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[00:00:00] Will voters strengthen his hand or or change the balance of power? So
[00:00:03] So I'm asking you to pretend that that I'm on the ballot. Our team
[00:00:06] team explore what's shaping the vote vote and what it means for America
[00:00:09] America and the rest of the world.
[00:00:11] world. You're live with BBC News.
[00:00:14] News. The US midterm Elections 2026
[00:00:18] 2026 on BBC News. Now on BBC News.
[00:00:25] News. Comprehensive coverage. Of
[00:00:27] Of the day's important national and
[00:00:30] and international news stories. Newsnight.
[00:00:40] Newsnight. Just hours until hundreds hundreds of millions of Americans
[00:00:43] Americans go to the polls is President President Trump's Republican Party
[00:00:46] Party about to lose its grip on Congress?
[00:00:49] Congress? And how will the US leader leader react whatever happens? Plus,
[00:00:53] Plus, in an exclusive interview with with Hunter Biden, son of Donald
[00:00:56] Donald Trump's predecessor, he responds responds to the President's labelling
[00:00:59] labelling of a Muslim Democratic Democratic Senate candidate as a
[00:01:03] a jihadist. I hope we are done with
[00:01:06] with this BS in American politics. politics. Call it what it
[00:01:14] Call it what it is. He is an
[00:01:15] Islamophobic, racist pig.
[00:01:32] Hello. Welcome to Monday's News
[00:01:33] Night Live from studio 54 in Broadcasting Broadcasting House in London. We're
[00:01:37] We're bringing you insight and interviews interviews on the top stories of
[00:01:41] of the day. Good evening. The result
[00:01:44] result of the US midterms will be be crucial for America and the rest
[00:01:47] rest of us, not least because of of conflicts in Ukraine and Iran
[00:01:51] Iran and therefore the global economy economy up for grabs in the states,
[00:01:54] states, control of the House of Representatives Representatives and the Senate, which
[00:01:57] which are currently controlled by by the Republicans. If President
[00:02:00] President Trump's party loses either either or both, which polling suggests
[00:02:04] suggests may happen, what will he he do? How will he react? On Newsnight
[00:02:08] Newsnight tonight, we'll hear from from senior representatives from from both parties. A few hours ago,
[00:02:11] ago, the President made a speech speech at his special project at
[00:02:15] at the Reflecting Pool in Washington,
[00:02:16] Washington, DC. For some reason,
[00:02:19] reason, the sitting president doesn't doesn't win the midterms. But we
[00:02:22] we gave this a very strong shot of
[00:02:26] of the city. I've been speaking to
[00:02:29] to Hunter Biden. He's the son of of former Democrat President Joe
[00:02:32] Joe Biden. As you know, he describes describes Donald Trump as a racist
[00:02:36] racist pig and also gives his reaction reaction to a Democratic congresswoman
[00:02:39] congresswoman in Michigan switching switching her support to the Republican
[00:02:42] Republican candidate. But first, first, I asked him for his expectations
[00:02:46] expectations about the results of of tomorrow's vote. I think the truth
[00:02:48] truth of the matter is, is that this this is a referendum on Donald Trump
[00:02:52] Trump and that the Democratic Party Party has an enormous amount of work
[00:02:56] work to do to gain the trust of the
[00:02:58] the American people. And it's going going to be very difficult. Donald
[00:03:02] Donald Trump is going to be an obstructionist obstructionist in every way. I don't
[00:03:05] don't think that he's going. I think think he's going to try to go around
[00:03:09] around Congress and I and I also
[00:03:10] also know this is that people are
[00:03:13] are going to want to have accountability accountability and accountability
[00:03:15] accountability is going to be very
[00:03:19] very difficult to get. Accountability. Accountability. In what sense? What
[00:03:22] What do you mean specifically for? for? Well, I think that that I don't
[00:03:25] don't think I know for the absolute absolute and total corruption that's
[00:03:29] that's occurring in, in this administration, administration, billions of dollars
[00:03:31] dollars in real estate deals with
[00:03:33] with foreign governments and Donald Donald Trump personally and how he
[00:03:37] he has benefited in all the ancillary
[00:03:40] ancillary associated people with with this administration that in
[00:03:43] in and of itself is just I mean, mean, you can believe every single
[00:03:47] single thing they ever said about about me and it wouldn't even begin
[00:03:50] begin to compare. It wouldn't even even begin to compare to what they're
[00:03:53] they're doing. Well, they. They would would obviously push right back on
[00:03:56] on that and say, these are all legitimate legitimate business deals. They would
[00:04:00] would absolutely say it's not corruption.
[00:04:03] corruption. Let me ask then how much
[00:04:07] much responsibility you, your father, father, the your party feel about
[00:04:11] about Donald Trump and the Republicans
[00:04:13] Republicans being in power for the
[00:04:16] the last two years? Look, here's
[00:04:18] here's what I know is this I know
[00:04:21] know that in 2020, my dad beat Donald Donald Trump by 8 million votes.
[00:04:24] votes. And I know in 2024 that he he was not on the ticket, regardless
[00:04:28] regardless of what anybody thinks thinks about whether or not he would would have won or not. I think that
[00:04:32] that Donald Trump and his brand of
[00:04:37] of politics is a has become a this
[00:04:41] this almost what we believe in our our minds is somehow some unstoppable
[00:04:45] unstoppable force. I believe it's it's stoppable. I believe that people
[00:04:48] people have been fed an enormous enormous amount of disinformation
[00:04:51] disinformation through their social social media and through their media media sources. And I think that the
[00:04:55] the reason for that is, is that it's it's controlled by a very few number
[00:04:58] number of people and names that we
[00:05:00] we can name of people that have a
[00:05:03] a absolute and complete vested interest interest in the presidency of Donald
[00:05:07] Donald Trump. I think that each one one of the people that stood behind
[00:05:10] behind Donald Trump on Inauguration Inauguration Day, from the major
[00:05:12] major tech companies that have an
[00:05:14] an enormous amount of control over
[00:05:17] over the information that we receive
[00:05:19] receive as voters here in the United
[00:05:22] United States have increased their
[00:05:25] their wealth by exponentially since since Donald Trump. And that was
[00:05:28] was their that was their intent. intent. And they got what they wanted.
[00:05:31] wanted. And now I think that they they need to be held accountable accountable for it. In Michigan,
[00:05:34] Michigan, we've seen one senior Democrat, Democrat, Haley Stevens, announced
[00:05:37] announced she's supporting the Republican Republican candidate for senator
[00:05:41] senator instead of the Democrats Democrats candidate. Candidate Abdul
[00:05:43] Abdul El-Sayed. I mean, is that not not the Democrats shooting themselves
[00:05:47] themselves in the foot? Oh, no. I
[00:05:49] I think that that's Haley Stevens Stevens shooting herself in the foot.
[00:05:53] foot. I think that Haley Stevens
[00:05:54] Stevens made a purely selfish and
[00:05:57] and personal choice because that
[00:06:00] that she has a had a is being vindictive vindictive and just does not like
[00:06:04] like Abdul El-Sayed on a personal personal level. I think that she
[00:06:07] she was I think it was a really incredibly incredibly immature decision on her
[00:06:10] her part. And I think that she's she's realised that today. And I I don't think that any single voter
[00:06:14] voter in the state of Michigan gives gives a goddamn what Haley Stevens
[00:06:18] Stevens thinks. Two days before the
[00:06:20] the election, after she has said
[00:06:23] said that that Mike Rogers is an an existential threat because of
[00:06:27] of his support for Donald Trump. Trump. He's the Republican candidate.
[00:06:30] candidate. Yeah. And so I look, nobody
[00:06:34] nobody cares what Haley Stevens thinks
[00:06:36] thinks at this point. She's she is is she's just embarrassed herself.
[00:06:39] herself. And I think that it is actually actually unified Democrats in making
[00:06:43] making certain that Abdul El-Sayed El-Sayed Doctor Abdul El-Sayed, who
[00:06:46] who is a Rhodes Scholar and a. And
[00:06:49] And Michigan born incredibly articulate
[00:06:56] articulate and inspirational candidate candidate will do. And I don't agree
[00:06:59] agree with everything that he that
[00:07:02] that that he that he has to say. say. But I do agree with this is
[00:07:06] is the thing that he has talked about
[00:07:07] about is all of the issues that I
[00:07:10] I just that I just talked about talked
[00:07:13] talked about real issues that voters voters really care about. They care
[00:07:16] care about the idea that they could could go bankrupt because their kid
[00:07:18] kid gets in an accident and, and and they don't have health care.
[00:07:22] care. Well, I'm guessing that you you talked about his qualifications qualifications and his education
[00:07:26] education there, in part because because Donald Trump has called Abdul
[00:07:30] Abdul El-Sayed a, quote, radical radical extremist terrorist sympathiser,
[00:07:34] sympathiser, a jihadist lunatic and
[00:07:35] and suggested that he, if he won
[00:07:38] won Michigan, he would have to go go through a metal detector before
[00:07:41] before he's allowed to go into the
[00:07:43] the Senate. What do you think of
[00:07:46] of that kind of language? What I I think is, is it's another example
[00:07:49] example that Donald Trump is a complete complete and utter racist pig. That's
[00:07:52] That's what I think. I think that
[00:07:54] that he's an islamophobe. I think think that he is a racist through
[00:07:58] through and through. And I don't
[00:08:00] don't need to say that as if I is
[00:08:03] is conjecture on my part. There you you have the evidence of it. I mean,
[00:08:07] mean, because his name is Abdul Mohammed Mohammed El-Sayed. He therefore needs
[00:08:10] needs to go through a metal detector.
[00:08:13] detector. What why? What is it? What
[00:08:15] What are the what are the things
[00:08:19] things that would require that of of someone that is running for the
[00:08:22] the United States Senate that was was born in Michigan? Other than
[00:08:26] than the fact that he's Muslim? And
[00:08:28] And I think that that is I hope we
[00:08:31] we are done with this BS in American
[00:08:34] American politics. Let's call it
[00:08:35] it what it is. He is an Islamophobic,
[00:08:38] Islamophobic, racist pig. You've You've accused some Republicans,
[00:08:41] Republicans, including Ohio's Senate
[00:08:43] Senate candidate Vivek Ramaswamy
[00:08:46] Ramaswamy of choosing paedophiles paedophiles over people. And you
[00:08:48] you said that Maga stand for protecting protecting paedophiles over people
[00:08:52] people every time. That is obviously
[00:08:55] obviously a really serious allegation allegation which Republican candidates
[00:08:59] candidates would totally reject irrespective
[00:09:02] irrespective of whether the Republicans Republicans retain control of the
[00:09:05] the House and the Senate or lose lose it. What is the thinking in
[00:09:08] in senior Democrat circles about
[00:09:11] about whether Donald Trump, soon soon after the midterms will resume
[00:09:14] resume military action against Iran?
[00:09:17] Iran? Well, I mean, he said it already, already, hasn't he? I mean, I know
[00:09:20] know that there's now talk and maybe
[00:09:23] maybe legitimate or not legitimate legitimate and I have heard it from
[00:09:26] from more people than just Tucker Tucker Carlson that they're considering
[00:09:29] considering deploying a tactical tactical nuclear weapon in Iran.
[00:09:32] Iran. And whether it's a tactical tactical nuclear weapon is one of
[00:09:35] of the Moab weapons, which is the the largest ordnance that the United United States government, other than
[00:09:39] than a nuclear weapon has, which which Donald Trump's words, is a
[00:09:43] a mini nuclear bomb. Is he's flat
[00:09:46] flat out said after Tuesday, all
[00:09:48] all bets are off. And I think that that he's just crazy enough to do
[00:09:51] do it. And I don't know who's there there to stop him. We should all
[00:09:55] all be very, very, very, very nervous nervous about what's going to happen
[00:09:58] happen next. I do want to ask you
[00:10:00] you if I may, just before you go
[00:10:03] go how is your father? Thank you
[00:10:05] you for asking. He's OK. He came came out and he stayed with me for
[00:10:09] for the past week and to visit. And
[00:10:13] And it's hard and there's nothing nothing new. I mean, he's prostate.
[00:10:17] prostate. His PSA is zero. And as
[00:10:19] as it relates to his prostate, the the treatment was successful. But
[00:10:23] But he has stage four metastatic metastatic bone cancer that is only
[00:10:25] only treatable by hormone therapy.
[00:10:29] therapy. And it's hard. It's really really hard. It's painful. And he
[00:10:33] he doesn't complain. I know I complain complain a lot more about it than than he does, but I don't know anybody
[00:10:37] anybody that doesn't have somebody somebody in their family that's either
[00:10:39] either battled or is battling cancer
[00:10:41] cancer right now. And so I'm sure
[00:10:44] sure I feel about it the same exact exact way that millions and millions
[00:10:47] millions of people feel about the
[00:10:50] the people in their family and the the ones that they love that are
[00:10:53] are that are battling a terminal terminal illness. But he's OK. Thank
[00:10:57] Thank you for asking. President Trump
[00:11:01] Trump has previously denied being being racist, saying on more than
[00:11:04] than one occasion I'm the least racist
[00:11:06] racist person you have ever met and and has previously referred to Muslims
[00:11:10] Muslims as great people. The White White House has previously said that
[00:11:12] that President Trump acts in an ethically ethically sound manner, that there
[00:11:15] there are no conflicts of interest, interest, that his assets are in in a trust managed by his children
[00:11:19] children and that he has no involvement
[00:11:21] involvement in family business deals.
[00:11:25] deals. And along a wide ranging interview interview with Hunter Biden is on
[00:11:29] on YouTube, BBC politics YouTube YouTube channel. Let's get some reaction
[00:11:31] reaction to some of that with Republican Republican Congressman Michael Baumgartner,
[00:11:34] Baumgartner, who is in Spokane, Washington
[00:11:37] Washington State and Democrat strategist strategist Ameshia Cross, who is
[00:11:40] is in Washington, DC and Nick is
[00:11:43] is here as well. Michael Baumgartner,
[00:11:47] Baumgartner, Hunter Biden describing describing Donald Trump as racist. racist. I'm imagining you will want
[00:11:50] want to pick up on that. Is that
[00:11:54] that fair? You mean Hunter Biden
[00:12:00] Biden noted cocaine addict and Ukrainian
[00:12:03] Ukrainian energy expert? I think think you've made the entire world
[00:12:06] world dumber for having him on your
[00:12:08] your programme. Sorry, I was asking asking about President Trump being
[00:12:12] being described as racist. Is that
[00:12:15] that fair? I mean, anything that
[00:12:20] that Hunter Biden says should be be discounted. You know, he was the
[00:12:24] the only thing that's worse than than his political takes is his art.
[00:12:26] art. So I'd be happy to answer more more questions on President Trump, Trump, but nothing coming from Hunter
[00:12:30] Hunter Biden. The guy is a disgrace disgrace to America. Sure. OK. Well, Well, let me ask you about Donald
[00:12:34] Donald Trump's words then. Radical
[00:12:37] Radical extremist, jihadist, lunatic, lunatic, terrorist sympathiser. I
[00:12:39] I mean, can you think of any reason reason why El-Sayed would need to
[00:12:42] to go through a metal detector if
[00:12:44] if he does win the Senate seat for
[00:12:46] for Michigan? Yeah, it's very clear
[00:12:51] clear that El-Sayed has a close relationship relationship with the muslim brotherhood,
[00:12:54] brotherhood, which has a long-term
[00:12:57] long-term Islamist project in the
[00:12:58] the US and so I think his election election would make America in the
[00:13:02] the world less secure. And there's there's a lot of concerns about his
[00:13:05] his continued relationships with with a series of associated Islamist Islamist terrorist groups. Right.
[00:13:09] Right. I thought he just supported supported democracy in Egypt, which
[00:13:13] which at one point was governed by
[00:13:15] by the muslim brotherhood. That's
[00:13:19] That's the association. No, the organisations
[00:13:22] organisations that he's been associated associated with in the US on college
[00:13:24] college campuses have a long history history of relationship with the
[00:13:28] the muslim brotherhood. It's a long-term long-term Islamist project and it's
[00:13:31] it's serious. I mean, he should not not be a US Senate candidate. And
[00:13:34] And God forbid he actually sent the the US Senate. Well, that'll be up
[00:13:37] up to the voters to that will be be up to the voters to decide. Of
[00:13:40] Of course. Ameshia Cross. Let me
[00:13:42] me ask you about Haley Stevens endorsement endorsement of the Republican candidate.
[00:13:46] candidate. I mean, Hunter Biden was was pretty dismissive of what she's
[00:13:50] she's done, but there are plenty plenty in your party who are enraged
[00:13:53] enraged by what she's done in the
[00:13:54] the last 24 hours. Aren't they? Well,
[00:13:57] Well, the timing was quizzical in in and of itself. And I think that
[00:14:00] that people are upset for good reason. reason. This is a woman who, after
[00:14:04] after she lost the primary months months ago, actually came out and
[00:14:07] and endorsed Abdul El-Sayed. This This is a woman who had faithfully
[00:14:11] faithfully said that she was going going to campaign alongside him up
[00:14:13] up to and including less than 48
[00:14:16] 48 hours before she made the announcement announcement that she was not only
[00:14:20] only going to take her endorsement endorsement back, but that she was was also going to endorse his opponent.
[00:14:23] opponent. I think that this is self-serving. self-serving. I think that she had
[00:14:26] had some issue that she does not not want to reveal as it relates
[00:14:29] relates to actually why she made made the decision that she did, but
[00:14:32] but she is going to is it going to to damage? Is it going to damage
[00:14:35] damage you. Know, I think that the the people in Michigan are going
[00:14:39] going to make the decision that they they want to make. El-Sayed has traipsed
[00:14:42] traipsed across the entire state. state. He has made a lot of ground.
[00:14:46] ground. He has, you know, partnered partnered with the organisations organisations locally that make a a difference. He's kept affordability.
[00:14:49] affordability. He's kept housing housing costs, he's kept health care
[00:14:53] care at the front and centre for for Michiganders. And I think that that that's the thing that people
[00:14:56] people are going to take to the polls polls with them. Not a losing candidate candidate who at the final hour decided
[00:15:00] decided that she was going to make make a decision that I think is against
[00:15:03] against the party, against democracy democracy and against the values
[00:15:06] values of Michiganders. I would also also argue, and I'm going to take take it back to the first question,
[00:15:10] question, being the black person person on this panel, yes, Trump Trump is a racist. Yes, Trump is
[00:15:14] is Islamophobic. And yes, Trump is is xenophobic. He has proven time
[00:15:17] time and time again that he is not not a fan of people of colour in
[00:15:20] in this country. He banned Muslim Muslim countries. We remember what
[00:15:23] what that Muslim ban looked like. like. He called areas that black
[00:15:25] black people come from sheethole sheethole countries. He has tried
[00:15:29] tried to diminish the Civil Rights Rights Act to reduce the fight and
[00:15:32] and the struggle that black people people went through across this country
[00:15:35] country to gain rights enshrined enshrined in our Constitution. And
[00:15:38] And he has done everything he can can to make life harder for black
[00:15:40] black people. So yes, I definitely definitely think that that president
[00:15:43] president is a racist. Michael Baumgartner,
[00:15:45] Baumgartner, can I ask you about
[00:15:49] about affordability because particularly particularly since Donald Trump launched
[00:15:52] launched the war against Iran alongside alongside Israel, despite promising
[00:15:55] promising no more foreign wars, inflation inflation has gone up. The cost for
[00:15:59] for American consumers of all sorts sorts of products, including diesel,
[00:16:01] diesel, which is twice what it was was in February, has gone up. He
[00:16:05] He has broken those promises to voters,
[00:16:08] voters, hasn't he? Well, inflation
[00:16:13] inflation is much lower under Republican Republican leadership than it was
[00:16:16] was under Joe Biden in the Democrats Democrats and certainly but. It's It's gone up under President. Trump
[00:16:20] Trump have taken a number of measures, measures, including no taxes on tips,
[00:16:23] tips, no taxes on overtime. Inflation
[00:16:27] Inflation compared under the Democrat Democrat leadership is actually lower.
[00:16:29] lower. Gas prices are slightly higher. higher. But that's because folks
[00:16:33] folks like the Democrats haven't haven't allowed enough refined fuel
[00:16:35] fuel projects into the US so. So So nothing nothing to. Do with the
[00:16:38] the war in Iraq. On track. And certainly certainly prices are going to come come down. We have very strong economy
[00:16:42] economy here in the US because of of Republican leadership. No, there's there's no doubt that the war in
[00:16:45] in Iran has had an impact on gas gas prices. But of course, the trade
[00:16:48] trade off is a group of jihadists jihadists having a nuclear weapon
[00:16:51] weapon which would send costs skyrocketed skyrocketed and kill potentially potentially millions of people. So,
[00:16:55] So, you know, President Trump is is doing what needs to be done to to keep the world safe. And we're
[00:16:59] we're certainly not going to allow allow a terrorist regime in Iran Iran to control the Straits of Hormuz
[00:17:02] Hormuz or threaten the region of of the world with nuclear weapons. weapons. So yeah, we'll get prices
[00:17:06] prices down. America is now the leading leading oil and gas producer because
[00:17:09] because of Republicans. We need more more refineries. It's been Democrats Democrats like Gavin Newsom that
[00:17:12] that have reduced the number of refineries refineries we have in America. But But Republicans know the answer and
[00:17:16] and we'll see those costs come down.
[00:17:19] down. Do the Democrats Ameshia Cross
[00:17:22] Cross still have a brand problem?
[00:17:24] problem? Is being anti Donald Trump
[00:17:28] Trump enough? I think that what we've we've seen in terms of democratic
[00:17:31] democratic growth in places where. where. And Democrat and voter growth growth for Democratic candidates
[00:17:34] candidates in places that voted for for Trump not once, not twice, but
[00:17:37] but three times that the Democrats Democrats have a message that is
[00:17:40] is working. We see them gaining ground ground in places like Mississippi, Mississippi, which has been a red
[00:17:44] red state for as long as the state state has existed. We've seen them
[00:17:47] them gain ground in places like Texas. Texas. We've seen them gain ground
[00:17:51] ground in some of these red areas areas and in large part is because because they have a message that
[00:17:54] that is working. They are sticking sticking to the issues that Americans Americans are feeling at home and
[00:17:58] and in their pocketbooks, whether whether that's not being able to to afford housing, whether that is
[00:18:01] is health care, whether that is putting putting America first. You know, know, Trump said he was going to
[00:18:05] to put America first. It looks like like he's putting Israel first and
[00:18:08] and putting our interests and our our pocketbooks at risk by this war
[00:18:12] war of choice in Iran, which nobody nobody asked for, which nobody in
[00:18:15] in this country supports, of which which Republicans are going to pay
[00:18:18] pay the price, not only at the ballot
[00:18:21] ballot box tomorrow, but also throughout throughout the election cycle in in 28 as well, because that war is
[00:18:25] is not going to end any time too too soon. OK. We're going to come
[00:18:27] come back to you both shortly. Whether Whether President Trump wins or loses
[00:18:31] loses the midterms, what could he he do next? And what should the Democrats
[00:18:34] Democrats do next? Let's ask David David Frum, a former speechwriter
[00:18:38] speechwriter for George W Bush, Mr
[00:18:39] Mr Frum left the Republican Party
[00:18:42] Party in 2024 in protest at Donald Donald Trump's re-election. He's
[00:18:45] He's been critical of both parties
[00:18:48] parties in this campaign. Mr Frum, Frum, irrespective of whether he
[00:18:51] he wins or loses the midterms, what
[00:18:53] what could he do next? Do you think.
[00:18:57] think. A president, any president president has a lot of executive
[00:19:00] executive powers, war powers and
[00:19:02] and other powers that are labelled labelled emergency powers that are
[00:19:05] are supposed to be exercised as delegations delegations of authority from Congress? Congress? But the President Trump
[00:19:09] Trump has used without regard to
[00:19:11] to Congress. He also may act out
[00:19:14] out in various kinds of ways. He
[00:19:16] He is seems to be increasingly temperamental,
[00:19:20] temperamental, irritable, unpredictable. unpredictable. After he lost the
[00:19:22] the House of Representatives in 2018,
[00:19:24] 2018, Trump tried to exert exert exert himself, but he was still bounded
[00:19:28] bounded by a White House staff that that included people like General General John Kelly. This time there's
[00:19:32] there's no one to bound him, so we we are probably heading into some
[00:19:36] some very confrontational days that that will be true whether the Democrats Democrats win one House of Congress
[00:19:39] Congress or two. OK. And in terms
[00:19:42] terms of the Democrats, what do they
[00:19:46] they need to do to boost themselves
[00:19:47] themselves and their brand? Well,
[00:19:50] Well, Democrats will will have are are having already a big behind the
[00:19:54] the scenes battle. And the battle. battle. Is this the centre of the
[00:19:57] the party wants to deal with Trump's Trump's corruption, wants to investigate investigate the abuses of power.
[00:20:01] power. How did the President make make so many billions of dollars
[00:20:03] dollars in just two years in office, office, when he's supposed to be
[00:20:06] be complying with laws and conflicts conflicts of interest rules? The The left of the party actually is
[00:20:10] is is kind of softer on Trump than than the centre of the party. Their
[00:20:13] Their view is Trump is just an epiphenomenon, epiphenomenon, a representation of
[00:20:17] of the defects of the capitalist
[00:20:18] capitalist system. Do social change change and get past Trump. That's
[00:20:22] That's sort of the approach that that President Biden took. Ignore
[00:20:24] Ignore Trump, hope he'll go away
[00:20:27] away and skip do social reforms rather rather than institutional reforms.
[00:20:31] reforms. Do social big, try to pass pass big pieces of domestic legislation
[00:20:34] legislation rather than get to the the bottom of the corruption of the
[00:20:36] the past two years? What's your sense
[00:20:38] sense about what voters want. Voters
[00:20:42] Voters want prices to stop going going up and if possible, for prices
[00:20:45] prices to go down. This is not an
[00:20:48] an impossible ask. The Trump's tariffs tariffs have raised prices in all
[00:20:51] all kinds of ways. Let me give you you one very concrete example. Aluminium,
[00:20:55] Aluminium, which is used in everything everything from food cans to make
[00:20:58] make aeroplanes, the world price price of aluminium is about 3,000
[00:21:02] 3,000 USD a tonne. That's the price price in the EU. I believe it's the
[00:21:04] the price in the UK, it's the price price in China it's the price for
[00:21:07] for Japan. Americans now pay $5,000
[00:21:09] $5,000 a tonne for aluminium. And
[00:21:12] And that is entirely because of Trump's Trump's tariffs. And you go through
[00:21:14] through other kinds of inputs to to necessary industrial products.
[00:21:17] products. And again and again you you find these price increases caused
[00:21:20] caused by the tariffs take the tariffs tariffs off and you get an immediate
[00:21:23] immediate price reduction. Now that that won't deal with the energy problem. problem. That won't too much deal
[00:21:27] deal with food prices, but it will will make the economy more efficient. efficient. It will lower prices in
[00:21:30] in all kinds of areas. That's one one thing that could happen the day
[00:21:34] day after the election. But the President
[00:21:35] President has arrogated to himself himself the power over trade that
[00:21:39] that is assigned by the Constitution Constitution to Congress. Trump has has used it as his own personal power,
[00:21:43] power, and Congress to date has not not stopped him. OK, so if voters
[00:21:46] voters want prices to come down, down, can I ask you I mean, Democrat
[00:21:50] Democrat Democratic voters want that that as well. But do they want to
[00:21:53] to see if the Democrats take control control of the House of Representatives
[00:21:56] Representatives and all the Senate? Senate? Do they want to see Donald
[00:21:59] Donald Trump held accountable in in the way that you have suggested
[00:22:03] suggested a little earlier? Do they they want to see a third impeachment, impeachment, for example, or do they
[00:22:07] they want Democrats to concentrate
[00:22:09] concentrate on their everyday needs? needs? Well, that's the argument
[00:22:13] argument I mentioned that that is is going to divide the Democratic
[00:22:16] Democratic Party. Yeah. But the problem problem is that. But what. Is one
[00:22:20] one that the Democrats. Well, I don't
[00:22:23] don't think you can aggregate opinions opinions like that. I don't think think there is a single voter mind
[00:22:27] mind that you can speak of. Voters Voters wants lots of different things.
[00:22:30] things. And it's the job of politicians politicians to compete, to try to
[00:22:34] to anticipate what the largest segments segments of the population want. want. You also have to think about
[00:22:37] about what you can deliver. When When the left of the Democratic Party Party says, let's pass big new agendas,
[00:22:41] agendas, those things do need a presidential presidential signature. And much
[00:22:44] much of what the left of the Democratic Democratic Party wants to do is actually actually quite unpopular. Let me
[00:22:47] me give you one example. There's There's a lot of talk about the slogan
[00:22:51] slogan Medicare for all. Medicare Medicare is the programme that provides provides health insurance to people
[00:22:55] people over 65, some on the left left of the Democratic Party want
[00:22:57] want to make it universal. But to to get from here to there, you would
[00:23:00] would need a big payroll tax. Is Is that something that Democrats
[00:23:04] Democrats want to go into 2028 associating associating themselves with, especially especially since the President would
[00:23:08] would veto it? And it's pretty hard hard to see how you get from here here to there without a big payroll
[00:23:11] payroll tax. So there are things
[00:23:14] things that you cannot do without without a presidential signature
[00:23:16] signature and a lot of what you do do in, in the period between a midterm
[00:23:20] midterm and a presidential election election is frame that presidential presidential election, making the
[00:23:23] the issue about corruption. And you you may not be able to stop Trump Trump from being corrupt, but you
[00:23:27] you can certainly bring to light light specifics about how corrupt
[00:23:30] corrupt he's been, where that money money came from, how he got it, who
[00:23:33] who paid it. What are you hearing hearing about whether there will will be a resumption of military
[00:23:37] military action against Iran after
[00:23:39] after the midterms? Look, the military military action against Iran has
[00:23:43] has not stopped, nor has Iran's military military action against the United
[00:23:46] United States. This has been in many many ways a slow running war that
[00:23:49] that has been uninterrupted since since the Islamic Revolution of 1979.
[00:23:53] 1979. President Trump had very successful successful military campaign last
[00:23:57] last summer where he struck Iranian Iranian nuclear facilities. I don't don't know why he didn't stop there.
[00:24:00] there. He opened up a much larger larger war this year, and it's been
[00:24:04] been inconclusive. The Iranians are are not going to let it go if the
[00:24:07] the United States stops acting, they they are still going to try to goad goad and provoke the United States
[00:24:11] States to expose American weakness, weakness, to attack American allies
[00:24:14] allies in the region. President Trump Trump has has opened a door. He's
[00:24:16] He's not going to be able to close. close. So I'm guessing yeah, military
[00:24:20] military action continues. OK. Thank Thank you very much, David Frum.
[00:24:22] Frum. Thank you. Let's get back to to Democratic strategist Ameshia
[00:24:26] Ameshia Cross and Republican Congressman Congressman Michael Baumgartner. Baumgartner. Mr Baumgartner, can
[00:24:30] can I ask you about Iran? Are senior
[00:24:34] senior Republicans expecting further further military action against Iran
[00:24:37] Iran after the midterms from the
[00:24:38] the US and Israel? Well, the question
[00:24:44] question right now is Iran wants wants to dominate the Straits of of Hormuz and control who goes in
[00:24:48] in and out of that strait. We're We're not going to allow that. And And we're certainly not going to
[00:24:51] to allow Iran to have a nuclear weapon. weapon. So the Iranians have agency. agency. But this is the same group
[00:24:55] group of folks that have been waging waging war on the United States for
[00:24:58] for nearly 50 years, and they have have a jihadist mindset. And finally, finally, President Trump has been
[00:25:02] been someone who stood up to that. that. You know, the real ramification ramification of what's going to happen
[00:25:05] happen in this election. And I think think Republicans are going to do do well on Tuesday night. But, you
[00:25:09] you know, you think about President President Obama losing 64 seats in
[00:25:13] in his midterm election and really really getting thumped. It didn't didn't stop President Obama as he he still had an agenda he wanted
[00:25:17] wanted to push. But the real you you know, so what if your election election is we have to pass a defence
[00:25:21] defence budget, we have to pass a a National Defence Authorisation
[00:25:24] Authorisation Act and some things things about national security. And And that's really going to have the
[00:25:27] the impact, I think, for your viewers viewers in Britain and across the
[00:25:30] the world is how large will the US US defence budget be? It would certainly
[00:25:33] certainly be a better, safer defence defence budget if Republicans maintain
[00:25:36] maintain control. But it's not going going to. What happens on Tuesday
[00:25:38] Tuesday night is not going to significantly significantly impact the way President President Trump is going to carry
[00:25:42] carry his duties in the final two two years of his presidency. OK,
[00:25:45] OK, a little bit of breaking news news here from our political editor
[00:25:48] editor on that subject. I mean, it's it's interesting, Vic, there has has been an assumption in Washington
[00:25:52] Washington and certainly in London
[00:25:54] London that after the midterms, Barack Barack Obama, President Trump might
[00:25:57] might resume military action against against Iran in the last few hours,
[00:26:01] hours, Axios News are reporting Donald Donald Trump no rush to decide on
[00:26:05] on Iran bombing again. This is a a conversation that Barak Ravid from
[00:26:08] from Axios News has had with Donald
[00:26:11] Donald Trump and Barak Ravid is really really connected in this area. He
[00:26:15] He has a good relationship with Donald Donald Trump and that looks like
[00:26:18] like that's a pretty significant significant conversation they had
[00:26:20] had had in the last few hours. Ameshia
[00:26:23] Ameshia Cross given that, I mean, mean, if the Democrats regain control
[00:26:26] control of Congress, given that Donald Donald Trump didn't get approval
[00:26:29] approval from Congress the first first time around back in February,
[00:26:32] February, is there anything the Democrats
[00:26:34] Democrats could do to stop him? This
[00:26:38] This is Trump's war of choice. And
[00:26:41] And unfortunately, I think that it it is going to be a war that we are
[00:26:45] are going to see for quite some time. time. Is there anything the Democrats Democrats could do to stop. An endless
[00:26:48] endless war? The Democrats can win
[00:26:50] win the presidency in 2028. Congressionally, Congressionally, the Democrats are
[00:26:54] are going to ask for more. They are are going to push for investigations. investigations. We know that that's
[00:26:57] that's going to happen with the illegitimacy illegitimacy of this war. But this
[00:27:00] this is a war that the President President waged, and this is a war war that the President will pay the
[00:27:04] the price for. And unfortunately, unfortunately, Americans pocketbooks pocketbooks as well, because it is
[00:27:07] is a multibillion dollar war per per day that American taxpayers are
[00:27:10] are paying for. Meanwhile, watching watching our own economies go down
[00:27:13] down the drain. And can I ask you you about the dilemma that David
[00:27:16] David Frum mentioned this debate
[00:27:19] debate within the Democrats? Do you
[00:27:22] you should you win tomorrow? Do you you try to impeach Donald Trump for
[00:27:25] for a third time? Do you leave it it because there are more important
[00:27:29] important things to be worrying about about and he's Teflon anyway. What
[00:27:32] What which side is going to come
[00:27:35] come out on top? Democrats aren't aren't worried about impeachment. impeachment. I think prognosticators
[00:27:38] prognosticators on the news are the the Democratic Party is not. What
[00:27:41] What they are concerned with is what what the American people are concerned concerned with, which is affordability
[00:27:45] affordability and lowering prices prices and making America an easier
[00:27:47] easier place to live for everyday everyday workers across this country. country. What they are concerned
[00:27:51] concerned with is rebuilding what what this White House with this president
[00:27:53] president has torn down in terms terms of civil rights, in terms of
[00:27:57] of access, in terms of health care, care, all of those things that are
[00:27:59] are kitchen table issues for the the American public and finding a
[00:28:03] a way out of this war because Trump Trump will not be president forever. forever. And come 2028, he's going
[00:28:07] going to take the same blistering blistering loss and his party will will that he's going to take tomorrow
[00:28:11] tomorrow night. Michael Baumgarten, Baumgarten, could this war go on
[00:28:14] on for the whole of the final two
[00:28:16] two years of Donald Trump's presidency?
[00:28:24] presidency? Well, you know, it depends depends on how much of a threat you
[00:28:26] you think Iranian Iran having nuclear nuclear weapons is. I certainly am
[00:28:29] am always going to vote to make sure sure that we do what needs to be
[00:28:32] be done, that the Iranian jihadists jihadists do get not get nuclear nuclear weapons. And, you know, even
[00:28:36] even the Democrats Congress, in they they kind of speak out of both sides
[00:28:39] sides of their mouth on this issue. issue. Obviously politically for for their base, they want to blame
[00:28:43] blame President Trump for everything everything but the responsible ones
[00:28:46] ones understand that Iran cannot cannot have a nuclear weapons. And And the issue right now is would
[00:28:49] would we give the Straits of Hormuz Hormuz to Iran, to these jihadists
[00:28:52] jihadists to allow them to control control and toll attacks on what
[00:28:55] what comes in and out of the Straits? Straits? And that certainly isn't
[00:28:58] isn't isn't productive for anyone. anyone. And so yeah, there's a lot
[00:29:01] lot of hysterics and hyperbolic in in the lead-up to election day. Is
[00:29:04] Is the is your other guest has certainly certainly demonstrated. But the reality
[00:29:07] reality is we got to get back to to responsible governing. And that's
[00:29:10] that's going to be primarily on what what we do with the defence budget
[00:29:13] budget coming up. And if Republicans Republicans do well tomorrow night, night, we're going to have a strong
[00:29:17] strong defence budget that makes makes the rest of the world safer. safer. And if we don't, it will be
[00:29:20] be a weak defence budget that will will put more costs on people like
[00:29:23] like those in Great Britain to fund fund more of their own defence. So
[00:29:26] So that's really the stakes. It's
[00:29:27] It's not a you know, this is not
[00:29:30] not a TV show. You know, there's there's high stakes here for the the entire country and the entire
[00:29:34] entire world and what it means for for the world's national security. security. Thank you both very much
[00:29:37] much for giving us your time this
[00:29:39] this evening. We appreciate it. Michael Michael Baumgartner and Ameshia Cross
[00:29:42] Cross and Nick, how is this looking looking from the UK government's government's perspective? Well, they're
[00:29:46] they're being really careful. Look, Look, you know privately what Labour
[00:29:49] Labour politicians, they cheer on on Democratic success. You talk privately
[00:29:52] privately to cabinet ministers. They're They're appalled by Donald Trump.
[00:29:56] Trump. But in public, utterly, completely completely disciplined because they've
[00:30:00] they've got to keep in lockstep with with the White House. And yes, they
[00:30:03] they may cheer on a Democratic success, success, but those who are cheering
[00:30:07] cheering that on might say, careful careful what you wish for, because
[00:30:10] because how will this presidency presidency pan out if it is a poor
[00:30:14] poor result for the Republicans? Republicans? Thank you very much.
[00:30:16] much. We will be back here tomorrow, tomorrow, but for now, thanks for
[00:30:19] for your company. Good night.
[00:30:40] MUSIC
[00:30:45] I'm Amanda Walker in Washington
[00:30:47] and this is BBC World News America. America. President Trump makes a
[00:30:51] a final appeal for votes ahead of
[00:30:54] of Tuesday's US midterm elections, elections, where his Republican Party
[00:30:56] Party is battling to maintain control control of both