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What's at stake in the US midterm elections?

As further extraordinary revelations about the Trump administration keep emerging, David Aaronovitch asks: why do November's US midterm elections matter?

November's midterm elections in the US are the first chance for voters across the country to pass judgement on President Trump's administration since the 2016 election.

All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for grabs and a third of the Senate. If the Democrats win control of the House, they would not only be in a position to halt President's Trump's legislative agenda; they would also be able, should they wish, to start impeachment proceedings.

On The Briefing Room this week David Aaronovitch asks what's at stake in these elections and how the outcome will reshape the American political landscape two years before the next Presidential election in 2020.

CONTRIBUTORS

Ken Goldstein, professor of politics at the University of San Francisco

Elena Schneider, campaign reporter for Politico

Elaine Kamarck, senior fellow in the governance studies programme at the Brookings Institution

Jeff Lazarus, associate professor of political science at Georgia State University

Larry Sabato, founder and director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics

Available now

28 minutes

Last on

Thu 6 Sep 2018 20:00

Broadcast

  • Thu 6 Sep 2018 20:00

Podcast