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Today’s top stories

By a 12-point margin, registered voters say they would prefer to elect a Democrat to Congress, according to the latest NPR/PBS News/Marist poll. More voters believe Democrats will effectively address gas prices, the economy and foreign policy amid rising costs and the war in Iran. President Trump faces near-record-low approval ratings: 39% of respondents approved of his job, and 53% disapproved, marking the highest share of strong disapproval since the question was first asked in 2017.

• 🎧 Overall, 45% of voters — most Democrats and just over half of independents — said they’d be voting against Trump, NPR’s Stephen Fowler tells Up First. He adds that a large number of Republicans said that Trump didn’t factor much in their vote. Fowler says this indicates a potential for Trump’s base to stay home or break from Trump and back a Democrat. The poll shows that more voters prefer candidates offering new ideas over those with a proven track record. But he also points out that while polls show declining support for Republicans, this doesn’t reflect who will actually cast ballots for the midterms. A blue wave is possible, but it might not spread evenly across states and districts, as some voters may feel less motivated to vote and fewer people tend to show up in traditionally uncompetitive areas.
• ➡️ Another new NPR/PBS News/Marist poll finds that public trust in the U.S. Postal Service’s ability to deliver mail-in ballots on time is declining.
• ➡️ Democratic lawmakers, retired military leaders and civil society organizations are increasingly concerned that Trump might deploy the U.S. military to polling places in the midterms, despite strict state and federal laws prohibiting such actions. They are seeking assurances from the administration that this will not occur.

Trump addressed the United Nations General Assembly yesterday, highlighting economic growth and improvements to global leaders. He discussed options for his conflict with Iran, including total destruction or a peace deal after the elections. Iran’s president will speak today.

• 🎧 In his brief speech, Trump described himself as someone who is willing to take action when other countries’ leaders won’t. Trump has often criticized the U.N. in the past, but NPR’s Deepa Shivaram says that, for the most part, he stuck to his prepared remarks this time. While taking questions after his meetings with world leaders, the president revealed that a U.S. delegation had met with Iranians for three hours yesterday. It’s unclear how much progress was made, but Shivaram says this marks a shift back to diplomacy after tensions had flared over the summer regarding the Strait of Hormuz. Despite voter dissatisfaction and pressure to resolve the conflict, Trump says the election is not on his mind as he decides how to address the war.

CNN, MS NOW and Politico will try to hold the president and his administration accountable in court today after they were barred from the White House over coverage Trump doesn’t like. Lawyers will argue that Trump is violating their constitutional rights. The Department of Justice defends Trump’s recent media ban, saying the outlets’ reporting on issues like White House construction and ammunition depletion during the Iran war threatens national security and spreads falsehoods.