Sopel's Soapbox

People scoffed, the pollsters dismissed it, the media thought better, the world is shocked - Donald Trump is President elect of the United States.

Also on the programme, how the world has reacted to his election - we hear from BBC correspondents, in China Russia and Turkey.

"The FBI is not to be used for political purposes and he should realise he was being used for just that."

Jon Sopel speaks to Richard Painter, former chief White House ethics lawyer for President George W Bush, about whether FBI Director James Comey broke the law by disclosing a new development so close to the election.

This week marked the start of early voting for many key states, and millions of Americans visited their local polling station to cast their votes for president. With less than two weeks to go before election day, many Americans are feeling tense, emotional and divided. Jon Sopel got a first-hand look as he travelled with Clinton's campaign to Florida and New Hampshire - two important swing states. On one of those legs he spoke with Time columnist Joe Klein on the challenges this election season has posed to America's democracy, and whether things are as bad as they seem.

This week Jon Sopel looks at how a video of Donald Trump bragging about groping women and accusations of sexual assault in a New York Times article have changed the dynamics of the presidential campaign.

As one voter said "100% it matters. I don't want anybody in the White House that is accused of something like that. It's unforgivable and indefensible."

Though the core Trump supporters seem unmovable, there is anguish among Republicans having to choose whether to stand by him or not.

Jon Sopel talks to conservative radio host Charlie Sykes and former Republican congressman Bob Walker. While Anthony Zurcher and Jon discuss the most preposterous, jaw dropping, surprising and embarrassing moments of the week.

"On a dozen counts you would say Donald Trump should be out of this race, but he's not."

Donald Trump’s week was marked by a New York Times story about his near billion-dollar business losses in 1995 and further questions about his tax returns.

But even so, Allan Lichtman, who has correctly predicted the winner of every election for three decades, says forecasting this year’s race is still the most puzzling and difficult yet.

Also on the programme what millenials think, and Anthony Zurcher on the vice presidental debate.

Don't forget to send in your questions for next week's programme via direct message https://www.facebook.com/bbcworldservice or email [email protected]

Light-hearted and deeply analytical, this podcast is both. "Lord help us. We need prayer. Cos we're in trouble," says one voter on the programme.

Just what is going on in the US? Karen Tumulty of the Washington Post shares her thoughts on the psychology going on in the Presidential debate. And the BBC's Jon Sopel and Anthony Zurcher talk about Libertarian Gary Johnson's bad week and how it's still up for grabs as to who could be voted in as President.

Don't forget to send in your questions for next week's programme via https://www.facebook.com/bbcworldservice