This week on The Necessary Conversation, it’s Chad, Haley, and Mary Lou — all dressed up for Halloween. 🎃 Bob is still out recovering. The midterms are Tuesday. We make our predictions and talk about who we’re voting for.

⚠️ House Democrats released a 53-page report detailing new rape allegations against Trump tied to Jeffrey Epstein. The report includes evidence involving 11 women, five of whom accuse Trump of rape or sexual assault in Epstein’s company. The newest allegation comes from former Miss Switzerland Beatrice Keul, who says Trump raped her at the Plaza Hotel in 1993. Democrats are calling for an independent special counsel, but only AG Todd Blanche can appoint one — and they accuse him of helping cover it all up. We asked Mary Lou on Wednesday to read more about it. We check in on whether she did.

🏟️ Trump cancelled two rallies in Kansas and Iowa, then flip-flopped and put them back on within 24 hours. CNN reported that Trump’s red-state rallies weren’t helping Republican candidates in the polls, and some believe he was writing off both states as already lost. The White House offered no explanation for the reversal. We ask: what’s going on with the campaign?

💣 Reports emerged that Trump is planning a “short, intense military campaign” against Iran starting as early as November 4th — the day after the midterms. Senator Chris Murphy received a Pentagon briefing and said “their plan is insane,” warning it could include strikes on civilian infrastructure. Oil is already at $102 a barrel and diesel is up nearly 70% since the war began. We ask: why is Trump waiting until the day after the election to escalate?

💡 We simmer down to talk about our favorite piece of technology invented in our lifetimes.

🎭 The New York Times reported that aides to Alaska Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign helped recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to confuse voters in the Senate race against Republican Dan Sullivan. The report is based on text messages and interviews with Peltola’s fired former campaign manager. Trump says Democrats should be prosecuted. We ask: should they be? And if so, for what?

👮 A court filing revealed the DOJ is sending about 1,000 federal election monitors to all 50 states — including Federal Bureau of Prisons guards, ATF agents, and DEA staff. That’s more than triple the 289 sent in 2022. Even Republican Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon called it “a bit aggressive.” We ask: why does Trump want prison guards watching us vote?

⛪ Twelve Catholic archbishops and bishops met with Trump at the White House, where they prayed over him at the Resolute Desk. The White House posted video of it two weeks before the midterms — despite assuring the bishops no photos would be made public. Multiple bishops have since apologized, calling the moment “manipulated” and “exploited” for partisan purposes. One said many things tied to this administration are “blatantly at odds with our Catholic faith.” We ask Mary Lou: whose side is she on — Trump or the bishops?

Election Day is Tuesday. This is the last episode before America decides.

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