President Donald Trump criticized other Republicans for making the Texas Senate race difficult for Ken Paxton, the Republican nominee. Trump said Senator John Cornyn and political strategist Karl Rove were working against Paxton, which could hurt Texas and the country if Paxton loses.
Key Facts
President Trump accused fellow Republicans of opposing Ken Paxton because of jealousy.
Trump named Senator John Cornyn and Karl Rove as people working against Paxton.
Ken Paxton is the current Texas attorney general and the Republican nominee for Senate.
Polls show Democratic candidate James Talarico slightly ahead of Paxton.
Texas has had a Republican senator since 1988, so a Paxton loss would be unusual.
Trump claimed that weak Republican opposition is the reason for Paxton’s challenges.
The article also mentions Katie Zacharia, the White House press secretary, facing questions about her legal qualifications.
Trump criticized Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries and commented on President Zelenskyy’s relations with him.
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A group called No Kings is organizing thousands of events across the U.S. to encourage people to vote early in the upcoming midterm elections. Their goal is to increase early voting to reduce problems on Election Day and protect the election results from any attempts to interfere or cause confusion.
Key Facts
No Kings started as a protest movement during President Trump’s second term and is now focusing on increasing voter turnout.
On Saturday, No Kings and partners will hold events in all 50 states and Washington DC to promote early voting.
High early voter turnout can prevent long lines, reduce pressure on election workers, and lessen chances for interference.
Organizers want to build a volunteer network to defend the election results if anyone tries to dispute them.
Events include rallies, concerts, festivals, voter registration tables, and themed parties to make voting a community activity.
In states without early voting, groups will help people prepare plans for voting on Election Day.
Organizers worry that authorities or armed groups might intimidate voters at the polls.
No Kings hopes that by voting early and in large numbers, the election will be "too big to rig."
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A California realtor, Wanying "Heather" Zhang, was charged with working as an unregistered Chinese agent. She has connections to a Cambodian criminal group accused of using forced labor and running large scams targeting Americans. Zhang’s associate, Fatai Miao, is linked to a suspected money laundering operation connected to the Sinaloa Cartel.
Key Facts
Wanying "Heather" Zhang, 34, was charged by the FBI for acting as an unregistered foreign agent for China.
Zhang was caught surveilling the son of Taiwan’s president in Seattle in 2025.
Zhang is connected to a Cambodian criminal group accused of forced labor and scams worth billions targeting Americans.
Zhang shared social media photos posing in a luxury car owned by an alleged crime group enforcer.
Fatai Miao, 54, Zhang’s travel companion, runs a construction business registered at a large Irvine home.
The home is said to have been used as a stash house for money laundering tied to the Sinaloa drug cartel.
Miao fled to China on a one-way ticket shortly before an FBI search. He has not been charged.
Zhang allegedly made $190,000 from an unlicensed currency exchange and sent the profits to China.
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President Donald Trump has set the U.S. refugee limit for fiscal year 2027 at 17,500 people, prioritizing mainly white South African Afrikaners. Refugee groups criticize this policy for reducing total refugee admissions and excluding many vulnerable refugees worldwide.
Key Facts
The refugee cap for fiscal year 2027 is 17,500, a sharp cut from previous years.
Most refugees admitted under Trump's policy will be Afrikaners, a white ethnic group from South Africa.
Refugee advocacy groups say this focus neglects many refugees in urgent need globally.
The policy continues Trump’s earlier decisions to restrict refugee admissions except for Afrikaners.
The U.S. accepted 16,292 refugees in fiscal year 2026, almost all Afrikaners except five from Afghanistan.
President Trump claims Afrikaners face racial discrimination in South Africa but there is no evidence of a "white genocide."
Refugees already approved for resettlement had their travel canceled due to these policies.
The South African government and its ambassador deny claims of a targeted attack on Afrikaners.
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A reported gang rape case at Cornell University has drawn attention to how colleges try to prevent sexual assault. Cornell’s president has promised to increase student education on this issue, while many are questioning how well current programs actually work.
Key Facts
A gang rape case at Cornell University has caused concern on campus.
Cornell’s president, Michael Kotlikoff, promised to improve sexual assault education for students.
The incident has led to a wider national discussion on how colleges handle sexual violence prevention.
Sexual assault prevention programs aim to educate students and reduce instances of sexual violence.
Experts say the effectiveness of these programs varies and needs more focus.
Universities across the country are facing similar challenges in preventing sexual assault.
Public attention has increased pressure on schools to do more in educating and protecting students.
The case highlights the ongoing struggle colleges face in addressing sexual violence issues.
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Several Republican and Democratic senators are asking President Trump’s administration for details about whether the Pentagon limited Ukraine's use of the Starshield satellite network. Ukraine officials say these limits affected their ability to track Russian drones.
Key Facts
Four Republican senators joined Democrats to request information from the Trump administration.
They want to know if Pentagon officials restricted Ukraine’s access to the Starshield satellite system.
Starshield is a satellite network that provides fast data speeds needed to control drones.
Ukrainian officials say losing access to Starshield made it harder to intercept Russian drones.
The use of drones by Ukraine is important for their defense efforts against Russia.
The senators’ inquiry focuses on the impact of any Pentagon decisions on Ukraine’s military capabilities.
The situation involves cooperation between the U.S. and Ukraine regarding military technology.
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The Pentagon is increasing the number of U.S. troops in Panama to take part in jungle training. This move is part of a larger effort led by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to fight drug cartels in Latin America.
Key Facts
The Pentagon is sending almost 200 soldiers from Fort Drum in New York to Panama.
These soldiers will undergo jungle warfare training.
The training aims to improve skills needed to combat drug cartels.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is leading the effort to expand the U.S. military’s role in fighting drug cartels.
The U.S. military is increasing its presence in Latin America for this mission.
The operation focuses on using military resources to stop illegal drugs.
The training prepares soldiers for tough conditions in jungle environments.
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A mother shares her experience with her daughter Allison’s college application process at Northwestern University. Despite strong grades and a family legacy tied to the school, Allison’s early decision application was deferred, and the mother regrets her emotional reaction to the situation.
Key Facts
Allison applied early decision to Northwestern University, where both her parents and other family members studied.
The school has a very low acceptance rate, making admission highly competitive.
Allison’s application was deferred, meaning it was delayed for further consideration during the regular admission round.
The mother initially felt angry and upset because she believed Allison deserved to be accepted early based on her qualifications and family ties.
Family legacy includes the mother, father, uncle, aunt, and grandfather, all of whom attended Northwestern.
Despite the deferral, Allison decided to focus on other schools that accepted her rather than trying to push Northwestern.
The mother sought advice and considered contacting the university but ultimately respected Allison’s feelings and choice.
The article highlights the emotional challenges families face during the college admission process.
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Republican lawmakers have proposed a bill to raise the salary threshold in the H-1B visa program from $60,000 to nearly $140,000. This change targets companies that rely heavily on foreign workers by updating a salary limit that has not changed since 1998.
Key Facts
The proposed bill is called the Protecting American Workers Through H-1B Modernization Act.
It was introduced by Republican Representative Glenn Grothman from Wisconsin and has a companion bill in the Senate by Senator Jon Husted of Ohio.
The bill changes the salary exemption threshold for H-1B-dependent employers from $60,000 to about $140,000.
The new threshold would be linked to twice the Social Security Administration’s National Average Wage Index, so it may adjust over time.
H-1B-dependent employers are companies with a large share of workers on H-1B visas and face extra rules to protect American workers.
Current law exempts some H-1B workers from these extra rules if they earn above $60,000 or have a master’s degree or higher.
The bill is part of broader Republican efforts to reform the H-1B visa program, including raising fees, tougher reviews, and stricter hiring rules.
The bill has been sent to the House Judiciary Committee but still needs approval from Congress and the president to become law.
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High school students in Santa Barbara walked out to protest a social media post where four students darkened their skin to look like Black children, an act called blackface. The school district faces criticism for its response, and community members highlighted ongoing problems with racism in local schools.
Key Facts
Four students from San Marcos High School posted a TikTok video featuring blackface, which caused backlash.
The school principal said those students received consequences for their actions.
Over a week later, students and community members protested and spoke at a school board meeting about racism in schools.
The school district superintendent called the blackface incident racist and harmful and pledged to listen to affected students.
Several speakers described broader patterns of racism and harassment, including racial slurs and physical assaults in the district.
The school board promised to discuss these issues further at a future meeting.
National data shows many students in the U.S., especially Black and Asian students, report experiencing racism at school.
Black girls make up 15 percent of girls in U.S. public schools but face disproportionate issues, according to a recent government report.
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Democratic Senate candidates have raised much more money than their Republican rivals in several key states ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. This shows strong financial support and enthusiasm among Democratic voters.
Key Facts
Texas Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico raised $64 million in the third quarter.
Texas Republican Ken Paxton raised $18 million in the same period.
Georgia Democrat Jon Ossoff raised $33.1 million; Republican Mike Collins raised $2.8 million.
Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed raised $30.7 million; Republican Mike Rogers raised $9.7 million.
Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown raised $23 million; Republican Jon Husted raised $5 million.
Other Democratic candidates leading in fundraising include Troy Jackson (Maine), Mary Peltola (Alaska), Josh Turek (Iowa), Roy Cooper (North Carolina), and Adam Hamilton (Kansas).
Republicans have more support from super PACs, but Democrats have more direct donations, showing a larger enthusiasm gap.
The fundraising data comes from FEC filings and campaigns’ reports, including some joint fundraising committees.
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A teenage shooter killed a teacher and three children at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon. The shooter was then killed by an armed bystander who chased him into the school building.
Key Facts
The shooting happened on Thursday afternoon at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.
The victims were a teacher and three children aged 5, 8, and 11.
The shooter was a teenager.
An armed bystander followed the shooter into the school and killed him.
Bend is a city of about 100,000 people in the northwest of the United States.
Police responded quickly after reports of the active shooter on campus.
The incident is under investigation by local authorities.
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A 16-year-old broke into Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, and shot three children and a teacher, killing them. The shooter was then killed by a bystander.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon.
A 16-year-old forced his way inside by shooting at locked doors.
Three children, aged 5, 8, and 11, and one teacher were shot and died.
A bystander intervened and killed the shooter.
The school district’s leader called the event a "senseless tragedy."
The suspect’s name has not been released.
The incident shocked and saddened the local community.
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is slower to hire new staff compared to other health agencies after large workforce cuts made by the Trump administration's Department of Government Efficiency. Many CDC programs have little or no staff despite ongoing funding, causing delays in public health work.
Key Facts
The CDC cut 30% of its workforce over a year ago.
The union representing CDC workers says the agency hired only about 16.5% as many new employees as it lost.
Other health agencies like NIH, FDA, and CMS have hired a much larger share of new staff.
Around 50 CDC programs are fully funded but lack staff, called "zombie" programs.
Some programs affected include those on smoking, sickle cell disease, epilepsy, Alzheimer's, and maternal health.
Many expert CDC employees are on paid administrative leave and cannot work due to lawsuits over the cuts.
The Department of Health and Human Services says the CDC is still fulfilling its important public health duties while hiring carefully.
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Jon Ossoff, the U.S. senator from Georgia, has said multiple times that he has no interest in running for president in 2028. Despite his repeated statements, many people see him as a rising figure in the Democratic Party because of his success in a Republican-leaning state and his strong debate performances. Currently, Ossoff leads comfortably in the race for his Senate seat against Republican Mike Collins.
Key Facts
Jon Ossoff is a 39-year-old Democratic senator from Georgia.
He has publicly stated several times that he does not plan to run for president in 2028.
Ossoff won his Senate seat in a state that usually votes Republican.
Polls show Ossoff leading his opponent, Mike Collins, by 4 to 8 points.
In debates, Ossoff has strongly criticized Collins for his political positions and alleged ties to white nationalist groups.
Ossoff is known for making clear, memorable speeches that spread well on social media.
His political career began with a high-profile but unsuccessful House race in 2017.
Georgia's political landscape is important because it is a swing state with both Republican and Democratic voters.
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The FBI has partnered with UFC fighters to train federal agents in mixed martial arts, holding a seminar at the FBI Academy in Quantico. This collaboration is part of a broader relationship between the UFC and President Donald Trump, including an exclusive contract for the UFC to provide training to the FBI.
Key Facts
UFC fighters conducted a hand-to-hand combat seminar for about 300 FBI agents and trainees in March at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
The seminar included instruction in striking, grappling, weapon defense, and ground control.
FBI Director Kash Patel publicly supported the partnership and posed for photos with agents and UFC fighters.
In September, the FBI filed a document to award an exclusive one-year contract to the UFC without competitive bidding.
The UFC is described by the FBI as uniquely qualified to train agents in mixed martial arts.
The UFC owner, Dana White, is a close friend of President Donald Trump and has supported his political campaigns.
President Trump hosted a UFC event on the White House lawn for his 80th birthday, a first for any professional sports organization.
The Trump administration signed a memorandum of understanding to use UFC and sports as part of "sports diplomacy" initiatives.
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Some supporters of President Donald Trump are discussing using martial law or other extreme measures if they believe the 2024 midterm elections are rigged, despite no evidence of fraud. Legal experts say the president does not have the power to delay elections, seize ballots, or impose martial law over election disputes.
Key Facts
MAGA activists suggest President Trump should use martial law if the midterm elections are rigged.
Tina Peters, an activist convicted of breaking election equipment laws, recently met with President Trump.
Peters and her attorney propose switching to hand-marked paper ballots and hand recounts to secure elections.
Trump’s childhood friend, attorney Peter Ticktin, said martial law might be necessary to investigate election problems.
Legal experts state the president cannot delay elections or override state election rules.
Emergency powers do not allow the president to control ballots or election equipment.
Some officials in the Biden administration have expressed doubts about the 2020 election results.
Voting system rules and election dates are set by states and Congress, not the president.
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Rep. Sara Jacobs says that the U.S. is focusing too much on being first in the AI race with China. Instead, she argues the U.S. should aim to create AI systems that people trust and want to use, while making sure these systems are safe and well-regulated.
Key Facts
The U.S. leads in advanced AI models and computing, but China leads in how much their AI models are used worldwide.
Chinese AI models became much more popular on Open Router, rising from 1% use in 2024 to over 60% in May 2026.
Chinese AI models are cheaper and use less computing power than leading U.S. models.
Rep. Jacobs believes the U.S. advantage is trust and safety, not just speed.
She says Congress needs to regulate AI by setting safety standards, requiring developers to publish safety plans, and doing pre-deployment testing.
She criticizes relying on companies to self-regulate AI development, citing past failures like the OpenAI breach at Hugging Face.
Jacobs recommends taxing capital similarly to labor and considering new taxes on AI use to shape company behavior.
She calls for federal regulators with authority, staff, and funding to oversee AI safety and enforce rules continuously.
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A Democrat, Adam Hamilton, is running a close race against Republican Senator Roger Marshall in Kansas, a state that has mostly voted Republican for nearly 100 years. The Kansas Democratic Party has grown stronger recently, with help from Governor Laura Kelly and party chair Jeanna Repass, who have built better organization and resources for local campaigns.
Key Facts
Kansas has not elected a Democratic U.S. senator since 1928.
Registered Republicans outnumber Democrats by about 400,000 in Kansas.
Adam Hamilton, a Methodist megachurch pastor, is tied in polling with Senator Roger Marshall.
Senator Marshall has faced criticism for suing former patients over unpaid medical bills.
Governor Laura Kelly, a Democrat, has helped strengthen the Kansas Democratic Party’s organization.
Jeanna Repass became the party chair to improve its infrastructure after a period of decline.
The party added full-time staff and expanded organizing efforts to 68 counties.
Grassroots organizing, not just money or ads, is playing a big role in making the race competitive.
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Democrats are focusing on a South Florida House race in a district that President Trump won by 15 points in 2024. They are supporting Eliott Rodriguez, who recently joined their top target list, to try to win the seat against Republican María Elvira Salazar, with early voting starting soon.
Key Facts
The race is in Florida's 27th Congressional District, which is about 74% Hispanic.
President Trump won this district by 15 points in the 2024 election.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is campaigning for Democrat Eliott Rodriguez in Miami.
Rodriguez recently joined the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue program for special support.
Polls commissioned by Democrats show a very close race, with Salazar slightly ahead or tied.
Early voting in Miami-Dade County begins Monday, with mail ballots already coming in.
The district has historically favored Republicans in recent statewide and national elections.
A win by Rodriguez would make him the first Democrat elected in this district since 2018.
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