Friday, October 30, 2026 · Evening Edition

Today

By StaffNews Desk

Good morning. The Justice Department told a federal judge that Trump has the power to stop any criminal contempt case against Chicago federal prosecutors, refusing to cooperate with her investigation into possible criminal misconduct. Another federal judge has opened an inquiry into whether DOJ lawyers misled the court about plans to renovate a D.C. golf course, while the department told a judge it may bring more charges against former FBI Director James Comey. This is a law-enforcement arm turned inward on the administration's enemies and outward against any court that checks it.

Days from the midterms, the same department asked a court to separate Alaska ballots that rank Dan J. Sullivan, citing voter confusion without explaining how segregating ballots would reveal whether anyone was confused, and has warned election officials in multiple states they could face jail time over records. Experts warn the president may try to declare an emergency or seize voting machines, though some say his options are limited.

The administration keeps sending pregnant migrant minors to south Texas, where several children have had to leave the state for medical care, including abortions, unavailable there. In Iowa, rising cancer rates and a potential link to farm pollution are throwing the ruby-red state's races into doubt, even as the White House energy council hires an aide to push US oil and gas infrastructure.

Abroad, Trump claims his war with Iran will end "soon" as Qatari mediators push for a deal. At home, the tech-funded Chamber of Progress urges Democrats to investigate Trump, not the Big Tech firms that bankrolled and benefited from his presidency, and one critic notes the New York Times used "massacre" 124 times and "slaughter" 53 times, but neither word for the killing of Palestinians. The answer came from labor: dockers struck at 113 ports across five continents, alongside a general strike in Italy and walkouts in Greece and France.