Peninsula state in the Great Lakes region; two peninsulas, Detroit’s economy, Lansing is capital
Twelve senators have urged congressional leaders to drop provisions that would deepen US-Israel defense technology cooperation, arguing they risk compromising US national security and signaling a move away from traditional military aid. The NDAA’s Section 219 would create a US-Israel Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative, appointing a Pentagon executive agent to coordinate joint R&D, testing and production in AI, autonomous systems, biotech, quantum tech, cyber and more. The House has passed the NDAA; the Senate must act. Critics warn such integration could embed Israeli tech in American weapons programs and reduce oversight.
Gasoline prices have climbed to fresh highs ahead of the election, with national averages and state readings showing sustained weakness in energy markets amid geopolitical tensions and supply concerns. Bloomberg and GasBuddy data indicate prices near multi-year peaks, underscoring ongoing volatility.
The president has announced and opened major Washington renovations, arguing they unite Americans while critics say they distract from cost-of-living concerns ahead of the midterms.
Egyptian-American surgeon Adam Hamawy has won a seat in the U.S. House, becoming New Jersey’s first Muslim congressman. His campaign emphasized healthcare funding and opposition to arms funding for Gaza. His background includes Army service and humanitarian medical work in Gaza, Haiti, and other conflict zones.
Pro-Israel lobbying groups have poured millions into US congressional races, with several candidates backed by AIPAC and its affiliated PACs winning. Yet a substantial share of the invested money has gone to candidates who lost, signaling a complex realignment in Washington’s foreign policy discussions as domestic concerns rise.
Muslim and Arab-American candidates have secured multiple wins in the 2026 midterm elections, including Michigan’s Abdul El-Sayed as the first Muslim senator and Adam Hamawy as New Jersey’s first Muslim congressman. The results reflect growing turnout among Muslim voters and a rejection of Islamophobic rhetoric, with several other Muslim and Palestinian-American candidates winning seats across the country.
Abdul El-Sayed has secured a U.S. Senate seat, becoming the first Muslim senator from the country. He has campaigned on Medicare for All, affordable housing and anti-corruption measures, while facing Islamophobic attacks from opponents. The Guardian, AP and BBC report his victory in Michigan, with reactions highlighting his historic win and its implications for American politics.
Google has changed default settings for K–12 accounts so Gemini, Gemini Notebook and Search AI are turned off by default; Google says schools can enable each tool individually but warned that fully opting out of AI will block access to Google Search. Politicians and privacy-focused competitors have condemned the policy as coercive.
With certification deadlines approaching, Mississippi's Senate contest has remained unresolved: Democrat Scott Colom has held a narrow lead over Republican incumbent Cindy Hyde‑Smith as thousands of absentee and provisional ballots are still to be examined and campaign lawyers are preparing for possible legal challenges.
The Blue Jays have distanced the team from Anthony Santander’s social media posts that attacked Muslims following the U.S. midterm elections. The posts have been removed and the club says individual comments do not reflect its values. Santander has missed the 2026 season due to injuries and a shoulder surgery.
Prediction markets for Kalshi and Polymarket have attracted attention for accuracy ahead of and during midterm elections, with mixed performance compared with traditional forecasts. They projected outcomes and saw record volumes, but some analyses show they are not a substitute for polling.
The Justice Department confirms multiple senior departures, including the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of Florida and the head of the National Security Division. Democrats are poised to use new congressional majorities to intensify oversight, while investigations into the Trump era and related figures have stalled or evolved.
Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy has experienced a minor hemorrhagic stroke and is now in Johns Hopkins with doctors describing progress as encouraging. He will spend several weeks in rehabilitation, staying remotely connected with his team as his office continues its work.
Michigan has replaced offensive coordinator Jason Beck with interim OC Jim Harding as the Wolverines struggle offensively. The move follows a season of poor offensive output and a closely watched quarterback situation, with underperformance threatening bowl eligibility.
Democrats have gained hundreds of state legislative seats and secured governing trifectas in multiple states, expanding their control of statehouses, governors’ offices, and redistricting processes. The wave reshapes policy on minimum wages, abortion access, and voting rules ahead of 2028, while challenging Republican redistricting strategies.
Mamdani has been meeting with labor leaders to push for a left-wing or labor-aligned candidate in the 2028 race, amid uncertainties about Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's plans. He is coordinating behind the scenes with unions and left figures to align momentum from the midterms with a potential challenger to moderate Democrats.
Connor Hellebuyck has been traded from Winnipeg to New Jersey after a public trade request. He has cited threats against his family as a factor in seeking privacy, and he has said he will not face his former team in Winnipeg as the Devils’ season unfolds. The Devils have defended the decision as protecting win probability and team welfare.
Arab-American and Muslim candidates have secured historic wins in 2026 US elections, including Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan and Hamawy in New Jersey, signaling growing political representation alongside policy debates on healthcare, cost of living, and foreign policy.
The Times of Israel, New York Post, AP News and other outlets report that Jim Jordan has won the GOP minority leader election, defeating Steve Scalise in a secret-ballot vote. Jordan will lead the conference in the minority as the party prepares to challenge Democratic oversight, with additional leadership votes for whip and conference chair underway.
Ottawa has issued a default notice to Stellantis over funding breaches tied to Brampton production, signaling potential legal action. The company has shifted Jeep Compass production to Illinois and sold the Brampton plant to Roshel, affecting thousands of Canadian workers amid ongoing US-Canada tariff tensions and stalled trade talks.
Voters have elected Keisha Lance Bottoms as Georgia’s governor, marking a historic milestone as the first Black woman to hold the role. Other results across states include notable Democratic wins, with latinos and other diverse groups influencing the political landscape.
Democrats have built a broader coalition across rural areas, suburbs and cities, gaining seats and shifting power while Texas and Georgia show notable changes in Latino and local leadership. The results signal a realignment that challenges long-standing Republican dominance in several states.