Israel plans Iran strike; Trump faces deposition
Military reinforcements are moving toward Iran while millions of Americans have already cast ballots, and former President Trump is ordered to give a deposition in his $10 billion BBC defamation case.
At a glance
- Heavier fighting in Iran could resume soon as U.S. and Israeli reinforcements arrive and some American personnel begin to withdraw.
- Nearly 21 million Americans have already cast ballots in the midterm elections, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab.
- A federal magistrate judge ordered Trump to give a deposition in his $10 billion BBC defamation case, warning he must comply with court rules or face sanctions.
Military reinforcements are moving toward Iran while millions of Americans have already cast ballots, and former President Trump is ordered to give a deposition in his $10 billion BBC defamation case.
Heavier fighting in Iran could resume in the coming weeks as U.S. and Israeli forces bring in additional troops and some American personnel begin to withdraw. A person briefed on U.S.–Israeli war planning told NPR that the two countries are preparing a possible attack on Iran after the midterm elections, and Iran says it is ready for a response.
A federal magistrate judge ruled that Trump must sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC. The judge said Trump must comply with court rules or face sanctions. The case centers on a late‑October 2024 Panorama broadcast that allegedly edited Trump’s Jan. 6 speech to make it look as if he incited the Capitol siege. Trump has called the broadcast false, misleading and defamatory under Florida law.
Trump promised to lower grocery prices in his second term, but overall food costs have risen despite some items becoming cheaper. Analysts point to higher labor costs, new tariffs and increased energy prices linked to the Iran conflict as drivers. NPR examined five staple items—ground beef, eggs, coffee, butter and chocolate‑chip cookies—to illustrate how individual price swings can offset each other.
Cultural highlights include the Metropolitan Opera’s new staging of Lincoln in the Bardo, featuring Petteri Mattei and music by Missy Mazzoli, the first woman composer to receive a world premiere there. Meanwhile, a fresh film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility focuses on the Dashwood sisters’ financial struggles, and Sharon Horgan leads HBO’s Youth. In literature, Barbara Trapido’s Brother of the More Famous Jack follows Katherine Browne’s quest for independence, while NPR’s New Music Friday spotlights albums such as Anderson .Paak and Cordae’s Heavy Is the Crown and Fenne Lily’s Win Win. Adventurer Karl Bushby continues his Goliath Expedition, now in its 28th year, captured in Turkey in 2025.
Source: NPR News.
Questions and answers
- What triggered the recent military buildup near Iran?
- U.S. and Israeli war planners are preparing a possible attack after the midterm elections, according to a briefing source, while Iran says it is ready for a response.
- How many Americans have voted early in the midterm elections?
- Almost 21 million Americans have already voted by mail or early in‑person, per the University of Florida’s Election Lab.
- What is the focus of Trump’s $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC?
- The case centers on a late‑October 2024 Panorama broadcast that allegedly edited Trump’s Jan. 6 speech to make it appear he incited the Capitol siege.
