A grab-bag of stories signals the White House and allied campaigns are scrambling just days before the midterms, with a Russia oil shipment and multiple scandals swirling at once.

• A Russian diesel tanker is heading to the US for the first time since Trump's deal with Putin, with Melania Trump separately announcing she personally brokered a local ceasefire in a Ukrainian town — an unusual arrangement that has raised eyebrows about back-channel dealings with the Kremlin.
• Oil prices jumped on fears of renewed Iran tensions, adding pressure on gas prices right as voters head to the polls worried about inflation and the economy.
• With just over a week until midterms, Trump is rolling back some Canada tariffs and the DOJ is already laying groundwork to challenge a close Senate race in Alaska, fueling worries that Republicans will contest results if they lose.
• Elon Musk's SpaceX is reportedly still restricting Starlink access in Ukraine, adding to speculation about his contacts with Putin and alignment with Russia-friendly messaging.
• Separate scandals are hitting Republican campaigns, including a fallout from an attack ad referencing sexual-abuse allegations in an Ohio governor's race, and new scrutiny of Jared Kushner over secret financial accounts.

Outlook: Expect contested-results rhetoric to escalate as midterm results come in, with the Russia oil shipment and Ukraine ceasefire story likely to draw more scrutiny over the coming days.