GDP Report, Election Deadlock and Key Campaign Races Highlight Pre‑Election Landscape
A fresh GDP reading, a stalemate in Israel’s parliament and dozens of high‑spending U.S. House races shape the final stretch before the midterms.
Final Economic Data Arrives Ahead of Midterms
Americans will receive a final reading on the country’s gross domestic product and the state of inflation today, just days before next week’s midterm election. The report will indicate whether the economy grew faster in the summer than in the spring. Economists expect the GDP figure to be higher, though some describe the growth as delicate.
Israel’s Parliamentary Vote Stalls
More than 90% of votes have been counted in Israel’s election, yet no party has secured a clear path to a governing coalition. A majority requires 61 seats in parliament. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies have secured 53 seats, while his main rival Gadi Eisenkot and his allies hold 48 seats, leaving the outcome uncertain.
High‑Spending House Races Signal Tight Competition
As Election Day approaches, the focus has shifted from whether a Democratic wave will occur to how large that wave might be. Both parties continue to pour money into competitive, Republican‑dominated districts, and Republicans are matching those efforts. An NPR analysis found 70 districts where Democrats and Republicans are each investing more than six figures in their final messaging, marking them as the races to watch.
Legal Challenge to Student‑Debt Program
A lawsuit filed yesterday alleges that the Department of Education is illegally refusing to follow the rules of the “closed school discharge” program, which for more than three decades required the Secretary of Education to cancel debts for borrowers whose schools close unexpectedly. The nonprofit borrower advocacy group Student Defense filed the suit on behalf of potentially thousands of borrowers. The Education Department told NPR it stands by its implementation of the program.
Medicare Open Enrollment Guidance
Medicare’s open enrollment window runs through Dec. 7. More than half of Americans on Medicare choose a Medicare Advantage plan, which is run by private insurers and often includes dental and vision coverage with lower premiums than traditional Medicare. Recent research in JAMA notes that private carriers have been withdrawing from unprofitable communities at an increasing rate, prompting the need for tips to navigate this year’s enrollment.
Bernie Taupin’s First Solo Album
Bernie Taupin, known as Elton John’s lyricist, is releasing his first solo album in 40 years, titled The Sea Has No Mercy. The collection features songs written and sung by Taupin himself. In an interview with Morning Edition’s A Martínez, he described himself more as a storyteller than a traditional songwriter, explaining his new focus on sharing his own musical voice.
Additional Notes
The Up First newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.
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