Latest on the U.S. Midterms: Bloomberg-backed Groups Drop Millions (Axios)

From Axios: In the largest digital investment ever by a Democratic nonprofit, two groups backed by Michael Bloomberg — Everytown for Gun Safety and his Independence USA PAC — are pouring $11 million into online ads to help Democrats win House seats, Axios media trends expert Sara Fischer reports.

Why it matters: That puts Everytown ahead of other major Democratic non-profits, like the House Majority PAC, in money spent on digital ads targeted at House races, according to sources familiar with their ad spending this cycle.

How it worked: In ads beginning in September and running through Election Day, the groups targeted 24 districts and 5 million voters with issue ads on everything from gun control to the Republican tax plan.

Howard Wolfson says: “With digital ads, it is imperative that we grab the viewer immediately, but that’s less essential in the context of a TV ad.”

Pipe Bomb Attack Latest:
-Packages Sent to Joe Biden, Robert De Niro Match Other Suspicious Packages (NBC News)
-Amid Incendiary Rhetoric, Targets of Trump’s Words Become Targets of Bombs (Washington Post)

Not Looking in the Mirror: President Trump blamed the media for the pipe bombs in a tweet this morning: “A very big part of the Anger we see today in our society is caused by the purposely false and inaccurate reporting of the Mainstream Media that I refer to as Fake News. It has gotten so bad and hateful that it is beyond description. Mainstream Media must clean up its act, FAST!”

Former CIA Director John Brennan, one of the targets of the pipe bombs, responded on Twitter: “Stop blaming others. Look in the mirror. Your inflammatory rhetoric, insults, lies, & encouragement of physical violence are disgraceful. Clean up your act….try to act Presidential. The American people deserve much better. BTW, your critics will not be intimidated into silence.”

Markets Today: Stock Rout Erases 2018 Gains for S&P, Dow Indexes; Nasdaq Lapses Into Correction with Worst Day Since 2011 (Bloomberg)

The Brexit Short Update: Hedge Funds’ Secret Ties to Pollsters Examined by UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (Bloomberg)
Read the Bloomberg story that started it all: How Hedge Funds Used Private Polls to Make Millions (Bloomberg Businessweek)

Khashoggi Latest: Turks Tell Saudi Investigators Khashoggi Murder Premeditated (Bloomberg)

Buy Chinese: China offered only sarcasm in response to a New York Times report that the country’s spies, along with those of Russia, are snooping on calls Trump makes on his unsecured iPhones. “You can change to Huawei phones,” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told reporters today in Beijing, in a reference to the Chinese phone maker. She called the report “fake news.” China Dismisses Report of Trump Phone Spying as `Fake News’ (Bloomberg)

Earnings Today:
Tesla Blows Out Earnings: Tesla Profit Blowout Reverses Much of Musk’s Damage to Stock (Bloomberg)
More Auto News: In contrast to Tesla, Ford reported lower net profits yesterday, as sales fell in Europe and China, and costs rose because of tariffs.

Good Earnings News for Twitter: Twitter Exceeds Sales Projections Amid Spam Account Cleanup (Bloomberg)

Bloomberg Insider:
Standing Up for Diversity & Inclusion: Peter Grauer has been named one of Top 10 OUTstanding Ally Executives by the Financial Times for his work to drive LGBT+ inclusion as chairman of Bloomberg LP. Bloomberg’s Amin Kassam was also recognized as a top LGBT+ executive. The awards acknowledge the contribution of senior executives who are outspoken and unwavering in their support for LGBT+ people in the workplace.

Tune In: Today, Mike Bloomberg will kick off “Bloomberg Ideas,” a two-day event where Bloomberg’s best thinkers and writers will discuss everything from crypto to AI. Follow the conversation on Twitter or Facebook starting at 2pm ET.

Best of late night.

On the $1.6 billion Mega Millions lottery drawing in the U.S.:

“Someone finally won the Mega Millions lottery jackpot last night, and all $1.6 billion went to a single ticket. Nobody knows who the winner is, but here’s what I know: We could definitely be best friends. Call me.”
— James Corden

“Before the drawing, the New York Post made a list of things New Yorkers could do with $1.6 billion. For instance, they could buy the Islanders, or part of the Mets, or they could sublet a 1 bedroom apartment for 2 months. No hot water.”
— Jimmy Fallon

For more best of late night from the New York Times, click here.