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.
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
