Election Day is tomorrow, oil drops on Iran talk hopes, Apple's record quarter
What to know before Tuesday's midterm vote, oil's drop of about 7% as Iran says contacts to end the war continue, Apple's record quarter in John Ternus's first report as CEO, Poland's constitutional court standoff, and the Cardinals' new starting quarterback.
Election Day for the 2026 midterms is Tuesday, November 3. Poll hours and mail-ballot deadlines differ by state: most states require mail ballots to arrive by Election Day, while some, including California, count ballots postmarked by Election Day that arrive later. In Minnesota, most polling places open at 7 a.m. and all close at 8 p.m.; voters in line by 8 p.m. can still vote, and Minnesotans can register at the polls with proof of residence. Minnesota absentee ballots returned in person are due by 5 p.m. Tuesday.
Oil prices fell about 7% Monday, with Brent crude below $105 a barrel and U.S. crude near $96, on hopes for a diplomatic end to the U.S.-Iran war. Iran said contacts through Qatari mediators continue after days of talks ended with altered proposals but no breakthrough; a draft proposal is circulating. On Wall Street, the Dow rose 0.41% while the S&P 500 fell 0.51% and the Nasdaq fell 1.07% as investors sold technology stocks ahead of Tuesday's midterms.
Iran saysForeign Minister Abbas Araqchi said consultations through mediators are "very intensive," that Iran has presented its conditions, and that everything depends on Washington. A spokesman said Iran will not agree to send its highly enriched uranium to another country.
The U.S. saysPresident Trump rejected Iran's seven-step plan in September and has said there would be no new attack on Iran before Tuesday's midterm elections, Reuters reports.
Apple reported revenue of $114.5 billion for its fiscal fourth quarter, a September-quarter record and up 12% from a year earlier, in CEO John Ternus's first earnings report since he took over from Tim Cook on Sept. 1. Earnings per share were $2.10, above analysts' $1.99 estimate. iPhone revenue was about $57.6 billion, topping estimates, and includes the first eight days of iPhone 18 Pro sales. Services reached an all-time high of $31.6 billion. Shares fell about 1% after hours.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called on President Karol Nawrocki on Monday to recognize judges elected by parliament to the Constitutional Tribunal, saying the solution is simple and accusing Nawrocki of choosing a forceful confrontation. The crisis escalated last week after the tribunal's president, Bogdan Święczkowski, and his deputy were suspended, and police deployed around the court. Nawrocki cut short a trip to Senegal. The European Commission says it is closely monitoring the crisis.
The government saysTusk's pro-European coalition says its actions are necessary to preserve the rule of law, and that the president should recognize the judges parliament legally elected, as the constitution stipulates.
The president's side saysMarcin Przydacz of the president's office said there is "absolutely no legal basis for such behavior"; the nationalist opposition and its supporters call the government's moves a "coup d'etat."
Arizona Cardinals coach Mike LaFleur announced Monday that Gardner Minshew is the team's starting quarterback, a day after Minshew replaced Jacoby Brissett and led a 33-30 overtime win over the Dallas Cowboys, going 17 of 23 for 188 yards and three touchdowns. Rookie Carson Beck becomes the backup and Brissett drops to third string. The Cardinals are 3-5 and play at Seattle on Sunday.
