Haley Stevens backs Mike Rogers. And, Gulf states brace for potential attack on Iran

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens stunned the political landscape by endorsing GOP Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers for Michigan's open Senate seat, breaking with her party less than 48 hours before Election Day. The surprise defection followed weeks of deteriorating relations with her former primary opponent, Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. In her endorsement of Rogers, Stevens cited El-Sayed's ties to political streamer Hasan Piker, whose remarks concerning Jewish people and Israel sparked backlash in August. El-Sayed sought to distance himself from the controversy, but Stevens has criticized him for not doing enough to reassure Black and Jewish voters who backed her in the primary.

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, right, and Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., attend a service at Perfecting Church, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Detroit. Jose Juarez/AP hide caption

Jose Juarez/AP

After tomorrow's elections, Trump may choose to bomb Iran again — an option he has discussed with Israel. The U.S.' partners in the Gulf are on edge and bracing for potential conflict. Qatar has been actively leading negotiations with Iran over the past 72 hours to prevent further fighting.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow in a case between the Catholic Church and Colorado's taxpayer-funded pre-K programs. The case questions whether religious schools can refuse admission to children of gay and trans parents, which would violate a state law against discrimination. For decades, the Supreme Court upheld the separation of church and state. But in the past 10 years, the court's conservative majority has increasingly shifted focus to the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom. This shift complicates Colorado's inclusive pre-K initiative aimed at ensuring that virtually all 4-year-olds in the state get a pre-K education. To meet its goal, the state included religious schools in its program, as long as they comply with state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

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Getty Images

"Your Turn" is a special series from NPR's Allison Aubrey, exploring how to navigate your way through midlife.

Burnout can be a challenge during midlife. As work and home obligations take up more of your focus, burnout can slowly sap your sense of joy and wonder in everyday life. Psychiatrist Judith Joseph says there's a term for this: anhedonia. It's the inability or reduced capacity to experience pleasure from things that are normally enjoyable. Joseph says it can accompany what she calls "high-functioning depression," and she describes it as depression's "silent sister." Here's what the research shows about high-functioning depression:

Want to know more? Read more about the Five V's, sign up for the Your Turn newsletter and listen to the Your Turn podcast for tools and inspiring stories that blend science and wisdom to help you move forward to what's next.

by Tamara Keith, senior political correspondent

People arrive at a polling location during early voting in the midterm election, in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 13, 2026. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Photo by Erik S. Lesser/AFP via Getty Images

At this stage in the midterms, all that's left is the voting and the waiting. On election night, I'll be in Studio 31 at NPR headquarters with browser tabs full of spreadsheets, watching the results roll in and sharing context with NPR listeners.

One of those spreadsheets lists all the congressional districts that have been redrawn since 2024 as part of a mid-decade redistricting push by President Trump. Facing down the historical precedent that the president's party usually loses seats in the midterms, the president pressured Republican-led states to create more sure-thing GOP districts.

But headed into voting, the results in two-thirds of those districts are very much up in the air. In some cases, Democrats are favored. These are places Trump would have won by 10 points just two years ago.

Last month, I saw that the president had a campaign rally scheduled in Greenville, N.C. But national Republicans essentially stopped running ads for Michael Whatley — Trump's handpicked nominee — and diverted resources to states with more competitive races. So, why was the president holding another rally? I reached out to a few sources in the state.

What I learned is that the real reason for the president's trip was almost certainly to help the Republican candidate in eastern North Carolina's first congressional district. It is now one of the most hotly contested and expensive House races in the country, despite new district lines that should have made it an easy Republican pick-up.

Two days of driving through this very large district, one Trump rally, two bags of gummy candy and a lot of coffee later, I was back in the office digging into my spreadsheet of congressional districts. NC-01 isn't an isolated case. A majority of districts redrawn to be a firewall for a Republican majority have turned out to be far more competitive than expected.

So, Tuesday night (and beyond), I'll be filling in the wins and losses to see how this gambit turned out. In the meantime, read more from me about how Trump is spending his final days on the campaign trail. And, you can listen to everything you need to know about the midterms on Up First: The Sunday Story.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., appears at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 18, 2025. Murphy's office says he was hospitalized this weekend with a stroke. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · NPR ↗

Democrats in Michigan are considering their options after Haley Stevens endorsed GOP candidate Mike Rogers for Senate. And the Gulf states are bracing for a possible U.S. attack…

This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens stunned the political landscape by endorsing GOP Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers for Michigan's open Senate seat, breaking with her party less than 48 hours before Election Day. The surprise defection followed weeks of deteriorating relations with her former primary opponent, Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. In her endorsement of Rogers, Stevens cited El-Sayed's ties to political streamer Hasan Piker, whose remarks concerning Jewish people and Israel sparked backlash in August. El-Sayed sought to distance himself from the controversy, but Stevens has criticized him for not doing enough to reassure Black and Jewish voters who backed her in the primary.

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, right, and Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., attend a service at Perfecting Church, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Detroit. Jose Juarez/AP hide caption

Jose Juarez/AP

After tomorrow's elections, Trump may choose to bomb Iran again — an option he has discussed with Israel. The U.S.' partners in the Gulf are on edge and bracing for potential conflict. Qatar has been actively leading negotiations with Iran over the past 72 hours to prevent further fighting.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow in a case between the Catholic Church and Colorado's taxpayer-funded pre-K programs. The case questions whether religious schools can refuse admission to children of gay and trans parents, which would violate a state law against discrimination. For decades, the Supreme Court upheld the separation of church and state. But in the past 10 years, the court's conservative majority has increasingly shifted focus to the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom. This shift complicates Colorado's inclusive pre-K initiative aimed at ensuring that virtually all 4-year-olds in the state get a pre-K education. To meet its goal, the state included religious schools in its program, as long as they comply with state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Getty Images Getty Images hide caption

Getty Images

"Your Turn" is a special series from NPR's Allison Aubrey, exploring how to navigate your way through midlife.

Burnout can be a challenge during midlife. As work and home obligations take up more of your focus, burnout can slowly sap your sense of joy and wonder in everyday life. Psychiatrist Judith Joseph says there's a term for this: anhedonia. It's the inability or reduced capacity to experience pleasure from things that are normally enjoyable. Joseph says it can accompany what she calls "high-functioning depression," and she describes it as depression's "silent sister." Here's what the research shows about high-functioning depression:

Want to know more? Read more about the Five V's, sign up for the Your Turn newsletter and listen to the Your Turn podcast for tools and inspiring stories that blend science and wisdom to help you move forward to what's next.

by Tamara Keith, senior political correspondent

People arrive at a polling location during early voting in the midterm election, in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 13, 2026. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Photo by Erik S. Lesser/AFP via Getty Images

At this stage in the midterms, all that's left is the voting and the waiting. On election night, I'll be in Studio 31 at NPR headquarters with browser tabs full of spreadsheets, watching the results roll in and sharing context with NPR listeners.

One of those spreadsheets lists all the congressional districts that have been redrawn since 2024 as part of a mid-decade redistricting push by President Trump. Facing down the historical precedent that the president's party usually loses seats in the midterms, the president pressured Republican-led states to create more sure-thing GOP districts.

But headed into voting, the results in two-thirds of those districts are very much up in the air. In some cases, Democrats are favored. These are places Trump would have won by 10 points just two years ago.

Last month, I saw that the president had a campaign rally scheduled in Greenville, N.C. But national Republicans essentially stopped running ads for Michael Whatley — Trump's handpicked nominee — and diverted resources to states with more competitive races. So, why was the president holding another rally? I reached out to a few sources in the state.

What I learned is that the real reason for the president's trip was almost certainly to help the Republican candidate in eastern North Carolina's first congressional district. It is now one of the most hotly contested and expensive House races in the country, despite new district lines that should have made it an easy Republican pick-up.

Two days of driving through this very large district, one Trump rally, two bags of gummy candy and a lot of coffee later, I was back in the office digging into my spreadsheet of congressional districts. NC-01 isn't an isolated case. A majority of districts redrawn to be a firewall for a Republican majority have turned out to be far more competitive than expected.

So, Tuesday night (and beyond), I'll be filling in the wins and losses to see how this gambit turned out. In the meantime, read more from me about how Trump is spending his final days on the campaign trail. And, you can listen to everything you need to know about the midterms on Up First: The Sunday Story.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., appears at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 18, 2025. Murphy's office says he was hospitalized this weekend with a stroke. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · NPR ↗

Good morning. You're reading the Up First newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox, and listen to the Up First podcast for all the news you need to start your day.

Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens stunned the political landscape by endorsing GOP Michigan Senate candidate Mike Rogers for Michigan's open Senate seat, breaking with her party less than 48 hours before Election Day. The surprise defection followed weeks of deteriorating relations with her former primary opponent, Democratic nominee Abdul El-Sayed. In her endorsement of Rogers, Stevens cited El-Sayed's ties to political streamer Hasan Piker, whose remarks concerning Jewish people and Israel sparked backlash in August. El-Sayed sought to distance himself from the controversy, but Stevens has criticized him for not doing enough to reassure Black and Jewish voters who backed her in the primary.

Michigan Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers, right, and Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., attend a service at Perfecting Church, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, in Detroit. Jose Juarez/AP hide caption

Jose Juarez/AP

After tomorrow's elections, Trump may choose to bomb Iran again — an option he has discussed with Israel. The U.S.' partners in the Gulf are on edge and bracing for potential conflict. Qatar has been actively leading negotiations with Iran over the past 72 hours to prevent further fighting.

The Supreme Court will hear arguments tomorrow in a case between the Catholic Church and Colorado's taxpayer-funded pre-K programs. The case questions whether religious schools can refuse admission to children of gay and trans parents, which would violate a state law against discrimination. For decades, the Supreme Court upheld the separation of church and state. But in the past 10 years, the court's conservative majority has increasingly shifted focus to the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom. This shift complicates Colorado's inclusive pre-K initiative aimed at ensuring that virtually all 4-year-olds in the state get a pre-K education. To meet its goal, the state included religious schools in its program, as long as they comply with state laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity.

Getty Images Getty Images hide caption

Getty Images

"Your Turn" is a special series from NPR's Allison Aubrey, exploring how to navigate your way through midlife.

Burnout can be a challenge during midlife. As work and home obligations take up more of your focus, burnout can slowly sap your sense of joy and wonder in everyday life. Psychiatrist Judith Joseph says there's a term for this: anhedonia. It's the inability or reduced capacity to experience pleasure from things that are normally enjoyable. Joseph says it can accompany what she calls "high-functioning depression," and she describes it as depression's "silent sister." Here's what the research shows about high-functioning depression:

Want to know more? Read more about the Five V's, sign up for the Your Turn newsletter and listen to the Your Turn podcast for tools and inspiring stories that blend science and wisdom to help you move forward to what's next.

by Tamara Keith, senior political correspondent

People arrive at a polling location during early voting in the midterm election, in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 13, 2026. Photo by Erik S. Lesser/AFP via Getty Images hide caption

Photo by Erik S. Lesser/AFP via Getty Images

At this stage in the midterms, all that's left is the voting and the waiting. On election night, I'll be in Studio 31 at NPR headquarters with browser tabs full of spreadsheets, watching the results roll in and sharing context with NPR listeners.

One of those spreadsheets lists all the congressional districts that have been redrawn since 2024 as part of a mid-decade redistricting push by President Trump. Facing down the historical precedent that the president's party usually loses seats in the midterms, the president pressured Republican-led states to create more sure-thing GOP districts.

But headed into voting, the results in two-thirds of those districts are very much up in the air. In some cases, Democrats are favored. These are places Trump would have won by 10 points just two years ago.

Last month, I saw that the president had a campaign rally scheduled in Greenville, N.C. But national Republicans essentially stopped running ads for Michael Whatley — Trump's handpicked nominee — and diverted resources to states with more competitive races. So, why was the president holding another rally? I reached out to a few sources in the state.

What I learned is that the real reason for the president's trip was almost certainly to help the Republican candidate in eastern North Carolina's first congressional district. It is now one of the most hotly contested and expensive House races in the country, despite new district lines that should have made it an easy Republican pick-up.

Two days of driving through this very large district, one Trump rally, two bags of gummy candy and a lot of coffee later, I was back in the office digging into my spreadsheet of congressional districts. NC-01 isn't an isolated case. A majority of districts redrawn to be a firewall for a Republican majority have turned out to be far more competitive than expected.

So, Tuesday night (and beyond), I'll be filling in the wins and losses to see how this gambit turned out. In the meantime, read more from me about how Trump is spending his final days on the campaign trail. And, you can listen to everything you need to know about the midterms on Up First: The Sunday Story.

Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., appears at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on September 18, 2025. Murphy's office says he was hospitalized this weekend with a stroke. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images North America hide caption

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images/Getty Images North America

This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.

Read the full story at Al Jazeera ↗ · NPR ↗

This lens runs the verified story through Cinnamon's AI — wired in the next step.

• Democrats in Michigan are considering their options after Haley Stevens endorsed GOP candidate Mike Rogers for Senate.
• And the Gulf states are bracing for a possible U.S.