Third Carrier Departs as Early Votes Pass 21 Million

A third U.S. aircraft carrier has departed for the Middle East as military planners prepare for potential conflict with Iran. The move coincides with a surge in early voting, with nearly 21 million Americans already casting ballots for the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

According to the University of Florida's Election Lab, the total number of early votes rose by approximately 2 million in a single day. NPR correspondent Saige Miller noted that early voting in key battleground states is running higher than in the previous midterm cycle. However, Miller cautioned that these figures do not guarantee a final outcome, noting that Democrats tend to vote early while Republicans often wait for Election Day.

On the military front, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Israel to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A person briefed on U.S. and Israeli war planning told NPR that both nations are preparing for a possible strike on Iran after the midterms. President Trump is expected to weigh military options after the election to prevent a spike in oil prices from influencing voters.

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 region. Araghchi said Iran shows no sign of making major concessions despite the increased American military presence.

At home, the cost of living remains a focal point for voters. Ground beef reached $6.79 per pound last month, an 85% increase over the past decade, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Eggs dropped to $2.27 per dozen after hitting a record high of $6.23 in March 2025. Butter averaged $3.96 in September, down 17.3% from a year earlier due to oversupply. Coffee prices remain 44% higher than two years ago, despite the removal of tariffs.

In California, a federal judge has restricted pre-election field operations by the Department of Homeland Security. The agency said its efforts aim to identify noncitizens who allegedly voted illegally in nine states. Separately, 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 Trump to comply with court rules or face sanctions.

The BBC case centers on a Panorama broadcast from late October 2024 that allegedly edited Trump's Jan. 6 speech. The network apologized for the splicing but seeks to understand Trump's state of mind during the address. BBC attorneys noted that more than 200 Jan. 6 defendants said the speech motivated them. Trump previously canceled a deposition citing matters of national importance and proposed a January date instead.

The deployment of the third carrier marks a significant shift in naval positioning. U.S. personnel are also rotating out of the region as reinforcements arrive. The timing of the buildup suggests that any major military action is likely to follow the Nov. 3 vote.