Hegseth Moves Third Carrier as Midterm Voting Tops 21 Million
The U.S. deploys additional naval assets to the Middle East while early voting figures surge and legal and economic pressures mount at home.
By Aiko Soto ·
A third U.S. aircraft carrier is heading to the Middle East.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the deployment as part of a wider military buildup. A person briefed on American and Israeli war planning told NPR that the two nations are preparing for a potential strike on Iran. The timing suggests Washington may wait until after the midterm elections on November 3 to act. President Donald Trump is expected to consider military options then, a move designed to prevent oil prices from spiking before voters head to the polls.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that his country is ready for both diplomacy and war. Tehran has not signaled major concessions. Instead, the Iranian government demands formal control of the Strait of Hormuz and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region. Hegseth recently traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, further cementing the coordination between the two allies.
At home, nearly 21 million Americans have already cast ballots, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab. This total rose by approximately 2 million in a single day. Early voting in key battleground states is running higher than in the previous midterm cycle. However, analysts caution that early numbers do not guarantee final results. Democrats typically vote at higher rates in the early period, while Republicans often turn out on Election Day itself.
Legal challenges continue to pile up for the administration. A federal judge in California is restricting pre-election field operations by the Department of Homeland Security. The department argues these efforts identify noncitizens who allegedly voted illegally in nine states. In a separate matter, a federal magistrate judge ruled that Trump must sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The judge warned that failure to comply with court rules could result in sanctions.
The BBC suit centers on a Panorama broadcast from late October 2024. The network allegedly edited Trump's January 6 speech to make it appear he incited a violent siege of Congress. BBC attorneys claim more than 200 defendants have said the speech motivated them. The network is also seeking details on how Trump has profited since returning to the White House to gauge the extent of any economic damage.
Grocery prices remain a point of contention. While some items have become cheaper, overall costs have risen due to labor, tariffs, and energy prices tied to the Iran conflict. Ground beef reached $6.79 per pound last month, an 85% increase over a decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eggs fell to $2.27 per dozen after hitting a record $6.23 in March 2025. Butter averaged $3.96 in September, down 17.3% from the previous year. Coffee prices remain 44% higher than they were two years ago, despite the removal of tariffs on the commodity.
