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THIS DAY IN HISTORY November 2 1947 Howard Hughes’ ‘Spruce Goose’ flies The world’s largest aircraft at the time, the wooden behemoth only flew once. Read More Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT Arts & Entertainment 1960 ‘Lady Chatterley’s Lover’ obscenity trial ends Crime 1989 A nurse’s aide gets life imprisonment for murder Middle Eastern History 1917 Balfour Declaration letter written Observances & Traditions 1983 MLK federal holiday declared Space Exploration 2000 First residential crew arrives aboard the International Space Station Sports 1986 Grete Waitz wins her eighth New York City Marathon U.S. Government and Politics 1948 Truman defeats Dewey U.S. Presidents 1795 James Polk is born 1865 Warren G. Harding is born Vietnam War 1963 Ngo Dinh Diem assassinated in South Vietnam

🗽 1 fun thing: 60,000 runners A runner dressed as Superman crosses the Verrazzano–Narrows Bridge at the start of the New York City Marathon yesterday. Photo: Brendan McDermid/Reuters Nearly 60,000 runners from 140+ countries ran the New York City Marathon yesterday. It's the 50th year the course snaked through all five boroughs — starting in Staten Island and ending in Central Park. An estimated 2 million spectators lined the streets. Photo: Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Above: Runners pound Brooklyn's pavement. More pics ... Marathon winners.

💵 Health care eats paychecks Data: Bureau of Labor Statistics. Chart: Neil Irwin/Axios Soaring health insurance costs — rising at their fastest pace in 20 years — are eating into the money companies have to spend on pay raises, Axios Macro co-author Neil Irwin writes from federal data. Why it matters: The data helps explain why wage growth remains weak despite a relatively strong job market. Health insurance costs rose more than twice as fast as wages over the last year. 🩺 Zoom in: Total spending on employee pay and benefits is rising at roughly the same pace as last year, with a bigger share going to health insurance. Companies can deal with rising insurance costs by cutting benefits, charging employees more or accepting lower profits. Or they can hold down pay raises, which the new data suggests they're doing.

📊 Final polls: Blue Senate surge In the final set of New York Times/Siena polls before tomorrow's election, Democrats are ahead in all seven battleground states likely to decide the Senate. Since a September poll, Democrats gained in six of the states (Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas) and lost ground in Alaska. 🧮 By the numbers: Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed leads Republican rival Mike Rogers by 11 points. Texas Democrat James Talarico has a 7-point lead over state Attorney General Ken Paxton. Democratic candidates also lead in Maine, Ohio and Kansas, and narrowly in Alaska — all states with incumbent Republican senators. The race in Iowa is effectively tied. Between the lines: In six of the seven states (every one but Maine), the Democratic Senate candidate was viewed more favorably than the Republican. To take control of the Senate, Democrats have to hold every seat they have and flip at least four Republican-held seats. If these polls are right, they win. NYT gift link ... More data.

💰 Biggest midterm megadonors Data: The New York Times. Chart: Noah Bressner/Axios The top 20 donors have poured about $2 billion into federal races for this year's midterm elections, The New York Times' Matt Zdun and Teddy Schleifer write. That's 15% of all the money that will be spent on ads this cycle. Elon Musk ($446 million) towers over every other midterm donor, contributing nearly three times as much as the next-biggest donor. That figure excludes tens of millions in additional contributions made after Oct. 14 or to groups that don't report to the FEC. 🔬 Zoom in: The tech industry is flexing its political muscle with venture-capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and its founders contributing $116 million, overwhelmingly to Republican causes, including super PACs pushing AI- and crypto-friendly policies. OpenAI co-founder Greg Brockman and his wife have also poured money into a pro-AI super PAC, though they've since distanced themselves from the group. On the Democratic side, tech investor Reid Hoffman has spent nearly $17 million backing Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. Top 20 (via X) ... Keep reading (gift link).

NYC Marathon Turns 50 Roughly 60,000 competitors from more than 140 countries turned out for the New York City Marathon yesterday—marking the five-borough race’s 50th anniversary, its largest field yet, and the first route change in 15 years. Sweden’s Andreas Almgren won his first-ever marathon in the men’s race (2:06:01); Kenya’s Sheila Chepkirui won the women’s race (2:24:36). See photos here. The 26.2-mile race (why the .2?) changed course for the first time since 2011 this year, with runners seeing two fewer turns in the Bronx to accommodate local access to a supermarket and laundromat. Among the most notoriously difficult moments for runners are the Queensboro Bridge at mile 15 and the so-called Fifth Avenue grind at mile 24. Celebrity runners included actress Jennifer Connelly. The first NYC marathon in 1970 involved several rounds around Manhattan's Central Park, with the race expanding to involve all five boroughs in 1976. See how the various World Marathon Majors stack up here.

Haseng: I will clairfy what you have unlderstood: * ?When I graduated for ml Palcific Unioin Collefge, I was informed that I could be comissioned as a Medical sErvice Corps Officer. I decided not to go that rourte. * As a Theology student, who hD BEEN Accepted at the lSeminY AT aNdrews, I was legally exempt frokm being drafted. IL forgo that exemption and I volunteered to be drafted. ID was drafted wilthin 30 dlays. and I erved for 2-years as an enlisted combat medic. * I got out of the Army, graduated from the Semlinary at Andrews and served as a SDA pastor in Virginia. * k Ater 10-years I re=entered thae armly as a chaplailn. * I ckompleted a total of 20-years in the army and then lelft active duty. Under the law, I remain an armyl Chakplain, just not werving on active duty. * During my time as a SDA lpastor in Virginia, I also served for short periods in the Reserves. * I was rhwe first SDA ever to serve as a National Guard Chaplin. * i also served as qa Reserve Uniot cjhaplain. * During active duty I served on the tedching faclty of the Army Chaplain School, the first SDA tko do so. * I was the first Army chaplain ever to go into combat with a COED unit.

German Protests Turn Violent Over 100,000 people joined protests across 34 German cities over the weekend. The Gen Z-led marches began as peaceful demonstrations, but some took violent turns, leaving more than 100 police officers injured. More than 50 people were arrested. Youth group Gen Z Regelt, translated as “Gen Z Takes Charge,” organized Saturday’s gatherings to demand increased funding for education, housing, and climate protection. Protesters also spoke out against mandatory military service, a measure German officials may reinstate if voluntary recruitment fails to expand the armed forces to 260,000 active personnel by 2035. In several major cities, demonstrations descended into scenes reminiscent of the riots in France and Albania (see photos). Some participants in Hamburg lit fireworks and set barricades on fire. Rioters also damaged 17 stores in Frankfurt and attacked police with Molotov cocktails (watch clips of the looting and vandalism here). In neighboring France, protests against high living costs and poor school conditions continued for a third straight weekend.

Election Eve Voters in the US head to the polls tomorrow, with record numbers of early ballots cast and record spending projected to reach $11.6B, outpacing every other midterm in US history and even narrowly eclipsing the 2024 election cycle. Republicans lead overall ad spending at $5.2B compared with Democrats’ $4.8B, with individual megadonors driving the totals. Elon Musk gave around $450M to conservative groups and causes, more than double the $186.2M combined donations from two of the top Democratic contributors, George Soros and Michael Bloomberg. Texas’ Senate race accounts for over $573M of the funds, putting it on track to become the most expensive nonpresidential contest ever. Research shows a $2M TV ad advantage can net a Senate candidate roughly 10,000 votes, which could be crucial in a tight race (what was the closest election in Senate history?). Once vote counting concludes, federal candidates cannot pocket unspent funds for personal use. Legal options include settling campaign debts, funding party committees, or saving for future runs.

Rebecca Felton was the first woman to ever serve in the United States Senate – but she only served for one day. James

A New Approach to Discovering Assyria’s Hidden Secrets Assyria was the archenemy of Israel for 300 years during its Divided Kingdom period. The Assyrians were ruthless to all who opposed them during their wide-ranging conquests to form a great empire. The prophet Jonah was sent to warn the great Assyrian city, Nineveh, of God’s impending judgment because of their wickedness. Jonah then lamented over God’s mercy shown to the city after they repented. https://www.patternsofevidence.com/2026/10/30/a-new-approach-to-discovering-assyrias-hidden-secrets/?

Texas showdown: 12 claims involving Talarico and Paxton, fact-checked The U.S. Senate race between James Talarico and Ken Paxton in Texas has garnered national attention, prompting numerous rumors about the candidates. https://www.snopes.com/collections/talarico-paxton-fact-checks/? Were 3 Democratic women running for Congress in car crashes ahead of the midterms? U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur of Ohio, Mary Peltola of Alaska and Heidi Kuhn of Tennessee were injured in accidents between August and October. Claim: Three Democratic women running for Congress were in car accidents in October, days ahead of the midterm elections. Rating: Mostly True What's True Two Democratic women running for Congress were in car accidents during the last week of October: Mary Peltola, a U.S. Senate candidate in Alaska, and Heidi Kuhn, a U.S. House candidate in Tennessee. Both experienced injuries that weren't life-threatening and are back on the campaign trail. What's False U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, an Ohio Democrat running for reelection, was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after a hit-and-run car crash in August, not October. What's Undetermined There is no evidence the women were deliberately targeted, contrary to suggestions of foul play from social media users. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/democrat-women-congress-car-crashes/? Did Trump say US is 'making money' like it never has before while downplaying high gas prices? The president referred to the high cost of oil and said, "We're making a freaking fortune." Claim: U.S. President Donald Trump said, “We're making money like this country has never made before,” in reference to the high cost of oil in 2026. Rating: Correct Attribution Context Trump made the statement during an Oct. 24 speech in Perry, Georgia, where he appeared at a rally in support of Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. His overall point appeared to be that the economy is growing in strength despite the current high price of gasoline, which he claimed would eventually come down. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/trump-us-making-fortune-oil-gas/? ps:Personally it's not the US that's making a lot of money! It's trump and his billionaire friends!!!!! Did Ilhan Omar marry her brother? Name dispute revives unfounded rumor The latest rumor stems from unsubstantiated reports that disregard Somali naming conventions. https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/10/27/ilhan-omar-married-brother-name-dispute/? Trump is accused of raping former Miss Switzerland contestant in 1993. Here's what we know A detailed account of Béatrice Keul's allegation features in a report by Democrats on the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. https://www.snopes.com/news/2026/10/28/trump-miss-switzerland-rape-allegation/?

The passage is plain enough to me, no machinations required. 15 And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel.” 16 ¶ To the woman He said: “I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; In pain you shall bring forth children; Your desire [shall be] for your husband, And he shall rule over you.” NKJV 15 I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will strike your head, and you will strike his heel." 16 ¶ To the woman he said, "I will greatly increase your pangs in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." NRSV 15 and enmity I put between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; he doth bruise thee — the head, and thou dost bruise him — the heel.’ 16 ¶ Unto the woman He said, ‘Multiplying I multiply thy sorrow and thy conception, in sorrow dost thou bear children, and toward thy husband [is] thy desire, and he doth rule over thee.’ YLT Even though the text says the woman's desire shall be for her husband and he shall rule over her, the "he" does not refer to the husband, immediately antecedent? Maybe you are right but I seriously doubt it, in the light of other passages which plainly say what the text in Genesis 3: 15,16 appears to be saying.

1 Peter 3:6 reminds us that Sarah referred to Abraham as Lord. That Greek word is the same one used in Genesis 3:16 LXX. There it says that Adam would rule over the woman. In both cases the Greek word is essentially the same, one a noun, the other a verb. The linguistic connection is very strong.

The Bible originally did not have the chapter and verse divisions. Hebrew linguists point out that Genesis seen as one message, and in a poetic form. It is the story of the Seed. This message can be understood as: The curse on the serpent, and being in the dust (death) And I will put enmity between you (the serpent) and the woman, between thy seed and her seed, and you will do one action which you plan to be a fatal attack to the Seed, but it will only end up being merely a wound, while that action will be how He (The Promised Seed) will destroy the sin problem. And to the woman (who is not cursed) you will have pain in childbirth. This is more than "labor pain" but after carrying the child for 9 months, the mother TENDS to have a special connection to the child that tends to be deeper than others can have. She will share deeper the joys and pain for her child, and living in a sinful world the pains will more than likely outdo the joys. Well, she can simply avoid this pain by not having a family; but the tendency of the woman would be to have desire for her husband, and the family, thus even with the pain there is still the female tendency to have the family. The fact that the man get's his talk later shows a cluelessness where men don't naturally have the same tendency to the wife and family as the mother has, even as they try and do have desire, but the male tendency is for this to be not as intense as the tendency in the women. So we get a picture of a very dysfunctional family. We are living in a sinful world, but there is the promise that the Promised Seed will resolve the sin problem. But the family will have a lot of pain, especially in the motherly joy and pain of the child's life, and that very likely, there will be something missing in her relationship with her husband. But the hope for this painfully dysfunctional family is the promised gospel, THE PROMISED SEED, that the Hebrew grammar (beyond my education level) connects the "He" in verse 16 as the exact same "He" as verse 15, that as mentioned, this is the story of "HE" How He deals with the serpent and the sin problem, and how He works with sinful fallen humanity. The only way to get through life on a fallen planet is for the woman, her children and her husband to allow "HE" the Promised Seed who will resolve the sin problem will lead us through if only we let Him rule over us. The Promised Seed is not some pie in the sky, way down in the future, hopefully, maybe.... but HE is already there! Right at the start of sin, there HE IS!

I realize that some individuals may hold this teaching but seriously, what denomination boasts universalem.

🎭 Part 2: More best- and worst-case scenarios Gavin Newsom A great night: He won over many MS NOW moms and "resistance" liberals across the country when he responded to President Trump's push to create more GOP House seats in other states by fighting back with a successful voter proposition to do the same in California. His goal has been to gain five Democratic seats from the change to help Democrats take back the House. That's his bar to clear Tuesday. Some political insiders now think Democrats could gain 20 or more House seats across the country, so Newsom's contribution might not be as decisive as once thought. Newsom would score a political win if a proposed billionaire wealth tax on the ballot in his home state, which he opposes, fails. Worst-case scenario: If California voters approve the tax or Democrats flip fewer than five House seats there, it would diminish Newsom's California clout. Jon Ossoff A great night: A long-running knock against Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff has been that he won his seat in 2021 by riding his fellow Peach State Sen. Raphael Warnock's coattails. Ossoff has the chance this year to prove he doesn't need Warnock, who isn't on the ticket. He's on his way to doing just that, with polls showing him comfortably leading GOP challenger Mike Collins. But to have a truly great night, Ossoff needs to show that he has enough sway in his state to help pull Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keisha Lance Bottoms to victory. Worst-case scenario: If Bottoms were to lose, Democrats say, Ossoff would be even less likely to leave the Senate for a presidential run, since Georgia's governor has the power to make a temporary appointment if a senator steps down. Ossoff, for his part, has said he has "zero interest" in a 2028 bid. But Barack Obama made similar comments before the 2008 election. Kamala Harris A great night: Former Vice President Kamala Harris has rallied voters to fight back against GOP redistricting and a recent Supreme Court decision on the Voting Rights Act that threatens Black representation in Congress. A huge uptick in turnout among Black voters — especially in the South — could strengthen the argument that Harris should be the nominee. Harris also has stumped for several Black Democrats running for governor and Senate this cycle, and their success could give her a boost. Worst-case scenario: Harris hasn't hitched her political fortunes on any specific contenders in this cycle, unlike other potential 2028 candidates. But a loss by female or Black candidates like Bottoms could nonetheless deepen Democrats' fears that diverse candidates could lose in 2028. Pete Buttigieg A great night: Buttigieg has spread his chips around this election cycle, endorsing more than 100 candidates and stumping in person for more than half of them. That's helped Buttigieg cement his brand as a well-liked Democrat who methodically explains issues and can campaign anywhere in America. Worst-case scenario: But Buttigieg's midterm strategy has been low-risk, low-reward — so he could end up as an afterthought Tuesday. — Holly Otterbein, Alex Thompson

🤞 Where 2028ers put their chips Illustration: Brendan Lynch / Axios. Photos: Getty Images 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. Here's how the top potential Democratic contenders for president have placed their bets in this week's elections — and what success or failure will look like for them. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez A great night: AOC has wagered just about everything on the Senate race in Michigan, where she's said that a win by progressive Abdul El-Sayed would "break open the entire political calculus in America" and show that "anybody can win anywhere." She's weighing whether to run for president or the Senate, and much of her electability argument for a national campaign hinges on an El-Sayed victory. Progressives are desperate to establish that one of their own can carry a presidential battleground state. Ocasio-Cortez has contributed $1 million to help El-Sayed and stumped for him at several events. An El-Sayed victory "would prove to the country, and the world, that competent, courageous progressive populists can win in the most competitive swing states in America," said Bhavik Lathia, a left-wing strategist from Michigan. "The implications for 2028 would be enormous." AOC would get bonus points Tuesday if other progressives she's supporting — such as House candidate Randy Villegas in California and Senate candidate Angie Nixon in Florida — win their swing-seat races. Worst-case scenario: If El-Sayed loses, many progressives think AOC would be less likely to run for president. That's why she's widely viewed as having more on the line Tuesday than any other potential Democratic contender for president, followed by Shapiro. Josh Shapiro A great night: Shapiro needs to win so big Tuesday that it makes Democratic presidential primary voters see his technocratic "get shit done" brand of governing as the party's best bet to take down the GOP in 2028. Shapiro is less known nationally than many 2028 hopefuls, and that has been by choice. He's largely focused on Pennsylvania this year, even as would-be rivals for president crisscrossed the country. A blowout in America's biggest swing state could help him stand out. A good night for Shapiro would be defeating Republican Stacy Garrity by double digits and carrying three Democratic House candidates — Janelle Stelson, Bob Brooks and Paige Cognetti — across the finish line to defeat Republican incumbents. He'd have a great night if his coattails were so long that he pulled a fourth Democratic House hopeful, Bob Harvie, to victory — taking down GOP Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, who's known for surviving difficult electoral cycles. Shapiro would get extra credit if he helped Democrats win a trifecta in Harrisburg for the first time in decades by flipping control of the state Senate. Worst-case scenario: If only one or two Democrats in his state flip House seats or he wins by less than 10 points, Shapiro's setup for 2028 would fall short. Andy Beshear A great night: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, who moonlights as chair of the Democratic Governors Association, put his chips this year on helping his party take control of a majority of the nation's governorships. Beshear would earn bragging rights if Democrats flip the two governors' seats needed to do that. He's eyeing the races in Iowa, Ohio, Georgia and Nevada. "I am laser-focused on these governors' races," he told us, arguing that the results will help determine what's possible in the 2028 presidential contest. "Rob Sand wins Iowa, Iowa's in play. When Amy Acton wins Ohio, Ohio's in play," Beshear said. Worst-case scenario: Beshear made enemies among some Latino Democrats this year when the DGA rebuffed calls to invest heavily in Gina Hinojosa's campaign for Texas governor. If Hinojosa loses to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott by a razor-thin margin or pulls an upset, Beshear's decision-making will come under heavy scrutiny — and he could have a problem with some Latino leaders in a 2028 campaign.

El-Sayed’s primary opponent stuns Democrats by endorsing Republican opponent in Michigan Senate race DETROIT (AP) — Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s former opponent in the U.S. Senate primary, Haley Stevens, stunned party officials Sunday by endorsing Republican Mike Rogers as Democratic tensions boiled over days before the election that could determine the balance of power on Capitol Hill. https://apnews.com/article/elsayed-michigan-stevens-democrats-unity-midterms-d7053bbd0ed2fd70756896c6e4b66a27?

'Grasping at straws': Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter Saying the president was "grasping at straws," a federal judge on Saturday threw out Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch over a story reporting on his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami dismissed the suit with prejudice, ruling that the president did not prove the defendants made defamatory statements with actual malice as required by law. The ruling said the lawsuit had attempted to “manufacture” flaws in the Journal’s investigative reporting. When a case is thrown out “with prejudice,” it cannot be refiled again and the dismissal is permanent and incontrovertible. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Virginia and DC sue over Trump’s arch, adding to legal challenges as government wants work to begin US approves a proposed $2.1 billion sale of Patriot interceptors to Ukraine after alleged holdup Iran’s top diplomat hopes US shows ‘rationality’ Rubio says the US government did not facilitate Bolsonaro’s flight to the US US plans to deport Afghans back to their home country through Pakistan, documents show Mamdani says Trump agrees to grant visa to mother of Ghanian teen killed in Bronx shooting

🏀 1 for the road: WNBA champ Golden State Valkyries forward Gabby Williams (right) jumps for a shot while Atlanta Dream forward DeWanna Bonner blocks. Photo: Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images The Golden State Valkyries, led by Gabby Williams, survived a back-and-forth Game 7 battle to beat the Atlanta Dream 68-63 and win the 2026 WNBA Championship in the Valkyries' second season as a franchise. Williams, who scored 30 points in front of last night's violet-clad crowd at Chase Center in San Francisco, was named the 2026 WNBA Finals MVP. Photo: Ina Fried/Axios Ina Fried, Axios' chief tech correspondent, takes a selfie with the Golden State Valkyries mascot, Violet — a raven who goes by Vi. More photos ... Offseason lookahead.

🍑 Trump's election probes find Georgia opening Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images On the eve of midterms, President Trump is facing setbacks left and right in his push to investigate alleged election fraud. But in Georgia, he has an opening, Axios' Brittany Gibson reports. Why it matters: Six years ago, Georgia was at the epicenter of Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Now the state's own election board has invited his administration to investigate its voting system. Georgia features two high-stakes statewide campaigns: Sen. Jon Ossoff (D) against Rep. Mike Collins (R) for Senate, and former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms (D) against businessman Rick Jackson (R) for governor. ⚖️ The big picture: The Justice Department disclosed in court on Friday that the administration has sent letters to officials in California, Washington, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Nevada, asking some states to segregate mail-in ballots from suspected noncitizen voters. A federal judge on Friday issued an emergency order that blocks federal officials from threatening to charge election officials who count ballots from voters the DOJ claims are ineligible. But Georgia is different. "We've managed with duct tape and bubble gum to be able to bootstrap our way through one last round, but that's not a way of running elections," a Georgia election official told Axios. Read on.

👟 5-borough marathon turns 50 Bill Rodgers, of Melrose, Mass., crosses the finish line to win the New York City Marathon in 1976. Photo: AP In 1976, the New York City Marathon ran through all five boroughs for the first time. There were just over 2,000 competitors in that seventh running of the race, including only 88 women. This morning, about 60,000 runners stepped up to the starting line, nearly half of them women. Go deeper.

November 1, 2026 Good morning. The New York City Marathon is this morning. Hiroko Masuike/The New York Times Going the distance By Molly Mirhashem I’m the fitness editor and a compulsive runner. A marathon is a beautiful, painful thing. Runners young and old, fast and slow, find out how far they can push themselves after months of preparation and nerves. Some will cross the finish line elated; others won’t make it. Runners often say that “the marathon owes you nothing,” because it can punish even the well-trained. When I ran my first one, I hit the wall at Mile 16 (but slogged to the finish). I’ve run 12 marathons in the last decade, and a lot has changed in that time. Take the New York City Marathon, the joyful Sunday when people across the five boroughs cheer, make funny signs and gawk at the sufferfest. About 60,000 people will start today’s race; a few hundred thousand more applied for a lottery spot and didn’t get in. Why are so many people seeking bibs? Marathons are suddenly very popular: Many more people are vying for spots in the biggest races. Meanwhile, both elite and recreational runners keep getting faster. Here’s what to know about how the marathon is evolving. A running boom Interest in running has surged in the past few years, and major marathons have seen big jumps in demand: 1.3 million people applied to run next year’s London Marathon, up from 578,000 just three years ago. New York saw a nearly 20 percent increase in lottery entries this year over last year. Only a small fraction were selected to run. (Some racers get in through other avenues, like fast qualifying times.) Graham Dickie for The New York Times Many people picked up running, or returned to it, during the pandemic. Since then, run clubs have contributed to the boom. The groups are particularly popular among younger people, and plenty have found that sweating side-by-side can lead to fast friendships, or even dates. These folks are also signing up for more races. As the marquee races become harder to enter, runners have found alternate ways to challenge themselves: In New York, some also-rans circumnavigate Manhattan as a D.I.Y. 32-mile ultramarathon. Peak performance At the front of the pack, there have also been a few big shifts. Until very recently, many people thought a sub-two-hour marathon wasn’t possible. This spring at the London Marathon, runners broke that barrier for the first time in an official race — and it wasn’t only the winner. The second-place finisher did it, too. Why are top runners getting so much faster? Here are a few reasons. The shoes: Sneaker technology has evolved. About 10 years ago, Nike introduced the Vaporfly, a running shoe with thick cushioning and a carbon plate designed to improve a runner’s efficiency. The footwear had a significant effect on performance. Today, most major running brands offer their own “super shoes,” as they’re known. (The record breakers in London were wearing a version from Adidas.) While the earliest super shoes were worn mainly by elites, they’ve trickled down to recreational runners too. I use a pair that costs nearly $300. Extra carbs: When you’re running for hours, you need carbohydrates to fuel your muscles. Most runners get the quick energy they need in the form of gels and sports drinks along the course. But research suggests that trained athletes can digest more carbs — and thus perform better — than we thought. So top endurance athletes now gulp a lot more of that goop during the race. I’ve tried that, too. It’s not always gentle on the stomach, but it can make those final miles less of a slog. Today’s race Note: Names paired by matching names and ages. Those with name changes between races, like a maiden name, would not be counted. Includes all runners with debut races from 1970 to 2024. Source: New York Road Runners. The New York Times Most people run New York’s marathon and then never return. But those who do usually get better. Here’s how. Follow today’s race live here. How much does it cost to run a marathon? New York’s marathon first traversed all five boroughs 50 years ago. Look how much has changed since then. THE LATEST NEWS Midterms The New York Times Young men swung for Donald Trump in 2024. What party will they vote for in the midterms? We went to Michigan and asked some. Click the video above to watch. Democrats in Michigan are feuding: Abdul El-Sayed, the party’s Senate nominee, said he did not want Representative Haley Stevens, his former primary rival, to attend a Democratic unity event with him. Ukraine Ukrainians evacuated from the frontline city of Oleshky. David Guttenfelder/The New York Times Hundreds of Ukrainians escaped the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky after a rare local truce backed by the pope and Melania Trump. As many as 40 percent of injured soldiers in Ukraine face severe infections that can lead to amputations and death. Around the World After losing ground in Israel’s election, Benjamin Netanyahu’s attempt to form a governing coalition will test his political savvy. North Korean hackers are suspected in the Binance cryptocurrency heist, according to the F.B.I. French protests that began peaceful ended in violent clashes, a sign of deep, continuing unrest across the country. Other Big Stories A federal judge dismissed President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal over reporting that linked the president and Jeffrey Epstein. The police are looking for a person who fatally shot a pregnant woman and injured six others at a Halloween store in California, the local authorities said. Five people suffered chemical burns at a Chili’s in North Carolina after drinking margaritas rimmed with a degreaser mistaken for sugar. ASK THE MORNING Who pays for President Trump and Vice President Vance’s travel to stump for candidates? | Victoria Garvin | Washington, D.C. The short answer: It’s a mix. The government covers the cost of protecting them, including Secret Service operations. And the taxpayer foots the entire bill for air travel at first. But campaigns or political action committees must reimburse other aspects of these trips, such as food and venue rentals. In the case of political events, usually the Republican National Committee sends the check. I asked the White House and the R.N.C. how much they’ve spent so far. They didn’t answer. It’s common for the administration to take months to submit a bill to the party for its share of the costs. — Luke Broadwater, White House correspondent FROM OPINION The Democratic Party is searching for its own version of masculinity. That has led to a surprising place. The comedian Alex Edelman loved performing at the Kennedy Center. He may never do it again. The Midterms are here. Understand their impact with savings on The Times. Benefit from unlimited coverage of the elections — and what they mean for you going forward. Sale: $1/week for you first year. Subscribe now. MORNING READS The competition drew more than 5,000 auditions. Brian Snyder/Reuters Wicked fierce competition: Boston Logan International Airport is searching for the quintessential local voice — and accent — to welcome visitors. Listen to the top contenders. Creative liberty? A.I.-generated videos mashing up characters from different fictional worlds delighted the Chinese internet. But the government was not amused. Bangkok’s top snake catcher refuses to kill the reptiles he captures, leaving his fire station overrun with them. Most popular last week: She trusted ChatGPT with her medication decisions. It cost her everything. SPORTS Ezra Shaw/Getty Images W.N.B.A.: The Golden State Valkyries beat the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the finals to win the team’s first league championship. College football: Before a game between Florida State and Clemson, a plane circled overhead with a banner calling for the firing of Mike Norvell, the F.S.U. coach. But it misspelled his name. BOOK OF THE WEEK By Elisabeth Egan “Miss Wolcott’s Ghost,” by Louise Penny You don’t need to be on a first-name basis with Chief Inspector Armand Gamache, Penny’s French Canadian equivalent of Hercule Poirot, to appreciate this thoughtful, moving whodunit. The case begins with a mysterious phone call announcing a dead body in Lost Nation. But where is Lost Nation, exactly? And why does the call trace back to Gamache’s neighbor, who denies placing it? “The ‘how,’ even the ‘who’ of a murder investigation, was important,” Penny writes, “but never as interesting or telling as the ‘why’s.” As in previous Gamache novels, Penny tackles all three with alacrity. For more crime novels, go here. To read about a proliferation of horror bookstores, go here. THE NEW YORK TIMES MAGAZINE Penélope Cruz Read this week’s magazine. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS … Get someone a gift that feels more expensive than it really is. (They’ll never know!) Here are 11 great options. Hike in a stable pair of boots that won’t leave your feet blistered and aching. Pummel your muscles in the name of rejuvenation and recovery. These are the best massage guns. MEAL PLAN David Malosh for The New York Times Who doesn’t love to assemble the perfect bite? Our very green feta frittata is designed for that. In this recipe, Yotam Ottolenghi places an entire brick of feta into the pan of whisked eggs before everything bakes together. The frittata emerges from the oven with the feta slumped and creamy; choose how much to add to every bite. See more great recipes for this week, including lasagna soup and sheet-pan chicken with sweet potatoes and fennel. NOW TIME TO PLAY Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was haunting. Can you put eight historical events — including early trick-or-treating, the origin of Dracula and the first pumpkin jack-o’-lanterns — in chronological order? Take this week’s Flashback quiz. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Crossplay, Connections and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your weekend with The Times. Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Deputy Editorial Director: Lauren Jackson