The 2026 midterm elections in the United States are expected to be the most expensive ever, with $11.6 billion spent on political ads alone. Much of this money comes from special groups, secret donors, and wealthy individuals, which many voters feel has too much influence on election outcomes.
Key Facts
The 2026 midterm elections will likely have the highest spending in U.S. history.
$11.6 billion is expected to be spent just on political advertisements.
Independent expenditure-only political action committees (super PACs) play a big role in funding campaigns.
“Dark money” refers to donations where the donors' identities are not disclosed.
Billionaire donors also contribute large amounts to influence elections.
Voters from both major parties say money has too much power in elections.
Experts from Harvard Law School and Capital University discuss who pays and what impact money has on elections.
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Religious leaders from different faiths plan to help voters and prevent voter intimidation on Election Day. They will be present at polling places in states like Ohio, Arizona, and Wisconsin to support voters.
Key Facts
A Quaker leader will travel from Washington, D.C. to Ohio on Election Day.
A Christian minister and a Jewish rabbi will watch outside a polling place in Arizona.
A Buddhist nun will be present to support voters in Wisconsin.
The group is made up of leaders from different religions.
Their main goal is to stop voter intimidation.
They plan to be active on Election Day at various voting locations.
They are working together in a nonpartisan way, meaning they do not support any political party.
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President Donald Trump warned his supporters that if Democrats keep control of Congress, the United States could face chaos like the recent protests and riots in France. He made this comment during a rally in Kansas ahead of the midterm elections in two weeks.
Key Facts
President Trump gave a speech in Kansas during a campaign rally.
He connected the unrest in France with possible problems in the U.S. under Democratic control.
The protests and riots in France have been disruptive and damaging.
Trump used this comparison to warn voters about the consequences of voting for Democrats.
The message was part of his effort to encourage supporters to vote in the midterm elections.
The midterm elections are happening in two weeks from the time of the speech.
Trump’s warning focused on fear of chaos and destruction if Democrats remain in power in Congress.
The speech was aimed at motivating Trump’s voter base to push for Republican control of Congress.
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Karl Rove and David Axelrod, two well-known political strategists, discussed their views on election security and the 2026 midterm elections. They shared their predictions during a conversation with PBS News' Lisa Desjardins at the Economic Club of Chicago.
Key Facts
Karl Rove was a key strategist during President George W. Bush’s time in office.
David Axelrod was a main adviser for President Barack Obama.
They talked about the importance of election security.
The discussion focused on the 2026 midterm elections.
The conversation lasted nearly one hour.
The event took place at the Economic Club of Chicago.
The interview was conducted by PBS News journalist Lisa Desjardins.
Part of the discussion was shared in a video player above the article.
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Millions of Americans who did not pay their federal student loans on time could have money taken directly from their paychecks starting in 2027. The government is planning to hire private debt collectors and might also take some tax refunds and Social Security benefits to recover these debts.
Key Facts
Nearly 10 million Americans are in default on their federal student loans.
The government can take up to 15% of a borrower's wages without going to court.
Borrowers usually receive a notice at least 30 days before wage garnishment begins.
The Treasury Department is preparing to hire private debt collectors as early as November.
Wage garnishment and benefit seizures could worsen financial problems for struggling borrowers.
The government can also intercept federal tax refunds and some Social Security benefits.
Debt collection measures were delayed multiple times but could resume soon.
Borrowers can contest the debt or try to fix their default status before wage garnishment starts.
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The U.S. Department of Justice (DoJ) gave Los Angeles election officials a list of 20,000 suspected non-citizens registered to vote, but local officials found that many on the list were actually born in the U.S. The DoJ sued California after state officials refused to separate ballots from the people on the list without confirming their citizenship.
Key Facts
The DoJ sent a list of 20,000 suspected non-citizens in California to election officials last week.
Los Angeles officials found that about 39% of a sample on the list were born in the United States.
Only around 7,000 people on the list had an address in Los Angeles County.
43% of the listed voters had canceled voter registrations, and 71% never voted.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) created the list but has not shared how it matched voter records to non-citizen records.
Previous DHS lists from other states, like Nevada, have been found to contain errors, with all flagged voters confirmed as citizens.
The DoJ says some people on the list might be citizens but insists California must check the citizenship of voters on the list.
California officials refused to separate ballots without independent citizenship checks, leading to the DoJ lawsuit.
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President Donald Trump did not confirm if he would support Vice President Vance if Vance decided to run for president in 2028. When asked about the endorsement, Trump spoke positively about Vance but did not give a clear answer.
Key Facts
Vice President Vance said he believed President Trump would support him for the 2028 presidential race.
President Trump was asked about endorsing Vance during a public appearance on Tuesday.
Trump praised Vance as a talented and good person but did not confirm his endorsement.
The conversation took place while both men were together in public.
No official endorsement or refusal was made by President Trump at that time.
Vance is considering a potential run for the presidency in 2028.
The interaction shows ongoing relations and political positioning within the administration.
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A leading Democratic political action committee (PAC) is starting a $1.2 million advertising campaign for the Mississippi Senate race. The group aims to help Democrats win the Senate majority in the November elections by targeting this traditionally Republican state.
Key Facts
Senate Majority PAC (SMP) is a top Democratic super PAC.
SMP plans to spend $1.2 million on ads in Mississippi.
The ads will appear on television and digital platforms.
Mississippi is usually a strong Republican (red) state.
The goal is to help Democrats win control of the U.S. Senate in November.
The campaign is part of a broader strategy to target key Senate races.
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President Donald Trump is warning voters that if Democrats win control of Congress, the country will face serious problems like economic collapse, violent unrest, and uncontrolled immigration. He is also promising $5,000 checks for every adult American if Republicans keep Congress, though the plan would cost over $1 trillion and has no clear plan for approval.
Key Facts
President Trump says Democrats would cause economic disaster similar to the 1929 Great Depression.
He claims Democratic policies would lead to violent protests and burning cities like recent unrest in France.
Trump warns that Democrats support gender-transition procedures for children in schools, which is not accurate.
He says Democrats want to open U.S. borders and release prisoners into the country, though this is not supported by evidence.
Trump offers $5,000 payments to each adult American if Republicans keep control of Congress, a plan costing over $1 trillion with no clear funding.
Even if Democrats control Congress, Trump will remain president with the power to veto laws.
White House officials say Trump is focused on keeping Republican majorities.
Democrats plan to reverse some Trump policies, like tariffs and Medicaid cuts, if they win Congress.
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President Donald Trump announced a new program to pay whistleblowers who report fraud against the U.S. government. He said he will personally decide who receives the payments and how much they get.
Key Facts
The government will pay whistleblowers who report fraud involving taxpayer money.
President Trump will decide who is deserving of payment and how large the payment will be.
Whistleblowers can receive about 1% of the fraud amount reported, with no stated upper limit.
Existing rules (False Claims Act) allow whistleblowers to get 25%-30% of recovered money but cover only a small portion of fraud cases.
The new program is overseen by Vice President JD Vance, who leads the fraud task force.
Reports of fraud are sent securely to the Treasury Department; the Department of Justice will run the program.
The first person to benefit from this program is Nick Shirley, who reported fraud at childcare centers in Minnesota.
President Trump promised to be fair and said payments would be made quickly after determination.
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Instacart agreed to pay $5 million to settle claims that it discriminated against U.S. workers in hiring for jobs related to the H-1B visa green card process. The Department of Justice found that Instacart made it harder for American workers to apply by requiring mailed paper applications for these jobs while accepting electronic applications for others.
Key Facts
Instacart paid $5 million to settle allegations of discrimination against U.S. workers.
The claims involved job postings linked to the H-1B visa green card process.
Instacart required paper applications for these roles, creating extra obstacles for U.S. workers.
Electronic applications were accepted for other positions not tied to the green card process.
The Department of Justice and EEOC investigated and found intentional discrimination favoring temporary visa holders.
The settlement follows a similar agreement with OpenAI over related hiring practices.
The Trump administration has increased scrutiny and enforcement around the H-1B PERM process.
Other companies like Microsoft and Adobe have faced suspensions from the program due to fraud allegations.
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A daycare in Richmond, Virginia, was temporarily closed after a 2-year-old child put a loaded gun in their mouth. Authorities took action to ensure safety and investigate the incident.
Key Facts
The incident happened at a daycare in Richmond, Virginia.
A 2-year-old child was involved in putting a loaded gun in their mouth.
The daycare was temporarily shut down following the event.
The closure was done to protect children and investigate the situation.
No further details about injuries or how the gun was accessed were provided in the report.
Local authorities are involved in handling the case.
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President Donald Trump faces a new lawsuit challenging tariffs imposed on Canadian goods after trade talks failed. The Liberty Justice Center, representing a US food company, argues that the White House exceeded its legal power in applying these high tariffs and seeks to stop them and get refunds for affected businesses.
Key Facts
The White House set a 50% tariff on about $20 billion of Canadian products after US-Canada trade talks broke down.
The Liberty Justice Center filed the lawsuit for Gellert Global Group, a US food company paying these tariffs, mainly on Canadian cheese.
The suit claims the tariffs violate the law because the administration misused Section 338 of the 1930 Tariff Act, which is meant to protect US businesses from foreign discrimination.
Canada responded with its own tariffs on American goods, including dairy.
The lawsuit says the tariffs were applied too quickly, ignoring the required 30-day waiting period.
The Liberty Justice Center argues that Congress, not the President, should decide on tariffs and that older laws like Section 338 have been replaced by newer ones like Section 301.
This is the fourth lawsuit by the Liberty Justice Center against Trump’s tariffs, following a successful case earlier this year that blocked tariffs under another law.
The Center wants the court to stop these tariffs and order refunds with interest for businesses affected.
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Sabato’s Crystal Ball, an election forecasting group, has changed its predictions for 28 U.S. House races to favor Democrats. These changes now give Democrats a clear path to win the majority of seats in the House of Representatives in the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
Sabato’s Crystal Ball is a nonpartisan group that predicts election outcomes.
It has moved 28 House races to favor the Democratic Party.
The updates come just two weeks before the midterm elections.
The new forecast shows Democrats have more than 218 seats, the number needed for a House majority.
The categories used include safe, likely, or leaning toward a party.
This shift suggests Democrats could control the House after the midterms.
The changes reflect recent political trends and polling data.
Midterm elections decide all 435 seats in the House of Representatives.
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Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed says that President Trump and Republicans are attacking his faith to distract from everyday problems like high gas and grocery prices. El-Sayed is running against Republican Mike Rogers in a close race that could affect control of the Senate.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
President Trump has attacked El-Sayed’s faith and ethnicity during the campaign.
El-Sayed says these attacks distract from issues like the rising cost of living.
The Michigan Senate race is very close, with polls showing El-Sayed and Mike Rogers nearly tied.
El-Sayed was born in Michigan to Egyptian immigrant parents.
He opposes unconditional U.S. military support for Israel and believes Israel is not a true ally because of pushing the U.S. into wars.
El-Sayed condemned some actions of Iran’s government but advocates for pursuing peace talks.
He supports Medicare for All, a government-run healthcare system.
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President Donald Trump held a rally in Greenville, North Carolina, to support Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley. Retiring Senator Thom Tillis warned that Republicans risk losing control of Congress in the upcoming midterm elections if they do not adjust their strategies.
Key Facts
President Trump campaigned for Michael Whatley, who is running to replace retiring GOP Senator Thom Tillis in North Carolina.
Tillis has expressed concern that Republicans could lose the House and struggle to keep the Senate majority in the midterms.
Tillis criticized the choice of Whatley as the GOP nominee, saying a more moderate candidate might have broader voter appeal.
Polls show Democrat Roy Cooper, former governor, leading Whatley in a key Senate race.
The Republican Senate Leadership Fund has started redirecting money away from Whatley’s campaign to other races.
Tillis said President Trump is often influenced by controversial advisers and suggested changing them could improve his decisions.
Both parties view North Carolina as an important battleground with control of the Senate at stake.
Tillis said the GOP must focus on winning over undecided and moderate voters to avoid a "train wreck" in the elections.
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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani supports Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic candidate running for the U.S. Senate in Michigan. Mamdani said El-Sayed’s win would show that people are open to new political ideas and change in the country.
Key Facts
Zohran Mamdani is the mayor of New York City and a member of the Democratic Party.
He publicly endorses Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic Senate candidate from Michigan.
Mamdani described El-Sayed’s potential win as very important.
The Senate race in Michigan is competitive with multiple candidates.
Mamdani believes El-Sayed’s victory would represent a shift toward fresh political leadership in the U.S.
This support was announced during a press conference.
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A former Cornell student, known as Jane Doe, claims she was gang-raped at a fraternity party in October 2024 and felt that university President Michael Kotlikoff did not support her. The university denies that Kotlikoff questioned her directly, saying he questioned bystanders about delayed reporting but not Doe herself. Faculty members will vote on October 28 on whether to express no confidence in Kotlikoff’s leadership.
Key Facts
Jane Doe alleges she was gang-raped at a Chi Phi fraternity party in October 2024.
She reported the alleged assault about three weeks later to campus police on November 8.
The local prosecutor initially did not press charges but has reopened the case.
Doe wrote a letter saying she felt unsupported and disbelieved by President Kotlikoff after reporting the assault.
Kotlikoff and the university say the account of him questioning Doe is incorrect; he questioned bystanders, not Doe.
The university is conducting an internal investigation and a civil rights inquiry into the incident.
Faculty members expressed concern about how Kotlikoff handled the case and will vote on October 28 on a no-confidence resolution.
Some changes have been made at Cornell, including banning fraternity parties after the allegations.
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Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Joe Manchin, two prominent Democratic figures with very different views, are campaigning for opposing candidates in a close U.S. Senate race in Maine. Manchin supports Republican Susan Collins, while Ocasio-Cortez backs Democrat Troy Jackson as Maine voters prepare for the November 3 midterm elections.
Key Facts
The Maine Senate race is very close between Republican Susan Collins and Democrat Troy Jackson.
Joe Manchin, a former senator known for moderate views, is campaigning for Susan Collins.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a progressive representative from New York, is supporting Troy Jackson.
Republicans currently hold a narrow 53-47 majority in the Senate, with the Vice President as the tiebreaker.
Democrats need to win four Senate seats to take control of the Senate.
Susan Collins is seen as vulnerable because she represents a state that President Trump lost in all his presidential runs, including 2024.
Manchin and Collins have worked together before and share moderate political views despite being from different parties.
Ocasio-Cortez is popular among young progressive voters and plans to appear at a town hall event with Jackson in Portland.
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Political campaigns and lobby groups in the United States are paying social media content creators small amounts, sometimes as low as $25, to make videos that influence voters in the midterm elections. This approach is very hidden, so many people may not realize they are seeing political messages.
Key Facts
Campaigns and lobby groups use social media creators to spread messages for the midterm elections.
Payments to creators can be as low as $25 per video.
The content often looks like regular social posts, not ads.
This makes it hard for viewers to know the content is politically motivated.
The strategy aims to be quick, cheap, and spread widely through viral sharing.
Because the system is not transparent, it is difficult to track who is behind these messages.
This method reflects a new approach to political advertising on digital platforms.
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