Wednesday, October 28

Courts and campaigns shaped Wednesday, with less than a week to Election Day. A federal judge rejected the Justice Department's California ballot request, and the department said it will not send FBI or ICE agents as poll monitors. Abroad, Flávio Bolsonaro landed in Miami and Israel's election left no clear winner.

1. 
   Voter rolls
   Judge rejects bid to set aside California ballots

   A federal judge on Wednesday denied the Justice Department's request to require California to separate mail ballots from roughly 20,000 people it says are noncitizens. CNBC reported the judge said the bid would "wreak havoc" on democracy. Al Jazeera reported more than 100 subpoenas have been issued across 13 states.

   The question

   Should California separate ballots even if results are delayed?

   Don't delay resultsSeparate them
   Read the story ›
2. Election monitors
   Justice Department says no FBI or ICE agents as poll monitors

   The Justice Department said it will not deploy FBI or ICE agents as poll monitors. The Washington County, Arkansas, Election Commission voted unanimously Monday to bar Justice Department monitors from polling sites on November 3. Wyoming Public Media reported the Laramie County clerk said monitors will not be allowed inside polling locations.

   The question

   Should federal monitors be allowed inside polling places?

   Keep them outsideAllow them inside
   Read the story ›
3. Senate races
   Report on Peltola campaign draws Trump call to remove her

   The New York Times reported Wednesday that Mary Peltola's campaign sought to recruit other candidates, including Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., in Alaska's Senate race. President Trump said she should not be allowed to run. Separately, Alaska officials asked a court to dismiss the Justice Department's suit over the Senate vote count.

   The question

   Should the Justice Department try to block Alaska's Senate result?

   No, let it standYes, block it
   Read the story ›
4. Brazil
   Flávio Bolsonaro lands in Miami after Brazil runoff loss

   Brazilian senator Flávio Bolsonaro landed in Miami on Wednesday after losing the presidential runoff to Lula, and the State Department said it would issue visas to him and his family. The Independent reported he denied fleeing. France 24 reported he left despite a court order to surrender his passport.

   The question

   Should the US give Flávio Bolsonaro's family entry visas?

   No, it's meddlingYes, admit them
   Read the story ›
5. Israel
   Israel's election leaves no clear majority; coalition talks loom

   Israelis awaited final results as reports said neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor his opponents has a majority. The Guardian reported absentee ballots were being counted. NPR reported the opposition must decide whether to ally with Arab parties. CNN reported record turnout among Palestinian citizens of Israel.

   The question

   Should Arab-led parties join Israel's next government?

   Leave them outInclude them
   Read the story ›

• Epstein files

  A three-judge panel of the D.C. Circuit on Wednesday declined to halt the court-ordered review of the Epstein files, Raw Story reported.

• Midterm messaging

  Speaker Mike Johnson, campaigning in Iowa, said polls are wrong about Republican support, while Fox News shifted more House races toward Democrats in its Power Rankings.

• Iran

  I24news reported Pentagon estimates put the Iran war's cost above $47 billion, without clearly counting base repair costs.

• Justice Department

  A federal judge ruled Tuesday that Bill Essayli is not lawfully serving as the top U.S. prosecutor in Los Angeles; he said he disagrees.

• Russia and Ukraine

  Officials said the six-day ceasefire in Oleshky, Ukraine, held through its first 30 hours.

• Elections 2026

  Minnesota prosecutors charged James O'Keefe and Cam Higby with unlawful voting and identity theft over an incident during the state's primaries, according to UPI and the Wall Street Journal.

12 stories closed across 8 threads. Each stays on its thread’s timeline and reopens if the reporting comes back.