Midterms transform the political landscape. Plus: cyberhackers’ new front
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Donald Trump was dealt a devastating blow in the US midterm elections last week that saw his Republican party stripped of control of both the Senate and the House.
Our big story this week assesses the transformed political landscape ushered in by this blue tsunami.
The Republicans’ shellacking spells the end of Maga as we know it, writes David Smith, while Chris Stein runs through the likely Democrat agenda for the coming two years, and Uwa Ede-Osifo and Auzzy Byrdsell run through 10 historic firsts recorded as candidates shattered racial and gender ceilings.
Looking beyond the US, Deepa Parent spoke to Iranians about their feelings of uncertainty following the midterm elections, and Alice Speri says the results were a thumping rebuke of Washington’s relationship with Israel.
Then, foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall asks what the implications of Trump’s waning powers are for Iran, Russia, Israel – and the rest of the world.
Five essential reads in this week’s edition
Spotlight | A new cold war Do hot fridges, a fake nuclear alert and a $6bn heist suggest we in the foothills of a hacking epidemic, ask Dan Milmo and Aisha Down
Science | Deep secrets Beneath South Dakota’s Black Hills, scientists are building giant detectors to analyse neutrino particles – and possibly find the answer to existence. Ian Sample reports
Feature | An Indian political dynasty In a rare interview, Sonia Gandhi talks to Hannah Ellis-Petersen about her reluctant rise to power, Narendra Modi’s repressive regime – and why youth protests give her hope for the future
Opinion | A landmark victory on consent Russell Brand’s conviction for rape and sexual assault upholds the vital principle that women can say no, even after they’ve said yes, writes Gaby Hinsliff
Culture | ‘Let’s do it for as long as we can’ As they release a new album, U2 speak to Alexis Petridis about male egos, working with Dolly Parton, and explain why, despite Trump, they still believe in democracy – at least in their band
What else we’ve been reading
Writer Mira Ptacin paints a vivid and idyllic picture of wild and free childhood in this feature. Her experience of raising children on a remote and tiny island may not be too relatable but I can absolutely get behind the principles she is defending. Whatever the environment, there will always be the opportunity to encourage curiosity, risk taking and problem solving and this was a welcome reminder to make space for it. Emily El Nusairi, deputy production editor
As she approaches her 83rd birthday, Billie Jean King continues to be an engaged – and incredibly engaging – campaigner, as fearless as she was on the tennis court. In this terrific interview by Lucy Knight, she speaks about her career, coming out and the childhood friend who changed the trajectory of her life. Clare Horton, acting editor
Other highlights from the Guardian website
Audio | Winter depression is real. Here’s what can help - podcast
Video | Will Russell Brand’s 10-year jail term be a tipping point?
Gallery | Faceless workers and a tsunami of Post-it notes: the surreal world of Japan’s salarymen
Interactive | ‘I’m surrounded by millions of people but I could still die from the heat’
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