Saturday, October 31

Saturday brought a new filing in the dispute over the Justice Department's list of alleged noncitizen voters in California, fresh statements from Trump and Iran's leadership on the war, and the dismissal of Trump's suit against The Wall Street Journal. The midterms are Nov. 3.

1. 
   Voter rolls
   Analysis: over 40% of names on DOJ list not on California rolls

   An immigrant rights group's legal filing Saturday found more than 4 in 10 names the Justice Department flagged as possible noncitizen voters in California are not on the state's voter rolls. ADN reported the analysis also found thousands of U.S. citizens appear flagged as ineligible. Reuters reported Gov. Gavin Newsom asked federal judges to resist attempts to seize ballots.

   The question

   Should California separate ballots even if results are delayed?

   Don't delay resultsSeparate them
   Read the story ›
2. Iran
   Trump 'not in that much of a hurry' on Iran as new threats surface

   The Washington Examiner reported Trump said Saturday night he is "not in that much of a hurry" on Iran. The New York Post reported Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei ordered forces to prepare "an immediate, impactful, and geographically unrestricted response." I24news reported a draft framework envisages reopening the Strait of Hormuz within seven days of an initial understanding.

   The question

   Should the US trade Hormuz reopening for Iran's uranium leaving?

   Don't tradeWorth a deal
   Read the story ›
3. Press freedom
   Judge dismisses Trump's defamation suit against Wall Street Journal

   U.S. District Judge Darrin P. Gayles on Saturday dismissed with prejudice President Trump's defamation suit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a report on an alleged birthday letter to Jeffrey Epstein. CBS News reported the 20-page ruling found Trump did not prove the defendants acted with actual malice.

   The question

   Should a paper wait to publish after a public figure denies a claim?

   No, publish anywayYes, it should wait
   Read the story ›
4. Senate races
   Alaska asks judge to dismiss Trump suit over Senate ballots

   Alaska's attorneys asked a federal judge to dismiss the Trump administration's lawsuit over Senate ballot certification, calling its demand to set aside ballots "meritless" and "not even possible." The Hill reported Mary Peltola again denied involvement in the alleged ballot-stacking scheme at a Friday rally but did not mention the federal probe.

   The question

   Should Mary Peltola drop out over the namesake candidate report?

   She should stay inShe should drop out
   Read the story ›
5. Election monitors
   Judge orders DOJ and DHS to stop threatening election workers

   A federal judge in San Francisco issued an emergency order directing the Justice and Homeland Security departments to stop threatening election workers with prosecution, days before the midterms, Hoodline and CNN reported. Headtopics reported the Justice Department is sending more than 1,000 monitors to polling places in all 50 states.

   The question

   Should DOJ and DHS press election officials on noncitizen voting?

   Let states run itYes, press them
   Read the story ›

• Russia and Ukraine

  The State Department approved a potential $2.1 billion sale of 500 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, CBS News and others reported.

• ICE enforcement

  An ICE agent indicted on an aggravated assault charge for hitting a fleeing man with his car in Houston will turn himself in Monday, his attorney said.

• Health care

  A federal judge in Boston blocked the Trump administration from enforcing a rule narrowing exceptions to Medicaid work requirements for recipients with serious medical conditions.

• Poland's courts

  ABC News reported Prime Minister Donald Tusk defended suspending the Constitutional Tribunal president as protesters gathered again; the tribunal's judges called the move a "coup d'état."

• Federal architecture

  Virginia and Washington, D.C., sued to block construction of Trump's planned arch, ABC News and The Guardian reported.

• The Courts

  Headtopics and Nwaonline reported a federal judge will open an inquiry into Trump administration attorneys over golf course plans.

7 stories closed across 6 threads. Each stays on its thread’s timeline and reopens if the reporting comes back.