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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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The New Mexico Attorney General filed a civil lawsuit against Jeffrey Epstein’s attorney Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn, accusing them of helping run and hide Epstein’s sex trafficking operation. The state wants to stop them from receiving money from Epstein’s estate and seeks compensation for survivors while the criminal investigation continues.
Key Facts
New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez filed the lawsuit against Indyke and Kahn.
The lawsuit claims they used their professional roles to help finance, hide, and operate Epstein’s trafficking network, including activities at Zorro Ranch.
The state wants to prevent Indyke and Kahn from getting money from Epstein’s estate and seeks damages for victims.
Indyke and Kahn deny the claims, saying they did not know about or assist in Epstein’s trafficking.
No survivor has accused Indyke or Kahn of sexual abuse or said they reported abuse to them.
The Attorney General reopened the criminal investigation into Epstein’s activities in New Mexico in February.
The civil case runs alongside the criminal investigation but uses different teams and resources.
Epstein died in federal custody, so efforts continue to hold his associates accountable through legal actions.
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A recent poll shows that 73% of likely voters disapprove of President Donald Trump's handling of gas prices, with his overall approval rating at a low point during his second term. The poll, conducted shortly before the November midterm elections, also found widespread voter disapproval on the economy, cost of living, tariffs, and the war in Iran.
Key Facts
73% of likely voters disapprove of President Trump's handling of gas prices.
59% of likely voters disapprove of his overall job performance, while 36% approve.
Disapproval of Trump on gas prices is high among independents (77%) and even some Republicans (42%).
Younger voters under 30 show 91% disapproval of his gas price policies.
64% disapprove of his handling of the economy, up from 53% the previous month.
75% of voters rate the national economic conditions as fair or poor.
65% disapprove of his handling of the war in Iran.
Voters trust Democrats more than Republicans on issues like healthcare, cost of living, gas prices, and foreign wars.
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In September, inflation in the United States rose to 3.7 percent compared to the previous year, causing prices for gas, groceries, and electricity to increase. This rise in prices comes just before the midterm elections, where Democrats are focusing on affordability issues to try to regain control of Congress from the Republicans.
Key Facts
Inflation was 3.7 percent in September compared to the same month last year.
Prices for energy, including gas and electricity, increased last month.
The cost of groceries also went up in September.
Inflation affects how much Americans pay for everyday items.
Democrats are using rising prices as a key issue in their midterm election campaigns.
The midterm elections will decide control of Congress between Democrats and Republicans.
The government measures inflation using the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
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Childcare costs in the U.S. are rising faster than rent and medical care, putting more financial strain on families. Many families now spend over $2,000 monthly on childcare, which is considered unaffordable under federal guidelines.
Key Facts
Nearly 8% of U.S. families pay more than $2,000 per month for childcare.
Childcare expenses increased faster than rent and healthcare from last year to September.
On average, families spend 8% of their monthly income on childcare, above the affordable level of 7%.
A family spending $24,000 yearly on childcare would need an income of about $343,000 to keep costs affordable.
Lower- and middle-income families spend nearly 9% of their income on childcare, while higher-income families spend about 7.3%.
Wage growth is slowing, making the rising childcare costs harder for families to afford.
Childcare costs are rising fastest in Nashville, Jacksonville, and Phoenix, partly due to more people moving there and fewer childcare workers.
Shortages of childcare workers led to a 0.7% drop in childcare employment in one year, raising prices and reducing availability.
Women are more affected since they are more likely to provide childcare and face limits on work opportunities if childcare is unaffordable.
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Senator Joe Manchin criticized Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for focusing on Senator Susan Collins in the Maine Senate race. Manchin said Schumer was making a mistake by opposing Collins strongly, both in 2020 and now.
Key Facts
Joe Manchin is a Senator from West Virginia.
Chuck Schumer is the Senate Minority Leader and a Senator from New York.
Susan Collins is a Senator from Maine.
Manchin said Schumer was "crazy" to target Collins in both 2020 and the current election.
The conflict centers on how Democrats are approaching the Maine Senate race.
Manchin disagrees with Schumer’s strategy against Collins.
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Supreme Court Justice Elena Kagan criticized the legal theory of originalism, used by conservative justices, calling it “misconceived” and not fitting well with how the Constitution was meant to work over time. She said recent court decisions harm democracy and expressed these views while speaking to law students.
Key Facts
Justice Elena Kagan criticized originalism, a theory that interprets the Constitution based on its original meaning at the time it was written.
Originalism is popular with conservative Supreme Court justices, with varying approaches among them.
Kagan said the Constitution’s writers expected the document would change with time, implying originalism is too rigid.
She expressed concern that recent Supreme Court rulings harm the political system and weaken democracy.
Public trust in the Supreme Court is low, with only 34% of Americans approving of it in a recent poll.
Originalism holds that constitutional meaning should only change through formal amendments, not court decisions.
Conservative justices like Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito strongly support originalism, though with some differences in interpretation.
The current Supreme Court term started in 2026 and includes important cases that may involve constitutional interpretation.
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A group of nearly 24 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including seven Republicans and 16 Democrats, wrote a letter to President Donald Trump. They asked him to request Elon Musk to allow Ukraine to use Starlink satellite internet systems inside Russia to locate and target missile launchers.
Key Facts
Almost 24 House members signed the letter, with both Republicans and Democrats included.
The letter requests President Trump to intervene with Elon Musk, who owns Starlink.
Starlink is a satellite internet system that can provide communication in remote areas.
The purpose is to help Ukraine target Russian missile launchers more effectively.
This action would involve giving Ukraine access to Starlink systems inside Russia.
The letter was sent to President Trump and was reported by The Hill.
The letter shows growing support from some Republicans for stronger U.S. aid to Ukraine.
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President Donald Trump visited South Carolina to support Senator Darline Graham, who was appointed to the Senate seat once held by her late brother, Senator Lindsey Graham. Recently, President Trump paused a new law imposing sanctions on Russia that Senator Lindsey Graham helped create before his death.
Key Facts
Senator Lindsey Graham passed away in July after working on a law to increase sanctions on Russia.
The Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act was passed by Congress and signed by President Trump in September.
The law allows tariffs on the biggest buyers of Russian oil and targets Russian officials and banks with sanctions.
President Trump issued an executive order delaying parts of this sanctions law due to national security concerns.
Senator Darline Graham, Lindsey Graham's sister, was appointed to his Senate seat and helped with passing the sanctions law.
Darline Graham said she prefers to keep pressure on Russia but supports President Trump’s decision to decide how to use the law.
Some Republican senators criticized President Trump’s decision to delay the sanctions.
Congress is on recess until after the upcoming Election Day, limiting immediate responses to the waiver.
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President Donald Trump has used recent protests in France to claim, without evidence, that immigration causes violence and unrest. French President Emmanuel Macron and others have rejected these claims, saying the protests started over social and economic issues and were not linked to immigration.
Key Facts
President Trump showed footage of protests in France at a rally and claimed the US could become “like France” if Democrats win elections.
Trump and some Republicans blame migrants for violence in the protests, calling them "migrants, jihadists, and communists."
There is no proof connecting immigration to the protests or violence in France.
France does not track the racial or ethnic background of arrested protesters, making demographic claims unsupported.
The protests began as student demonstrations for more teachers and better schools and expanded to express concern over cost of living and fuel prices.
President Macron criticized foreign leaders for spreading false claims about migrants and violence in France.
President Trump’s approval rating reportedly hit a record low of 31% ahead of the US midterm elections.
The unrest in France is being used by President Trump to energize his political base before the elections.
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New Mexico's attorney general has sued Jeffrey Epstein's attorney Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn. The lawsuit claims they helped hide Epstein’s sex trafficking activities at his large ranch in Santa Fe and asks the court to stop them from receiving money from Epstein’s estate.
Key Facts
The lawsuit was filed by New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez.
It targets Jeffrey Epstein’s lawyer Darren Indyke and accountant Richard Kahn.
They are accused of covering up Epstein’s sex trafficking at his Zorro Ranch near Santa Fe.
Epstein’s estate is worth more than $100 million.
The lawsuit asks that Indyke and Kahn be stopped from getting paid from this estate.
Indyke worked as Epstein’s attorney for about 20 years.
Both Indyke and Kahn told Congress they didn’t know about Epstein’s abuse.
The New Mexico Attorney General disagrees with their statements and is pursuing legal action.
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President Donald Trump will visit Ohio on October 28 to hold a rally supporting Republican candidates ahead of the midterm elections. This will be his third visit to the state this month.
Key Facts
President Trump will campaign in Ohio next week.
The event will take place in Chillicothe, about 45 miles south of Columbus.
The rally is scheduled for October 28.
This visit is part of efforts to support Republican candidates in the midterm elections.
It is President Trump’s third trip to Ohio in October.
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Elon Musk’s Super PAC, America PAC, has spent over $500,000 supporting Republican Mike Lawler in New York’s 17th congressional district race. Lawler is trying to keep his seat against Democrat Cait Conley in a close race that could affect which party controls Congress.
Key Facts
Elon Musk’s Super PAC is called America PAC.
America PAC has spent more than $500,000 backing Republican Mike Lawler in New York.
Mike Lawler is a moderate Republican running against Democrat Cait Conley.
The 17th district race is very competitive and important for control of Congress.
Most of the Super PAC’s spending supports voter outreach like texting, printing, and digital ads.
Elon Musk is one of the biggest donors to Republicans this election cycle, giving over $276 million to Republican groups and America PAC since July.
Cait Conley criticizes Lawler for protecting Musk instead of regulating artificial intelligence (AI).
Lawler’s campaign says they do not control how the Super PAC spends money, as campaign coordination with Super PACs is not allowed by law.
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Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign confirmed it made a political ad featuring the estranged mother of Amy Acton, his Democratic opponent in the Ohio governor race. The campaign plans to spend $4 million to promote the ad, despite criticism from both parties.
Key Facts
Ramaswamy is a Republican candidate running for governor of Ohio.
The ad includes Amy Acton’s estranged mother and focuses on Acton’s childhood.
The ad has caused controversy and criticism from both Democrats and Republicans.
Ramaswamy’s campaign will spend $4 million to promote the ad.
Over 676,000 Ohio voters have already cast ballots early in the election.
Ramaswamy is a biotech billionaire and previously ran for president but has never held public office.
The election is one of the most watched and expensive state races in the country.
The ad’s personal nature may impact how voters view Ramaswamy in the final weeks of the campaign.
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Michigan voters will decide in the November midterms on Proposal 2, a measure that would limit campaign donations from certain utility companies and government contractors to political candidates and officials who influence them. The proposal also aims to increase transparency about who pays for political messages, including online communications.
Key Facts
Proposal 2 seeks to ban direct and indirect campaign donations from electric and gas utilities and government contractors with more than $250,000 in annual contracts.
The ban would apply to candidates and officeholders who affect these utilities or contractors.
The proposal requires disclosure of donor information for political communications that mention candidates or ballot questions, even if they don’t ask for a vote.
It would extend disclosure laws to internet political ads.
Over 500,000 Michigan residents signed a petition to get Proposal 2 on the ballot.
Supporters say the proposal fights corporate influence in politics and addresses the affordability crisis.
Opponents argue that it infringes on free speech and that outside donors fund the campaign for the proposal.
Political action committees linked to Michigan’s largest utilities spent less money in the current election cycle compared to past midterms.
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Rep. Ralph Norman from South Carolina said he will vote for Senator Darline Graham in the upcoming November 3 election. However, he added that his family members will not vote for her. Norman also said he plans to support Republican candidates in the state.
Key Facts
Ralph Norman is a Republican representative from South Carolina.
He promised to vote for Senator Darline Graham in the November 3 election.
Norman said his family will not vote for Graham.
Graham is Norman’s opponent in the GOP primary.
Norman confirmed he will back other Republican candidates in South Carolina.
This statement was made during a radio interview on “The Nashional Briefing with Kelly Nash.”
The election date mentioned is November 3.
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