1A

The midterms are largely over, but the nation is still waiting for some key results. The "red wave" Republicans predicted failed to materialize and Democrats managed to hang on to contested seats and even flip a few districts.

Elon Musk's Twitter is trying to clear new self-imposed hurdles. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Silicon Valley, Facebook's parent company Meta announced it's laying off 11,000 of its employees.

Overseas, Russia has announced the withdrawal of its troops from the key Ukrainian city of Kherson. In private conversations, U.S. authorities have asked Ukrainian leaders to show they are open to negotiating with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

And in sports, Qatar attempts to navigate criticism over its human rights record in the run-up to the Fifa World Cup.

We cover all this and more during the News Roundup.

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Results are still being declared in the U.S. midterm elections. Control of Congress hangs in the balance.

Republicans seem poised to take control of the House of Representatives. But the Senate fight is on a knife's edge.

We discuss the latest in Georgia, Nevada, and Arizona.

We also take a look at how the U.S. voted down the ballot. Millions weighed in on a range of measures from recreational drugs, to abortion rights, to sports betting, and the climate crisis.

We discuss what was approved, what was rejected, and what we can expect to see put to the test in 2024.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

For weeks, Republicans have been predicting a "red wave" would wash over the U.S. this midterm cycle.

But that wave did not materialize.

Control of Congress is still up in the air, with both the Senate and the House still too close to call.

We'll check in on Pennsylvania, Michigan, Florida, and others throughout the show today. And we'll hear live calls from voters across the United States.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

For many, voting is a chance to make sure their voices are heard. But full and fair representation can feel out of reach depending on where you live and the party that dominates your district.

We're camping out on so-called "political islands." These are cities or counties whose political demographics don't align with the states in which they're located.

We discuss why living in these political islands can be frustrating but important for democracy.

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More than 35 million people have already voted in this year's midterm election, that's according to the United States Elections Project.

But poll workers and voters alike are getting ready for Election Day and for some, that means dealing with threats of violence.

U.S. security agencies like the Department of Homeland Security have issued threat advisories, warning against violence towards political figures and election officials.

We discuss what all of that means for voters and answer your questions about what is and isn't allowed at the polling place.

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The first days of Elon Musk's Twitter have been full of controversy. The Tesla co-founder fired the company's board of directors and is planning to lay off about half the existing workforce in an attempt to cut costs.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments this week, including those in a case involving the future of affirmative action at U.S. universities.

Meanwhile in Africa, the Ethiopian government and Tigrayan forces have agreed to end a two-year conflict at peace talks in South Africa this week. The war has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands since it began two years ago.

Far-right Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro lost the presidential election this week to former President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Bolsonaro has signaled he will hand over the country's reins without issue.

We cover all this and more during this week's News Roundup.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

Political spending is at an all-time high. Campaigns will spend almost $10 billion this year on advertising, according to AdImpact.

But what are the rules? And in a world where every digital step we take is tracked, how much should we care?

We get into who's behind this spending and how far down the ballot it goes.

This conversation is part of our Remaking America collaboration with six public radio stations around the country. The series explores Americans' trust in institutions and the health of our democracy. Remaking America is funded in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.

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Affirmative action is once again on the Supreme Court docket.

Two separate cases have been filed that argue against Affirmative Action and court watchers believe the policy could be doomed under the current conservative supermajority.

We discuss the history of Affirmative Action, its legal background, and the potential impact a Supreme Court ruling could have on hiring practices.

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More than 22 million people have already voted in the 2022 midterm election, that's according to the United States Elections Project.

The way we vote radically changed in 2020 because of the pandemic and these days more people are opting to vote by mail and in person before polls open on Election Day.

We discuss what early voting numbers tell us about overall turnout and what you can expect if you head to the polls on November 8.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.

It's Halloween—a day for adrenaline, heart-pumping terror.

And this year's best horror films are sure to terrify you.

Our guest panel discusses what movies are worth the nightmares, and where the genre may be heading next.

Want to support 1A? Give to your local public radio station and subscribe to this podcast. Have questions? Find us on Twitter @1A.