BThe midterms are one day out and the whole world is watching. Al Jazeera has a piece up on what this vote means for the Asia-Pacific.
BTariffs and the Iran war hit them hard. Countries there want what they call enormous changes in US policy.
BNo surprise. Trump's tariffs hit their exporters, the naval blockade hit their energy prices. They're not neutral observers.
BRight, but here's the thing: they don't get a vote. And the candidates aren't running on making Asia happy.
BThey're running on American jobs, American prices, American security. That's the pitch. Fair enough.
BBut if Japan, South Korea, Australia all want 'enormous changes' — that's your allies talking, not your rivals.
BThey always want changes. Every ally wants the last administration's deal. Then a new president comes in and they adjust.
BUntil they don't. That's how alliances fray. You can't just shrug off the whole region.
BI'm not shrugging it off. I'm saying the midterms are a domestic election. Asia can wait a day.
BI'm sure Beijing appreciates your patience.
BAlright, speaking of Iran — Vance says there's progress in the talks. Tehran says the ball is in Washington's court.
BTheir condition is simple: lift the naval blockade and meet their demands in full before any deal.
BWhich is not how negotiations work. You don't get full payment before signing.
BVance calls it progress. That's the diplomatic word for 'we're still talking.'
BIt's also the word for 'we haven't agreed on anything but nobody walked out.'
BMeanwhile, there's smoke on a new front. A BRICS News account posted that Israel has asked the US for approval to strike Iranian energy facilities.
BThat one's actually real — Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported it. Energy facilities, not nuclear sites.
BThat's a big distinction. You hit energy, you cripple the economy. You hit nuclear, you start a regional war.
BEnergy is still an escalation. But it's a step below the red line. Israel's signaling it wants options if the talks fail.
BAnd asking for US approval means Washington gets a veto. That's the choreography here.
BIt keeps the blockade leverage intact and tells Tehran: don't test us. The military option is not off the table.
BLet's hope the ball lands somewhere sensible. Different world entirely: there's an outbreak making waves tonight — Al Jazeera reporting an Ebola outbreak in DR Congo has killed more than 5,300 people.
BAnd the strain — Bundibugyo — has spread to Kenya and Uganda. Nigeria tested two people who came back negative.
BFive thousand dead is already catastrophic. If this gains a foothold in urban centers, it gets much worse.
BThe fact that it's a different strain from the big 2014 outbreak makes it harder. Different transmission patterns, different vaccine access.
BWe're treating it as reported by Al Jazeera — this is fresh and the details are still coming in. But the headline alone is a major public health alarm.
BAnd on a completely different wire: social media in Kenya is lit up with claims of miracle healings in Trans Nzoia.
BI'm looking at a post that says 'a total cripple has walked' and credits the blood of Jesus Christ. No name, no video, nothing.
BThere's another one: 'the blind has seen!' from a different account. Same style, all caps, breaking news.
BI'm not going to mock anyone's faith. But these posts are not journalism. No independent confirmation, no medical records, no named individual.
BRight. There's a difference between a claim and a documented healing. One goes viral; the other changes a life you can verify.
BThe heart of this: if it's real, show us. If it's just vibes and all caps, it's not news.
BAnd viewers should be careful. Posts like this often raise money. That's when 'miracle' becomes a business model.
BBack to the main event: one more day. Then we count.
BAnd we'll be here with every twist. And a pre-midterms note from your hosts: if you're still undecided, don't ask us.