A new CNN/SSRS poll shows that the Democratic Party leads the Republican Party by 10 points in voter preference for the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. The poll asked people which party’s candidate they would vote for in their Congressional district.
Key Facts
The poll was conducted by CNN in partnership with SSRS.
49% of people surveyed said they would vote for a Democrat.
39% said they would vote for a Republican.
The poll measures the "generic ballot," which means voting for a party’s candidate without naming specific individuals.
The survey was done less than two weeks before the 2026 midterm elections.
The 10-point lead suggests stronger support for Democrats at this time.
Midterm elections decide who controls Congress in the United States.
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President Donald Trump praised the physical appearance of Senator John Husted (R-Ohio) during his campaign events before the midterm elections. He specifically complimented Husted’s backside and legs multiple times.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke about Senator John Husted during campaign stops.
He described Husted’s backside as muscular.
This is not the first time Trump has made similar comments about Husted.
These remarks occurred as the midterm elections approach.
Senator Husted is a Republican from Ohio.
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San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria is speaking about the rising cost of living in American cities during a tour focused on affordability challenges. He also addressed President Donald Trump’s recent comments suggesting Iran should target San Diego, which raised concerns locally.
Key Facts
Mayor Todd Gloria of San Diego is on a "National Affordability Tour" with the U.S. Conference of Mayors.
The tour focuses on how rising prices are making it harder for Americans to afford basic needs.
Economic challenges have worsened due to the ongoing war involving Iran.
President Donald Trump said Iran should "take out" San Diego, referring to the city negatively.
Local leaders and residents expressed concern about the safety implications of this statement.
The affordability crisis affects many cities across the United States, not just San Diego.
The news report included coverage of related topics but focused mainly on San Diego’s mayor and the affordability issue.
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The article discusses the role of abortion in the recent U.S. midterm elections. It questions why some Democratic candidates avoid directly addressing abortion, even though it is an important issue for many voters.
Key Facts
The midterm elections are a significant chance for candidates to respond to voter concerns.
Abortion is a major topic influencing voter decisions in these elections.
Some Democratic candidates do not openly talk about abortion during their campaigns.
The article examines whether these candidates are ready to fully support abortion rights.
It highlights the political challenges around discussing abortion openly in today's U.S. politics.
Voter reactions to abortion-related campaigning could impact election outcomes.
The piece suggests that clear communication on abortion might influence voter trust and support.
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Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan criticized recent decisions made by the court’s conservative majority, saying they harm American democracy. She highlighted rulings on redistricting and campaign finance as examples that weaken voting rights and increase political division.
Key Facts
Elena Kagan is one of three liberal justices on the US Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority.
The court struck down Louisiana’s congressional map, affecting protections from the Voting Rights Act.
It also removed limits on how much political parties can spend on campaigns.
The court ruled in 2019 that federal courts should not stop partisan gerrymandering, where political maps favor one party.
Kagan said these decisions push politicians toward more extreme positions and increase political polarization.
She described voting rights as essential to a healthy democracy.
Kagan noted that many people view the current political system, with large amounts of money in politics, as problematic.
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With two weeks left before the 2026 midterm elections, Republicans are spending more money on ads in key Senate races than Democrats. The biggest ad spending is focused on states like Ohio, where the contest between Republican Jon Husted and Democrat Sherrod Brown is very close.
Key Facts
Republicans have reserved $208 million for Senate race ads, which is 41% more than the $147 million Democrats have booked.
In eight of the top 10 expensive Senate races, Republicans are outspending Democrats; Georgia and Kansas are exceptions.
Nearly $2.8 billion has been spent on Senate race ads so far in 2026, with Republicans spending $1.6 billion and Democrats $1.1 billion.
Across House, Senate, and governor races, $11.6 billion is expected to be spent in 2026, higher than 2024's $11.2 billion despite 2024 being a presidential year.
Republicans lead spending in 8 of 10 Senate toss-up races and 25 of 42 key House races.
Democrats are spending more on ads about rising energy and utility bills, with over $191 million dedicated to this issue in 2026 so far.
Ohio has received $74 million in utility-related ads, followed by Michigan ($26 million) and Pennsylvania ($24 million).
Mentions of President Donald Trump in Republican ads have dropped sharply to 1% in October, down from 47% in May.
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President Trump has discussed moving the White House press corps to a different building, which could increase tensions between his administration and news organizations. No final decision has been made, but the idea has been considered several times, including before his first term.
Key Facts
President Trump and his allies have talked about relocating the White House press corps outside the current building.
This idea has been suggested to address space issues and has been considered since before Trump took office in 2017.
The current White House press briefing room was created during the Nixon administration and replaced a swimming pool.
Last month, Trump shared images suggesting the press briefing room might be turned back into a pool.
Trump’s administration has had ongoing conflicts with news organizations, including attempts to ban some outlets from the White House.
A federal judge ruled that banning certain news outlets likely violated the First Amendment.
The Pentagon has recently changed press access rules, moving reporters to a workspace outside the main building.
White House communications director said all options are open and an announcement will be made when appropriate.
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President Donald Trump spoke at a rally in North Carolina where he downplayed concerns about the economy and high prices. During the same time, Ohio Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy released an attack ad against his Democratic rival, Amy Acton.
Key Facts
President Trump held a rally in North Carolina.
He minimized the seriousness of current economic issues and rising prices.
In Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for governor, released a controversial ad targeting Democrat Amy Acton.
The news coverage was provided by CBS News reporter Weijia Jiang.
The article also mentions other unrelated news topics but focuses mainly on the rally and the political ad.
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President Donald Trump is campaigning in states that strongly supported him in the 2024 election. He is focusing on these areas because polls show the Republican Party’s support is dropping, even in states that usually vote heavily Republican. The midterm elections are two weeks away.
Key Facts
President Trump is actively campaigning for Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections.
He is focusing on "deep-red" states, where Republicans won by large margins in 2024.
Current polls show declining support for the Republican Party, even in these stronghold states.
The midterm elections will take place in two weeks from the date of the article (October 21, 2026).
The article highlights concerns within the Republican Party about possible losses in the upcoming elections.
The source of the story and video is Monte Francis, reporting for France 24.
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The Memphis city council voted against a one-year pause on new data center developments. Instead, they approved a shorter break to study the impact of data centers on the community.
Key Facts
Memphis leaders considered a moratorium, which means a temporary stop, on building new data centers for one year.
The city council decided not to approve the full one-year pause.
They agreed on a shorter moratorium period instead.
Data centers use large amounts of electricity to store and manage information.
The moratorium aims to give Memphis officials more time to understand how new data centers affect the city.
The decision came during a city council meeting with active discussions.
Data centers are important for internet services but can raise concerns about energy use and local impact.
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Ohio Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is criticized for an attack ad that uses personal family details about his opponent Amy Acton. Michigan Democrat Representative Debbie Dingell called the ad "absolutely despicable" and spoke about its negative impact on state politics.
Key Facts
Vivek Ramaswamy is running for governor in Ohio as a Republican.
His campaign released an attack ad involving Amy Acton’s estranged mother.
Amy Acton is Ramaswamy’s opponent in the governor’s race.
The ad has faced backlash and criticism for being personal and controversial.
Representative Debbie Dingell, a Democrat from Michigan, condemned the ad.
Dingell described the ad as "absolutely despicable."
The issue touches on political tactics used in the Ohio and Michigan elections.
The controversy highlights tensions in current U.S. state-level election campaigns.
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The Justice Department’s Inspector General has decided not to investigate claims that prosecutors wrongly accused Olympian David Hearn of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool. The case has been referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility, which handles lawyer misconduct but is seen as less independent and has been weakened since the Trump administration.
Key Facts
David Hearn was indicted for vandalizing the Reflecting Pool but the case was later dropped after new evidence showed a contractor caused the damage.
The Justice Department Inspector General, Don Berthiaume, declined to investigate allegations of misconduct by the prosecutors.
The case was referred to the Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), which investigates certain attorney misconduct.
The OPR head is appointed by the Attorney General and the office has lost about 50% of its staff since the start of the Trump administration.
Hearn’s lawyers say the OPR is no longer fully capable of conducting strong oversight.
The lawyers alleged possible crimes including witness tampering, perjury, obstruction of justice, and civil rights violations related to the case.
A witness changed their testimony during the grand jury hearing, which affected the basis for the felony charge.
There have been past concerns about limits on the Inspector General’s power to investigate attorney misconduct in the Justice Department.
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Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff is facing criticism for how he responded to a letter from Jane Doe, who alleges she was gang raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house. The issue has raised concerns about the university’s handling of sexual assault claims.
Key Facts
Jane Doe wrote a letter describing an alleged gang rape at the Chi Phi fraternity house at Cornell University.
Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff’s response to the letter has been criticized.
The situation has sparked public and media attention.
The case is part of broader concerns about sexual assault on college campuses.
No details in the article specify the exact content of Kotlikoff’s response.
The Chi Phi fraternity is under scrutiny because of the allegation.
The incident has prompted discussions about how universities support survivors of sexual violence.
The report comes from a CBS News segment aired recently.
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Families and advocacy groups say that very sick detainees in two Florida immigration jails are scheduled to be deported to African countries, despite their serious health problems. These detainees face unclear conditions after deportation, and concerns are raised about lack of medical care during and after their removal.
Key Facts
Detainees at Krome North and Broward transitional ICE facilities in Florida are reportedly targeted for deportation to African countries such as the Central African Republic and Burundi.
Some detainees are very ill, with conditions like diabetes and pancreatitis, and have experienced poor medical care while detained.
Mexico and Cuba have refused to accept some detainees due to their medical needs.
Deportations are planned within days, possibly on Thursday or Friday of the reported week.
Deportees may face harsh travel conditions, including shackling and extended flights lasting up to 24 hours.
Advocacy groups report detainees may not receive adequate medical care after deportation.
ICE facilities mentioned are overcrowded and privately operated.
The Department of Homeland Security did not comment further after being given detainee details.
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Several protesters were taken out of President Donald Trump’s rally in North Carolina on Tuesday night. At the same time, political advertisements in Ohio are becoming more personal during the midterm election season.
Key Facts
President Trump held a rally in North Carolina on Tuesday night.
Multiple protesters at the rally were removed by security.
Political ads in Ohio are becoming more personal and targeted.
The events are part of the ongoing midterm election campaigns.
The rally and ads reflect increased political activity ahead of the midterms.
The article is focused on U.S. domestic political events.
The reporting was done by Weijia Jiang for CBS News.
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Justice Elena Kagan said that recent Supreme Court decisions have increased political divisions in the United States. She focused on rulings that allowed more political spending and reduced protections for voting rights.
A woman named Anna Marlene Somoza, linked to drug cartels, was arrested in Mexico for the 1997 murder of her daughter in Arizona. After a long investigation and years on the run, authorities confirmed the victim's identity through DNA and are working to bring Somoza back to face charges.
Key Facts
Anna Marlene Somoza was connected to major drug trafficking near the Arizona border.
She acted as a confidential informant for Arizona law enforcement after a 1993 arrest for marijuana offenses.
Somoza’s daughter, Crystal Reyes, was born in 1993 and lived in Arizona where she suffered severe abuse.
Crystal Reyes died in 1997 by suffocation inside a sealed cardboard box.
Human bone fragments found in 1998 were identified years later as Crystal's through DNA testing.
Somoza and her boyfriend, detective Avelino Tamala, were charged with first-degree murder; Tamala received a life sentence in 2016.
Somoza fled to Mexico and avoided capture for years due to cartel connections.
She was arrested in Mexico in September 2026, and efforts to extradite her to Arizona are ongoing.
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Thousands of California public employees planned to strike over contract talks with Governor Gavin Newsom’s administration. The union demands include higher pay, flexible work options, and better healthcare, but negotiations have stalled since the contract expired on June 30.
Key Facts
About 100,000 public employees, including nurses and teachers, are represented by SEIU Local 1000 union.
The union wants a 20% pay increase over three years, more state aid for healthcare, and the option to work remotely more often.
Governor Newsom wants state workers to be in the office four days a week.
Talks stopped after the contract ended on June 30, with both sides not agreeing on key proposals.
The union filed a complaint saying the state delayed responses and claimed there was no money for raises.
The strike on Wednesday was the first for this union.
About 5,000 essential workers will keep working during the strike to protect public health and safety.
The state has not publicly shared details about the contract negotiations.
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Christina Applegate shared on her podcast that she was wrongly diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), a disease she said she had in 2021. She revealed the mistake during a conversation with Jamie-Lynn Sigler.
Key Facts
Christina Applegate announced she had multiple sclerosis in 2021.
She later found out her diagnosis was incorrect.
Applegate revealed the misdiagnosis on her podcast "Messy."
Jamie-Lynn Sigler co-hosts the podcast with Applegate.
Multiple sclerosis is a disease that affects the brain and spinal cord.
The misdiagnosis means she does not have MS as previously thought.
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Democrat Xavier Becerra is leading Republican Steve Hilton by 27 points in the race for California governor, according to a recent poll. The survey shows 60% of likely voters support Becerra as the election approaches.
Key Facts
Xavier Becerra is the Democratic candidate for California governor.
Steve Hilton is the Republican candidate opposing Becerra.
A poll by Emerson College was released on Wednesday.
The poll shows Becerra with 60% support among likely voters.
Becerra leads Hilton by 27 percentage points in the poll.
The election day is only a few weeks away.
Becerra previously served as the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
The current governor of California is leaving office, prompting this race.
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