Midterm votes decide Congress today

Voters across the United States cast ballots today to determine which party controls Congress. The election carries a high price tag and a record number of departing lawmakers. Democrats stand a chance to regain control if turnout is strong in specific districts.

President Donald Trump’s popularity has fallen to a historic low. His policies have unsettled the economy and shifted attention to states like Arkansas, Kansas, Mississippi, and Iowa. Voters expressed concern over the war in Iran and rising gas prices. Many felt neglected by the president’s focus on large events rather than local priorities.

Trump told supporters yesterday that a portion of his base could win a landslide. He spoke in the past tense, a departure from his usual style. His team will monitor Republican turnout in key Senate races in Ohio, Kansas, and South Carolina. Close races in South Carolina or Florida would signal a difficult night for Republicans.

Iran is using the U.S. midterms to pressure Washington back to negotiations. The country offered to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in two days if talks resume. This is a faster timeline than the seven days proposed in September. Iranian inflation sits around 90 percent, and officials are urging citizens to conserve energy as winter approaches. Natural gas networks remain unstable due to war damage.

The U.S. conducted defensive strikes on Iranian targets in the Strait of Hormuz last night. The attacks included Qeshm Island, a key launch point for Iranian strikes. Iran reported explosions on the island, though U.S. officials did not independently confirm the details. This pattern of strikes has coincided with increased Iranian attacks on shipping vessels in recent months.

In Massachusetts, a judge is considering a motion to dismiss the case against Lindsay Clancy. Judge William Sullivan of Plymouth Superior Court will announce his decision later this month. Clancy’s attorney requested that the judge dismiss the case or order a new trial. She faces first-degree murder charges for the 2023 deaths of her three young children in Duxbury. The trial ended in a mistrial in September after jurors failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Prosecutors have not disclosed their next steps.

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected a last-minute request from the Department of Justice to intervene in a dispute with California. The Justice Department sought to halt California from processing ballots for thousands of people identified as likely noncitizens. The court’s decision allows California to continue its current procedure for those voters.

The National Symphony Orchestra is performing without its usual home at the Kennedy Center. The venue is involved in a federal court dispute. The orchestra has secured six alternative concert venues in the Washington, D.C., area. It hopes to maintain its budget while navigating the ongoing controversies.