Minnesota Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan is ahead by one point in a new poll for the U.S. Senate race against Michele Tafoya, a former NFL sideline reporter. The poll shows Flanagan with 46% support and Tafoya with 45% among likely voters.
Key Facts
Peggy Flanagan is the current Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota and a Democrat.
Michele Tafoya is the Republican candidate and a former NFL sideline reporter.
A recent InsiderAdvantage poll shows Flanagan leading Tafoya by 1 percentage point.
The poll surveyed likely voters in Minnesota’s U.S. Senate race.
Flanagan received 46% support in the poll.
Tafoya received 45% support in the poll.
The margin between the two candidates is very small, indicating a close race.
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The Senate voted on a bill about how data centers affect energy costs but did not approve it. The bill needed 60 votes to pass but only got 57. The vote happened during the busy election season as senators prepared to campaign.
Key Facts
The bill aimed to address concerns about data centers increasing monthly energy bills for voters.
It proposed that utility regulators consider a rule to charge large energy users rates that cover system upgrade costs.
The bill was seen as modest, serving mostly as a suggestion to regulators rather than a strict rule.
Democrats said the bill was not strong enough and wanted more action.
Republicans said the bill sent an important message encouraging regulators to act.
The bill needed 60 votes to move forward in the Senate but only received 57 votes.
The vote was one of the last before senators left Washington to campaign for upcoming elections.
Data centers have become a key issue in the midterm elections due to their impact on energy prices.
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President Donald Trump met with top AI company leaders at the White House to create the White House Accord on Super Intelligence. This voluntary agreement asks companies to set up internal safety controls and independent reviews, but it does not have legal force or penalties.
Key Facts
The White House Accord was signed by leaders from Meta, Nvidia, Google, OpenAI, xAI, and Anthropic.
The pact requires AI companies to have four layers of control, including internal teams and outside auditors.
The agreement is voluntary and does not include penalties for non-compliance.
Companies are not required to share audit results publicly or give the government enforcement power.
The pact suggests the possibility of future laws to require these controls.
Some AI executives have called for mandatory government regulations alongside voluntary industry standards.
Congressional lawmakers, including Senator Bernie Sanders and Representative Greg Casar, have proposed legal bans on certain types of AI.
Concerns exist about whether AI models are properly monitored, after reports of ignored employee warnings at OpenAI.
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Los Angeles mayoral candidate Nithya Raman said she is independent from the Democratic Socialist of America (DSA) even though the group supports her campaign. Raman and current Mayor Karen Bass spoke at a public forum organized by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles.
Key Facts
Nithya Raman is running for mayor of Los Angeles.
She is a member of the Democratic Party.
Raman has earned support from the Democratic Socialist of America (DSA), a left-wing group.
Raman emphasized that she remains independent from the DSA despite their backing.
The race is against the current mayor, Karen Bass, who is also a Democrat.
Both candidates spoke at a forum hosted by the Jewish Federation of Los Angeles.
The event was a chance for the candidates to share their views publicly.
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The Justice Department filed a complaint against several federal judges in Minnesota for talking to a newspaper about how increased immigration enforcement affects their court. The complaint said this was improper and asked for the judges to be removed from immigration-related cases while the Eighth Circuit court investigates.
Key Facts
The Justice Department filed the complaint against federal judges in Minnesota.
The judges spoke to The New York Times about the effects of immigration enforcement on their court.
Some judges spoke on the record, others anonymously.
The complaint said the judges acted improperly and unethically.
It asked for the judges to be removed from cases involving the Department of Homeland Security.
The complaint called for an investigation by the Eighth Circuit court.
The chambers of the judges named in the complaint did not comment.
This is part of ongoing conflicts between President Trump’s Justice Department and federal judges.
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Kristi Noem, who once led the Department of Homeland Security under President Donald Trump and is a former governor of South Dakota, has filed for divorce from her husband of 34 years. The divorce filing cites "irreconcilable differences" and comes after recent public questions about her relationship with a top adviser.
Key Facts
Kristi Noem was the Department of Homeland Security Secretary from January 2025 to March 2026 under President Trump.
She was also the governor of South Dakota before her DHS role.
Noem married Bryon Noem in May 1992, and they have three children.
She filed for divorce in April, and the court filing was made public in Hamlin County, South Dakota.
The divorce states "irreconcilable differences" as the reason.
Earlier this year, questions were raised about her relationship with a top adviser.
President Trump fired Noem amid controversies during her time leading DHS.
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At a Make America Healthy Again event, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. praised artificial intelligence (AI) for allowing people to question medical experts and get second opinions. He claimed AI could free Americans from "medical tyranny" by doctors and suggested it would support his views against vaccines and other public health advice. However, AI chatbots like Google’s Gemini and ChatGPT confirmed that masks, social distancing, and vaccines do help prevent illness, contradicting Kennedy’s claims.
Key Facts
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. spoke at a Make America Healthy Again event alongside Vice President JD Vance.
Kennedy said AI could help people challenge medical advice from doctors and experts.
He suggested AI might prove that masks, social distancing, and vaccines do not work as experts say.
AI chatbots Google Gemini and ChatGPT provided answers that support medical experts, confirming masks, social distancing, and vaccines do help prevent infectious diseases.
The AI responses agreed vaccines can reduce infection and transmission, but protection depends on the vaccine and the disease.
Kennedy has no medical or scientific background but promotes views opposing mainstream public health guidance.
AI is not necessarily more reliable than doctors and experts for medical advice.
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said doctors should use AI as a tool, not a replacement for professional judgment.
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Justine Marie May, a South Carolina woman, is charged with two counts of homicide by child neglect after her two toddlers were found dead in her home during a welfare check. Authorities and family members say there were warning signs and requests for help before the children’s deaths, but it is unclear what actions were taken.
Key Facts
Justine Marie May, 31, faces homicide charges following the deaths of her two daughters under age 3.
The children were found dead at their home in Ladson, South Carolina, during a welfare check on September 29.
Family members tried for weeks to get help for May and the children, noticing changes in May’s behavior and signs of the younger child’s illness.
May told investigators she was in a "blur" and could not remember feeding her children recently.
May admitted neglect by not feeding or giving drink to the children, who she was the sole caregiver for.
Deputies had been called to the home before for welfare checks and found May outside crying and incoherent at the latest check.
May is accused of child neglect that led to the deaths of the toddlers; no motive has been released.
May’s mother contacted local police the day before the children were found dead, raising questions about prior knowledge by authorities.
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President Donald Trump met with leaders in artificial intelligence (AI) to discuss the future of AI safety. These AI executives signed voluntary agreements to follow ethical guidelines meant to protect people from AI risks.
Key Facts
President Trump held a meeting with AI industry leaders this week.
The AI executives agreed to "morally binding" voluntary controls, which are ethical rules they promise to follow.
The goal of these controls is to make AI safer and reduce potential harm.
Robbie Goldfarb, co-founder of Forum AI, spoke about the meeting on CBS News.
CBS News correspondent Weijia Jiang provided more information after the interview.
The meeting is part of ongoing efforts to regulate AI technology without strict government laws.
The safety and future impacts of AI remain uncertain.
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A federal appeals court paused the planned execution of Christa Pike, the only woman on Tennessee's death row, to review claims about her childhood abuse that may affect her sentencing. Tennessee officials have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to cancel this pause so the execution can proceed.
Key Facts
Christa Pike, 50, was set to be executed by lethal injection in Tennessee on Wednesday at 10 a.m. CT.
She was convicted of murdering 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in 1995.
A three-judge panel of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals issued a 2-1 decision to delay the execution for further review.
The court wants to examine if Pike’s claims of childhood sexual abuse were properly considered before her death sentence.
Tennessee’s Department of Correction filed a request with the U.S. Supreme Court to lift the delay and proceed with the execution.
Pike argued that her PTSD from past abuse would make the execution cruel and unusual punishment.
The Tennessee Supreme Court and U.S. Supreme Court initially denied her requests related to these claims.
Pike's lawyer said the appeals court recognized serious concerns about her execution.
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President Donald Trump launched America.gov, an AI-powered government website designed to help Americans interact with the federal government. The site's chatbot provides accurate information, including correcting false claims made by President Trump on topics like election results, inflation, and other issues.
Key Facts
America.gov is a government AI website created to assist Americans with federal services.
The chatbot on America.gov answers questions based on verified government data.
The AI corrected President Trump’s false claim that he won the 2020 election, stating Joe Biden won.
It disputed Trump’s claim that American household wealth doubled recently, citing Federal Reserve data.
The AI rejected Trump’s claim of the “worst inflation ever,” using official statistics from the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
It refuted Trump’s statement that the US and Venezuela hold 60% of the world’s oil reserves.
The chatbot also corrected the false claim about Trump’s 2017 inauguration having the largest crowd ever.
The AI denied Trump’s claim that wind turbines negatively affect whales according to federal science.
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President Donald Trump criticized Fox News on Wednesday. He said people in the "MAGA" movement and true patriots will never like the network because it often invites Democrats to speak negatively about Republicans and himself.
Key Facts
President Trump spoke out against Fox News on Wednesday.
He claimed the network frequently invites Democrats like Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries.
He said these Democrats say negative things about the Republican Party and him.
President Trump stated that "MAGA" supporters and "REAL Patriots" will never like Fox News.
The complaint focuses on Fox News hosting Democrats, not Republicans or Trump supporters.
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The head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Brendan Carr, said that a series of taxpayer-funded ads related to President Donald Trump are not illegal and do not need to be reviewed. These ads, which critics say act like political campaign ads, have faced opposition from lawmakers on both sides who say public money should not fund political messages.
Key Facts
Brendan Carr, appointed by President Trump, leads the FCC and sees no issue with the ads.
The advertisements are described by the White House as reminders to love the country, not campaign ads.
Democratic and Republican lawmakers have criticized the ads for possibly misusing public funds.
Lawmakers have called for the Department of Homeland Security to stop spending $20 million on these ads.
Some Democrats say the ads could violate the Hatch Act, which stops government workers from political campaigning.
The ads have aired during popular TV programs, including national sports events.
President Trump is not currently on any election ballot but has promoted the idea of running again in 2028.
Critics say the ads use government money for political purposes, which may be illegal.
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Dr. Nicole Saphier, nominated by President Donald Trump to be the U.S. surgeon general, was approved by a Senate committee to move forward in the confirmation process. She is a radiologist and former TV contributor who supports vaccines and has denied any link between vaccines and autism.
Key Facts
Dr. Nicole Saphier is President Trump’s third nominee for surgeon general.
A Senate committee voted 12 to 11 to advance her nomination.
Saphier is a radiologist and was a contributor on Fox News Channel.
She was questioned about her views on childhood vaccines during her confirmation hearing.
Saphier said she supports vaccines and does not believe vaccines cause autism.
The Trump administration has revisited vaccine-autism claims, despite scientific studies disproving any link.
The next step for her nomination is a full Senate vote.
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The Senate voted on a bill to lower electricity costs for data centers. The bill passed with 57 votes in favor and 43 against, with most Democrats voting no.
Key Facts
57 senators voted yes and 43 voted no on the data center electricity cost bill.
49 Republicans and 8 Democrats voted yes.
41 Democrats and 2 independent senators who work with Democrats voted no.
The independent senators voting no were Bernie Sanders and Angus King.
The bill aims to reduce the rising electricity costs caused by large data centers.
The Senate roll-call shows how each senator voted but does not explain their reasons.
Some Democrats who voted yes include Maggie Hassan, Amy Klobuchar, Jon Ossoff, and Raphael Warnock.
The bill’s vote reflects ongoing debates about electricity use and costs related to data centers.
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The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is starting a new program called SURPASS to make clinical trials faster and cheaper. The program aims to improve how new drugs are tested by using new technology and better processes over the next five years.
Key Facts
The SURPASS program was announced by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., ARPA-H Director Alicia Jackson, CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, and FDA Acting Commissioner Kyle Diamantas.
SURPASS stands for Simulation-augmented, Real-time Platform Adaptive Seamless Trials.
The program will fund teams that include drug sponsors to develop faster and more efficient clinical trials.
The goal is to allow faster trials with fewer patients and to analyze data during the trial instead of after it ends.
Automation and computer predictions will be used to reduce inefficiencies and improve drug outcome forecasts.
The FDA is involved in planning to ensure the trials meet regulatory requirements.
The program hopes to reduce clinical trial costs by up to 10 times and cut the timeline for drug development in half or more.
Additional projects are planned to expand trial sites, improve data systems, and help cancer patients use their data better.
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The Federal Reserve’s watchdog found no evidence of criminal activity in a costly renovation of two Fed buildings in Washington, DC. The project went about $1 billion over budget, but no laws were broken, and no administrative misconduct was found.
Key Facts
The renovation project cost about $2.4 billion, roughly $1 billion over the original budget.
The inspector general found no reason to refer the case for criminal investigation.
President Trump had used the renovation costs to criticize then-Fed Chair Jerome Powell.
Trump pressured Powell to lower interest rates during his time as Fed Chair.
A Department of Justice investigation into the renovation and Powell’s testimony was closed earlier in 2024.
The watchdog report said the Fed poorly managed the project and failed to set a guaranteed maximum price to control costs.
Some design elements, like marble and water features, were blamed for overruns but did not significantly add to the cost.
Cost overruns on government projects are common, including Trump’s own White House ballroom renovation.
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Some Republicans have announced their support for Democratic candidates in the upcoming November elections. This is notable because the November vote will decide which party controls both the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Key Facts
The midterm elections are scheduled for November.
Control of both chambers of Congress is at stake.
A small but growing group of Republicans is supporting Democrats.
Among these Republicans are a former governor, a GOP election official, and a former Senate candidate.
The act of supporting candidates from the other party is sometimes called "crossing the aisle."
This kind of support is unusual because parties usually back their own candidates.
These endorsements may influence voters who identify as Republicans but are open to Democratic candidates.
The overall impact on the election outcome is still uncertain.
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A Michigan nurse, Chloe Renae Freeman, has been charged with helping an undocumented immigrant escape from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody while he was treated at a hospital. The man, who had been injured and was in ICE custody, left the hospital with Freeman’s help and has not been found since.
Key Facts
Chloe Renae Freeman, 33, worked at a hospital in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
She is charged with "instigating or assisting escape," a federal misdemeanor.
The undocumented immigrant from Mexico was arrested by border patrol agents earlier the same day.
The man was injured during the arrest and taken to the hospital for treatment.
Freeman helped the man leave the hospital by removing his IV drip and guiding him out through an ambulance exit.
Freeman said she acted because she disagreed with ICE separating families.
The man has not been found since his escape from the hospital.
Freeman surrendered to authorities, had a court hearing, and was released on a $10,000 bond.
Freeman no longer works at the hospital, which has not fully commented on its cooperation with the FBI.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will announce plans to cut the number of top generals and admirals in the military by 20% by January 1, 2027. This is double the 10% cut ordered last year and affects about 800 high-ranking military officers.
Key Facts
Hegseth will give a speech at 3 p.m. EDT about these military cuts.
The reduction will affect generals and admirals across all military branches.
The original cut was 10%, now increased to 20%.
The goal is to complete the cuts by January 1, 2027.
Since President Donald Trump and Hegseth took office, over two dozen top military leaders have been fired or pushed to retire.
This includes the Army’s top officer, General Randy George, who was removed in April.
Two women who were four-star officers were also fired.
Senior female officers have been affected at a higher rate than others.
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