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Cassidy's lesson for Labor starts with Democrats' candidate choices

Guardian Australia's Back to Back Barries connects the US midterm results with Australian questions about political credibility, housing and the Victorian election.

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Guardian Australia Story of November 15, 2026Trari Newsroom

Why this story? One of Guardian Australia's most watched videos since yesterday, with 18,581 views.

Back to Back Barries: What a sinking Labor can learn from the soaring Democrats

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1:37Barry attributes part of the Democrats' Texas success to George W. Bush distancing himself from Trump-backed candidates.
3:29The hosts argue that Musk's extensive campaign spending failed to protect Republicans from electoral losses.
8:24Democratic factional divisions lead into the candidate-selection question; Cassidy identifies Ossoff as the party's future.
14:12Cassidy challenges the consistency of Albanese's climate diplomacy with domestic fossil fuel policy.
23:42Barry assesses Victorian Labor's vulnerabilities before describing voter frustration with waste, healthcare delays and infrastructure.

Jon Ossoff gets Barrie Cassidy's clearest endorsement in a discussion about what Australian Labor can learn from the Democrats: "Ossoff's the future now."

On Guardian Australia's Back to Back Barries, Cassidy and co-host Tony Barry examine Democratic victories through the question of who can persuade voters, not simply how much a campaign can spend. Barry's argument puts emotional connection ahead of a purely rational pitch. Cassidy's focus on Ossoff gives that discussion a specific candidate to consider.

The hosts describe major Democratic gains in Texas and Mississippi. Barry attributes part of the Texas result to George W. Bush distancing himself from Trump-backed candidates, while Cassidy presents Republican losses as a rejection of both Donald Trump and Elon Musk. Their discussion of Musk's campaign spending underlines their broader point: financial backing does not guarantee electoral success.

The Australian comparison becomes more pointed when they turn to Anthony Albanese. Cassidy questions the consistency between the prime minister's international climate advocacy and allowing new fossil fuel projects. The pair also examine falling housing prices, rising interest rates and the political pressure on the government.

The episode drew about 19,000 views since yesterday. Its final stretch shifts from Washington's lessons to Victoria's immediate choices, ahead of the state election on 28 November. Barry argues that Labor faces vulnerabilities under Premier Ben Carroll and says Jess Wilson's Liberals are campaigning effectively. He closes with observations from voter focus groups: frustration about government waste, healthcare delays and infrastructure is difficult for campaign messaging to overcome.