INDEPENDENT PERSPECTIVE
2 November 2026 · Daily edition

The Balance of Power

2 November 2026

Who is gaining influence, who is losing it, and what it means for Europe and Finland.

Read the complete 2 November 2026 edition →

01United States · Politics and institutional power

Washington prepares for divided government

Facts

White House officials are mapping executive actions on immigration, tariffs, housing and spending in case Democrats win Congress, according to Reuters.

InterpretationThe presidency has substantial administrative leverage, but courts, appropriations and implementation capacity remain constraints. Conservatives may welcome unilateral action now; the institutional cost is a precedent that future presidents of either party can reuse.