Election Showdowns & Budget Balancing Acts: U.S. on the Brink, U.K. on the Tightrope

Mid-Atlantic - conversations about US, UK and world politics

In this episode of *Mid Atlantic*, host Roifield Brown assembles a dynamic panel to dissect two major political showdowns: the final week of the U.S. election and Labour’s landmark budget in the U.K. As Brown remarks, with tight swing-state races, all eyes are on pivotal battlegrounds where razor-thin margins could decide the outcome. Guests debate the atmospherics of campaign styles, contrasting Trump’s bombastic rallies with Kamala Harris’s grassroots approach, framed by the panel as a battle between populist grievance and Democratic pragmatism. Mike Donoghue provides the American perspective, calling the mood "squeaky bum time," while Dave Smith and Corey Bernard offer sharp critiques on both sides’ campaign strategies, debating whether Democrats risk losing due to overreliance on anti-Trump rhetoric.

Shifting gears to Labour’s budget, which the Financial Times dubbed the largest tax increase in three decades, the conversation explores its potential to reshape Britain’s public spending, with core issues including public services, employer taxes, and social housing. While the budget signals a commitment to infrastructure and public welfare, Corey Bernard warns it might stifle small businesses, emphasizing the need for robust growth rather than short-term fixes. The panel touches on Britain's housing crisis, pointing to the lack of affordable options as a pressure point that could define Labour’s success in the next election.

As the episode winds down, the panel makes predictions for Election Day, with most forecasting a win for Kamala Harris. A characteristically sardonic Brown urges America to "do the right thing" and avoid electing a "fascist," encapsulating the critical stakes of the election as seen from both sides of the Atlantic.

Notable Quotes

1. "It’s squeaky bum time here; we’re all pins and needles, no matter which side of the fence you're on." — Mike Donoghue

2. "We’re at a place where racist jokes at rallies feel normalised. That’s how far down the rabbit hole we’ve gone." — Dave Smith

3. "Asking voters to go out to vote with a spring in their step is all about Trumpism’s showbiz appeal." — Corey Bernard

4. "Labour's budget tightrope walk is necessary, but tightrope walking doesn’t leave room for real change." — Corey Bernard

5. "Housing touches every generation and wealth level—if Labour can’t deliver here, they’re going to face a reckoning." — Dave Smith

### Further Reading

1. [Financial Times on Labour's Budget](https://www.ft.com)

2. [U.S. Swing State Poll Tracker - FiveThirtyEight](https://fivethirtyeight.com)

3. [The Guardian - Analysis of Kamala Harris's Campaign Strategy](https://www.theguardian.com)

4. [Office of Budget Responsibility: U.K. Budget Analysis](https://obr.uk)

5. [NY Times - America’s Evolving Electoral Demographics](https://www.nytimes.com)

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