The day after the night before: Trump caps fractious post-midterm press conference by firing attorney general Jeff Sessions

President has lost the House of Representatives, but remains bullish about his ability to implement ‘Maga’ agenda

What do the midterms mean for Trump?

Donald Trump capped a fraught midterm election period by firing his attorney general, Jeff Sessions, in a move that immediately provoked fear he may move against the Russia investigation headed by special counsel Robert Mueller.

The US president spent the day after the night before sparring with journalists in a rare set-piece press conference at the White House. The Republican, who appeared tired and on a short fuse, told one reporter to “just sit down” and called him “the enemy of the people” as he was grilled for some 90 minutes after his party lost control of the House of Representatives.

Nonetheless, Mr Trump sought to portray the GOP’s showing as a historic success, with candidates having prevailed in an unusual number of Senate races, he said. In one closely-watched contest, the Texas incumbent Ted Cruz narrowly defeated Beto O’Rourke, the Democrat darling of social media, who observers later tipped as a possible candidate for president in 2020.

During his news conference Mr Trump appeared to extend an olive branch to Democrats, with whom he said he believed his Republican colleagues could produce “a lot” of legislation, particularly on infrastructure. He has pledged to invest hundreds of millions of dollars to modernise crumbling elements of the US’ road system and for improvements in other areas.

But he said that bipartisan working would be contingent on his opponents refraining from opening a string of investigations into his affairs. Democrats have already said they plan to do just that, probing the president’s tax returns, alleged conflicts of interest and other sore points now that they control several influential House committees.

Mr Trump’s first public appearance following the polls veered wildly from outright conflict with the media to praising incoming House speaker Nancy Pelosi and envisioning peace, love and harmony among politicians and their constituents – pointing the finger at journalists for having sown division in the past.

The president hit out at CNN‘s Jim Acosta in particular after the reporter questioned him first over his rhetoric on immigration and then on Mr Mueller’s investigation. Mr Trump told Mr Acosta, who at times spoke over him and refused to relinquish his microphone, that “CNN should be ashamed of itself having you working for them”.

He also berated a black reporter for asking a “racist question” about his decision to declare himself a nationalist. Mr Trump was asked by Yamiche Alcindor, of PBS Newshour, whether his rhetoric had “emboldened” white nationalists. Mr Trump said that “it’s a very racist question” and that “it’s a very terrible thing you said to me”, adding: ”I don’t believe it ... why do I have my highest numbers with African-Americans?”

As reporters gathered themselves following the marathon press conference, another bombshell dropped – Jeff Sessions had resigned at the president’s request. The attorney general’s sacking came after months of very public vitriol directed his way by Mr Trump, who was incensed by the former Alabama senator’s decision to recuse himself from oversight of Mr Mueller’s probe into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign for president and Russia.

“Since the day I was honoured to be sworn in as attorney general of the United States, I came to work at the Department of Justice every day determined to do my duty and serve my country,” Mr Sessions wrote in his resignation letter.

His departure – televised and made while surrounded by applauding colleagues including his deputy, Rod Rosenstein, and his successor, Matthew Whitaker – sparked warnings of a “constitutional crisis”. Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and others warned Mr Trump not to move against Mr Mueller now that Mr Sessions was out of the way.

See below how we covered the midterms, and the aftermath, live

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[6 November 2018 18:35 · Andrew Griffin]

Reports of broken ballot scanners are leading to long lines at several polling sites across New York City. 

Turnout was so heavy Tuesday morning at one packed precinct on Manhattan's Upper West Side that the line to scan ballots stretched around a junior high school gym. 

Poll workers told voters that two of the roughly half-dozen scanners were malfunctioning. 

In Brooklyn, voters arriving at two separate polling stations discovered that most scanners had broken down. 

Veronica Vela said half of the scanners were broken at one of the polling sites in Crown Heights and waited two hours to vote. By that time, none of the machines were working. 

Vela said she was forced to drop her ballot in an "emergency ballot box."

[6 November 2018 18:41 · Andrew Griffin]

A Homeland Security official has responded to widespread problems with voting machines, which some have suggested could impact voting numbers.

The agency says it has received "sparse" reports of issues, but that they so far appear to have had no significant impact in preventing people from voting.

[6 November 2018 19:23 · Andrew Griffin]

US media are heavily discussing an interview, given by Trump last night, in which he expressed regret over his "tone". He said he wishes he had been "softer" – a strange concession from someone who very rarely admits that there is anything wrong.

[6 November 2018 19:26 · Andrew Griffin]

Michael Moore highlights rules around the "provisional ballots", which voters can ask for if they aren't able to cast their ballot like usual. That will allow you to put your vote in all the same – and if it's legitimate, it can still be used and counted.

[6 November 2018 19:46 · Andrew Griffin]

At least a dozen states are having problems that are stopping people casting their ballots, according to US rights activists. People are still running into widespread issues with registration problems, fault equipment and issues like intimidation during early voting.

[6 November 2018 19:59 · Andrew Griffin]

  ↵It's probably the election that has seen the most engaged reaction by celebrities, musicians and others ever. And that is continuing – Travis Scott, for instance, is giving away concert tickets at voting locations in an attempt to convince people to vote.

[6 November 2018 20:26 · Andrew Griffin]

Here's one novel way of helping out with the huge lines at polling places: pizza. This website is allowing people to donate and then have food sent out to people stuck waiting to cast their ballot.

They've sent nearly 5,000 pizzas so far, and there's plenty left to go. Get on that website to donate money or request pizzas – or watch for live deliveries as the pies are sent around the country.

[6 November 2018 20:32 · Andrew Griffin]

Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says cybersecurity officials are hoping for the best in the midterm election but preparing to react to the worst. 

Nielsen says that the election will be the most secure in the modern era. She was speaking Tuesday at a command center where state and local officials are working with federal agents to share information on possible interference from foreign or domestic agents. 

States run elections, but Homeland Security is the federal department tasked with both cybersecurity and protecting the country's election infrastructure. 

Voters were managing long lines and malfunctioning machines, but those problems weren't because of any foreign interference. 

Nielsen says no voting machines have been compromised, but there has been a misinformation effort by foreign groups eager to sow discord.

[6 November 2018 21:11 · Andrew Griffin]

President Donald Trump is spending Election Day calling allies, tweeting endorsements and following news coverage, after concluding a six-day rally blitz in Missouri late Monday. 

Trump packed his closing argument with hardline immigration rhetoric and harsh attacks on Democrats as he stared down the prospect of Republican losses that could shadow his presidency. 

Faced with the possibility of keeping the Senate but losing the House, aides have begun laying out the political reality to Trump, who could face an onslaught of Democratic-run investigations and paralysis of his policy agenda. 

Trump has already been trying out defensive arguments, noting that midterm losses are typical for the party in the White House, pointing out a high number of GOP retirements and stressing that he has kept his focus on the Senate.

[6 November 2018 21:38 · Andrew Griffin]

Here's the latest markets update from Reuters, as traders look towards the upcoming results:

Wall Street's major indexes closed higher on Tuesday as voters headed to the polls in U.S. midterm congressional elections and investors hoped the result would provide some relief for stocks after prolonged uncertainty.

Some stocks such as CVS Health Corp and Mylan NV were boosted by strong earnings, but despite a late afternoon spike in buying, trading volume was relatively thin as many investors held back on making big bets in case of a surprise election outcome.

Wall Street had been expecting that President Donald Trump's Republican party would lose control of the House of Representatives, while retaining the Senate.

"People are anticipating the results of the election and there's a high possibility of gridlock ... There could be another leg higher if we get gridlock because the existing economic agenda won't be altered materially," said Mona Mahajan, U.S. Investment Strategist, Allianz Global Investors, New York.

"There's still in people's minds the idea that there could be a surprise. Most people are waiting to see what the results are before they make any major investment decisions."