Talk Fuse

    Elections

    Reform UK has received the largest political donation in British history, MPs have voted down assisted dying legislation, and the ground is shifting ahead of both a Westminster by-election and the American midterms. This hub follows the mechanics and drama of electoral politics on both sides of the Atlantic: who funds campaigns, who gets selected to fight for a vacant seat, and how governments quietly time contentious decisions to avoid handing opponents ammunition before voters go to the polls.

    Elections shape who holds power and how that power is exercised, which is why the manoeuvring around them, donor influence, candidate selection rows, delayed rulings, party infighting, often reveals as much as the vote itself. In Britain, attention is turning to a closely watched contest for a former Labour leader's seat, with rival parties jostling for position and local issues such as North Sea drilling becoming entangled in the timing of national announcements. In the United States, both major parties are already framing the narrative around the midterms, trading accusations of foul play and reading the runes for who stands to lose ground.

    Expect ongoing coverage of campaign finance, candidate controversies, parliamentary votes with electoral consequences, and the wider jostling between parties as they position themselves for the next test at the ballot box.

    • Don’t let fake election websites fool you before 2026 midterms

      Fake websites resembling official US election campaign stores are being used to collect donations and personal information ahead of the 2026 midterms. They can appear credible by using candidates’ names, polished product images and familiar checkout systems, making it difficult for voters to distinguish legitimate campaign fundraising from potential fraud. Research from internet intelligence firm…

    • MORNING GLORY: The Fauci diaries and legacy media’s platinum dome under stress

      Fox News commentator Hugh Hewitt argues that Dr Anthony Fauci’s private diaries and his reported invocation of the Fifth Amendment have intensified scrutiny of his conduct during the COVID-19 pandemic. The piece says the episode matters because it could further weaken public trust in public-health institutions and mainstream media, which the author contends protected Fauci…

    • Greater Manchester mayoral by-election: Full list of candidates

      Greater Manchester is holding a mayoral by-election to replace Andy Burnham after he became MP for Makerfield in June. More than two million people can vote across the region’s 10 local authorities, making it the largest by-election electorate in UK history and the first by-election for an English combined-authority mayor. Seven candidates are standing: Sian…

    • Asian Project Market selects 30 films from record entries

      Busan’s Asian Project Market has selected 30 feature-film projects for its 2026 edition from a record number of entries. The choice underscores the market’s expanding role in bringing Asian filmmakers and international industry partners together, with projects exploring identity, family, social realities and ethical tensions. The market received 604 submissions from 48 countries, 149 more…

    • Reform UK members clash after Sheffield branches merged post by-election

      Reform UK members in Sheffield have clashed after local branches were merged following a by-election. The dispute matters because it exposes tensions over party organisation and local representation during a period of electoral growth. The reported disagreement centres on how the post-by-election restructuring was handled and whether members were properly consulted. The merger combines previously…

    • Senate panel delays vote on Blanche’s nomination as key Republicans withhold support

      The Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed a scheduled vote on Todd Blanche’s nomination to become US Attorney General after two Republican senators declined to back him, casting uncertainty over his confirmation. Blanche, currently serving as acting Attorney General and formerly Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, was nominated to permanently lead the Department of Justice, but the…

    • Trump admin invokes 30-year dormant terror court as it seeks to deport Afghan woman tied to Election Day plot

      The Trump administration is invoking a specialised federal court for the first time since it was created three decades ago, in a bid to deport an Afghan woman accused of aiding an Islamic State-inspired plot targeting Election Day. The move marks the debut use of this long-dormant legal mechanism, underscoring how seriously officials are treating…

    • Voters in Manchester choose a mayor to replace Andy Burnham, who left city hall for Downing Street

      Voters across Greater Manchester went to the polls on Thursday to elect a new metro mayor to succeed Andy Burnham, who stepped down after becoming Britain’s prime minister. The election also serves as an early test of public opinion on the governing Labour Party, whose declining popularity Burnham is now trying to reverse from Downing…

    • More than 1 million people are handed fines after breaking Australian election rules

      More than one million people in Australia have received fines after breaking the country’s compulsory voting laws, which require eligible citizens to cast a ballot in federal elections or face a penalty. The scale of the fines highlights ongoing tension between Australia’s strict enforcement of civic participation and the practical difficulties some voters face in…

    • US Launches Sustained Military Campaign Against Iran as Cyberattacks Target American Infrastructure

      The United States military launched a major wave of strikes against Iranian targets on Wednesday in response to an Iranian missile attack on US forces in Jordan. President Trump authorised the campaign, striking dozens of facilities belonging to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, including military command centres, missile and drone facilities, and coastal defence sites. This…