James Fishback tops 1,899-vote X poll on Republican presidential field
Fishback received 40.3% in a self-selected X poll, leading DeSantis, Vance and Rubio; the result is not a scientific survey.
Politics
Reporting on American elections, government, and political institutions.
Trump's economic approval falls to 26% in AP-NORC poll
An AP-NORC survey found 26% approval for President Trump's handling of the economy and 17% approval on the cost of living.
Republican super PAC shifts Senate ad spending from North Carolina to Kansas
The Senate Leadership Fund is pulling back its remaining North Carolina advertising and placing a seven-figure buy in Kansas as Republicans defend their Senate majority.
DOJ reviews claims of Watergate prosecutor misconduct
The Justice Department is conducting a preliminary review of allegations that the Watergate special prosecutor’s office mistreated Richard Nixon and his associates, according to The Wall Street Journal.
Taylor and Conley narrowly lead Republican incumbents in House polls
New district polls put Democrats Shannon Taylor and Cait Conley slightly ahead of Republican Reps. Rob Wittman and Mike Lawler, but both margins fall within survey uncertainty.
Trump administration begins $500 ACA refund payments
Nearly 1 million full-price HealthCare.gov enrollees in 30 states are set to receive $500 checks with a letter from President Trump.
U.S. military ends Operation Inherent Resolve mission in Iraq
The final U.S. and coalition forces left Erbil Air Base on September 30, ending the mission in Iraq while counter-ISIS operations continue from elsewhere in the region.
Senate blocks West Bank violence reporting measure, 51-47
The Section 502B resolution would have required the State Department to report on American deaths and other human-rights issues in the West Bank.
Report cites Fishback’s H-1B position as anti-South Asian hate
A Center for the Study of Organized Hate report cites James Fishback’s call to eliminate H-1B visas while measuring a broader rise in anti-South Asian rhetoric online.
Driver sentenced to 30 days in fatal Charlotte hit-and-run
Q’Laundra Hood received a suspended 16-to-29-month term, 36 months of supervised probation and 30 days in jail after pleading guilty in Lance Sotelo’s death.
Army Reserve reportedly assesses support units for possible Cuba operation
CBS News says an internal Army message seeks availability data for support formations that could be needed in 90 to 120 days, but the document contains no Cuba reference and no deployment orders.
Florida minimum wage reaches $15 on September 30
Florida’s hourly minimum wage will rise from $14 to $15 on September 30, completing the voter-approved phase-in added to the state constitution in 2020.
Jim Copenhaver dies two years after Butler rally shooting
The 76-year-old veteran died from complications tied to wounds suffered during the 2024 assassination attempt on Donald Trump, according to his lawyer and Pennsylvania’s attorney general.
Florida announces 20 arrests in voting-fraud cases
Florida officials say 16 noncitizens and four people with felony convictions face charges after allegedly registering or voting while ineligible.
Steube bill would require warrants for federal Flock camera access
Rep. Greg Steube introduced the FLAFO Act to restrict federal use of Flock Safety license-plate cameras and condition certain Justice Department grants on similar local privacy rules.
Navy says eight suicide attempts occurred across Lincoln strike group
Acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao told Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand that eight attempts were recorded across the carrier strike group during its extended deployment, with no suicide deaths.
Federal grand jury indicts man accused of shooting Dallas ISD officer
Jose Santiago Pantoja-Morales faces a federal firearms charge after prosecutors say he seized an officer’s gun and shot him during an August struggle in Dallas.
Trump administration proposes 17,500 refugee ceiling focused on Afrikaners
A notice to Congress proposes a 17,500-person refugee ceiling for the next 12 months, with admissions consisting primarily of South African Afrikaners.
Trump targets Cuba and Iran in UN speech as Cuban delegation exits
Trump called Cuba an “absolutely failed state,” predicted its government would fall and urged broader economic isolation of Iran in a United Nations address.
OpenSecrets lists AIPAC as Gill’s top 2026 contributing organization
An OpenSecrets table attributes $28,227 in AIPAC-associated contributions to Rep. Brandon Gill, combining individual and PAC money rather than a single direct transfer.
Caruso supporters campaign as suspended clerk faces five felonies
A Stat Crux Report post shows supporters distributing Mike Caruso campaign literature after his August arrest on five felony charges.
White House denies access to CNN, MS NOW and Politico reporters
Reporters for CNN, MS NOW and Politico were turned away and had White House press passes confiscated after Trump announced a ban.
Home At Last founder charged in alleged $7.5 million homeless-housing fraud
Federal prosecutors allege Michael Young used sham vendors to divert public housing money toward a nightclub, travel, vintage-car work and unrelated real estate.
Krishnamoorthi tells Langevin ‘I’m staying’ after curry remark
Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi said America is his home after Palm Bay Councilman Chandler Langevin told him to “take your curry and go home.”
Nearly 1 in 6 young Americans is neither working nor studying
The Washington Post says the share among ages 16–29 is rising, though its callout did not identify the dataset or measurement period.
Senate advances college-sports overhaul in 74–24 cloture vote
The Senate voted to end debate on a motion to proceed to the Protect College Sports Act, clearing a procedural hurdle but not passing the bill.
Meink confirms U.S. has “on-orbit space control weapons”
Air Force Secretary Troy Meink said the Space Force has weapons in orbit capable of defending U.S. forces, while declining to say whether they are kinetic or non-kinetic.
Trump alleges Butler files were altered as FBI cites new Crooks information
Trump made the claim without presenting evidence. Attorney General Todd Blanche said the FBI found new information about Thomas Crooks but disclosed no details.
Nazira Haji Zada removed in first Alien Terrorist Removal Court case
The lawful permanent resident agreed to removal after the Justice Department accused her of supporting an ISIS-inspired 2024 Election Day attack plot.
Supreme Court keeps USPS mail-ballot rule blocked before midterms
The justices denied an emergency request to revive the Postal Service’s August 21 rule; Alito and Thomas dissented, while Kavanaugh cited the election calendar.
MBS pressed Trump for Houthi strikes; U.S. chose intelligence support
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince urged direct U.S. action against Yemen’s Houthis, according to CBS and Axios. Trump instead offered intelligence and targeting support.
Trespasser stopped at Kamala Harris’s Malibu property
Security personnel stopped a woman who entered Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff’s Malibu property before she reached the home. Deputies said she left voluntarily and was not arrested.
Republicans prepare to showcase America First agenda at Dallas midterm convention
The two-day Dallas gathering will put Republican candidates, policy priorities and voters on one national stage less than two months before Election Day.
Kushner says Israeli government is acting ‘a little irrational’ over Gaza
The U.S. special envoy linked his criticism to Israel’s approaching election while saying Washington and Israel agree on Gaza’s intended end state.
John Fetterman apologizes for text dismissing children’s hospital concerns
The Pennsylvania senator called the message a “dumb joke” while disputing former aides’ broader claims about his Senate work.
Campaign says armed man lunged at Amy Acton at Ohio fair
Acton was not injured; campaign and local party officials said volunteers were hurt and a suspect was arrested with multiple weapons.
Hunter Biden says he ‘may have to’ run for president in 2028
The conditional remark came in a preview of a WABC interview and stopped short of a campaign announcement. In August, Biden had said he was not running for office.
Roy Cooper’s 2020 criminal-justice task force included Kerwin Pittman
State records confirm Pittman’s membership. Court records and his own account provide context for the former gang member’s criminal history and later reform work.
Howard Lutnick disclosed at least $250 million in 2025 income, reports say
The reported total largely reflects the commerce secretary’s former Cantor Fitzgerald interests. Income is not the same measure as net profit.
Putin orders 72-hour pause in Kyiv strikes as U.S. envoys pursue talks
Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner met Vladimir Putin in Moscow as the sides paused strikes on the capitals. The announced pause does not amount to a nationwide ceasefire.
Troy Nehls says Israel did not determine U.S. entry into the Iran war
A clip shared by Stat Crux Report shows the congressman discussing Israel, Iran and American aid. His answer separates the decision to enter the war from his argument for supporting Israel.
DOJ announces voting and registration charges against five people in three states
Four people face charges of voting while not U.S. citizens, and a U.S. citizen is accused of helping his wife register fraudulently, according to federal prosecutors.
