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Good morning from the Financial Times.

Today is Wednesday, November 6th, and this is your FT News Briefing.

Americans closed out a hard-fought election yesterday.

And I'll take you through the numbers of what has been the most expensive presidential

contest in U.S. history.

Plus, Germany is racing against the clock to pass a new budget.

The problem is that the government has submitted a draft budget to the German parliament,

but there is an enormous hole in it.

I'm Sonia Hudson, and here's the news you need to start your day.

Thank you. Voters across the U.S. yesterday raced to cast their ballots and what has been billed as the most consequential election in decades.

A lot of different emotions, a lot of different opinions to the point where I can't

talk about it with my friends or family or coworkers. And it has been a political roller coaster,

to say the least. It's just such a divisive time. And to be honest, I'm looking forward to everything

just being over. People in battleground states have faced the most pressure from this election.

My colleague, Steph Chavez, was out talking to voters in Wisconsin yesterday, and she joins me now

to tell me what she saw and heard.

Hi, Steph.

Hi, Sonia.

So how were people feeling about the election in Wisconsin?

I think there were all sorts of emotions, and it ranged from, you know, real hope and confidence in, you know, people's specific candidates, but also genuine anxiety and fear.

...