The Day After: What the U.S. Midterms Mean for Global Business

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Yesterday, Americans voted in the first national referendum on President Trump’s second-term agenda. That agenda includes sweeping tariffs, an unpopular war with Iran and an aggressive immigration crackdown. 

The outcome matters far beyond U.S. borders.  Four foreign policy issues—the Iran war, U.S. trade policy, artificial intelligence (AI), and immigration shaped how voters judged the economy.  Those same forces drive supply chains, energy prices and market access for small businesses worldwide. Trade policy hits home: the Tax Policy Center estimated in September that tariffs under current law will impose an average burden of about $920 per U.S. household in 2026. 

American politics rarely goes as predicted.  Republicans underperformed in both earlier midterms of the Trump era, but the president has shown he can turn out his most loyal voters. He has also raised doubts about the U.S. election system without evidence, which has led to concerns about federal interference in the results.

For global entrepreneurs, the key question is whether the new Congress will push back on tariffs. That will tell you a great deal about the trading environment in 2027.

There's still time to register for, "Reading the Tax Tea Leaves:  A Post-Midterm Forecast For Small Business Owners," today, 11/4/26 at 11 AM CT.  Register for free: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/10/07/reading-the-tax-tea-leaves-a-post-midterm-forecast-for-small-business-owners/

Midterm Elections 2026: Shape the Change You Want for American Business at Home and Abroad

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Turn up at the ballot box.  Every vote counts.  Shape the change you want for American business at home and abroad.

Today in Global Small Business: Day of the Dead — Día de los Muertos

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• Day of the Dead (Día de los Muertos) is the Mexican festival merging pre-Columbian Aztec rituals honoring the dead with Catholic observances of All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days — observed with elaborate ofrendas (altars), sugar skulls, marigolds, and family gatherings at gravesites to welcome the spirits of the departed.
• All Saints' Day we remember those have lived and died in the faith,” says the Rev. Patrick Williams, associate director, Pastoral Care. “Saints not because of perfection or fearlessness, but because by faith they were able to persevere through the fears and the challenges in their own times — and bear witness to the power of Christ working in them.”
• Ancestors all around – millions of dead people linger in Americans' memories.
• Quote of the week: “Day of the Dead contrasts with dark views of death by using skeletons, humor, music, and dancing as a positive celebration of life." – Tim Burton
• How to celebrate Day of the Dead. Hint: It’s all about the joy of living.
• Communities around Central California are hosting several events to celebrate Día de los Muertos this year.

Note: The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global. As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month. In October 2026, we crossed over 1.4 million readers! Thank you for your engagement! All the global business news fit to blog about.

Boo from the Global Small Business Blog!

Waymo Is Dominant in the U.S. and Expanding Overseas

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Waymo is dominant in the U.S. and expanding overseas, but it remains immaterial in terms of revenue to parent Alphabet, which is pouring cash into its growth.

Key points:

Alphabet’s Other Bets segment, which includes Waymo, generated just $372 million in third-quarter revenue, representing 0.3% of the total.

While Waymo is dominant in the U.S. and is expanding overseas, it’s a cash-burning venture, with Other Bets racking up more than $2 billion in operating losses during the quarter.

“Waymo now operates in 15 major U.S. cities and just recently opened up service to the public in San Antonio, San Diego and Tampa with planned expansions into Canada, Germany, Singapore and Spain,” Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai said on the earnings call. 

Read the entire article here.

Note: The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global. As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month. This month (October, 2026) we crossed over 1.4 million readers! Thank you for your engagement! We offer all the global small business news fit to blog about.

Spain’s Second High-Speed Rail Disaster in Nine Months Kills at Least 68

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Spain is living through a recurring nightmare. On Wednesday, October 28, 2026, a high-speed train crashed into the rear of another train that had stopped in central Spain, derailing two carriages and killing at least 68 people. The collision happened near Urda in Toledo province, south of Madrid, on a high-speed railway line connecting the capital with the southern city of Seville. Dozens more were injured, at least 15 seriously

This is Spain's second high-speed rail disaster in nine months.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who faces a national election on Nov. 29, said it was unacceptable for a country like Spain to suffer two such accidents in one year. His government declared three days of official mourning from October 29 to 31.

Our prayers and support go out to everyone who lost loved ones and to all who were injured.

Read more about the tragic accident here.

Your Post-Midterm Tax Playbook: Free wegginar® with Plante Moran’s Jessica Wargo on 11/4

©2026 Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global®.  All rights reserved.

The polls will close Tuesday night, November 3. By Wednesday morning (11/4), you’ll want to know what it means for your taxes. 🗳️

Join us for our next wegginar® with Jessica Wargo of Plante Moran: "Reading the Tax Tea Leaves: A Post-Midterm Forecast for Small Business Owners"

📅 Wednesday, November 4

🕚 11 AM CT

You’ll learn:

✅   How the election results may shape tax policy priorities

✅   Where trade policy and negotiations stand now

✅   What multinational businesses should plan for in the year ahead

About Jessica Wargo:

Jessica is an International Tax Services Partner at Plante Moran.  She advises globally active private equity–owned, middle-market, and family-owned businesses in manufacturing, distribution, and services.  She helps with international tax planning and compliance, cash repatriation, foreign tax credits, treaty analysis, and Pillar 2 readiness.

Thanks to Women Entrepreneurs Grow Global's generous sponsors, this event is free, but registration is required.

👉 Register here: https://womenentrepreneursgrowglobal.org/2026/10/07/reading-the-tax-tea-leaves-a-post-midterm-forecast-for-small-business-owners/

See you there and looking forward!

 

How Do You See Yourself?

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To build an effective workout habit, you have to start by changing how you see yourself.  If, for example, you have a job that makes you sit at a desk most of the time, by the end of the workday you might feel stiff and exhausted.

At that point, “it might seem overwhelming to drum up the energy to then go work out,” said Danielle Boles, a behavioral psychologist who studies the impact of mind-set on behavior. But what if you could flip that state of mind around? 

Let's give it a look.

Note: The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global. As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month. This month (October, 2026) we crossed over 1 million readers! Thank you for your engagement! All the news fit to blog about.

Today in Global Small Business: A Contrast in Style and Substance

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What's affecting me, my clients, my colleagues and other global small business owners:

• How Obama and Trump made their cases in dueling midterm speeches.
• President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva clung to power in yesterday's presidential election in Brazil.
• Deeply divided Israel braces for pivotal election.
• Quote of the week: “Elections belong to the people. It's their decision.  If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters.” – Abraham Lincoln
• Israelis have changed. Will they change their leadership?
• 'You gotta stop!' Blanche, CNN's Bash spar in fiery interview.

Note: The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global. As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month. This month (October, 2026) we crossed over 1 million readers! Thank you for your engagement! All the news fit to blog about.

You Are Beautiful

©2026 Laurel J. Delaney.  All rights reserved.

"You are imperfect, permanently and inevitably flawed. And you are beautiful." – Amy Bloom

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  This month (October, 2026) we crossed over 1 million readers! Thank you for your engagement!

Small Business 2027 Economic Outlook: Tariff Refunds, Immigration Reform, and AI Regulations

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What does 2027 have in store for American small businesses?  Despite steady consumer spending and business growth, ongoing concerns about inflation, tariffs, and regulatory changes are making it difficult for business owners to plan ahead.

At the 2026 U.S. Chamber of Commerce (CO) – 100 Small Business Forum, Jeanette Mulvey, Vice President and Editor-in-Chief of CO, – sat down with Neil Bradley, Executive Vice President, Chief Policy Officer, and Head of Strategic Advocacy at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, for a Small Business Update. 

Read on for Bradley's perspective on key issues to help your small business prepare for the year ahead. 

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement! 

America Is In the Middle of An Affordability Crisis

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Natasha Sarin, a contributing Opinion writer for The New York Times, argues that if Americans agree on anything, it’s that we’re in an affordability crisis.  She points to the evidence:  gas often tops $4 a gallon, home prices have climbed more than 50 percent since the pandemic, and the share of Americans who say their finances are getting worse is the highest she has seen in her lifetime.

Read the entire article, Everything Feels So Expensive. Here’s What’s Really Going On.

Note:  The Global Small Business Blog has been in operation since 2004 and is ranked number one in the world for entrepreneurs and small businesses interested in going global.  As of May, 2026, we average between 700,000-900,000 readers a month.  Thank you for your engagement!