Trump Escalates Michigan Senate Fight as Midterm Battles Intensify

Good morning. Here is what you need to know to start your day on Monday, October 26, 2026.

TOP STORIES

1. Trump escalates attacks on El-Sayed as Michigan Senate race tightens

2. ‘If you run again’: Nicki Minaj makes bold pledge to Trump at Michigan rally

3. Israel drills for surprise attack with massive military exercise as expert warns of 1973 repeat

MAJOR HEADLINES

MIDTERMS ON THE MAP — The states Trump and top Democrats are targeting before Election Day.

FULL CIRCLE — Zelenskyy’s former aide makes claim about his ties to Moscow in push for meeting with Putin.

HATE PROBE — NYC rabbi stabbing suspect accused of attacking another Jewish man hours earlier.

DECADES AT STAKE — Attorney warns ‘no sweet plea deal’ for suspect in stepsister’s cruise ship murder.

OVERLOADED — College homecoming party turns to chaos as deck collapses, leaving at least 28 people injured.

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POLITICS

RIGHTWARD SHIFT — Trump’s political revolution reverberates as U.S. neighbors confront new reality.

SNICKER SHOCK — Candy prices surge twice as fast as inflation, but Americans still plan to spend billions on Halloween.

PRESS FREEDOM TEST — $800-a-day penalty threatens to bleed investigative reporter dry as explosive legal fight escalates.

PULLING THE STRINGS — Bruce Blakeman mocks Hochul as ‘puppet’ of socialist Mamdani.

MEDIA

HALF THE STORY — Blanche challenges Dana Bash for only citing part of the Constitution during heated election clash.

OFF-TRACK — Hilton counters Beshear’s 2028 pitch with reminder of Newsom’s rail record.

ON THE HOT SEAT — Rogers criticizes journalist over El-Sayed coverage: ‘You’re giving him a pass’.

HOLLYWOOD DIVIDE — ‘Nobody Wants This’ creator defends show after star accuses Israel of ‘genocide’.

OPINION

SEAN PARNELL — Trump restored the Department of War. Now it’s up to Congress to finish the job.

JERRY BALENTINE — AI is changing everything. Universities must teach Americans how to keep up.

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IN OTHER NEWS

HERO’S LEGACY — Guitarist-turned-firefighter who founded a billion-dollar restaurant empire dead at 65.

BRIDGES UNDER FIRE — Prince Harry making ‘big mistake’ that could destroy the chance of royal reconciliation, expert says.

TECH SCRUTINY — Claude AI accesses voter data ‘without being asked,’ raising questions ahead of midterms.

WEATHER