New CBS News polling shows the Texas Senate race is very close between James Talarico and Ken Paxton. The results suggest the outcome could go either way as the candidates compete for votes.
Key Facts
The CBS News poll focuses on the Texas Senate race.
James Talarico and Ken Paxton are the two main candidates.
The race is described as a "toss-up," meaning it is very competitive and uncertain.
Anthony Salvanto, CBS News executive director of elections and surveys, reviewed the poll numbers.
The poll indicates that neither candidate has a clear lead at this time.
Texas voters will decide between Talarico, a Democrat, and Paxton, a Republican.
The poll results reflect voter opinions at the current moment and may change as the election approaches.
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Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow federal judges to quickly review immigration detentions. He wants to stop people from being held for long periods without court checks on the legality of their detention.
Key Facts
Mahmoud Khalil is a Palestinian activist.
He filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday.
The request asks judges to quickly decide if immigration detentions are legal.
Currently, courts cannot review these detentions until immigration courts finish their cases.
This rule comes from a decision by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia.
Khalil wants the Supreme Court to overturn that decision.
The goal is to prevent people from being detained for months or years without review.
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President Donald Trump is visiting Kansas to support Senator Roger Marshall in his close election race against Democrat Adam Hamilton. This event happens 15 days before the U.S. midterm elections, despite President Trump winning Kansas by 16 points in the 2024 presidential election.
Key Facts
President Trump is campaigning for Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas.
Marshall is in a tight race against Democrat Adam Hamilton.
Kansas was won by President Trump with a 16-point lead in the 2024 election.
The visit occurs just 15 days before the midterm elections.
The midterms are important elections held between presidential election years.
President Trump is actively working to help Republican candidates in key races.
The article was reported by CBS News chief White House correspondent Nancy Cordes.
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Rep. Angie Craig, a Democrat from Minnesota, criticized some members of her own party for associating with Hasan Piker, a left-wing streamer known for controversial statements. She said Democrats should hold themselves to the same standards they expect from the far right.
Key Facts
Rep. Angie Craig is a Democratic Congresswoman from Minnesota.
She spoke out about fellow Democrats connecting with Hasan Piker.
Hasan Piker is a left-wing online streamer with controversial views.
Craig emphasized the need for Democrats to avoid the same divisive politics they criticize on the right.
The statement was made on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).
Craig called some of Piker’s language and behavior “dangerous.”
This criticism highlights ongoing debates within the Democratic Party about political conduct and messaging.
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President Donald Trump’s administration is providing up to $42 million from the Defense Production Act to support the Constitution Pipeline project. This pipeline would carry natural gas from Pennsylvania to New York and has faced controversy before.
Key Facts
The Constitution Pipeline is planned to transport natural gas between Pennsylvania and New York.
The Energy Department announced up to $42 million in funding under the Defense Production Act.
The Defense Production Act is a law that helps speed up projects important to national defense.
The pipeline project has previously been stopped or delayed due to opposition and legal challenges.
The funding aims to revive and support this infrastructure project in the Northeast U.S.
The announcement was made during President Donald Trump’s current administration.
Natural gas pipelines are used to move fuel that powers homes, businesses, and industries.
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Independent MP Helen Haines was hit by a car outside her office in northern Victoria on Monday and is in critical condition. The alleged attacker is known to authorities, and this incident has raised concerns about the safety of politicians due to increasing threats and abuse.
Key Facts
Helen Haines is an independent MP from northern Victoria.
She was struck by a car outside her electorate office at about 3:35 pm.
The driver allegedly turned around to hit her deliberately.
Haines is currently in critical condition at Melbourne’s Alfred hospital.
The government reports over 1,067 threats against politicians in the last financial year.
Security for politicians is increasing due to growing risks, including threats inspired by overseas events.
Many MPs now avoid sharing their public schedules and sometimes close their local offices for safety.
Politicians and officials warn against violent political rhetoric and attacks becoming more common in Australia.
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At a campaign rally in Hendersonville, North Carolina, Vice President JD Vance was interrupted by a protester who shouted about releasing the Epstein files. The protester was removed by security while the crowd chanted “USA,” and Vance continued his remarks supporting Republican candidates.
Key Facts
The event was a campaign rally for Vice President JD Vance on October 19 in Hendersonville, North Carolina.
A protester shouted “Release the Epstein files” and “God, bless our children” before being escorted out by security.
The crowd chanted “USA” after the protester was removed.
Vance responded by talking about illegal border crossings and criticizing Democrats, saying the government should work for American citizens.
The rally supported Republican Senate candidate Michael Whatley and congressional candidate Jennifer Balkcom.
The protest and chant happened one week after a protester was removed from President Donald Trump’s rally in Ohio.
Vance and Trump are campaigning actively in several states to support Republican candidates before the November 3 midterm elections.
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A church in Columbus, Ohio is actively involved in fighting the spread of a dangerous drug called "tranq," an animal tranquilizer mixed into street drugs. While overdose deaths from fentanyl are falling, new synthetic drugs like tranq are creating fresh challenges for recovery workers.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump calls drug cartels "terrorists" and describes fentanyl as a "weapon of mass destruction."
Tranq is a powerful animal tranquilizer added to street drugs, making them more dangerous.
The mixture of new synthetic drugs is changing the drug supply in the U.S.
Overdose deaths are decreasing, but workers worry about the strength and effects of these new drugs.
Helping people stop using drugs by offering support could be an effective approach to reduce demand.
The story focuses on efforts in Columbus, Ohio, where the church is on the frontline of this drug crisis.
The report highlights the ongoing challenge of drug trafficking and addiction in the United States.
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The Supreme Court will hear a case about race in admissions to middle schools in Montgomery County, Maryland. The case focuses on whether a district policy that affects Asian American students is discriminatory, after a previous court dismissed the case due to their high admission rates compared to the applicant pool.
Key Facts
The case involves admissions to four selective middle schools in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Parents claim the admission policy favors Black and Latino students while hurting Asian American students.
The policy considers the poverty level of students’ schools as one factor.
Asian American students are concentrated in more affluent schools and their admission share dropped after the policy change.
The district uses a lottery system based on standardized test performance to admit students.
Lower courts dismissed the case because Asian American students were admitted at higher rates than their application share.
The Supreme Court will decide if the parents need to prove they were disproportionately harmed to show intentional discrimination.
The case follows a similar one involving high school admissions in Virginia, where Asian American students were also overrepresented.
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Senator Elissa Slotkin accused Mike Davis, a close ally of President Donald Trump, of encouraging death threats against her and her staff. Davis was considered for a job as Attorney General but now works with a political group linked to MAGA donors.
Key Facts
Senator Elissa Slotkin is from Michigan and a member of the Democratic Party.
Mike Davis is a close legal ally of President Donald Trump.
Davis was considered for the position of Attorney General after Pam Bondi left.
Mike Davis currently works for a political group supported by MAGA donors.
Slotkin claims Davis helped encourage threats of violence against her and her staff.
The death threats reportedly targeted Slotkin and her team.
Pam Bondi was the former Attorney General connected to President Trump.
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President Trump has decided to waive new sanctions on Russia, which were set to start soon after Congress passed the law. This decision has caused criticism from members of both political parties, especially since the sanctions were meant to punish Russia for its war in Ukraine.
Key Facts
Congress approved sanctions on Russia to target top officials and major buyers of Russian oil and gas.
President Trump signed the law on September 18 but later waived the sanctions, saying it was in the U.S. national interest.
The sanctions aimed to pressure Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine, where civilian areas have been attacked.
Some Republicans, including Senators Thom Tillis and John Cornyn, criticized Trump’s waiver, saying it helps Russia and hurts U.S. interests.
The president also recently eased other sanctions on Russia’s energy sector and arranged to buy diesel fuel from Russia.
Experts say the diesel deal will not fix U.S. fuel supply problems caused by conflicts like the one in Iran.
Senator Lindsey Graham, who helped pass the sanctions law before his death, was a strong supporter of the sanctions against Russia.
Critics say waiving the sanctions could extend the war in Ukraine and that working with Putin is risky.
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President Donald Trump is visiting Kansas to support Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican facing a tight race against Democrat Adam Hamilton. This visit comes with two weeks left before the U.S. midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump is campaigning in Kansas to help Senator Roger Marshall.
Roger Marshall is the current Republican senator from Kansas.
Marshall faces a competitive election challenge from Democrat Adam Hamilton.
The Senate race in Kansas is closer than expected.
The visit happens two weeks before the midterm elections.
Midterm elections are national elections held halfway through a president’s term.
Republicans want to keep control of the U.S. Senate.
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President Donald Trump's approval rating has dropped to 31 percent, the lowest in his career, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. Polls also show that more Americans would choose a generic Democrat over a Republican, and many are concerned about rising fuel prices and the direction of the country ahead of the November midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump’s approval rating is at a record low of 31 percent.
Republicans are behind Democrats by 12 points in generic vote preference.
Since the US-Israel war on Iran started on February 28, fuel prices have increased.
Higher petrol and diesel costs have affected the overall economy.
Many Americans feel the country is on the "wrong track" (71 percent in an NBC poll).
55 percent of Americans would vote for the Democratic Party if elections were held now.
A Washington Post/ABC/Ipsos poll found 33 percent approval for Trump and widespread concern about fuel affordability.
These polls highlight challenges for Trump and Republicans leading up to the November 3 midterm elections.
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The Mississippi attorney general said the police shooting of one-year-old Kohen Wiley in Senatobia was justified. The shooting happened during a police response to a shoplifting call, but no charges were made against the child’s mother or her friend.
Key Facts
The shooting took place on June 14 in Senatobia, Mississippi, after police responded to a call about alleged shoplifting of diapers.
Kohen Wiley was sitting in his mother’s lap in a car when a police officer fired into the vehicle, killing the baby and injuring a woman.
The officer involved is Sgt Hunter Foster, who is white; the victims are Black.
The police say the car moved toward officers, nearly hitting one, but an independent autopsy challenges this claim, saying the baby was shot from the side, not the front.
The family’s lawyer has called for the release of police footage of the shooting, which has not been made public.
Senatobia has a history of controversial police actions, including firing a police chief for racial slurs and a high-profile arrest of a 10-year-old Black boy.
The current police chief Angelica Maze is Black, and she replaced Harold Vanderford, who was chief when the shooting occurred.
The case is drawing attention to ongoing concerns about police conduct and race relations in the city.
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Interior Secretary Doug Burgum supports a big renovation project for East Potomac Park and the nearby public golf courses in Washington, D.C. This effort is part of President Donald Trump’s plan to redevelop the area, even as legal challenges increase.
Key Facts
East Potomac Park and the D.C. public golf courses are set for major renovation.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum believes the federal government must lead this effort.
The renovation is part of President Donald Trump’s redevelopment plan for the land.
Some groups are legally challenging the redevelopment plan.
Burgum referenced other successful projects around the country as examples.
The goal is to improve the golf courses, making them some of the best in the country.
The project involves federal government action in a public recreational space.
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Mahmoud Khalil, a pro-Palestinian activist and green card holder, has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow him to sue the Trump administration for violating his free speech rights. He was detained for over 100 days and faced deportation after the government said his activism harmed U.S. foreign policy interests.
Key Facts
Khalil was arrested in New York City in March 2025 and held by ICE before deportation.
The Trump administration claimed Khalil's pro-Palestinian activities threatened U.S. foreign policy.
A federal appeals court ruled that Khalil cannot sue the government until his immigration case is finished.
Khalil argues he was targeted for his speech supporting Palestinians, not for any crime.
He has not been charged with any crime.
The case involves the legal right of habeas corpus, which lets detained people challenge their detention in court.
The White House says it has the authority to act to protect the country and immigration system.
Khalil’s attorney says this case questions if courts can stop the government from using immigration laws to punish speech.
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Shawn Oliver, a New Bedford City Councilor, pleaded not guilty to charges of operating a vehicle under the influence and related offenses after a car crash. He suspended his campaign for lieutenant governor of Massachusetts following the crash that damaged five vehicles and led to his arrest.
Key Facts
Shawn Oliver pleaded not guilty to operating under the influence, negligent driving, speeding, and lane violations.
The crash happened late Saturday night on Dartmouth Street in New Bedford, involving Oliver’s overturned SUV and damage to five vehicles.
Oliver was treated for injuries at a hospital before his arrest.
He suspended his campaign for lieutenant governor a day after the crash.
Oliver was released from jail on the condition he does not drive while his case is active; his next court date is November 16.
Oliver works at the Massachusetts Treatment Center and has been put on restricted duty during the investigation.
The crash caused extensive damage to at least two cars and affected three others.
Police found Oliver standing on a sidewalk after the crash with minor injuries and bleeding.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a women's health division at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and a White House task force to focus on women's health issues. The new division aims to speed up research and improve healthcare for women at all stages of life, with the task force co-led by Susie Wiles and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Key Facts
The executive order establishes a women’s health division at NIH within 90 days.
A White House task force on women’s health will be co-chaired by Susie Wiles and Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
The division will focus on accelerating research, clinical access, and modernizing care across women’s lifespans.
Melania Trump leads this initiative and has outlined five focus areas, including funding research on women’s diseases like endometriosis.
The order does not allocate specific funding but requires Health and Human Services to cover administrative costs.
NIH workforce has been reduced significantly, with a 35% budget cut totaling $2.6 billion.
Critics express concern that workforce cuts and funding limits could hinder the division’s effectiveness.
The White House previously faced backlash for ending contracts linked to important women’s health research programs.
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Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for Ohio governor and a 2024 presidential candidate endorsed by President Trump, is polling worse with independent voters than any GOP nominee in Ohio since 2000. Democrat Amy Acton currently leads Ramaswamy by a few points in most recent surveys, with independents heavily favoring Acton.
Key Facts
Ramaswamy’s net rating among independent voters in Ohio is minus 25, the lowest for a Republican gubernatorial nominee in the state since 2000.
Amy Acton, the Democratic candidate, leads Ramaswamy by around 3 to 4 points in most polls.
Independents make up most swing voters and significantly prefer Acton over Ramaswamy.
Polls show Acton leading among independents by as much as 27 points in some surveys.
Ramaswamy received President Trump’s endorsement and was initially leading in 2025 polling.
If Acton wins, it will be the first Democratic governor’s victory in Ohio since 2006.
Recent polls vary, but overall show Acton gaining strength while Ramaswamy struggles with inflation concerns affecting voter opinions.
Many Ohio voters still expect Ramaswamy to win despite current polling.
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