The Journal.

“Red, White and Who?” The Journal’s election mini-series is back to cover the midterms. Every Wednesday, Ryan Knutson talks with reporters around the country about issues important to voters.

This week: Progressive candidates have been winning political offices across the country, mostly in blue areas. Many think they’re the future of the Democratic Party. But in these midterms, they face one of their first big tests. Can Abdul El-Sayed win the Senate race in Michigan, a battleground state that went for Trump two years ago? WSJ’s John McCormick spoke to voters about El-Sayed, progressive politics and whether key democratic voters will turn out for him.

Further Listening:

- Red, White and Who? The Swing Voters in South Texas

- Red, White and Who? The Inflation Election

- Red, White and Who? The Anti-AI Voters

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The 2026 midterm cycle is the most expensive election in American history. At a time when huge sums of campaign money are flowing into races across the country, federal oversight has weakened. WSJ’s Maggie Severns explains where the influx of election cash is coming from and why the regulator charged with monitoring campaign funding is struggling to do its job. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Red, White and Who? The Swing Voters in South Texas

- Red, White and Who? The Inflation Election

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The real estate brokerage Compass sells many homes through private listings. But that strategy has received a lot of criticism. After a major acquisition earlier this year, Compass is now a behemoth in the industry, and private listings are becoming more common. WSJ's Katherine Clarke explains how Compass’s strategy is causing drama in the real estate industry. Imani Moise hosts.

Further Listening:

- Compass vs. Zillow: The Real Estate Wars

- A Case of Conspiracy in Real Estate

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This past weekend, mayhem broke out alongside peaceful demonstrations in France. What started as a protest over school resources spiralled into anger over potential big cuts to social services. For years the country had a high appetite for borrowed money taken out at low interest rates. But today France is facing a fiscal reckoning as more than $1 trillion of that debt will come due by 2030. WSJ’s Stacy Meichtry explains how France’s debt bomb contributed to the unrest. Ryan Knutson hosts.

Further Listening:

- Germany’s Economy Is Broken. There’s No Plan B.

- Will France Elect a Far-Right President?

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On Tuesday, OpenAI employee Abdulrahman Alfozan was charged with planting a recording device behind a conference room TV at its San Francisco headquarters. Imani Moise talks to WSJ’s Maxwell Zeff about the case, the suspect and why tech leaders are concerned about corporate espionage.

Further Listening:

- Apple vs. OpenAI

- Inside a Debate at OpenAI Over Mass Shootings

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