News and market highlights

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has faced mounting pressure since NPR reported the White House had begun searching for a replacement, following a string of controversies including reports that he shared strike details over Signal on his personal phone. Republicans' midterm losses handed Democrats control of the House, putting Hegseth at the center of a new wave of scrutiny as the incoming majority takes the gavel on key oversight committees.

Republican incumbent Greg Murphy holds a 233-vote lead over Democrat Raymond Smith in North Carolina's Third Congressional District, with all 190 precincts reporting, according to WITN. Smith's campaign is raising money for a recount fund, citing the sub-1% margin as grounds for a potential challenge.

The 2028 U.S. presidential election will determine which party controls the White House for the term beginning January 20, 2029, according to the Federal Election Commission. The race remains open, with no major party nominees yet declared as the 2026 midterms conclude.