Trump Weighs Iran Strikes Before Midterms; Hurricane Isaias Forms in the Gulf

SPEAKER_1 (0:02)

Bloomberg Audio Studios, Podcasts, Radio, News.

Nathan Hager (0:09)

Good morning, I'm Nathan Hager.

Karen Moskow (0:11)

And I'm Karen Moskow. Here are the stories we're following today.

Nathan Hager (0:15)

Karen, crude oil is on the rise on a report the White House is considering strikes against Iran before next month's midterm election. We get the very latest from Bloomberg Middle East correspondent, Abir Abu Omar.

Abir Abu Omar (0:27)

The White House says in Atlantic reports, addressing that it has asked the Pentagon to develop strike options against Iran, Iranian targets. This could be exercised ahead of the midterm. So I guess this is the main takeaway out of this report, because it's been widely reported that some kind of attacks are being considered. But we all were under the assumption that this would happen after the midterm elections take place next month.

Nathan Hager (0:51)

Bloomberg's Abir Abu Omar reports the size and targets of potential strikes are still being debated. The Atlantic article also says a limited operation against Iran could still be followed up by more substantial action after the midterms.

Karen Moskow (1:02)

Nathan, there's been substantial action this morning in Saudi Arabia. Iran-backed Houthi militants struck two airports in the kingdom, including the main international airport in the capital, Riyadh. At least three people were killed, dozens more hurt. And we get more from Bloomberg's head of Middle East coverage, Stuart Livingston Wallace.

Stuart Livingston Wallace (1:20)

I think it speaks to sort of the escalation we've seen over the last couple of weeks in particular, with that intense fighting now going on, particularly in the sort of that coastal area around the Bab al-Mandeb, as the internationally-backed coalition tries to push back the Houthis. They seem to be making some headway, but again, we know from history, it's going to be a difficult thing to achieve.

Karen Moskow (1:41)

And Bloomberg's Stuart Livingston Wallace reports the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen has retaliated for the airport attacks, claiming strikes on 82 Houthi targets across Yemen.

Nathan Hager (1:50)

Turning to domestic politics now, Karen, the midterm election is now just 26 days away, and President Trump went down to San Antonio, Texas last night to boost Republican Ken Paxton's struggling Senate campaign. He gave a forceful defense of his immigration policies.

Donald Trump (2:05)

Less than two years ago, we inherited the worst border in American history, and today we have the safest border, the best border in the history of our country. We've never had anything even close.

Nathan Hager (2:17)

President Trump repeated attacks against Paxton's Democratic opponent, James Talarico, who he derided as Talafrico.

Donald Trump (2:24)

A vote for Talafrico is a vote to turn Texas into a dirty, failing, crime-ridden, third-world dumping ground.

Nathan Hager (2:32)

Well, this was President Trump's latest trip to a red state in the midterm campaign. Though San Antonio is a Democrat-leaning city, protesters interrupted his remarks several times.

Donald Trump (2:42)

If there are any more paid protesters, please raise your hand and get the hell out of here.

Nathan Hager (2:49)

A recent poll showed James Talarico with a narrow edge over Ken Paxton in a state that has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988

Karen Moskow (2:58)

Nathan, the Democratic National Committee filed a lawsuit accusing the Trump administration of unlawfully using government money to pay for video advertisements. The ads feature positive images and messages about Trump and his presidency and include a disclosure that they were paid for by the United States government. The president announced this week that he would use personal funds and money from his Super Political Action Committee for future ads, but the DNC alleged that more ads already have been produced by a government contractor.

Nathan Hager (3:27)

Well, another important situation we're following is a hurricane that has formed off the US Gulf Coast, and Bloomberg meteorologist Craig Allen is tracking the storm.

Craig Allen (3:38)

Isaias is now the first hurricane of the 2026 tropical season. That's a record to form this late, and the hurricane is still over hot water in the Gulf, so intensification is likely. So far, Isaias has been moving east northeast, but will start bending left or northbound over the next 24 hours, and that will take the center towards the US Gulf Coast during Friday. So tropical storm, hurricane and storm surge warnings are now in effect from about New Orleans to Tallahassee. And for the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast states, the hurricane will weaken over land, so the only threat we expect here is for tropical rains later in the weekend from DC to New York to Boston.

Nathan Hager (4:18)

That's Bloomberg meteorologist Craig Allen and the Federal Marine Minerals Administration says, the hurricane has forced offshore producers to shut roughly 25% of crude output and 16% of natural gas production throughout the region.