Evening Premium Edition · Wed, Nov 4 · 6:55 p.m.

The Essential 10 · about 3 minutes

1. Updated

   Democrats won control of the House and Senate in the midterm elections

   Democrats took control of both the House and Senate in the Nov. 3 midterms, with at least 29 House seats flipped, Time reported. The Hindu said the new majority can block legislation and nominees and investigate Trump’s administration. The South China Morning Post said Democrats can also challenge spending on the Iran war.

   Reporting: The Hindu, South China Morning Post, National Public Radio, Time

2. Updated

   Ukrainian authorities raised the death toll from the Russian strike to 40

   Ukrainian authorities raised the death toll from a Russian strike on an aid distribution point in Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region to 40, with dozens still missing. Emergency services said four police officers and two rescue crew members were among the dead. Russia’s Defence Ministry said it targeted Ukrainian military units and that up to 25 servicemen were killed.

   Reporting: The Straits Times, Internazionale (with Reuters), Reuters, Australian Associated Press, Al Jazeera, kyfreepress.com.au

3. New

   JD Vance blamed the Iran war for midterm election losses

   JD Vance blamed the Iran war for Republicans’ midterm losses, as Democrats took both chambers of Congress. In a post on X, Vance said many voters who backed him and Donald Trump in 2024 chose Democrats this year. He cited a Republican pollster who listed ending the war, inflation, America’s priorities and ties with Israel as voter concerns.

   Reporting: BBC News, The New York Times, ABC News, NewsNation, CBS News, NBC News, PBS News, Axios

4. Continuing

   Speaker Mike Johnson said he will not seek a House Republican leadership post

   House Speaker Mike Johnson said Wednesday in a letter to colleagues that he will not seek Republican leadership in the next Congress, citing the toll the job took on his family. His letter did not mention the election loss. The Associated Press reported Majority Leader Steve Scalise plans to run; Republicans are scheduled to elect leaders Nov. 10.

   Reporting: Axios, Roll Call, Scripps News, The Washington Post, PBS News (with Associated Press), NBC News, wdsu.com, kplctv.com (with Associated Press)

5. New

   Hillsborough County sheriff says two people died in shooting at Citibank complex

   Two people, including the suspect, died in a shooting Wednesday at Citibank’s office complex in Brandon, near Tampa, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office said. Sheriff Chad Chronister said authorities believed the incident was targeted. Fox 13 reported that 367 deputies and specialized units responded. Citigroup said it was cooperating with authorities.

   Reporting: The Independent, Bloomberg, KCRA 3 Sacramento, PBS News, CNN, ABC News, fox13news.com, wusf.org

6. New

   Donald Trump focused on the White House ballroom project following midterm election defeats

   Donald Trump’s first public comments after Republicans’ midterm losses focused on defending the White House ballroom project, not the defeats. He called reporters to the construction site Wednesday and spoke for nearly 20 minutes. Trump briefly took questions, saying, “If I were on the ballot I would have won,” according to WBAL-TV.

   Reporting: Orange County Register, Associated Press, WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore

7. Updated

   Israeli President Isaac Herzog begins consultations on forming the next government

   Israeli President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified parliamentary election results Wednesday and began consultations with party representatives on forming a government. Neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s bloc nor opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot’s side secured a majority. The election commission rejected fraud claims, which Netanyahu and his supporters had made without substantiation. Herzog’s consultations are scheduled to continue through Thursday.

   Reporting: BBC News, News 3 Las Vegas, PBS News (with Associated Press), KCRA 3 Sacramento, Ynetnews, Haaretz, Al Jazeera

8. New

   Pennsylvania health officials reported the state's sixth measles-associated death of 2026

   Pennsylvania's Department of Health confirmed a sixth measles-associated death in the state this year, involving an unvaccinated Jefferson County resident who tested positive for measles. ABC News reported Pennsylvania had 1,467 cases so far this year, calling it the largest U.S. outbreak in recent memory, and said the national toll was seven, including one death in New York.

   Reporting: ABC News, Reuters, Facebook, U.S. News & World Report, pa.gov

9. New

   3M agreed to pay $7.35 billion to settle firefighting foam injury claims

   3M has agreed to pay $7.35 billion to resolve personal-injury claims tied to PFAS-based firefighting foam, after nearly eight years of federal litigation, according to Legal Examiner. Hoodline reported the settlement covers more than 100,000 claims and will be paid over nine years. CEO William Brown called the agreement a “significant milestone for 3M.”

   Reporting: Hoodline, legalexaminer.com, valawyersweekly.com, bizjournals.com

10. New

    Abdul El-Sayed won the Michigan Senate race over Republican Mike Rogers

    Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan’s U.S. Senate race, according to projections by the Associated Press and NBC News. El-Sayed, a former public health official, will become the first Muslim American to serve in the Senate. Michigan had not elected a Republican to the Senate since 1994.

    Reporting: National Public Radio, UALR Public Radio, USA Today, NBC News, Axios, Newsweek, Chicago Tribune, fox2detroit.com

More stories

U.S.

11. New

    Democrat Troy Jackson unseated Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine's U.S. Senate race

    Democrat Troy Jackson, a former Maine state lawmaker and logger, defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Tuesday’s Senate election, flipping the seat to Democrats. The victory ended Collins’ 30-year Senate career. Collins conceded before the Associated Press called the race, Maine Public reported. Spending by the two sides totaled at least $224 million, a record, the outlet said.

    Reporting: NBC News, National Public Radio, MS NOW, The New York Times, wgme.com, mainepublic.org

12. New

    Democrat Talarico took a Texas Senate seat from Republican Paxton

    Democratic state Rep. James Talarico defeated Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton in Tuesday’s U.S. Senate race, flipping the seat. Talarico is the first Democrat to win a statewide Texas office since 1994, and the first to win a Senate race there since 1988. Reuters reported Elon Musk poured hundreds of millions of dollars into Paxton’s campaign.

    Reporting: PBS News, MS NOW, ABC7 New York, Reuters, Houston Public Media, 19thnews.org

13. Updated

    U.S. stocks rally after Democrats win control of Congress

    Wednesday's market rally followed Democrats' capture of both chambers in Tuesday's midterms. Anadolu Agency reported the Dow rose 1,042 points, or 2.01%, in early trading, while CBS News said it had gained more than 1,200 points, or 2.4%, shortly after the open. NBC New York reported Treasury yields eased, potentially signaling less risk that Washington will add to federal debt.

    Reporting: Anadolu Agency, CBS News, NBC New York

14. New

    Gina Hinojosa unseated Republican incumbent Greg Abbott in Texas's gubernatorial election

    Democratic state Rep. Gina Hinojosa defeated incumbent Republican Gov. Greg Abbott in Texas’s Nov. 3 election, becoming the state’s first Latina governor and its first Democratic governor in 35 years. The Associated Press called the result an upset. Preliminary AP results gave Hinojosa 52.8% of the vote to Abbott’s 45.7%, while NBC News reported Abbott’s campaign outspent hers by tens of millions of dollars.

    Reporting: NBC News, Associated Press, The Washington Post, texasborderbusiness.com

15. New

    Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in Ohio's governor's race

    Democrat Amy Acton defeated Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy to win Ohio’s governorship. She is the first woman elected governor in the state and the first Democrat to win the office since 2006. Ramaswamy had Donald Trump’s endorsement; his campaign’s attack ad featuring Acton’s estranged mother drew backlash across the political aisle.

    Reporting: NBC News, Time, Democracy Now!, National Public Radio, wlwt.com, haitiantimes.com

16. New

    Keisha Lance Bottoms won the Georgia gubernatorial election

    Democrat Keisha Lance Bottoms won Georgia’s governor’s race Tuesday, becoming the first Black woman elected governor in the United States and the state’s first woman governor. She defeated Republican businessman Rick Jackson, who invested more than $200 million of his own money, The Associated Press reported. Bottoms campaigned on expanding Medicaid and raising wages.

    Reporting: Oregon Public Broadcasting, CBS News, PBS News, ABC News, haitiantimes.com, msmagazine.com, stateline.org

17. New

    Democrat Scott Colom led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 65 votes in Mississippi

    Mississippi’s Senate race remained undecided Wednesday, with district attorney Scott Colom leading Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith by 65 votes. An unknown number of affidavit ballots and DeSoto County absentee ballots remain in the final count, which may take days to resolve. Hyde-Smith campaign manager Jake Monssen said the campaign was confident she would prevail. Recounts require a court order.

    Reporting: NBC News, Straight Arrow News, ABC10 Sacramento, wjtv.com, desotocountynews.com

18. Continuing

    Mary Peltola narrowly led Republican Sen Dan Sullivan in Alaska vote counting

    Democratic challenger Mary Peltola led Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan by 626 first-choice votes in an early Wednesday count, while an Alaska Beacon analysis found Sullivan could receive hundreds more redistributed votes than Peltola if the race goes to a ranked-choice runoff. The Alaska Division of Elections said 20,000 early votes and as many as 40,000 absentee ballots remained uncounted.

    Reporting: The Hill, Newsweek, Alaska Beacon, Votebeat

19. New

    Democrats won control of the House and Senate and pledged scrutiny of AI companies

    Democrats’ election sweep puts them in control of the House and Senate and sets up increased scrutiny of artificial intelligence companies. They have pledged investigations, hearings and new rules; Democratic Rep. Greg Casar called for company chief executives to testify under oath. Trump and allied Republicans have resisted federal AI regulation, citing competition with China.

    Reporting: USA Today, The Hill, The Washington Post, Politico, The New York Times, ciodive.com

20. New

    A federal judge dismissed all criminal charges against Russian-born scientist Kseniia Petrova

    A federal judge dismissed all criminal charges against Kseniia Petrova, a Russian-born Harvard Medical School researcher, after prosecutors sought dismissal. Prosecutors said they acted after an April order allowed Petrova to obtain evidence supporting her claim of vindictive prosecution. Petrova spent four months in immigration detention after arriving at a Boston airport with frog-embryo samples.

    Reporting: New York Post, NBC News, Greenwich Time, law360.com

21. New

    Voters rejected data center development in nearly all local midterm ballot measures

    Voters across the country rejected or restricted data center development in local ballot measures during the 2026 midterms, signaling broad resistance to AI infrastructure. In Trenton, Ohio, voters banned centers over 25 megawatts; nearly 80% of Joliet, Illinois, voters backed restrictions. Harwood, North Dakota, was the lone community where voters rejected data center restrictions.

    Reporting: New York Post, CNBC, The New York Times, National Public Radio, The Washington Post, capitalbnews.org, wptz.com, stateline.org

World

22. New

    North Korea fired missiles toward waters off its east coast

    North Korea launched several missiles toward waters off its east coast on Wednesday, South Korea’s military said, hours after Pyongyang rejected renewed diplomacy with Washington. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, said there was no need for talks with people she called hostile. The Wall Street Journal reported nine known launches in two months.

    Reporting: The Wall Street Journal, The Nightly, Nation Path India, New York Post, Al Jazeera, The Financial News (South Korea)

23. New

    Indonesia's military is deploying more than 20,000 troops and personnel to Jakarta

    Indonesia’s military is deploying more than 20,000 troops and personnel to Jakarta as authorities investigate alleged illegal wiretapping targeting President Prabowo Subianto. Police said three senior police generals were detained Sunday and named as suspects. Reuters separately reported Prabowo dismissed his chief of staff after the aide’s arrest; the government said the scandal pointed to treason.

    Reporting: The Times of Israel, ABC News, Reuters, The Australian, arabtimesonline.com

24. Updated

    Search crews recovered the remains of a missing woman in British Columbia

    Jennifer Balcarras and her daughter, Selah Reed, were found dead after a suspected grizzly bear attack near Bella Coola, British Columbia. Inspector Jeff Tyre of the British Columbia Conservation Officer Service said evidence suggested a bear may have been involved. Officers are working to locate and capture any bears involved.

    Reporting: CBS News, The Washington Times, New York Post, Fox News, wdhn.com, thetrek.co, canadianinquirer.net, wabi.tv

25. New

    Serbian authorities detained nine serving police officers and one former officer in Belgrade

    Serbian authorities detained nine serving and one former police officer over alleged excessive force against detainees at last year’s anti-corruption protests in Belgrade, the Interior Ministry said. The ministry said the suspects allegedly tortured and intimidated people held in a garage at a government complex on August 14–15, 2025. Reuters described the detentions as first major arrests tied to protest violence.

    Reporting: Internazionale (with Reuters), Reuters, UA News, Demokratis, Mezha, kiprinform.com

26. New

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hoped U.S. elections would bring Ukraine more help

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he hoped the outcome of the U.S. midterm elections would bring more American aid to Ukraine. He said additional U.S. assistance could affect Vladimir Putin. Reuters reported the remarks in an interview on Wednesday.

    Reporting: AOL (with Reuters), deccanherald.com

Business & Markets

27. Updated

    CVS Health plans to split into two publicly traded companies in 2028

    CVS Health said it will split into two publicly traded companies in the first half of 2028. Aetna, Caremark, specialty pharmacies, Oak Street Health and Signify Health will remain together. CVS Pharmacy will include about 9,000 stores; Prem Shah, who currently runs pharmacy, related businesses and healthcare delivery, will become its CEO.

    Reporting: NBC News (with Reuters), Beinsure, Reuters, cbs19.tv, forrester.com

28. New

    Traders drove U.S. crude below $90 on hopes of diplomacy

    U.S. crude prices fell below $90 a barrel Wednesday, while Brent crude dropped below $100, as midterm results and JD Vance’s attribution of Republican losses to the Iran war eased fears of further escalation. Traders reassessed prospects for a diplomatic end to the conflict, though BigGo Finance said the Strait of Hormuz standoff remained unresolved.

    Reporting: The Economic Times, BigGo Finance, Pluang, financialexpress.com

29. Updated

    Bangladesh garment workers clash with police, with hundreds of factories shut

    Hundreds of Bangladesh garment factories remained shut Wednesday as workers demanding higher wages clashed with police, who used tear gas and stun grenades to disperse them. Workers are seeking a minimum monthly wage of 30,000 takas ($245), up from 12,500. AOL reported the newly formed wage board agreed to implement a revised pay structure from December.

    Reporting: The Hamilton Spectator, Batesville Daily Guard, Killeen Daily Herald, The Guardian, Reuters, AOL, oskaloosa.com

Health

30. Updated

    The French Blood Establishment reports an attack targeting refrigeration controls at three sites

    Hackers attempted to drive temperatures sharply higher in refrigeration units at three French Blood Establishment (EFS) sites, the EFS said. Monitoring and alarm systems detected anomalies, allowing staff to secure or move plasma before any products or samples were compromised. The Health Ministry said remote access was disabled; no blood products were lost and distribution continued.

    Reporting: Anadolu Agency, The Telegraph, CBS News, Deutsche Welle, Reuters

31. New

    The WHO approved clinical trials for two Ebola vaccines during a DRC outbreak

    The WHO approved clinical trials for two new vaccines targeting the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, amid the DRC’s largest-ever outbreak. More than 5,300 people have been killed since May, most in the DRC. The African Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said 10,444 cases had been confirmed. Kenya reported nine cases, including two deaths; WHO confirmed one case in Nigeria.

    Reporting: Al Jazeera