California Budget Deal Closes $24 Billion Gap

ABC News: “Whether through mail-in ballots or early in-person polling stations, more than 68 million Americans, roughly 43% of the 2020 turnout, had voted against standing in line on Election Day as of Friday afternoon.” Washington Post: Where millions of Americans have cast ballots during early voting.

“After two years and a multibillion-dollar barrage of political attack ads, the fight for Senate control is down to a handful of races, with Republicans holding a clear edge but Democrats maintaining a narrow path to retaining their majority if events break their way,” the New York Times reports. “As the final days of an intensely polarizing campaign season play out, the Senate focus is on seats held by Democrats in Montana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Michigan, and on Republican seats in Texas and Nebraska.” “The outcome will help determine how much power the next president can wield, given the Senate’s crucial role in approving cabinet and judicial nominations and in setting — or thwarting — the legislative agenda.”

New York Times: “There was a slow start. Mr. Musk fired his initial team after months of work and burning through $20 million, and later replaced his staff in Nevada and Arizona. But now the PAC, primarily though four different companies, is paying for what donors have been told is an operation of more than 2,500 canvassers, largely targeting rural voters in battleground states.

“Iran’s Supreme Leader escalated his rhetoric, warning of a ‘crushing response’ to the country’s enemies – including the US – following Israel’s missile strike on the country a week ago,” Bloomberg reports.

“The midterm elections two years ago didn’t deliver the massive ‘red wave’ Republicans were hoping for, and young voters were a big part of the reason,” USA Today reports. “Their increasing political reliability, bucking long-held perceptions, has been a clear priority for both parties in the weeks and months leading up to Tuesday’s general election.