EARLY NATSEC MIDTERM TAKEAWAYS: We know, we know, you’re sick of reading about the midterms already, and this is a national security newsletter. But hear us out: There’s already chatter about the ripple effects (get it?) of the results. Experts on the left are advocating for Democrats to relax the sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela since Florida is deep red and out of reach politically. “If any Democrats still think it makes sense to fruitlessly embargo the island of Cuba into submission until the end of time, in order to gain an insufficient number of votes in a red state, could you please explain why?” the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace’s STEPHEN WERTHEIM tweeted . Of course, that might be hard to pull off even if Democrats hold on to the Senate. After all, Sen. BOB MENENDEZ (D-N.J.) — a leading proponent for keeping the pressure on autocrat-led nations in Latin America — leads the Foreign Relations Committee. And Rep. TIM RYAN ’s (D-Ohio) loss in the Ohio Senate race, per progressives, goes to show that blaming China for many of America’s ills just won’t cut it as a foreign policy message. “Ryan was a shittier candidate than anyone wanted to admit — a red-scare, xenophobe-stoking blue dog who offered no real solutions to economic insecurity,” tweeted VAN JACKSON , a former Pentagon official in the Obama administration. Meanwhile, the expected slim Republican majority in the House gives the populist faction of the party increased power. That’s bad news if you’re sitting in Ukraine right now. Rep. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-Ga.) vowed that Ukraine won’t get more aid with Republicans in charge — challenging her party’s overall support for Kyiv. She and like-minded lawmakers are preparing to wield more power. “A narrower majority means that somebody like Thomas Massie has more influence in the majority,” Rep. THOMAS MASSIE (R-Ky.) told Semafor . “There’s a reason for me to be happy.” Experts we’ve spoken to say the midterm result makes it more likely that a Ukraine aid package passes in December — before the new Congress arrives in Washington. (More on the natsec lawmakers who won and lost in On The Hill below.) RUSSIA RETREATING FROM KHERSON: The Russian military is withdrawing from Kherson , dealing Putin another major blow to his invasion campaign. Russian Defense Minister SERGEI SHOIGU and SERGEI SUROVIKIN, the commander of Russian forces in Ukraine, announced the move on social media and in a weird television appearance . “We will save the lives of our soldiers and fighting capacity of our units," Surovikin said. "Keeping them on the right [western] bank is futile. Some of them can be used on other fronts." The move to place Russian troops across the Dnipro River comes after weeks of fighting for the southern city. Recapturing Kherson was a major focus of Ukraine’s counteroffensive campaign. However, advisers to Zelenskyy say there is currently no real retreat happening in Kherson , with Russian troops still remaining in the city and reserves on their way to the region. GRINER SENT TO PENAL COLONY: WNBA star BRITTNEY GRINER has been sent to a penal colony to serve her nine-year sentence for drug possession, according to her legal team. Griner was transferred from her detention center in Iksha on Friday, attorneys MARIA BLAGOVOLINA and ALEXANDER BOYKOV said in a statement today. They don’t know the 32-year-old basketball player’s exact location or destination. The U.S. has made a “significant offer” to Moscow for Griner’s release, White House spokesperson KARINE JEAN-PIERRE said in a statement. Though Russia hasn’t reciprocated, the U.S. government has followed up on the offer and proposed “alternative potential ways forward.” It has been widely reported that the U.S. has offered convicted Russian arms dealer VIKTOR BOUT for the release of Griner and PAUL WHALEN. FRANCE’S FUTURE: France is aiming to strengthen its military prowess through the end of the decade and become an “independent, respected, agile power,” President EMMANUEL MACRON said in a speech today, the Associated Press’ SYLVIE CORBET reports . “Europe is not sheltered anymore from missile and drone strikes. And we must integrate this reality,” Macron said, speaking from a helicopter carrier docked in the Mediterranean military base of Toulon. As he unveiled the country’s “national strategic review” for the next decade, Macron emphasized that Russia’s aggression toward Ukraine “may precede broader geopolitical rivalries and a future that we have no reason to accept with fatalism.” Macron aims to enhance the European Union’s defense capacity since the bloc remains largely dependent on NATO and the U.S. for security. Because France is the only European country with a nuke, its “nuclear forces contribute through their own existence to the security of France and Europe,” he said. Read: France's new national security strategy . IT’S WEDNESDAY: Thanks for tuning in to NatSec Daily. This space is reserved for the top U.S. and foreign officials, the lawmakers, the lobbyists, the experts and the people like you who care about how the natsec sausage gets made. Aim your tips and comments at award@politico.com and mberg@politico.com , and follow us on Twitter at @alexbward and @mattberg33 . 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