaving her post as White House press secretary after only five days. Now there are rumours that Wiles's job may not be safe. The White House says it's fake news. Could Trump do without her?

With two weeks to go to the midterm elections, some Republicans seem to be resorting to desperate measures. In Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy recruited the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent Amy Acton. A family tragedy is now playing out in competing attack ads.

Katy has been with Democratic senator Jon Ossoff as he campaigns for re-election in Georgia. Could he be the Democratic 2028 presidential candidate?

Katy Balls, Washington editor and columnist at The Times and The Sunday Times
Gerard Baker, columnist at The Times and editor at large at The Wall Street Journal

Producers: Euan Dawtrey, Harry Kitson
Executive producer: Molly Guinness

Picture: Getty Images
Audio: Reuters
This podcast was brought to you thanks to the support of readers of The Times and The Sunday Times. Subscribe today
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.