24 October 2026
As Americans prepare to vote in the November 3 midterm elections, FT chief economics commentator Martin Wolf asks what the result will mean for Donald Trump, the future of US democracy and America's place in the world. In the second of a six-part series of interviews with leading historians and political analysts, Martin speaks to Pulitzer Prize-winning historian and author Anne Applebaum about the global stakes of November’s elections.
They discuss the parallels between Trump’s America and other authoritarian regimes and what the US’s changing role means for Europe and Ukraine. Even if Trump suffers a political setback, can the US ever regain the trust of its allies? To enjoy future episodes, be sure to subscribe to ‘Martin Wolf on the World’ wherever you get your podcasts. Host: Martin Wolf Producer: Mischa Frankl-Duval Senior producer: Laurence Knight Executive producer: Manuela Saragosa Video editor: Claire Justin Senior Audio Engineer: Breen Turner Broadcast engineers: Andrew Georgiadis Podcast development: Laura Clarke FT Global Head of Audio: Flo Phillips Martin Wolf on the World
Do you support Ukraine joining NATO? 🇺🇦 🇺🇦 A) - Yes B) - No https://t.co/H9WuiPX5an
— John f Kennedy jr (@Real_JFK_Jr_21) October 23, 2026
