Allies of President Donald Trump have discussed the possibility of declaring martial law if they believe the 2024 midterm elections are rigged. However, current U.S. laws and the Constitution do not give the president clear authority to declare martial law or delay elections.
Key Facts
Some Trump supporters propose martial law or extraordinary actions to address alleged election rigging before the November midterms.
There is no evidence the upcoming elections will be rigged.
Federal law does not allow the president to declare martial law to postpone elections or take over election systems.
Martial law means military control replaces civilian government temporarily, but it is not clearly defined in U.S. law or Constitution.
The Supreme Court has never ruled that a president can declare martial law alone without Congress’s approval.
Laws like the Posse Comitatus Act limit the use of the military in domestic affairs.
Election activist Tina Peters, previously convicted related to election equipment, has worked with Trump allies advocating for these measures.
Experts say any military involvement would require legal authorization beyond the president’s power.
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President Donald Trump spoke at a rally in Georgia supporting Republican candidate Mike Collins. During the event, he criticized Senator Jon Ossoff’s looks while praising Collins, who is running against Ossoff in a Senate race. The rally was briefly interrupted by protesters.
Key Facts
President Trump campaigned for Mike Collins in Georgia’s Senate race.
Trump criticized Jon Ossoff’s appearance and compared him unfavorably to Collins.
Collins currently serves in the U.S. House representing Georgia’s 10th district.
Jon Ossoff is the incumbent senator, elected in 2020.
Polls consistently show Ossoff leading Collins by varying margins.
Political forecasters consider the Georgia Senate race leaning or likely Democrat.
Ossoff and Collins recently debated on topics like the Iran war, immigration, and affordability.
Ossoff said he has no interest in running for president in 2028.
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Joe Lockhart, a former White House press secretary during the Clinton administration, said that Katie Zacharia was set up to fail as White House press secretary under President Donald Trump. He said she was not given enough preparation to handle the role successfully.
Key Facts
Joe Lockhart was a White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton.
He commented on Katie Zacharia’s performance as White House press secretary under President Trump.
Lockhart said Zacharia was not properly prepared for the job.
He described her situation as being a “victim” of the White House’s approach.
The criticism was made public on a Friday.
Lockhart avoided making partisan or harsh political accusations.
The statement highlights challenges faced by Zacharia in her White House role.
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A report from congressional Democrats says President Donald Trump's investments in drug companies grew a lot after he returned to the White House in 2024. Many of these companies benefited from a Republican law that protects some drugs from Medicare price negotiations.
Key Facts
President Trump's pharmaceutical stock holdings rose from about $1.7 million in 2024 to as much as $56.2 million by the end of 2025.
Up to $39.1 million of his stock was in companies helped by a Republican law that exempts certain drugs from Medicare price talks.
This law was part of a 2025 tax and spending bill passed with Republican support.
Trump's portfolio made purchases totaling around $2.55 million in drug company stocks before he signed the law in July 2025.
About $950,000 in stock was bought on July 1, 2025, when the Senate passed the bill.
After the bill became law, up to $1 million in shares of AbbVie, a drug company, was bought in August 2025.
The report came from the minority members of the Joint Economic Committee, which is a group of congressional lawmakers.
The article notes that drug prices have declined recently, but the reasons behind this are complex.
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President Donald Trump will campaign in Michigan next week. This event will be his seventh campaign stop in seven days, with a rally planned in St. Clair County on Sunday, October 25.
Key Facts
President Trump will hold a rally in St. Clair County, Michigan.
The rally is scheduled for Sunday, October 25.
This will be his seventh campaign event in seven days.
The day before, he will appear in Macon, Georgia.
The announcement was made by the Republican National Committee.
The campaign visits are part of his midterm travel schedule.
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Laura Loomer, a far-right activist, announced she wants to become the White House press secretary after Katie Zacharia left the position after only five days. Loomer shared her intention on the social media platform X and asked people to consider her for the job.
Key Facts
Laura Loomer is a far-right activist and conservative influencer.
Katie Zacharia was the White House press secretary for only five days before leaving the role.
Loomer publicly expressed her interest in the press secretary position on social media platform X.
She posted three messages in a row to make her case for the job.
Loomer used the phrase “Hear me out: Press Secretary Laura Loomer” in her posts.
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A special edition of "The Morning Meeting" will air before the November 3 midterm elections. The program will focus on important House and Senate races as both Republicans and Democrats make their final efforts to win votes.
Key Facts
The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3.
Control of the U.S. Congress is at stake in these elections.
"The Morning Meeting" is a show that covers political news.
2WAY, NewsNation, and The Hill are working together for this special broadcast.
The program will analyze key races for the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Both political parties—Republicans and Democrats—are trying to persuade voters before Election Day.
The coverage aims to help viewers understand the most important contests.
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The United States has reported more than 4,400 measles cases in 2026, which is nearly double the number from last year. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shared the latest figures, showing that measles infections are rising quickly.
Key Facts
The total number of measles cases in the U.S. for 2026 is 4,410.
Last year, the U.S. had 2,289 confirmed measles cases.
The new total means measles infections will more than double compared to last year.
The CDC provided the updated information on a Friday.
Measles is a contagious disease that can spread quickly, especially when not enough people are vaccinated.
This rise in cases is causing concern for public health officials.
Measles symptoms include rash, fever, cough, and can lead to serious health problems.
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A judge in New Mexico dismissed the charges against actor Timothy Busfield related to allegations of criminal sexual contact with a minor. The judge said the prosecutors did not act fairly during the case.
Key Facts
Timothy Busfield, an actor and director, was charged with four counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor.
The charges came from an indictment in February by a New Mexico grand jury.
A New Mexico judge dismissed the indictment.
The judge ruled that prosecutors failed to act fairly and impartially.
The case remains a developing story with more information expected later.
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"Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan" will feature guests on Sunday, October 18, 2026. The show will include two Republican members of Congress and two Democratic state nominees.
Key Facts
The show airs on CBS News at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time.
It also streams on Paramount+ and CBSNews.com at 12:30 p.m. Eastern Time.
Guests include Republican Senator Kevin Cramer from North Dakota.
Republican Representative Mike Turner from Ohio will also appear.
Florida state Representative Angie Nixon, a Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, is a guest.
Iowa Auditor Rob Sand, the Democratic nominee for governor, will also be featured.
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Sean “Diddy” Combs has been moved from a New Jersey federal prison to a low-security facility in Pennsylvania. This transfer follows reports about his privileged lifestyle inside the prison and an alleged fight, which the prison authorities denied.
Key Facts
Sean Combs was sentenced to four years and two months for prostitution-related crimes involving transporting people across state lines.
He was initially held at FCI Fort Dix in New Jersey before being moved to FCI Allenwood Low in Pennsylvania.
Reports said Combs enjoyed luxury living in prison, including smuggling alcohol, getting special treatment from other inmates, and using a secret cellphone.
The Bureau of Prisons denied reports of a fight involving Combs and said the claims were false.
After the reports, Combs was placed in a more secure housing unit due to disciplinary reasons.
He lost 41 days of good-conduct credit, delaying his release until March 2028.
Combs’s lawyers are appealing his conviction and sentence, but no final decision has been made by the court yet.
His spokesperson said they cannot comment on the transfer and hope his time at the new facility will be smooth.
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Katie Zacharia is leaving her job as White House press secretary less than five days after starting. She faced criticism during her first briefing and questions about her legal qualifications, which she admitted were not as previously described.
Key Facts
Katie Zacharia started as White House press secretary and left the role after less than five days.
President Donald Trump suggested she reconsider the job, saying she didn’t have to continue if she didn’t want to.
Her first press briefing lasted only 14 minutes and included just three questions.
Zacharia was criticized for being unprepared and for giving confusing answers during her debut.
She said she practiced international law in China but admitted she did not pass the U.S. bar exam.
Questions about her legal background became widely discussed in the media and during interviews.
Zacharia said she was hired for communications work, not as an attorney, and did not tell President Trump she hadn’t passed the bar because she was not asked.
This is the shortest tenure for a White House press secretary under President Trump, beating the previous record of 10 days.
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The federal government announced a 3.6 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for VA disability benefits starting in 2027, the largest increase since 2023. This adjustment aims to help veterans keep up with rising living costs, but some veterans say it may not fully cover their growing expenses.
Key Facts
The 3.6 percent COLA was announced by the Social Security Administration and will apply to VA disability compensation after Congress approves it.
This increase follows prior raises of 2.5 percent in 2025 and 2.8 percent in 2026.
Veterans’ monthly benefit increases will vary by disability rating, for example, about $6.50 more for a 10 percent rating and up to around $142 more for a 100 percent rating without dependents.
More than 6 million veterans receive VA disability benefits, which are tax-free payments for service-connected health issues.
The COLA is intended to help benefits keep up with inflation, but rising everyday costs may outpace the increase.
Other payments, like Special Monthly Compensation and survivor benefits, will also increase by 3.6 percent.
Military retirees will generally get about $36 more per month for each $1,000 of retirement pay.
Experts note that whether this increase is enough depends on future economic and military conflict developments.
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Katie Zacharia served as White House press secretary for only five days before leaving the job after a difficult first press conference and questions about her legal experience. President Donald Trump suggested that the position might not be the right fit for her, and the White House confirmed her departure amid a challenging time ahead of the midterm elections.
Key Facts
Katie Zacharia was appointed White House press secretary just weeks before the midterm elections.
She held the position for only five days before stepping down.
Her first press briefing lasted 14 minutes and was seen as unsuccessful.
Questions arose regarding Zacharia’s legal credentials during her time in the role.
President Trump told Zacharia to reconsider if she needed the job, implying it might not suit her.
The White House confirmed Zacharia would be leaving and transitioning out of the role.
Zacharia’s predecessor, Karoline Leavitt, was praised for handling the press briefings skillfully.
The White House is facing political challenges, including election pressures and controversies involving staff.
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Officials gave an update on a recent shooting at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon. Katie Zacharia was fired as White House press secretary after serving only five days in the role.
Key Facts
A shooting occurred at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon.
Officials provided new information about the timeline of the shooting.
Katie Zacharia was appointed White House press secretary but was fired after five days.
Zacharia reportedly spent her last week unusually isolated.
President Donald Trump is holding rallies amid these developments.
The episode also included other news such as a defamation lawsuit against Guilfoyle and discussions on early voting trends.
Additional topics mentioned include recent documentaries, a brush fire in Southern California, and political campaign funding transfers.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has banned unauthorized drones from flying up to 400 feet over the U.S.-Mexico border. This temporary rule aims to help stop illegal drug shipments across the border.
Key Facts
The FAA issued a temporary flight restriction on drones near the U.S.-Mexico border.
Unauthorized drones cannot fly above 400 feet in this zone.
The restriction is meant to help fight drug trafficking.
It applies to the entire U.S.-Mexico border area.
The ban was announced on a Friday.
This rule targets drones flying without permission.
The government wants to improve border security with this step.
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Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has given $1 million to Abdul El-Sayed's campaign for the U.S. Senate in Michigan. This financial support aims to help El-Sayed as he runs for the Senate seat in the upcoming election.
Key Facts
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York.
She transferred $1 million to Abdul El-Sayed’s Senate campaign in Michigan.
Abdul El-Sayed is running for the U.S. Senate seat representing Michigan.
The transfer is intended to support El-Sayed’s campaign efforts.
This news was reported by CBS News political reporter Zak Hudak.
The article focuses on political campaign fundraising within the United States.
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Vice President JD Vance said some immigration officers make serious mistakes, and the Trump administration must act against them. He noted that most officers do their jobs well but acknowledged investigations and disciplinary actions happen when there are problems.
Key Facts
JD Vance spoke during a town hall in Michigan about immigration enforcement.
He said most ICE officers are patriots who want to protect the country but some "really screw up."
The Trump administration investigates and disciplines ICE officers when needed.
Vance did not give specific examples but emphasized the importance of legal and investigatory processes.
ICE officers have been criticized for use of force during increased immigration enforcement under President Trump.
Two Americans were fatally shot by immigration officers during protests in Minnesota earlier this year.
Investigations and legal reviews are ongoing in several cases involving ICE shootings.
Other incidents include ICE agents shooting people in Maine, Texas, and New York during enforcement actions.
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Vice President JD Vance said some ICE agents have made mistakes and were disciplined, but these incidents are not always publicly shared. He also said he will follow the law if he receives any subpoenas.
Key Facts
JD Vance spoke about ICE during a town hall event with Tony Dokoupil.
Vance acknowledged that some ICE agents have made errors in their work.
Such mistakes have led to disciplinary actions for those agents.
These cases are not often advertised or well known to the public.
Vance said he would obey the law if subpoenaed, meaning he would provide any required testimony or documents.
The discussion happened recently and was reported by CBS News.
Vance’s statements came as part of broader political and legal conversations about immigration enforcement.
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Rep. Andy Harris from Maryland responded to a viral video showing him in a disagreement with a student reporter. He said he was simply standing his ground and that the reaction from the liberal media was an overreaction.
Key Facts
Rep. Andy Harris is a Republican from Maryland.
A video showed Harris in a tense exchange with a student reporter.
The video became widely shared and talked about.
Harris spoke about the incident on Fox 45 Baltimore.
He said he did not regret pushing back during the exchange.
Harris believes the liberal media overreacted to the situation.
The reporter asked Harris if he felt sorry about the moment.
Harris described the incident as not very important news.
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