President Donald Trump is visiting South Carolina to support Darline Graham in her Senate race. She was chosen to complete the late Senator Lindsey Graham’s term and won the Republican nomination with Trump’s endorsement. The Senate race is close, and her Democratic opponent, Annie Andrews, has criticized her experience and debate performance.
Key Facts
President Trump will hold a rally in South Carolina to support Darline Graham’s Senate campaign.
Darline Graham was appointed to finish her brother Lindsey Graham’s term after his death in July.
Trump endorsed Darline Graham in the Republican primary as a tribute to her brother.
Polls show Darline Graham leading by about 2.7 percentage points in a tight race.
Democratic challenger Annie Andrews criticized Graham’s lack of experience and debate performance.
Lindsey Graham was a strong supporter of Ukraine and U.S. foreign policy before his death.
Trump’s visit comes after his executive order lifting many Russia sanctions, which Darline Graham opposed.
The close race reflects challenges for Republicans nationwide amid low approval ratings for Trump and concerns over the U.S.-Israel war with Iran.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. State Department told non-essential American workers and their families to leave Saudi Arabia. This move is because groups supported by Iran, called the Houthis, have been attacking Saudi Arabia. The situation could get worse quickly.
Key Facts
The State Department ordered non-emergency U.S. government staff and their families to leave Saudi Arabia.
The order is due to ongoing attacks by the Iranian-backed Houthi group.
The Houthis have increased their attacks in Saudi Arabia recently.
The U.S. warns that the conflict might spread beyond the affected area.
This is a safety measure to protect American personnel.
The State Department has repeated these warnings before as risks rise.
The evacuation is only for non-essential staff, essential workers stay.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed supports Senator Elissa Slotkin after she warned young professionals against working for President Trump’s administration. Slotkin’s comment caused criticism from Republicans.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is the Democratic nominee for the U.S. Senate from Michigan.
Senator Elissa Slotkin is a Democrat from Michigan.
Slotkin said she wants young professionals to reconsider taking a job in President Donald Trump’s administration.
Republicans responded negatively to Slotkin’s remarks.
El-Sayed defended Slotkin against the Republican criticism.
The discussion took place during a radio interview with “The Daily Blast with Greg Sargent.”
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump will visit South Carolina to support U.S. Senator Darline Graham in her campaign for re-election. The race is important to Republicans as Democrats hope to win the seat, but the state usually leans Republican.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump is holding a rally in South Carolina for Senator Darline Graham.
Darline Graham was appointed to the Senate seat after her late brother, Lindsey Graham, passed away in July.
Trump supported her appointment and backed her during a special primary against more experienced Republicans.
There was some disagreement recently between Trump and Graham over his decision to waive sanctions on Russia related to the Ukraine war.
Democrats see an opportunity because Graham has made some campaign mistakes.
Republicans are focused on defeating Democratic nominee Annie Andrews, a pediatrician.
Over $34 million has been spent on this Senate race.
Republicans accuse Andrews of supporting surgeries for transgender minors, but she denies this claim.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A judge in Massachusetts denied a request from Lindsay Clancy’s defense team to question a juror who did not agree on the verdict in her murder trial. The trial, where Clancy was charged with killing her three children, ended in a mistrial because the jury could not reach a unanimous decision.
Key Facts
Lindsay Clancy faced charges for the deaths of her three children.
The jury could not agree on a verdict, leading to a mistrial last month.
Defense lawyers wanted to question the holdout juror who prevented a unanimous verdict.
Judge William Sullivan refused to allow questioning of the juror at the next hearing.
Clancy is scheduled to return to court on November 2 for the next hearing.
The decision to deny questioning keeps the reasons for the holdout juror’s stance private.
The case remains unresolved due to the mistrial and will continue with new legal steps.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to allow construction of the border wall near the Big Bend area in Texas to continue. They argue that a lower court’s block on building the wall is without good reason and stops the government from securing part of the southern border.
Key Facts
The request was made by the Trump administration on Wednesday.
The border wall construction is planned near Big Bend, Texas.
A lower court judge blocked the construction of the wall.
Solicitor General D. John Sauer called this block “baseless.”
The administration says the block interferes with securing about 25% of the southern border.
The Supreme Court’s decision will determine if construction can resume.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
President Donald Trump held a rally with Senator Lindsey Graham in South Carolina. Trump supports Graham’s campaign as he tries to win re-election against Democrat Annie Andrews.
Key Facts
President Trump and Senator Lindsey Graham appeared together at a rally in South Carolina.
Senator Lindsey Graham is a Republican running for re-election.
President Trump personally supports Graham’s campaign.
Graham is favored to win the upcoming election.
Democrat Annie Andrews, a pediatrician, is running against Graham.
The race is more competitive than expected, according to the Cook Political Report, which changed the rating to a closer contest.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Lawyers for former Olympian David Hearn have asked the Justice Department’s inspector general to review how a criminal case against Hearn was handled. The case involved accusations that Hearn damaged the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, but the charges have since been dropped.
Key Facts
David Hearn is a former Olympic canoeist.
He was once charged with vandalizing the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.
The criminal case against him was later dismissed.
Hearn’s lawyers sent a letter to the Justice Department’s inspector general, Don Berthiaume.
The letter requests a second look at the indictment and prosecution process.
The Justice Department’s inspector general is responsible for investigating misconduct within the department.
The article focuses on how this legal case was managed and the call for oversight.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A Massachusetts woman, Jennifer Gonzalez, is accused of running a fake marriage scam for more than 10 years. She allegedly charged up to $40,000 to arrange sham marriages between immigrants and U.S. citizens to help the immigrants get green cards. Several people linked to her were charged with marriage fraud and related crimes.
Key Facts
Jennifer Gonzalez is charged with running a marriage fraud scheme in Massachusetts.
The scheme operated for about 12 years, arranging 18 to 20 fake marriages per year.
Gonzalez charged clients between $38,000 and $40,000 for each sham marriage.
Other people involved were paid to participate or help run the operation.
Prosecutors say the group helped immigrants get hundreds of green cards illegally.
Gonzalez encouraged actions to make the marriages seem real, like setting up joint bank accounts and life insurance.
The operation continued even as immigration enforcement became stricter under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Massachusetts was described by Gonzalez as a "sanctuary" state, which she said made it easier to operate there.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Russia is sending its first tanker with diesel fuel to the United States as part of a deal to help lower high fuel prices before the November midterm elections. However, experts say this shipment is small compared to US fuel needs and likely won’t reduce prices much in time for the elections.
Key Facts
Russia will send its first diesel tanker to an undisclosed US port starting Thursday.
The shipment is part of a larger plan to increase Russian fuel exports to the US.
Russia faces its own fuel shortages caused by attacks on its refineries.
President Donald Trump canceled new sanctions that could have targeted Russian oil imports.
US diesel prices are currently over $6 per gallon, much higher than last year’s $3.62 per gallon.
Experts say the Russian shipment equals about two hours of US diesel use and will not meaningfully lower prices.
The tanker might not arrive before the US midterm elections in early November.
The broader plan includes shipments of 300,000 tonnes initially, followed by 500,000 tonnes in November, and 1 million tonnes later.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The Kansas Senate race is becoming more competitive as Senator Roger Marshall, a Republican, and Adam Hamilton, a Democrat, prepare for a debate. Voters have shared their thoughts on the upcoming race ahead of the Wednesday debate.
Key Facts
The race is for one of Kansas’s Senate seats.
Roger Marshall is the current Republican Senator running for re-election.
Adam Hamilton is the Democratic candidate challenging Marshall.
A debate between the two candidates is scheduled for Wednesday.
CBS News reporter Katrina Kaufman talked with voters about their opinions on the race.
The competition between the candidates is described as growing tighter.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The U.S. Department of Justice asked the Supreme Court to allow construction of a border wall and related infrastructure in the Big Bend region of West Texas. This request aims to lift a court order that currently stops the Department of Homeland Security from building the barrier in that area.
Key Facts
The request asks to resume construction in a remote area that includes parts near Big Bend National Park.
A lower court temporarily blocked the construction due to legal challenges.
The government wants to build walls, patrol roads, detection technology, and vehicle barriers along the southern border.
The Big Bend Sector covers over 500 miles of the U.S.-Mexico border and 77 Texas counties.
The Justice Department says the area has high levels of illegal border crossings and drug smuggling.
Construction began recently on a 47-mile stretch in the Big Bend region.
Environmental and local groups filed a lawsuit to stop the project, citing concerns about wildlife, culture, and environmental damage.
Federal law allows the Department of Homeland Security to bypass some environmental rules for border barrier construction to prevent illegal entry.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan’s Senate campaign first said she was not a member of Phi Beta Kappa because of membership fees. Later, they confirmed she was actually a member of the honor society.
Key Facts
Peggy Flanagan is the Lieutenant Governor of Minnesota.
She is running for the U.S. Senate.
Phi Beta Kappa is a prestigious college honor society recognizing academic excellence.
Initially, Flanagan’s campaign said she wasn’t a member.
The campaign claimed she declined membership because of the cost.
The campaign later corrected this and confirmed she is a member of Phi Beta Kappa.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Ohio Senator Jon Husted criticized a campaign ad by gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy that features the mother of Ramaswamy’s opponent, Amy. Husted said he would not have used the ad in his campaign.
Key Facts
Ohio Senator Jon Husted is a Republican.
Vivek Ramaswamy is running for governor of Ohio as a Republican.
Ramaswamy released a campaign ad that includes the mother of his opponent, Amy.
The ad sparked some controversy.
Senator Husted told the Associated Press he would not have used this type of ad.
The ad was first shown online.
The opponent’s full name is not mentioned in the article excerpt.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Vermont Governor Phil Scott and Democratic challenger Amanda Janoo will debate on Wednesday at 7 p.m. EDT. The debate is part of the campaign for the November election where Scott seeks reelection.
Key Facts
The debate will be moderated by Mikaela Lefrak, host of Vermont Edition.
Amanda Janoo, an economist, won the Democratic primary in August.
Governor Phil Scott has been in office since 2017.
If reelected and serving the full term, Scott will be Vermont's longest-serving governor since 1791.
The Cook Political Report recently changed the race rating from "Solid Republican" to "Likely Republican."
The debate is broadcast live by Vermont Public.
This election is a key effort by Vermont Democrats to replace Governor Scott.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Federal changes to the hepatitis B vaccine recommendations removed the rule to vaccinate all newborns, which may lead to more infections in children and leave millions vulnerable. A recent study shows that delaying vaccination or making it optional based on shared decisions could increase cases of chronic hepatitis B.
Key Facts
The CDC stopped recommending universal hepatitis B vaccination for newborns in late 2025.
Hepatitis B is a virus that damages the liver and can cause lifelong illness.
Babies infected at birth have a 90% chance of developing chronic hepatitis B.
Since newborn vaccination began in 1991, infant infections have dropped by 99%.
Researchers modeled the impact on 3.6 million U.S. babies born in 2026.
Delaying the vaccine until 2 months could increase chronic infections by 19%.
Using shared decision-making instead of routine vaccination might raise infections by 83%.
Up to 1.8 million young adults could be vulnerable to hepatitis B due to these changes.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
Senate Republicans are worried about losing some seats this election, including in states like Mississippi, South Carolina, and Kansas, which have voted Republican for decades. They are increasing their campaign spending to support vulnerable Republican senators and protect their Senate majority.
Key Facts
Mississippi, South Carolina, and Kansas are becoming competitive Senate races for Republicans.
Mississippi hasn't elected a Democratic senator in 44 years, Kansas in 94 years, and South Carolina in 28 years.
Republicans are boosting spending, including millions of dollars in TV ads, to support their candidates.
Democrats are investing money in key races, like $1.2 million in Mississippi.
Some Senate Republicans, like those in Florida and South Dakota, face less concern.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee raised $31.4 million in one month but took a $20 million loan for campaign expenses.
Senate Leadership Fund has $155 million in cash but has spent or reserved $169 million in ads since October 1.
President Trump’s super PACs have promised to spend $400 million before the election.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A new poll from the Cook Political Report shows Democrats ahead in three important U.S. Senate races. The states where Democrats lead are Texas, Iowa, and Ohio, which are key to gaining control of the Senate in the November elections.
Key Facts
The Cook Political Report is a nonpartisan election analysis group.
The poll was done with help from both a Democratic firm and a Republican firm.
Democrats are leading in Senate races in Texas, Iowa, and Ohio.
These three Senate seats are important for Democrats to win the Senate majority.
The election will take place in November.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
A top Justice Department official has asked two federal judges in Minnesota to step away from immigration cases, citing comments they made about the Trump administration’s immigration actions. The requests claim the judges showed possible bias, but legal experts say such motions are unusual and likely to fail.
Key Facts
Associate Attorney General Stanley Woodward filed motions to remove Judges Patrick Schiltz and John Tunheim from immigration-related cases.
The judges spoke to the New York Times about their concerns with the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota called Operation Metro Surge.
Schiltz is handling a case where the Trump administration wants to revoke a man’s U.S. citizenship.
Tunheim is overseeing a case involving a South African woman charged with illegal voting in the 2024 election; she pleads not guilty.
Woodward argues the judges’ public comments show bias and question their fairness in these cases.
Judge Ana Reyes in Washington, D.C., was also asked to recuse herself from a Trump-related case but rejected the request.
Experts say it is rare for the Justice Department to publicly seek judges’ recusals, and such efforts usually fail.
Judicial ethics rules discourage judges from discussing ongoing cases publicly, but these judges did comment on immigration policy.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
The New Mexico attorney general sued two men, Jeffrey Epstein’s longtime lawyer and accountant, accusing them of helping hide Epstein’s sex trafficking crimes at his New Mexico ranch. The men deny the allegations and say they did not know about Epstein’s illegal actions beyond his 2008 conviction.
Key Facts
New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez filed a lawsuit against attorney Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn.
The lawsuit claims Indyke and Kahn helped hide Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking at Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe.
Epstein died by suicide in 2019 while jailed on sex trafficking charges.
Indyke and Kahn say they were unaware of Epstein’s crimes except for his 2008 guilty plea.
Lawyers for Indyke and Kahn say the lawsuit was filed without talking to them first.
The men worked with Epstein for many years before his death.
Survivors say Indyke and Kahn managed companies that made payments linked to Epstein’s abuse.
Epstein’s Zorro Ranch was investigated by New Mexico authorities, and the investigation was reopened this year.
Read the Original
Want the full story? Tap a source to open the original
article.
