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While lame-duck presidents still wield considerable foreign policy autonomy, the Democrats’ hold on both incoming houses of Congress will give them substantial influence over issues from Iran and Ukraine to corruption and ambassadorships. Also: today’s stories, including why students in France are viewing recent protests through the lens of the country’s May 1968 protests and how a historical tension is resurfacing as the US seeks uranium sitting under Navajo land. Two Monitor writers also ask: amid rumors of multiple actors auditioning to inherit the iconic role of James Bond, what sort of qualities does the world want in its next 007? Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

Americans exercised their agency at ballot boxes from California to the Midwest, driven by concerns about data centers’ physical footprints to their impacts on the local environment, electricity prices, and the broader AI revolution. Also: today’s stories, including how voters spoke on Tuesday not just about the economy, but the war in Iran; why women in Latin America are changing ideas about female leadership in the Vatican; and a look at the classic novel “Jane Eyre,” which is facing scrutiny in the US — but is now required reading in China. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The GOP will need to regroup and plot a path forward, as the unique figure at the center of the MAGA movement – Donald Trump – navigates the final phase of his tenure. Also: today’s stories, including what questions a blue Congress raises for the “special relationship” between the U.S. and Israel; how a polarizing white politician in Johannesburg says she can address corruption and crumbling infrastructure; and a look at one artist’s mission to change the playground experience for a new generation of American children. Join the Monitor's Matthew Bell for today's news.

Head to our homepage for full U.S. election coverage. In today's episode: the Israeli presidency is mostly ceremonial. An exception is when the president tasks a member of parliament with forming a new government. Now Isaac Herzog, with his rich political pedigree but record of personal disappointment, faces a delicate challenge. Also: today’s stories, including a look at how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is testing limits of free speech for artists; how the rise of social media influencers in the tourism economy is testing locales and opening up opportunities for lesser-known destinations; and why one sociologist is warning against getting lulled into feeling kinship with chatbots. Join the Monitor's Chris Sherman for today's news.

Midterm elections are often seen as a referendum on a sitting president's party. Analysts say voter dissatisfaction with inflation and the Iran war have helped put Democrats in position for significant gains in Congress, which would increase their political influence during President Donald Trump's final two years in office. Also: today’s stories, including why after eight months of war, U.S. analysts say Iran’s leaders might now be more inclined to try to build a nuclear bomb; what coastal erosion in California means for a state trying to protect homes, roads, and tourism; and a look at how the rise of electric vehicles has rattled Germany’s vaunted automotive industry. Join the Monitor's Mark Trumbull for today's news.

Allegations of political gamesmanship over the presence of two candidates named Dan Sullivan are upending Alaska’s tight Senate race and raising legal and ethical questions. Also: today’s stories, including why many Gazans are looking to the results of Israel’s recent elections for clues about their own political future; how banks and businesses are racing to shield consumers against hackers using by AI by employing the same technology; and a look at how Gulf Arab countries are turning to an alternative for their defense: a growing network of middle-power allies from the Middle East, Europe, and Asia. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.

It’s not unusual for voters to see politicians as corrupt. But the intensity of concern has grown, and one Gallup survey finds honesty and integrity near the top of “most needed” qualities for public leaders. Also: today’s stories, including how Russia is sticking to its guns as Ukraine peace momentum builds; why the return of Venezuela’s opposition leader is testing fragile democratic transition; and a look at colleges offering instruction for content creators as the influencer economy expands. Join the Monitor's Linda Feldmann for today's news.

The Serbian student movement may have won a stunning victory in Sunday’s elections, but it hasn’t shed much light on what its government might look like. So far, it’s only announced a commitment to following the law rather than revolutionary change. Also: today’s stories, including how Israel’s parties are approaching political deadlock after the country’s elections; why unknowns still persist in polling data that suggests more competitive races for United States midterms; and a look at Minnesota’s Boundary Waters, a place revered for its natural beauty that also holds essential resources. Join the Monitor's Matthew Bell for today's news.

Israeli voters showed up in record numbers Tuesday. By 8 p.m. local time, election officials reported that turnout was more than 74% – the highest since such tracking began in 1973. Find our report on what the exit polls found, and what they could mean for the coalition-building that comes next. Also: today’s stories, including how New England may provide some pops of red as the GOP braces for a blue wave; two civics scholars’ case for a broader definition of citizenship; and a look at the roaming donkeys who own Route 66 in Arizona’s rolling hills. Join the Monitor's Chris Sherman for today's news.

With no absentee voting option, tens of thousands of Israelis flew home from around the world for Tuesday’s parliamentary elections, the first since Hamas’ attack on October 7, 2023, and the wars in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran that followed. Also: today’s stories, including why Brasil’s neighbors are looking at the Lula’s election win amid a regional lurch to the right; how this year’s tight senate race is testing how deep the pull towards conservatism runs in Texas; and a look at the Milwaukee Brewers and Tampa Bay Rays as they seek their first World Series title, showing that “small market doesn’t mean small hearted.” Join the Monitor's Ira Porter for today's news.