Thursday, October 15

The Justice Department sued California on Thursday over alleged noncitizen voter registrations, and Newsom called the suit unfounded. Five House Republicans asked President Trump to cancel his Russian diesel deal. Reports said the US has prepared plans that could use its largest non-nuclear bomb on Iran.

1. 
   Voter rolls
   Justice Department sues California over noncitizen voter claims

   The Justice Department sued California on Thursday, alleging the federal government has identified more than 20,000 noncitizens unlawfully registered to vote. The suit follows a demand, delivered on a USB drive, that the state compare its rolls with federal data within 48 hours. Gov. Gavin Newsom called the lawsuit "unfounded."

   The question

   Is the Justice Department's voter roll demand on California justified?

   Voter suppressionJustified
   Read the story ›
2. Fuel prices
   Five House Republicans urge Trump to cancel Russian diesel deal

   Five House Republicans signed a letter Thursday urging President Trump to cancel the Russian diesel deal he announced last week and to raise sanctions, The Hill reported. They are Reps. Don Bacon, Brian Fitzpatrick, Michael McCaul, Dan Newhouse and Joe Wilson. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he felt betrayed by the deal.

   The question

   Should the US ease sanctions to let Russian diesel reach global markets in order to lower fuel prices?

   Keep sanctions on Russian fuelEase sanctions for cheaper fuel
   Read the story ›
3. Iran
   US prepares plans to use 'mother of all bombs' on Iran, reports say

   CBS News reported the White House and Pentagon have prepared plans to use a Massive Ordnance Air Blast bomb on military sites in Iran if President Trump orders it. CNN said potential targets include energy infrastructure and nuclear sites. CBS also reported ousted Army Chief of Staff Gen. Randy George warned the missile defense shortage would extend into 2030.

   The question

   Should the US use its biggest non-nuclear bomb on Iran?

   Not worth usingYes, if ordered
   Read the story ›
4. Senate races
   Trump says Cornyn and Rove to blame if Paxton loses Texas Senate race

   President Trump said Thursday that if Ken Paxton loses the Texas Senate race, John Cornyn and Karl Rove should be blamed. He called Paxton "a little bit controversial." CNBC reported polls show Paxton trailing Democrat James Talarico.

   The question

   Has Talarico changed his views to win the Senate race?

   He's stayed consistentHe's changed course
   Read the story ›
5. FBI
   Nine former FBI employees sue over firings tied to documents case

   Nine former FBI employees who worked on the investigation into President Trump's retention of classified documents sued on Thursday. They allege their firings were unlawful and are seeking to get their jobs back, according to ABC News and UPI.

   The question

   Were the FBI firings over the Trump documents case unlawful?

   No, justifiedYes, unlawful
   Read the story ›

• Election monitors

  The FBI and Postal Inspection Service are investigating suspicious letters containing unknown substances sent to election offices and lawmakers, according to NPR and other outlets.

• Money and influence

  The Washington Post obtained a list of major donors to President Trump's White House ballroom project; Quartz reported Nvidia and Apple each pledged $25 million.

• Russia and Ukraine

  Britain's defense secretary said he and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth welcomed the restoration of Starlink in Ukraine, Reuters reported.

• Justice Department

  The Justice Department has subpoenaed relatives of Rep. Ilhan Omar in an immigration investigation, following Monday's search of her Washington home, according to reports.

• Executive ethics

  A Trump donor sued Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle for defamation, USA Today reported.

• Maduro case

  Nicolás Maduro returned to New York federal court to face a rewritten indictment that includes torture allegations.

14 stories closed across 10 threads. Each stays on its thread’s timeline and reopens if the reporting comes back.