Daily Recap: Politics — 2 November 2026

Election politics dominates the day, with the United States heading into consequential midterms as Donald Trump makes a highly visible final appeal and control of Congress hangs in the balance. Elsewhere, leaders in Europe and Australia face pressure over budgets, immigration, pu...

Americans head to the polls in the 2026 midterm elections, a vote that could determine which party controls Congress for the rest of Donald Trump’s term. Trump closes the campaign with a final appeal in Washington, as Republicans try to hold the House and Senate in an election with major consequences for his agenda.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever tenders his resignation after federal budget talks break down, deepening a prolonged political impasse. The move follows months of failed negotiations within the five-party coalition, and it leaves Belgium facing renewed uncertainty over how its government can secure agreement on core fiscal policy.

A federal judge dismisses criminal charges against two former FBI officials accused of misleading Congress about the bureau’s role in the Hunter Biden laptop investigation. The ruling comes early in the case and finds prosecutors do not meet the evidentiary threshold needed for it to proceed.

UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham faces scrutiny after refusing to say whether immigration to Britain is too high. The exchange keeps a politically sensitive issue in focus, with Burnham commenting on recent migration trends while avoiding a direct answer that opponents and interviewers press him to give.

Downing Street defends a government-chartered flight carrying Andy Burnham to a Commonwealth summit after it detours via Manchester to collect him. The aircraft leaves London Stansted, briefly stops in Manchester, and then continues to Antigua, prompting questions about official travel arrangements and the use of public resources.

Queensland Nationals leader Matt Canavan moves to seek pre-selection for the federal seat of Capricornia after the retirement of MP Michelle Landry. The decision sets up the prospect of a closely watched regional contest, with One Nation’s James Ashby emerging as a possible rival in the seat.

Andy Burnham backs the Journalism Matters campaign, arguing that local news organisations deserve stronger support as a democratic safeguard. The push ties trusted local reporting to accountability and resistance to misinformation, and places media policy within a broader debate about how to strengthen civic life and local representation.

Trump’s choice of the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool for his final midterm remarks adds an unusual note to the closing hours of the campaign. The location, linked in current debate to a Washington renovation issue rather than a standard rally stop, gives his final message a distinctive and symbolic backdrop.