The nation’s largest third party is not standing by as the two major political rivals duke it out over the midterm elections.

“Every October before an election, both Democrats and Republicans ramp up fear-based campaigns. The Halloween season isn’t only for supernatural stories and macabre imagery, it’s also for frightening voters as a strategy for getting out the vote. The phenomenon even has a name, the October surprise,” says the Libertarian Party in a new declaration aimed at independent and undecided voters.

Republicans, they reason, are alarming the public with immigration issues while Democrats prefer to cause panic by claiming the GOP will end access to health care.

“Libertarians take a different approach: an appeal to common sense. Republicans and Democrats, the lumbering dinosaurs of American politics, will continue trying to scare voters each Halloween season by demonizing each other and offering big-government programs and restrictions as their only solutions. Fortunately, there is another way. About 800 Libertarians are running for local, state, and federal office this year — a 35 percent increase over 2016. The Libertarian Party won’t try to scare voters with political ghosts and goblins. Instead, we offer real solutions to increase freedom and prosperity,” the party says.

Things are percolating, and the “LP” is busy countering impressions that a vote for them would be “wasted,” or thrown away. Meanwhile, the number of U.S. voters registered as Libertarian has surged by 92 percent since 2008 according to Ballot Access News, which tracks the trends. The party broke a half-million registered voters during the 2016 election, and the numbers has continued to climb ever since.

“The grassroots energy we are seeing in 2018 is amazing,” observes Libertarian National Committee chairman Nicholas Sarwark, now running for mayor of Phoenix.

NEWS FROM JERRY BROWN

The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists has announced that “California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.” has joined the nonprofit organization and will act as executive chairman — “to equip the public, policymakers, and scientists with the information needed to demand, recognize, and support public policies that reduce man-made existential threats such as nuclear war, climate change, and disruptive technologies.”

The organization has maintained the grim but iconic “Doomsday Clock” since 1947 — a symbolic timepiece that suggests how close the world is to destruction from all sorts of things. It now stands at two minutes to midnight, matching a record set in 1953.

“The peril grows and in no way diminishes,” Mr. Brown said in a statement release by the organization.

FOX NEWS BUILDS A ‘NATION’

The bodacious Fox News universe is about to get even more bodacious. Next month, the nation’s leading cable news network will debut “Fox Nation” — a new on-demand subscription-based service — featuring both long- and short form programming and star power such as Sean Hannity, Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham.

“Content you love, voices that matter, all at your fingertips,” the network advises.

The starting price for access is $5.99 a month: a presale initiative for the “Fox Nation Founders Program” begins Sunday, a full 30 days ahead of the big launch Nov. 27.

“We are incredibly excited to bring our viewers exclusive access, content and experiences from our Fox News stars at an attainable price. In an on-demand era of viewers watching content wherever and whenever they want, Fox Nation will complement and enhance our powerhouse Fox News programming for loyal superfans,” said John Finley, senior vice president of development and production.

The exclusive presale program offers special deals and “elite” merchandise such as tactical wristwatches and barware for early subscribers.

Curious? Visit Foxnation.com, and don’t miss “Fox Nation First Look,” a one-hour special on Sunday at 8 p.m. EDT featuring appearances by hosts Jesse Watters, Tomi Lahren, Pete Hegseth, Britt McHenry and Tyrus.

WISDOM OF SCALISE

“I fear the disturbing frequency of politically motivated threats and violence is a sign that too many Americans are becoming isolated and obsessed by what divides us, putting political disagreements front and center in how we relate to one another. Not only is this is a toxic, dangerous way of viewing the world, it is counterproductive to the free exchange of ideas and perspectives that is so vital to the health of this great representative democracy,” writes House Majority Whip Steve Scalise in a Fox News op-ed.

He was gravely wounded at a Congressional baseball game by a left-wing gunman last year.

“If we are to stem the tide of violence and violent rhetoric, then it is crucial we all do our part to break down the divisions in our country and reach out to those with different beliefs than our own. America is better than these acts of threats, intimidation and violence against people based on their political beliefs. We are better than this, and we will move beyond this. But now is a time to confront these divisions and remember that what makes America great is that we celebrate our differences, and ultimately we settle them at the ballot box,” Mr. Scalise advises.

WEEKEND REAL ESTATE

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POLL DU JOUR

• 9.5 percent of U.S. public school students are “English language learners.”

• 77 percent of this group speak Spanish as their primary language at home.

• 2 percent speak Arabic, 2 percent speak Chinese, 2 percent speak Vietnamese at home.

• 21 percent of all students in California schools are English learners.

• 17 percent of students in both Nevada and Texas, 16 percent in New Mexico, 12 percent in Colorado, 11 percent in both Alaska and Kansas, and 10 percent in Washington state are also English learners.

Source: A Pew Research Center analysis of current National Center for Education Statistics released Thursday.

• Kindly follow Jennifer harper on Twitter at @HarperBulletin.

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