A new six-part video podcast series explores the impact of the US midterm elections on American democracy and global politics.
Martin Wolf, chief economics commentator at the Financial Times, hosts the series, which brings together political thinkers, historians and economists to discuss the stakes of the elections and their wider implications.
The podcast is the first to launch under Martin Wolf on the World, a new channel featuring Wolf in conversation with leading experts on major political and economic issues.
The first three episodes focus on the challenges
The first three episodes focus on the challenges facing American democracy ahead of the vote, while the final three examine the political, economic and international consequences of the results.
In the opening episode, Wolf speaks with scholar and former Republican adviser Robert Kagan about Donald Trump’s influence, the resilience of US democratic institutions, and what a Republican loss of Congress could mean for democracy in the United States.
Future episodes will feature Anne Applebaum on the global implications for democracy, Barbara F. Walter on election scenarios and the risk of political violence, Paul Krugman on the immediate political and economic fallout, Timothy Garton Ash on the impact for Europe, and Heather Cox Richardson on the historical context of the election.
Martin said: These midterm elections could prove
Martin said: “These midterm elections could prove a decisive moment for the future of the United States and Western liberal democracy.
“If the Republicans retained control of both Houses, the trend towards autocracy would surely continue. Yet even if the Democrats did well, a return to the past would be most unlikely.”
The first episode is available to watch on YouTube, with new episodes released every Saturday.
Martin Wolf on the World can be viewed on YouTube and ft.com, or listened to on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast platforms.
