Factual news,measured byBiblical truth.

Gunman kills 6 in Krakow's Main Square; 3 relatives found dead at his home

A 25-year-old Polish man drove into the Main Square in Krakow, Poland, on Saturday afternoon and opened fire, killing six people and wounding at least 15 before police shot and wounded him, authorities said, according to NPR, Fox News and CNN. Police later found three of his relatives dead at his home.

Key facts

• Four women and two men were killed in the square, Krakow police said. One of the dead was a British citizen, according to authorities quoted by NPR and ITV News.
• The bodies of the suspect's sister, mother and father were found at his home in Ostrowiec Świętokrzyski, northeast of Krakow, police told CNN.
• Interior Minister Marcin KierwińskiMarcin KierwińskiPoland's interior ministerOfficeMinister of Interior and AdministrationPartyCivic CoalitionCareerLongtime member of Poland's parliament from Donald Tusk's Civic Platform party. said the man held “very radical” and “ultranationalistic” views. “Everything indicates that he was fascinated by far-right ideologies,” he said, NPR reported. Police say the motive is still under investigation, ABC News (Australia) reported.
• Police said the man wore military-style fatigues and a bulletproof vest, fired a military-type long gun from his car at several spots in the square, and had more weapons and ammunition in the car.
• Two police officers were seriously wounded. Prime Minister Donald TuskDonald TuskPrime Minister of PolandOfficePrime Minister of Poland (since December 2023)PartyCivic Platform (Civic Coalition)CareerPrime minister from 2007 to 2014 and President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019 before returning as prime minister. said they “likely saved many lives, without regard for the risk of losing their own.”
• The injured included people from Austria, Germany, Portugal, Russia and Britain, an Interior Ministry spokesperson told Reuters, according to CNN.

The background

Mass shootings are rare in Poland, NPR reported. About 411,000 people in the country of 37 million hold gun permits, and very few are allowed to own military-style weapons, according to NPR and CNN. In mid-October, three attacks at schools in the Mazovia province left one person dead, NPR reported. Kacper Rekawek of the International Center for Counter-Terrorism in The Hague told The Associated Press the attacker's gear resembled that of other far-right “lone actors” in Europe. Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz said the suspect “never had anything to do with the military,” CNN reported. The attack comes during a political standoff between Tusk's government and President Karol NawrockiKarol NawrockiPresident of PolandOfficePresident of Poland (since August 2025)PartyIndependent, backed by Law and Justice (PiS)CareerHistorian; former head of the Institute of National Remembrance and director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk before winning the 2025 presidential election., who comes from the conservative opposition, Fox News reported. The suspect is in the hospital after surgery. Investigators have not said when charges will be filed.

What each side says

Israel's president taps Eisenkot, not Netanyahu, to form next government

Israeli President Isaac HerzogIsaac HerzogPresident of IsraelOfficePresident of Israel since July 2021PartyNonpartisan as president; formerly Labor PartyCareerLawyer who served in the Knesset and as a Cabinet minister, led the Labor Party and later chaired the Jewish Agency for Israel. chose opposition leader Gadi EisenkotGadi EisenkotIsraeli opposition leader and candidate for prime ministerOfficeFormer chief of staff of the Israel Defense ForcesPartyOpposition; CNN calls him Netanyahu’s main rivalCareerCareer army officer who led the IDF from 2015 to 2019, then served in the Knesset and Israel’s wartime cabinet. to try to form the country's next government, passing over Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place., NPR, Fox News and CNN reported. Herzog is set to hand Eisenkot the mandate Sunday at 5 p.m. Israel time.

Key facts

• Lawmakers holding 67 of the Knesset's 120 seats recommended Eisenkot, including 19 from two Arab-led parties. Netanyahu received 46 recommendations, CNN and Fox News reported.
• The ultra-Orthodox United Torah Judaism party, a longtime Netanyahu ally, declined to recommend either candidate, according to CNN and Al-Monitor.
• Netanyahu's Likud won the most seats, 27, in the Oct. 27 election, six more than Eisenkot's Yashar party, NPR reported. Neither bloc has a majority.
• Eisenkot will have 28 days to build a coalition, with a possible 14-day extension. If he fails, the mandate passes to Netanyahu for another four weeks, CNN reported.
• Netanyahu stays on as caretaker prime minister while talks go on, Fox News reported.

The background

In Israel, the president asks the lawmaker most likely to win a majority to try to form a government. A coalition needs 61 of 120 seats. Eisenkot, a former military chief who lost a son in the Gaza war, wants what he calls a “national emergency government,” starting with four Jewish opposition parties that hold 48 seats, CNN reported. The Arab-led parties back him, but Avigdor LibermanAvigdor LibermanLeader of the Yisrael Beiteinu partyOfficeMember of the Knesset; former defense, foreign and finance ministerPartyYisrael BeiteinuCareerFounded Yisrael Beiteinu in 1999 and has served in several Israeli governments.On the recordAcquitted in 2013 of fraud and breach of trust charges tied to an ambassador appointment. of Yisrael Beiteinu has ruled out any government that depends on them. Liberman has instead signaled he could compromise on military service for ultra-Orthodox men, which could open talks with religious parties, Fox News reported. The new Knesset is sworn in Tuesday. If no one forms a government, Israel could face another election, NPR reported.

What each side says

Jeffries prepares to lead the House as Trump vows to veto Democratic bills

Rep. Hakeem JeffriesHakeem JeffriesHouse Minority LeaderOfficeU.S. Representative from New York since 2013; House Democratic leader since 2023PartyDemocraticCareerLawyer and New York State Assembly member before Congress. of New York is set to become the first Black speaker of the House when Democrats take control in January, CNN, NPR and Newsmax reported. He is preparing to lead a large majority while President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. says he will veto Democratic bills and some on the left push for a different speaker.

Key facts

• NBC News projects Democrats will hold at least 258 House seats, a total the party has not reached since 1993, Newsmax reported.
• Trump told a CPAC gathering at Mar-a-Lago on Friday night, “So we'll just get a veto, veto, veto, veto,” Newsmax reported. “They'll get used to it, because we have great power, called a veto,” he said.
• Democrats say that in their first hundred hours they want to restore enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, reverse Medicaid cuts, reassert Congress' power over tariffs and vote on ending the Iran war, NPR reported.
• Jeffries told CNN that Trump has not called him since Election Day and that he has not called Trump.
• A Change.org petition against Jeffries as speaker listed more than 921,000 verified signatures Friday, Newsmax reported. No challenger has come forward. House Democrats hold leadership elections Nov. 18-19, and the full House votes Jan. 3.

The background

The speaker controls which bills reach the House floor. Democrats will control both chambers, but most Senate bills still need 60 votes to get past a filibuster, and Trump can veto what passes, NPR reported. Under the Constitution, overriding a veto takes a two-thirds vote in both chambers. Jeffries told CNN he sees a model in a bipartisan housing bill that became law in July after Trump let it take effect without signing it. Molly Reynolds of the Brookings Institution told NPR that must-pass spending bills will still require some compromise across the aisle. Inside his own party, Jeffries faces pressure from activists who say he has not fought Trump hard enough and who object to his support for Israel and his corporate donors, CNN and Newsmax reported.

What each side says

Peltola sues for ballot records as Alaska and Mississippi keep counting

Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress.'s campaign sued Alaska election officials for the names of voters whose absentee ballots were rejected or questioned, Newsmax reported, citing The Hill. She leads Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer. by about 600 votes. In Mississippi, officials are still counting affidavit ballots in a close race between Sen. Cindy Hyde-SmithCindy Hyde-SmithU.S. Senator from MississippiOfficeU.S. Senator since 2018PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Mississippi commissioner of agriculture and commerce and former state senator. and Democrat Scott ColomScott ColomDemocratic candidate for U.S. Senate in MississippiOfficeDistrict attorney for Mississippi's 16th Circuit Court DistrictPartyDemocratCareerLawyer and former municipal prosecutor in Columbus, Miss., NPR and CNN reported.

Key facts

• Peltola leads Sullivan by just over 600 votes with about 30% of ballots still outstanding, according to Decision Desk HQ, Newsmax reported.
• Alaska officials do not have to release another update until Nov. 10, and final totals are due by Nov. 18. Ballots from overseas can arrive up to 15 days after Election Day if postmarked on time, Newsmax reported.
• In Mississippi, more than 2,000 votes separated Colom and Hyde-Smith as of Friday afternoon, with Colom ahead, NPR reported.
• The Colom campaign said it knew of more than 15,000 affidavit ballots. The state Republican chairman estimated 20,000 outstanding ballots, NPR reported.
• Mississippi counties must certify results by Nov. 13, and the state has no automatic recount law for federal races, Scripps News reported.
• A Peltola win would be the eighth Republican-held Senate seat Democrats have flipped this year, Newsmax reported.

The background

Alaska uses ranked choice voting. If no candidate wins more than half of first-choice votes, the last-place candidate is dropped and those ballots move to voters' next choices, Newsmax reported. Ranked tabulation will not begin before Nov. 18, WABI reported. Before Election Day, a federal judge dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit that sought to block certification if Sullivan lost, over a second candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Candidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyAppears on the ballot with no party labelCareerRetired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska.On the recordIn June 2026, Alaska's Division of Elections removed him from the ballot after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the reversal, so he remains on the ballot. on the ballot; the administration pledged to appeal. In Mississippi, voters listed as “inactive” must cast affidavit ballots that officials review one by one, NPR reported. Mississippi Today has reported on the state's use of credit data to clean voter lists. Each of Mississippi's 82 counties runs its own count, and Secretary of State Michael WatsonMichael WatsonMississippi secretary of state (R)OfficeMississippi Secretary of State since 2020; the state's chief election officialPartyRepublicanCareerFormer Mississippi state senator. said even his office did not know how many affidavit ballots remained.

What each side says

Opposition to data centers shaped midterm races from Texas to Ohio

Opposition to new data centers helped Democrats in races across the country on Tuesday, CNN reported, and local voters in several places approved limits on the giant computer facilities. The results could slow the building boom behind artificial intelligence, according to CNN, NPR and Newsmax.

Key facts

• About a quarter of voters said AI and data centers were “crucial” to their vote, according to CNN's Voter Poll. Asked about building data centers in their own communities, voters opposed it by roughly 3 to 1.
• Voters in at least 10 Ohio cities passed charter amendments banning large data centers, according to the group Conserve Ohio, CNN reported. The Granville measure got more than 80% support.
• Texas Gov.-elect Gina HinojosaGina HinojosaGovernor-elect of TexasOfficeTexas state representative from Austin; elected governor in 2026PartyDemocraticCareerCivil rights and labor attorney and former Austin school board president. called for a moratorium on data centers until the Legislature passes “real protections,” CNN reported.
• States that will be led by Democrats who support moratoriums account for 45% of planned U.S. data center capacity, according to Goldman Sachs, CNN reported.
• Community opposition has led to about 500 local moratoriums nationwide, though estimates vary, NPR reported.

The background

Data centers are large buildings full of computers that run AI and online services. They use large amounts of electricity and water. AI building could approach $1 trillion a year, according to Columbia economist Stijn Van Nieuwerburgh, and ING economists say it made up as much as a quarter of U.S. economic growth this year, CNN reported. Trump has backed fast building, citing the race with China. Neighbors have raised concerns about power bills, water, diesel generators and tax breaks, CNN and NPR reported. In Landover, Md., a petition drive helped block a $5 billion project on an old mall site, NPR reported. The county also faces a budget deficit. Hundreds of projects still waiting on permits or utility service could be most exposed to new limits, a Cooley lawyer told CNN.

What each side says

Trump names Stephen Miller chief of staff, replacing Susie Wiles

President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said Friday that deputy chief of staff Stephen MillerStephen MillerWhite House chief of staff (starting Nov. 9, 2026)OfficeWhite House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser since January 2025; named chief of staff effective Nov. 9, 2026PartyRepublicanCareerSenior adviser and speechwriter in Trump's first term; co-founded the conservative legal group America First Legal between Trump's terms. will replace Susie WilesSusie WilesOutgoing White House chief of staffOfficeWhite House chief of staff from January 2025 to November 2026, the first woman to hold the jobPartyRepublicanCareerFlorida Republican strategist who ran Trump's Florida campaigns in 2016 and 2020 and helped lead his 2024 campaign; now moving to his political operation. as White House chief of staff on Monday, NPR, Fox News, CNN and Newsmax reported. Wiles will move to Trump's political operation. The change comes three days after Republicans lost control of the House and Senate.

Key facts

• Wiles submitted her resignation Thursday evening, CNN reported, citing two sources. A White House official told Fox News Digital the decision was “very amicable.”
• Trump told reporters the change was “not because of the election,” CNN reported. CBS News, citing three sources, reported that her departure was tied to the Republican losses, according to Newsmax.
• Trump told CBS News he expects more changes. “I love my Cabinet. I think they’re good. But I’ll be doing maybe a few changes. I don’t want to mention who,” he said, CNN reported.
• Wiles served 21 months, longer than any of Trump's four chiefs of staff in his first term, Fox News reported. She was the first woman in the job.
• Miller has worked for Trump since 2016 and shaped his immigration policies, NPR reported. “Stephen's been with me since the beginning. He gets it,” Trump told reporters.

The background

The chief of staff runs the White House staff and controls who and what reaches the president. David Cohen, a University of Akron professor who studies the job, told NPR the chief of staff is a “very important gatekeeper of the president's time.” Wiles was known as a strict manager who cut the staff turnover and leaks of Trump's first term, NPR reported. Miller returned in January 2025 as deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser, Newsmax reported. He has led efforts to expand deportations, restrict entry into the country and limit birthright citizenship. Before the election, Reuters reported that Miller and budget director Russell Vought studied steps Trump could take on immigration, tariffs, housing costs and spending without new laws, according to Newsmax. Democrats take control of Congress in January.

What each side says

Trump says Iran decision is coming soon as talks continue through Qatar

President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said he will soon decide whether to “go further” in the war with Iran, CNN reported, while negotiations continue through Qatari mediators. On Friday, Trump declined to say whether the U.S. carried out newly reported strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island, Fox News reported. Iranian hardliners are pointing to his party's midterm losses and urging Iran to offer no compromises, CNN reported.

Key facts

• “I would rather not destroy the rest of the country if possible but maybe I’ll have to,” Trump told reporters Thursday, CNN reported. “You’ll know soon enough.”
• Asked about the reported Qeshm strikes, Trump said, “I don't want to talk about it,” and said U.S. forces had knocked out an Iranian anti-aircraft site, Fox News reported. CNN reported that the U.S. struck Qeshm Island several times over the past week.
• Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba KhameneiMojtaba KhameneiSupreme leader of IranOfficeSupreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 2026, after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the warPartyNone (Iran's clerical leadership)CareerShiite cleric and son of the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei., warned Wednesday against the “slightest inclination towards submission,” CNN reported. Iran has set seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, including compensation, the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the lifting of sanctions.
• Qatar said Friday that “both sides are continuing to work towards a deal,” Fox News reported. The same day, the Treasury Department sanctioned eight Canada-based currency exchanges it says helped Iran evade U.S. restrictions.
• Trump has acknowledged that 18 U.S. service members have died in the war, Gulf News reported. On Friday he said, “We haven't lost a soldier in seven months or six months,” Fox News reported.

The background

The U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran about eight months ago, CNN reported. The strikes killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, top commanders, nuclear scientists and hundreds of civilians. Since then the war has settled into a stalemate, with little fighting and little progress in talks. The U.S. keeps a naval blockade on Iran, and Iran has disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which carried about one-fifth of the world's daily oil before the war. Qatari mediators are working toward a deal that would end the war and open talks on Iran's nuclear program, CNN and Gulf News reported. Trump's advisers are divided, The Wall Street Journal reported, according to Fox News. Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. and envoy Steve Witkoff favor diplomacy, while War Secretary Pete HegsethPete HegsethU.S. secretary of defenseOfficeSecretary of Defense (Department of War)PartyRepublicanCareerArmy National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, confirmed as defense secretary in January 2025. supports renewed strikes.

What each side says

Hegseth vows to fight as Massie plans impeachment vote next week

War Secretary Pete HegsethPete HegsethU.S. secretary of defenseOfficeSecretary of Defense (Department of War)PartyRepublicanCareerArmy National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, confirmed as defense secretary in January 2025. said Thursday he will not back down as Rep. Thomas MassieThomas MassieU.S. Representative from KentuckyOfficeU.S. Representative, Kentucky's 4th District, since 2012PartyRepublicanCareerEngineer and former Lewis County judge-executive; lost his 2026 Republican primary and leaves Congress in January., a Kentucky Republican, prepares to force a House vote on eight articles of impeachment against him, CNN and Newsmax reported. House Democratic leader Hakeem JeffriesHakeem JeffriesHouse Minority LeaderOfficeU.S. Representative from New York since 2013; House Democratic leader since 2023PartyDemocraticCareerLawyer and New York State Assembly member before Congress. said Friday, “He's got to go,” but stopped short of backing impeachment, NPR reported.

Key facts

• In a video outside the Pentagon, Hegseth said, “It’s all about the politics of personal destruction. Didn’t work against President Trump, and it won’t work with me,” CNN reported.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said he is not considering firing Hegseth and praised his leadership of the Iran war, CNN reported. “I have every intention to keep him,” Trump told ABC News, according to Newsmax.
• Massie said he will drop the effort only if Hegseth resigns, Newsmax reported. His articles, first filed in September, accuse Hegseth of abusing his office in leading the Iran war and keeping troops deployed without approval from Congress, Scripps News reported.
• Under House rules, the privileged resolution must be taken up at the next voting session, expected next week, WBNG reported.
• Removing Hegseth would take a two-thirds vote of the Senate after a trial. CNN reported there is no sign yet of that much support.

The background

An impeachment is a formal charge brought by the House. It is not a conviction. The Senate then holds a trial, and removal takes two-thirds of senators. Massie lost his primary to a Trump-backed challenger and leaves Congress in January. His articles, introduced in September, also fault Hegseth's role in the operation that captured Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro, Scripps News reported. The House is still under Republican control until the new Congress is sworn in. CNN reported that the unpopular Iran war, felt through high gas prices, helped Republicans lose both chambers. If Hegseth leaves, Trump could try to confirm a replacement before January, WBNG reported; after that, a Democratic Senate would decide. Hegseth also needs Congress to approve the administration's $1.5 trillion defense budget request.

What each side says

U.S. employers added 165,000 jobs in October as unemployment fell to 4.1%

Employers added 165,000 jobs in October, far more than economists expected, and the unemployment rate fell to 4.1% from 4.2%, the Labor Department reported Friday, according to NPR and CNN. Average wages rose 3.1% from a year earlier, which NPR said is probably not enough to keep pace with rising prices.

Key facts

• Economists had expected about 65,000 new jobs, CNN reported, citing FactSet.
• Job gains for August and September were revised up by a combined 84,000, CNN and Fox Business reported.
• Professional and business services added 70,000 jobs, and health care and social assistance added 55,100, CNN reported. Restaurants and construction companies cut jobs, NPR reported.
• Inflation reached 3.7% in September, NPR reported. Prices have risen faster than wages for much of this year since the Iran war pushed up energy costs.
• The Federal Reserve meets Dec. 8-9. After the report, traders put the odds of a quarter-point rate increase at 76.8%, InvestmentNews reported, citing CME FedWatch.

The background

For years the job market has been stuck in what CNN called a “low-hire, low-fire” state. Employers added fewer than 10,000 jobs a month on average last year, CNN reported. This year the average is 86,100, still below the roughly 120,000 a month seen before the pandemic. The last three months averaged 137,000. A low unemployment rate lets the Federal Reserve focus on fighting inflation, NPR reported, and investors expect the Fed to raise rates in December. Not everyone is sharing in the gains. Younger workers and people trying to return to work have had a harder time, CNN reported, and the length of time people stay unemployed rose in October to its highest level since December 2021. Voters' frustration with high prices was a big factor in this week's elections, NPR reported.

What each side says

Alaska and Mississippi Senate races remain too close to call

The U.S. Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi were still undecided Friday, NPR and Newsmax reported. In Alaska, fewer than 700 votes separated Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress. and Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer. with 74% of ballots counted, WFLX reported. In Mississippi, more than 2,000 votes separated Democrat Scott ColomScott ColomDemocratic candidate for U.S. Senate in MississippiOfficeDistrict attorney for Mississippi's 16th Circuit Court DistrictPartyDemocratCareerLawyer and former municipal prosecutor in Columbus, Miss. and Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-SmithCindy Hyde-SmithU.S. Senator from MississippiOfficeU.S. Senator since 2018PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Mississippi commissioner of agriculture and commerce and former state senator., NPR reported.

Key facts

• Democrats have won at least 54 Senate seats, according to election projections, and wins in both states would give them 56, Newsmax reported, citing CBS News.
• Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, and no candidate has a majority. The ranked-choice count will not happen before Nov. 18, WFLX reported. Overseas ballots postmarked by Election Day can arrive through that date, Newsmax reported.
• Federal prosecutors are investigating whether operatives aligned with Peltola recruited spoiler candidates, CNN reported. Days before the election, FBI agents served candidate Gerald HeikesGerald HeikesCandidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyDescribed by CNN as a conservativeCareerDrywall contractor from Palmer, Alaska; ran for governor about two decades ago, according to CNN. with a grand jury subpoena. Peltola has denied any knowledge of such efforts.
• In Mississippi, Republican Secretary of State Michael WatsonMichael WatsonMississippi secretary of state (R)OfficeMississippi Secretary of State since 2020; the state's chief election officialPartyRepublicanCareerFormer Mississippi state senator. said even his office did not know how many affidavit ballots were left to count, NPR reported. More than 9,000 had been processed by midday Friday.
• Mississippi does not allow recounts in statewide races, and counties have until Nov. 13 to certify results, Newsmax reported.

The background

Both states count slowly, for different reasons. In Alaska, ballots from remote areas must be flown or mailed in, WFLX reported. A third candidate also named Dan Sullivan, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Candidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyAppears on the ballot with no party labelCareerRetired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska.On the recordIn June 2026, Alaska's Division of Elections removed him from the ballot after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the reversal, so he remains on the ballot., is on the ballot. The Justice Department asked a federal court to block certification if the senator lost, but U.S. District Judge Sharon GleasonSharon GleasonFederal judgeOfficeU.S. District Judge for the District of Alaska since 2012PartyNone (nominated by President Barack Obama)CareerFormer Alaska Superior Court judge. dismissed the suit Nov. 1, PBS reported. She called the request “infeasible” because many voters had already cast ballots. The department said the case was dismissed on procedural grounds and has appealed, Newsmax reported. In Mississippi, voters listed as inactive must cast affidavit ballots, which officials review one by one, NPR reported. Mississippi has not elected a Democrat to the Senate in more than four decades, Newsmax reported.

What each side says

House Democrats name Stephen Miller and Musk's DOGE as investigation targets

Rep. Robert GarciaRobert GarciaU.S. Representative from California; expected chair of the House Oversight CommitteeOfficeU.S. Representative, California's 42nd District, since 2023PartyDemocratCareerFormer mayor of Long Beach, Calif.; top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee since 2025., the California Democrat expected to lead the House Oversight Committee in January, said Friday that new White House chief of staff Stephen MillerStephen MillerWhite House chief of staff (starting Nov. 9, 2026)OfficeWhite House deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security adviser since January 2025; named chief of staff effective Nov. 9, 2026PartyRepublicanCareerSenior adviser and speechwriter in Trump's first term; co-founded the conservative legal group America First Legal between Trump's terms. “should lawyer up,” Newsmax and CNN reported. Rep. Jamie RaskinJamie RaskinU.S. Representative from Maryland (D)OfficeU.S. Representative, Maryland's 8th District, since 2017; top Democrat on the House Judiciary CommitteePartyDemocratCareerConstitutional law professor and former Maryland state senator; lead House manager in Trump's second impeachment trial. of Maryland told Fox News Digital that at least one committee will investigate the Department of Government Efficiency, once led by Elon MuskElon MuskCEO of Tesla and SpaceX; owner of XOfficeNone elected. Led the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency effort in 2025..

Key facts

• Attorney General Todd BlancheTodd BlancheU.S. attorney generalOfficeU.S. Department of JusticePartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer federal prosecutor in Manhattan and Trump's defense lawyer, he served as deputy attorney general before leading the Justice Department. replied on X, “The Chief of Staff already has a lawyer. The Attorney General of the United States and the Department of Justice,” Newsmax reported, citing Mediaite.
• Garcia has named four areas for scrutiny: Trump family business dealings, alleged corporate corruption, immigration enforcement and matters involving Jeffrey Epstein, Newsmax reported.
• Illinois Gov. JB PritzkerJB PritzkerGovernor of Illinois (D)OfficeGovernor of Illinois since 2019PartyDemocratCareerBusinessman and investor; co-founder of the Pritzker Group. said DOGE deserves a close look but questioned a probe of Musk himself. “I don't know about focusing on one person,” he told Fox News Digital.
• The federal workforce shrank by about 250,000 employees in 2025, partly because of DOGE's buyouts and deferred resignations, Fox News reported, citing the Government Accountability Office.
• House Democratic leader Hakeem JeffriesHakeem JeffriesHouse Minority LeaderOfficeU.S. Representative from New York since 2013; House Democratic leader since 2023PartyDemocraticCareerLawyer and New York State Assembly member before Congress. told NPR that Democrats on the Judiciary and Oversight committees will lead the party's accountability efforts.

The background

Congress has the power to investigate the executive branch, and the majority party controls the committees and their subpoenas. Democrats gain that power in January, Newsmax reported. A subpoena does not guarantee answers. Senior White House advisers can claim executive privilege over private talks with the president, Roll Call reported, according to Newsmax. That privilege is not absolute and can be challenged in court. Musk helped launch DOGE early in Trump's second term to cut waste and spending, Fox News reported. Critics have raised concerns about DOGE's access to Americans' sensitive information. The White House calls the plans political. “If Democrats choose to pursue sham investigations and radical left policies, they are choosing to work against the American people,” spokeswoman Lauren Bis told CBS News, according to Newsmax.

What each side says

Tech sell-off wipes out about $2.5 trillion as investors weigh Democratic wins

U.S. stocks fell sharply Thursday, erasing roughly $2.5 trillion in market value, CNN reported, as investors worried that Democrats' midterm wins could slow the building of artificial intelligence data centers. The Nasdaq dropped 5.52%, its worst day since April 2025. Markets in Asia followed on Friday.

Key facts

• The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 1,833 points, wiping out its gains from Wednesday's post-election rally, CNN reported. The S&P 500 fell 4.36%, according to Newsmax, citing CNBC.
• Nvidia shares sank 9.3%, and an index of chipmakers dropped 12.3%, its worst day in about six and a half years, CNN reported. Tesla and SpaceX, both controlled by Elon MuskElon MuskCEO of Tesla and SpaceX; owner of XOfficeNone elected. Led the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency effort in 2025., fell 11% and 9%.
• South Korea's Kospi plunged almost 9% at Friday's open, triggering a 20-minute trading halt, CNN reported. The Kospi and Japan's Nikkei both closed down 6%.
• All 11 sectors of the S&P 500 closed lower, and Wall Street's fear gauge, the VIX, jumped about 70%, CNN reported.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. blamed Democrats. “The Stock Market suffered one of the Worst Days in History based on the results of the Election,” he wrote on Truth Social, Newsmax reported. “Your 401(k)s have, therefore, dropped.”

The background

AI has become a major driver of the U.S. economy, NPR reported, helping it grow at a 3.4% annual rate last quarter. Companies such as Meta and Google need more data centers to keep building the technology. But many voters worry the centers use too much water and energy, NPR reported, and Democrats who promised to push back won races in Congress and in the states. CNN pointed to Texas, a hub for planned data centers, where Governor-elect Gina HinojosaGina HinojosaGovernor-elect of TexasOfficeTexas state representative from Austin; elected governor in 2026PartyDemocraticCareerCivil rights and labor attorney and former Austin school board president. campaigned on a temporary moratorium on new centers and on ending some tax breaks for them. Investors had already questioned this year whether huge AI spending would pay off soon, NPR reported. Ordinary Americans are exposed too, because many own these stocks through 401(k) accounts and pension funds.

What each side says

Newsom commutes all 548 death sentences in California to life without parole

California Gov. Gavin NewsomGavin NewsomGovernor of California (D)OfficeGovernor since 2019. Earlier lieutenant governor and mayor of San Francisco. announced Thursday that he is commuting the death sentences of all 548 people on the state's death row to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Fox News and CNN reported. California has the largest death row in the country, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

Key facts

• The commutations are not automatic. The California Supreme Court must review and approve 382 of the cases, which involve prisoners with more than one felony conviction, CNN reported, citing the governor's office.
• California has not carried out an execution since 2006. Newsom placed a moratorium on executions in 2019 and ordered the execution chamber at San Quentin State Prison dismantled, Fox News reported.
• The death row population includes Richard Allen Davis, who kidnapped and killed 12-year-old Polly Klaas in 1993, CNN reported.
• Only five people in California received death sentences in 2025, down from 42 in 1999, CNN reported, citing the Death Penalty Information Center.
• Newsom leaves office in January and is considering a 2028 presidential run, CNN reported.

The background

California voters have kept the death penalty at the ballot box. In 2016, they rejected Proposition 62, which would have repealed it, and narrowly approved Proposition 66 to speed up appeals, Fox News reported. A governor can grant clemency, but only the Legislature or the voters can end capital punishment in state law, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan HochmanNathan HochmanLos Angeles County District AttorneyOfficeDistrict Attorney of Los Angeles County since December 2024PartyIndependent (nonpartisan office)CareerFormer federal prosecutor and former assistant U.S. attorney general for the Justice Department's Tax Division. said. That means prosecutors can still seek new death sentences. The decision comes amid national debate after Tennessee's failed execution of Christa Pike in September, CNN reported. Tennessee paused its executions, but courts have denied requests to stop them elsewhere. Governors in North Carolina, Oregon and Colorado have commuted some or all death sentences in recent years, according to CNN.

What each side says

Democrats plan quick votes on health costs, tariffs and the Iran war

Democrats say that in their first 100 hours in control of Congress, they want to restore enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, reverse Medicaid cuts and vote to end the war with Iran, NPR reported. President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. has said he will veto bills he opposes. “They are in control, but they're really not in control,” he told Fox News, according to Newsmax.

Key facts

• Democrats want to reverse Medicaid cuts in last year's One Big Beautiful Bill Act that are about to take effect, NPR reported. Newsmax, citing the New York Post, put the cuts at nearly $1 trillion.
• They also plan to reassert Congress' authority over tariffs and hold new war powers votes to try to force an end to the Iran war, NPR reported.
• Democrats plan to bring bills straight to the House floor, skipping the usual committee process, Newsmax reported, citing the Post.
• Democrats have also vowed to reject the administration's $1.5 trillion military budget request, Newsmax reported. War Secretary Pete HegsethPete HegsethU.S. secretary of defenseOfficeSecretary of Defense (Department of War)PartyRepublicanCareerArmy National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, confirmed as defense secretary in January 2025. told senators in July that not funding it “is the greatest threat that our nation faces.”
• Sen. Bernie SandersBernie SandersU.S. Senator, Vermont (I)OfficeIn the Senate since 2007; U.S. Representative, 1991 to 2007PartyIndependent; caucuses with DemocratsCareerFormer mayor of Burlington, Vermont; ran for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020. and other progressives are pushing to lower the Medicare eligibility age to 55, Newsmax reported. Some new Democrats ran on Medicare for All, NPR reported, while others promised smaller steps.

The background

Democrats will control both chambers in January, but they will still work within divided government, NPR reported. Most bills need 60 votes to get past a filibuster in the Senate. Overriding a veto takes a two-thirds vote in both chambers, which Democrats cannot reach alone, Newsmax reported. Congress has other tools. It controls spending, and must-pass funding bills will require some compromise, Molly Reynolds of the Brookings Institution told NPR. Wave elections tend to remove the most moderate members of the losing party, she said, leaving a larger majority facing a more conservative minority. House Democrats formed working groups this fall on gas, groceries, utilities, housing and caregiving costs, NPR reported. Each is led by one progressive and one more centrist member.

What each side says

Melania Trump hosts Russian and Ukrainian officials after Oleshky truce

First lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpFirst lady of the United StatesOfficeFirst lady (not an elected or appointed office)PartyWife of Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFirst lady from 2017 to 2021 and again since January 2025; a former model, she has made helping children affected by war one of her main efforts. hosted Russian and Ukrainian officials at the White House on Thursday to mark a six-day ceasefire she helped broker in the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, NPR reported. The pause let humanitarian aid in and allowed nearly 800 civilians to leave, Newsmax reported, citing PBS. “We have chosen humanity over war,” the first lady said.

Key facts

• Kirill Dmitriev, special envoy of Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir PutinPresident of RussiaOfficePresident of the Russian Federation, 2000–2008 and since 2012; prime minister 1999 and 2008–2012PartyFormally independent since 2012; backed by the United Russia partyCareerFormer KGB officer and director of Russia’s FSB security service before entering national leadership.On the recordIn March 2023 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over the alleged unlawful deportation of children from occupied Ukraine. Russia does not recognize the court, and no trial has taken place., thanked the first lady and said Putin personally gave instructions to carry out the ceasefire, NPR reported.
• Ukraine's human rights ombudsman gave Melania Trump the Order of Princess Olha, 1st Class, Ukraine's highest award for women, NPR reported.
• The truce has expired. U.S. envoys Steve WitkoffSteve WitkoffU.S. special envoy, appointed by President TrumpOfficeSpecial Envoy, since 2025PartyAppointed by President Trump; a longtime Republican donorCareerNew York real estate developer and founder of the Witkoff Group. and Jared Kushner are expected in Abu Dhabi next week for new talks between Russia and Ukraine, Newsmax reported.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said the two sides are close. “It's going to be an agreement,” he said, adding that it could “involve all of Europe,” NPR reported.
• The Kremlin said Trump will keep steering U.S. foreign policy despite Democrats' midterm wins. “President Trump will continue to exercise his presidential powers,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, according to Newsmax.

The background

Oleshky sits on the Dnipro River in Ukraine's Kherson region, the line that separates Ukrainian and Russian forces, The Associated Press reported. Russian troops captured it on the first day of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The city once had about 24,000 residents. It has had no electricity, heat or running water, and food and medicine have been scarce for months, AP reported. Melania Trump began working on the truce after learning about the city at a United Nations event in September, according to AP. The plan was to clear mines from the route, bring in aid and then let civilians leave. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres welcomed the deal. Russia and Ukraine remain far apart on territory and on security guarantees after the war, Newsmax reported.

What each side says

Judge blocks construction of Trump's arch hours after it wins final approval

U.S. District Judge Tanya ChutkanTanya ChutkanU.S. District Judge for the District of ColumbiaOfficeU.S. District Court for the District of Columbia since 2014PartyNonpartisan (appointed by President Barack Obama)CareerFormer attorney with the D.C. Public Defender Service and in private practice. temporarily barred construction of President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.'s proposed 250-foot arch near Arlington National Cemetery, NPR, Fox News and CNN reported. Her 14-day order came less than two hours after the National Capital Planning Commission gave the project final approval in an 8-4 vote late Thursday.

Key facts

• Chutkan granted a request from the governments of the District of Columbia and Virginia, whose lawsuit was combined with an earlier one by a group of Vietnam veterans and an architectural historian, Fox News reported.
• “The threatened harms will materialize as soon as construction begins, in part because the traffic disruptions will occur immediately,” Chutkan wrote in a 33-page opinion, NPR reported.
• The arch would stand in Memorial Circle, a traffic island between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, NPR reported. Officials planned work 20 hours a day for two to three years.
• The commission heard nearly eight hours of public testimony, mostly from opponents, including many veterans, NPR reported. A motion to delay the vote failed 4-8.
• Trump has said the arch would also serve as a military site for drones and ammunition, Fox News reported. Officials at the meeting confirmed no national security analysis was included in the final plans, according to NPR.

The background

The Commemorative Works Act requires Congress to authorize new memorials in Washington, CNN reported, and the administration has not sought that approval. Opponents say that makes the arch illegal. Trump's appointees on the commission argued Congress already authorized the project in 1925, when it approved two 166-foot columns for Memorial Circle that were never built, NPR reported. A National Park Service review in August found the arch would have adverse effects on as many as 42 historic sites, including Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial corridor, CNN reported. Last month the administration ended the consultation process required under the National Historic Preservation Act. Trump has said the arch honors the nation's 250th anniversary and its military, CNN reported. Democrats, who take control of Congress in January, have vowed to stop and investigate it, NPR reported.

What each side says

Lawyers from both parties gather as Mississippi counts ballots in Senate race

Democrat Scott ColomScott ColomDemocratic candidate for U.S. Senate in MississippiOfficeDistrict attorney for Mississippi's 16th Circuit Court DistrictPartyDemocratCareerLawyer and former municipal prosecutor in Columbus, Miss. led Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-SmithCindy Hyde-SmithU.S. Senator from MississippiOfficeU.S. Senator since 2018PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Mississippi commissioner of agriculture and commerce and former state senator. by about 1,800 votes late Thursday, CNN reported, as both campaigns sent lawyers and observers to watch county officials review thousands of provisional ballots. The race is one of two Senate contests still uncalled, along with Alaska, NPR reported.

Key facts

• Colom's campaign estimated 15,000 provisional ballots remain. Republicans estimated as many as 20,000 absentee and provisional ballots were outstanding Thursday, CNN reported. The secretary of state has said the total is unknown.
• Voters who cast provisional ballots because they lacked photo ID have until Nov. 10 to show it at the county level, CNN reported. The state must certify results by Dec. 3.
• Hyde-Smith's lawyers asked local officials to keep provisional ballots separate from the rest of the count and to preserve records. Colom's lawyers called the request “unlawful” and warned against any step that would let a ballot be traced to a voter, CNN reported.
• The NAACP is sending volunteers to all 82 counties to monitor the process and help voters fix problems before the deadline, CNN reported.
• Mississippi has not sent a Democrat to the Senate in nearly 40 years, or a Black senator since Reconstruction, CNN reported.

The background

In Mississippi, provisional ballots are called affidavit ballots, NPR reported. Voters cast them when they lack a photo ID or are not found in their precinct's poll book. Voter advocates told CNN that new procedures to clean up voter rolls wrongly marked some voters as inactive. County election commissions decide whether to accept each ballot in meetings open to the public, though advocates say openness varies by county. In Hinds County, home to Jackson, a commissioner rejected a number of ballots from college students who were not registered in the right precinct, CNN reported. A group that helps voters, Mississippi Votes, said most rejected ballots come from people who voted at the wrong location. Democrats already control the Senate, so this race decides the size of their majority next year.

What each side says

House could vote next week on impeaching Hegseth as Trump stands by him

Rep. Thomas MassieThomas MassieU.S. Representative from KentuckyOfficeU.S. Representative, Kentucky's 4th District, since 2012PartyRepublicanCareerEngineer and former Lewis County judge-executive; lost his 2026 Republican primary and leaves Congress in January., a Kentucky Republican, told CNN he plans to force a House vote on impeaching War Secretary Pete HegsethPete HegsethU.S. secretary of defenseOfficeSecretary of Defense (Department of War)PartyRepublicanCareerArmy National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, confirmed as defense secretary in January 2025. when Congress returns next week. Multiple Republican sources told CNN they expect it to pass. President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said Wednesday he is not planning to replace Hegseth. “I think he’s doing a very good job,” Trump said, according to Fox News.

Key facts

• Many Republican lawmakers and allies are blaming Hegseth for the party's midterm losses, arguing he helped convince Trump to attack Iran without an exit strategy, CNN reported, citing Republicans who spoke on condition of anonymity.
• Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. wrote Wednesday that “the reason we lost is the war,” CNN reported. He did not assign blame for the conflict.
• A White House official told Fox News Digital that Trump would ultimately hold Hegseth accountable and that “That will play out in the lame duck.” A Trump adviser told Reuters that Hegseth “could be on the chopping block,” Newsmax reported.
• Trump told Fox News late Tuesday that he does not plan a Cabinet shake-up, according to Newsmax, citing The Hill.
• Democrats have said they will investigate the Pentagon under Hegseth, from the Iran war to his removal of top military officers, Newsmax reported, citing Reuters.

The background

Massie filed eight articles of impeachment against Hegseth in September, Sinclair's national desk reported. Three accuse him of violating the 1973 War Powers Resolution in the Iran war, which Congress has not authorized, NPR reported. Others concern civilian casualties, strikes on suspected drug-trafficking boats and retaliation against Sen. Mark Kelly. Speaker Mike JohnsonMike JohnsonSpeaker of the U.S. House of RepresentativesOfficeSpeaker of the House since October 2023; U.S. Representative from Louisiana since 2017PartyRepublicanCareerConstitutional lawyer and Louisiana state legislator before entering Congress. called the effort “a stunt” and sent the House home early for the campaign, delaying a vote, OPB reported. Massie lost his own primary and leaves Congress in January. If the House impeaches, the Senate holds a trial, and conviction requires a two-thirds vote. Fox News noted a precedent: President George W. Bush announced Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld's resignation the day after Republicans' 2006 midterm losses over the Iraq war.

What each side says

Democrats plan wide investigations of Trump administration in new Congress

Democrats who won control of Congress on Tuesday are preparing a long list of investigations into President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.'s administration, NPR reported. Rep. Robert GarciaRobert GarciaU.S. Representative from California; expected chair of the House Oversight CommitteeOfficeU.S. Representative, California's 42nd District, since 2023PartyDemocratCareerFormer mayor of Long Beach, Calif.; top Democrat on the House Oversight Committee since 2025. of California, expected to chair the House Oversight Committee, put it in a two-word statement: “LAWYER UP.” Trump said Wednesday he was “not even a little bit” worried about impeachment, Newsmax reported.

Key facts

• Senate Democrats posted job listings Wednesday for investigators and an anti-corruption attorney for the incoming chair of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Newsmax reported, citing the Washington Examiner. Applications are due Nov. 12.
• Senate Democrats have sent letters asking the administration to preserve documents ahead of expected investigations, CNN reported.
• Likely targets include the government's handling of Jeffrey Epstein records, the president's family business dealings, immigration enforcement and federal health agencies under Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., according to NPR, citing Democratic committee staff.
• Democrats also plan to look at Trump's building projects, money Congress approved that the White House withheld, the Iran war and federal contracts with Elon Musk's companies, NPR reported.
• Democrats gain subpoena power when the new Congress convenes in January. The administration can challenge subpoenas through executive privilege claims and in court, Newsmax reported.

The background

With Trump in the White House and holding a veto, NPR reported, the next Congress is unlikely to pass much major legislation, so oversight is expected to become Democrats' main tool. Committees with a majority can subpoena records and require officials to testify. Congress holds the power of the purse and the power to declare war under the Constitution, NPR noted, and Democrats say the administration has disregarded both. The House can also impeach, and some Democrats have discussed impeaching Cabinet officials, Fox News reported. The new Congress takes office in January. Lawyers for administration officials and private businesses have already begun preparing for the inquiries, Newsmax reported, citing The Washington Post.

What each side says

Mike Johnson won't seek to lead House GOP; Jordan and Scalise enter race

House Speaker Mike JohnsonMike JohnsonSpeaker of the U.S. House of RepresentativesOfficeSpeaker of the House since October 2023; U.S. Representative from Louisiana since 2017PartyRepublicanCareerConstitutional lawyer and Louisiana state legislator before entering Congress. told his staff Wednesday that he will not seek to lead House Republicans in the next Congress, according to sources cited by Fox News, NPR and Newsmax. Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim JordanJim JordanChairman of the House Judiciary CommitteeOfficeU.S. Representative, Ohio's 4th District, since 2007PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Ohio state lawmaker and college wrestling coach; a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus. of Ohio and Majority Leader Steve ScaliseSteve ScaliseHouse Majority LeaderOfficeU.S. Representative, Louisiana's 1st District, since 2008; majority leader since 2023PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Louisiana state legislator; previously served as House Republican whip. of Louisiana are both running to become minority leader, Fox News and Newsmax reported.

Key facts

• Johnson shared his decision on an all-staff call Wednesday morning, two sources told Fox News Digital. He has not announced plans to leave Congress, Newsmax reported.
• House Republicans are scheduled to hold leadership elections on Nov. 10, NPR reported. Other candidates could still enter, according to Newsmax.
• Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota told colleagues he will run for whip in the minority, Fox News reported.
• Scalise said he raised $67.9 million this election cycle and gave $23.7 million to House campaigns and the National Republican Congressional Committee, Newsmax reported.
• House Democratic Leader Hakeem JeffriesHakeem JeffriesHouse Minority LeaderOfficeU.S. Representative from New York since 2013; House Democratic leader since 2023PartyDemocraticCareerLawyer and New York State Assembly member before Congress. of New York is the presumptive next speaker. He would be the first Black lawmaker to hold the job, NPR reported.

The background

Johnson became speaker in October 2023, after his predecessor was ousted and the House went three weeks without a leader, Fox News reported. Both Jordan and Scalise sought the gavel during that fight and fell short. Johnson led with one of the narrowest majorities in modern times, NPR reported, where a single Republican defection could sink a bill. Becoming minority leader is easier than becoming speaker. A speaker needs a majority of the full House, while a minority leader needs only a majority of his own party, Fox News reported. Whoever wins will lead the Republican response as Democrats open investigations of the Trump administration, Fox News reported. Several Republicans who opposed Jordan in 2023 lost their seats on Tuesday, according to Fox News.

What each side says

Leaders abroad react to Democratic sweep as Iran, Israel and Ukraine watch

Leaders in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa responded publicly to Democrats' midterm victories this week, NPR and Fox News reported. NPR noted that foreign leaders often avoid commenting on midterms. British Prime Minister Andy BurnhamAndy BurnhamPrime Minister of the United KingdomOfficePrime Minister since July 2026PartyLabourCareerFormer mayor of Greater Manchester and former member of Parliament and Cabinet minister. said, “The world has an opportunity now to unite around the issue that is affecting us all, and that's the cost of living,” according to NPR.

Key facts

• Spanish Prime Minister Pedro SánchezPedro SánchezPrime Minister of SpainOfficePrime minister since June 2018PartySpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)CareerEconomist and former Madrid city councilor and member of Spain's parliament., a critic of the Iran war, wrote that American voters rejected “policies that only impoverish” and predicted, “It happened in Brazil. It just happened in the U.S. And it will happen soon in Spain,” NPR reported.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyVolodymyr ZelenskyPresident of UkraineOfficePresident of Ukraine since 2019PartyServant of the PeopleCareerFormer comedian, actor and television producer before winning the 2019 presidential election. said “there is hope that a balance of power will emerge and that we will receive more support,” CNN reported, citing Reuters.
• A Kremlin spokesman said Moscow is counting on Trump to continue peace efforts, with a new round of talks set for Abu Dhabi next week, NPR reported. A Russian deputy foreign minister said Democrats' approach to Russia is “extremely negative.”
• Iran's parliament speaker and chief negotiator, Mohammad Bagher GhalibafMohammad Bagher GhalibafSpeaker of Iran's parliament; leading Iran's talks with the U.S.OfficeSpeaker of the Islamic Consultative Assembly since 2020PartyConservative (Principlist)CareerFormer Revolutionary Guard commander, national police chief and mayor of Tehran., wrote, “Conscience or the cost of living, Americans said NO TO WAR, and we endorse this message,” and warned against continuing the war, NPR, Fox News and CNN reported.
• China's Foreign Ministry called the vote an internal affair of the United States. Japan's government said its U.S. alliance “remains the cornerstone of Japan's foreign and security policy,” NPR reported.

The background

This year's vote was closely tied to world events. The U.S. and Israel launched a war on Iran in February, and its effect on fuel prices made affordability a major campaign issue, NPR reported. Democrats will gain new tools to challenge President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican., but he keeps wide freedom to act abroad, CNN reported. Iran and the U.S. have resumed indirect talks through Qatari mediators, while Trump has told reporters he is considering new strikes, CNN reported. In Israel, the vote came days after Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place. lost his majority in Oct. 27 elections. CNN reported that Trump announced on Election Day he would cut off U.S. military aid to Israel, and Israeli analysts told CNN they fear further cuts.

What each side says

Trump agrees Iran war hurt GOP as Vance urges party to change course

Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. wrote Wednesday that “The reason we lost is the war,” blaming Republicans' midterm losses on the war with Iran, Fox News and CNN reported. President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said he thought that was “largely true” but said he would make the same decision again. Several outlets reported that the losses have opened an early race for the 2028 Republican nomination.

Key facts

• In a long post on X, Vance listed four steps a pollster told him would win voters back: “1) End the war 2) Focus on cost of living/inflation 3) Put America First 4) Change our relationship to Israel,” Fox News reported.
• Vance also wrote that he is open to changing immigration enforcement by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, CNN reported.
• Trump said the war “drove the gasoline up a little bit short term,” and added, “You can't let Iran have a nuclear weapon,” Fox News reported. Asked about Vance's post, he said, “I thought it was good.”
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisRon DeSantisGovernor of FloridaOfficeGovernor of Florida since 2019PartyRepublicanCareerU.S. Representative from Florida, 2013 to 2018; former Navy officer. called the results “close to an extinction level event for Republicans” in many parts of the country, CNN reported.
• Secretary of State Marco RubioMarco RubioU.S. Secretary of StateOfficeSecretary of State since January 2025. U.S. Senator from Florida, 2011 to 2025.PartyRepublican.CareerLawyer; former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. is also seen as a possible 2028 candidate, Fox News and Newsmax reported. Vance has said he would decide on running after the midterms, CNN reported.

The background

The U.S. and Israel went to war with Iran in February. The White House first expected the campaign to last three to four weeks, Fox News reported. Sustained U.S. strikes have since ended, but the conflict is not resolved, and fuel prices rose sharply. Vance led a negotiating team that reached a memorandum of understanding with Iran over the summer, CNN reported, but it did not hold. Trump has said Vance was “maybe less enthusiastic” about attacking Iran from the start, Fox News reported. Renewed strikes remain under consideration at the White House, sources told Fox News. A Trump administration official told Fox News that Vance's message is not a break with Trump but an appeal to supporters who disagree with his foreign policy. Exit polls showed most voters disapproved of Trump's performance, CNN reported.

What each side says

Voter polls show young, Latino and independent voters shifted to Democrats

Young voters, Latinos, independents and men all moved sharply toward Democrats in Tuesday's midterms, according to large voter surveys reported by NPR, CNN and Newsmax. Voters favored Democrats on every major issue except immigration, NBC News exit polls found, according to Newsmax.

Key facts

• Latino voters swung 21 points toward Democratic House candidates compared with 2024, and Democrats won voters under 30 by 48 points, according to the AP Voter Poll as reported by NPR.
• Republicans won only 38% of independents, their worst showing since at least 1998, NPR reported. Democrats won men by 2 points, the first time since 2008.
• Three in four voters said economic conditions are bad, and more than 60% said higher costs are largely due to Trump's policies, according to the CNN Voter Poll. About one-fifth of midterm voters who backed Trump in 2024 disapprove of his performance.
• In NBC News exit polls, 39% of voters named the economy as the top issue, 32% the state of democracy and 14% immigration. Republicans led on immigration, 44% to 41%, Newsmax reported.
• Seventy-four percent of voters said the Iran war played a crucial or major role in their vote, NBC found, according to Newsmax.

The background

In 2024, Trump won a record share of Latino votes for a Republican presidential candidate, NPR reported. This year's surveys suggest much of that shift reversed. NPR attributed the change to unmet promises of lower prices and to backlash against the administration's deportation tactics. The surveys combine in-person interviews at polling places with tens of thousands of interviews before Election Day, CNN reported, so they are estimates rather than exact counts. The national margin of error is plus or minus 0.6 points, and results may shift as votes are finalized, NPR reported. Young voters made up only about 1 in 10 voters, Newsmax reported, which limited their impact.

What each side says

Democrats win control of both the House and the Senate

Democrats won control of both chambers of Congress in Tuesday's midterm elections, according to race calls by The Associated Press and projections by NBC News, Fox News and Newsmax. The results end two years of full Republican control in Washington and give Democrats new power to check President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. in his last two years in office, NPR reported.

Key facts

• Democrats flipped seven Republican-held Senate seats, in Maine, Ohio, Kansas, Iowa, Texas, North Carolina and South Carolina, NPR and Fox News reported. Republicans had held a 53-47 majority.
• Senate races in Alaska and Mississippi were still too close to call early Wednesday, Fox News reported.
• NBC News projects Democrats will win at least 258 House seats, well past the 218 needed for a majority. NBC said that would be the party's largest House majority since 1993.
• House Democratic Leader Hakeem JeffriesHakeem JeffriesHouse Minority LeaderOfficeU.S. Representative from New York since 2013; House Democratic leader since 2023PartyDemocraticCareerLawyer and New York State Assembly member before Congress. of New York is in line to become the first Black speaker of the House, NPR reported. Senate Democratic Leader Chuck SchumerChuck SchumerSenate Minority LeaderOfficeU.S. Senator from New York since 1999; Senate Democratic leader since 2017PartyDemocraticCareerU.S. Representative from New York, 1981 to 1999; Senate majority leader, 2021 to 2025. is poised to become majority leader.
• Early CBS News exit polling put Trump's approval rating at 38%, Newsmax reported. NBC News exit polls found voters view both parties unfavorably, Republicans more so.
• U.S. stock futures rose early Wednesday after an initial drop, as investors weighed the prospect of divided government, CNN reported.

The background

The president's party usually loses seats in a midterm. House Speaker Mike JohnsonMike JohnsonSpeaker of the U.S. House of RepresentativesOfficeSpeaker of the House since October 2023; U.S. Representative from Louisiana since 2017PartyRepublicanCareerConstitutional lawyer and Louisiana state legislator before entering Congress. said Republicans would have had to defy “more than a century of midterm history” to keep the House, NPR reported. Voters this year cited the cost of living, the war with Iran that began in February and concerns about corruption, according to NPR and Newsmax. Republicans redrew House maps in several states in the middle of the decade, but CNN reported the effort did not prevent losses. The new Congress takes office in January. Democrats will then lead committees and can issue subpoenas, and they have signaled investigations of the administration, NPR reported. A Democratic Senate can also block Trump's judicial and Cabinet nominees. Trump keeps his veto, so bills will almost certainly still need his support to become law, NPR reported.

What each side says

Trump says he will accept midterm results and work with Democrats

President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said he is “absolutely willing to accept those results” after Democrats won control of Congress, Newsmax reported, citing an interview with The New York Times. In other interviews Tuesday night, Trump said he did not see the losses as a verdict on him, CNN reported.

Key facts

• “We'll, you know, look forward to working with them,” Trump told the Times, according to Newsmax. “We'll probably work something out.”
• “But I don't view it as a hit on me,” Trump told Fox News, CNN reported.
• Trump said Republican candidates had not drawn voters to the polls. “They just didn't inspire the people to get out and vote,” he told Fox, according to CNN.
• On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I wasn't on the Ballot and if I was, we would have won IN A LANDSLIDE!” Newsmax reported. A day earlier he had asked supporters to “pretend that I'm on the ballot.”
• Trump wrote that Texas Gov. Greg AbbottGreg AbbottGovernor of TexasOfficeGovernor since 2015; lost his bid for a fourth term in 2026PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Texas attorney general, Texas Supreme Court justice and state district judge., who lost his race, would not have lost if he had not become a “RINO,” Newsmax reported.
• Trump told The Wall Street Journal that the Iran war was only a “piece” of the losses and that he has no regrets about it, CNN reported. “I would have done it again,” he said.

The background

Trump spent much of the final month campaigning in Republican-leaning states and asked supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot, CNN and Newsmax reported. Several Republicans who lost, including Ken PaxtonKen PaxtonTexas Attorney General; Senate nominee (R)OfficeTexas attorney general since 2015. in Texas and Darline GrahamDarline GrahamU.S. Senator, South Carolina (R)OfficeAppointed to the Senate in 2026 after the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey GrahamPartyRepublicanCareerFormer head of South Carolina's state agency for the blind; she had not held elected office before her appointment. in South Carolina, were candidates Trump chose or endorsed, CNN reported. Early CBS News exit polling put his approval at 38%, Newsmax reported. The war with Iran began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes, and shipping disruptions sent gasoline prices sharply higher, according to Newsmax. Before the vote, Trump said he would become “Mr. Veto” if Democrats won. Now he will need Democratic votes to pass bills and confirm nominees. CNN noted that Trump also offered to work with Democrats after the 2018 midterms, and that those offers did not lead to much.

What each side says

Democrats win Texas Senate seat and governor's office for first time in decades

Democrat James TalaricoJames TalaricoTexas Senate nominee (D)OfficeTexas state representative since 2019.PartyDemocrat. defeated Republican Ken PaxtonKen PaxtonTexas Attorney General; Senate nominee (R)OfficeTexas attorney general since 2015. for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas on Tuesday, and Democrat Gina HinojosaGina HinojosaGovernor-elect of TexasOfficeTexas state representative from Austin; elected governor in 2026PartyDemocraticCareerCivil rights and labor attorney and former Austin school board president. unseated Republican Gov. Greg AbbottGreg AbbottGovernor of TexasOfficeGovernor since 2015; lost his bid for a fourth term in 2026PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Texas attorney general, Texas Supreme Court justice and state district judge., according to race calls by The Associated Press. Before Tuesday, a Democrat had not won statewide office in Texas since 1994, Newsmax and NBC News reported.

Key facts

• Talarico, 37, a four-term state representative from Austin and a former teacher, is the first Democrat elected to the Senate from Texas since 1988, Newsmax reported. With 68% of the vote counted, he led 55.2% to 43.2%.
• Hinojosa, also an Austin state representative, will be the first Latina governor of Texas and the state's first Democratic governor since Ann Richards left office in 1995, NPR reported. With 81% counted, she had 53% to Abbott's 45.6%, Newsmax reported.
• Democrats also won the races for lieutenant governor, attorney general and railroad commissioner, NBC News projected.
• Paxton, Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick had all conceded by early Wednesday, CNN reported.
• Trump's MAGA Inc. and national Republicans spent hundreds of millions of dollars supporting Paxton, Fox News reported.

The background

Republicans had won every statewide race in Texas for three decades. Paxton won the Republican nomination by defeating Sen. John CornynJohn CornynU.S. Senator from TexasOfficeU.S. Senator since 2002; lost the 2026 Republican primary runoffPartyRepublicanCareerFormer Texas attorney general and Texas Supreme Court justice. in a May runoff after Trump endorsed him, NPR reported. The Texas House impeached Paxton in 2023 on corruption allegations, and the state Senate acquitted him. Hinojosa, a former Austin school board president, built her campaign around public schools and household costs. She opposed the $1 billion private school program Abbott signed into law in 2025, according to NPR and Newsmax. A Democratic strategist told CNN that the Iran war and tariffs made costs a central issue. Hinojosa takes office in January but will likely face a Republican-led legislature, NPR reported. Democrats were still picking up state House seats Wednesday morning, raising the possibility they could win that chamber, CNN reported.

What each side says

Democrat Troy Jackson defeats Sen. Susan Collins in Maine

Democrat Troy JacksonTroy JacksonSenator-elect from MaineOfficeFormer president of the Maine Senate; elected to the U.S. Senate in 2026PartyDemocraticCareerFifth-generation logger and labor advocate who represented parts of Aroostook County in the Maine Legislature., a former president of the Maine Senate, defeated Republican Sen. Susan CollinsSusan CollinsU.S. Senator from MaineOfficeU.S. Senator since 1997; chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee since 2025PartyRepublicanCareerLongtime congressional staff member and Maine state official before the Senate. on Tuesday, according to a race call by The Associated Press. Collins conceded, ending a Senate career that began in 1997, Newsmax reported.

Key facts

• Jackson will be the first Democrat to represent Maine in the Senate since 1995, NPR reported.
• Collins, 73, was seeking a sixth term. She chairs the Senate Appropriations Committee, which shapes federal spending, Newsmax reported.
• Jackson, a fifth-generation logger, became the Democratic nominee after Graham Platner left the race over a sexual assault allegation, which Platner denies, NPR and Newsmax reported.
• Groups aligned with both parties spent more than a quarter of a billion dollars on ads in the race, according to AdImpact data cited by NPR.
• Maine was one of seven Republican-held Senate seats Democrats won Tuesday.

The background

Collins has long won in a state that often votes for Democrats. In 2020 she won reelection by nearly 9 points despite trailing in every public poll, Newsmax reported. A New York Times analysis found she breaks with her party more than any other Republican senator, though less often in Trump's second term, NPR reported. She opposed Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods and voted to restrict U.S. military operations against Iran, Newsmax reported. Jackson ran on working-class economics and his ties to organized labor, and he backed Medicare for All. Democratic ads pointed to Collins' 2018 vote to confirm Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh. Collins has said she does not regret that vote, NPR reported. Jackson takes office in January as Democrats take the Senate majority.

What each side says

Abdul El-Sayed wins Michigan Senate race, defeating Mike Rogers

Democrat Abdul El-SayedAbdul El-SayedMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer executive director of the Detroit Health Department.PartyDemocrat.CareerPhysician and epidemiologist; ran for governor of Michigan in 2018. defeated former Republican Rep. Mike RogersMike RogersMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (R)OfficeU.S. Representative from Michigan, 2001 to 2015; chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, 2011 to 2015.PartyRepublican.CareerFormer Army officer and FBI special agent; Republican Senate nominee in Michigan in 2024. in Michigan's U.S. Senate race, according to a race call by The Associated Press. El-Sayed will be the first Muslim American to serve in the Senate, NPR reported.

Key facts

• El-Sayed, 42, is a former public health official who ran the health departments in Wayne County and the city of Detroit, NPR reported.
• He led 52% to 46% when he declared victory early Wednesday, before the race was called, Fox 2 Detroit reported.
• The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary PetersGary PetersU.S. Senator, Michigan (D), retiringOfficeIn the Senate since 2015; U.S. Representative, 2009 to 2015PartyDemocratCareerFormer Navy Reserve officer and Michigan state senator. is retiring. Republicans have not won a Michigan Senate race since 1994, Al Jazeera reported.
• In his victory speech, El-Sayed mocked President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican., Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. and Rogers, Fox News reported.
• Muslim voters backed El-Sayed 92% to 8%, according to NBC News exit polls.

The background

El-Sayed won the August Democratic primary over Rep. Haley StevensHaley StevensU.S. Representative from MichiganOfficeU.S. House of Representatives since 2019; not seeking reelectionPartyDemocraticCareerFormer Obama administration official on the auto industry rescue; lost the August 2026 Democratic Senate primary. by about 1 percentage point, NPR reported, and Stevens endorsed Rogers in the race's final days. El-Sayed ran on lowering costs, single-payer health care and limiting corporate money in politics. His comments on Israel drew criticism from some Jewish voters, and he apologized for remarks he made after a truck-ramming attack at a synagogue preschool near Detroit, NPR reported. Trump and other Republicans accused him of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. Newsmax reported last month that the claim has not been substantiated, and El-Sayed rejects it. Rogers, who narrowly lost a 2024 Senate race, tried late in the campaign to distance himself from the Iran war, NPR reported. The race was the most expensive in Michigan history, Bridge Michigan reported.

What each side says

Democrats Sherrod Brown and Amy Acton win Ohio's Senate and governor races

Former Democratic Sen. Sherrod BrownSherrod BrownFormer U.S. Senator, Ohio (D)OfficeU.S. senator 2007–2025; lost re-election in 2024. defeated Republican Sen. Jon HustedJon HustedU.S. Senator, Ohio (R)OfficeAppointed in January 2025 to the seat JD Vance left to become vice president.PartyRepublican. on Tuesday, and Democrat Amy ActonAmy ActonDemocratic nominee for Governor of OhioOfficeCandidate; former director of the Ohio Department of Health (2019–2020)PartyDemocratCareerPhysician; led Ohio’s early COVID-19 response as state health director under Gov. Mike DeWine. defeated Republican Vivek RamaswamyVivek RamaswamyRepublican nominee for Governor of OhioOfficeCandidate; has not held elected officePartyRepublicanCareerFounder of the biotech company Roivant Sciences; ran in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. for governor, according to race calls by The Associated Press. Acton will be Ohio's first woman governor and the first Democrat elected to the office in two decades, NPR reported.

Key facts

• With about 83% of the vote counted, Brown led Husted 48.6% to 46.5%, Newsmax reported.
• Brown, 73, lost his seat in 2024. He is the first former senator to win back a seat after losing reelection since 1988, Newsmax reported.
• The race was a special election for the last two years of Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy.'s Senate term, so Brown must run again in 2028, NPR reported.
• With 76% counted, Acton had 50.56% to Ramaswamy's 46.10%, Newsmax reported. Acton is a physician and a former state health director.
• Ad spending in the Senate race topped half a billion dollars, according to AdImpact figures cited by Newsmax.

The background

Trump won Ohio in three straight presidential elections, and Republicans have dominated statewide races there. Husted, a former lieutenant governor, was appointed to the Senate by Gov. Mike DeWineMike DeWineGovernor of OhioOfficeGovernor since 2019; term-limited in 2026PartyRepublicanCareerFormer U.S. senator, U.S. representative, lieutenant governor and Ohio attorney general. in January 2025 after Vance became vice president, Newsmax reported. Brown made data centers a central issue, saying their power demands would raise utility bills. Husted called Brown a career politician out of step with Ohio. Acton led the state health department early in the COVID-19 pandemic under DeWine. Late in the race, a Ramaswamy ad featuring Acton's estranged mother drew criticism, including from DeWine, who kept his endorsement of Ramaswamy, NPR and Newsmax reported. Acton takes office in January and will likely face a Republican-majority legislature, NPR reported.

What each side says

Voters decide control of Congress after record early turnout

Americans finish voting Tuesday in midterm elections that will decide which party controls the House and Senate for the last two years of President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.'s term. More than 54 million people voted early, a record for a midterm, according to The Associated Press.

Key facts

• Republicans hold the Senate 53-47. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win it, Fox News reported. Because Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. breaks ties, Republicans need 50 seats to keep control.
• Democrats need a net gain of three House seats for a majority, NPR and Fox News reported. Newsmax reported Republicans hold a 218-214 majority, with one independent and two vacancies.
• Democrats lead by 9 points on the generic congressional ballot in CNN's Poll of Polls. NPR reported Democrats hold a double-digit edge in early voting, while Republicans vote mostly in person on Election Day. Early voting data does not show which candidates people chose, CNN noted.
• Voters also choose governors in 36 states and decide 145 statewide ballot measures, including measures on voter ID, noncitizen voting, abortion and redistricting, Fox News reported.
• The first polls close at 6 p.m. ET in parts of Kentucky and Indiana. The last close at 1 a.m. ET in Alaska. NPR warned that close races could take days or weeks to call.

The background

The party that holds the White House has usually lost seats in midterm elections, Fox News reported. This year Republicans face persistent inflation, tied in part to the war with Iran, which polls show is unpopular, along with Trump's falling approval ratings, according to Fox News. Republicans redrew some House maps in the middle of the decade, which NPR said may not be enough to hold the chamber. In the Senate, most toss-up races are in states Trump won by double digits, NPR reported, so Republican turnout today may decide the result. A Democratic majority in either chamber would control committees and investigations and could block Trump's bills. The Justice Department is sending about 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states, the largest such effort ever, CNN reported. Parties and outside groups are sending observers too.

What each side says

Supreme Court rejects DOJ bid to set aside 20,000 California ballots

The Supreme Court on Monday denied the Justice Department's emergency request to make California set aside about 20,000 mail ballots that the department says were likely cast by noncitizens. The one-sentence order came hours after the appeal was filed and gave no reasons. No justice noted a dissent, CNN and Newsmax reported.

Key facts

• Fox News reported that Justice Elena Kagan, who handles emergency appeals from the West Coast, denied the request without referring it to the full court.
• Solicitor General D. John SauerD. John SauerSolicitor General of the United StatesOfficeSolicitor General since 2025, appointed by President TrumpPartyRepublicanCareerFormer Missouri solicitor general who argued Trump's presidential immunity case before the Supreme Court. told the court the government had identified more than 20,000 people registered in California who, in its view, “are likely not U.S. citizens.”
• A federal judge in Los Angeles, David CarterDavid CarterU.S. district judge, Central District of CaliforniaOfficeFederal judge since 1998, appointed by President Bill ClintonCareerFormer Marine officer, Orange County prosecutor and state judge., and a divided panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had already refused the request.
• Also on Monday, Chief U.S. District Judge James BoasbergJames BoasbergChief U.S. district judge, District of ColumbiaOfficeFederal judge since 2011, appointed by President Barack Obama; chief judge since 2023CareerFormer federal prosecutor and D.C. Superior Court judge. in Washington blocked the administration from making certain demands on California over its mail ballots. “The Executive Branch has likely violated the Constitution's Elections Clause, which commits authority over election rules to the states and Congress alone,” Boasberg wrote, according to Newsmax.
• A UCLA analysis found 42% of the names on the federal list do not appear on California's current voter roll and that the list included naturalized citizens, NPR reported.

The background

Federal law bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections. On Oct. 15 the Justice Department sued California, saying the state was blocking enforcement of that law, Fox News reported. It asked that ballots from people on its list be kept apart until their citizenship could be checked, and it sent letters to all 58 county election offices, CalMatters reported. California mails ballots to its roughly 23 million registered voters, and voting began in early October. State and county officials said the list was full of errors and that separating ballots this late was not workable. The 9th Circuit cited the rule that courts should not change election rules on the eve of a vote, and a federal law that limits removing voters within 90 days of an election, NPR reported. Once the ballots are processed, they cannot be separated.

What each side says

US strikes Iran's Qeshm Island after Iran fires on US aircraft, officials say

The U.S. military carried out limited strikes on Iran's Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz late Monday, U.S. officials told CNN and Fox News. The officials called the strikes defensive, saying they answered Iranian fire on a U.S. aircraft.

Key facts

• One official told Fox News the strike does not signal a return to U.S. military strikes on Iran or the start of an escalation.
• “This was a defensive measure for Iranians using surface to air missiles against US assets,” a U.S. official told CNN.
• Iran's state-affiliated Fars News Agency reported several explosions on the island early Tuesday local time. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said it shot down two U.S. reconnaissance drones over Qeshm, CNN reported. It is not clear whether that is linked to the strikes.
• Qeshm Island is home to an underground missile site, a naval base and a major desalination plant, Fox News reported.
• Oil prices rose in early Asian trading after news of the strike, CNN reported.

The background

The United States and Iran have been at war this year. Major fighting has paused while the two sides talk through mediators, according to CNN and Fox News. Qeshm Island lies about 14 miles from the port of Bandar Abbas and is key to Iran's efforts to control traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, CNN reported. About 20 million barrels of oil passed through the strait each day before the war. The Wall Street Journal, which first reported the strike, said similar strikes have been carried out before in secret. Qatar has proposed three days of confidence-building steps to open direct U.S.-Iran talks, Axios reported. Officials told The Associated Press that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place. is urging new strikes after the U.S. midterms. Trump has said the U.S. would not attack Iran before the election.

What each side says

Florida jet may have broken up before crash that killed 9, NTSB says

Federal investigators said Monday the Learjet that crashed onto a Palm Beach County road Sunday, killing all nine people aboard, may have started breaking apart before impact. Families have named eight of the victims, including a Texas couple, their two young children and a 20-year-old co-pilot.

Key facts

• “We do have some evidence that there was some breakup of the aircraft before impact. We’re still seeking to determine that,” National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said, CNN reported.
• The crew reported ice and moderate turbulence at about 35,000 feet and asked to climb. Minutes later the co-pilot radioed, “We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute,” CNN and NPR reported.
• The jet fell about 27,000 feet in one minute before tracking data stopped, according to ADS-B Exchange, CNN reported.
• Families identified tech entrepreneur Adam Robinson, his wife Helen Sharp, their children Emma, 4, and Charlie, 2, caregiver Anita Maria Cetina, Rachael Reed, Charmi Fehr, and co-pilot Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras. The other pilot has not been officially identified.
• One person on the ground suffered a leg injury. About 600 residents of a nearby mobile home park were displaced, Newsmax and CNN reported.

The background

The Learjet 60 left Austin, Texas, for the Bahamas on Sunday morning and crashed just before 1 p.m. on Military Trail in Greenacres, about 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach. Storms were moving through the area, and the jet passed through a strong storm cell just before it began to fall, CNN reported. Icing is one of aviation's biggest weather hazards because it adds weight and cuts lift, according to the FAA. In January 2024 the NTSB issued a safety alert about the danger of in-flight icing. Investigators will also look at the crew's actions and any mechanical problems, Newsmax reported. Recovering wreckage from the water-filled crater is the biggest obstacle, the NTSB said. The county is treating the scene as a state of emergency so it can use emergency funds for displaced residents, CNN reported.

What each side says

Democrats weigh punishing Rep. Haley Stevens as Michigan votes for Senate

House Democratic leaders say they will decide after the election whether to punish Rep. Haley StevensHaley StevensU.S. Representative from MichiganOfficeU.S. House of Representatives since 2019; not seeking reelectionPartyDemocraticCareerFormer Obama administration official on the auto industry rescue; lost the August 2026 Democratic Senate primary. of Michigan, who on Sunday withdrew her endorsement of Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-SayedAbdul El-SayedMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer executive director of the Detroit Health Department.PartyDemocrat.CareerPhysician and epidemiologist; ran for governor of Michigan in 2018. and backed Republican Mike RogersMike RogersMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (R)OfficeU.S. Representative from Michigan, 2001 to 2015; chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, 2011 to 2015.PartyRepublican.CareerFormer Army officer and FBI special agent; Republican Senate nominee in Michigan in 2024.. Michigan's Democratic Party says she is no longer a member.

Key facts

• “Haley Stevens made a terrible decision, blindsided everyone and isolated herself from the House Democratic caucus. We will have a discussion about appropriate next steps upon our return,” House Minority Leader Hakeem JeffriesHakeem JeffriesHouse Minority LeaderOfficeU.S. Representative from New York since 2013; House Democratic leader since 2023PartyDemocraticCareerLawyer and New York State Assembly member before Congress. told Politico, Fox News reported.
• Michigan Democratic Party Chair Curtis HertelCurtis HertelChair of the Michigan Democratic PartyOfficeState party chair since 2025PartyDemocraticCareerFormer Michigan state senator and legislative director for Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. wrote that Stevens “is not a current member of the Michigan Democratic Party, nor will she be in the future,” Fox News reported.
• Stevens' chief of staff of eight years and many of her congressional staff resigned Sunday, NPR reported.
• The Cook Political Report moved the race from toss-up to lean Democrat on Monday, citing new polling. Analyst Jessica Taylor wrote, “We view Stevens' decision to revisit the bitter primary as primarily noise this late in the race,” Newsmax reported.
• Stevens, who is leaving Congress at the end of the year, said in a statement, “I made this decision, and I am proud of it,” CNN reported.

The background

El-Sayed defeated Stevens in the August Democratic primary by about 1 percentage point, NPR reported. The race divided Michigan Democrats over Israel: El-Sayed is a vocal critic of Israel, and Stevens is a strong supporter. After the primary, Stevens endorsed El-Sayed but grew critical of him, saying he had not done enough to reassure Jewish and Black voters. Days before her switch, her fiancé, Jason Turkish, said he would vote for Rogers. Over the weekend, El-Sayed's campaign asked her not to attend a joint church event, Fox News reported. Rogers and other Republicans have accused El-Sayed of ties to the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and Hezbollah. NPR reported they offered no evidence, and El-Sayed denies it. The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary PetersGary PetersU.S. Senator, Michigan (D), retiringOfficeIn the Senate since 2015; U.S. Representative, 2009 to 2015PartyDemocratCareerFormer Navy Reserve officer and Michigan state senator. is retiring. Republicans have not won a Michigan Senate race since 1994, Newsmax reported.

What each side says

Americans vote Tuesday with control of the House and Senate at stake

Voters go to the polls Tuesday in midterm elections that will decide which party controls the House and Senate for the last two years of President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.'s term. Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers, Fox News reported.

Key facts

• Republicans control the Senate 53-47. The final Fox News Power Rankings rate the race for Senate control a toss-up and point to Democrats retaking the House.
• Democrats need a net gain of four seats to win the Senate, CNN reported. Because Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. breaks ties, Republicans need 50 seats to keep control, according to Fox News.
• Voters will also choose governors in 36 states and decide 145 statewide ballot measures, Fox News reported. Measures on abortion, voter ID and noncitizen voting are on ballots in several states.
• The first polls close at 6 p.m. ET in parts of Indiana and Kentucky. The last close at 1 a.m. ET in Alaska.
• The Justice Department plans to send more than 1,000 election monitors to all 50 states, CNN reported. Several states, including Minnesota and Wyoming, are barring the monitors from direct access to polling places.

The background

The party that holds the White House has usually lost seats in midterm elections, Fox News reported. Republicans this year face persistent inflation, tied in part to the war with Iran, which polls show is unpopular, according to Fox News. CNN reported that voters' top worries are the cost of food, housing and health care. A Democratic majority in either chamber would control committees, hearings and investigations, and could block bills Trump wants passed, Newsmax reported. Election officials say they have spent months preparing for disruptions, including possible federal action at polling places, CNN reported. The Trump administration has gone to court over ballots in California and certification in Alaska. CNN reported no major disruptions involving the federal government so far in early voting.

What each side says

Michigan Democrat Haley Stevens endorses Republican Mike Rogers for Senate

Rep. Haley StevensHaley StevensU.S. Representative from MichiganOfficeU.S. House of Representatives since 2019; not seeking reelectionPartyDemocraticCareerFormer Obama administration official on the auto industry rescue; lost the August 2026 Democratic Senate primary., who lost Michigan's Democratic Senate primary in August, endorsed Republican Mike RogersMike RogersMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (R)OfficeU.S. Representative from Michigan, 2001 to 2015; chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, 2011 to 2015.PartyRepublican.CareerFormer Army officer and FBI special agent; Republican Senate nominee in Michigan in 2024. on Sunday over the Democratic nominee, Abdul El-SayedAbdul El-SayedMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer executive director of the Detroit Health Department.PartyDemocrat.CareerPhysician and epidemiologist; ran for governor of Michigan in 2018.. She announced it less than 48 hours before Election Day, after appearing with Rogers at a church in Detroit, NPR reported.

Key facts

• Stevens said El-Sayed's campaign told her she was no longer welcome at his events. “And he's right,” she said in a video. “And that's why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the U.S. Senate today.”
• Stevens' longtime chief of staff, Justin German, said he and “many members” of her staff resigned Sunday, Newsmax and Fox News reported.
• El-Sayed's campaign said he raised $1.2 million in the hours after the endorsement, CNN reported.
• Before the endorsement, a CNN poll had El-Sayed leading Rogers by seven points. A Decision Desk HQ polling average showed El-Sayed ahead by 4 points, Newsmax reported.
• Stevens is not running for reelection to the House. She gave up her seat to run for the Senate.

The background

El-Sayed beat Stevens in the August 4 primary by less than one percentage point, CNN reported. The primary was bitter. El-Sayed, a sharp critic of Israel's actions in Gaza, called Stevens a puppet of the pro-Israel lobby AIPAC, which spent heavily to help her. Stevens criticized El-Sayed for campaigning with streamer Hasan Piker, whose remarks about Jews have been widely denounced as antisemitic, CNN reported. Last week Stevens asked El-Sayed to denounce an outside group's ad that blamed high grocery prices on U.S. aid to Israel. He said his campaign had nothing to do with it and that he disagreed with it. His campaign also asked her to skip his closing events. Michigan could decide control of the Senate. NPR reported that if Republicans flip it, Democrats would need to win five Republican seats instead of four.

What each side says

Judge dismisses DOJ suit to delay Alaska Senate results; DOJ appeals

A federal judge on Sunday threw out a Justice Department lawsuit that sought to delay certification of Alaska's Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer. loses. The department quickly filed a notice of appeal, CNN reported.

Key facts

• U.S. District Judge Sharon GleasonSharon GleasonFederal judgeOfficeU.S. District Judge for the District of Alaska since 2012PartyNone (nominated by President Barack Obama)CareerFormer Alaska Superior Court judge. ruled that the federal government lacked standing to bring the suit and that its request would likely violate voters' right to a secret ballot, NPR and CNN reported.
• The suit asked the court to set aside ballots cast for a second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Candidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyAppears on the ballot with no party labelCareerRetired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska.On the recordIn June 2026, Alaska's Division of Elections removed him from the ballot after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the reversal, so he remains on the ballot., and allow an investigation into whether voters were confused by the two similar names.
• Gleason also said it was too late to change election rules, citing the Supreme Court's Purcell principle, which says federal courts should generally not change rules close to an election, Newsmax reported.
• The case now goes to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Fox News reported.
• More than 86,700 Alaskans had voted early, according to the state's Division of Elections, NPR reported.

The background

Alaska uses ranked-choice voting. If no candidate wins a majority, the last-place candidate is dropped and those voters' next choices are counted. Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired teacher with no party affiliation, got about 2.5% in the August open primary, enough to make the four-person general election ballot, Newsmax reported. Alaska's courts, including the state Supreme Court, rejected a Republican-backed effort to keep him off the ballot. Last week The New York Times reported that people connected to Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress.'s campaign helped recruit him. Peltola denies involvement. The Justice Department has opened a criminal probe, U.S. Attorney Michael HeymanMichael HeymanU.S. attorney for the District of AlaskaOfficeU.S. Attorney, District of Alaska (since 2025)PartyAppointed by the Trump administrationCareerNamed interim U.S. attorney for Alaska by the Trump administration in March 2025; later appointed by the federal district court to continue in the post. said, and Gov. Mike DunleavyMike DunleavyGovernor of AlaskaOfficeGovernor of Alaska (since 2018)PartyRepublicanCareerFormer teacher and school administrator; served in the Alaska Senate before winning the governorship in 2018. ordered a state investigation and suggested he may not certify a Peltola win. The race could decide control of the Senate.

What each side says

Private jet crashes on South Florida road, killing all 9 on board

A Learjet 60 bound for the Bahamas nose-dived into a busy road in Palm Beach County, Fla., on Sunday afternoon and burst into flames, killing all nine people on board, Transportation Secretary Sean DuffySean DuffyU.S. Secretary of TransportationOfficeSecretary of Transportation since January 2025PartyRepublicanCareerU.S. Representative from Wisconsin, 2011 to 2019; former television host. said.

Key facts

• The jet left Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas and was headed to North Eleuthera Airport in the Bahamas, the Federal Aviation Administration said, according to Fox News.
• It crashed at about 12:50 p.m. on Military Trail in Greenacres, about 7 miles southwest of West Palm Beach, NPR reported.
• Minutes before, the pilot reported ice on the plane and moderate turbulence, according to air traffic control recordings. “We are in an overspeed condition descending 20,000 feet per minute,” the pilot radioed. “We're going to crash into the ground.”
• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantisRon DeSantisGovernor of FloridaOfficeGovernor of Florida since 2019PartyRepublicanCareerU.S. Representative from Florida, 2013 to 2018; former Navy officer. said there were no immediate reports of anyone hurt on the ground. About 600 people from a nearby mobile home community were moved to two shelters, county officials said.
• It is the second-deadliest U.S. plane crash this year, CNN reported, citing NTSB records.

The background

The plane was flying east at 35,000 feet when the pilots reported turbulence, icing and rain and asked to climb 2,000 feet, NPR reported. Moments later it went into a steep dive that grew to about 30,000 feet per minute, beyond the jet's design limits. The National Transportation Safety Board leads the investigation, with help from the FAA. A briefing is planned Monday in West Palm Beach. In 2024 the NTSB issued a safety alert warning that in-flight icing can cause pilots to lose control, CNN reported. The jet is registered to a Delaware company and listed as available for charter, CNN reported. Investigators will look at the weather, the aircraft and how the crew responded. Officials have not identified the victims.

What each side says

Sen. Chris Murphy hospitalized after a stroke, expected to fully recover

Sen. Chris MurphyChris MurphyU.S. Senator from ConnecticutOfficeU.S. Senate since 2013PartyDemocraticCareerU.S. Representative from Connecticut's 5th District, 2007 to 2013; earlier a state legislator., D-Conn., is in the hospital after suffering a stroke Saturday and is expected to make a full recovery, his chief of staff, Allison Herwitt, said Sunday.

Key facts

• Murphy, 53, felt numbness in his arm Saturday afternoon at his son's hockey game, Herwitt said. A local hospital found he had had a stroke, and he was moved to Johns Hopkins.
• “The doctors are encouraged by his progress, he is awake and alert, and we are optimistic he will make a full recovery,” Herwitt said.
• Murphy is not on the ballot this year. He had been campaigning for Democrats and was scheduled to appear in New Hampshire on Sunday, Fox News reported.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican., whom Murphy often criticizes, said he was “surprised” by the news and would consider reaching out to him.

The background

Murphy has served in the Senate since 2013 and earlier represented Connecticut's 5th District in the House, CNN reported. He is known for his work on foreign policy, gun policy and oversight of the executive branch, and he has been mentioned as a possible 2028 presidential candidate. He recently returned from a trip to the Middle East, NPR reported. A stroke happens when blood supply to the brain is blocked or a blood vessel in the brain bleeds. Quick treatment can reduce the risk of brain damage, CNN reported. Several members of Congress have had strokes in recent years.

What each side says

Trump weighs new Iran strikes as Iranian envoys meet mediators in Qatar

President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said Saturday that talks with Iran are “going fine” but that he doubts Tehran will keep its word, as Iranian negotiators met Qatari mediators in Doha. Secretary of State Marco RubioMarco RubioU.S. Secretary of StateOfficeSecretary of State since January 2025. U.S. Senator from Florida, 2011 to 2025.PartyRepublican.CareerLawyer; former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. said Trump has not decided whether to resume strikes, Fox News reported.

Key facts

• Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas AraghchiAbbas AraghchiForeign Minister, Islamic Republic of IranOfficeForeign minister since August 2024.PartyNo formal party. Career diplomat in Iran’s government. said a proposal discussed with mediators could let the Strait of Hormuz fully reopen within two days, according to the Associated Press. He said Iran has no plans to meet U.S. officials directly for now.
• Araghchi called a letter from Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. a “positive step,” Newsmax reported. Trump described the letter as an effort to help Iran obtain medical supplies, not a restart of peace talks.
• Trump said only “1 or 2 sites” remain among Iran's nuclear facilities, adding, “we can do that in ten minutes.” He named Pickaxe Mountain, an underground site.
• Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, ordered his military to raise combat readiness and update its list of U.S. and Israeli targets, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency, as reported by Newsmax.
• U.S. Central Command said American forces have redirected 144 commercial vessels as part of the naval blockade of Iran. Trump also spoke by phone with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place., The Wall Street Journal reported.

The background

The United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran in February, and Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed, Newsmax reported. His son Mojtaba succeeded him. The two sides signed an interim memorandum in June, but it did not bring a lasting peace. The U.S. Navy has since blockaded Iranian ports, and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for the world's oil, has been disrupted. Washington wants Iran's nuclear program addressed at the start of new talks. Tehran wants sanctions and the blockade lifted first, a smaller U.S. military presence in the region, and recognition of a shipping route it says it agreed on with Oman. Qatar and Pakistan are mediating. Axios reported that the Qatari mediators wanted progress before Tuesday's U.S. elections, amid concern that fighting could resume afterward.

What each side says

Trump heads to Iowa and Kansas as both parties make final midterm push

President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. is scheduled to hold rallies in Iowa and Kansas on Sunday, two days before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, as Republicans try to hold their majorities in Congress, Fox News reported. Control of the House and Senate is at stake.

Key facts

• Trump held more than 25 rallies in October, mostly in states where Republicans face serious headwinds, NPR reported.
• The Republican National Committee said Thursday that Trump would replace the Iowa and Kansas rallies with tele-rallies. Less than a day later, the in-person events were back on the schedule, NPR reported.
• In Kansas, Republican Sen. Roger Marshall faces a competitive challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton, according to Fox News.
• Trump has asked voters to treat the election as a referendum on his agenda. “Please pretend I'm on the ballot cause in a way I am on the ballot,” he said at a rally in Greenville, N.C.
• Trump has promised a $5,000 “Trump dividend” to American adults if Republicans win the House and Senate, NPR reported.

The background

The president's party usually loses seats in a midterm election. Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers, and Fox News reported they are defending Senate seats in states that have traditionally leaned heavily Republican. Republicans are counting on Trump's popularity with the party's base to overcome voter concerns about inflation, fuel prices and the war with Iran, Fox News reported. Trump cannot run again for president. NPR described his final rallies as part farewell tour, with long speeches and familiar themes such as tariffs and the border. Some races may take days or weeks to call. Alaska, for example, accepts mailed ballots for up to 15 days after the election and uses ranked-choice counting, CNN reported.

What each side says

Alaska asks judge to toss DOJ suit, calls ballot request 'impossible'

Alaska's Republican-led state government on Saturday asked a federal judge to dismiss a Justice Department lawsuit that seeks to block certification of the state's Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer. loses, the Associated Press reported in a story carried by Newsmax.

Key facts

• The state called the department's request to set aside ballots cast for a second candidate named Sullivan “both disturbing and impossible,” saying it could not comply without violating voter privacy.
• “Not every wrong can be righted in federal court,” the state wrote. Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress.'s campaign and voting rights groups have also asked U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason to dismiss the case.
• Justice Department sources told Fox News the department issued more than 30 subpoenas in 24 hours in its criminal investigation. U.S. Attorney Michael HeymanMichael HeymanU.S. attorney for the District of AlaskaOfficeU.S. Attorney, District of Alaska (since 2025)PartyAppointed by the Trump administrationCareerNamed interim U.S. attorney for Alaska by the Trump administration in March 2025; later appointed by the federal district court to continue in the post. said, “I'm not making any assumptions on whether a crime has been committed or not.”
• A CNN investigation found that political action committees tied to a Wisconsin consultant have spent more than $3.75 million attacking Sen. Sullivan and backing another little-known conservative candidate, Gerald Heikes. Who is funding them is unclear.
• A final result could take about two weeks because Alaska accepts mailed ballots for up to 15 days and uses ranked-choice counting, CNN reported.

The background

The Justice Department sued Oct. 22, citing possible voter confusion from a second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Candidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyAppears on the ballot with no party labelCareerRetired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska.On the recordIn June 2026, Alaska's Division of Elections removed him from the ballot after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the reversal, so he remains on the ballot., on the ballot. A New York Times report this week said Peltola's campaign appeared to be involved in recruiting him, and the department amended its suit Friday to cite that reporting, Fox News reported. Peltola denies any role. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled this summer that he met all legal requirements to stay on the ballot. The ballot lists the senator as the Republican incumbent. The administration argues a 1990s voter registration law gives it a role in protecting the “integrity” of federal elections. Gov. Mike DunleavyMike DunleavyGovernor of AlaskaOfficeGovernor of Alaska (since 2018)PartyRepublicanCareerFormer teacher and school administrator; served in the Alaska Senate before winning the governorship in 2018. has opened a state investigation and said certification could be “stopped or changed” if it finds wrongdoing, CNN reported. Experts told CNN that courts would likely order certification of legitimate results.

What each side says

Judge permanently dismisses Trump's defamation suit against Wall Street Journal

A federal judge in Miami on Saturday dismissed President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.'s defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch with prejudice, meaning it cannot be refiled, NPR and CNN reported. Trump's legal team signaled it will appeal.

Key facts

• U.S. District Judge Darrin GaylesDarrin GaylesU.S. district judge, Southern District of FloridaOfficeU.S. District Judge, Southern District of Florida (since 2014)PartyNominated by President Barack Obama (Democrat)CareerFormer Miami-Dade County judge and federal prosecutor before joining the federal bench. ruled that Trump did not plausibly show the Journal acted with “actual malice,” the standard a public figure must meet, according to both outlets.
• The suit challenged a 2025 Journal story about a sexually suggestive birthday letter bearing Trump's name in a 2003 album compiled for Jeffrey Epstein. Trump denies writing it.
• NPR described the suit as seeking $10 billion; CNN described it as a $20 billion suit.
• Gayles first dismissed the case in April but allowed Trump to file an amended complaint, which he did in May.
• The judge noted the Journal's story told readers that Trump called the letter a fake and denied writing it.

The background

Under the Supreme Court's 1964 ruling in New York Times Co. v. Sullivan, a public figure suing for libel must show a publisher knowingly printed something false or acted with reckless disregard for the truth, NPR reported. Trump sued the Journal, its parent companies, Murdoch and two reporters in July 2025. Gayles rejected the argument that the paper should have held its story after Trump denied writing the letter. CNN reported that legal analysts could not recall another sitting president suing a news outlet over a story. Trump also has pending suits against The New York Times and the BBC. A judge dismissed his suit against Iowa pollster J. Ann Selzer with prejudice in September, CNN reported. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges.

What each side says

Shooting after Magic City Classic in Birmingham kills 1, wounds 8

One person was killed and eight were wounded in a shooting outside Legion Field in Birmingham, Alabama, on Saturday night after the Magic City Classic football game, police said. One person was detained for questioning, CNN reported. No one has been charged.

Key facts

• Officers responded shortly after 7:50 p.m. to the 400 block of Graymont Avenue West, near Legion Field, and found nine gunshot victims, Birmingham police said.
• One victim died. One was in critical condition and seven were stable, police said.
• Police said multiple firearms were recovered at the scene. A police spokesman said one person was detained and taken to headquarters for questioning, CNN reported.
• Police suspended all Magic City Classic tailgating and asked people to leave the stadium property.
• Police have not named a suspect or a motive, and are asking anyone with video to contact them.

The background

The Magic City Classic is an annual rivalry game between Alabama A&M University and Alabama State University, the state's two largest historically Black universities, CNN reported. Alabama A&M won this year's game, the 85th, 31-28, HBCU Gameday reported. The weekend usually draws more than 100,000 people for a parade, tailgating and the game, Fox News reported. Area law enforcement had announced extra security around Legion Field before the game, including uniformed and plainclothes officers and surveillance equipment. The shooting came one week after 11 people, six of them juveniles, were shot during a fight near Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, CNN reported. A 15-year-old will be charged as an adult in that case. Police have not said whether the two shootings are connected in any way.

What each side says

Judge bars DOJ from threatening election workers with prosecution

A federal judge in California on Friday temporarily barred the Justice Department and the Department of Homeland Security from threatening election workers with prosecution over ballots from voters the administration says may be noncitizens. The order applies to election officials in every state and runs through Nov. 16.

Key facts

• U.S. District Judge Trina ThompsonTrina ThompsonU.S. district judge, Northern District of CaliforniaOfficeU.S. District Judge, Northern District of California (since 2023)PartyNominated by President Joe Biden (Democrat)CareerFormer Alameda County Superior Court judge and criminal defense lawyer before her appointment to the federal bench. granted a temporary restraining order Friday evening in a suit brought by labor unions and civil rights groups, including the NAACP, the Service Employees International Union and the League of United Latin American Citizens, CNN and Fox News reported.
• While the order is in place, the two departments cannot demand that election officials segregate ballots, remove voters from the rolls or halt ballot processing based only on claims that certain voters are ineligible, according to both outlets.
• Thompson found the departments likely violated the Voting Rights Act's ban on voter intimidation, Fox News reported.
• The administration must tell her about any search warrant applications, grand jury subpoenas or other demands for election materials tied to its lists of allegedly ineligible voters, CNN reported.
• Earlier Friday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied the Justice Department's emergency request to make California set aside mail ballots tied to about 20,000 voters it called likely noncitizens, Fox News reported.

The background

The administration says its efforts aim to stop noncitizen voting and protect election integrity. The Department of Homeland Security compared state voter lists with federal records and produced lists of people it says may be noncitizens, CNN reported. Election officials say those lists are unreliable and include U.S. citizens. In recent weeks the Justice Department warned California officials that counting such ballots could make them “aiders and abettors to a federal crime,” NPR reported, and grand jury subpoenas reached at least two Los Angeles County election employees. The department also sent letters to 29 states and Washington, D.C., demanding they preserve 2024 election records, according to CNN. Federal law already requires that. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3, and Thompson noted that ballots have already been issued.

What each side says

Hundreds leave starving Ukrainian town under Melania Trump-brokered truce

Hundreds of civilians left the Russian-occupied town of Oleshky in southern Ukraine on Friday under a local ceasefire that first lady Melania TrumpMelania TrumpFirst lady of the United StatesOfficeFirst lady (not an elected or appointed office)PartyWife of Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFirst lady from 2017 to 2021 and again since January 2025; a former model, she has made helping children affected by war one of her main efforts. helped negotiate, CNN reported. Ukrainian officials say residents had gone months without food, power or medicine.

Key facts

• The truce took effect Tuesday and later widened across the Kherson region, CNN reported. It is set to expire Sunday.
• About 2,000 people, including 50 children, had been trapped in the town, according to Ukrainian authorities.
• Evacuees traveled by bus through occupied Crimea to Anapa in Russia, then flew to Gomel, Belarus, before crossing by bus into Ukraine, according to Ukrainian and Russian officials cited by CNN.
• Ukraine's human rights ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, traveled into occupied territory to escort the evacuees. Two people were killed during a demining operation to clear the roads, authorities said.
• Some residents chose to stay, including older people unwilling to leave their homes or animals. Officials have not released an exact number of evacuees.

The background

Oleshky sits on the Dnipro River across from Ukrainian positions and has been under Russian occupation since April 2022, CNN reported. The town flooded when the Nova Kakhovka Dam collapsed in 2023, and evidence has pointed to Russia being responsible for the explosion, a charge Moscow denies. Ukrainian authorities said the town ran out of food in September. Ukraine's foreign minister said earlier this month that civilians were surviving on grass and weeds. Kyiv tried at least three times this year to arrange evacuations, and Russia rejected them. The first lady said she worked directly with Ukrainian and Russian leaders as the “exclusive intermediary.” A wider peace deal remains unlikely for now, CNN reported, though Ukrainian officials hope for more local truces.

What each side says

Prosecutors confirm criminal probe tied to second Dan Sullivan in Alaska

Federal prosecutors confirmed Friday that they are running a criminal investigation tied to a Senate candidate in Alaska who shares a name with Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer.. The Justice Department also asked a judge to have ballots ranking the second candidate set aside, the Associated Press reported in a story carried by Newsmax.

Key facts

• U.S. Attorney Michael HeymanMichael HeymanU.S. attorney for the District of AlaskaOfficeU.S. Attorney, District of Alaska (since 2025)PartyAppointed by the Trump administrationCareerNamed interim U.S. attorney for Alaska by the Trump administration in March 2025; later appointed by the federal district court to continue in the post. told reporters in Anchorage the investigation has gone on for several months. He did not say what crimes are being examined or who the targets are, according to the AP.
• Heyman said a New York Times report that aides to Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress. helped recruit retired teacher Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Candidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyAppears on the ballot with no party labelCareerRetired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska.On the recordIn June 2026, Alaska's Division of Elections removed him from the ballot after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the reversal, so he remains on the ballot. led to a “significant surge of law enforcement assets to Alaska.” NPR has not independently confirmed the Times report.
• In a civil suit filed Oct. 22, the Justice Department asked a judge to order state officials to “preserve and segregate all ballots ranking Daniel J. Sullivan,” and requested a decision by Monday, the AP reported.
• The ballot lists the senator as Dan S. Sullivan, Republican and incumbent, and the challenger as Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., with no party affiliation.
• Republican Gov. Mike DunleavyMike DunleavyGovernor of AlaskaOfficeGovernor of Alaska (since 2018)PartyRepublicanCareerFormer teacher and school administrator; served in the Alaska Senate before winning the governorship in 2018. has ordered the state Department of Public Safety to look into whether Alaska law was broken, NPR reported.

The background

Alaska uses an open primary that sends the top four finishers to the general election, where voters rank candidates, NPR reported. The second Sullivan advanced that way, and the Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that he could stay on the ballot. Republicans have long called him a spoiler. The race is one of a handful expected to decide Senate control. President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. has said he told the Justice Department to file its suit, which seeks to block certification if the incumbent loses and votes for the other Sullivan could have changed the result. Legal experts quoted by Fox News and NPR say the case faces steep hurdles because states run their own elections. The AP noted it is highly unusual for prosecutors to confirm an investigation at all.

What each side says

Poland's president flies home after top court chief is suspended

Polish President Karol NawrockiKarol NawrockiPresident of PolandOfficePresident of Poland (since August 2025)PartyIndependent, backed by Law and Justice (PiS)CareerHistorian; former head of the Institute of National Remembrance and director of the Museum of the Second World War in Gdańsk before winning the 2025 presidential election. turned his plane around on the way to Senegal on Friday after the president of Poland's Constitutional Tribunal was suspended and police secured the court building as protesters gathered outside, CNN and Fox News reported.

Key facts

• The tribunal's website said Friday evening that its president, Bogdan Święczkowski, had been suspended. The site went down soon after, and the AP could not verify the official reasons, CNN reported.
• Police said they detained three people after some protesters breached the court's fence and others threw objects at officers.
• “At a moment like this, the President must be in Poland,” Nawrocki wrote on X, according to CNN.
• Prime Minister Donald TuskDonald TuskPrime Minister of PolandOfficePrime Minister of Poland (since December 2023)PartyCivic Platform (Civic Coalition)CareerPrime minister from 2007 to 2014 and President of the European Council from 2014 to 2019 before returning as prime minister. has accused Święczkowski of blocking judges elected by the current parliament from taking their seats on the tribunal.
• U.S. Ambassador to Poland Tom Rose said both sides “offer sharply different accounts of what happened and why” and said it is not America's place to interfere, Fox News reported.

The background

Poland's top courts have been in dispute for nearly a decade. Critics in Poland and the European Union accuse the national-conservative Law and Justice party (PiS), which governed from 2015 to 2023, of putting key courts under political control, and some of its changes led the EU to fine Poland, Fox News reported. Tusk's pro-European government won power in 2023 promising to restore judicial independence. Two presidents aligned with PiS, including Nawrocki, have vetoed its efforts. Nawrocki refused to swear in three of six judges parliament nominated this year. Święczkowski, appointed under PiS after serving as a deputy justice minister, declined to let judges elected by the current majority take their posts. Parliamentary elections are due next November, Fox News reported.

What each side says

Judge opens inquiry into whether DOJ misled court on Trump's golf course plans

A federal judge in Washington on Friday opened a formal inquiry into whether Justice Department lawyers and other officials misrepresented President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.'s plans to rebuild the East Potomac golf course, NPR and CNN reported. The judge stressed she has made no finding of wrongdoing.

Key facts

• U.S. District Judge Ana ReyesAna ReyesU.S. district judge, District of ColumbiaOfficeU.S. District Judge, District of Columbia (since 2023)PartyNominated by President Joe Biden (Democrat)CareerFormer litigation partner at the Washington law firm Williams & Connolly before joining the federal bench. said she would look into whether officials and lawyers “have made misrepresentations to the court and otherwise violated applicable ethical rules,” NPR reported. A special master may lead the inquiry, which could lead to sanctions, CNN reported.
• For months, government lawyers told the court there was no final plan to renovate the course, NPR reported. In a Wednesday filing, they said the park south of Buckeye Drive, including the course, would close “consistent with the President's directive.”
• The nonprofit that runs the course said it will stop operating there on or around Nov. 15.
• Associate Attorney General Stanley WoodwardStanley WoodwardAssociate Attorney General, the Justice Department's third-ranking officialOfficeAssociate Attorney General (since 2025)PartyAppointed by President Donald Trump (Republican)CareerWashington criminal defense lawyer who represented clients in federal cases tied to President Trump before joining the Justice Department., the department's third-ranking official, defended the government at the hearing. He said seawall repairs would cost $150 million to $400 million.
• Reyes ordered officials to preserve all relevant documents.

The background

East Potomac Park is a man-made peninsula that Congress set aside in 1897 to be “forever held and used as a park for the recreation and pleasure of the people,” NPR reported. Preservation groups and golfers sued in February. On Oct. 10 the administration cut down more than 400 trees with less than a day's notice, CNN reported. Officials said the clearing was not part of a renovation plan, while Trump posted that a championship course would be built. Earlier this week Reyes blocked further tree removal in a 70-page opinion and required 10 days' notice before any closure. The government has appealed. The administration says the park must close because its century-old seawall is crumbling, and the acting National Park Service director said sidewalks flood twice a day.

What each side says

Firms tie North Korea to $6.3 billion hack of crypto exchange Binance

Blockchain analysis firms say a North Korean hacking unit likely stole more than $6 billion from Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, on Thursday, NPR reported. The firm TRM says it would be the largest crypto theft on record.

Key facts

• “An attacker moved approximately USD 6.36 billion out of Binance wallets on ten blockchains, most of it in about 20 minutes,” TRM said. It blamed a North Korean unit it calls TraderTraitor and said it made that judgment “with high confidence.”
• Chainalysis CEO Jonathan Levin also said the hack was likely done by TraderTraitor, NPR reported.
• Binance said it worked with partners to freeze about $3 billion and has pledged to cover all losses. Deposits were unaffected, and withdrawals were suspended, according to NPR.
• Researchers say Binance's losses could top $3 billion, more than its $1 billion emergency fund, CNN reported.
• Binance said it found “no evidence of any wallet private key leak” and will release more details when its probe ends.

The background

The FBI blamed North Korea and TraderTraitor for the $1.5 billion hack of the exchange Bybit in February 2025, NPR reported. Experts say North Korea turns to crypto theft to raise foreign money for its economy and nuclear program under U.N. sanctions. Centralized exchanges are attractive targets because they hold large sums and operate outside the rules banks follow, CNN reported, and customers' crypto there has no federal deposit insurance. About half the stolen funds were stablecoins that issuers froze. Coins like bitcoin and ether may be impossible to recover. Binance pleaded guilty in 2023 to violating U.S. anti-money-laundering rules, and founder Changpeng Zhao served four months in prison. President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. pardoned Zhao in 2025.

What each side says

Four days before midterms, polls show Democrats ahead as GOP pushes turnout

With four days left before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, national polling averages show Democrats ahead, and Republicans are working to close what CNN describes as an enthusiasm gap. Control of the House and Senate is at stake.

Key facts

• Democrats lead by 8.3 points in the RealClearPolitics generic congressional ballot average, their largest edge since 2008, according to an analysis by RealClearPolitics co-founder John McIntyre, Newsmax reported.
• Democrats need to flip a net four Republican-held seats to win the Senate, NPR reported. The Cook Political Report rates Alaska, Iowa, Kansas, Ohio and Texas as toss-ups.
• Republicans' best chance to pick up a Senate seat is Michigan, with other targets in New Hampshire and Minnesota, according to NPR.
• A CNN/SSRS survey found 61% of Democratic-leaning registered voters are extremely motivated to vote, up from 34% four years ago. Republican enthusiasm has barely changed, CNN reported.
• Sabato's Crystal Ball rates 225 House seats as at least leaning Democratic, 193 as at least leaning Republican and 17 as toss-ups, Newsmax reported. A House majority takes 218.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.'s job approval stands at 38.4% in the RealClearPolitics average, according to McIntyre.

The background

The party that holds the White House usually loses ground in a midterm, and Republicans have worked since Trump returned to office to beat that pattern, CNN reported. Trump's political operation built a large fundraising lead, and Republicans pushed a mid-decade redistricting effort meant to protect their House majority. CNN and NPR report that the war with Iran, higher gas prices and economic worries have weighed on Republican candidates. Gas has risen from about $3 a gallon in November 2025 to $4.27, according to figures McIntyre cited. NPR notes the Senate map began as a hard one for Democrats because many seats up this year are in states Trump carried. Republicans point to gains in voter registration and say polls are missing quiet supporters. Some close races may take days to count.

What each side says

DOJ issues subpoenas in probe of second Dan Sullivan on Alaska Senate ballot

The Justice Department has issued grand jury subpoenas in a criminal investigation into how a second candidate named Dan Sullivan got onto Alaska's U.S. Senate ballot, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The step follows a New York Times report that Democratic operatives helped recruit him.

Key facts

• The New York Times reported that interviews, text messages and documents show aides to Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress. and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee worked to recruit candidates who could pull votes from Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer.. NPR said it has not independently confirmed the Times reporting.
• Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Candidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyAppears on the ballot with no party labelCareerRetired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska.On the recordIn June 2026, Alaska's Division of Elections removed him from the ballot after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the reversal, so he remains on the ballot., a retired teacher from Petersburg, is on the ballot without a party label. He has denied running at Democrats' request.
• DOJ sources told Fox News that more than 30 subpoenas were issued in 24 hours. The department declined to comment.
• Republican Gov. Mike DunleavyMike DunleavyGovernor of AlaskaOfficeGovernor of Alaska (since 2018)PartyRepublicanCareerFormer teacher and school administrator; served in the Alaska Senate before winning the governorship in 2018. directed the Alaska Department of Public Safety to investigate whether the effort broke state law.
• Last week the Justice Department asked a court to delay certification if the incumbent loses narrowly. Election law experts have called that case weak, NPR reported.
• About 58,000 Alaskans, nearly 1 in 10 registered voters, had already voted when the Times story appeared, Fox News reported.

The background

Alaska uses a top-four primary and ranked-choice voting in the general election. The second Sullivan won 2.5% of the August primary vote, enough to advance, Fox News reported. Earlier this year a top state elections official ruled him ineligible, finding his filing was made “with a purpose to confuse or mislead,” the AP reported. The Alaska Supreme Court overruled that in June. The ballot lists the senator as the Republican incumbent. Sharing a candidate's name is legal; crimes arise when people falsify documents or pay someone to file, CNN reported. Both parties have tried to boost minor candidates in Alaska. During the primary, a group mostly funded by the top Republican Senate super PAC spent more than $800,000 attacking Peltola while promoting minor candidates, CNN reported. The race could decide Senate control.

What each side says

Israel's election ends in deadlock as Netanyahu and Eisenkot both fall short

Israel's Oct. 27 election has left neither Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place. nor his main challenger, former military chief Gadi EisenkotGadi EisenkotIsraeli opposition leader and candidate for prime ministerOfficeFormer chief of staff of the Israel Defense ForcesPartyOpposition; CNN calls him Netanyahu’s main rivalCareerCareer army officer who led the IDF from 2015 to 2019, then served in the Knesset and Israel’s wartime cabinet., with a clear path to the 61 seats needed to govern, NPR reported. Talks to form a government could take weeks or longer.

Key facts

• With 93.8% of ballots counted, Netanyahu's right-wing and religious bloc was projected to win 53 of the Knesset's 120 seats and Eisenkot's opposition bloc 48, Fox News reported. Netanyahu's Likud remained the largest single party, with 26 seats.
• Two predominantly Arab parties were projected to win 19 seats combined, nearly double their 2022 total. Arab turnout reached about 80%, up from 53.2% in 2022, according to the Israel Democracy Institute.
• Eisenkot and his allies ruled out a coalition that depends on Arab parties, citing those parties' positions on Hamas, NPR reported.
• Netanyahu wrote on X that the election had been “stolen by Arab parties that support terrorism.” The acting head of the Central Elections Committee said the vote was “conducted lawfully.”
• Israel's Shin Bet security agency is looking into an Israeli Channel 12 report that money from Qatar may have been used to boost Arab turnout. Qatar denied it, and the claims have not been substantiated, Fox News reported.

The background

Israel's president will now consult every party elected to the Knesset and choose the lawmaker most likely to build a coalition. That person gets 28 days, with up to 14 more, to win the backing of 61 lawmakers, NPR reported. This was Israel's first national election since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023. Eisenkot joined Netanyahu's war cabinet after that attack and resigned eight months later. NPR and CNN describe several possible outcomes: a unity government of the two men, an Eisenkot government supported from outside by Arab parties, defections from one bloc to the other, or a new election. Opposition lawmakers may also try to replace the Knesset speaker and open a state inquiry into the failures before Oct. 7. Israeli and some U.S. outlets have reported that President Trump favors a unity government.

What each side says

Hegseth fires top Pentagon planner accused of leaking classified information

Defense Secretary Pete HegsethPete HegsethU.S. secretary of defenseOfficeSecretary of Defense (Department of War)PartyRepublicanCareerArmy National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, confirmed as defense secretary in January 2025. has fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett SylviaBrett SylviaArmy lieutenant general; until this week director of strategy, plans and policy (J5) on the Joint StaffOfficeDirector, J5, Joint Staff (removed October 2026)PartyNone (career military officer)Career1994 West Point graduate with more than three decades in the Army; deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, wounded in combat, and commanded the 101st Airborne Division., the Joint Staff's top strategy and plans officer, after an investigation into alleged leaks of classified information, Pentagon officials said Thursday.

Key facts

• A Pentagon official told Fox News that Sylvia failed three polygraph examinations related to alleged disclosures of classified information. Sylvia has not commented publicly.
• The official said the alleged leaks involved the Iran war, Russia's war in Ukraine and other sensitive matters. The case has been referred to the Justice Department.
• The Pentagon's chief spokesman said the action followed an Air Force Office of Special Investigations inquiry. “We vowed to find you, and we meant it,” he said.
• The Joint Staff withdrew an earlier statement that praised Sylvia's 32 years of service, saying it “did not appropriately reflect the full circumstances,” Defense News reported.
• The Atlantic first reported the firing and said Hegseth had lost confidence in Sylvia amid tensions with Pentagon policy chief Elbridge Colby, according to Fox News.
• Sylvia is the second head of the J5 directorate removed under Hegseth. Nearly two dozen generals, admirals and other senior leaders have been fired, pushed out or have left during his tenure, Fox News reported.

The background

The J5 directorate writes military strategy and advises the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Sylvia, a 1994 West Point graduate who was wounded in combat, took the post in December after commanding the 101st Airborne Division, Fox News reported. Hegseth has made finding leakers a priority. He set up a joint task force with the Justice Department, required polygraphs for senior officials and imposed rules requiring reporters to be escorted inside the Pentagon, Defense News and Fox News reported. Last year three Pentagon officials were removed in a leak inquiry; they denied wrongdoing and said they were never told what they were accused of leaking. The firing comes as the Pentagon weighs possible renewed strikes on Iran after next week's elections, according to Fox News and Defense News. The Justice Department declined to comment on Sylvia specifically.

What each side says

Report says 2016 federal probe found some evidence Omar marriage was fraud

Federal investigators in 2016 found “some evidence” that Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarU.S. Representative, Minnesota’s 5th District (D)OfficeIn Congress since 2019. Earlier served in the Minnesota House.PartyDemocrat; member of the House Progressive Caucus.'s 2009 marriage was fraudulent but closed the case because of the statute of limitations, The New York Times reported, according to Fox News. Omar's office says the inquiry was dropped for lack of evidence. She has not been charged with any crime.

Key facts

• The Times reported that the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security opened the inquiry in summer 2016, under President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaFormer President of the United States (D)Office44th president (2009 to 2017); former U.S. senator from Illinois.PartyDemocratCareerFormer Illinois state senator and constitutional law lecturer before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004.. A U.S. attorney appointed by President Joe BidenJoe BidenFormer President of the United States (D)OfficePresident from 2021 to 2025; vice president from 2009 to 2017PartyDemocratCareerRepresented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years before serving as vice president and president. shut it down in 2021, a source told Fox News.
• Investigators examined whether Omar married Ahmed Nur Said Elmi to help him get a green card, and whether he was her brother, the Times reported. Omar has repeatedly denied that he is her brother.
• A separate, current federal investigation is examining whether Omar or her father misstated her birth year on immigration paperwork, Fox News reported. Agents searched her Washington home on Oct. 12 under a court-approved warrant and seized phones and notebooks.
• About 175 House Democrats signed a letter demanding the administration stop the probe before Tuesday's election. Nearly 40 did not sign, including some in close races, Fox News reported.
• Obama has condemned the current investigation as political targeting.

The background

Omar fled Somalia's civil war as a child. House Democrats' letter says she became a U.S. citizen at 17 through her father's paperwork. If she was 17, she would have qualified automatically with him; if she was 18 or older, which federal officials now suspect, she would have needed her own application, Fox News reported. Public records show Omar legally married Elmi in 2009 and divorced him in 2017, Newsweek reported; she has said they separated in 2011. Newsweek found the records do not show her legally married to two men at once, and said the records alone do not establish the fraud or sibling claims. Omar is on the ballot Tuesday in Minnesota's 5th District. Expelling a House member takes a two-thirds vote, Newsmax noted.

What each side says

Musk has given more than $445 million to GOP efforts this election cycle

Elon MuskElon MuskCEO of Tesla and SpaceX; owner of XOfficeNone elected. Led the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency effort in 2025. has given more than $445 million to federal political committees this election cycle, making him the largest disclosed donor in modern American politics, CNN reported, citing federal records. Much of the money is aimed at keeping the Senate in Republican hands.

Key facts

• That is more than double the nearly $177 million Democratic megadonor George Soros gave to outside groups in the 2022 midterms, CNN reported.
• Musk has given nearly $216 million to America PAC, the super PAC at the center of his political operation. It is active in more than 40 House and Senate races.
• At least $168 million of Musk's money has gone into the Texas Senate race through other groups, including donations to the Senate Leadership Fund that were passed to Texas PAC, which runs ads against Democrat James TalaricoJames TalaricoTexas Senate nominee (D)OfficeTexas state representative since 2019.PartyDemocrat., CNN reported.
• Musk also gave $10 million to a super PAC backing Republican Ken PaxtonKen PaxtonTexas Attorney General; Senate nominee (R)OfficeTexas attorney general since 2015. that has paid for AI-generated robocalls attacking Talarico.
• Talarico has raised $146 million, more than six times Paxton's $22.3 million, according to federal records. A CNN poll released Thursday shows Talarico narrowly ahead.
• Musk said he voted early in Texas and urged people to vote for Republican Senate candidates, Fox News reported.

The background

Musk gave about $288 million in the 2024 election cycle, and his 2026 giving has already passed that, Forbes reported. Early last year he ran the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency, which dismantled the U.S. Agency for International Development, NPR reported. Texas is the center of his midterm effort. In the last four weeks Republicans have outspent Democrats on ads there by more than 2 to 1, according to AdImpact data cited by CNN. Musk wrote on X that he fears Democrats, if they win the presidency and Congress in 2028, would add states and expand the Supreme Court. Big spending does not guarantee wins. Musk spent more than $20 million on a Wisconsin Supreme Court race last year, and his preferred candidate lost by 10 points, NPR reported.

What each side says

Trump warns of new Iran strikes if talks fail as mediators race for a deal

Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said Wednesday the United States is ready to strike Iran again if negotiations fail, Newsmax and Axios reported. Qatar and other countries are pressing Tehran to accept a deal before possible new strikes after Election Day.

Key facts

• Axios reported that U.S. and Israeli officials are preparing for a possible weeklong bombing campaign aimed at Iran's leadership, nuclear sites and energy facilities if no agreement is reached.
• Qatar is leading the mediation, with support from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey, according to Axios.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, to revive talks. Trump told reporters he did not direct Vance to start negotiations.
• Iran says the U.S. must lift its naval blockade of Iranian ports and release frozen assets first. Washington wants limits on Iran's nuclear program, Newsmax reported.
• U.S. Central Command said Iranian claims that ships have hit sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz are false, Fox News reported.
• U.S. crude traded near $102 a barrel early Thursday after a 3% jump Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The background

The war began in February with the U.S. campaign known as Operation Epic Fury, Newsmax reported. A memorandum of understanding reached in June fell apart within two weeks over reopening shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. has kept a naval blockade on Iranian ports, which Central Command says has kept at least $25 billion in crude off the market, according to Iran International. On Oct. 8 Trump said the U.S. would not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, Al-Monitor reported. This week Iran's supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, called for an end to the state of “neither war nor peace.” The fighting has spread to Yemen and Saudi Arabia, where Iran-backed Houthi forces have fired missiles. The Week reported that 65 percent of U.S. voters in one poll disapprove of Trump's handling of the war.

What each side says

Report says Peltola allies recruited second Dan Sullivan; her campaign denies it

The New York Times reported Wednesday that aides to Alaska Senate candidate Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress. and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee helped recruit a second Dan Sullivan to run against Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer.. Peltola's campaign denies any involvement.

Key facts

• The Times cited interviews, text messages and documents and reported the effort also looked at other possible spoiler candidates, according to Fox News and Alaska Public Media.
• Elisa Rios, a fired Peltola campaign manager, spoke to the Times, Alaska Public Media reported.
• The ballot lists the senator as “Sullivan, Dan S.” with Republican and incumbent labels, and lists Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Candidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyAppears on the ballot with no party labelCareerRetired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska.On the recordIn June 2026, Alaska's Division of Elections removed him from the ballot after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the reversal, so he remains on the ballot., a retired teacher, with no party.
• Fox News reported, citing two sources, that federal prosecutors are running a criminal investigation into how the second Sullivan got on the ballot. The Justice Department declined to comment.
• Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy said the state will look into whether criminal charges or civil penalties could apply, CNN reported.
• A New York Times/Siena poll released Saturday showed Peltola leading Sullivan 51% to 45%, CNN reported.

The background

Alaska's Division of Elections removed Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. from the ballot earlier this year, finding his run was meant to confuse voters. A state judge overturned that in June, ruling the division had no authority to void a candidacy on that basis, Fox News reported. On Oct. 22 the Justice Department sued to delay certification if the senator loses by fewer votes than the other Sullivan receives. Peltola's campaign, the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and Alaska's Republican-led Legislature have asked the court to dismiss the suit. They argue the federal law it cites covers voter registration, not who appears on a ballot. A ruling could come as soon as Friday, Alaska Public Media reported. Alaska uses ranked-choice voting, so voters can rank both Sullivans. Election Day is Tuesday, and the seat could help decide control of the Senate.

What each side says

Hackers publish names and contact details of more than 40,000 DHS employees

A hacking group published the names, job titles and contact information of more than 40,000 Department of Homeland Security employees and contractors on Wednesday, including some undercover agents, NPR and Fox News reported. DHS says it is investigating.

Key facts

• About 21,000 records are tied to U.S. Customs and Border Protection and about 10,000 to Immigration and Customs Enforcement and its investigations unit, NPR reported.
• Fox News said it independently confirmed the records include the names of several undercover ICE agents.
• A group calling itself the “Department of Peace” claimed responsibility. It said it took the data through the department's single sign-on system, NPR reported.
• The leak site Distributed Denial of Secrets posted the data and a searchable tool, according to NPR and CyberScoop.
• Okta, which provides the sign-on service, said it has “no evidence our data or systems were compromised,” TechCrunch reported.
• The records cover about one-fifth of DHS's roughly 220,000 workers, NPR reported.

The background

This is not the first breach of federal personnel files this year. The same group claimed in March to have taken thousands of DHS contracts with private companies, TechCrunch reported. Fox News reported that a Pentagon personnel breach exposed information on more than 2.76 million military and civilian workers, and hackers have also taken records on FBI agents. TechCrunch said the DHS data appears to have been taken around mid-August. The group tied the hack to stepped-up immigration enforcement under DHS Secretary Markwayne MullinMarkwayne MullinU.S. secretary of homeland securityOfficeDepartment of Homeland SecurityPartyRepublicanCareerFormer U.S. senator and congressman from Oklahoma and owner of a plumbing business.. The leak has revived a fight over whether the identities of immigration officers should be public. Ottignon told NPR that agents often hide who they are with masks and plain clothes. DHS said it takes all security threats against its employees seriously. Activists say the data will help with public records requests and oversight.

What each side says

Flávio Bolsonaro lands in Miami, vows to lead Brazil's opposition from abroad

Brazilian Sen. Flávio BolsonaroFlávio BolsonaroLiberal Party presidential candidate in the runoffOfficeSenator for Rio de JaneiroPartyLiberal Party (PL)CareerFormer Rio de Janeiro state lawmaker; senator since 2019; eldest son of Jair Bolsonaro arrived in Florida on Wednesday with his family after losing Sunday's presidential runoff and leaving Brazil despite a Supreme Court order to surrender his passports, NPR and CNN reported. He says he will lead the opposition from the United States.

Key facts

• President Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaLuiz Inácio Lula da SilvaPresident of Brazil, seeking a fourth, non-consecutive termOfficePresident of BrazilPartyWorkers' Party (PT)CareerFormer union leader; president 2003-2010 and since 2023On the recordConvicted of corruption and money laundering in 2017 by federal Judge Sergio Moro; conviction upheld on appeal in 2018 and he was jailed from 2018 to 2019. Brazil's Supreme Federal Court annulled his convictions in 2021, ruling the court lacked jurisdiction, and later ruled that Moro was biased. won Sunday's runoff by about 4.4 million votes, CNN reported.
• On Monday, Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes ordered Bolsonaro to hand over his passports within 24 hours and barred him from leaving the country, as part of financial investigations, NPR and CNN reported.
• Argentina's migration agency said the family entered Argentina late Tuesday and boarded a private flight to Ecuador. They landed near Miami early Wednesday.
• A senior U.S. official said the State Department would issue visas to the family. Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said, “we gave him a pass to come into the country.”
• Bolsonaro's Liberal Party has acknowledged Lula's win. Bolsonaro has not conceded and alleged fraud without offering proof, CNN reported.
• There was no warrant for his arrest when he left, CNN reported, though legal analysts said defying the passport order could lead to one.

The background

Bolsonaro is the eldest son of former President Jair BolsonaroJair BolsonaroFormer president and father of candidate Flávio BolsonaroOfficeFormer President of Brazil (2019-2022)PartyLiberal Party (PL)CareerFormer army captain and congressman; president 2019-2022On the recordBarred from office until 2030 by the Superior Electoral Court in 2023 for abuse of power in casting doubt on the voting system. Convicted by the Supreme Federal Court in September 2025 of plotting a coup after the 2022 election and sentenced to 27 years; serving the sentence., who was convicted in 2025 of plotting to overturn his 2022 election loss to Lula and sentenced to 27 years in prison. He is now under house arrest. Flávio is under investigation for alleged money laundering and other financial crimes, including claims tied to online betting platforms and to funding of a film about his father, CNN reported. He denies wrongdoing. Brazil's Supreme Court on Tuesday also ordered police to investigate alleged foreign interference in his campaign. His brother Eduardo already lives in the United States and faces arrest in Brazil. Flávio's move mirrors his father's trip to Florida after the 2022 vote. Trump, a close ally of the family, has called Lula's win “rigged” without offering evidence. Lula's new term begins Jan. 5.

What each side says

High-speed train crash in Spain kills at least 68 after control error

At least 68 people were killed Wednesday when a high-speed train struck the back of a stopped train near Urda, in Spain's Toledo province, officials said. Spain's transport minister blamed an order from the rail control center after a safety system failed.

Key facts

• A train run by state-owned Renfe hit a stopped train run by private Iryo on the Madrid to Seville line, CNN and Fox News reported. Both were heading south.
• Of the dead, 24 were on the Renfe train and 44 on the Iryo train, CNN reported. More than 100 people were hurt, and the State Department said several Americans were among the injured.
• Transport Minister Óscar PuenteÓscar PuenteSpain's minister of transportOfficeMinister of Transport and Sustainable Mobility since 2023PartySpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)CareerLawyer and former mayor of Valladolid. said a computer failure shut down the safety system on a 39-mile stretch at about 8:30 a.m. The central command then cleared the Renfe train to move with no speed limit despite a stop signal.
• Puente said the train may have been going about 124 mph and that the engineers were not to blame.
• Prime Minister Pedro SánchezPedro SánchezPrime Minister of SpainOfficePrime minister since June 2018PartySpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)CareerEconomist and former Madrid city councilor and member of Spain's parliament. visited the site and declared three days of mourning starting Thursday.
• More than 500 emergency workers responded, and the regional government asked for blood donations.

The background

Spain's high-speed network is the second largest in the world after China's, NPR reported, and until this year it had no deadly crash in more than three decades of service. In January, 46 people died when a train derailed near Adamuz, in Córdoba province, and hit another train on the same Madrid to Seville route. A track break was blamed then, CNN reported. A commuter train crash near Barcelona days later killed a driver. Spain opened high-speed service to private companies in 2021, and Renfe and Iryo trains were involved in both deadly crashes this year. Spain's train drivers' union, Semaf, is going ahead with a planned national strike Thursday to demand stronger safety measures. The crash comes four weeks before a national election, and Sánchez's government faces questions about rail oversight. Officials say there will be a full investigation.

What each side says

Trump rallies for Sen. Darline Graham as poll shows South Carolina race tied

President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. campaigns Thursday in Rock Hill, South Carolina, for Republican Sen. Darline GrahamDarline GrahamU.S. Senator, South Carolina (R)OfficeAppointed to the Senate in 2026 after the death of her brother, Sen. Lindsey GrahamPartyRepublicanCareerFormer head of South Carolina's state agency for the blind; she had not held elected office before her appointment., as a New York Times/Siena poll shows her tied with Democrat Annie AndrewsAnnie AndrewsSouth Carolina U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeNonePartyDemocratCareerPediatrician., Fox News and Newsmax reported.

Key facts

• Both candidates had 48% in the Times/Siena poll, with Graham ahead by less than one point, Newsmax reported.
• Andrews, a pediatrician, led among independent voters 57% to 37%, according to the poll.
• In the poll, 51% of voters said Graham lacked the experience needed to be an effective senator.
• Trump is set to speak at the Rock Hill Sports & Events Center at about 12:30 p.m. ET, Fox News reported. It follows a rally with Graham in Clemson a week earlier.
• More than $34 million has been spent on the race, the Associated Press reported.
• South Carolina has not elected a Democrat to the U.S. Senate since 1998, and Trump won the state by nearly 18 points in 2024.

The background

Graham is the sister of the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, who died in July. Gov. Henry McMaster appointed her to the seat, and she then won the Republican nomination in an August runoff against Rep. Ralph Norman with Trump's endorsement. She led the state agency for the blind and had never held elected office, the AP reported. During a primary debate she said, “I'm not that informed on national security.” Andrews launched her campaign more than a year before Lindsey Graham's death and has focused on the cost of living. The race has tightened in a state long seen as safe for Republicans. Democrats need to gain seats to win control of the Senate, so a loss here could matter nationally. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3.

What each side says

Netanyahu's bloc falls short of a majority as Israel counts votes

Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place.'s Likud party led the count Wednesday after Israel's election, but his right-wing and religious bloc remained short of the 61 seats needed to govern, according to partial results. Turnout was 77.7%, the highest since 1999, election officials said. Opposition leader Gadi EisenkotGadi EisenkotIsraeli opposition leader and candidate for prime ministerOfficeFormer chief of staff of the Israel Defense ForcesPartyOpposition; CNN calls him Netanyahu’s main rivalCareerCareer army officer who led the IDF from 2015 to 2019, then served in the Knesset and Israel’s wartime cabinet. called on Netanyahu to step aside.

Key facts

• With 51.5% of votes counted Wednesday morning, Netanyahu's bloc stood at 55 seats, Eisenkot's bloc at 49 and Arab parties at 16, Ynet News reported. Likud had 27 seats and Eisenkot's Yashar party had 21.
• The numbers have shifted through the night and may change through Friday as soldiers' and other double-envelope ballots are counted, according to Ynet and The Times of Israel.
• Official results are scheduled for Nov. 4, Fox News reported.
• Arab parties said turnout in their communities passed 75%, and they are projected to have their strongest showing ever, CNN reported.
• Parties outside Netanyahu's bloc together hold a majority in the projections, but they are divided, and two opposition leaders have ruled out governing with Arab parties, CNN reported.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. had urged Israelis to reelect Netanyahu.

The background

Israelis vote for parties, and a government needs 61 of the Knesset's 120 seats. Once results are certified, Israel's president consults each party and asks the lawmaker most likely to build a majority to try. That need not be the leader of the largest party. The lawmaker gets 28 days, with a possible 14-day extension. If two attempts fail and parliament cannot agree on a candidate, Israel holds another election. This was the first national vote since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, which killed about 1,200 people. Netanyahu ran on his record against Iran and his ties to Trump; Eisenkot ran on accountability for Oct. 7. Eisenkot has refused to serve under Netanyahu, and his conditions for partners, including recognizing Israel as a Jewish state, are terms most Arab lawmakers are unlikely to accept, CNN reported.

What each side says

At least 10 dead as two high-speed trains collide in central Spain

A high-speed train struck the rear of another train that had stopped in Spain's Toledo province on Wednesday morning, killing at least 10 people, regional officials said. A regional government spokeswoman said that number “will surely rise.” Both trains were traveling from Madrid toward Seville.

Key facts

• The crash happened between the towns of Mora, Orgaz and Urda, according to the rail infrastructure manager ADIF, CNN reported.
• One train, run by the state-owned company Renfe, carried 397 passengers. The other, run by the private company Iryo, carried 146 passengers and a baby, the regional spokeswoman said.
• The collision knocked two cars of the stopped train off the track, according to the Associated Press.
• High-speed service between Madrid, Ciudad Real and Andalusia was suspended.
• Prime Minister Pedro SánchezPedro SánchezPrime Minister of SpainOfficePrime minister since June 2018PartySpanish Socialist Workers' Party (PSOE)CareerEconomist and former Madrid city councilor and member of Spain's parliament. said he was “shocked by the serious train incident” and that emergency services were on the scene.

The background

Trains from the same two companies, Renfe and Iryo, were involved in a crash in southern Spain in January, when a train jumped the track and hit an oncoming train, killing 45 people, the AP reported. That was the deadliest rail crash in Spain since 2013, when 80 people died, and it shook public confidence in the country's high-speed network. Wednesday's collision happened on the line that links Madrid with Seville and the rest of Andalusia, which was shut after the crash. The regional spokeswoman told state broadcaster TVE that the trains were heading the same direction and one ran into the tail of the other while it was stopped. The mayor of nearby Urda said civil protection officials asked the town to prepare a sports pavilion to care for passengers. Officials have not said what caused the crash.

What each side says

Flávio Bolsonaro leaves Brazil after court orders him to give up passports

Brazilian Sen. Flávio BolsonaroFlávio BolsonaroLiberal Party presidential candidate in the runoffOfficeSenator for Rio de JaneiroPartyLiberal Party (PL)CareerFormer Rio de Janeiro state lawmaker; senator since 2019; eldest son of Jair Bolsonaro, who lost Sunday's presidential runoff, left the country with his family late Tuesday, Argentina's immigration ministry said, a day after Brazil's Supreme Court ordered him to surrender his passports. U.S. officials said the State Department will issue visas to him and his family, and a Trump adviser told CNN that President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. approved his entry.

Key facts

• Argentina's immigration ministry said Bolsonaro and his family entered Argentina from Brazil late Tuesday with valid documents and then boarded a flight to Guayaquil, Ecuador, CNN reported.
• A person familiar with the situation told CNN that Bolsonaro had arrived in the United States, but where he landed is unclear. NPR said his whereabouts had not been independently confirmed.
• Brazil's Supreme Court on Monday ordered him to hand over his passports within 24 hours and barred him from leaving the country. Federal police canceled his passports after he did not surrender them, CNN Brasil reported.
• He is under investigation by Brazil's high court over alleged corruption, money laundering and currency evasion, which he denies, CNN reported. No warrant for his arrest had been issued when he left.
• Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaLuiz Inácio Lula da SilvaPresident of Brazil, seeking a fourth, non-consecutive termOfficePresident of BrazilPartyWorkers' Party (PT)CareerFormer union leader; president 2003-2010 and since 2023On the recordConvicted of corruption and money laundering in 2017 by federal Judge Sergio Moro; conviction upheld on appeal in 2018 and he was jailed from 2018 to 2019. Brazil's Supreme Federal Court annulled his convictions in 2021, ruling the court lacked jurisdiction, and later ruled that Moro was biased. won Sunday's runoff with about 64.2 million votes to nearly 59.8 million for Bolsonaro, NPR reported.

The background

Bolsonaro's father, former President Jair BolsonaroJair BolsonaroFormer president and father of candidate Flávio BolsonaroOfficeFormer President of Brazil (2019-2022)PartyLiberal Party (PL)CareerFormer army captain and congressman; president 2019-2022On the recordBarred from office until 2030 by the Superior Electoral Court in 2023 for abuse of power in casting doubt on the voting system. Convicted by the Supreme Federal Court in September 2025 of plotting a coup after the 2022 election and sentenced to 27 years; serving the sentence., is serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 election to Lula. After that loss, the elder Bolsonaro spent three months in Orlando, Florida, CNN reported. Flávio Bolsonaro campaigned on closer ties with Trump and led after the first round, then lost the runoff. His Liberal Party has recognized Lula's win, but he has not conceded. The court order came after his brother, who lives in Florida, suggested Flávio should leave Brazil if he lost, NPR reported. One investigation involves possible illegal online betting platforms; another involves funding for a film about his father that police believe drew on money from a collapsed bank, CNN reported. Legal analysts told CNN that defying the passport order could be grounds for a warrant.

What each side says

FBI searches donor's mansion in investigation of ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell

FBI agents on Tuesday searched a Beverly Hills mansion owned by Stephen CloobeckStephen CloobeckBusinessman and political donorOfficeNone; former candidate for California governor (withdrew in November 2025)PartyFormerly a Democrat; told the New York Post in April 2026 he now calls himself a “Libertarian Republican”CareerTimeshare executive who built Diamond Resorts International and led it until 2016., a wealthy businessman and donor to former Rep. Eric SwalwellEric SwalwellFormer U.S. representative from CaliforniaOfficeU.S. House of Representatives from 2013 until he resigned in April 2026PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alameda County prosecutor; ran for president in 2019 and for California governor in 2026 before withdrawing., in connection with an investigation into Swalwell, according to people familiar with the probe. The FBI confirmed an operation tied to “an ongoing criminal investigation” but gave no details. Swalwell has not been charged.

Key facts

• The FBI said the search warrant documents are sealed, ABC7 reported.
• Cloobeck was not home during the search. His attorneys said he “continues to have faith in the judicial process of this country.”
• Fox News reported that several people were taken from the house in handcuffs and released soon after.
• Swalwell resigned from Congress and ended his campaign for governor in April after reports of sexual misconduct allegations, including a former staffer's accusation of rape. He has denied the allegations.
• In August, federal agents seized Swalwell's electronic devices at San Francisco's airport and searched his Washington home the next day, CNN and Fox News reported. He was not arrested.
• Cloobeck gave $1 million in March to a group backing Swalwell's run for governor, according to state records cited by CNN. He later distanced himself from Swalwell.

The background

Swalwell, a California Democrat, served 13 years in the House and was running for governor this year. In April, CNN and the San Francisco Chronicle reported allegations of sexual misconduct from several women, including a former staffer who said he raped her. Fox News reported that at least five women have made accusations. Swalwell called the allegations false, resigned under the threat of expulsion and left the race. The Manhattan district attorney's office and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department opened criminal investigations, CNN reported, and federal agents have been involved since at least August. Separately, the White House this week released declassified FBI records about Swalwell's contacts years ago with a woman suspected of being a Chinese intelligence operative, Fox News reported. Cloobeck, a former candidate for governor, endorsed Swalwell and later hosted him at his home.

What each side says

Alexander brothers sentenced to 30 years each for sex trafficking

A federal judge in New York on Tuesday sentenced Tal Alexander and his twin brothers, Oren and Alon, to 30 years in prison each for sex trafficking and related crimes. Tal and Oren were once top luxury real estate brokers. A jury convicted all three in March after 11 women testified. The brothers deny drugging or raping anyone, and their lawyers said after the verdict that they would appeal.

Key facts

• U.S. District Judge Valerie CaproniValerie CaproniFederal judge in ManhattanOfficeU.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York since 2013PartyNominated by President Barack ObamaCareerFormer general counsel of the FBI and former federal prosecutor. handed down the sentences. Prosecutors had asked for life in prison; defense lawyers asked for the 15-year minimum.
• All three were convicted of sex trafficking conspiracy and inducement to travel for unlawful sexual activity. Alon and Tal were also convicted of sex trafficking a minor, CNN reported.
• Prosecutors said more than 70 women had reported accounts to investigators, CNN reported.
• About a dozen women addressed the court before the sentences were handed down, according to CNN and the Associated Press.
• The brothers have been jailed since their arrests in 2024.

The background

Tal and Oren Alexander rose at the firm Douglas Elliman, where they brokered major deals, including a nearly $240 million penthouse sale in 2019, and later started their own luxury firm, Fox News reported. Alon worked at the family's private security company. At trial, women described being invited to parties and trips with promises of luxury, then given drugs and assaulted. Several said they were minors at the time. Prosecutors said the conduct went back more than two decades. The defense argued the encounters were consensual and accused prosecutors of overreach. Caproni said she believed the women who testified and called the brothers' denials “entirely a lie,” CNN reported. Two accusers have civil lawsuits pending, according to earlier AP reporting.

What each side says

Israelis vote in first national election since the Oct. 7 attack

Israelis voted Tuesday in the first national election since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, a vote NPR and CNN describe as one of the most consequential in the country's history. Polls show Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place. trailing his main challenger, former military chief Gadi EisenkotGadi EisenkotIsraeli opposition leader and candidate for prime ministerOfficeFormer chief of staff of the Israel Defense ForcesPartyOpposition; CNN calls him Netanyahu’s main rivalCareerCareer army officer who led the IDF from 2015 to 2019, then served in the Knesset and Israel’s wartime cabinet., but neither man's camp is projected to win a majority.

Key facts

• Israelis vote for parties, not candidates, to fill the 120-seat Knesset. A government needs 61 seats, and no party has ever won that many alone, Fox News reported.
• A party needs at least 3.25% of the vote to enter parliament. CNN reported 36 parties were in play on Monday.
• Turnout was 16.7% at 10 a.m., about 1.2 million votes, compared with 15.9% at the same hour in 2022, according to the Central Elections Committee, The Times of Israel reported.
• A Channel 12 poll put Eisenkot's new Yashar party first with 23 seats and Netanyahu's Likud at 21. The pro-Netanyahu Channel 14 projected Likud at 30 and Yashar at about 20, CNN reported.
• Most polls put Netanyahu's bloc at 49 to 55 seats, short of a majority, according to CNN.
• Polls close at 10 p.m. local time (4 p.m. EST), and exit polls follow. Official results are scheduled for Nov. 4, Fox News reported.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. has endorsed Netanyahu.

The background

Netanyahu, the longest-serving prime minister in Israel's history, has governed with two far-right parties led by Itamar Ben-GvirItamar Ben-GvirIsrael's national security ministerOfficeMinister of National Security of IsraelPartyOtzma Yehudit (Jewish Power)CareerLawyer and settler activist elected to the Knesset in 2021; named national security minister in Netanyahu's government in December 2022.On the recordConvicted in 2007 by an Israeli court of incitement to racism and supporting a terrorist organization (Kach). Sanctioned in June 2025 by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway, which cited incitement of violence against Palestinians. and Bezalel SmotrichBezalel SmotrichIsrael's finance ministerOfficeMinister of Finance of Israel; minister in the Defense MinistryPartyReligious Zionist PartyCareerLawyer and settler activist elected to the Knesset in 2015; transportation minister 2019-2020; finance minister since December 2022.On the recordSanctioned in June 2025 by the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Norway, which cited incitement of violence against Palestinians. and two ultra-Orthodox parties. Before Oct. 7, his government pushed a plan to weaken the Supreme Court that set off some of the largest protests in Israel's history, NPR reported. The Hamas-led attack killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage, and wars in Gaza, Lebanon and with Iran followed. Netanyahu has resisted a state commission of inquiry into the failures before the attack; Eisenkot says he would create one. The camps also split over drafting ultra-Orthodox men; the military says it is short more than 12,000 personnel. Netanyahu remains on trial for corruption and calls the charges politically motivated. Once results are official, Israel's president picks a lawmaker to try to form a government, which can take weeks.

What each side says

Justice Department brings third criminal case against James Comey

The Justice Department has accused former FBI Director James ComeyJames ComeyFormer director of the FBIOfficeFBI director from 2013 until President Trump fired him in May 2017PartyNot a candidate or party officialCareerFormer federal prosecutor and senior Justice Department official under President George W. Bush; appointed FBI director by President Barack Obama.On the recordIn August 2019 the Justice Department inspector general found he violated FBI policy by keeping memos of his conversations with President Trump and having one shared with The New York Times through a friend. The department declined to prosecute. of leaking classified information to a reporter in 2016, the third criminal case brought against him since President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. returned to office. Court papers unsealed Monday in Washington show prosecutors filed a two-count criminal information instead of seeking a grand jury indictment. Comey says he is innocent.

Key facts

• The information alleges that on or about Oct. 5, 2016, Comey willfully communicated national defense information to a person not entitled to receive it, and conspired with others to disclose it, Fox News reported.
• The case concerns an October 2016 New York Times story about a secret court order requiring Yahoo to scan emails, according to the Associated Press, as published by NPR.
• The Justice Department says it filed the information to pause the 10-year statute of limitations while its investigation continues. It has not sought an indictment, CNN reported.
• Comey's lawyers say the law requires an indictment within 10 years and have asked the court to dismiss the case.
• U.S. District Judge Trevor McFaddenTrevor McFaddenFederal judge in Washington, D.C.OfficeU.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia since 2017PartyAppointed by President TrumpCareerFormer Justice Department official and private lawyer before joining the bench. unsealed the case after a closed hearing on Oct. 9 but has not ruled on the motion to dismiss, Fox News reported.
• An earlier case accusing Comey of lying to Congress was dismissed after a judge ruled the prosecutor was illegally appointed. A separate case over his “86 47” seashell post is pending.

The background

The leak question goes back a decade. In October 2016 The New York Times reported, citing two unnamed officials, that a judge on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court had ordered Yahoo to scan emails. Comey's lawyers say the prosecutor leading that inquiry recommended no charges in a December 2018 memo, and a second investigation in Washington closed without charges in February 2020, the AP reported. Prosecutors now say evidence shows Comey directed his staff to speak with a Times journalist to correct an earlier report and “thereby illegally transferred classified information.” The legal fight turns on whether an information, filed without a grand jury or a judge's approval, can stop the statute of limitations clock. A federal judge will decide. Trump fired Comey in 2017, and the two have been at odds ever since.

What each side says

Appeals court refuses DOJ bid to set aside 20,000 California mail ballots

A federal appeals court on Monday turned away President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.'s administration in its emergency request to stop California from counting mail ballots tied to about 20,000 people the federal government says are likely noncitizens. The 2-1 ruling from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sends the case back to a federal trial court, which has a hearing set for Tuesday.

Key facts

• Judges Mark BennettMark BennettJudge, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of AppealsOfficeCircuit judge since 2019PartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer Hawaii attorney general and federal prosecutor., a Trump appointee, and Gabriel SanchezGabriel SanchezJudge, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of AppealsOfficeCircuit judge since 2021PartyAppointed by Democratic President Joe BidenCareerFormer associate justice of the California Court of Appeal., a Biden appointee, ruled that the appeals court could not act before the district court had addressed the case, CNN reported. Judge Patrick BumatayPatrick BumatayJudge, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of AppealsOfficeCircuit judge since 2019PartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer Justice Department official and federal prosecutor., a Trump appointee, dissented.
• The Justice Department sued on Oct. 15, asking a judge to order ballots from people on its list set aside and left uncounted until the state confirms their citizenship, Reuters reported in a story carried by Newsmax.
• It was the first time the administration has tried to stop a state from counting votes, according to Reuters. The administration did not say how many people on its list actually returned a ballot.
• Justice Department officials said the list includes 28 people charged with election-related crimes.
• California says the list rests on unreliable data. A state lawyer told the court the voter list the government used was “wildly outdated.”
• The midterm elections are Nov. 3.

The background

The Constitution's Elections Clause gives states the main power to set the rules for federal elections, and lets Congress change them. The Justice Department says California made no serious effort to work with it on finding noncitizens on its rolls. It gave the state a list of about 20,000 names and asked it to segregate their ballots. Secretary of State Shirley WeberShirley WeberCalifornia secretary of stateOfficeCalifornia Secretary of State, the state’s chief elections officerPartyDemocratCareerAppointed secretary of state in 2021 and elected in 2022; earlier a state Assembly member from San Diego and a longtime professor at San Diego State University. says the government has offered no evidence for the figure, and Attorney General Rob BontaRob BontaAttorney General of California (D)OfficeAppointed attorney general in 2021; elected to the office in 2022. noted the federal estimate had fallen from 190,000 over the summer. A Reuters review published in July found 129 federal cases of noncitizens charged with voting illegally; many appeared to stem from confusion or errors. The department has sued 30 states and Washington, D.C., for full voter rolls and has lost 26 of those cases so far, Reuters reported.

What each side says

Lula wins fourth term as Brazil's president, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro

Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaLuiz Inácio Lula da SilvaPresident of Brazil, seeking a fourth, non-consecutive termOfficePresident of BrazilPartyWorkers' Party (PT)CareerFormer union leader; president 2003-2010 and since 2023On the recordConvicted of corruption and money laundering in 2017 by federal Judge Sergio Moro; conviction upheld on appeal in 2018 and he was jailed from 2018 to 2019. Brazil's Supreme Federal Court annulled his convictions in 2021, ruling the court lacked jurisdiction, and later ruled that Moro was biased. won Brazil's presidential runoff on Sunday with about 51.8% of the vote to 48.2% for Sen. Flávio BolsonaroFlávio BolsonaroLiberal Party presidential candidate in the runoffOfficeSenator for Rio de JaneiroPartyLiberal Party (PL)CareerFormer Rio de Janeiro state lawmaker; senator since 2019; eldest son of Jair Bolsonaro, according to the official count reported by Al Jazeera. The win gives Lula, who turns 81 on Tuesday, a fourth, nonconsecutive term. Bolsonaro first said he would seek to annul the result, but his party said Monday that it recognizes it.

Key facts

• Since Brazil returned to democracy, no candidate who lost the first round had come back to win the runoff, NPR and CNN reported. Bolsonaro led after the Oct. 4 first round.
• Lula gained more than 10 million votes between the two rounds, while Bolsonaro gained 3.6 million, CNN reported.
• Supreme Court Justice Cristiano ZaninCristiano ZaninJustice, Supreme Federal Court of BrazilOfficeOn Brazil's Supreme Federal Court since 2023, appointed by President LulaPartyNone (judge)CareerLawyer who represented Lula in his corruption cases before joining the court. extended voting by two hours after both campaigns asked for more time in some areas. Bolsonaro argues the extension was applied unevenly.
• CNN reported that President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. asserted without evidence that the vote was rigged. Trump also said, “I like Lula. I get along with him very well.”
• Right-wing parties will hold 303 of the 513 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and nearly two-thirds of the Senate, CNN reported.
• Bolsonaro said police asked for his passport and told him he may not leave the country. He denied planning to leave. CNN said it had asked the federal police for comment.

The background

Lula led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, when its economy boomed and millions rose out of poverty, NPR reported. He was later jailed in corruption cases; his convictions were overturned on procedural grounds. He won the presidency back in 2022 by defeating Jair BolsonaroJair BolsonaroFormer president and father of candidate Flávio BolsonaroOfficeFormer President of Brazil (2019-2022)PartyLiberal Party (PL)CareerFormer army captain and congressman; president 2019-2022On the recordBarred from office until 2030 by the Superior Electoral Court in 2023 for abuse of power in casting doubt on the voting system. Convicted by the Supreme Federal Court in September 2025 of plotting a coup after the 2022 election and sentenced to 27 years; serving the sentence., Flávio's father, who is now serving a 27-year sentence under house arrest for plotting a coup to overturn that loss. Flávio Bolsonaro campaigned on closer ties with Trump and pledged to pardon his father. Lula campaigned on social spending, a ban on sports betting, consumer debt relief and tougher penalties for minors who commit serious crimes. He now faces a Congress led by the right, high interest rates and little room to spend, CNN reported. Relations with Washington are strained after new U.S. tariffs on Brazilian goods this year.

What each side says

Judge rules Justice Department illegally fired prosecutor Maurene Comey

A federal judge in New York ruled Monday that the Justice Department unlawfully fired Maurene Comey, a career prosecutor and the daughter of former FBI Director James ComeyJames ComeyFormer director of the FBIOfficeFBI director from 2013 until President Trump fired him in May 2017PartyNot a candidate or party officialCareerFormer federal prosecutor and senior Justice Department official under President George W. Bush; appointed FBI director by President Barack Obama.On the recordIn August 2019 the Justice Department inspector general found he violated FBI policy by keeping memos of his conversations with President Trump and having one shared with The New York Times through a friend. The department declined to prosecute.. U.S. District Judge Jesse FurmanJesse FurmanFederal judge in ManhattanOfficeU.S. District Judge for the Southern District of New York since 2012PartyNominated by President Barack ObamaCareerFormer federal prosecutor in the Manhattan U.S. attorney's office. rejected the administration's argument that the Constitution lets it remove such prosecutors without regard to civil service law. The department says it will appeal.

Key facts

• Comey was a federal prosecutor in Manhattan for about a decade and worked on cases involving Jeffrey Epstein, Ghislaine Maxwell and Sean Combs. She was fired in July 2025 with no reason given, CBS News reported.
• The Justice Department acknowledged in court that the firing was not for cause and not based on her performance, Fox News reported. CBS reported the department also acknowledged her “outstanding” performance ratings from 2019 through 2024.
• Furman ruled the firing violated the Civil Service Reform Act and her constitutional right to due process.
• Furman wrote that accepting the government's argument “would be to unsettle the very equilibrium established by this Nation's constitutional system.”
• He ordered her reinstated retroactively, with back pay through Dec. 20, 2025, when she took another job.
• The judge has not ruled on her separate claim that she was fired for politically protected speech.

The background

Assistant U.S. attorneys are career prosecutors, not political appointees. Federal law gives the attorney general power to remove them, but Furman ruled that Congress limited that power through the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978, which generally requires cause, notice and a chance to respond. The administration argued that Article II of the Constitution lets it remove such prosecutors anyway, relying in part on a June Supreme Court decision that lets presidents fire members of some independent agencies without cause, CBS reported. Furman wrote that the argument “flies in the face of nearly two centuries of Supreme Court precedent.” Comey's lawsuit says she was likely fired because of her father, a critic of President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.. Several other fired prosecutors and FBI agents have also sued. The case could reach higher courts.

What each side says

Two bishops apologize over Oval Office prayer video with Trump

Two Catholic bishops have publicly apologized for joining an Oval Office prayer with President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. last week, saying the White House used the moment for political purposes less than two weeks before the midterm elections. The White House defended Trump's record on religious liberty and did not say whether the bishops agreed to the release of the video.

Key facts

• Twelve bishops met with White House domestic policy staff for about 90 minutes on Thursday, then prayed with Trump in the Oval Office, Fox News reported.
• Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob said the meeting was arranged by the Heritage Foundation and was meant to address immigration enforcement, religious worker visas and other concerns.
• Grob said the bishops did not know they were being recorded and did not consent to the release of the images. Time reported the video had been viewed more than 1.8 million times on X.
• Des Moines Bishop William Joensen said the meeting was exploited for partisan purposes. Denver Archbishop James Golka, who led the prayer, said praying for leaders is what Catholics do.
• The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said it did not organize the meeting, Time reported.

The background

CNN reported that Pope Leo XIV has insisted that bishops avoid political partisanship, while also speaking out against the administration's immigration crackdown and the war in Iran. The U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops sued the administration in February 2025 over the suspension of refugee resettlement funding, Fox News reported. The White House points to actions many religious voters support, including pardons for anti-abortion activists, limits on gender-identity treatment for children and its stand on parents' rights. Some church leaders, including a member of the president's Religious Liberty Commission, have urged continued engagement with the administration despite disagreements. Grob said he had reservations before attending. Joensen said he remains open to meeting with and praying for political leaders at every level. The prayer took place 12 days before the Nov. 3 election.

What each side says

Lula wins fourth term in Brazil as Bolsonaro vows to challenge result

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da SilvaLuiz Inácio Lula da SilvaPresident of Brazil, seeking a fourth, non-consecutive termOfficePresident of BrazilPartyWorkers' Party (PT)CareerFormer union leader; president 2003-2010 and since 2023On the recordConvicted of corruption and money laundering in 2017 by federal Judge Sergio Moro; conviction upheld on appeal in 2018 and he was jailed from 2018 to 2019. Brazil's Supreme Federal Court annulled his convictions in 2021, ruling the court lacked jurisdiction, and later ruled that Moro was biased. won Sunday's runoff election with 51.8% of the vote, Brazil's electoral court announced, according to Fox News and Newsmax. His opponent, Sen. Flávio BolsonaroFlávio BolsonaroLiberal Party presidential candidate in the runoffOfficeSenator for Rio de JaneiroPartyLiberal Party (PL)CareerFormer Rio de Janeiro state lawmaker; senator since 2019; eldest son of Jair Bolsonaro, refused to concede. He said he would ask the courts to annul the vote because voting hours were extended at the last minute.

Key facts

• With all votes counted, Lula led Bolsonaro by nearly 4.4 million votes, Fox News and Newsmax reported.
• Bolsonaro won the first round on Oct. 4 by more than 2.2 million votes, 47% to 45%, but fell short of the majority needed to win outright.
• CNN reported it is the first time since direct presidential elections returned in 1989 that a candidate who finished second in the first round went on to win.
• Supreme Court Justice Cristiano ZaninCristiano ZaninJustice, Supreme Federal Court of BrazilOfficeOn Brazil's Supreme Federal Court since 2023, appointed by President LulaPartyNone (judge)CareerLawyer who represented Lula in his corruption cases before joining the court. extended voting by two hours after both campaigns asked for more time. Lula's campaign cited bus problems, and Bolsonaro's cited heavy rain. Some polling stations had already switched off their machines and could not reopen, NPR reported.
• Lula turns 81 on Tuesday. His new term begins Jan. 5, 2027, according to Newsmax.
• He will face a Congress with a center-right and right-wing majority, Fox News reported.

The background

Lula led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, years of economic growth when millions of Brazilians rose out of poverty, NPR reported. He was later jailed on corruption convictions that were annulled in 2021. He returned to power in 2022 by defeating President Jair BolsonaroJair BolsonaroFormer president and father of candidate Flávio BolsonaroOfficeFormer President of Brazil (2019-2022)PartyLiberal Party (PL)CareerFormer army captain and congressman; president 2019-2022On the recordBarred from office until 2030 by the Superior Electoral Court in 2023 for abuse of power in casting doubt on the voting system. Convicted by the Supreme Federal Court in September 2025 of plotting a coup after the 2022 election and sentenced to 27 years; serving the sentence., Flávio's father. The elder Bolsonaro is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup to overturn that loss, and Flávio pledged to pardon him. CNN reported that voters this year named crime, corruption and the cost of living as top concerns. The Trump administration's tariffs on Brazil and its pressure over the elder Bolsonaro's prosecution have strained relations with Lula. Flávio Bolsonaro now plans a court challenge. Electoral court president Kassio Nunes MarquesKassio Nunes MarquesPresident of Brazil's Superior Electoral CourtOfficeJustice of the Supreme Federal Court since 2020, appointed by President Jair BolsonaroPartyNone (judge)CareerFormer federal appeals court judge. said the extension did not affect the results, Fox News reported.

What each side says

Blanche defends suit to block Alaska Senate result over a candidate's name

Attorney General Todd BlancheTodd BlancheU.S. attorney generalOfficeU.S. Department of JusticePartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer federal prosecutor in Manhattan and Trump's defense lawyer, he served as deputy attorney general before leading the Justice Department. on Sunday defended a Justice Department lawsuit asking a federal court to stop Alaska from certifying its Senate election if Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer. loses. The department says a second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.Candidate for U.S. Senate in AlaskaOfficeNonePartyAppears on the ballot with no party labelCareerRetired schoolteacher from Petersburg, Alaska.On the recordIn June 2026, Alaska's Division of Elections removed him from the ballot after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the reversal, so he remains on the ballot., could confuse voters. On CNN, Blanche denied that the suit lays the groundwork for overturning the Nov. 3 result.

Key facts

• The suit was filed Thursday in federal court in Alaska and relies on the National Voter Registration Act, NPR reported.
• It asks that certification be blocked until the government investigates whether votes for Daniel J. Sullivan Jr. were meant for the senator. NPR reported the department has not said how that could be determined, since ballots are secret.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said Friday that he ordered the case. “I'm the one that said do it,” he told reporters, according to NPR.
• The ballot lists the senator as “Dan S. Sullivan,” a registered Republican and the incumbent. The other candidate appears with no party label.
• In the August primary, the senator won more than 68,000 votes to the other Sullivan's 4,107, NPR reported.
• Sullivan faces Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress., a former congresswoman, in a race seen as important to control of the Senate.

The background

Alaska's Division of Elections removed Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., a retired Petersburg schoolteacher, from the ballot in June after finding he entered the race to mislead voters. A state court reversed that decision, and the Alaska Supreme Court upheld the ruling, NPR and Fox News reported. Blanche says the state courts did not consider federal law. The department argues that Alaska's ranked-choice system could make confusion worse, because the senator's supporters might rank the other Sullivan by mistake, JURIST reported. The Constitution's Elections Clause lets state legislatures set the rules for congressional elections and lets Congress change them. Blanche says the voter registration law is one of those federal rules. The ACLU argues the law covers voter registration and does not allow blocking certification, Fox News reported. Peltola's campaign and voting rights groups have asked to join the case.

What each side says

Machado returns to Venezuela after 10 months abroad

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina MachadoMaría Corina MachadoVenezuelan opposition leaderOfficeLeader of the Vente Venezuela party; former member of the National Assembly (2011 to 2014)PartyVente VenezuelaCareerIndustrial engineer; co-founded the vote-monitoring group Súmate; awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize.On the recordVenezuela's comptroller general barred her from holding public office, and the government-aligned Supreme Tribunal of Justice upheld the ban in January 2024. The United States and other governments called the ban politically motivated. returned home Sunday after more than 10 months abroad, and crowds of supporters met her in Lara state and Caracas. Her return puts new pressure on acting President Delcy RodríguezDelcy RodríguezActing president of VenezuelaOfficeActing president since January 2026; vice president, 2018 to 2026PartyUnited Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)CareerLawyer; former foreign minister and president of the 2017 Constituent Assembly.On the recordThe U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned her in 2018, and the European Union also placed sanctions on her in 2018. Today's coverage does not say whether those sanctions are still in force., who has led Venezuela with U.S. backing since American forces captured Nicolás MaduroNicolás MaduroFormer president of VenezuelaOfficePresident of Venezuela, 2013 to January 2026, when U.S. forces captured himPartyUnited Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV)CareerFormer bus driver and union leader; foreign minister and vice president under Hugo Chávez. in January. No presidential election has been scheduled.

Key facts

• Machado's first public appearance was among worshippers at the Church of Santa Rosa in Lara state, NPR reported. Hundreds of supporters later swarmed her car in Caracas.
• She did not say how she got back. A source close to her told Newsmax she crossed in from Colombia.
• Her advisers say she had tried to re-enter seven times in recent months without success, CNN reported.
• Machado won the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize and later gave the medal to President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican..
• Opposition figure Edmundo GonzálezEdmundo GonzálezVenezuelan opposition figure, in exile in SpainOfficeThe opposition's 2024 presidential candidatePartyUnitary Platform opposition coalitionCareerRetired diplomat; former Venezuelan ambassador to Algeria and Argentina., in exile in Spain, said he expects to join her soon, NPR reported.

The background

Machado was barred from Venezuela's 2024 presidential election, so González ran in her place. Government-controlled election authorities declared Maduro the winner, a result experts called statistically improbable, CNN reported. Machado went into hiding, then slipped out of the country and reappeared in Norway in December 2025 to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. A month later, U.S. forces captured Maduro. Since then, the Trump administration has worked with Rodríguez, Maduro's former vice president, on oil agreements and reforms, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners. Trump has said Venezuela is not ready for elections, and Machado has pressed for a date. Part of the opposition is holding talks with the government on reforms to the courts and election authorities, but Machado's movement has not joined them, Fox News reported.

What each side says

Israelis vote Tuesday in first national election since Oct. 7 attack

Israelis go to the polls Tuesday, Oct. 27, in the country's first national election since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023. Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place., Israel's longest-serving leader, faces former military chief Gadi EisenkotGadi EisenkotIsraeli opposition leader and candidate for prime ministerOfficeFormer chief of staff of the Israel Defense ForcesPartyOpposition; CNN calls him Netanyahu’s main rivalCareerCareer army officer who led the IDF from 2015 to 2019, then served in the Knesset and Israel’s wartime cabinet.. Final polls show neither Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition winning the 61 seats needed to govern, The Times of Israel reported.

Key facts

• Israelis vote for party lists, not individual candidates. Of 37 lists running, only those that win at least 3.25% of the vote enter the 120-seat Knesset, CNN reported.
• Final polls gave Netanyahu's coalition 50 seats and the opposition bloc 52 to 56. Arab parties polled at 14 to 16 seats, according to The Times of Israel.
• Eisenkot's new Yashar party polled at 22 to 23 seats, ahead of Netanyahu's Likud at 19 to 21.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. renewed his endorsement of Netanyahu on Sunday, calling him an “outstanding Warrior Prime Minister,” Newsmax reported.
• Israel does not allow absentee voting, so thousands of Israelis living abroad are flying home to vote, NPR and CNN reported.
• Exit polls are due when voting closes at 10 p.m. Tuesday, Israel time.

The background

Nearly 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 attack, and 251 were taken hostage, NPR and CNN reported. Wars followed in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. NPR reported that Israel's offensive in Gaza has killed more than 74,000 Palestinians. Netanyahu's outgoing government relied on far-right and ultra-Orthodox partners and was the first in decades to serve a full four-year term, CNN reported. He has rejected calls for a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 security failures. In a Channel 12 poll cited by CNN, voters ranked the cost of living first, followed by military service for ultra-Orthodox men, the Oct. 7 failures and the war with Iran. No party has ever won a majority alone, so coalition talks after the vote can take weeks. A deadlock, a unity government or another election are all possible.

What each side says

Appeals judges question DOJ bid to set aside 20,000 California ballots

A federal appeals court panel on Sunday questioned the Justice Department's request to make California set aside mail ballots from about 20,000 voters the government suspects are not citizens. Two of the three judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals appeared skeptical, CNN and The Associated Press reported. The panel said it would try to rule quickly.

Key facts

• The department sued California and Los Angeles County this month. It says state officials missed a 48-hour deadline to review 20,000 names it flagged as likely noncitizens, AP reported in a story carried by Newsmax.
• A district judge set a hearing for Oct. 27. The government appealed before that hearing, arguing the schedule was too slow.
• Los Angeles County has already processed more than 300,000 midterm ballots, CNN reported.
• Judge Mark BennettMark BennettJudge, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of AppealsOfficeCircuit judge since 2019PartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer Hawaii attorney general and federal prosecutor., a Trump appointee, said, “It seems to me that under the Elections Clause, they have the right to determine the manner of the elections, including sorting out noncitizens.”
• Judge Gabriel SanchezGabriel SanchezJudge, 9th U.S. Circuit Court of AppealsOfficeCircuit judge since 2021PartyAppointed by Democratic President Joe BidenCareerFormer associate justice of the California Court of Appeal., a Biden appointee, told the government, “Your claims very much depend on the reliability of that list.” He also asked whether the request violates the Tenth Amendment by commandeering the state to enforce federal law, AP reported.
• A Los Angeles County review of 200 names from the list found canceled or inactive registrations, people with no voting history and voters who appeared to be born in the United States, according to a court filing cited by AP.

The background

The Constitution's Elections Clause gives state legislatures power over the time, place and manner of congressional elections, and lets Congress change those rules. Federal and California law both bar noncitizens from voting. The Trump administration has made finding noncitizen voters a priority this year, though noncitizen voting is exceptionally rare, AP reported. The department says its list came from a purchased voter file and was checked with Homeland Security officials. California says the data is unreliable and that holding back the ballots could keep eligible citizens' votes from counting. This case is one of several election moves by the administration during the midterm voting, CNN reported, including a separate lawsuit over Alaska's Senate race. The appeals panel has two judges appointed by President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. and one appointed by former President Joe BidenJoe BidenFormer President of the United States (D)OfficePresident from 2021 to 2025; vice president from 2009 to 2017PartyDemocratCareerRepresented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years before serving as vice president and president..

What each side says

At Michigan rally, Trump accuses Senate nominee El-Sayed of extremist ties

President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. on Sunday called Michigan's Democratic Senate nominee, Abdul El-SayedAbdul El-SayedMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer executive director of the Detroit Health Department.PartyDemocrat.CareerPhysician and epidemiologist; ran for governor of Michigan in 2018., a “jihadist” and questioned his loyalty to the United States at a rally in Port Huron. El-Sayed has denied any ties to extremist groups. Trump was campaigning for Republican Mike RogersMike RogersMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (R)OfficeU.S. Representative from Michigan, 2001 to 2015; chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, 2011 to 2015.PartyRepublican.CareerFormer Army officer and FBI special agent; Republican Senate nominee in Michigan in 2024. nine days before the Nov. 3 election.

Key facts

• “I'm here to keep a jihadist Muslim Brotherhood member from becoming a United States senator,” Trump said.
• He said El-Sayed would “have to go through a metal detector before he's allowed to go into the Senate,” NPR reported.
• Trump compared defeating El-Sayed to the passengers who fought the hijackers on United Flight 93 on Sept. 11, 2001. He brought the parents of passenger Todd Beamer on stage, Newsmax reported.
• NPR reported there is no evidence that El-Sayed has any affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood. Newsmax reported that the allegations have not been substantiated.
• If elected, El-Sayed would be the nation's first Muslim senator. The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary PetersGary PetersU.S. Senator, Michigan (D), retiringOfficeIn the Senate since 2015; U.S. Representative, 2009 to 2015PartyDemocratCareerFormer Navy Reserve officer and Michigan state senator. is retiring.

The background

Republicans have spent the final weeks of the race trying to link El-Sayed to the Muslim Brotherhood, an Islamic movement whose branches the U.S. government has designated as terrorist organizations, NPR reported. El-Sayed was born in the United States to Egyptian immigrant parents and was raised by his father. A half-sister wrote on social media in 2012 that her family had long been part of the group. Critics also point to his appearances with streamer Hasan Piker, who has said “Hamas is a thousand times better” than Israel. After an attack on a Detroit-area synagogue, El-Sayed said “hurt people hurt people,” then apologized. Trump won Dearborn in 2024 with help from Arab American voters, the first Republican since 2000 to carry the city. The Michigan race is one of a handful that could decide control of the Senate.

What each side says

Trump and Obama rally in Michigan as fight for Senate control tightens

With nine days left before the Nov. 3 midterm elections, President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. is holding a rally Sunday in Port Huron, Michigan. The day before, former President Barack ObamaBarack ObamaFormer President of the United States (D)Office44th president (2009 to 2017); former U.S. senator from Illinois.PartyDemocratCareerFormer Illinois state senator and constitutional law lecturer before his election to the U.S. Senate in 2004. campaigned in Detroit for Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-SayedAbdul El-SayedMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer executive director of the Detroit Health Department.PartyDemocrat.CareerPhysician and epidemiologist; ran for governor of Michigan in 2018.. Polling averages show close races in several states that will decide which party controls the Senate.

Key facts

• Republicans hold the Senate 53-47. Democrats need a net gain of four seats for a majority, Newsmax reported.
• RealClearPolitics averages show Democrats ahead in five Republican-held seats: Texas, Maine, Alaska, Ohio and North Carolina, according to Newsmax. Several of those leads are within the margin of error.
• In Michigan, where Democrats are defending an open seat, El-Sayed leads Republican Mike RogersMike RogersMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (R)OfficeU.S. Representative from Michigan, 2001 to 2015; chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, 2011 to 2015.PartyRepublican.CareerFormer Army officer and FBI special agent; Republican Senate nominee in Michigan in 2024. 47.9% to 46.0% in the polling average.
• Nearly 21 million Americans had voted by Friday morning, according to the University of Florida's Election Lab, NPR reported.
• The Justice Department has sued to block certification of Alaska's Senate result if Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer. loses to Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress.. Trump said he personally directed the lawsuit, Fox News reported.

The background

Midterm elections are often a referendum on the party that holds the White House. In 2018, during Trump's first term, Republicans kept the Senate but lost the House, CNN noted. This year, CNN reports, Midwest voters point to high gas, diesel and grocery prices, tariffs and the war with Iran. Iowa and Ohio, which have voted Republican in recent cycles, now have competitive Senate races. Michigan is one of the seats Democrats must hold. In Alaska, the Justice Department argues that voters could confuse Sullivan with another candidate named Daniel J. Sullivan on the ranked-choice ballot. Alaska courts earlier rejected efforts to remove the second Sullivan, and state officials say party labels set the two apart, Fox News reported. Polls measure opinion before Election Day. They are not results.

What each side says

Nearly 1,000 detained as France sees second weekend of mass protests

French police detained nearly 1,000 people Saturday as hundreds of thousands marched across the country over school conditions, wages and the cost of living, Interior Minister Laurent NuñezLaurent NuñezInterior Minister of FranceOfficeInterior minister since October 2025.PartyNo party; career civil servant. said. About 70,000 officers were deployed. Most marches were peaceful, but there were clashes and some looting in several cities.

Key facts

• The Interior Ministry said about 410,000 people marched nationwide, about 110,000 of them in Paris. Union organizers put the national turnout at 800,000, Fox News reported, citing CBS News.
• Police used tear gas and water cannon in Paris, Marseille, Bordeaux, Lyon and Nice, CNN and Fox News reported.
• Nuñez said there were “no targeted attacks” on public buildings this time, unlike the weekend before.
• The previous weekend, more than 2,400 people were arrested and Limoges' city hall was nearly destroyed by fire, ITV News reported.
• Protests also took place Saturday in Italy, Albania, Belgium, Spain and Portugal, NPR and CNN reported.
• President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. pointed to the unrest as a warning about what he said could happen in the U.S. under left-wing leadership, Fox News reported.

The background

The protests began weeks ago with high school and university students upset about teacher shortages, crowded classrooms and run-down buildings, Fox News reported. They grew when major labor unions joined, adding complaints about the government's austerity policies, wages, pensions and living costs. Last weekend, masked groups looted hundreds of businesses and set fires at city halls, ITV News reported. President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel MacronPresident of FranceOfficePresident since 2017; barred by term limits from running in 2027.PartyFounded the centrist Renaissance party (originally En Marche). said looters would have to pay for the damage and asked Nuñez to explain the security failures. He turned down Nuñez's offer to resign. Some cities set curfews for minors. Left-wing leaders have warned of a general strike on Nov. 5 if Macron does not answer the protesters' demands, CNN reported. Youth-led protests over schooling, housing and pensions have also spread to other European countries.

What each side says

12 hurt, including 6 children, in shooting near Florida A&M stadium

Eleven people were shot and another person was hurt Saturday night near Florida A&M University's Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee, police said. Six of the victims are juveniles, the youngest 11 years old. The shooting came hours after the school's homecoming football game.

Key facts

• The shooting happened just before 8 p.m. near Perry and Manatee streets, Tallahassee police said.
• One victim was in critical condition. Fox News reported two others were seriously hurt; CNN reported three. Eight were stable.
• A victim's grandmother was hurt while fleeing, CNN reported. One victim is a FAMU student, Police Chief Lawrence RevellLawrence RevellChief of the Tallahassee Police DepartmentOfficePolice chief since being named to the post in December 2019.PartyAppointed, nonpartisan post.CareerA longtime Tallahassee police officer who rose through the department's ranks. said.
• Police said a physical altercation between two or three people likely led to the gunfire. No arrests had been announced.
• Officers carried victims to safety and to the hospital before the scene was secure, Revell said.

The background

The shooting took place during FAMU's homecoming week, when students and alumni gather in Tallahassee. Arkansas-Pine Bluff beat Florida A&M 31-28 at the stadium earlier in the evening. CNN reported it is unclear whether the shooting was connected to the game. Police described an isolated incident that grew out of a fight among a few people. The university said its campus remained safe and asked people to avoid the area. The police department's Violent Crimes Unit is leading the investigation, and police have asked anyone who saw the shooting or has information to contact them. Next steps are identifying the shooter or shooters and deciding on charges. Tallahassee police also investigated a deadly shooting near FAMU during homecoming week in 2016, WFSU reported.

What each side says

Ukraine says Starlink is back to full speed after weeklong disruption

Ukraine said Saturday that SpaceX's Starlink network and its military version, Starshield, were back to normal after more than a week of restrictions that hampered its drone operations against Russia. President Volodymyr ZelenskyVolodymyr ZelenskyPresident of UkraineOfficePresident of Ukraine since 2019PartyServant of the PeopleCareerFormer comedian, actor and television producer before winning the 2019 presidential election. said the restoration began overnight. Elon MuskElon MuskCEO of Tesla and SpaceX; owner of XOfficeNone elected. Led the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency effort in 2025. said Ukraine had violated Starlink's terms of service by using it for offensive drone strikes.

Key facts

• The restrictions cut service to terminals on drones moving faster than about 100 mph, which hurt Ukraine's ability to intercept Russian drones, NPR and Newsmax reported.
• Ukraine's Defense Ministry said connections are now stable at speeds of 250 mph.
• The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered the slowdown, Newsmax reported. Musk said limits on speed or usage are “decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS.”
• Secretary of State Marco RubioMarco RubioU.S. Secretary of StateOfficeSecretary of State since January 2025. U.S. Senator from Florida, 2011 to 2025.PartyRepublican.CareerLawyer; former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. and Pentagon chief Pete HegsethPete HegsethU.S. secretary of defenseOfficeSecretary of Defense (Department of War)PartyRepublicanCareerArmy National Guard veteran and former Fox News host, confirmed as defense secretary in January 2025. have denied that the U.S. government was responsible, Fox News reported.
• Sen. Richard BlumenthalRichard BlumenthalU.S. senator from ConnecticutOfficeU.S. SenatePartyDemocraticCareerFormer Connecticut attorney general, in the Senate since 2011. announced an investigation, and Rep. Brian FitzpatrickBrian FitzpatrickU.S. representative from PennsylvaniaOfficeU.S. House of Representatives, Pennsylvania's 1st DistrictPartyRepublicanCareerFormer FBI special agent, in Congress since 2017. said Musk may need to testify under oath, Newsmax and Stars and Stripes reported.

The background

Starlink has carried much of Ukraine's battlefield communication since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine uses it to fly drones, talk with the front line and supply troops, NPR reported. Starshield is a separate SpaceX system controlled by the U.S. government. A source told Fox News that Ukraine's access runs through U.S. government arrangements until May 15, 2027. The slowdown came during a U.S. push for peace: Russia has agreed to three-way talks with the U.S. and Ukraine next month. Zelensky told NBC he believed the U.S. government was behind the limits. Britain's prime minister urged Trump to restore full access, Newsmax reported. Lawmakers from both parties are now asking who made the decision and how much the military relies on one company.

What each side says

New York archdiocese reaches $800 million deal with abuse survivors

The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New York has agreed to pay $800 million to settle claims from about 1,300 people who say they were sexually abused by clergy and lay workers, the archbishop and attorneys for the survivors said Saturday. The deal still has to be signed.

Key facts

• Archbishop Ronald Hicks told priests in an email that an agreement had been reached but not yet signed. CNN reported the signing is scheduled for the week of Nov. 6.
• All plaintiffs agreed to the settlement, said attorney Jeff Anderson, whose firm represents more than 250 of them, NPR reported.
• It is the second-largest abuse settlement by a U.S. Catholic archdiocese, after the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to pay $880 million in 2024, CNN reported.
• The archdiocese covers the Bronx, Manhattan, Staten Island and seven counties to the north, and is home to about 2.5 million Catholics.
• The deal would end more than seven years of lawsuits, CNN reported.

The background

In 2019, New York passed a law that lets survivors of child sexual abuse sue abusers and the institutions that shielded them until they turn 55. It also gave older survivors until August 2021 to file, no matter when the abuse happened, CNN reported. About 1,300 claims against the archdiocese followed. In December 2025 the archdiocese agreed to mediation, laid off staff and planned to sell Manhattan properties to raise money, NPR reported. A framework announced in May required every claimant to sign on. The survivors' attorneys warned then that if anyone refused, the archdiocese might file for bankruptcy, America magazine reported. The framework also called for the archdiocese to keep its list of credibly accused clergy online and to let survivors pursue claims against its insurers.

What each side says

U.S. moves diplomats as intel memo warns of advanced Iranian plots

The State Department is cutting staff at several U.S. embassies in the Middle East after an intelligence memo warned that Iranian plots to kill Americans abroad have reached “advanced stages,” CNN, Fox News and Newsmax reported.

Key facts

• An unclassified Oct. 23 memo from Director of National Intelligence Jay ClaytonJay ClaytonDirector of national intelligenceOfficeOffice of the Director of National IntelligencePartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (2017 to 2020) and former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. to Secretary of State Marco RubioMarco RubioU.S. Secretary of StateOfficeSecretary of State since January 2025. U.S. Senator from Florida, 2011 to 2025.PartyRepublican.CareerLawyer; former speaker of the Florida House of Representatives. says, “Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel,” Fox News reported. U.S. officials confirmed the memo is authentic.
• The memo did not name specific targets or describe the plots, Newsmax reported, citing Axios and the Associated Press.
• This week the State Department ordered non-emergency employees and all family members to leave Saudi Arabia. Officials cited attacks on the kingdom by the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.
• Staffing is also being reduced in Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, a State Department official told CNN. Those embassies remain open.
• Travel advisories for 13 countries in the region were updated Friday. Their warning levels did not change.

The background

The United States and Israel began striking Iran on Feb. 28, starting a war that has since gone through ceasefires and renewed fighting, Al Jazeera reported. Mediators are trying to bring Washington and Tehran back to formal talks, Newsmax reported. In Yemen, the Houthis have struck Saudi airports and other infrastructure, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Oct. 8, Fox News reported. President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. has said the U.S. could strike Iran again if no deal is reached. Many diplomats’ families had only recently returned to their posts after leaving early in the war, CNN reported. Now some are being told to leave again, and their union says some have no confirmed help with housing.

What each side says

Justice Department tells California counties to set aside some ballots

The Justice Department on Friday ordered California election officials to set aside mail ballots from people federal agencies suspect are not citizens, and warned that officials who knowingly count such ballots could face criminal liability, CNN reported.

Key facts

• In a letter seen by CNN, First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill EssayliBill EssayliFirst Assistant U.S. Attorney, Central District of CaliforniaOfficeRuns the federal prosecutor’s office in Los Angeles. told San Bernardino County officials that if they “knowingly tabulate ballots cast by individuals identified by federal agencies as noncitizens, they risk becoming aiders and abettors to a federal crime.”
• Earlier this month, Acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotterTrent McCotterSenior Justice Department officialOfficeAppointed principal associate deputy attorney general in April 2026; now serving as acting deputy attorney general.PartyAppointed by the Trump administration. gave Los Angeles County and Secretary of State Shirley WeberShirley WeberCalifornia secretary of stateOfficeCalifornia Secretary of State, the state’s chief elections officerPartyDemocratCareerAppointed secretary of state in 2021 and elected in 2022; earlier a state Assembly member from San Diego and a longtime professor at San Diego State University. 48 hours to review a federal list of people the government believes are likely noncitizens who were sent mail ballots, CNN reported.
• Last week the department sued California and Los Angeles County to keep more than 20,000 of those ballots from being counted. A federal judge set a hearing for next week. On Friday the department asked the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to act first, and the appeals court ordered California to respond by Saturday, RedState reported.
• On Monday, prosecutors charged 28 people in California with election crimes. McCotter said all 28 were on the list given to state officials, Newsmax reported. They are accused, not convicted.
• Attorney General Todd BlancheTodd BlancheU.S. attorney generalOfficeU.S. Department of JusticePartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer federal prosecutor in Manhattan and Trump's defense lawyer, he served as deputy attorney general before leading the Justice Department. said Thursday he could imagine a hypothetical “doomsday scenario” for federal action on certification, but said he has no plans to stop any state from certifying results, Newsmax reported.
• The department plans to send about 1,000 federal election monitors to polling places in all 50 states on Election Day, Nov. 3.

The background

Under the Constitution and federal law, states run elections and certify the results, Newsmax noted. The Justice Department enforces federal voting laws and prosecutes election crimes, but federal law does not specifically let it halt a state’s certification. Only U.S. citizens may vote in federal and state elections. The administration says hundreds of thousands of noncitizens are on voter rolls. Some of its findings have not held up. In Nevada, the Department of Homeland Security confirmed 185 of 15,900 registrants it first flagged, and state officials later said all 185 were citizens, which the agency disputes, CNN reported. Reuters found in September that states may have added more than 30,000 noncitizens to their rolls since 2000, mostly through software glitches and clerical errors. It was unclear how many voted.

What each side says

France arrests nearly 1,000 as 410,000 join new day of protests

French police arrested nearly 1,000 people Saturday as protests over schools and the cost of living returned to cities across France, Interior Minister Laurent NuñezLaurent NuñezInterior Minister of FranceOfficeInterior minister since October 2025.PartyNo party; career civil servant. said. The Interior Ministry put turnout at about 410,000 nationwide, including 110,000 in Paris.

Key facts

• Union organizers estimated turnout at 800,000 nationwide and 250,000 in Paris.
• France deployed more than 70,000 police officers and gendarmes, about 20% more than the weekend before, Al Jazeera reported.
• Many arrests came during searches that turned up fireworks, ball bearings and other items that could be used as weapons, Reuters reported.
• Police in Paris used tear gas and water cannons as the march ended. Clashes were also reported in Lyon and Marseille.
• The Louvre, the Musée d’Orsay and other Paris museums closed for the day, the AP reported.
• The weekend before, more than 2,700 people were arrested and about 3,000 businesses were damaged or looted, Fox News reported.

The background

The movement began in mid-September at a high school in Créteil, southeast of Paris, IBTimes UK reported. Students were protesting teacher shortages, crowded classrooms and run-down buildings. It grew when major labor unions joined, adding opposition to the government’s austerity policies and worries about wages, pensions and the cost of living, Fox News reported. France carries high public debt, and its bond yields rose Wednesday to their highest level since 2002, CNN reported, which makes new spending harder. By early October officials said more than 600 police officers had been hurt and 24 schools burned or ransacked. On Friday, President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel MacronPresident of FranceOfficePresident since 2017; barred by term limits from running in 2027.PartyFounded the centrist Renaissance party (originally En Marche). met student representatives and promised more teachers and changes to university admissions, Al Jazeera reported. French unions have called a general strike for Nov. 5.

What each side says

Ukraine says Starlink speeds are restored after more than a week of limits

Ukraine said Saturday that Starlink and Starshield, its military version, are back to full speed after more than a week of restrictions that hampered drone operations, NPR reported.

Key facts

• President Volodymyr ZelenskyVolodymyr ZelenskyPresident of UkraineOfficePresident of Ukraine since 2019PartyServant of the PeopleCareerFormer comedian, actor and television producer before winning the 2019 presidential election. said on X that the restoration began overnight. Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said its monitoring showed stable connections at speeds above 250 mph.
• The limits had cut connections for drones moving faster than about 100 mph, NPR and Newsmax reported. Ukraine uses drones to strike targets and to shoot down Russian attack drones.
• Zelensky has said SpaceX imposed the limits after a “message from [the] American government.” The Trump administration has denied interfering.
• Elon MuskElon MuskCEO of Tesla and SpaceX; owner of XOfficeNone elected. Led the administration’s Department of Government Efficiency effort in 2025. said Oct. 14 that Starshield is owned and controlled by the U.S. government. “Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS,” he wrote.
• Britain’s prime minister urged President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. in a call Friday to make sure Ukraine has full access, Newsmax reported, citing Politico.
• Sen. Richard BlumenthalRichard BlumenthalU.S. senator from ConnecticutOfficeU.S. SenatePartyDemocraticCareerFormer Connecticut attorney general, in the Senate since 2011., D-Conn., has announced an investigation into the restrictions and the Pentagon’s reliance on SpaceX.

The background

Ukraine relies on Starlink for drone operations, frontline communications and getting food and water to soldiers, NPR reported. The Trump administration halted new aid packages for Ukraine at the start of 2025, and European countries now give more in total, CNN reported. But Ukraine still depends on American systems it cannot replace, including Patriot interceptors, Starshield and missile-warning intelligence. Who ordered the slowdown is disputed. The Wall Street Journal reported that Musk ordered it and that Trump called him to ask that it be lifted, according to Newsmax. Reuters, citing anonymous U.S. officials, reported that the Pentagon received a message from inside the White House to limit the speeds, Newsweek said. Russia has agreed to three-way talks with Ukraine and the U.S. next month.

What each side says

More than 20 million Americans have already voted in the midterms

Nearly 21 million Americans had cast ballots in the midterm elections as of Friday morning, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab, NPR reported. Another tracker, On Point Politics, put the total near 24 million by Saturday, Newsmax reported.

Key facts

• In North Carolina, about 1.27 million ballots were cast through Oct. 22, up about 37% from the same point in 2022, according to Catawba College political scientist Michael Bitzer, as cited by The Hill. Participation rose 47% among registered Democrats, 2.6% among Republicans and 60% among unaffiliated voters.
• Early voting was up about 69% in Kansas, 41% in Maine and 24% in Iowa compared with 2022, according to a New York Times analysis cited by The Hill.
• In Texas, where Democrat James TalaricoJames TalaricoTexas Senate nominee (D)OfficeTexas state representative since 2019.PartyDemocrat. is running for Senate, Decision Desk HQ estimated that 44.3% of about 2.06 million early ballots came from Democrats and 43.7% from Republicans.
• Georgia had about 1.5 million ballots cast through Thursday.
• Election Day is Nov. 3.

The background

Early numbers can mislead, MIT political scientist Charles Stewart told NPR. Many people who vote early would have voted on Election Day anyway, so a surge does not mean more people will vote overall. Stewart said the rise reflects both enthusiasm and the money campaigns are spending to get supporters to vote early. Democrats still lead in mail voting, he said, but that gap is smaller than in 2022 as more Democrats vote early in person. States set different schedules for mail ballots, which makes comparisons between years hard, and party registration does not show how anyone voted, Newsmax noted. Texas, Georgia and Michigan do not register voters by party, so analysts rely on estimates there. Republicans hold a 53-47 Senate majority, Newsmax reported.

What each side says

Gunmen kill at least seven at Christian funeral in Jordan church

Gunmen opened fire on mourners at a Greek Orthodox church in southern Jordan on Friday, killing at least seven people and wounding dozens, Jordanian officials said. The attackers fled, and security forces are searching for them. King Abdullah IIAbdullah IIKing of JordanOfficeHead of state of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan since 1999PartyNone (hereditary monarch)CareerFormer army officer who succeeded his father, King Hussein, in 1999. called the shooting a “terrorist act” and said Jordan would respond harshly, CNN reported.

Key facts

• The attack hit St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church in the town of Hmoud, in Karak province, where people had gathered for a community member’s funeral, CNN reported.
• Interior Minister Mazen al-Faraya said at least seven people were killed and 34 wounded, according to CBS News and Al Jazeera. Fox News, citing a government spokesperson, reported six dead and 28 wounded. Officials revised the toll several times during the day.
• Witnesses told state television that the gunmen got out of a vehicle and fired for several minutes. Security camera footage showed three gunmen, CNN reported. One witness said 150 to 200 people were in or near the church, according to CBS News.
• Jordan’s public security agency called the shooting a terrorist attack against Christians, CNN reported. No group had claimed responsibility, according to Al Jazeera.
• Christians make up about 2% of Jordan’s people, CNN reported. Al Jazeera put their number at about 300,000 of roughly 11.5 million.
• Jordan declared three days of mourning, with flags at half-staff on government buildings.

The background

Attacks on Christians are rare in Jordan, a majority Sunni Muslim kingdom, CBS News reported. Hmoud has been home to a mostly Christian community for centuries, according to CNN, and Christians and Muslims in Karak have lived side by side for generations, Al Jazeera reported. Karak has seen terror before. In 2016, gunmen attacked police and a Crusader-era castle there, killing 10 people. Al Jazeera reported that ISIL carried out that assault. Prime Minister Jafar HassanJafar HassanPrime Minister of JordanOfficeAppointed prime minister by King Abdullah II in 2024PartyIndependentCareerEconomist and former head of the king’s office who served earlier as planning minister. said Friday’s shooting came from “extremist terrorist ideology rooted in takfir,” the practice of declaring others to be infidels, according to Jordan’s state news agency. Officials have not named a group or announced arrests. The search for the gunmen continues.

What each side says

Two former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress about Hunter Biden probes

The Justice Department on Friday charged two former senior FBI officials with making false statements to Congress about the bureau’s investigations into Hunter Biden and his laptop. Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides each face one count tied to their 2023 interviews with the House Judiciary Committee. Their lawyers say the charges are false and timed for the election.

Key facts

• Floris, 46, was a deputy assistant director who led the FBI’s Foreign Influence Task Force, and Benavides, 56, was its section chief, according to NPR, Fox News and FBI Director Kash PatelKash PatelFBI directorOfficeDirector of the Federal Bureau of Investigation since 2025PartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer federal prosecutor and House Intelligence Committee staff member who held national security posts in Trump’s first term..
• The complaint alleges both had real-time knowledge of the Hunter Biden investigations but denied any role when lawmakers asked, NPR reported. Prosecutors say Benavides told the committee he learned of the laptop investigation from Wikipedia, while emails show he was in contact with the team working the case, Fox News reported.
• Prosecutors charged the pair by criminal complaint, not grand jury indictment, NPR and CNN reported. Both surrendered Friday, appeared in federal court in Washington and were released while the case goes forward.
• Magistrate Judge Zia FaruquiZia FaruquiU.S. magistrate judge, District of ColumbiaOfficeU.S. District Court for the District of ColumbiaPartyNonpartisan post; magistrate judges are chosen by a district’s federal judgesCareerFormer federal prosecutor in Washington. said both have “sparkling backgrounds” and noted that charging conduct that is “quite old” by complaint is unusual, NPR reported.
• A preliminary hearing is set for Tuesday. The charges come 11 days before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

The background

Weeks before the 2020 election, the New York Post reported on a laptop that Hunter Biden had left at a Delaware repair shop, NPR reported. Claims that the laptop was part of a Russian disinformation effort fueled controversy that fall. The FBI later authenticated the laptop when prosecutors used it at his 2024 gun trial, Fox News reported. The Foreign Influence Task Force was set up during Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican.’s first term to track foreign efforts to sway U.S. elections, CNN reported, and it was dissolved in February 2025. In 2023, House Republicans asked whether the task force had a hand in the Hunter Biden investigations. Hunter Biden was later convicted on gun charges, pleaded guilty to tax charges and was pardoned by his father, former President Joe BidenJoe BidenFormer President of the United States (D)OfficePresident from 2021 to 2025; vice president from 2009 to 2017PartyDemocratCareerRepresented Delaware in the U.S. Senate for 36 years before serving as vice president and president., in December 2024.

What each side says

Justice Department sues to block Alaska Senate result if Sullivan loses

The Justice Department has asked a federal court to block certification of Alaska’s U.S. Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan SullivanDan SullivanU.S. Senator, Alaska (R)OfficeIn the Senate since 2015PartyRepublicanCareerFormer Alaska attorney general and natural resources commissioner; Marine Corps Reserve officer. loses to Democrat Mary PeltolaMary PeltolaAlaska U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer U.S. representative for Alaska’s at-large district (2022 to 2025)PartyDemocratCareerFormer Alaska state legislator and the first Alaska Native member of Congress.. The lawsuit argues that a second candidate on the ballot, Daniel J. Sullivan, could confuse voters. President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. said he told the department to file it.

Key facts

• The suit was filed Thursday in federal court in Alaska. It names the state, its elections director and state election boards, Fox News and Axios reported.
• It asks the court to stop certification until there is an “investigation” into whether voters who meant to choose the senator voted for the other Sullivan, CNN reported.
• “I'm the one that said do it,” Trump told reporters in Florida on Friday, according to Newsmax.
• Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, is a registered Republican but is listed on the ballot without a party label. The senator is listed as “Registered Republican” and “incumbent,” CNN reported.
• In the primary, the senator won 68,726 votes and Daniel J. Sullivan won 4,107, according to CNN.
• The administration has not asked for emergency action. Alaska expects to begin its ranked-choice count on Nov. 18, after overseas ballots arrive, CNN reported.

The background

Alaska voters adopted open top-four primaries and ranked-choice general elections in 2020 and first used them in 2022, CBS News reported. If no candidate wins a majority of first choices, the last-place candidate is dropped and those ballots move to voters’ next choices. The state Division of Elections first rejected Daniel J. Sullivan’s candidacy, concluding he was running to confuse voters, Axios reported. In June, the Alaska Supreme Court ordered him placed on the ballot. Republicans call him a spoiler. He has said he decided to run on his own, Newsmax reported. The Daily Signal, citing the New York Post, reported that a super PAC funded mostly by a liberal group spent about $1.15 million backing him. The suit relies on the National Voter Registration Act. Democrats need to gain four seats to win the Senate, CNN reported.

What each side says

Two Israeli soldiers killed near Hebron; Netanyahu orders city sealed and homes cleared

Two Palestinian gunmen opened fire on an Israeli military checkpoint near Hebron in the West Bank on Friday, killing two soldiers before troops shot them dead, the Israel Defense Forces said. Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place. ordered a cordon around Hebron, and Israeli forces began clearing and demolishing buildings in the gunmen’s neighborhood. Israelis vote Tuesday.

Key facts

• The IDF named the soldiers as Staff Sgt. Ron Yonatan Roytman, 23, and Sgt. Yuval Shai Svilem, 20, Fox News reported. Three other soldiers were lightly wounded, according to the IDF. Emergency responders said five people were hurt in all.
• The army said the gunmen carried an M16 rifle and a handgun, and that their car held a large amount of ammunition. Israel’s military chief said it was meant “to carry out an attack on a much larger scale,” CNN reported.
• Netanyahu first ordered a full closure of the West Bank, then said he would consider “a cordon” around Hebron and Halhul that may extend to other areas, CNN reported.
• By Friday afternoon, Israeli forces had begun demolitions in the Farsh al-Hawa area of Hebron. In video obtained by CNN, a soldier tells residents, “You have five minutes to evacuate.”
• Hamas praised the attack but did not claim responsibility, CNN reported. Netanyahu blamed Hamas.
• It is the fourth time in the past month that Israel has imposed restrictions across the West Bank, NPR reported.

The background

Israelis vote Tuesday in their first national election since the Hamas-led attack of Oct. 7, 2023, that started the war in Gaza, CNN and NPR reported. Netanyahu has made security a central issue, according to CBS News, and his government had warned that enemies might attack to sway the vote. West Bank closures shut gates and checkpoints that link Palestinian villages to main roads, while Israeli roads stay open to Israeli drivers, including settlers, NPR reported. Netanyahu said the army would use the plan it carried out in four northern West Bank refugee camps in early 2025. CNN reported that operation displaced thousands of Palestinians. Hebron is a city of more than 200,000 people, CBS News reported. Israel’s government calls the West Bank Judea and Samaria.

What each side says

France deploys 70,000 police ahead of another weekend of protests

France is deploying about 70,000 police officers for protests planned Saturday, the interior ministry said, after last weekend’s demonstrations turned into riots and looting. Interior Minister Laurent NuñezLaurent NuñezInterior Minister of FranceOfficeInterior minister since October 2025.PartyNo party; career civil servant. said the government would be “uncompromising with those who engage in destruction,” CNN reported.

Key facts

• That is 10,000 more officers than last weekend. Armored vehicles, helicopters, water cannon and special police units will be on hand, CNN and Reuters reported.
• President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel MacronPresident of FranceOfficePresident since 2017; barred by term limits from running in 2027.PartyFounded the centrist Renaissance party (originally En Marche). banned all non-union protests for Saturday, CNN reported. Paris police approved only a union march and turned down requests from UNEF and the Yellow Vests, Reuters reported. Lyon, Marseille and other cities have banned or limited demonstrations, according to The Local.
• More than 3,000 shops were looted last weekend and about 2,500 people were taken into custody, French officials said, according to Fox News. At least two people died in the riots, CNN reported.
• The Louvre and other major museums will close Saturday, and about two dozen Paris metro stations will be shut for much of the day, CNN reported.
• Fox News reported that its own investigation mapped 287 groups taking part in the weekend mobilization, including 50 that call themselves Antifa.
• Organizers have planned more actions for Oct. 31, a strike and blockade on Nov. 5 and a Europe-wide day of action on Nov. 20, Fox News reported.

The background

The protests began weeks ago over education, poor job prospects and the cost of living, CNN reported. High school students marched against teacher shortages and run-down schools, and the student union UNEF’s rallies grew from there, Reuters reported. Unions and the Yellow Vests, a movement born in 2018 protests over fuel costs, later joined. On Oct. 17, marches in several cities turned into rioting, looting and arson. The government admitted police “lost control” that day, The Local reported, and Prime Minister Sébastien LecornuSébastien LecornuPrime Minister of FranceOfficePrime minister since September 2025; earlier minister of the armed forces. told parliament the earlier security plan was “too static and not mobile enough.” Curfews remain in some neighborhoods. A nationwide strike set for Nov. 5 targets planned spending cuts in the 2027 budget.

What each side says

Omar disputes name in Justice Department filing after Trump calls on her to resign

Rep. Ilhan OmarIlhan OmarU.S. Representative, Minnesota’s 5th District (D)OfficeIn Congress since 2019. Earlier served in the Minnesota House.PartyDemocrat; member of the House Progressive Caucus. said Friday that her name “has always been Ilhan Omar,” a day after President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. called on her to resign over a Justice Department court filing that refers to her by a different name. The filing calls the Minnesota Democrat “Ilhan Nur Said Elmi, a/k/a Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.” She has not been charged with a crime.

Key facts

• The filing came from the office of U.S. Attorney Jeanine PirroJeanine PirroU.S. Attorney for the District of ColumbiaOfficeAppointed by President Trump in 2025.PartyRepublican. in Washington. Prosecutors filed it to keep a search warrant for Omar’s home sealed while agents finish carrying it out, Newsmax reported. Several news organizations had asked for the warrant’s release.
• Homeland Security Investigations agents searched Omar’s Washington home on Oct. 12 and seized her phone, computer and passport, the New York Post reported, according to Newsmax.
• Federal investigators are looking at whether Omar or her late father made false statements on immigration paperwork, Fox News reported.
• Fox News, citing two people familiar with the investigation, reported that Omar’s birth name is Ilhan Nur Said Elmi. Omar told Fox News Digital her real name is “Ilhan Abdullahi Omar.”
• Attorney General Todd BlancheTodd BlancheU.S. attorney generalOfficeU.S. Department of JusticePartyAppointed by Republican President Donald TrumpCareerFormer federal prosecutor in Manhattan and Trump's defense lawyer, he served as deputy attorney general before leading the Justice Department. said he did not believe prosecutors “would make up names,” Newsmax reported.
• Newsmax reported that the document does not establish that Omar used a fraudulent identity to take office.

The background

Omar was born in Somalia. Her family fled the civil war there in 1991 and spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya before coming to the United States, Newsmax reported. She has said her birth certificate was destroyed. The name Elmi has drawn attention because it is also the surname of her former husband, Ahmed Nur Said Elmi, whom she married in 2009 and divorced in 2017. Critics have claimed for years, without substantiated evidence, that he is her brother, Newsmax reported. Omar has repeatedly denied it. Federal prosecutors in Minnesota are leading the immigration inquiry, according to the New York Post. Omar is on the ballot Nov. 3. A prosecutor’s filing states the government’s position. It is not a finding by a court.

What each side says

U.S. orders nonemergency staff and families out of Saudi Arabia as Houthi attacks grow

The State Department on Wednesday ordered nonemergency U.S. government employees and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. The department cited a rise in missile and drone attacks on the kingdom by Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who are backed by Iran.

Key facts

• The State Department said the order covers Saudi Arabia only. It also said U.S. embassies elsewhere in the Gulf would make temporary staffing adjustments, Newsmax reported. CNN reported that a few other posts in the region are adjusting staff.
• A Houthi strike on King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh earlier this month killed at least 13 people and wounded more than 300, Fox News reported. The airport resumed limited flights Wednesday.
• On Wednesday, Saudi officials said a drone attack on the Shaybah oil field killed two foreign workers and injured two others. An attack on King Fahd International Airport in Dammam killed one or two people and injured eight; early reports differ on the death toll.
• Houthi attacks and attempted attacks on Saudi Arabia more than doubled in a single week this month, according to the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, as cited by Fox News.
• Britain said Tuesday it will send fighter jets to help defend Saudi Arabia. Egypt has pledged support. Lufthansa and Air France have canceled flights to Riyadh through mid-November, Newsmax reported.
• A truce in Yemen that had largely held since 2022 collapsed this year. Saudi-backed Yemeni government forces opened a new offensive against the Houthis on Oct. 4, Al Jazeera reported.

What each side says

Reports: U.S. and Israel plan for possible strikes on Iran after midterm elections

The United States and Israel are preparing plans for a possible attack on Iran in early November, after the U.S. midterm elections, a person briefed on the planning told NPR on Thursday. The New York Times reported similar planning on Wednesday, citing U.S. officials. Iran said it is prepared.

Key facts

• According to NPR’s source, Israel had planned to strike Iran in mid-October, before Israel’s Oct. 27 election, but President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. objected.
• The source told NPR that U.S. forces are gathering in the region, and that the preparations could also be part of a campaign to pressure Iran into a diplomatic deal.
• The Times reported that possible targets include nuclear facilities, missile and drone sites and energy infrastructure, according to Newsmax.
• Trump has said the United States will not attack Iran before the Nov. 3 midterms.
• Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran continue through mediators, including Pakistan and Qatar, Newsmax reported. Iran has demanded an end to U.S. sanctions and the U.S. naval blockade before returning to direct negotiations.
• The United States and Iran have been at war this year. Disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have kept energy prices high, Newsmax reported.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin NetanyahuBenjamin NetanyahuPrime Minister of IsraelOfficePrime minister since December 2022; also 1996 to 1999 and 2009 to 2021.PartyLikud.CareerFormer Israeli special forces soldier and diplomat, including ambassador to the United Nations.On the recordIn November 2024 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over alleged war crimes in Gaza. Israel rejects the court’s jurisdiction and the allegations, and no trial has taken place., who is seeking reelection, is campaigning on a threat to topple Iran’s government, NPR reported.

What each side says

Judge limits DHS home visits in search for noncitizen voters in nine states

A federal judge in California on Wednesday ordered the Department of Homeland Security to stop certain field interviews in its search for noncitizen voters when agents believe the person may be a U.S. citizen. The order covers nine states and runs through Election Day, Nov. 3.

Key facts

• U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín issued a preliminary injunction. She found the plaintiffs were likely to succeed on a claim under the Voting Rights Act’s ban on voter intimidation, CBS News and The Epoch Times reported.
• The states are California, Connecticut, Georgia, Missouri, Nevada, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin.
• The order does not take effect until 5 p.m. Friday, giving the administration time to appeal.
• The judge wrote that the case is about the “reliance on admittedly flawed and incomplete data to create a list of individuals for HSI to interview in the months leading up to an election.” She also wrote that the plaintiffs do not claim it is unlawful for federal officials to investigate illegal voting, CBS News reported.
• Agents with Homeland Security Investigations have visited homes in several states to ask residents about their immigration status and voting history, CBS News reported, as cited by Newsmax.
• DHS has alleged that as many as 250,000 noncitizens could be registered to vote. The Justice Department says 156 people have been charged with voting-related fraud since the Trump administration began, out of about 227 million registered voters, CBS News reported.
• Voting by noncitizens in federal elections is illegal. The plaintiffs include two nurses’ unions, San Francisco, Santa Clara County and the Voto Latino Foundation.

What each side says

Workers’ share of family health premiums jumps 9%, employer survey finds

Workers with family health coverage through their jobs now pay an average of $7,471 a year toward premiums, up 9% from last year, according to KFF’s annual survey of employers, published Thursday. Counting what employers pay, a family plan now costs about $28,300 a year.

Key facts

• The total family premium rose 5%. Wages rose 3.7% and general inflation was 2.7%, KFF said.
• About 157 million Americans get health insurance through a job, NPR reported. KFF surveyed more than 1,900 employers.
• Workers at small firms pay more. Their average share of a family premium is $9,687, KFF said.
• Employers’ health costs are forecast to rise 9.5% next year, according to the insurance brokerage Aon, CNN reported. Aon cited greater use of care, costly cancer treatments and demand for obesity drugs.
• A separate Commonwealth Fund survey found that about 43% of workers with job coverage skipped care because of cost in the past year, and about 31% had medical debt, NPR reported.
• Fewer large employers now cover GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. Coverage among members of the Business Group on Health fell to 60% this year from 72% in 2025, CNN reported.

What each side says

Macron pushes back after Trump and Vance link French riots to immigration

French President Emmanuel MacronEmmanuel MacronPresident of FranceOfficePresident since 2017; barred by term limits from running in 2027.PartyFounded the centrist Renaissance party (originally En Marche). on Wednesday called comments by foreign leaders about last weekend’s riots in France “unacceptable” and “stupid.” Asked whether he meant President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican., he said, “Among others,” according to The Associated Press.

Key facts

• The unrest began with student protests over school conditions and funding, then widened into protests over the cost of living and energy prices, the AP reported.
• Tens of thousands of people took part, most of them peacefully, the AP reported. Separate groups clashed with police and looted stores in Paris, Marseille, Lyon and other cities on Oct. 17.
• Prosecutors estimated that 1,800 to 3,000 people took part in ransacking central Marseille, the French broadcaster BFM reported, as cited by Fox News.
• French authorities have not identified migrants or Muslims as a group as primarily responsible for the rioting, according to the AP and Newsmax.
• Some cities have imposed local curfews. Officials are preparing for more demonstrations on Saturday, Oct. 24.
• Macron spoke in Qatar at the end of a Gulf trip, during which he arranged added diesel supplies for France, the AP reported.

What each side says

Michigan Senate debate turns on loyalty questions, Trump and trade

Democrat Abdul El-SayedAbdul El-SayedMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (D)OfficeFormer executive director of the Detroit Health Department.PartyDemocrat.CareerPhysician and epidemiologist; ran for governor of Michigan in 2018. and Republican Mike RogersMike RogersMichigan U.S. Senate nominee (R)OfficeU.S. Representative from Michigan, 2001 to 2015; chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, 2011 to 2015.PartyRepublican.CareerFormer Army officer and FBI special agent; Republican Senate nominee in Michigan in 2024. met Wednesday night in the final debate of Michigan’s U.S. Senate race. The seat is open, and the contest could help decide which party controls the Senate after the Nov. 3 election.

Key facts

• Rogers, a former congressman, said some of El-Sayed’s donors had ties to groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah, and linked him to the Muslim Brotherhood. El-Sayed denied any ties. Fox News reported there is no evidence that El-Sayed has any affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood.
• Rogers cited a 2012 letter, reported by The Washington Free Beacon, in which El-Sayed called on Egypt’s then-president, a Brotherhood member, to purge that nation’s police force, Fox News reported.
• El-Sayed, a former executive director of the Detroit Health Department, mentioned President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. 18 times, Fox News counted, and called Rogers’ answers “MAGA bingo.”
• Rogers split with Trump on trade. He called the tariffs a “mixed bag” and said tariffs on Canada may have been “not well thought through,” Fox News reported. He also said Congress should bar Chinese automakers from building cars in the United States.
• El-Sayed supports Medicare for All, higher taxes on the wealthy, ending U.S. military aid to Israel and abolishing ICE, Fox News reported. He says he is a capitalist and is not a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, CNN reported.
• El-Sayed, who was born in Michigan, would be the first Muslim elected to the Senate, CNN reported. Trump has called him a “jihadist,” a claim CNN describes as false.

What each side says

Putin agrees to resume three-way Ukraine peace talks after Nov. 10

Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir PutinPresident of RussiaOfficePresident of the Russian Federation, 2000–2008 and since 2012; prime minister 1999 and 2008–2012PartyFormally independent since 2012; backed by the United Russia partyCareerFormer KGB officer and director of Russia’s FSB security service before entering national leadership.On the recordIn March 2023 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over the alleged unlawful deportation of children from occupied Ukraine. Russia does not recognize the court, and no trial has taken place. agreed Wednesday to resume peace talks with the United States and Ukraine after Nov. 10, a Kremlin aide said, after Putin met U.S. envoy Steve WitkoffSteve WitkoffU.S. special envoy, appointed by President TrumpOfficeSpecial Envoy, since 2025PartyAppointed by President Trump; a longtime Republican donorCareerNew York real estate developer and founder of the Witkoff Group. for about three hours in St. Petersburg. The next round could be held in Abu Dhabi.

Key facts

• Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said the talks would focus on a “security framework” for Russia and Ukraine after the war. He did not say what Russia would ask for.
• The three countries last held talks in January and February, in Abu Dhabi and Geneva. Little progress was reported beyond prisoner exchanges, according to the Associated Press.
• Witkoff met Ukrainian President Volodymyr ZelenskyVolodymyr ZelenskyPresident of UkraineOfficePresident of Ukraine since 2019PartyServant of the PeopleCareerFormer comedian, actor and television producer before winning the 2019 presidential election. in Oslo, Norway, on Tuesday. A U.S. official told CNN the two sides made “meaningful progress” there.
• Russia has demanded that Ukraine give up the entire Donbas region, shrink its military and never join NATO. CNN reports no sign that Russia has dropped those demands.
• Overnight Russian attacks on Kyiv killed three people and wounded 12, city officials said. Russia said it shot down 373 Ukrainian drones overnight.
• On the same day, Russia released American Stephen Hubbard, and Witkoff thanked Putin for a deal to send Russian diesel to the United States.

What each side says

Administration offers emergency heating oil as diesel prices stay near records

The Trump administration on Wednesday offered to loan up to 315,000 barrels from the Northeast’s emergency heating oil reserve, the latest in a series of moves aimed at fuel prices driven up by the war with Iran. Diesel hit an all-time high of $6.53 a gallon in late September, according to CNN.

Key facts

• The heating oil will come from reserve sites in Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut, with deliveries due by Nov. 13, the Energy Department said. About a third of New England homes heat with oil.
• Russia will send its first tanker of diesel to the U.S. on Thursday, carrying about 40,000 metric tons, a Russian deputy prime minister said, under a deal with President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican..
• Other recent steps include an $8 billion aid package for farmers, an order letting truckers use cheaper red-dyed diesel, and a plan to return idle sanctioned tankers to service.
• The administration has already agreed to loan 172 million barrels of crude from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, which is at its lowest level since 1982.
• The wars in Iran and Ukraine and attacks in the Red Sea have disrupted world fuel supplies. The head of the International Energy Agency says markets may be more than a year from normal.

What each side says

Supreme Court keeps hold on Trump policy for transgender inmates in federal prisons

The Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to let the Trump administration enforce a policy that would end hormone therapy and related treatment for transgender inmates in federal prisons while a lawsuit continues. The one-sentence order gave no reasons.

Key facts

• Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have let the policy take effect.
• The policy followed an executive order President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. signed on his first day back in office, barring any treatment for the purpose of “conforming an inmate’s appearance to that of the opposite sex.”
• The Bureau of Prisons policy would end hormone therapy, surgeries and accommodations such as clothing and makeup, while keeping mental health services.
• U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth blocked the policy this summer, and a federal appeals court in Washington left his order in place. The case continues in the lower courts.
• About 600 inmates were receiving hormone therapy in 2025, according to prison records cited by the Associated Press. The ACLU says about 1,000 people in federal custody have a gender dysphoria diagnosis.
• The court has sided with the administration in related cases, allowing limits on transgender military service and on passport sex markers, and upholding state laws on medical treatment for minors and on girls’ sports.

What each side says

Federal search for noncitizen voters widens as California disputes DOJ list

Federal agents have been visiting homes in several states to ask residents about their citizenship and voting history, CBS News reported Wednesday. In California, the Justice Department is in court trying to make the state set aside ballots tied to 20,000 people it calls likely noncitizens.

Key facts

• Hundreds of Homeland Security Investigations agents were reassigned to the effort in at least six states: California, Georgia, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin, according to internal documents reviewed by CBS News.
• On Monday the Justice Department charged 28 legal permanent residents in California with voting-related crimes, part of what it calls “Operation Protect the Vote.”
• The Justice Department says 156 people have been charged with voting-related fraud since the start of the Trump administration. The country has about 227 million registered voters.
• Los Angeles County says 7,035 names on the federal list have addresses in the county, and some are duplicates. In a sample of 200 records, 38.9% of those with a reported birthplace were listed as born in the U.S., which is strong evidence of citizenship, a county official said.
• Noncitizens are not allowed to vote in federal elections. The general election is Nov. 3.

What each side says

Russia frees American teacher Stephen Hubbard after Trump’s request

Russia on Wednesday released Stephen Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher from Michigan who had been imprisoned for more than four years, after President Donald TrumpDonald TrumpPresident of the United States (R)Office47th president since January 2025; also the 45th (2017–2021).PartyRepublican. asked Russian President Vladimir PutinVladimir PutinPresident of RussiaOfficePresident of the Russian Federation, 2000–2008 and since 2012; prime minister 1999 and 2008–2012PartyFormally independent since 2012; backed by the United Russia partyCareerFormer KGB officer and director of Russia’s FSB security service before entering national leadership.On the recordIn March 2023 the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for him over the alleged unlawful deportation of children from occupied Ukraine. Russia does not recognize the court, and no trial has taken place. to free him. Hubbard is on his way home to his family.

Key facts

• Russian forces detained Hubbard in 2022 in Izyum, a city in eastern Ukraine where he had lived and taught English since 2014.
• A Moscow court sentenced him in 2024 to nearly seven years in prison for allegedly fighting as a mercenary for Ukraine. His family and the State Department said the charges were false, and the U.S. designated him wrongfully detained.
• The release was announced as U.S. envoy Steve WitkoffSteve WitkoffU.S. special envoy, appointed by President TrumpOfficeSpecial Envoy, since 2025PartyAppointed by President Trump; a longtime Republican donorCareerNew York real estate developer and founder of the Witkoff Group. met Putin in St. Petersburg about ending the war in Ukraine.
• Trump said the U.S. gave nothing in return and that no prisoner swap was needed.
• Hubbard will travel to Washington to see his family and then to a military facility in Texas for a program that helps former detainees readjust, CNN reports. The State Department says no Americans are currently designated as wrongfully detained in Russia.

What each side says

Ohio Republicans split over Ramaswamy ad featuring his opponent’s estranged mother

Some leading Ohio Republicans distanced themselves this week from a TV ad by GOP governor nominee Vivek RamaswamyVivek RamaswamyRepublican nominee for Governor of OhioOfficeCandidate; has not held elected officePartyRepublicanCareerFounder of the biotech company Roivant Sciences; ran in the 2024 Republican presidential primary. that features the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy ActonAmy ActonDemocratic nominee for Governor of OhioOfficeCandidate; former director of the Ohio Department of Health (2019–2020)PartyDemocratCareerPhysician; led Ohio’s early COVID-19 response as state health director under Gov. Mike DeWine.. Vice President JD VanceJD VanceVice President of the United StatesOfficeVice President since 2025; U.S. Senator from Ohio, 2023–2025PartyRepublicanCareerMarine Corps veteran, venture capitalist and author of the memoir Hillbilly Elegy. told Republicans to stop criticizing the ad and focus on winning.

Key facts

• In the ad, Acton’s mother, Donna Arthur, calls her daughter a liar and urges voters not to support her. Ramaswamy’s campaign says it will spend $4 million to air it.
• Acton has said that as a child she was sexually abused by her mother’s husband, who was arrested and indicted in 1978, and that she has not seen her mother since she was about 12.
• Ramaswamy confirmed the ad came from his campaign. He said he has never met Arthur and that she was not paid.
• Ohio’s race for governor is one of the most competitive in the country. The election is Nov. 3.

What each side says

Pakistan’s army chief flies to Tehran as U.S.–Iran talks stall

Field Marshal Asim MunirAsim MunirChief of Army Staff, Pakistan OfficeHead of Pakistan’s army since November 2022; promoted to field marshal in May 2025. PartyNone. Serving military officer. CareerPreviously led Military Intelligence and, briefly, the ISI spy agency (2018–2019). On the recordOpposition parties accused the army of interfering in Pakistan’s February 2024 election. The army denied it., the head of Pakistan’s army, arrived in Tehran on Tuesday to meet senior Iranian officials. Pakistan is one of the countries carrying messages between Washington and Tehran, and his visit comes as talks to end the U.S.–Iran war have stalled.

Key facts

• The war began on February 28, 2026, when the United States and Israel struck Iran. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in those strikes.
• Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains badly disrupted, and the United States is enforcing a naval blockade on Iran.
• Iran has offered to reopen the strait within seven days, under its own control. In return it wants the blockade lifted, limits on its oil exports eased, its frozen assets released and fighting ended on every front. It says those terms must be met before any nuclear talks begin.
• Qatar, another mediator, says the two sides are still talking through intermediaries.
• U.S. midterm elections are on November 3.

What each side says