Hegseth Moves Third Carrier as Early Votes Pass 21 Million

U.S. military reinforcements are moving into the Middle East as early voting for the midterm elections accelerates.

According to a person briefed on U.S. and Israeli war planning, the two nations are preparing for a possible attack on Iran. This preparation is expected to occur after the November 3 elections. Greg Myre of NPR noted that President Trump likely intends to weigh military action after voters go to the polls. The goal is to avoid a spike in oil prices during the critical voting window. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently visited Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The United States is also sending a third aircraft carrier to the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that his country is ready for both diplomacy and war. Myre reported that while the U.S. and Israel possess the power to cause heavy damage, Tehran shows no sign of making major concessions. Iran is demanding formal control of the Strait of Hormuz. It also seeks the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region.

Domestically, nearly 21 million Americans have cast ballots by mail or in person. This figure comes from the University of Florida's Election Lab. Saige Miller of NPR reported that this total increased by approximately 2 million in a single day. Early voting in key battleground states is running higher than in the previous midterm cycle. Miller cautioned that these early figures should not be viewed as a definitive forecast of final results. The data indicate that Democrats are voting early at higher rates than Republicans. Unaffiliated voters are also participating. Democrats generally prefer early voting, while Republicans tend to turn out on Election Day.

A federal judge in California is restricting pre-election field operations by the Department of Homeland Security. The department stated that these efforts aim to identify noncitizens who allegedly voted illegally in nine states. In a separate legal development, a federal magistrate judge ruled that Donald Trump must sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation case against the BBC. The judge stated that Trump must comply with court rules or face sanctions. The lawsuit centers on a Panorama broadcast from late October 2024. Trump claims the broadcast edited his January 6 speech to make it appear he incited a violent siege of Congress. He has called the broadcast false, misleading, and defamatory under Florida law.

David Folkenflik of NPR noted that it remains unclear whether Trump will appear for the deposition. He previously canceled a session citing matters of national importance and proposed January instead. The case initially focused on economic harm to Trump's brand. The BBC apologized for the splicing but now seeks to understand Trump's state of mind during the speech. BBC attorneys say more than 200 January 6 defendants have stated that the speech motivated them. The network is also seeking details on how Trump has profited since returning to the White House.

Grocery costs remain a concern for consumers. Trump promised lower prices in his second term. While some items have become cheaper, overall grocery prices have risen. Higher labor costs, tariffs, and energy prices tied to the conflict with Iran are driving these increases. Ground beef reached $6.79 per pound last month, an 85% increase over the last decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eggs fell to $2.27 per dozen after reaching a record $6.23 in March 2025. Butter averaged $3.96 in September, a 17.3% decrease from a year earlier due to oversupply. Coffee prices are still 44% higher than they were two years ago, despite the removal of tariffs on the product.