Original Broadcaster Captioning (Enhanced). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:00they've got to keep in lockstep with with the White House. And yes, they
00:00:03they may cheer on a Democratic success, success, but those who are cheering
00:00:07cheering that on might say, careful careful what you wish for, because
00:00:10because how will this presidency presidency pan out if it is a poor
00:00:14poor result for the Republicans? Republicans? Thank you very much.
00:00:16much. We will be back here tomorrow, tomorrow, but for now, thanks for
00:00:19for your company. Good night.
00:00:40MUSIC
00:00:45I'm Amanda Walker in Washington
00:00:47and this is BBC World News America. America. President Trump makes a
00:00:51a final appeal for votes ahead of
00:00:54of Tuesday's US midterm elections, elections, where his Republican Party
00:00:56Party is battling to maintain control
00:00:59control of both chambers of Congress. Congress. Democrat party is
00:01:07Democrat party has nominated the most extreme and dangerous slate slate of candidates in American history. history. These are the most dangerous
00:01:11dangerous candidates ever put up.
00:01:13up. In Michigan. Abdul El-Sayed Senate
00:01:15Senate campaign reports a record record breaking fundraising day after
00:01:19after fellow Democrat Haley Stevens Stevens pulls her endorsement in
00:01:23in favour of a Republican rival. rival. And Britain's home secretary
00:01:27secretary unveils new rules for migrants migrants settling in the UK in a
00:01:31a major overhaul of the country's
00:01:34country's immigration rules.
00:01:45Hello. Thanks for being with
00:01:46us. It is the final day before the
00:01:49the US midterm elections. Millions Millions of people across the country
00:01:52country have already cast their ballots ballots in an election that will
00:01:55will determine the balance of power power in Washington. It's a crucial
00:01:59crucial moment in American politics politics that will set the tone for
00:02:02for the final two years of Donald
00:02:05Donald Trump's second presidency. presidency. Well, we have correspondents correspondents all across the country
00:02:09country in the run up to the election. election. Helena Humphrey is in Maine.
00:02:12Maine. Carl Nasman is in Georgia. Georgia. And Shaimaa Khalil is in
00:02:16in Alaska. Well, let's talk to Helena
00:02:18Helena first. So, Helena, this is is a big moment for Maine. What are
00:02:22are you hearing on the eve of this
00:02:24this key Senate race? There? Well,
00:02:29Well, for voters here, Amanda. Cost
00:02:31Cost of living concerns in this state
00:02:34state are absolutely top of mind. mind. This is a rural state. Many
00:02:37Many people use heating oil to heat heat their homes. That has surged
00:02:41surged due to the war in Iran, in
00:02:43in some cases over 80% year on year.
00:02:46year. One woman saying it used to
00:02:48to cost $1,400 to heat her home every
00:02:51every year. Now it's over $5,000.
00:02:55$5,000. And it's a rural state. A A state of water and woodland where
00:02:58where many people make their living living either as loggers or lobster
00:03:02lobster men and women. We're at a a sawmill earlier today. They are
00:03:06are definitely feeling those economic economic headwinds when it comes
00:03:09comes to President Trump's tariffs, tariffs, making machinery more expensive.
00:03:12expensive. Also, that surging cost cost of diesel as well, making hauling
00:03:16hauling timber far more pricier too. too. And I was asking them what do
00:03:19do they make of the Democratic challenger
00:03:22challenger Troy Jackson trying to to unseat Susan Collins, who's had
00:03:25had that seat since 1997. He's a a fifth generation logger himself.
00:03:28himself. It's something that he points
00:03:30points to frequently in his campaign campaign speeches. Now, they didn't
00:03:34didn't make all that much of his his campaign credentials in that
00:03:37that regard. When it comes to Susan Susan Collins, they note that she
00:03:41she often brings back the bacon to
00:03:42to Maine. They say as chair of the
00:03:45the Senate Appropriations Committee, Committee, bringing that federal federal funding back to this state.
00:03:49state. But certainly they are finding finding it hard to make a profit
00:03:52profit right now. Now, Mike LeBrun LeBrun is the general manager of
00:03:56of that sawmill. Here's what he told told me about some of the challenges
00:03:59challenges that this industry is
00:04:01is facing. The appeal for a young
00:04:04young man to go in the woods and and take on massive debt, to cut
00:04:08cut wood is less and less appealing appealing to more and more young
00:04:11young men. The big major suppliers
00:04:14suppliers are going to be fine, but but I can't imagine someone going
00:04:17going in the woods and cutting wood wood nowadays with. With the massive
00:04:21massive cost of equipment, parts, parts, fuel, just to make a little
00:04:24little bit of money selling wood wood that isn't very profitable.
00:04:28profitable. And in terms of this this election, the midterm election,
00:04:31election, Senator Susan Collins, Collins, the Republican incumbent
00:04:35incumbent very well known in this this state, she's going up against
00:04:37against Troy Jackson, a fifth generation generation logger. Does that mean
00:04:40mean something to people in this this industry? I don't know how the
00:04:44the election is going to go, but but I don't think that Troy brings
00:04:48brings any more than Susan Kent already
00:04:51already deliver. And she's well known
00:04:53known in this state. She's a she's she's like McDonald's. She's a she's
00:04:57she's not the best, but she's good
00:05:00good enough. So clearly not overly
00:05:04overly enthusiastic for either candidate candidate there. But this is a seat
00:05:06seat that the Democrats have been been eyeing for decades. They're
00:05:09They're hoping that President Trump's Trump's sagging approval ratings
00:05:13ratings could be the chance for them them to finally win that seat. And
00:05:16And in doing so, flip the Senate Senate and ultimately curtail what
00:05:20what President Trump is able to get get done in his final couple of years
00:05:24years in the White House. Like McDonald's. McDonald's. Quite a line there. Helena.
00:05:26Helena. Thank you. Well, let's cross cross live to Georgia where we're
00:05:30we're going to speak to Carl Nasman,
00:05:32Nasman, Georgia. A bruising campaign
00:05:34campaign for the Senate and governorship. governorship. How are Republicans
00:05:37Republicans feeling on the eve of
00:05:38of the big day? Yeah, it has been
00:05:43been a bruising campaign, really. really. The eyes of many people across
00:05:46across the nation are on the state state of Georgia. Lots of crucial
00:05:49crucial races here. Georgia, of course, course, is football country. And
00:05:52And to use a football metaphor that that Republican official told me
00:05:56me just a few hours ago that they
00:05:58they are about five yards away from
00:06:00from the goal line on what they hope hope is anyway a touchdown drive.
00:06:04drive. This has been a long campaign. campaign. I was just out with some
00:06:07some volunteers who were knocking knocking on doors here in the suburbs suburbs of Atlanta. They said that
00:06:11that they have been knocking on doors
00:06:14doors since about August or the summer summer of this year. That's how long
00:06:18long that they've really been working working on this. And I think to continue continue that football metaphor,
00:06:21metaphor, really the Republicans Republicans are playing from behind behind here. You look at the Senate
00:06:25Senate race, which is going to be be a crucial one when it comes to
00:06:28to control of the Senate across the the country. And the Republican candidate,
00:06:31candidate, Mike Collins, is trailing
00:06:34trailing his Democratic rival, the the incumbent Senator Jon Ossoff,
00:06:37Ossoff, by some wide margins. If If you look at some of the polling
00:06:40polling up to eight, maybe even ten ten points in the polling and coming
00:06:43coming into this year, Jon Ossoff, Ossoff, the Democrat, was thought
00:06:46thought to be maybe one of the most most vulnerable of all senators.
00:06:49senators. That is certainly not the the case right now. Morale is not
00:06:53not really as high as in maybe in in some other states among Republicans Republicans here. So we have seen
00:06:57seen some pretty high profile visits visits in recent days from JD Vance,
00:07:00Vance, the Vice President, and of of course, Donald Trump making a
00:07:04a couple of stops here to try to to boost Mike Collins's chances.
00:07:07chances. But we've seen just given
00:07:09given the atmosphere the President's President's visit not always welcome
00:07:13welcome in certain states. I asked asked one of those Republican volunteers volunteers what he thought about
00:07:16about whether or not President Trump Trump was helping or hurting Republicans
00:07:19Republicans chances here in Georgia. Georgia. Here's what he told me.
00:07:22me. Yes, it can help and it has helped helped a lot in the past. You know,
00:07:26know, people always like to see the the big people in power come in to
00:07:29to their community. It makes people people seem like, you know, these these higher officials, you know,
00:07:32know, really care about them, especially especially when they come to your your community, regardless of who
00:07:36who it is, it's very important that that these larger politicians actually
00:07:40actually come and speak with constituents constituents because it's very important
00:07:43important that they see who actually actually voted for them and get to
00:07:47to talk to them. So that's the Republican
00:07:50Republican perspective. Carl, how
00:07:51how about the Democrats? We've also
00:07:55also been out with the Democrats Democrats as they are making their
00:07:58their last minute pitch to voters voters in and around the Atlanta
00:08:02Atlanta area, knocking on doors. doors. And really the game plan here
00:08:04here from both sides is to try to to get their own team to come out
00:08:08out and vote on election day. This This is a state that has seen record
00:08:12record turnout for early voting. voting. Already, more than a third third of the state has cast their
00:08:16their ballots. And Democrats, there's there's a lot of enthusiasm on that
00:08:19that side. They are really pretty pretty confident that Jon Ossoff Ossoff is going to keep his Senate
00:08:23Senate seat here. And they have their their eyes on the state House. They
00:08:26They think that their candidate for for governor, Keisha Lance Bottoms,
00:08:29Bottoms, has a great chance against against the Republican billionaire
00:08:32billionaire candidate Rick Jackson Jackson here, although that race
00:08:35race is very, very tight. They're They're also looking at the actual actual make-up of the state legislature.
00:08:39legislature. They hope to potentially potentially flip ten seats there
00:08:42there and turn Georgia's Statehouse Statehouse blue, which could have have big implications, of course,
00:08:46course, for this state. So you can can get a sense kind of the aspirations
00:08:50aspirations of Democrats here. And, And, you know, they tell me that
00:08:52that when they knock on doors, they they hear from Democrats, Republicans Republicans and independents alike
00:08:56alike saying that they are not happy happy with the job that President President Trump has been doing as
00:09:00as president the second time around. around. They're not happy with his his policies when it comes to the
00:09:04the war in Iran. When it comes to to the economy or inflation. And
00:09:07And they say, you know, they think think that they have a good chance
00:09:09chance of picking up a lot of voters voters around the margins, not just
00:09:13just from their own party. When it it comes to election day tomorrow.
00:09:16tomorrow. OK. Carl Nasman in Georgia. Georgia. Thank you. Well, let's speak
00:09:20speak to Shaimaa Khalil, who's definitely definitely got the coldest state
00:09:23state out there in Alaska. We know know Alaska's home of the double
00:09:27double down Sullivan race drama, drama, the Department of Justice Justice saying that two down Sullivan's
00:09:30Sullivan's on the ballot would confuse
00:09:31confuse voters. What's the latest latest legally and politically? What
00:09:35What are you hearing? Well, look,
00:09:40look, I think this race that has
00:09:43has been closely contested with Mary
00:09:44Mary Peltola holding a razor thin
00:09:47thin lead over Dan Sullivan has been been overshadowed by this rather
00:09:51rather bizarre controversy. The case case of the two Dan Sullivan's two
00:09:55two men on the same ballot with very very similar names. The incumbent
00:09:59incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, the the Republican, and the other Dan
00:10:01Dan Sullivan that now many are calling calling De Carrie Dann a retired
00:10:05retired teacher. And I think throughout throughout the last few days and
00:10:09and weeks, there have been some legal
00:10:11legal challenges, one from the Trump Trump administration themselves.
00:10:15themselves. They have called for for the election results to be blocked
00:10:19blocked if their candidate, the Republican, Republican, loses. That has been
00:10:23been dismissed. But over the past past couple of days, separately,
00:10:26separately, there's been an ongoing ongoing investigation by federal
00:10:29federal by federal investigators investigators into the Democrat campaign
00:10:33campaign and allegations that some some of the operatives there have
00:10:37have recruited what who now has been
00:10:38been dubbed the decoy Dan. And as
00:10:41as a ballot spoiler, Mary Peltola,
00:10:43Peltola, the Democrat has denied
00:10:46denied any wrongdoing, denied knowing knowing anything about that. But
00:10:49But the investigation continues up up until the very last hours before
00:10:53before the elections. But I must
00:10:54must say that for people here, they
00:10:57they tell us that this is not the the issue that they're focused on.
00:11:00on. Fishing is the issue that they're they're focused on. We're here in
00:11:04in Seward Harbour where the boats
00:11:06boats have docked for the season,
00:11:09season, but the coveted salmon run
00:11:11run has really been struggling. Fishermen
00:11:13Fishermen have been struggling with
00:11:16with industrial competition from from big boats. And they've been
00:11:20been saying that it's really down down to who's going to solve that
00:11:22that problem for them. Dan Sullivan
00:11:24Sullivan has said that he's put in
00:11:27in legislation that will protect protect the fisheries here in Alaska.
00:11:31Alaska. Mary Peltola, the Democrat, Democrat, says look, as a native
00:11:34native Alaskan, as someone who's
00:11:36who's fished professionally, she's
00:11:38she's more suited for the job. So So there has been that controversy
00:11:41controversy about the two Dan's. Dan's. But for Alaskans here, the
00:11:44the question is much more urgent. urgent. It is about the cost of living.
00:11:48living. It is about livelihood and and the fish that they depend on.
00:11:51on. And who of those two candidates candidates can really save it for
00:11:54for them? Yeah, it'll be interesting interesting to see if that scandal scandal has any impact at all. Thank
00:11:58Thank you. Well, with me now is Carrie
00:12:00Carrie Dann, managing editor of the the Cook Political Report. Carrie, Carrie, thanks for being with us.
00:12:04us. The Washington Post has called called your organisation Washington's
00:12:08Washington's favourite political political oracle. So no pressure pressure going into these crucial
00:12:11crucial elections to maintain that that title. So it's the evolve. Just
00:12:15Just tell me what is the latest analysis analysis that you're seeing saying
00:12:18saying about the House of Representatives Representatives and the Senate? In
00:12:21In the House of Representatives? Representatives? We have for several
00:12:25several months now projected that that Democrats would be favoured.
00:12:27favoured. Our latest projections projections today are that Democrats
00:12:30Democrats are favoured to win between between 15 and 25 House seats. That's
00:12:34That's what we think is the most most likely outcome that could give
00:12:37give them if they're on the high high end of that, one of the highest
00:12:40highest the biggest majority Democrats Democrats have had since 2009. If
00:12:43If they're on the lower end, of course, course, it's a narrower majority.
00:12:46majority. But I think most Republicans Republicans in Washington have accepted accepted the reality that the House
00:12:50House is going to flip. It's only only a matter of by how much. Now,
00:12:52Now, the Senate is just a very complicated
00:12:54complicated question. We still have
00:12:56have six races that are in that toss toss up category, and we keep them
00:13:00them in the toss up category because because genuinely, at the Cook Political Political Report, we talked to operatives
00:13:04operatives on both sides of the aisle. aisle. We talked to the candidates,
00:13:07candidates, the campaigns, the superPACs, superPACs, and there is a lot of
00:13:10of uncertainty about exactly what what may happen in each of those
00:13:13those races. Now, I would rather rather be Democrats than Republicans
00:13:15Republicans right now. I think Senate Senate Democrats have the momentum
00:13:19momentum behind them, and we do believe believe that they are more likely
00:13:21likely to pick up the majority than than Republicans are to keep it.
00:13:25it. But some of these races are just just going to come down to the wire wire and be very, very close with
00:13:29with a lot of late breaking dynamics dynamics that could affect them. them. Obviously, everyone wants instant
00:13:32instant results, don't they? But But it won't work that way. Obviously Obviously it's a huge country, different
00:13:35different time zones, different sized sized states, all of these issues.
00:13:38issues. But where will you be watching watching specifically to give us
00:13:42us early clues of where things might might be heading? Well, early in in the evening we will see polls
00:13:46polls close in Georgia and in South South Carolina. Those are two are
00:13:49are North Carolina and South Carolina Carolina rather. Those are two states states that I'm going to keep a very
00:13:52very close eye on in North Carolina. Carolina. That should have been one
00:13:55one of the marquee Senate races of of the cycle. It is now kind of fallen
00:13:59fallen off the map. Democrats are are favoured to win that Senate contest. contest. But how big that margin
00:14:03margin is in North Carolina for the the Democrat Roy Cooper is going
00:14:07going to help inform just how big big this Democratic wave may be.
00:14:10be. And it will also have down ballot ballot effects in some key House
00:14:14House races. Republicans will be be keeping an eye on that to see
00:14:16see if the bottom is really falling falling out for Republicans down
00:14:19down the ballot in the House and and in South Carolina, we still believe
00:14:22believe that Republican Darlene Graham Graham is probably favoured to pull
00:14:26pull out a win there. But if she she is not winning early in the evening,
00:14:29evening, it may be a sign that. Or
00:14:31Or if she's even just a few points points ahead, it's going to be a
00:14:34a very bad sign for Republicans who who are going to think other races
00:14:38races around the country may be just just as close. That's a state that
00:14:40that Donald Trump won by double digits. digits. If she if Darlene Graham
00:14:43Graham is not winning there, it's it's going to be a very rough night
00:14:45night for Republicans indeed. And And Texas, everybody's going to be
00:14:48be watching Texas. How does it look look from the Cook Political Report
00:14:51Report perspective now? I mean, this this is still a race that we also
00:14:54also in toss up, but it is one where where I think James Talarico has
00:14:58has a little bit of an upper hand
00:15:01hand in 2018, Democrats came within within three points of winning a
00:15:03a Senate seat in Texas. That was was Beto O'Rourke, who ran against
00:15:07against Senator Ted Cruz. He came came close, but it will work. Never
00:15:11Never led in polls. James Talarico Talarico has consistently led by
00:15:13by at least a couple points. He is is doing as well as Beto O'Rourke
00:15:17O'Rourke did with Hispanic voters, voters, which is a very key part
00:15:20part of the Texas demographic. Ken Ken Paxton, the Republican, is just
00:15:23just a deeply flawed and very polarised polarised Republican. He has not
00:15:26not really been able to unite the the GOP base behind him. Again, it's
00:15:30it's a very, very, very red state. state. I think it's going to be a a very close race. But if you were
00:15:34were going to be one of them, I think think you'd rather be James Talarico. Talarico. Yeah, and just quickly,
00:15:38quickly, Kari we used to maybe October October surprises, but this November
00:15:41November surprise out of Michigan Michigan you are now giving El-Sayed
00:15:45El-Sayed a slight edge in Michigan. Michigan. I'm interested in what
00:15:49what impact you think, if any, it it might have with this Democrat Democrat endorsing a Republican.
00:15:53Republican. Do you have any early early read on that. He's fundraising fundraising today off the back of
00:15:57of this. What's your thought? That's That's right. We move this race today
00:16:00today just within the last few hours hours from toss up to lean Democrat.
00:16:03Democrat. And we were moving towards towards that possibility before this.
00:16:07this. This story broke over the weekend weekend with Haley Stevens endorsing
00:16:10endorsing Mike Rogers. It did not not dissuade us that that breaking
00:16:13breaking news story because we're we're looking at private and public
00:16:16public polling, including a New York York Times poll that showed El-Sayed El-Sayed up by 11 points. I don't
00:16:20don't think anybody thinks that it's it's going to be that much of a blow-out blow-out for the Democratic candidate.
00:16:24candidate. But at the end of the the day, this is a state that Donald
00:16:27Donald Trump very narrowly won. And And for all of the drama around Haley
00:16:30Haley Stevens endorsement of Mike Mike Rogers, we've talked to some some a lot of Republicans in the
00:16:34the state who say that Donald Trump's Trump's approval rating is just too
00:16:37too low for Mike Rogers to overcome, overcome, no matter whether he has
00:16:40has the support of a Democratic former
00:16:42former primary opponent or not. OK, OK, big. Couple of days for you ahead.
00:16:46ahead. We appreciate you giving us us some of your time. Carrie Dann Dann managing editor of the Cook
00:16:50Cook Political Report. Thank you. you. Thank you. Well, do join us
00:16:54us on Tuesday for a special programme programme here on BBC News. We'll
00:16:57We'll bring you the results of the the US midterm elections live from
00:17:01from Washington starting at 11:30pm
00:17:0211:30pm GMT. That's 6:30pm Eastern
00:17:05Eastern Time in the US. With all all the analysis from key states
00:17:08states and what it means for the
00:17:10the US and beyond. Still to come
00:17:12come on world news, America, at least least two dozen people are killed
00:17:16killed by Russian strikes at an aid aid centre in Ukraine. We'll have
00:17:20have more on that coming up. Around
00:17:22Around the world and across the
00:18:25right here on BBC News. Live with
00:18:34with BBC News. Thanks for being with with us to Ukraine. Now, where President
00:18:37President Zelensky says Russia has has repeatedly bombed a school that
00:18:41that was being used as an aid centre centre in the Zaporizhzhia region,
00:18:44region, killing at least 24 people.
00:18:47people. These pictures from the Ukraine Ukraine State Emergency Service show
00:18:51show the aftermath of the attack. attack. Zelensky said that after
00:18:54after an initial strike, nine more more bombs hit a shelter where people
00:18:58people were taking cover. He said said the Russians must have been
00:19:01been aware that the building was was being used to distribute humanitarian
00:19:04humanitarian aid. The attack came
00:19:07came hours after a local ceasefire ceasefire ended in the southern town
00:19:10town of Oleshky. Our correspondent correspondent in Kyiv, Dan Johnson,
00:19:13Johnson, has more. The President President has described this as an
00:19:17an utterly horrific Russian attack. attack. He said it was a school that
00:19:21that was hit that was being used
00:19:23used to distribute aid to the people people of this village. He said the
00:19:27the Russians could not have been been unaware that every week local
00:19:30local residents who had remained remained there were receiving humanitarian
00:19:34humanitarian aid at that very location. location. He said the search and
00:19:38and rescue operation has been ongoing ongoing and that's why the number
00:19:41number of casualties has continued continued rising. He said this was
00:19:44was further proof that Russia wants
00:19:47wants no de-escalation and no real
00:19:49real justice. The President said said after the humanitarian operation
00:19:53operation in Oleshky, referring to to that temporary ceasefire which
00:19:56which held over the past six days, days, he said there was a moment
00:19:59moment when the next steps could could have shown that progress towards
00:20:03towards peace was possible. But with with these killings, Russia is sending
00:20:07sending an entirely opposite Signal. Signal. Russia, he said, is counting
00:20:10counting on more killings and there there must be a response to this
00:20:14this that temporary cease fire in in the Kherson region ended last
00:20:17last night. And we have reports that
00:20:20that intense fighting has resumed resumed in that region. Once again,
00:20:23again, we understand both sides have have taken the opportunity during
00:20:27during that cease fire to reinforce reinforce their soldiers to re-arm
00:20:31re-arm their units in that region.
00:20:33region. And today there's been these
00:20:35these reports of fake messages having
00:20:37having been sent on the Ukrainian
00:20:40Ukrainian air alert app last night, night, people across the country,
00:20:43country, millions of them who have have that app on their phone received
00:20:46received these messages warning of
00:20:48of a nuclear threat of a potential
00:20:51potential chemical attack and of of fighting in the streets of Kyiv.
00:20:55Kyiv. It didn't cause widespread widespread panic because I think
00:20:57think the sheer volume of extreme extreme alerts that came through
00:21:00through all at the same time indicated indicated to people that there was
00:21:03was something wrong, that there was was either a glitch in the system
00:21:06system or that it had been hacked. hacked. And very quickly, Ukraine's
00:21:09Ukraine's Air Force said that the the system had been compromised.
00:21:12compromised. They blamed the Russians Russians for that cyber attack. That's
00:21:16That's not been confirmed by Russia,
00:21:19Russia, who reported their own incident incident in the hours afterwards
00:21:22afterwards with similar sorts of of messages being spread on their
00:21:26their emergency alert system. Cyber Cyber experts here in Kyiv have told
00:21:29told us that is likely a deliberate
00:21:32deliberate retaliation on the part part of Ukraine. The problem is that
00:21:36that it potentially weakens the faith faith that citizens have in those
00:21:40those systems that are relied on
00:21:41on to warn them of impending attacks.
00:21:44attacks. The relentless number of of attacks and alerts had already
00:21:47already meant that lots of people
00:21:50people were on occasions ignoring ignoring those alerts. So the authorities
00:21:54authorities have a challenge to restore restore trust in those systems and
00:21:57and make sure they are secure to
00:22:00to prevent future cyber attacks impacting
00:22:02impacting those systems. UK Home
00:22:06Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has has defended scrapping her own plans
00:22:09plans to make foreign care workers workers who are already in the UK
00:22:13UK wait 15 years before applying applying for permanent settlement.
00:22:16settlement. They will now be able able to apply after five years after
00:22:20after criticism of the initial plans plans from Labour backbenchers and
00:22:23and some of her cabinet colleagues. colleagues. But refugees who crossed
00:22:26crossed the channel in small boats boats rather than arriving in a legal
00:22:29legal way, will now have to wait
00:22:31wait up to 30 years. Our political political correspondent Iain Watson
00:22:34Watson reports. It was almost a year
00:22:37year ago when Shabana Mahmood proposed proposed big changes to the immigration
00:22:41immigration system. Most migrants migrants who came here legally would
00:22:43would have to wait ten years instead instead of five for permanent residence.
00:22:47residence. When lower skilled employees, employees, including care workers,
00:22:50workers, would face a 15 year wait.
00:22:53wait. But in the commons today, this this is what a U-turn sounds like.
00:22:57like. They came at a time when the the sector was under considerable
00:23:01considerable pressure following the
00:23:03the Covid-19 pandemic and the unique unique challenge of that moment.
00:23:06moment. Those who earn £25,000 a a year working in the social care
00:23:10care sector, which was the condition condition of their visa, will therefore
00:23:13therefore be able to settle on their
00:23:16their existing five year path. I I asked the Home Secretary why she
00:23:19she changed her mind about care workers. workers. We had one of the highest
00:23:23highest ever responses to a consultation consultation that a. Government has
00:23:26has ever seen, and we considered considered that in full. And you've
00:23:29you've backed down. You've watered watered down recognised very well.
00:23:32well. I've recognised the very real
00:23:35real significant contribution and and the unique circumstances of those
00:23:37those who arrived to work in the
00:23:39the care sector. For the past year.
00:23:42year. Big unions and those and Labour's Labour's left wanted to change the
00:23:45the original proposals. It's such such a great pleasure to be here.
00:23:48here. As a former care worker myself. myself. Before rejoining the cabinet,
00:23:52cabinet, Angela Rayner had said it it was un-British to change the rules
00:23:56rules for migrants who were already already here. But let's be blunt
00:23:59blunt about this is a political fix, fix, isn't it? You've caved in to
00:24:02to Labour left wing backbenchers. backbenchers. I found a fair settlement settlement to deal with the legacy
00:24:06legacy of the last Conservative government, government, under whom we saw 40
00:24:1040 years worth of migration in just just four years, presenting very
00:24:13very significant challenges. My job job to. Manage the migration system
00:24:16system and sort out the mess that that I inherited from the Conservative
00:24:19Conservative Party. But opposition opposition parties on the right say
00:24:22say the Home Secretary is moving moving in the wrong direction. What
00:24:25What we would do is say, you've got got to wait ten years before qualifying
00:24:28qualifying for ILR indefinite leave leave to remain and there should should be salary conditions, very
00:24:32very significant salary conditions. conditions. Only people who are making
00:24:36making a real economic contribution contribution should be allowed to
00:24:39to stay here because it's unfair unfair on British taxpayers to subsidise
00:24:43subsidise recent low wage migrants. migrants. We will extend the wait
00:24:46wait time for British citizenship citizenship up to ten years, and
00:24:49and we will review the citizenships citizenships granted to people who
00:24:52who would have been issued passports passports by mid 2029 by this Labour
00:24:56Labour government who would not have have received them were it not for
00:24:59for this U-turn from Shabana Mahmood Mahmood today. The Greens are arguing
00:25:02arguing that migration can bring bring benefits to Britain rather
00:25:04rather than being seen as a burden.
00:25:06burden. We need to think really long-term long-term about how we're supporting
00:25:10supporting refugees and we need to to recognise the huge contribution
00:25:14contribution that migrants make when when they come here to contribute contribute to our country and to
00:25:18to build better lives for themselves. themselves. Can the Prime Minister
00:25:21Minister wasn't in the Commons to to hear Shabana Mahmood announcement announcement he had just arrived
00:25:25arrived at the Commonwealth Summit Summit in Antigua in the Caribbean.
00:25:28Caribbean. Previously, 1 in 4 of of his own MPs weren't exactly bowled
00:25:32bowled over by the original proposals. proposals. So how many of today's
00:25:35today's changes were written in number number ten? The Prime Minister asked
00:25:38asked you to change your proposal. proposal. We discussed these proposals
00:25:41proposals and these are this is a a fair settlement for everyone and and that was agreed between myself
00:25:44myself and the Prime Minister. It It didn't like the original proposals. proposals. I'm not going to. I've
00:25:48I've answered your question. This This is a package of proposals, a a fair settlement that has been signed
00:25:52signed off by the Prime Minister Minister and the whole cabinet in
00:25:54in Watson. BBC News. King Charles
00:25:57Charles is in Antigua and Barbuda Barbuda for the final leg of his
00:26:00his nine day Caribbean tour. He's He's set to address leaders on Tuesday
00:26:04Tuesday at the opening of the Commonwealth Commonwealth Heads of Government Government meeting. Buckingham Palace
00:26:08Palace confirmed that his speech speech will touch on Britain's role
00:26:11role in the transatlantic slave trade. trade. All this comes after Prime
00:26:15Prime Minister Andy Burnham said said last week that he is open to
00:26:18to the UK, formally apologising for
00:26:20for its role in slavery. Burnham Burnham has previously stuck with
00:26:23with the policy of his predecessors predecessors and stopped short of
00:26:26of offering any consideration of of reparation payments. Our senior
00:26:30senior royal correspondent, Daniela Daniela Relph is in Antigua and Barbuda
00:26:33Barbuda covering the King's trip.
00:26:37trip. Royal tours are meticulously
00:26:40meticulously planned except for the the weather as the Antiguan rain
00:26:44rain hit, the Queen moved fast, taking
00:26:47taking cover, leaving her unhappy
00:26:49unhappy husband umbrellas until a
00:26:51a royal aide belatedly came to the
00:26:54the rescue. But the King was drenched, drenched, although eventually saw
00:26:57saw the funny side. Walter Chris
00:27:02Chris Mason yes, I see. An exhibition exhibition on the history of the
00:27:06the slave trade on this island formed formed part of the king's first engagement
00:27:10engagement today at government House, House, another sign of Buckingham
00:27:13Buckingham Palace's efforts to, as
00:27:14as they say, not shy away from colonial
00:27:18colonial legacy. With the Prime Minister Minister arriving here tonight and
00:27:21and the King addressing leaders tomorrow,
00:27:23tomorrow, the palace has also reiterated reiterated the King's role within
00:27:27within the Commonwealth as one that
00:27:29that isn't political. They say, and and is instead focused on inspiring
00:27:33inspiring and getting people together
00:27:35together rather than making policy
00:27:38policy Daniela Relph, BBC News Antigua.
00:27:40Antigua. Coming up here on World World News America the big story
00:27:44story where we break down the US
00:27:46US midterm elections with the help
00:27:49help of our correspondents from Maine Maine to Alaska, answering what's
00:27:52what's at stake and highlighting highlighting some of the key races
00:27:54races to watch. So do stay with us us for that. Plenty more to come
00:27:58come here on BBC News. Thanks for
00:28:01for watching.
00:31:41right here on BBC News. Here at BBC
00:31:49BBC Verify. We use forensic investigative investigative techniques and tools
00:31:52tools to fact check stories, verify
00:31:54verify information and counter disinformation disinformation using data analysis analysis and the latest technology.
00:31:58technology. Our journalists examine examine the evidence and get to the
00:32:01the facts. Watch our BBC Verify reports reports on the BBC News channel or
00:32:04or go online to find out more. It's
00:32:08It's crunch time. The midterms are
00:32:10are just hours away. An election election that could shift the balance
00:32:13balance of power in Washington. Election Election is a battle between the
00:32:17the powers that be and the powers powers that ought to be. Stop America
00:32:21America hating communists from taking taking over the United States Congress
00:32:24Congress shouldn't be this hard to to afford a second bag of groceries groceries to pay your rent or your
00:32:28your mortgage. This election is the the fork in the road for the future.
00:32:31future. The power is in our hands.
00:32:33hands. We the people. After months
00:32:41months of campaigning, the US midterm midterm elections are here. They'll
00:32:44They'll decide how America is governed governed over the next two years
00:32:48years and crucially, how much power power the current Republican President
00:32:51President Donald Trump will have have in his remaining time in office.
00:32:54office. Now, over the next few minutes, minutes, we'll tell you what's at at stake. We'll break down some of
00:32:58of the key races to watch out for for on election night. And we'll
00:33:01we'll talk about how the results results could reshape US politics.
00:33:05politics. First, let's start with with just what is at stake, because because millions of people across
00:33:09across the US have already cast their their votes, and millions more will
00:33:13will go to the polls on election election day. But what's it all for?
00:33:17for? Here's our analysis editor Ros Ros Atkins. The midterms are all
00:33:20all about who controls the two houses
00:33:22houses of Congress. The House of of Representatives and the Senate.
00:33:25Senate. This matters because it's it's the part of the US government government that makes laws for the
00:33:29the country as a whole on everything everything from immigration to taxes
00:33:32taxes to defence. And right now both both houses are controlled by the
00:33:36the Republicans, as you can see, see, which is very helpful to President
00:33:39President Trump. Now the House of of Representatives is where proposed
00:33:42proposed laws are introduced and and debated. Each state gets a number
00:33:46number of seats proportionate to to its population. Members serve
00:33:49serve two-year terms, which means means that all of the seats in the
00:33:52the House are up for grabs in this
00:33:55this election, there are 435 of them. them. So to control the house, a
00:33:58a party needs at least 218. And according
00:34:02according to the polls, the Republicans Republicans may have their work cut
00:34:04cut out. Holding on to the House House of Representatives. Then there's
00:34:08there's the Senate. One of its main main jobs is to approve or reject
00:34:12reject those laws proposed by the
00:34:14the House. Each state has two senators,
00:34:16senators, so there are 100 in total. total. They serve six year terms
00:34:20terms every two years. Roughly a
00:34:21a third of Senate seats are contested,
00:34:25contested, so it's 35 this year to
00:34:26to control the Senate, a party needs
00:34:29needs 51 or more, though if it's it's 50-50, the Vice President can
00:34:33can cast the deciding vote. So that
00:34:35that favours the Republicans at the the moment. Now, some states are
00:34:39are very likely to vote Republican, Republican, while others are very
00:34:41very likely to vote Democrat. But But there are a handful of states
00:34:45states where races could go either either way, and in doing so, determine
00:34:48determine the balance of power in in Congress. So let's have a closer
00:34:51closer look at three of them. We'll
00:34:53We'll start in Maine. America's most
00:34:56most north-easterly state. Now voters voters there chose Democratic candidate
00:34:59candidate Kamala Harris in the 2024
00:35:022024 presidential election. Now Republican Republican Senator Susan Collins
00:35:05Collins is in a tight race to hold hold on to the Senate seat that she
00:35:09she has held since 1997. The BBC
00:35:12BBC s Helena Humphrey is in Bangor Bangor in Maine, and she has this
00:35:15this on what to look out for. The The rural forests of Maine might
00:35:19might feel a long way away from the the politics of Washington, DC but
00:35:22but if the Democrats want to flip flip the Senate, they will likely
00:35:25likely need to pick up a seat here. here. Now, the Republican incumbent,
00:35:29incumbent, Senator Susan Collins, Collins, pitches herself as a more more moderate Republican prepared
00:35:32prepared to break with President President Trump. But her Democratic
00:35:35Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, Jackson, a fifth generation logger,
00:35:39logger, says that that independence independence is performative. Now, Now, if Collins can hold on to that
00:35:43that seat, she can show that there there is a pathway forward for more
00:35:46more moderate Republicans in the
00:35:48the future. Going past President
00:35:50President Trump's Maga brand of politics. politics. If Democrats can pick up
00:35:54up this seat, they could flip the the Senate and ultimately challenge
00:35:57challenge what President Trump can can get done in his final years in
00:36:00in the White House. Let's have a a look at Michigan now. The Senate
00:36:04Senate race there has become a national
00:36:06national talking point. Can a progressive progressive Democratic candidate
00:36:09candidate win for the Democrats in in a crucial swing state that Donald
00:36:12Donald Trump won in 2024? Or will
00:36:15will Republicans manage to flip the
00:36:17the seat? The result here could shape shape the national political conversation
00:36:20conversation in the run up to the
00:36:23the 2028 presidential election, our our correspondent Nada Tawfik sent
00:36:26sent us this from Michigan's biggest biggest city, Detroit. The swing
00:36:29swing state of Michigan is incredibly incredibly important to both parties
00:36:32parties when it comes to control control of Congress. Democrats almost
00:36:35almost certainly need to hold the the state to have a fighting chance
00:36:38chance of retaking the Senate, and and Republicans think it's their
00:36:41their best chance to pick up a Democratic
00:36:43Democratic seat. Abdul El-Sayed is is a progressive Democrat who has
00:36:47has been unapologetic about his criticism criticism of Israel and has pushed
00:36:50pushed for populist policies such such as universal health care. If
00:36:54If El-Sayed wins here in this swing swing state, as polls suggest, it
00:36:58it would be a big moment for the the left wing of the party. As Democrats
00:37:02Democrats debate their future ahead ahead of presidential elections in
00:37:05in 2028. If he loses, establishment establishment Democrats will say
00:37:08say it shows the party needs to move move more to the centre. Thanks,
00:37:12Thanks, Ned. Now Abdul El-Sayed is
00:37:14is facing a challenge from the Republican Republican congressman Mike Rogers
00:37:18Rogers there in Michigan. We'll see see how that one shakes out. Let's
00:37:20Let's move on to the Lone Star State State because everything is bigger
00:37:24bigger in Texas and that includes includes politics. The money being
00:37:27being spent by campaigns and supporters
00:37:29supporters there is on track to reach
00:37:32reach $1 billion. Our chief North North America correspondent, Gary
00:37:35Gary O'Donoghue, is in the state
00:37:37state capital, Boston. Think about about it half $1 billion on advertising
00:37:41advertising alone for one Senate Senate seat. If you piled that amount amount on top of one another, it
00:37:45it would reach 34 miles into the the sky. I'm in Texas, which has
00:37:49has now become the most expensive
00:37:51expensive non-presidential race in in American history. It could decide
00:37:54decide who ends up controlling Congress. Congress. It's a toss up at the moment.
00:37:58moment. Too close to call between between Democrat James Talarico and
00:38:02and Republican Ken Paxton. Democrats
00:38:04Democrats have dreamed of turning turning Texas blue for years. If
00:38:08If they do manage it, it'll be the the big story of the night. Indeed
00:38:11Indeed it will. Now, some of the the results in this election have
00:38:14have already faced legal challenges, challenges, and that's before any
00:38:17any results have been declared or or even before most people have shown
00:38:20shown up to the polls. Both attempts attempts so far have come from the
00:38:23the Trump administration, and they've they've both been dismissed by the
00:38:26the courts. The most high profile profile case has been in Alaska.
00:38:29Alaska. That's down to two candidates candidates on the ballot now with
00:38:33with almost identical names. One One is the Republican senator who
00:38:36who has served in the state since
00:38:38since 2015, and the other is a retired retired teacher from a small fishing
00:38:41fishing village. The Department of of Justice had tried to halt the
00:38:45the certification of the result in
00:38:47in that state. If the Republican Republican incumbent loses, arguing
00:38:50arguing that votes cast for the other other Dan Sullivan could have changed
00:38:54changed the outcome. The BBC Shaimaa Shaimaa Khalil is in Alaska and has
00:38:58has more. This race is close. It
00:39:01It is tightly fought and it is crucial
00:39:03crucial and it goes far beyond Alaska
00:39:06Alaska because a Democrat win in in this. Normally Republican state
00:39:10state could tip the balance of power power in the Senate. Over in Washington
00:39:13Washington and Alaska is not alone
00:39:15alone in these legal battles in California, California, the Department of Justice
00:39:19Justice is trying to get ballots
00:39:21ballots linked to 20,000 people blocked blocked because they claim that they're they're not American citizens. And
00:39:25And again, this has been dismissed dismissed by a judge. But now they
00:39:29they want the Supreme Court to get get involved. So up until the very
00:39:32very last minute, these challenges challenges are continuing and they
00:39:35they tell us a lot, but mainly they they pose this question how fiercely
00:39:39fiercely are these election results results going to be fought when they
00:39:42they do come out? Now reminder we we will of course have live coverage
00:39:46coverage on election night for you, you, bringing you all of the results,
00:39:49results, the reaction and what it it means for the President that will
00:39:52will be coming from our teams right right across the US and around the
00:39:56the world. So do join us for that. that. But what will both parties
00:39:59parties be looking out for on Tuesday Tuesday night? Let's go back to Ross
00:40:03Ross for this analysis. At the moment, moment, the Democrats don't control
00:40:06control either the House of Representatives Representatives or the Senate. Their
00:40:10Their goal in this election is to to do something about that. Though
00:40:13Though if you look at the polling, polling, they are widely expected
00:40:16expected to take the House of Representatives. Representatives. That is unlikely
00:40:19unlikely to meet their expectations expectations for the evening. They're They're looking for more. They're
00:40:23They're looking to control the Senate, Senate, too. And that looks like
00:40:25like a much harder proposition in in order to take the Senate, they're
00:40:29they're likely to have to defend defend some fiercely contested seats
00:40:32seats and win some fiercely contested contested seats, which is why we're
00:40:34we're keeping a close eye on states states like North Carolina, Michigan
00:40:38Michigan and Texas. And while controlling controlling both houses of Congress
00:40:41Congress is in part about a party's party's ability to promote its own
00:40:45own agenda, if the person in the the White House is from the other other side of the political divide,
00:40:49divide, it's also about being able able to slow up what can be done
00:40:52done in the White House, which is is another goal of the Democrats.
00:40:56Democrats. They want to put the brakes brakes on the last two years that
00:40:58that Donald Trump has as president. president. That is one of their main
00:41:02main goals for the night. Going into into these midterms. The Republicans
00:41:05Republicans are on the back foot. foot. They may have Donald Trump Trump in the White House. They may
00:41:09may at the moment control both houses houses of Congress. But the way the
00:41:13the polling is looking, it may not
00:41:15not stay that way. Even the most most optimistic Republicans would
00:41:19would say they may struggle to hold hold on to the House. If we're thinking
00:41:22thinking about what a successful successful night for the Republicans Republicans would look like, we may
00:41:25may be better off focusing on the the Senate if the Republicans can
00:41:29can fend off a fierce challenge from from the Democrats, that would be
00:41:32be a huge boost for the party, not not just because of the power it
00:41:35it would give it within an important important part of the American government,
00:41:39government, but also because that that would be a significant support support to Donald Trump as he seeks
00:41:43seeks to pursue his agenda in the the last two years of his presidency.
00:41:46presidency. It would also allow the the Republicans to fend off efforts
00:41:49efforts by the Democrats to disrupt disrupt the last two years of Donald
00:41:53Donald Trump's presidency. So that's
00:41:55that's what to watch in the US midterm
00:41:58midterm elections, explained.
00:43:04for Japan from east to West on BBC
00:43:08BBC News. Welcome back. While staying
00:43:14staying with the US midterm elections, elections, there are just hours to
00:43:17to go before election day and the the outcome could set the tone for
00:43:20for the final two years of Donald Donald Trump's second presidency.
00:43:24presidency. Earlier on Monday, President President Trump made his final pitch
00:43:27pitch to voters. He touted his administration's administration's policies at the
00:43:30the US border and beyond while calling
00:43:33calling rival Democrat, quote, the
00:43:35the most extreme slate of candidates
00:43:38candidates in American history. Our
00:43:39Our North America editor, Sarah Smith
00:43:42Smith reports. For his last pitch
00:43:44pitch to voters. His closing message
00:43:46message President Trump came to talk talk about a pond. Believe it or
00:43:50or not, it's never worked and it's it's never worked because it was
00:43:54was always loaded up with leaks and
00:43:57and problems. But today, I'm thrilled
00:43:59thrilled to announce the official
00:44:01official opening of the Lincoln Memorial
00:44:05Memorial Reflecting Pool. He even even brought pictures detailing the
00:44:08the repairs, saying it is now fixed fixed after all the problems in the
00:44:10the summer. Eventually he mentioned
00:44:13mentioned the election. If the people people that voted for me and voted
00:44:17voted in the last election where where we had such a great victory.
00:44:20victory. If they go out and vote vote just a good portion of them,
00:44:24them, we will win in a landslide.
00:44:28landslide. That really was bizarre. bizarre. I don't know why Donald
00:44:31Donald Trump thinks that. Talking Talking about the reflecting pool pool in the middle of Washington
00:44:35Washington is going to persuade voters voters all over the country to back
00:44:38back his Republican candidates, especially especially when it was his botched
00:44:41botched renovations of this pool pool in the summer that turned into
00:44:44into a national joke and became a
00:44:46a metaphor for government incompetence. incompetence. It's quite hard to
00:44:49to imagine he actually won any votes votes here today, the day before
00:44:53before these crucial elections. President President Trump has been campaigning
00:44:57campaigning hard, hosting dozens dozens of rallies, opinion polls
00:45:00polls suggest major defeats for his his Republicans, but polls have underestimated
00:45:04underestimated his support. Before Before he wrapped up in Kansas last
00:45:07last night. This is actually this this is our last stop. We close it
00:45:11it down tonight, but we've had a a great time. The people, the love
00:45:13love in this country is is unbelievable.
00:45:17unbelievable. Donald Trump still still draws a crowd with fans gathering
00:45:20gathering for a recent event in Port Port Huron, Michigan. His strategy
00:45:24strategy is to try to energise these these people who do still support support him, but often don't bother
00:45:27bother to come out and vote in midterm midterm elections. His views are
00:45:30are in line with most of America. America. I believe today. I think
00:45:33think even if there are things that that he's not doing perfectly, overwhelmingly overwhelmingly his views are what
00:45:37what the American people are looking looking for. He's the leader. So
00:45:40So you lead by being out front. You You don't lead from the back. And
00:45:43And it will inspire people to come come out and vote Republican. Seeing
00:45:45Seeing him. I. Absolutely, absolutely. absolutely. He's not for himself.
00:45:49himself. He's not for government. government. He's for the people.
00:45:52people. Voters primary concern is is the cost of living. And most of
00:45:55of them blame Donald Trump and the
00:45:56the war in Iran for pushing up prices.
00:45:59prices. At this farmers market in in Kennebunkport, in Maine, people
00:46:02people think the President is repelling repelling voters, not attracting
00:46:05attracting them. How Donald Trump's Trump's performed over the last couple
00:46:07couple of years is that an important important consideration when you're
00:46:10you're deciding who to vote for?
00:46:12for? Definitely needs to go. If the
00:46:15the results are unfavourable to Republicans, Republicans, will that make a big
00:46:18big difference to Donald Trump's Trump's last couple of years? I think
00:46:21think he'll be even more vicious
00:46:23vicious and stupid and lash out in
00:46:25in any way possible to suit his narcissism.
00:46:30narcissism. Donald Trump won't leave leave the stage after the midterms, midterms, but it will be much harder
00:46:34harder for him to steer his agenda agenda if he loses control of Congress.
00:46:37Congress. There is a lot riding on
00:46:39on tomorrow's results. Now to our
00:46:42our panel with me live on set is
00:46:45is Melissa Turley Toufanian, executive executive director of Navigator Research Research and a former State Department
00:46:49Department official. And we're also also joined by Melik Abdul, former
00:46:52former George W Bush administration administration official and Republican
00:46:55Republican strategist. Lots to talk
00:46:56talk about. So I want to talk a bit
00:46:59bit about what Donald Trump said,
00:47:02said, which isn't. I'm not going going to go straight to the stuff stuff that maybe people aren't as
00:47:06as concerned about. But he said personal personal incomes are the highest
00:47:09highest in history. We have the most most successful economy. He's essentially
00:47:12essentially saying unhappy people
00:47:14people be happy. Ultimately, would
00:47:17would the strategy have been better better to say, I feel your pain a
00:47:20a bit? I understand that things aren't aren't bad and would this make the
00:47:24the current picture look less dire dire for Republicans than it currently
00:47:26currently does? That would require
00:47:30require a more empathetic president, president, and I'm not exactly sure
00:47:33sure that we have that in Donald Donald Trump. But he likes to win
00:47:36win on his advisers say try this this win. Yeah, there are people
00:47:39people around him who tells him exactly exactly what he wants to hear. There
00:47:43There are times where Donald Trump Trump just does it alone. It doesn't
00:47:46doesn't matter. I'm pretty sure that that there are people in the White
00:47:49White House who told Donald Trump, Trump, or at least advised him, hey,
00:47:53hey, Mr Perez, maybe not the reflection reflection pool. This is not exactly
00:47:56exactly what we need right now, but but Donald Trump just decided to
00:48:00to just ignore that. We have a lot
00:48:03lot of headwinds coming into tomorrow. tomorrow. You know, I wish I could
00:48:06could have a better story to tell tell us, you know, to say for Republicans.
00:48:10Republicans. But according to all all of the polls and even those that
00:48:13that are within the margin of error,
00:48:16error, we're behind and if it stands
00:48:19stands that way, come in. What end end of Tuesday night? We're going
00:48:23going to have a very, very, very very rough night in losses. And the
00:48:26the closing message, Melissa, saying saying that they're seriously thinking
00:48:29thinking about changing the name name of the reflecting pool. The
00:48:33The helipad is getting rave reviews. reviews. It's I mean, it's an obvious
00:48:37obvious question, but is it what what voters are thinking about right
00:48:39right now? No, not at all. In fact, fact, survey after survey, when we
00:48:43we ask Americans what are the top top issues that you want the President President and Congress to focus on?
00:48:47on? It's inflation in the cost of
00:48:49of living, jobs in the economy, improving
00:48:51improving health care. In fact, 60% 60% of Americans say it's inflation
00:48:54inflation in the cost of living. living. Only 20% say that Donald
00:48:58Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress Congress are actually focused on
00:49:01on that. So what they want are lower lower prices. That's why a lot of
00:49:04of Americans voted for Trump in 2024. 2024. Instead, what we saw today
00:49:08today is Trump talking about pipes pipes and algae at the reflecting
00:49:11reflecting pool. I mean, people want want to know how are they going to
00:49:14to pay less at the grocery store? store? How are they going to bring bring the cost of gas down? And that's
00:49:18that's not at all what they got today. today. We do have. To talk a bit bit more about the Reflecting pool.
00:49:22pool. That big controversy over the
00:49:24the summer. Restored it. They blamed blamed vandals when the restoration
00:49:28restoration went wrong and the DoJ
00:49:29DoJ tried to prosecute people for
00:49:32for having to admit that the damage damage was essentially because of
00:49:35of a botched job. He was talking talking more about vandalism today,
00:49:38today, but just from a strategy perspective,
00:49:42perspective, doesn't it just exemplify exemplify this notion that he is
00:49:44is not focused on what matters to to people? Yes. If we go back to
00:49:48to the beginning of the year, Chief Chief of Staff Siouxsie Wiles said
00:49:51said that Donald Trump, during this this midterm cycle, he would hit
00:49:54hit the campaign over and over again, again, focused solely on or didn't
00:49:58didn't say solely, but focused on on the economy. We really didn't
00:50:02didn't get that from Donald Trump Trump up until maybe September, but.
00:50:06but. Even then it was just telling telling people that it. Was good
00:50:09good and you cannot tell people and and this is one of the problems that
00:50:12that Joe Biden had as well, not just just around immigration, but around
00:50:15around the economy as well, telling telling people you cannot tell people
00:50:19people how they feel. You can't tell tell people how much they should
00:50:22should be paying at the pump because because it impacts people differently.
00:50:25differently. And Donald Trump has has a habit. He doubles down and
00:50:29and he doesn't actually emote. He He doesn't empathise with people
00:50:32people as well, which is why he said
00:50:34said over and over again this idea
00:50:36idea of the economy and inflation,
00:50:39inflation, it is a hoax. Well, on on tomorrow, the American people
00:50:42people will tell us how they felt felt about whether or not it's a
00:50:45a hoax. It's not a hoax that the the grocery store Michigan we have
00:50:48have to talk about Michigan Democrat Democrat Haley Stevens dropping her
00:50:52her endorsement of El-Sayed and then
00:50:53then going one step further and endorsing
00:50:56endorsing his Republican rival, Mike
00:50:58Mike Rogers. She says she still loves loves the Democratic Party. Melissa,
00:51:02Melissa, how do they feel about her? her? I don't think anyone in the the Democratic. Party is loving her
00:51:05her right now. I mean, every Democrat Democrat that I've talked to is just just livid that she would do this.
00:51:09this. There are there's so much at at stake right now. And just a short
00:51:13short while ago, she was running running to defeat Mike Rogers and
00:51:17and now she's endorsing him. And And that means that she's aligning aligning herself with what Mike Rogers
00:51:20Rogers stands for. And if we look look at the campaign that he's run,
00:51:23run, he's resorted to racist Islamophobic Islamophobic attacks against Abdul
00:51:27Abdul El-Sayed. And so she's aligning aligning herself with that. I think
00:51:30think one sign to look at is that, that, you know, Abdul El-Sayed was
00:51:33was able to raise more than $2 million
00:51:36million in one day, breaking his his previous fundraising record after
00:51:39after she did that, which I think think indicates that Democrats are
00:51:42are rallying around him. They're They're supporting him and that they're
00:51:45they're really frustrated with Haley Haley Stevens right now. Melik what's
00:51:48what's behind this? Why did she do do this? Well, I've actually been
00:51:51been talking to people in Michigan Michigan and there does seem to be
00:51:55be an issue with El-Sayed. Some of of it is his comments that he's made
00:51:58made in the past, where people felt felt as if he's kind of dismissed dismissed or not taken seriously.
00:52:02seriously. Things like nine over over 11. But I'm talking to voters
00:52:05voters even in places around Michigan,
00:52:07Michigan, and that is this apparent
00:52:10apparent Arab American sort of sentiment sentiment that many black voters
00:52:14voters have about the businesses businesses in the community. So I'm I'm hearing and it's very different
00:52:17different in Michigan as opposed opposed to every other state I'm
00:52:20I'm hearing, that there really could could be some type of significant
00:52:23significant move with black voters voters towards Rogers. And I'm surprised
00:52:27surprised by that. In a place like like Michigan. But it really does
00:52:30does seem that she's tapping into into what many Democrats are wrestling
00:52:34wrestling with, what many feel as
00:52:36as if this anti, you know, antisemitic antisemitic strain within the Democratic
00:52:39Democratic Party. And Melissa I mean, mean, is it wrong to just dismiss
00:52:43dismiss this because this was a very very close primary Haley Stevens
00:52:47Stevens got hundreds of thousands thousands of votes. He didn't El-Sayed
00:52:50El-Sayed didn't win Detroit. So is
00:52:52is there a chance that this could could influence things negatively
00:52:56negatively for the Democrats? I am am not convinced that anyone that
00:52:59that is looking at Haley Stevens Stevens endorsement for Mike Rogers Rogers is changing their vote. I
00:53:03I think honestly, it's a distraction distraction from the actual issues issues that people care about, like
00:53:06like what we were talking about before. before. People want lower prices.
00:53:09prices. They want to focus on the
00:53:10the economy. This is just another
00:53:14another example of politicians, elected elected officials in Washington focusing focusing on everything but that.
00:53:17that. So I think people in Michigan Michigan and people across the country
00:53:20country just want to see their elected elected officials actually listen
00:53:23listen to them, actually get things things done. This isn't helping anyone
00:53:27anyone in Michigan. This isn't lowering lowering anyone's prices. This isn't
00:53:30isn't making anyone's life better. better. You still have issues of
00:53:33of religion, identity very important important in Michigan. Yeah. And
00:53:35And it was an issue in 2024 that that was the concern of whether or
00:53:39or not Kamala Harris would be able able to get some of that population,
00:53:42population, because there was this
00:53:45this Palestinian, you know, Israel Israel split within the Democratic Democratic Party. And I think that's
00:53:49that's what they're wrestling with. with. And many people have been uncomfortable
00:53:52uncomfortable with the way that El-Sayed
00:53:53El-Sayed even though he's denounced, denounced, you know, antisemitism,
00:53:57antisemitism, he's kind of given given a wink and a nod to this. And
00:54:00And I think that's what Stevens I'm
00:54:03I'm assuming because she hasn't really really given great answers as to
00:54:06to why she's not supported. She hasn't hasn't given really great answers. answers. She was very pushed on that,
00:54:10that, wasn't she? And there was no no real reason for the change of
00:54:14of heart. I mean. We all could have have done better just making it up
00:54:17up on the fly, right? Why? I don't
00:54:20don't know why. Even if she's going going to make the decision. I don't don't know why she's not able to
00:54:24to explain it exactly. And even Democrats Democrats are saying they spoke with
00:54:26with her the night before and even even the day of and she was telling
00:54:29telling them that she was still standing standing by Abdul El-Sayed. So it
00:54:33it really doesn't make sense. It's It's kind of mind boggling. So could
00:54:36could this reverberate for the Democrats Democrats beyond the midterms, do
00:54:39do you think in terms of those issues issues that we've just been talking talking about? No. I think you make
00:54:43make a really good point in that that these are issues that Democrats Democrats are going to have to grapple
00:54:46grapple with. I mean, right when when the midterms end, we're going going to start looking at 2028. And
00:54:50And I think the US relationship with with Israel will be something that
00:54:53that Democrats will have to grapple grapple with, will have to figure
00:54:56figure out, and it'll be debated debated in the primary. Republicans
00:54:59Republicans do. Yeah. Let's talk talk briefly about the Trump administration administration asking the Supreme
00:55:03Supreme Court to intervene in the the California ballot case, essentially
00:55:06essentially ordering California to to set aside 20,000 mail in votes. votes. The Supreme Court has just
00:55:10just rejected this. Very quick answers answers from you both. If you can.
00:55:13can. Is it time to just give this this up now? Trump is not going to
00:55:16to give it up. Is well past time time for him to do so though. OK,
00:55:20OK, Melissa. He absolutely should. should. I would say under our Constitution,
00:55:23Constitution, states administer elections. elections. The Supreme Court ruling ruling just underscores that. And
00:55:27And very quick answer from both of of you. Is this going to be a straightforward straightforward acceptance of all
00:55:31all results? No. No. OK. Interesting.
00:55:34Interesting. All right. Well, thank thank you both for joining us. Fantastic
00:55:38Fantastic conversation. Melik and and Melissa, we appreciate you coming
00:55:40coming in and good luck with the
00:55:42the next couple of days. And don't don't forget we'll have all the key
00:55:46key midterm results and reaction reaction for you here on BBC News
00:55:49News with special coverage live here here from Washington that starts
00:55:52starts at 6:30pm eastern tomorrow tomorrow on Tuesday. So do join us
00:55:56us for that. So much could happen.
00:55:59happen. Finally, those midterms are are here. Do stay with us. Thanks
00:56:02Thanks for watching.
00:59:49MUSIC
01:00:09Live from Washington. This is BBC News. President Trump makes a
01:00:13a final appeal for votes ahead of
01:00:16of Tuesday's US midterm elections, elections, where his Republican Party
01:00:19Party is battling to maintain control
01:00:21control of both chambers of Congress.
01:00:23Congress. Democrat party has nominated
01:00:25nominated the most extreme and dangerous
01:00:28dangerous slate of candidates in
01:00:29in American history. These are the
01:00:32the most dangerous candidates ever
01:00:33ever put up. In Michigan, Abdul El-Sayed
01:00:37El-Sayed Senate campaign reports reports a record breaking fundraising
01:00:40fundraising day after fellow Democrat Democrat Haley Stevens pulls her
01:00:43her endorsement in favour of a Republican
01:00:47Republican rival and customers withdraw withdraw billions of dollars of crypto
01:00:50crypto holdings from an exchange
01:00:52exchange targeted by a hack.