The New York Times

1. How Democrats Used the Word ‘Affordability’ to Take On Trump

   Both parties are now preparing for “affordability” to play a major role in the midterm elections next year. How did it emerge so quickly?

2. Why Middle-Class Americans Say Life Is Unaffordable

   Economists say that a typical middle-class family today is richer than one in the 1960s. Americans in their 20s and 30s don’t believe it.

3. Koch Political Operation Spent Nearly $550 Million During 2024 Cycle

   The huge sum shows that while the Koch network may not hold significant power at high levels of the Republican Party, it remains a financial juggernaut.

4. Cynthia Lummis, a One-Term G.O.P. Senator, Will Not Seek Re-election

   A conservative who has served in the Senate since 2021, Ms. Lummis attributed the decision to the “difficult, exhausting session” this fall on Capitol Hill.

5. U.S. Coast Guard Boards Tanker Carrying Venezuelan Oil

   The vessel, which was flying a Panamanian flag, was not on a list of tankers under U.S. sanctions.