{
  "id": 18117612,
  "title": "As an American expat in the Middle East, I still care deeply about the country I left behind",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/as-an-american-expat-in-the-middle-east-i-still-care-deeply-about-the",
  "topic": "business",
  "section": "Business",
  "published": "2026-11-04T12:06:30.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The National Business",
    "slug": "the-national-business",
    "url": "https://www.thenationalnews.com/lifestyle/2026/11/04/american-in-the-middle-east-i-still-care-deeply-about-the-us-elections-midterms/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "For over a decade, I've called the United Arab Emirates home. From my residence in Abu Dhabi, I have witnessed three US presidential elections and many political decisions unfold while I was away from my family and friends in Massachusetts. Despite the distance, I remain deeply connected to the country I left behind, even if the results don't always hit me as personally as they once did. As I watched the US midterms from my newsroom, screens tuned to foreign news channels, I felt the same tension of knowing how much is at stake. I remember the shock of Donald Trump's 2016 election and the mixed emotions I felt when Joe Biden was elected in 2020. Now, as 2024 approaches, I struggle to find the same enthusiasm. The election outcomes may be uncertain, but I remain eager to see how the country will progress. In the UAE, I've gained a broader perspective on the impact of US decisions on the world and how familiar narratives can shape perceptions of a place. I try to apply that awareness to my understanding of America, acknowledging that there's more to the country than the political divisions that dominate the media. I often find myself explaining to others that \"not all of America is like that\" or \"it isn't all Americans\". A friend recently mentioned that he enjoys following US politics, comparing it to a soap opera. When I asked why he wasn't as interested in his own country's politics, he joked that it was \"too close to home\". I can see the appeal, and perhaps that's why he knows more about American politics than I do. Although I can vote from my home in Abu Dhabi and have done so, sometimes I wish I could do more to make a difference. Being away when the outcome of those votes impacts my loved ones is difficult. I'm not the only expat who feels this way. Even though I care about America's future, I'm not always confident about my own future there. Despite the distance and time apart, I still hope for a positive outcome.",
  "summary": "I’ve now lived in the UAE for more than a decade. From Abu Dhabi, I’ve watched three US presidential elections and numerous political decisions shape America’s direction since I left in 2014. My family and friends still live in Massachusetts , so what happens in the US continues to matter deeply to me, even though I am more than 10,000km away. But living abroad has also shielded me from some of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Burnham pledges Middle East de-escalation push after US midterms",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/burnham-pledges-middle-east-de-escalation-push-after-us-midterms",
        "published": "2026-11-04T14:24:44.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}