Fear about the future of the fragile U.S. economy is the big issue in the upcoming midterm elections. But people feel economic pain–or joy–differently in different states. @lightmandavid with the latest Following the Money (unlocked): buff.ly/v4puofy

With the midterms less than two weeks away, the states are considering a number of hot-button topics through both ballot measures and proposed legislation. @hannahpthacker with the latest Outside the Beltway (unlocked): buff.ly/RQUqrCz

Katie Zacharia’s departure leaves President Trump as the unchallenged voice of the White House as voters start casting their ballots in a midterm election with enormous consequences for his presidency. @georgecondon with the latest White House File (unlocked): buff.ly/jeu7gnc

The November election will determine which party controls the majority, how large the majority will be, and how many vacancies will be available on the Finance panel. By @vu_reports (unlocked): buff.ly/XIBPRTE

Fruit and vegetable growers have long complained that they don’t get the respect that government officials pay to corn, soybean, wheat, cotton, and other row crops whose growers play a big role in politics in the Plains states and the South. @HagstromReport with the latest Outside Influences (unlocked): buff.ly/sguc1Fz

Campaign legal teams are taking the driver's seat in the final stretch of the midterm campaign cycle. @efilter531 and @ryansaenz40 report (unlocked): buff.ly/sIGXqCs

If next month’s midterm elections prove to be a political earthquake, investors probably don’t have to worry. A boom or bust in the financial markets is highly unlikely regardless of the result. @lightmandavid with the latest Following the Money (unlocked): buff.ly/pwTtleK

Watching the public debate, news coverage, and campaign advertising is somewhat like being in a hall of mirrors at an amusement park. @charliecookdc with the latest Off to the Races: buff.ly/I2LgqfH

The Republicans on the ballot for the Alaska gubernatorial race aren’t on the same page about ranked-choice voting. @abbyyturner_ reports (unlocked): buff.ly/IXNatvr

Campaigns release surveys for strategic reasons, making analysis of publicly disclosed polls more of an art than a science. The difficulties leave onlookers in a tough spot as they work out which races are genuinely competitive and which pose false alarms. @zachblackburn23 with analysis on the race for the House (unlocked): buff.ly/J60Z4jZ

Some changes, of course, can be reversed by the next president. But recovering from the changes President Trump has brought to America’s standing in the world will be neither quick nor easy. @georgecondon with the latest White House File (unlocked): buff.ly/MX3FjEM

The biggest question is whether the polls have the electorate right or are undercounting Republicans who aren't excited about voting this year but might still turn out. @nataliemj10 with the latest Leading Indicators (unlocked): buff.ly/yPHg2zl

While the party holding the White House always loses seats, there were structural or technical reasons this election shouldn't have been particularly bad for Republicans. @charliecookdc with the latest Off to the Races: buff.ly/SNqagqZ

Lawmakers from both parties are talking seriously about having constituents pay more into Social Security, but they worry any such proposal would be political poison. @lightmandavid with the latest Following the Money (unlocked): buff.ly/zRWGUKq

Since Waymo started operating in Denver, the self-driving taxis have exposed a hole in state laws: Police cannot give the self-driving cars tickets when they violate traffic laws. @hannahpthacker in the latest Outside the Beltway (unlocked): buff.ly/J1aSYNS

According to calculations by National Journal, the 46,700 words Trump spoke at his four recent tallies are more than any other president (for whom such data is available) has spoken in any week. @georgecondon with the latest White House File (unlocked): buff.ly/BRntQfI

Despite a hyperpolarized political landscape, split Senate delegations could make a big comeback following the midterms—especially if Democrats reclaim control of the Senate. By @nenonicolosio and @vu_reports (unlocked): buff.ly/w675Uwz

In a sign of Republicans’ troubles in rural America this year, higher percentages of the districts represented on agriculture committees. @hagstromreport with the latest Outside Influences (unlocked): buff.ly/54mUYr3

Each year, a whole host of economic data is released in early October. This year, political pros are watching it closely. @lightmandavid with the latest Following the Money (unlocked): buff.ly/ZwnJVbC

With less than a month until the midterm election, we are starting to see a certain clarity in the Senate races, though the House doesn't seem to have reached that point. @charliecookdc with the latest Off to the Races: buff.ly/Ym2qc1z