Axios

A federal judge dismissed a complaint against two former FBI officials whom the government accused of covering up how much they knew about the investigation into a laptop reportedly tied to Hunter Biden, multiple outlets reported.

The big picture: The pre-election case was brought by criminal complaint. A D.C. federal grand jury has not indicted the pair.

After another rough week for the AI trade, stocks seem to be bracing for more uncertainty in the days ahead.

Why it matters: While the AI trade has sputtered, the S&P 500 has managed to largely tread water thanks to strength from shares tied to the basics of the economy, like consumer staples, health care and utilities. (Soaring oil shares didn't hurt either.)

• But Tuesday's U.S. midterm elections and the potential reescalation of major fighting in the Iran war after the vote pose another potential hurdle to the market.

Northwood Space raised $375 million in a Series C funding that valued the Torrance, California-based satellite antenna builder and ground station provider at $2 billion.

Why it matters: Modern and fortified infrastructure on Earth becomes more crucial for commercial, civil and military missions as the number of satellites in orbit swells.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's chances of being a presidential contender in 2028 are riding on his winning reelection in a landslide Tuesday.

• New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's future hinges on whether a fellow progressive can carry a swing state, for once.
• California Gov. Gavin Newsom has to show that his congressional redistricting gambit worked for Democrats — and he needs to beat back a state wealth tax proposal supported by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).

Driving the news: Democrats eyeing White House runs have spent the past year preparing to emerge from Tuesday's midterms with momentum, and an argument for a 2028 candidacy. They want Democrats to do well — but to each, some races are especially important.

Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) had a stroke Saturday and is being treated at Johns Hopkins Hospital, his office said Sunday.

The big picture: Murphy is one of the Senate's more visible Democrats and has been traveling the country campaigning ahead of Tuesday's midterms.

President Trump will deliver a closing midterm election message at the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool in Washington on Monday, a White House official tells Axios.

Why it matters: Trump's speech comes as Republicans make their final pitch to voters ahead of elections that will determine control of Congress.

A federal judge dismissed the Justice Department's bid to halt certification of Alaska's Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses and votes cast for another candidate named Dan Sullivan could have changed the outcome.

Why it matters: The ruling shuts down an extraordinary attempt to delay a potential Democratic victory in a race that could determine control of the Senate.

President Trump had a candid phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Saturday about the state of U.S. negotiations with Iran and how quickly to return to combat, according to one Israeli and one U.S. source.

Why it matters: The sources said Netanyahu is pressing Trump to strike Iran immediately after the midterm elections on Tuesday. But Trump, for now, wants to let negotiations play out — a strategy Netanyahu is concerned about.

Right after Tuesday's midterms, OpenAI will unleash a policy and PR blitz to try to get in sync with the new Washington, including an effort to rebrand data centers as "AI compute campuses."

Why it matters: After two years of a friendly White House, AI companies will face a harsher Washington after Tuesday, when Democrats will likely win the House. OpenAI also aims to help frame the AI debate for the big field of 2028 presidential contenders that'll start forming on Wednesday.

Florida Republicans aren't panicking about sluggish turnout for the midterms, but in the words of one GOP elder: "We're white-knuckled."

Why it matters: Florida once looked like a much safer Republican bet for the midterms. Losing any statewide race would stun and embarrass its elite Republican residents, starting with President Trump.