Mike Bloomberg: Trump Makes Case for a Democratic Congress – His Anti-immigration Ploys Show the Need for Checks and Balances (Bloomberg Opinion)
At a time when the nation is reeling from a horrific attack against a religious group that killed 11 Americans, and from a bomber who targeted people for their politics, President Trump has chosen to inflame rather than heal — for the most cynical of reasons: He hopes to boost the election prospects of Republicans. Politics doesn’t get much more dishonest and depraved than this.

The president’s decision to deploy more than 5,000 active-duty troops to the southern border to stop a caravan of a few thousand people reeks of partisan politics.

It’s an ugly Halloween trick — and Americans must not be fooled. We can and must secure our borders without resorting to fear-mongering and hysterics — and without wasting the military’s time and resources on partisan stunts.

We need leaders who will bring us together, and not stand for those who would rip us — and our Constitution — apart.

Read the full column here.

Tweet of the Day – Happy Halloween Edition: At 12:43pm ET, President Trump tweeted: “Paul Ryan should be focusing on holding the Majority rather than giving his opinions on Birthright Citizenship, something he knows nothing about! Our new Republican Majority will work on this, Closing the Immigration Loopholes and Securing our Border!”

U.S. Midterm Latest:
The Mike Bloomberg-produced ad urging women to vote in the U.S. midterms broke through 20 million impressions after it was released yesterday. Coverage included:
-Jodie Foster Directs New Bloomberg-backed Midterm Ad (CNN)
-Star-studded Ad Directed by Jodie Foster and Produced by Mike Bloomberg Urges Women to Vote (CBS News)
-How Are Celebrities Affecting Voter Turnout? (MSNBC)

More Midterm Headlines:
-White House Is Said to Brace for GOP Losses and Staff Exodus (Bloomberg)
-Wall Street Gets Behind Blue Wave With Bet on Friendly Democrats (Bloomberg)
-Tech Scrutiny Could Intensify No Matter Who Wins U.S. Election (Bloomberg)

Women Changing the World: Moms Demand Action Founder Shannon Watts on Finding ‘A Tribe of Women Who Will Hold You Up’ (PEOPLE magazine)
There are 80 million moms in America — and together, they have the power to end gun violence in this country. That’s the message behind the Mike Bloomberg-supported Moms Demand Action, the group founded by Shannon Watts in the wake of the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Watts leads PEOPLE magazine’s annual 25 Women Changing the World. ​

Mike Bloomberg to CityLab Detroit on Monday: “Progress is Still Possible” Despite Division in Washington (Detroit News)
On Monday at the CityLab conference in Detroit, Mike Bloomberg stressed the importance of the annual gathering, telling attendees that “progress is still possible” despite the political “chaos and division” in Washington D.C. “I don’t think there could be a better time for communities to reassert their rightful role as leaders in innovative government. Because on every issue that matters, local communities are charting the way forward and proving that Democracy in the 21st Century can work for all people,” Bloomberg said.

Headlines from around the world.

South China Morning Post: China to Send Vice-President Wang Qishan to Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore

Bloomberg: Angela Merkel’s Party Fights Over Legacy With Chancellor Sidelined

Bloomberg: U.K. Expects Brexit Deal With EU by November 21, Dominic Raab Says

Bloomberg: Mark Zuckerberg Bet on Instagram, Video Has Investor Support for Now

Best of late night.

On Halloween:

“Tomorrow Krispy Kreme will give you a free doughnut if you walk in wearing a costume. Which means we now have a new definition for the term ‘walk of shame.’”
— Jimmy Fallon

On a company in the UK that started selling nose-warmers for people in colder climates:

“Honestly, if you feel the need to wear one of these, maybe it’s time to stay inside.”
— James Corden

“The nose-warmer costs $10 and all your hope of ever finding a partner.”
— James Corden

On the U.S. midterms:

“The campaigns have been dominated by fear and just really terrible, heartbreaking events. That’s why for Halloween, instead of decorating my house with witches and goblins, I just hung up newspapers.”
— Stephen Colbert

For more Best of Late Night from the New York Times, click here.