Third US Carrier Deploys as Early Vote Count Rises

The United States is moving a third aircraft carrier to the Middle East as early voting numbers climb ahead of the midterm elections.

Military preparations for a potential conflict with Iran have intensified in recent weeks. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently traveled to Israel for meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A person briefed on joint U.S. and Israeli war planning told NPR that the two nations are preparing for a possible attack on Iran following the November 3 election. President Donald Trump is expected to weigh military action after Election Day to avoid a spike in oil prices before voters cast their ballots.

Iran has stated it is ready for both diplomacy and war. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran is prepared for either outcome. The country has not indicated a willingness to make major concessions. Instead, Iran is demanding formal control of the Strait of Hormuz and the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the region.

In the United States, nearly 21 million Americans have already voted by mail or in person, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab. That total increased by about 2 million in a single day. Early voting in key battleground states is higher than in the last midterm cycle. Democrats are voting early at higher rates than Republicans, while unaffiliated voters are also participating. Republicans tend to turn out on Election Day, so early figures may not predict final results.

A federal judge in California is restricting 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. In a separate legal development, a federal magistrate judge ruled that President Trump must sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation case against the BBC. The judge said Trump must comply with court rules or face sanctions. The case centers on a Panorama broadcast from late October 2024 that allegedly edited his January 6 speech to make it seem he incited a violent siege of Congress.

Grocery prices remain a point of concern for voters. Overall grocery prices have risen due to higher labor costs, tariffs, and energy prices tied to the conflict with Iran. Ground beef reached $6.79 per pound last month, an increase of 85% over the past decade. Eggs fell to $2.27 per dozen after reaching a record $6.23 in March 2025. Butter averaged $3.96 in September, a 17.3% drop from a year earlier. Coffee prices are still 44% higher than they were two years ago.

The next major scheduled events include the November 3 election and the upcoming deposition in the BBC lawsuit. The deposition date has not been set, but the judge ordered Trump to comply with court rules. The BBC has apologized for the splicing in the Panorama broadcast and now seeks to understand Trump's state of mind during the speech.