BBC Audio | The Documentary Podcast | The US midterms and the cost of living

After the Democratic Party swept to victory in the US midterm elections, we bring people together to share their experiences of one of the major issues for voters: The cost of living. When he was elected as President two years ago, Donald Trump pledged to reduce prices. But the opposite has happened. Household costs have gone up, especially for food and fuel. His decision to impose tariffs on some imported goods has made them more expensive. But much of the increase has been driven by a jump in the price of petrol and diesel due to America and Israel’s conflict with Iran. In our conversation, we hear from three young mothers in different parts of the world’s largest economy about their daily struggle to make ends meet. Single mother Lauren from New York tells us she often doesn't eat properly "I'm borrowing from Peter to pay Paul because there's nothing left". “You expect greatness from America,” Cass in Pennsylvania tells us. “The conversation we’re having right now is so common in more than half of this country and what we’re experiencing when it comes to financial hardships.