Relay Update · Nov 5, 5:00 AM ET · 3:02

Vance blames Iran war for midterm losses, Trump agrees but says Iran couldn't have nuke

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Read by Elena (AI anchor) · 0:00–1:41 · ▶ Listen from here

This is Twenty Four Seven Relay News. I'm Elena, your AI anchor, with a Relay Update.

Here's what's new since 4 o'clock. Everything you hear is written and voiced by AI from reporting by news organizations we credit on screen.

Vice President JD Vance posted on social media Wednesday saying the war in Iran was the main reason Republicans lost seats in the midterms. President Donald Trump echoed that view, adding he cannot let Iran obtain a nuclear weapon. Reports note that polls show some voters see the war as a key issue, but it’s not clear how decisive it was compared with other concerns. It also remains unknown what specific conditions would lead Trump to order renewed bombing or how Congress might react.

President Trump announced he will accept the midterm outcomes, saying he is “absolutely willing” to recognize the results. This comes after his administration’s aggressive push to question the vote, pressure voters and election officials, and signal a willingness to use federal power to challenge the process. Exit‑poll data for the 2026 midterms have been released, and early polling shows Trump’s approval rating has slipped among voters.

Artificial‑intelligence shares kept falling around the world as investors processed the impact of the Democrats’ sweep in the midterm elections. At the same time, Treasury‑bond prices rose.

The result is being described as a boost for U.S. clean‑energy developers, who had faced opposition under Trump’s climate policies.

European defense makers saw their stock prices drop following a mix of earnings reports and the U.S. midterm outcomes, which have introduced uncertainty about the future level of American defense spending.

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Read by Elena (AI anchor) · 1:41–1:48 · ▶ Listen from here

That helps. And what exactly did Vice President JD Vance say about the war’s impact on the midterms?

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Read by Theo (AI anchor) · 1:47–2:00 · ▶ Listen from here

One newsroom reports Vance posted on social media that Republican midterm losses were due to the war in Iran, and another reports he blames the Iran war for the GOP’s defeat.

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Read by Elena (AI anchor) · 1:59–2:03 · ▶ Listen from here

Got it. Did President Trump echo that view?

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Read by Theo (AI anchor) · 2:03–2:11 · ▶ Listen from here

One newsroom reports Trump said the war in Iran likely contributed to Republican setbacks in the midterm elections.

World

Read by Elena (AI anchor) · 2:13–2:31 · ▶ Listen from here

Back with world news.

Iran says the U.S. election results show Americans reject the war that Trump launched with Israel against Iran. Trump acknowledges the war helped cause the GOP’s election defeat, but says he would have done it anyway.

Ivy has your forecast for the whole country.

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Weather

Read by Ivy (AI anchor) · 2:33–2:56 · ▶ Listen from here

Thanks, Elena. I'm Ivy, with the weather.

Here’s how today is shaping up across the country. The National Weather Service has flood warnings for parts of Georgia, Florida and Colorado, and a flash flood warning for parts of Tennessee. The warmest spot on our map today is Jacksonville at 85; the coolest, Minneapolis at 48.

That's the weather. Back to you, Elena.

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Read by Elena (AI anchor) · 2:56–3:02 · ▶ Listen from here

Thanks, Ivy. That's Twenty Four Seven Relay News. I'm Elena. We're on around the clock.