# Australian media reads US midterms through its own lens

> Front pages split on Trump's defeat while one commentator warns of civilisation crumbling, and the ABC sends a host to Washington.
- Title: Australian media reads US midterms through its own lens
- Summary: Front pages split on Trump's defeat while one commentator warns of civilisation crumbling, and the ABC sends a host to Washington.
- Keywords: australian media, us midterm elections, donald trump, abdul el-sayed, sharri markson, news24, abc, sarah ferguson, the Guardian
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/media/2026/nov/06/weekly-beast-australian-media-us-midterms-ntwnfb
- Published: 2026-11-06T01:37:22+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: australian media, us midterm elections, donald trump, abdul el-sayed, sharri markson, news24, abc, sarah ferguson, news, politics
## Australian papers lead on US midterms
On Thursday, Australian newspapers dominated front pages with the US midterm results.The Age called it Capitol punishment.The Herald Sun said Donald lame duck.The Daily Telegraph ran Blue wave leaves Trump a lame president.
## More papers weigh in on Trump defeat
The Australian Financial Review said the midterm blue wave rips Trump mandate to shreds. The Australian called it the Donald deflation and a MAGA mauling, brought on by Trump the trasher.
## El-Sayed victory sparks alarm
The Australian also ran a front-page piece on Michigan's Abdul El-Sayed, headlined Far out: far-left radical to be first Muslim senator. His victory prompted strong reactions from some commentators.
## Markson calls result crushing and terrifying
News24's Sharri Markson began her program saying El-Sayed's victory was the most crushing and terrifying result of the evening. She repeated a false claim that El-Sayed has links to the Muslim Brotherhood.

> This is the most crushing and terrifying result of the evening
## Markson warns of civilisation crumbling
Markson asked how Americans could vote for an anti-western, anti-American lunatic. She continued: You can't help but worry that it's crumbling, and capitalism with it.

> You can't help but worry that it's crumbling, and capitalism with it
## El-Sayed describes himself as capitalist
El-Sayed, a former county health official, describes himself as a capitalist who understands how capitalism works. His platform includes backing universal healthcare and regulating monopolies.
## Some see midterms as warning for Albanese
Steve Price, filling in for Peta Credlin on News24, claimed the midterms should prompt alarm bells for every sitting government in Australia. He interpreted Trump's repudiation as bad news for Anthony Albanese.
## ABC sends Ferguson to Washington
The ABC flew out 7.30 host Sarah Ferguson to broadcast live from Washington from Monday through to Wednesday. Viewing figures on Wednesday were very strong, even though it was three thirty am local time.
## Ferguson's Capitol Hill interviews
Ferguson interviewed former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci from London, former Australian ambassador Joe Hockey also from London, and congressman Joe Courtney from Connecticut.
## Labor announces News Innovation Fund
On Wednesday, Labor announced recipients of its thirty one point five million dollar News Innovation Fund, which backs innovation, sustainability and diverse public interest journalism.
## Fund includes support for Deaf Connect
The fund included one point four million dollars to Deaf Connect to create Australia's first national Auslan-first digital news service, three point three million to the Community Broadcasting Association and two point two million to…
## Guardian and ABC to question One Nation
Guardian Australia and the ABC will finally be able to question One Nation at an event chaired by the Melbourne Press Club.
## Wilcox stands by controversial Netanyahu cartoon
Walkley award-winning cartoonist Cathy Wilcox said she absolutely does not regret her cartoon Grass Roots, published after the Bondi terror attack.

> I absolutely don't regret the cartoon because I absolutely also don't think that the interpretation of it was a fair one
## Key takeaway

Australian newspapers led with the US midterm results on Thursday with varied takes on Trump's defeat, while News24 commentator Sharri Markson called Abdul El-Sayed's Michigan victory crushing and terrifying.