A federal judge denied the Department of Justice’s request to make California and Los Angeles County officials set aside about 20,000 ballots that the government alleged were cast by noncitizens. Judge David O. Carter said the government had not shown a strong legal basis for the request and warned that changing election procedures during voting could disrupt the process and risk excluding eligible voters.
Key Facts
The DOJ sought a temporary restraining order requiring officials to segregate the ballots while litigation continued.
Carter found that the government had not shown that it was likely to win its claims.
The judge said the government’s evidence identifying voters as noncitizens was not reliable enough to justify setting aside ballots.
Carter said federal law did not clearly require California officials to change their ballot-counting procedures.
The ruling cited the Purcell principle, which generally cautions courts against changing election rules close to an election.
Carter warned that the requested action could confuse election officials and risk discounting votes cast by U.S. citizens.
The article says federal law bars noncitizens from voting in federal elections.
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Barack Obama campaigned in suburban Atlanta for Georgia Democrats, criticizing President Donald Trump and Republicans over the White House renovations, Trump’s response to Obama’s Cheesecake Factory joke, and alleged corruption. Speakers also focused on affordability, social programs, and the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
Obama spoke at a rally in Clayton County supporting Jon Ossoff, Keisha Lance Bottoms, and other Democratic candidates.
The article estimated that 3,500 to 4,000 people attended the rally.
Obama said the White House had mobilized a government response to his joke comparing Trump’s renovations to Saddam Hussein decorating a Cheesecake Factory.
Obama linked the rally’s discussion of the Cheesecake Factory to affordability concerns and accused Trump of selling favors while in office.
Ossoff accused the Trump administration of corruption and referred to Democrats’ pledge to impeach Trump if they take control of Congress next year.
Bottoms criticized her Republican opponent, Rick Jackson, and was described as statistically tied with him in polls.
The article reported that Ossoff led his Republican opponent, Mike Collins, by eight to 10 points in polling.
Raphael Warnock criticized cuts to Medicaid and SNAP, the federal nutrition assistance program.
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, who served as the Pentagon’s Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy, according to The Hill. The article says Sylvia is another senior officer removed from the department since Hegseth took charge nearly two years ago.
Key Facts
Pete Hegseth is the U.S. defense secretary.
Hegseth fired Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia.
Sylvia served as Director for Strategy, Plans and Policy, known as J-5.
The Hill reported the firing, citing sources.
The article describes Sylvia as another senior officer removed from the department under Hegseth.
The provided article excerpt does not state why Sylvia was fired.
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The article compares the Alaska Senate race involving two candidates named Dan Sullivan with John F. Kennedy’s 1946 Democratic primary campaign, which included two candidates named Joe Russo. Historical accounts allege that Kennedy’s campaign arranged for a second Russo to enter the race to confuse voters or divide support, though it is unclear whether Kennedy knew about the plan.
Key Facts
The Trump administration sued to block certification of Alaska’s Senate election if Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan loses, citing possible voter confusion with candidate Daniel J. Sullivan Jr.
Alaska officials asked a federal judge to dismiss the lawsuit.
The article says the November 3 Alaska contest could help determine control of the Senate.
In 1946, Kennedy sought the Democratic nomination for Massachusetts’ 11th Congressional District.
One opponent, Joseph Russo, was a Boston city councilor and funeral home owner with support among Italian American voters.
The West End Museum says Kennedy campaign manager Joseph Kane paid a 27-year-old janitor named Joseph Russo to enter the race, potentially splitting votes.
Accounts differ on the alleged arrangement, and it is unclear whether John F. Kennedy knew about it.
In a 1964 oral history, the established Russo recalled advertising himself as the “Middle Russo” when other candidates with the same name appeared.
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Protesters entered a television studio and confronted its editor-in-chief after a student-led movement took power in national elections. A regional public broadcaster apologized for years of one-sided reporting.
Key Facts
Protesters stormed a television studio.
The protesters confronted the studio’s editor-in-chief.
A student-led protest movement took power in national elections.
A regional public broadcaster apologized for years of one-sided reporting.
The article describes the events as a reckoning for media supportive of Vucic.
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Flavio Bolsonaro said in a post on X that he was Brazil’s “true president-elect.” The article says he made the claim in his first statement after fleeing to the United States, then removed the post; it also reports that he lost Sunday’s vote to Lula da Silva.
Key Facts
Flavio Bolsonaro made the claim in a post on X.
He called himself Brazil’s “true president-elect.”
The post was later taken down.
The article describes this as his first statement since fleeing Brazil.
The article says he fled to the United States.
The article says he lost Sunday’s vote to Lula da Silva.
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Utah filed felony charges against Kalshi and co-founders Tarek Mansour and Luana Lopes Lara, accusing them of violating state gambling laws. Kalshi says the charges overreach and plans to challenge them in court; the case adds to a wider dispute over whether states or the federal government regulate prediction markets.
Key Facts
Utah filed 13 counts of violating its gambling prohibition and one count related to profiting from illegal activity.
The charging documents name Kalshi, CEO Tarek Mansour, and COO Luana Lopes Lara.
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown said Kalshi continued operating in the state after a federal court ruled Utah gambling laws applied to the company.
The attorney general’s office had not said what criminal penalties it would seek; the felony charges could carry jail time.
Kalshi called the charges an overreach and said it would contest them in court.
Kalshi argues prediction markets fall under federal jurisdiction and are not subject to state gambling laws.
Litigation over prediction markets has spread across roughly 20 states, and the article says the dispute may ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed responded after Rep. Haley Stevens’s fiancée endorsed his Republican opponent, Mike Rogers. El-Sayed said he was building a movement to address challenges facing President Donald Trump and added that others may have different priorities.
Key Facts
Abdul El-Sayed is a candidate for the U.S. Senate in Michigan.
El-Sayed and Rep. Haley Stevens were primary opponents.
Stevens is a Democratic representative from Michigan.
Stevens’s fiancée endorsed Mike Rogers.
Rogers is El-Sayed’s Republican opponent and a former representative from Michigan.
El-Sayed said he was building a movement to address challenges facing President Donald Trump.
El-Sayed said people may have issues they consider more important.
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Barack Obama criticized the White House’s response to a campaign joke about its decorations, saying Republicans gave the joke more attention than inflation. He made the remarks at a campaign rally in Georgia on Wednesday.
Key Facts
Obama spoke at a campaign rally in Georgia.
He criticized Republicans for focusing on the joke rather than the economy.
Obama said the government response focused on the joke, not inflation.
The joke concerned decorations at the White House.
The article describes the remarks as a response to an uproar over the campaign-trail jab.
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President Donald Trump criticized Senate Democrats and former Rep. Mary Peltola’s campaign over allegations that they coordinated to put a spoiler candidate on the Alaska Senate ballot. At a rally in Chillicothe on Wednesday, Trump called the alleged effort “voter fraud at the highest level.”
Key Facts
Trump spoke at a rally in Chillicothe on Wednesday.
Trump criticized Senate Democrats over the allegations.
Trump criticized former Rep. Mary Peltola’s campaign, which is based in Alaska.
The allegations claim Democrats and Peltola’s campaign worked together to place a spoiler candidate on the ballot.
The alleged goal was to help their party in the Alaska Senate race.
Trump described the alleged effort as “voter fraud at the highest level.”
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President Donald Trump accused Mary Peltola’s campaign and Democrats of fraud and perjury after a New York Times report said Peltola aides helped find and recruit a second candidate named Dan Sullivan for Alaska’s Senate race. Peltola’s campaign denied involvement with either Sullivan campaign, and Trump provided no evidence for his fraud claims. The Trump administration has sued to delay certification if incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan narrowly loses, citing possible voter confusion.
Key Facts
The New York Times reported that Peltola aides worked with Democratic operative Jerid Kurtz to find another Dan Sullivan to run.
The report said a Peltola staffer was told to search for people named Dan Sullivan in Alaska.
Dan J. Sullivan is a retired teacher who registered as a Republican before filing to run and later changed his registration to undeclared.
Dan J. Sullivan has said he voted for Democrats in the last three presidential elections.
Dan J. Sullivan will appear on the November ballot without a party label.
Peltola’s campaign said it had no involvement with either Sullivan campaign.
Trump alleged that Democrats made false statements under oath, but the article says he offered no evidence for his election-fraud claims.
The Trump administration sued to delay certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan narrowly loses; Peltola’s campaign and other groups have asked to join the case or have it dismissed.
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Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a draft policy that would allow compounding pharmacies to prepare six peptides that lack FDA approval. The policy sets requirements for prescriptions, ingredient sourcing, quality testing, and safety reporting, but does not establish that the drugs are safe or effective. Public comments are scheduled from Friday through Nov. 13.
Key Facts
The six peptides named in the draft are BPC-157, Epitalon, KPV, MOTS-c, Semax, and TB-500.
Compounding pharmacies prepare customized medications by mixing ingredients.
An FDA advisory panel recommended in July that the peptides be allowed for compounding, but the panel vote did not grant FDA approval.
FDA scientists said there was not enough evidence to determine whether each peptide is safe and effective.
The draft requires patient-specific prescriptions, ingredients from an FDA-registered maker, laboratory certificates for raw ingredients, and reports of serious side effects.
HHS said the policy does not establish clinical safety and effectiveness or grant FDA approval.
The policy will remain in place until the FDA finalizes a rule on compounded peptides; the FDA has not proposed such a rule.
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Minnesota prosecutors charged conservative activists James O'Keefe and Cam Higby with unlawful voting and identity theft over an August undercover stunt at a Minneapolis polling site. Prosecutors allege they gave election judges the names of registered voters without permission while seeking ballots; Higby denies breaking the law and says the stunt aimed to expose weaknesses in the voting system.
Key Facts
The Hennepin County Attorney's Office said neither man signed the required oath confirming his address.
Prosecutors allege both men intentionally misrepresented their identities when applying for ballots.
The activists filmed themselves in Islamic attire and using fake accents while interacting with poll workers.
Their stunt focused on a Minnesota rule that lets registered voters vouch for the identity and address of up to eight people.
The rule is intended to help people who recently moved to Minnesota vote, not to permit impersonation.
Unlawful voting and identity theft are felony charges under Minnesota law.
Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon said attempts to disrupt or deceive election workers would not be tolerated.
It was not immediately clear when O'Keefe and Higby would appear in court.
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A federal judge in California rejected the Justice Department’s request for an emergency order requiring the state to segregate about 20,000 ballots. The administration had said the ballots belonged to people it considered “likely” noncitizens.
Key Facts
The Justice Department sought an emergency order to segregate the ballots.
The ballots are in California.
The administration identified roughly 20,000 ballots as belonging to people it claimed were likely noncitizens.
U.S. District Judge David Carter rejected the request on Wednesday.
Carter wrote that the federal government had never before sought, on the eve of an election, to make state and local governments abandon their election procedures.
The article described the case as a developing story.
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The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee spent $500,000 to support Scott Colom in Mississippi’s Senate race. Its new ad focuses on Colom’s record as a district attorney as he challenges Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, whom the article describes as backed by President Donald Trump.
Key Facts
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee is spending $500,000 in Mississippi’s Senate race.
The spending supports Scott Colom, a Democrat.
Colom is challenging Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.
Hyde-Smith is a Republican senator from Mississippi.
The article describes Hyde-Smith as backed by President Donald Trump.
The new ad focuses on Colom’s record as a district attorney in Mississippi.
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U.S. District Judge David Carter rejected the Trump administration’s request to separate about 20,000 California mail ballots it says are likely from noncitizens. His ruling allows California to continue accepting the ballots under the same rules as other ballots.
Key Facts
The Trump administration sought to have about 20,000 California mail ballots separated.
The administration said the ballots were likely cast by noncitizens.
U.S. District Judge David Carter refused to intervene on Wednesday.
Carter ruled that California can continue accepting the questioned ballots like other ballots.
The ruling marked another defeat for the administration’s effort.
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A federal judge rejected the Trump administration’s request to make California election officials set aside mail ballots from about 20,000 people the Justice Department claims are not U.S. citizens. Judge David Carter said the government’s process for identifying those voters raised concerns and that the requested change could disenfranchise eligible voters and disrupt election procedures.
Key Facts
U.S. District Judge David Carter denied the Justice Department’s request on Wednesday.
The government sought to have California separate ballots linked to roughly 20,000 people it claims are not U.S. citizens.
Carter said the federal government’s request conflicted with states’ authority to administer elections.
The judge described the government’s method for identifying the people on its list as vague and not credible enough.
Carter warned that setting aside the ballots could deprive eligible voters of their rights.
He said the government could investigate and prosecute people who illegally voted after the election.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit dismissed the administration’s appeal in a 2-1 ruling on Monday.
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Canada and the European Union plan to deepen their ties but have dropped a proposal for Canada to become an EU associate member. A joint declaration ahead of a Montreal summit sets out areas for cooperation, with work on the future relationship continuing until another summit next year.
Key Facts
The joint declaration says Canada and the EU will pursue an “ever closer association.”
The declaration omits the associate-membership proposal after some EU countries objected that the idea lacked a legal basis and clear definition.
The Montreal summit, hosted by Prime Minister Mark Carney, is intended to begin further formal negotiations.
The proposed cooperation includes new undersea cable infrastructure linking Europe, Canada and Asia.
The declaration proposes a feasibility study on Canadian liquefied natural gas exports to Europe and expanded opportunities for young people to work across the Atlantic.
The article says Canada sends nearly 70% of its exports to the United States, while the EU accounts for about 9% of its total trade.
Donald Trump criticized the associate-membership proposal and warned that the United States could stop trading with Europe on some goods if he viewed it as hostile.
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Albania’s government adopted measures setting fines of up to 500,000 lek (about $6,130) for people who remain in a crowd where violence or looting occurs, even if they do not personally take part. The measures also allow temporary limits on gatherings in some areas and penalties for online incitement; they take effect immediately but need parliamentary approval within 45 days to remain in force.
Key Facts
Tirana has seen months of anti-government protests, which recently escalated into clashes between demonstrators and security forces.
The protest movement began in May with rallies against a hotel project in a nature reserve and shifted in mid-October to student-led demonstrations over corruption, health services, and young people’s prospects.
The maximum fine is 500,000 lek, reported as about €5,500 or $6,130.
The measures also allow police to temporarily restrict gatherings in specified areas when there is a risk of violence.
The legislation provides sanctions for online incitement to violence and compensation for small businesses damaged during protests.
The measures took effect immediately and must receive parliamentary approval within 45 days to remain in force.
Prime Minister Edi Rama said he drew inspiration from a French bill addressing protesters’ financial liability for damage.
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A federal judge declined the Justice Department’s request to require California to set aside ballots linked to people the Trump administration identified as possible non-citizens. The department said its list named 20,000 people, but California officials reported preliminary signs of errors, and the Ninth Circuit had already rejected the department’s effort to speed up the case.
Key Facts
U.S. District Judge David Carter rejected the Justice Department’s request for California to sequester the ballots.
The Justice Department delivered a USB drive with names of 20,000 people it said were non-citizens on California’s voter rolls.
California has more than 23 million registered voters, and the article says non-citizen voting is extremely rare.
The Justice Department gave officials 48 hours to review the list and threatened to sue if the state did not set aside the ballots.
Los Angeles officials found preliminary indicators that the list was inaccurate.
The Justice Department filed suit against California on October 15, seeking to require the state to set aside the ballots and verify citizenship.
A Ninth Circuit panel ruled 2-1 against the Justice Department’s attempt to bypass Carter and obtain faster consideration.
The Department of Homeland Security said in July that it had identified up to 190,000 non-citizens on California’s voter rolls, but provided further details only after ballots had been sent.
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