Morning Mail: What’s next after midterms blue wave; Australians worried about AI; and cryptic amphibians go home

Good morning. Donald Trump has suffered a stinging rebuke from American voters as the Democrats reshape the US political landscape by taking control of both the Senate and the House. So, what happens next?

Meanwhile, the Scanlon report on social cohesion has revealed that Australians are more worried about the cost of living and AI than climate change or going to war – but support for multiculturalism remains strong.

The advocacy group Muslim Votes Matter is softening its anti-Labor stance ahead of Victoria’s election in a bid to ward off One Nation. And there are warnings the government’s use of AI could risk a robodebt-style scandal.

Australia

• Social cohesion | Most Australians support multiculturalism and immigration despite more people reporting that they are feeling poorer – and increasingly distrustful of government, the Scanlon report reveals.

• Exclusive | Muslim Votes Matter will soften its anti-Labor stance at the Victorian elections, putting volunteers on the ground in key seats the incumbent government risks losing to One Nation.

• AI alarm bells | The government has been warned it is “sleepwalking its way into another robodebt” scandal amid a lack of transparency around the use of algorithms and AI in decision making.

• Exclusive | A 40-year-old woman has been arrested and charged by Western Australian police for allegedly stalking and attempting to extort the Greens senator Jordon Steele-John.

• Grogonomics | The RBA is determined to raise rates even though the current main causes of inflation – such as US and Israel’s war on Iran and supply side shocks – are out of their control, Greg Jericho writes.

• Analysis | Is the current economic pain worse in Australia than in, say, New Zealand or Canada? We have an especially bad inflation problem – but there’s an important nuance.

World

• US midterms | JD Vance has blamed the Iran war for Republicans’ brutal midterms losses as Democrats retake Congress; Democrats warn Trump officials to keep records or risk criminal penalties after midterm victories; Democrats celebrate “a win the size of Texas” as shrinking Republican dominance turns a big state blue; and is this the beginning of the end for Trump? And what will a lame duck Trump mean for the global economy? Plus: a visual analysis of the key states.

• Tehran celebrates | The US midterm election results have led to a good degree of triumphalism inside Iran – but the US president may be tempted to resume bombing, Patrick Wintour writes.

• Israel votes | Israel’s electoral officials have confirmed the results of the vote that stripped Benjamin Netanyahu’s far-right coalition of its governing majority – and rejected claims of mass voter fraud.

• Cyber risk | France’s national blood service has said hackers boosted temperatures at three cold stores stocking vital blood products, in an apparent escalation of recent alleged cyber-attacks in Europe.

• Climate crisis | Flows of money to help poor countries cope with the climate crisis have been flat or falling since 2022 despite warnings that global heating may be accelerating, a UN report says.

Full Story

US midterms: is this the end of Trump? – Decoding America podcast

The Democrats have taken control of both the Senate and the House in an historic midterms result. Reged Ahmad and Jonathan Yerushalmy examine what went wrong for the Republicans, and why voters turned out in droves to deliver the blue wave. Perhaps the biggest surprise was Donald Trump accepting the result and vowing to “work with the Democrats”. So will he? Or could this make him more dangerous?

In-depth

After the 2019-20 black summer bushfires, scientists in eastern Victoria stumbled across puddles of tadpoles from the southern giant burrowing frog, one of the state’s most cryptic amphibians. They were transported to Melbourne zoo and successfully bred in captivity for the first time. Now, 53 of the original tadpoles – now male frogs about five years old – have returned to their remote native Gippsland habitat.

Not the news

As Isabella Lee surveys Australia’s best-value fruit and veg for November, it’s clear that consumers should take advantage of a glut of sublime strawberries brought on by an early start to the growing season in Victoria. The bountiful harvest doesn’t end there, with a rich crop of golden mangoes coming on, grapefruit in great shape and affordable stone fruit looming on the horizon.

Sport

• Rugby union | Kurtley Beale on his return to Wallabies fold, aged 37: “There was some unfinished business.” Meanwhile, Six Nations and Sanzaar have agreed to sell global broadcast rights together in a unique deal.

• Football | Fenerbahce take on Liverpool in the Champions League – follow the rest of today’s Champions League action here. Manchester United’s wild win against Roma showed angry fans we care, says Diogo Dalot.

• AFLW | Rule changes are being considered to add an “exciting” Irish flair to women’s competition.

• AFL | Sydney Swans player Tom Papley has allegedly returned a positive roadside drug test.

• Golf | Rory McIlroy backs the claim that LIV tried to “destroy” DP World Tour.

The domestic, family and sexual violence commissioner, Micaela Cronin, says Australians are not scared enough of “manosphere” content, ABC News reports. High property prices and cost of living pressures are driving down birth rates in parts of Sydney, the Sydney Morning Herald reports. Ahead of the state election, the Age has asked economists how Victoria’s finances can be put back on track.

What’s happening today

• NSW | The trial of former broadcaster Alan Jones continues in Sydney.

• NSW | Beau Lamarre-Condon’s defence is due to begin at the NSW supreme court.

• ABS | The Australian Bureau of Statistics is set to release its latest public sector employment and international trade and goods figures this morning.

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Brain teaser

And finally, here are the Guardian’s crosswords to keep you entertained throughout the day. Until tomorrow.