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Republicans have lost Congress, and now they are arguing over why. Party leaders point to the war in Iran. Voters, in one poll, put affordability first: 49 per cent cited it as a deciding issue, against 13 per cent for the war. Trump-endorsed candidates lost, including in traditionally conservative states. Democrats take control of both chambers in January, and the GOP faces a fight over its leadership and direction. John Zogby, founder of Zogby Strategies, checks his polling against the result and untangles how affordability, Iran and tariffs fit together at the kitchen table. Also on the table: whether voters were rejecting Trump the man, MAGA, or conservatism itself, and what a Trump endorsement is worth now. Along the way: JD Vance's future, offered with a firm warning not to bet on it. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesia is facing mounting political tensions following allegations that senior police officials were involved in illegally wiretapping President Prabowo Subianto and other prominent figures. Andreas Harsono, a researcher at Human Rights Watch breaks down these developments against a backdrop of public protests, economic pressures and falling approval ratings. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bank Negara Malaysia kept the Overnight Policy Rate at 2.75 per cent at its last policy meeting of the year, as most economists had expected. But interbank rates have risen about 30 basis points this year even with the OPR unchanged, a minimum wage increase is due next year, and US Treasury yields have fallen after the midterms. We speak to Khoon Goh, Head of Asia Research at ANZ, about what drove the decision, what the gap between market rates and the policy rate tells us, and where Malaysian interest rates could head in 2027. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can the court block a story that’s not been published? Emmanuel Samarathisa, founder of The Malaysianist, joins The Morning Run to to unpack the legal fight between corporate figure Datuk Seri Farhash Wafa Salvador and global news wire Bloomberg. The former political secretary to the Prime Minister sued Bloomberg over an article that hadn’t been published yet and won an ex parte injunction restraining publication until November 16. Emmanuel talks to us about the landmark 1891 Bonnard v. Perryman rule and how it sets a high bar on pre-publication restraint. He also examines Farhash’s boardroom ascent and previews the three critical arguments to watch when Bloomberg challenges the injunction on November 16. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

New Zealand heads to the polls with National and Labour closely matched, raising the prospect of another election decided by smaller parties and coalition negotiations. Prime Minister Christopher Luxon faces scrutiny over rising unemployment and his government's economic record, while Labour's Chris Hipkins is seeking a political comeback. Independent political analyst Grant Duncan examines voter disillusionment, the competing economic agendas and the influence of smaller parties in determining the next government. We also explore how New Zealand's relationships with China, the United States and Australia could shape its political direction, and the challenges awaiting whoever takes power. The Morning Brief is brought to you by CIMB Private Wealth. Move your wealth forward with personalised wealth advisory and priority access to investment opportunities. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Inflation across Southeast Asia is charting an increasingly divergent course, with headline figures ranging from a moderate 1.8% in Malaysia up to a sharper 7.8% in the Philippines. While targeted fuel subsidies and domestic price controls have shielded households in economies like Malaysia and Indonesia, rising second-round cost pressures and currency fluctuations are prompting regional central banks to quietly tilt toward a more hawkish posture heading into 2027. Lavanya Venkateswaran, Senior ASEAN and India Economist at OCBC Bank, joinsThe Morning Run to unpack the region's diverging macroeconomic landscape. She explains why price shocks are hitting economies unevenly, evaluates the three transmission channels of the ongoing AI and data center boom, and addresses why the gains risk remaining heavily concentrated rather than lifting entire economies. Plus, she weighs in on the medium-term trade implications of the US midterm election results for pending semiconductor tariffs. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gold has shed about a quarter of its value since the US-Iran war began in February, but central banks are buying at their fastest pace in almost two years, with third-quarter purchases up 42%. China and India account for more than half of all buying, while Russia is the only major seller. Jewellery demand has also slumped to its weakest since 2000. Is central bank demand enough to turn prices around, and why is gold trading more like a stock than a safe haven? We speak to Christopher Wong, Precious Metals Strategist at OCBC Bank Singapore. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Democrats have just taken both chambers of Congress, and the damage reaches deep into territory Republicans thought was safe. Texas now has its first Democratic governor in more than three decades, after James Talerico beat Ken Paxton for the Senate seat and Gina Hinojosa flipped the governorship. Donald Trump says he'll work with Democrats, but he's also calling himself a potential "king of vetoes." Washington just got a lot more complicated. Dr Kathryn Robison of the United States Studies Centre unpacks what the result does and doesn't change: why Trump keeps sweeping foreign policy powers even as his domestic agenda stalls, whether Texas is now a genuine 2028 battleground, and what the Hispanic vote's swing says about where American politics is heading. She also traces the cracks opening up around JD Vance and the MAGA movement's future inside the GOP. Along the way: what the night signals for the US relationship with Israel, and why neither party may want impeachment anywhere near the agenda. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Contesting 16 out of 28 state seats in the Melaka polls, Parti Bersama Malaysia enters the race as the third-largest contender behind Barisan Nasional and Pakatan Harapan. Backed by a six-point manifesto, Ibrahim Sani, Official Spokesperson of Parti BERSAMA Malaysia, joins The Morning Run to outline the party's electoral strategy and hopes. He responds to concerns that Bersama will split the opposition vote to Barisan Nasional's advantage, details what a realistic electoral breakthrough looks like for their candidates, and addresses how the party is navigating the fallout from Nik Nazmi's controversy on the campaign trail. The Morning Brief is brought to you by CIMB Private Wealth. Move your wealth forward with personalised wealth advisory and priority access to investment opportunities. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

US voters have just delivered what one guest calls more than a blue wave. Democrats have retaken both chambers of Congress, Texas returned not a single statewide Republican win, and Kansas elected a Democrat senator for the first time since 1932. Donald Trump stays in the White House for two more years, but the verdict on his tenure so far looks unusually brutal. Steven Okun, founder and CEO of APAC Advisors, breaks down why he thinks this result amounts to a repudiation rather than an ordinary change election, and the "two A's" he says Democrats now have to balance in Congress. He weighs how much real power the new Congress has over Trump's tariff agenda, and what's actually on the table for investigation when it comes to the Iran war and its costs to American households. Along the way: why he doesn't expect any of this to make Trump moderate. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

India's economy is growing at more than 7%, yet its stock market remains one of Asia's worst performers this year. With valuations falling below historical averages, could this be an opportunity for investors, or are there deeper problems behind the selloff? Nitin Chanduka, Emerging Markets Equity Analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, examines why Indian equities are struggling despite strong economic growth and improving corporate earnings. We also explore India's limited exposure to the global AI boom, emerging investment opportunities linked to the technology, the significance of Jio Platforms' IPO and which sectors could lead a market recovery. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australia’s central bank has raised interest rates to 4.85%, their highest level in 18 years, as stubborn inflation continues to challenge policymakers. Despite five rate hikes this year, rising energy costs, weak productivity and persistent domestic price pressures are keeping inflation above target. Hebe Chen, Senior Market Analyst at Vantage Markets, examines why inflation remains difficult to control, whether further tightening is inevitable and how much economic weakness the Reserve Bank of Australia is prepared to tolerate. We also explore the implications for employment, economic growth and the outlook for Australian interest rates heading into 2027. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently concluded a five-day tour across Singapore, Japan, and South Korea with a business delegation in tow, aiming to deepen economic ties as Berlin attempts to diversify away from China. At the very same time, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier was dispatched to Beijing to smooth bilateral ties, raising key questions about Germany's broader policy calculus in the region. Dr Frederick Kliem, Southeast Asia Director at the Economist Intelligence Corporate Network, joins The Morning Run to assess the trip. While critiquing Merz's heavy emphasis on the Russia-Ukraine war in Asian capitals, he highlights the tactical ingenuity behind floating an interconnected network of free trade zones and pairing German industrial manufacturing with Asia’s tech and AI ecosystem into a networked "mini Guangdong". He also explores whether genuine appetite exists in Asia for a larger German strategic footprint, and why Brussels’ own protectionist "Made in Europe" regulations could prove to be Berlin’s steepest hurdle in the region. The Morning Brief is brought to you by CIMB Private Wealth. Move your wealth forward with personalised wealth advisory and priority access to investment opportunities. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duyong was decided by just 200 votes in 2021, and this time Barisan National's incumbent faces an even stranger fight. His challenger from Pakatan Harapan's DAP is someone he calls a friend, forged through years of cooperation in the state government. Melaka votes on November the 14th, UMNO is testing its new alliance with PAS after wins in Johor and Negeri Sembilan, and 79 candidates are chasing 28 seats across the state. YB Datuk Mohd Noor Helmi, Barisan National's candidate for Duyong, talks through what it means to campaign against an ally, and why he thinks explaining the UMNO-PAS pact to voters was actually easier than explaining past cooperation with Pakatan. He breaks down how 2021's PAS votes factor into his arithmetic this time round, and what Duyong's younger and older voters actually want from him. Left hanging: whether the Barisan-PAS partnership survives beyond polling day, a question he says isn't his to answer. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.