Happy Friday! Revel in whimsy.

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny, with a high in the mid-80s.

🚗 Situational awareness: All lanes of Interstate 30 will be closed in both directions this weekend in downtown Dallas, beginning 10pm tomorrow until 5am Monday.

Today’s newsletter is 804 anxious words — a 3-minute read.

We asked for your emotions about the election, and it's safe to say you have some big feelings.

Driving the news: Early voting runs through Oct. 30. Election Day is Nov. 3.

What you're saying: The overwhelming majority of the more than 300 respondents to our survey in our four Axios Texas cities — Austin, Houston, Dallas and San Antonio — identified as Democrats. Here's how Dallas-area respondents feel:

• "Hopeful but realistic" — Kelli M. of Fate.
• "Excited, nervous and all the things," says Shannon L. of Dallas. "Can't wait to vote, but ready for all the texts and commercials to be over and the real work to get started!"
• "Feeling excited and optimistic! Change is desperately needed!" — Becky M. of Frisco.
• "Worried" — Laurie M. of Fort Worth.
• "I'm feeling an overwhelming sense of dread knowing how important this election is for both the future of our state and nation," says Shae N. of North Richland Hills.

The other side: Republicans who responded to our poll say they're also a bit uneasy, though one says he's ready for change.

• "Nervous" — Pat O. of Dallas.
• "Worried about our future" — Leslie N. of Forney.
• "Hopeful that a Democratic majority of both houses will be able to block, and possibly reverse some of, Trump's destruction of basic U.S. principles and freedoms," says Ken B. of Argyle.

The bottom line: "Tired of the ads," says Mark D., a Mineola Republican who we can safely say speaks for all of us.

Speaking of your big feelings, a new study finds that all your stress about the state of politics is coming to work with you.

Why it matters: The political news you read or watch outside the office affects how you perform and act at work — even when you're not talking around the water cooler about the latest polling, per research from Texas A&M University.

Zoom in: A team of researchers followed more than 300 full-time U.S. employees during the 2024 presidential primary season over nine consecutive weeks.

• They found that weeks with more political information perceived by participants as negative were associated with higher anxiety and lower work engagement.
• The weeks in which political news was perceived as positive were associated with stronger engagement and more willingness to help co-workers.

What they're saying: "Political information is designed to capture attention and provoke emotional reactions," Ian Hughes, assistant professor of psychological and brain sciences who led the research, said in a statement.

• "The challenge is that those reactions don't necessarily disappear once people close an app or turn off the TV."

What's next: The study offers coping strategies for employers and employees, including:

• Offering workplace mental health resources and stress-management support.
• Taking breaks from media. (But, of course, not your Axios Austin newsletter.)
• Increasing employees' sense of agency and control, which may include time off for voting.

The bottom line: "An informed public is important, and our study isn't arguing otherwise," Hughes said. "The takeaway is simply that political information has emotional consequences."

🎵 DJs at the Polls, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, is recruiting DJs to increase voter turnout in North Texas. (Dallas Observer)

🎓 Plano is ranked 16th among best midsize college towns in the U.S. and Dallas ranks among the best largest college towns, according to a new study by WalletHub. (Culturemap)

🍴 Punk Noir, the Design District's 20-course restaurant, has closed after just four months. (Paper City)

🎡 Get down on Main Street. The Commodores headline Grand Prairie's Main Street Fest, a three-day street party with carnival rides, arts and crafts booths and food.

• 5pm-midnight Friday, 10am-midnight Saturday and noon-8pm Sunday in downtown Grand Prairie. Free admission and parking.

🦁 Eat treats with animals. Boo at the Zoo brings candy stations, costumes and a haunted safari train to the Fort Worth Zoo.

• 10am-5pm Friday-Sunday. Included with admission ($22 adults, $18 kids).

🍺 Hold your stein high. Pat Green headlines Oktoberfest Dallas at Flag Pole Hill, which also features a stein-holding contest and a kid zone stuffed with bouncy houses.

• 10am-10pm Saturday. $30 adults; $15 ages 4-17; free under 4.

🏡 Open some doors. The AIA Dallas Tour of Homes marks its 20th year of letting you snoop around inside some of the nicest homes in North Texas.

• 10am-5pm Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $20 for a single home pass and $65 for a weekend pass.

This newsletter was edited by Bob Gee.

Our picks:

💃 Naheed is enjoying some time off today.

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