News Summary at 2:50 p.m. EST

Midterm elections opened across the U.S. Tuesday as voters decide whether Republicans can hold control of Congress. Democrats need to flip four Senate seats and three House seats to take charge of the chambers and respond to President Donald Trump’s agenda during the last two years of his term. The contest is concentrated in states and districts Trump won by large margins. Democrats are tying their message to Trump’s low approval ratings, dissatisfaction with the war in Iran, and affordability concerns, while Republicans emphasize social issues and Trump remains the central figure. Trump also said inflation is “solved,” despite Commerce data showing consumer prices up 3.6% in September from a year earlier. He added the U.S. will halt $4B in annual aid to Israel in 2027.