The Briefing:
- With 17 days to Election Day on November 3, President Trump hosted roughly 100 of the GOP's top donors at his Mar-a-Lago estate, flanked by Vice President JD Vance and First Lady Melania Trump in a late-cycle show of Republican unity.
- Republicans hold a commanding two-to-one financial edge over Democrats — $657 million to $334 million across major committees and aligned super PACs — with Elon Musk, the world's wealthiest individual, pouring $276 million into GOP efforts since July alone.
- The House majority is razor-thin: Democrats need a net gain of just three seats to flip the chamber on November 3, restoring their subpoena power and investigative authority over the executive branch.
