Third Carrier Heads to Middle East as 21 Million Americans Vote Early
Military buildup coincides with a surge in early ballots, with officials citing oil price concerns as a key factor in the timing of potential strikes.
By Alexander Novak ·
American voters are casting ballots at a rapid pace while military assets move into the Middle East. Nearly 21 million people have already voted by mail or in person, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab. The 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.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered a third aircraft carrier to the region. 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 Nov. 3 elections. President Trump is expected to weigh military action after the vote to prevent oil prices from spiking before voters reach the polls.
Hegseth recently traveled to Israel to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that 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 area. U.S. and Israeli officials indicate they have the capacity to inflict heavy damage, but Iran shows no sign of making major concessions.
The University of Florida's Election Lab data shows Democrats voting early at higher rates than Republicans. Unaffiliated voters are also participating in large numbers. Saige Miller from NPR noted that Democrats generally prefer early voting, while Republicans tend to turn out on Election Day. She cautioned against using early figures to predict final results.
In California, a federal judge 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.
A federal magistrate judge ruled that President 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. Trump has called the broadcast false, misleading and defamatory under Florida law.
BBC attorneys say more than 200 Jan. 6 defendants have said the speech motivated them. The network is seeking details on how Trump has profited since returning to the White House to gauge the extent of any damage. Ground beef reached $6.79 per pound last month, an 85% increase in a decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Coffee remains 44% higher than two years ago despite the removal of tariffs.
Source: NPR
