Americans vote in midterms cast as a Trump referendum; seven Senate races could flip the chamber
Plus, Trump's closing speech at the Reflecting Pool, Iran's two-day Hormuz offer, a judge tosses a Hunter Biden laptop case against ex-FBI officials, nuclear-threat alerts that officials said were not real hit apps in Ukraine and Russia — and explorer Karl Bushby finishes a 28-year walk home.
RUSH NEWSTREAMMorningRUSH Americans vote in midterms cast as a Trump referendum; seven Senate races could flip the chamber Photo: BBC 01Americans head to the polls in midterms cast as a referendum on Trump
Voters decide control of the House and Senate on Tuesday in midterms widely framed as a judgment on President Trump's second term. Democrats need modest net gains to take both chambers, while Republicans are trying to buck the usual midterm losses for the party that holds the White House.
02Seven Senate toss-ups could decide which party controls the chamber
Control of the Senate is likely to turn on a handful of competitive races. Republicans hold a 53-47 edge, so Democrats need a net gain of four seats. Late polls and a prediction market favor Democrats, while some analysts warn recent Trump-era polling has understated Republican strength.
03Trump's closing midterm speech centers on the Reflecting Pool
On the eve of the midterms, President Trump delivered his final in-person campaign message at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool rather than on a traditional swing-state stop. Reflecting Pool trended on X. Much of the hour-long speech focused on the pool renovation and other Washington construction projects.
04Iran says Hormuz could reopen in two days if U.S. meets its terms
After Qatari-mediated talks, Iran says a draft plan could restore traffic through the Strait of Hormuz within two days if Washington meets a list of conditions. Iranian negotiators have left Doha; the United States has not confirmed a deal.
05Judge dismisses case accusing ex-FBI officials of lying about Hunter Biden probe
A federal magistrate judge in Washington threw out a criminal complaint against former FBI officials Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides. He found no probable cause they lied to Congress about the Hunter Biden laptop investigation and called the prosecution weaponization timed near the midterms.
06Hackers push nuclear-threat alerts on emergency apps in Ukraine and Russia
Ukraine's widely used Air Alert app sent warnings of radiation, chemical threats and a nuclear strike on Sunday night that Ukrainian authorities said were not real. Hours later, Russia's emergencies ministry said its own app was hit by a massive cyberattack that spread threat messages it called fake. Officials said there was no radiation danger.
07Explorer Karl Bushby finishes 28-year, 31,000-mile walk around the world
British adventurer Karl Bushby returned to his mother's home in Hull, England, on Monday, completing a walk that began in Chile in 1998. The 31,000-mile journey crossed four continents and 30 countries.