JLA Speaks
US Midterms: The Insiders
Every two years, American politics resets the board, and 2026 is no exception. The midterms will reshape Congress, test Donald Trump’s second-half agenda, and send ripples through markets, trade policy and boardrooms on both sides of the Atlantic.
Whilst these effects are likely to remain modest, rather than triggering seismic shifts, for any UK business with US exposure, that’s not background noise – it’s a vital perspective for 2027 and beyond.
Understanding the result is one thing. Understanding what it means for your business is another entirely, and that’s where a seasoned voice from inside the machine earns their place on your agenda.
But who can do that for me, I hear you ask? Here are six names that I’d consider:
Geopolitical Speakers Who Can Decode the Midterms
A BBC and NBC correspondent for over three decades who has covered five US presidential elections, Katty is now BBC News’ US Special Correspondent. The years spent decoding Washington for a global audience have made her one of the most trusted interpreters of American politics working today, translating the noise of a midterm cycle into what it actually means for policy, markets and the wider world.
A former White House Communications Director under the first Trump administration, Anthony now co-hosts The Rest is Politics US alongside Katty Kay. Having sat inside the West Wing, he brings a rare, unfiltered read on the mechanics of Washington, and how election outcomes permeate business and investment decisions.
Former Cabinet minister and now co-host of The Rest is Politics with Alastair Campbell, Rory pairs frontline political experience with sharp geopolitical analysis, making sense of how shifts in US power play out on the world stage.
Former British Ambassador to the United States and National Security Adviser to Downing Street, who served through the first Trump Presidency. As a result, few understand the ‘special relationship’ as intimately as Kim, whose diplomatic career gives him unmatched insight into how a change in Congress affects trade, security and the nature of that relationship itself.
As the BBC’s North America Editor, Sarah has spent years at the heart of American politics, reporting from Washington and across the US as the political landscape has changed. She brings the perspective of someone who understands not just the personalities and the headlines, but how American political change actually plays out on the ground.
As the first woman to lead The Economist in its 170-year history, Zanny Minton Beddoes brings unmatched authority on global markets and finance to the Washington story. Having also served as the newspaper’s US Economics Editor, and now interviewing everyone from Musk to Zelensky, she understands the global impact on markets, politics and society of shifts in the Capitol.
Why do the US midterms matter?
Before booking a speaker, it helps to understand the basics behind the headlines – here’s what’s actually going on, and why it matters.
What are the midterms, and why do they happen every two years?
Every seat in the House of Representatives and roughly a third of the Senate is up for election every two years. When that vote lands halfway through a president’s term, with no presidential race on the ballot, it’s called a midterm.
When are the 2026 midterms, and what’s at stake?
Polling day is 3 November 2026. All 435 House seats, 35 Senate seats and more than 30 governorships are being contested, with the new Congress convening that January. Republicans currently hold the House by just two seats, so it wouldn’t take much to flip control of the chamber.
Why should a UK business care about a US domestic election?
Congress, not just the President, shapes the rules on trade, tariffs and tax. A change in who controls the House or Senate changes what’s realistically achievable in Washington over the next two years, and that matters to anyone trading with, investing in, or operating within the US.
What could change for trade, tariffs and markets?
A shift in Congressional control can change the pace of trade policy and the appetite for further tariff action, with markets pricing in that uncertainty both before and after polling day.
Above are just a small number of fantastic Geopolitical Speakers available from JLA’s extensive books. If you are interested in booking a political speaker for your upcoming conference or event or would like to hear about our other options, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
