Thursday, October 22, 2026 · Evening Edition

Today

By StaffNews Desk

Good morning. President Trump is gambling on a fast exit from the monthlong war in Iran, with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pushing a U.S. blockade of the Strait of Hormuz paired with sanctions on the theory that Tehran is near economic collapse. His own Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth may already be eyeing his next political move, as GOP strategist Mark McKinnon predicts he could face Trump's wrath over the conflict. The region's rulers were already buying in: Jared Kushner oversaw foreign slush funds filled and managed by the leaders of the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israel, Vanity Fair reported.

At home, power is remaking who gets to vote. The Supreme Court ruled that New Hampshire student IDs cannot be used in November, a win for Republicans. In Texas, Trump's mass deportation operations could reshape how Texans vote; in California a federal judge had to limit election-related immigration stops amid a legal war before the vote. The president went to Iowa hoping to stop farmers from voting Democratic.

The loyalty machine turns inward. Trump claimed he has "no idea" why the Justice Department is investigating Corey Lewandowski, warning "I want my people to be honest". Federal authorities charged Virginia state Sen. Louise Lucas with running a criminal marijuana enterprise, and a Florida judge ordered Trump to sit for a deposition. Trump also stood behind Vivek Ramaswamy's ad attacking his Ohio opponent, calling her "a liar, and much worse".

The information terrain is rotting. Wedgewood Polling's surveys were revealed to be fabricated after outlets used the data, and partisan actors are gaming AI platforms before elections in Brazil, Israel and the US. Democratic pollster Celinda Lake says Republicans are in deep trouble with farmers over diesel prices. Trump says Musk has restored Ukraine's internet access, though Musk denies ever restricting it.