Attorney General Todd Blanche sparred with CBS News moderator Margaret Brennan over the Justice Department’s preemptive lawsuit in Alaska’s Senate race. Blanche did not say whether President Donald Trump told the department to file the lawsuit.
Key Facts
The Justice Department filed a preemptive lawsuit related to Alaska’s Senate race.
Attorney General Todd Blanche discussed the lawsuit on “Face the Nation.”
CBS News moderator Margaret Brennan questioned Blanche about the case.
Blanche declined to say whether Trump directed the Justice Department to file the lawsuit.
CBS News correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns reported on the exchange.
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Libya’s eastern parliament ratified a maritime agreement with Türkiye on October 20, reversing years of opposition. The article says Saddam Haftar, son of eastern commander Khalifa Haftar, helped secure the vote as part of a bid for the presidency and to win Ankara’s support for a possible U.S.-brokered power-sharing deal.
Key Facts
The House of Representatives in Benghazi ratified the maritime memorandum with Türkiye on October 20.
The European Union, Greece, Israel and Egypt condemned the ratification.
The article links the vote to Saddam Haftar’s effort to gain Türkiye’s support for a possible run for Libya’s presidency.
The United States is trying to broker a power-sharing arrangement between the Tripoli and Benghazi authorities, with Donald Trump adviser Massad Boulos championing the effort.
The House of Representatives removed its longtime speaker, Aguila Saleh, about two weeks before the vote.
Lawmakers chose Al-Salhin Abdulnabi, who chaired the chamber’s Libyan-Turkish friendship committee, as Saleh’s successor.
The article says Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates are lobbying for a deal that could benefit Saddam Haftar.
The article’s final sentence begins to raise Egypt as an unresolved factor but is cut off in the supplied text.
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Economist Jason Furman said he would use AI tools for much of the White House Council of Economic Advisers’ routine analysis. Former and current policy economists cited risks to human judgment and the career path for junior economists, while Casey Mulligan said AI tools can increase demand for economists by making research faster.
Key Facts
Furman told Axios he would rely on AI tools over staff economists for much of the council’s day-to-day analytical work.
Former CEA chair Jared Bernstein said economic advisers must tailor analysis to White House priorities and help officials interpret data in context.
Bernstein said he believes human skill in reading a room is important in White House work and that AI is weak at it.
Former Federal Reserve economist Claudia Sahm warned that fewer junior roles could weaken the pipeline of future senior economists.
Bloomberg chief U.S. economist Anna Wong said AI can let senior staff work more independently and raised a speculative concern about a future shortage of human experts.
Casey Mulligan, who served on the CEA during Trump’s first term and is now HHS chief economist, said his AI tools led offices to need more economists because they increased demand for research.
The idea that a labor-saving tool can increase demand for labor is known as Jevons Paradox.
Stanford economist Neale Mahoney urged organizations to prepare workers to use AI alongside people.
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The article says rising household costs could shape the U.S. midterms, as fuel and housing costs remain high and many households struggle to cover basic expenses. It highlights differences among states in electricity bills and gas prices, while reporting that fuel costs have risen faster than earnings since January 2025.
Key Facts
The national average gas price was $4.28 per gallon, up from $3.05 a year earlier, according to AAA.
The average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 7.32 percent, compared with 6.19 percent a year earlier, according to Freddie Mac.
The Urban Institute reported that 49 percent of people in U.S. families could not cover the expenses needed to live securely in their communities.
Residential electricity bills outpaced earnings in 31 states between June 2025 and June 2026, according to the Urban Institute.
The average monthly residential electricity bill was $171 nationwide in June; Hawaii had the highest average at $255, and Montana the lowest at $103.
Since January 2025, gas prices rose 33 percent, or an average of $1.02 per gallon, while nominal earnings grew 6 percent, according to Urban Institute researchers.
California had the highest state average gas price at just over $6 per gallon, while North Carolina had the lowest at about $3.48.
The article links much of the recent fuel-price increase to oil supply disruptions associated with the ongoing war in Iran.
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A campaign advertisement by Republican Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy featured testimony from the mother of his opponent, Dr. Amy Acton, in an effort to discredit her. The ad instead drew attention to Acton’s resilience after childhood trauma.
Key Facts
Vivek Ramaswamy is a Republican candidate for Ohio governor.
Dr. Amy Acton is Ramaswamy’s opponent in the race.
Ramaswamy’s advertisement featured testimony from Acton’s mother.
The ad aimed to discredit Acton.
The article says the ad highlighted Acton’s resilience in overcoming childhood trauma.
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Delegations from Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkey met Iranian officials in Tehran on Monday as regional governments sought to prevent renewed fighting between Iran and Israel. The talks focused on regional security and efforts to reach an agreement between Tehran and Washington, while officials exchanged warnings and denied reports of plans for an Israeli attack before its election.
Key Facts
Saudi Defense Minister Khalid bin Salman, Pakistan’s army chief Asim Munir and Turkey’s intelligence chief Ibrahim Kalin met Iranian security officials and negotiators.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said the meeting’s agenda was not set, but would address major regional security threats.
Saudi Arabia said the delegations aimed to reduce tensions and strengthen regional security and stability.
Two regional officials said the talks also addressed Yemen and Houthi rebel strikes against Saudi Arabia.
Qatari mediators traveled to Tehran on Sunday and were working with the United States to reduce regional tensions, a regional official said.
Pakistan and Qatar helped broker a June agreement on the Strait of Hormuz, a U.S. blockade of Iranian ports and negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program; the agreement quickly unraveled as attacks resumed.
Baghaei said Iran remained open to diplomacy and that messages were being passed to the United States through intermediaries.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned that Iran or its proxies could attack before Israel’s election; Israel’s defense minister denied reports that Israel intended to attack Iran before the vote.
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Anthropic has filed for an initial public offering (IPO), according to the CBS News report. The filing comes as the AI company competes for market share and questions remain about AI security.
Key Facts
Anthropic filed for an IPO.
The report describes Anthropic as competing for dominance in the AI market.
Questions about AI security remain.
Barron's markets reporter Karishma Vanjani discussed the filing with CBS News.
The supplied article does not give details about the proposed offering, such as its size or timing.
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Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won Brazil’s presidential runoff against Flávio Bolsonaro, securing 51.79% of the vote to Bolsonaro’s 48.21%. At a rally in São Paulo, Lula pledged to defend democracy and said dictatorship and fascism would not return; leaders from several countries recognized his victory, while Bolsonaro rejected the result.
Key Facts
Lula received 64.2 million votes, compared with Flávio Bolsonaro’s 59.8 million.
Lula won after trailing Bolsonaro in the first round, a reversal the article describes as unprecedented since Brazil returned to democracy.
Lula told supporters, “Democracy always, dictatorship never again. Democracy always, fascism never again.”
Flávio Bolsonaro rejected the result and called Lula’s victory “sacanagem,” a Portuguese term the article translates roughly as “bullshit.”
Leaders from Mexico, Spain, Chile and Peru, as well as the European Commission and China, recognized or congratulated Lula on his win.
The article says the United States had faced accusations of using economic and diplomatic pressure to influence the election in Bolsonaro’s favor.
The result is expected to affect environmental policy and the Amazon rainforest, according to the article.
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A federal judge in New York ruled that the Justice Department unlawfully fired Maurene Comey from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York. Judge Jesse Furman said the termination violated civil service rules and reinstated her.
Key Facts
Judge Jesse Furman issued the ruling on Monday, October 26, 2026.
The ruling was against President Donald Trump and the Justice Department.
Maurene Comey worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York.
Comey is the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey.
The article says the story is developing.
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Two Catholic bishops said they regretted meeting President Donald Trump after photos and video of them praying with him at the White House were shared publicly. They said they had not intended to make a political statement and that the images upset some members of their communities.
Key Facts
The meeting took place at the White House on 22 October and included Milwaukee Archbishop Jeffrey Grob and Bishop William Joensen of Des Moines.
Joensen said the meeting was arranged to discuss immigration, visas for international clergy and the exploitation of vulnerable people.
Grob said he believed the meeting was private and that none of the participants had approved the public release of its photos or video.
Margo Martin, a White House communications adviser, shared a video of the meeting online.
The White House did not directly address the bishops’ comments; spokeswoman Taylor Rogers praised Trump’s record with Catholic Americans.
A Pew Research Center survey found that 30% of U.S. Catholics approved of Trump’s job performance, down from 47% when he returned to the White House in 2025.
The article says the 3 November midterm elections will determine control of Congress.
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Democrat Abdul El-Sayed is in a close race against Republican Mike Rogers for a U.S. Senate seat in Michigan. Democrats need to win key races such as Michigan’s to take control of the Senate after the 3 November midterm elections.
Key Facts
The election is scheduled for 3 November.
Abdul El-Sayed is described as a left-wing political outsider.
El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers.
Polls suggest the Michigan Senate race is close.
The article says President Donald Trump’s approval is near record lows.
The article says voters are frustrated by the high cost of living.
BBC North America editor Sarah Smith interviewed El-Sayed on the campaign trail and asked why he appeared to be performing less well than other Democrats.
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Police arrested 15-year-old Anthony Rivers III after a shooting near Florida A&M University’s Bragg Memorial Stadium in Tallahassee injured 12 people. Police said the shooting followed an altercation between people who knew each other; six victims were children, and six people were in hospital on Sunday.
Key Facts
The shooting happened at about 20:00 local time on Saturday near the stadium, where a university football game had recently taken place.
Police said 11 people were injured by gunfire and another person hurt an ankle while fleeing.
Anthony Rivers III, 15, faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and a firearm possession charge.
Police said the victims did not appear to be the intended targets and that additional arrests were possible.
On Sunday, six victims were in hospital, including one in critical condition; five had been released.
Police Chief Lawrence Revell said officers carried victims through crowds to reach emergency responders.
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Vice President JD Vance is scheduled to speak Monday at an airplane hangar in Belgrade, Montana, in a competitive U.S. House district. Republican Aaron Flint is favored over Democrat Sam Forstag, though polls show a close race in the usually Republican district.
Key Facts
Vance is scheduled to speak at an airplane hangar in Belgrade, Montana.
The visit is set for Monday, October 26, 2026.
The district is described as unexpectedly competitive.
Republican Aaron Flint is favored in the race against Democrat Sam Forstag.
Polls show a tight contest in the typically Republican district.
President Donald Trump held a rally in Montana about two weeks before Vance's visit.
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A UN-mandated commission reported that Israeli authorities and forces committed crimes against humanity, including extermination, torture, rape and other sexual violence, in the occupied West Bank. Israel rejected the findings, calling the report a misinformation campaign. The report covered violence since October 2023 and said conditions in the West Bank had sharply worsened.
Key Facts
The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry said Israeli military operations and sustained settler violence amounted to a widespread and systematic attack on civilians.
The commission said Israeli authorities intended to collectively punish West Bank civilians after Hamas’s October 2023 attack.
The report also identified persecution based on nationality, race and ethnicity.
Israel’s mission in Geneva rejected the report and called for the commission to be dissolved.
The commission was established by the UN Human Rights Council in 2021.
The commission’s report examined killings and bodily and mental harm caused by Israeli and Palestinian security forces since October 2023.
The UN humanitarian affairs office recorded 1,143 Palestinian deaths in the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, from October 7, 2023, to October 9, 2026; at least 250 were children.
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Egypt’s parliament authorised President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to provide military support to Saudi Arabia if Riyadh requests it, amid intensified Houthi attacks. El-Sisi said any Egyptian action would focus on protecting Saudi territory and borders, while Egypt’s foreign minister said Cairo supports a diplomatic settlement.
Key Facts
The House of Representatives approved the military-support mandate in a vote on Monday.
The parliamentary statement said el-Sisi could take necessary measures to support Saudi Arabia’s defense if Riyadh asks for assistance.
Houthi attacks on Riyadh’s international airport and facilities belonging to Saudi oil company Aramco disrupted flights and oil exports.
The Houthis control Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, and are fighting the Saudi-led coalition that backs Yemen’s internationally recognised government.
Egypt’s constitution requires approval from two-thirds of legislators before troops can be sent abroad for combat missions.
Houthi attacks near the Bab al-Mandeb strait have disrupted shipping and reduced revenue from Egypt’s Suez Canal.
Egypt joined a Saudi-led campaign in Yemen in 2015, mainly using naval forces to help secure shipping routes.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres met el-Sisi in Cairo and urged maximum restraint, according to the article.
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Israelis are preparing to vote for their next government in the first election since the war on Gaza began in October 2023. Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh examines what the vote could mean for the Haredim, or ultra-Orthodox community, and Religious Zionism.
Key Facts
The election is Israel’s first since the war on Gaza began in October 2023.
Israeli voters will choose their next government.
The article focuses on the Haredim, Israel’s ultra-Orthodox community.
The article also examines Religious Zionism.
Al Jazeera’s Nour Odeh explains the potential significance of the vote for these groups.
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Tallahassee police arrested 15-year-old Anthony Rivers III in connection with a shooting near Florida A&M University during a homecoming weekend party. Six adults and six minors were injured; Rivers faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and one firearm-possession charge, and the investigation continues.
Key Facts
The shooting happened shortly before 8 p.m. Saturday near Florida A&M University’s Bragg Stadium, after a homecoming football game.
Police said an altercation between two groups who knew each other preceded the shooting.
Six adults and six minors were injured; all but one had gunshot wounds.
Three victims were seriously hurt, including one who was in critical condition, police said.
Police said Rivers was arrested Sunday and announced the arrest Monday.
Rivers faces 11 counts of attempted second-degree murder and one count of firearm possession by a delinquent.
Police said none of the people struck was believed to be an intended target and that further arrests were possible.
The Gun Violence Archive recorded 386 U.S. mass shootings so far that year, using a definition of at least four people wounded or killed.
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A WhatsApp channel called “Lula’s Army” grew to 10.8 million followers while supporting Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s campaign against Flávio Bolsonaro. Lula’s allies credit the channel with helping shift the race, but political scientists say its direct effect on votes is impossible to measure and point to the campaign’s grassroots work and changed messaging as other factors.
Key Facts
Congressman André Janones led the WhatsApp operation.
The channel grew rapidly between the election’s two rounds and reached 10.8 million followers.
It encouraged supporters to share videos, promote hashtags and recruit voters.
Messages gave followers ready-made posts and specific social-media tasks.
Janones hosted a 24-hour livestream on the eve of the election.
Lula thanked Janones in his victory speech and called him “our General.”
Political scientist Denilde Holzhacker said the campaign combined online activity with local, in-person efforts.
Holzhacker said researchers cannot determine how many votes, if any, the WhatsApp operation directly influenced.
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The Supreme Court is considering legal challenges to the Trump administration’s use of third-country deportations, which send some migrants to countries other than their own. The Court has allowed the policy to remain in effect during the case but has not ruled on its legality; a federal appeals court said migrants must receive notice and a meaningful chance to raise fears of persecution or torture before removal.
Key Facts
The case, Department of Homeland Security v. D.V.D., involves people with final removal orders who may be sent to destinations not listed in those orders or previously identified in writing.
Moussa Diawara, a Malian national granted protection from removal to Mali, was deported to Ghana and said Ghanaian officials sent him to Mali within five days.
DHS said Ghana had given assurances about Diawara’s safety and said third-country removals may be used when a migrant’s home country will not accept them or a judge has barred return there.
Federal law lists possible destinations for people with final removal orders and includes additional options, such as a country willing to accept them, when earlier options are unavailable.
Federal protections prohibit removal when a person meets the legal standard for fear of persecution or torture in the destination country.
Under DHS guidance issued in March 2025, officials may remove someone without further procedures if the State Department considers the receiving country’s assurances against persecution or torture credible.
If officials lack credible assurances, DHS informs the migrant of the destination; officers do not ask whether the person fears being sent there, but refer people who express fear for screening.
In September, the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals largely upheld a lower-court judgment requiring effective notice and a meaningful opportunity to challenge removal on persecution or torture grounds.
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Law firms Harcus Parker and Hausfeld have applied to the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal to bring a group claim against Visa and Mastercard over interchange fees charged to businesses since October 2020. The claim could be worth about £5bn, but the application must succeed and a case could take years to resolve.
Key Facts
The claim alleges that Visa and Mastercard set interchange fees that reduce competition and lead UK businesses to pay excessive charges on card transactions.
Interchange fees are paid by businesses through their banks when customers use debit, credit or prepaid cards.
The claim seeks to recover fees charged over six years, plus interest; sources close to it estimate a value of about £5bn.
If approved, about 1 million UK businesses, organisations and charities with revenues below £100m would be included unless they opt out.
Larger businesses would need to opt in and could claim tens of millions of pounds.
Bench Walk Advisors is funding the claim. Stephen Allen is leading it.
Mastercard called the claim speculative and said interchange fees support the UK payments system. Visa said interchange is important to a secure digital payments system.
Visa and Mastercard agreed last year to pay a combined $167.5m to settle a U.S. lawsuit over ATM access fees.
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