Democrats made shock gains in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, dealing a major blow to the Republican Party. Voters delivered their verdict two years after Donald Trump returned to the White House. Sriram Lakshman analyses how these results impact the economy, the Iran war, and the future of American foreign policy.

In this episode, Sriram Lakshman analyses the shock gains made by Democrats in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, the setback for Donald Trump, and what the results mean for both parties, U.S. politics and American foreign policy.

Two years after Donald Trump returned to the White House promising to reshape America, voters have delivered their own verdict. The 2026 midterm elections have dealt a major blow to the Republican Party, with Democrats making significant gains in both the House and the Senate. From the economy and the Iran war to Trump's political influence and the future of the Republican Party, the results raise serious questions about the direction of American politics. Is this a turning point in Trump's second presidency, and what does it mean for America's role in the world?

Guest: Sriram Lakshman, foreign correspondent, The Hindu

Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

Edit and production: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian

Graphics: Ramesh Chandran K. P.