Hegseth Sends Third Carrier to Region as Early Votes Top 21 Million

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth ordered the deployment of a third U.S. aircraft carrier to the Middle East. This move follows recent travels by Hegseth to Israel, where he met 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. The timing of such an action is expected to follow the midterm elections on Nov. 3.

President Trump is expected to weigh military options after voters have cast their ballots. The goal is to avoid a spike in oil prices before the election. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that his country is ready for both diplomacy and war. Tehran has demanded formal control of the Strait of Hormuz and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the area.

At home, the University of Florida's Election Lab reports that nearly 21 million Americans have already voted by mail or in person. This total increased by about 2 million in a single day. Early voting rates in key battleground states are higher than in the last midterm cycle. Democrats are voting at higher rates than Republicans, though Republicans typically turn out in larger numbers on Election Day itself.

Grocery costs remain a significant concern for households. Ground beef reached $6.79 per pound last month, an 85% increase over the past decade according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eggs have fallen to $2.27 per dozen after hitting a record high of $6.23 in March 2025. Butter averaged $3.96 in September, a 17.3% drop from the previous year due to oversupply. Coffee prices remain 44% higher than two years ago despite the removal of tariffs.

In a related legal development, a federal magistrate judge ruled that Trump must sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation case against the BBC. The suit concerns a Panorama broadcast from late October 2024 that allegedly edited his Jan. 6 speech. The BBC apologized for the splicing and seeks to understand Trump's state of mind during the speech. Trump has previously canceled a deposition citing matters of national importance and proposed January as a new date.

A federal judge in California is also restricting pre-election field operations by the Department of Homeland Security. The department claims these efforts aim to identify noncitizens who allegedly voted illegally in nine states. The ruling adds another layer of legal scrutiny to the election period. These events occur as military assets shift positions and voters continue to participate early.