What are the 10 biggest news stories from today?

Here are the 10 biggest news stories making headlines today, November 5, 2026:

1. Democrats Reclaim Control of Congress
U.S. news organizations project that the Democratic Party will control the House of Representatives and the Senate in the upcoming 120th Congress, ending the Republican Party's majority in both chambers. This marks a dramatic shift in Washington's power balance following Tuesday's midterm elections.

2. Trump Defiant Despite "Crushing Defeat"
Despite the electoral setback, President Trump signaled that he will not change his policy stance, claiming that "if the Democrats try to impeach me, it will lead to ruin."

3. Wall Street Rallies on Election Results
Stock market today: Dow rallies 1,500 points, S&P 500 and Nasdaq gain after Democrats win control of Congress. Meanwhile, the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index declined, and international oil prices plunged by more than 7%.

4. JD Vance Breaks With Trump, Blames Iran War for GOP Losses
In a striking break from the administration, Vice President JD Vance distanced himself from President Trump's war on Iran, questioning its worth and blaming it entirely for a stinging electoral rebuke by voters that delivered control of Congress to Democrats.

5. House Speaker Mike Johnson Steps Back
US House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson will not run for election as House minority leader, following the loss of his Republican majority in this week's midterm elections.

6. Democrats Plan Wave of Investigations Into Trump Administration
With subpoena power restored, Democrats will have the ability to subpoena records and compel individuals to testify. The Epstein files, Elon Musk, the Iran war and Trump's business interests may all come under the microscope.

7. Historic Firsts in Midterm Elections
Voters on Tuesday elected the nation's first Black woman governor and the nation's first Native American woman governor. Additionally, diverse candidates made history, including Pia Dandiya becoming Florida's first Indian American woman elected to the US House of Representatives, and Jyot Singh making history as the first Sikh American elected to Georgia's General Assembly.

8. Nationwide Backlash Against AI Data Centers
Voters delivered a major blow to the AI industry as in at least 38 jurisdictions voters rejected or restricted data centers, delivering a major setback to the AI industry.

9. Elon Musk's Political Spending Mostly Backfires
Despite heavy investment in the midterms, Elon Musk gave more than $445 million to Republican candidates, political action committees and outside groups, according to federal election filings but most of the candidates he backed on Tuesday lost.

10. Netanyahu Faces Political Uncertainty Amid Iran War
On the international front, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, who is waging a war with Iran alongside the U.S., is also expected to face difficulties in securing another term.

Other notable stories today: A Learjet 60 crash in Florida killed nine people en route to the Bahamas, and the war in Ukraine continues with Russian strikes cutting power to Ukrainian cities as Moscow claims to have downed hundreds of Ukrainian drones.