Third Carrier Heads to Middle East as Early Votes Top 21 Million
Military buildup in the region coincides with a surge in pre-election voting and rising grocery prices.
By Lina Lewis ·
The number of Americans voting before Election Day reached nearly 21 million this week. The University of Florida's Election Lab reported a daily increase of about 2 million ballots. Meanwhile, the United States is moving a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A person briefed on U.S. and Israeli war planning told NPR that the two nations are preparing for a possible attack on Iran after the midterms. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said his country is ready for both diplomacy and war.
Tehran is demanding formal control of the Strait of Hormuz and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region. The U.S. and Israel have the power to do heavy damage, but Iran shows no sign of making major concessions. President Trump is likely to weigh military action after Nov. 3 to avoid a jump in oil prices before voters go to the polls.
In another 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 ordered him to comply with court rules or face sanctions. The suit centers on a Panorama broadcast from late October 2024 that allegedly edited his Jan. 6 speech to make it seem he incited a violent siege of Congress.
The BBC wants to understand Trump's state of mind during the speech. Attorneys for the network say more than 200 Jan. 6 defendants have said 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 voters. Ground beef reached $6.79 per pound last month, up 85% in a decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eggs fell to $2.27 per dozen after a record $6.23 in March 2025. Coffee is still 44% higher than two years ago despite the removal of tariffs.
A federal judge in California is restricting pre-election field operations by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency says the efforts aim to identify noncitizens who allegedly voted illegally in nine states.
