Thursday, October 29

Courts and counties pushed back on Justice Department demands over California ballots, while President Trump was briefed as the Pentagon weighs new Iran strikes. Alaska's governor ordered a probe of Mary Peltola's campaign. Israel's election left no party with a majority, Al Jazeera reported.

1. 
   Voter rolls
   Judge denies bid to set aside California ballots; Marin also refuses

   A federal judge in Los Angeles denied a Justice Department request to sequester ballots from up to 20,000 people it calls likely noncitizens, warning it would "wreak havoc" on voting, Nwaonline reported. Headtopics reported an immediate appeal. Patch reported Marin County rejected the department's demand to set aside ballots from 48 voters.

   The question

   Should California separate ballots even if results are delayed?

   Don't delay resultsSeparate them
   Read the story ›
2. Iran
   Trump briefed as Pentagon weighs new Iran strikes

   President Trump received a briefing Thursday from Adm. Brad Cooper, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine as the Pentagon weighs new Iran strikes, the Wall Street Journal reported. Reports say attacks are being considered after the midterms, and Qatari mediators floated a seven-day framework. Nwaonline reported the Pentagon estimates the war's cost at $47.1 billion.

   The question

   Should the U.S. bomb Iran again if talks fail?

   No, too riskyYes, strike again
   Read the story ›
3. Senate races
   Alaska governor orders probe of Peltola campaign

   Alaska's governor ordered an investigation of Mary Peltola's Senate campaign after the New York Times reported Wednesday that Democrats recruited a candidate sharing Sen. Dan Sullivan's name. Peltola said she "knew nothing about" it. Trump has called for her to drop out and face criminal charges, and a source told the Anchorage outlet ADN the Justice Department issued new subpoenas.

   The question

   Should Mary Peltola drop out over the namesake candidate report?

   She should stay inShe should drop out
   Read the story ›
4. Israel
   Israel's vote count ends with no majority for any bloc

   Al Jazeera reported Israel's vote count is complete and no party secured the 61 seats needed for a majority. ABC News reported Netanyahu's party amplified claims that Arab-led parties stole the election. Netanyahu and his main rivals have all ruled out partnering with Arab-led parties, according to the reports.

   The question

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

   Leave them outInclude them
   Read the story ›
5. The Pentagon
   Hegseth removes Lt. Gen. Sylvia over alleged leaks

   Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth removed Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia from his Joint Staff post. A Pentagon official said he was accused of leaking classified information about the wars in Iran and Ukraine, and a department statement said he failed three polygraph tests. Critics question a shifting official explanation and note the removal followed Laura Loomer's public targeting of him.

   The question

   Was removing Lt. Gen. Sylvia over alleged leaks justified?

   Not proven enoughJustified removal
   Read the story ›

• Health care

  A judge blocked a Medicaid rule requiring chronically ill recipients to prove they are medically frail, siding with 25 states and the District of Columbia, Al Jazeera reported.

• Election monitors

  The Justice Department said it will not use FBI or ICE agents as poll monitors in the 2026 general election, Newsweek reported.

• Press freedom

  CNN, MS NOW and Politico asked a court to make its Trump access order permanent and expanded their lawsuit, citing continued "viewpoint discrimination".

• The Supreme Court

  Sandy Hook families filed a brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold state and local bans on AR-15-style rifles, the Houston Chronicle reported.

• Russia and Ukraine

  CNN reported the Trump administration and the Kremlin are discussing lifting US sanctions on Russia's sovereign wealth fund, citing Russian state media quoting a Kremlin aide.

• Brazil

  The State Department said it would issue entry visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and his family, who arrived in Miami Wednesday after he lost Brazil's runoff to Lula.

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