A Midwestern state at the heart of U.S. politics and culture.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has arrived in Washington for a three-day state visit and a summit with U.S. President Donald Trump to press an extension of a trade truce, negotiate AI cooperation and raise cases of Americans held in China. Preparatory talks have produced limited deliverables; officials expect modest, targeted outcomes rather than broad breakthroughs.
Missouri’s highest court has ordered the state to use the congressional map from 2022 for the November general election and to put a referendum on voters’ ballots, overturning a Republican-drawn mid‑decade map used in August primaries. Federal courts have issued conflicting orders, prompting appeals to the U.S. Supreme Court and persistent confusion for voters and officials as November approaches.
The midterm contests are intensifying as key Senate races move toward toss-ups amid headwinds from Trump-era unpopularity and internal party divisions. Republicans hold a fragile Senate edge while Democrats seek gains in Michigan, Maine, Texas, Iowa, Alaska and Ohio; fundraising and redistricting battles shape outcomes.
A draft proposal from the Trump administration would exclude undocumented immigrants and non-permanent residents from the 2030 U.S. census, potentially shrinking official counts used to allocate seats and federal funds. Race and ethnicity questions may be dropped; the plan opens for public comment before final policy.
Trump has pledged a $5,000 dividend for every American if Republicans retain control of Congress; the plan faces legal, fiscal and political hurdles and is criticized by experts and opponents as economically risky.
The Supreme Court has ordered that Missouri must use the 2022 district map for the November elections after a series of rulings and appeals involving the state’s redistricting map and a referendum petition.
McKenna West has filed an emergency appeal seeking to halt a California court order that recognizes California couple Omar Ahmed and Nausheen Gilkar as the parents of a seriously ill infant. The child, born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, has undergone surgery. West argues the couple would withhold life-saving care; the Supreme Court’s involvement remains uncertain.
A guide to lesser-known fall landscapes across the United States, highlighting offbeat spots from the Midwest to New England and beyond, with practical tips on crowds, reservations, and hidden gems.
Apple TV’s Brothers pairs Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson as self-macaronized versions of themselves. The show teases a deeper myth about family and fame but lands in familiar sitcom territory, underutilizing its star duo and undercooking its emotional core.
Protect Democracy finds 34.8 million Americans have moved districts since 2024; Missouri’s redistricting chaos culminates as the Supreme Court blocks Trump-backed maps and reverts to 2022-24 boundaries ahead of November elections. Lawsuits allege election interference and misused funds, while voters face confusion over district placement.
A procedural vote on the Clarity Act has failed to reach the 60-vote threshold in the Senate, leaving the crypto-regulation bill in limbo as lawmakers head into the midterms. The measure, which would establish a federal framework for digital assets, faces divided support and ongoing opposition over ethics provisions and broader regulatory concerns.
The Supreme Court has denied the Trump administration's request to lift lower-court orders that blocked new U.S. Postal Service rules narrowing mail-in ballots, leaving states to use their existing procedures for the Nov. 3 midterms. Justices Alito and Thomas dissented; the court has not decided the rule's longer-term legal fate.
Legislation to make AI data centers pay for grid upgrades has stalled after a Senate objection, while House supporters say the measure is a modest step to shield ratepayers from higher bills amid rising AI infrastructure costs.
A Virginia federal court has sentenced Mohammad Sharifullah to the maximum term for providing material support to ISIS-K, while jurors remain deadlocked on his role in the Kabul airport bombing. Prosecutors say he helped scout the Abbey Gate route and coordinated attacks, though the court did not tie him to the airport bombing itself.
A U.S. district judge has sentenced Siddharth Jawahar to 11 years in prison and ordered $31.35 million in restitution to victims for a multi‑million dollar fraud at Swiftarc Capital. Prosecutors say new money financed older investors and an extravagant lifestyle, with Jawahar directing most funds into a single declining asset. The case names Kelce among victims; many details remain undisclosed.
Missouri remains under the 2022 map for November elections after the Supreme Court blocked changes and lower courts weigh conflicting rulings. Absentee voting is underway, with state courts holding hearings amid a nationwide redistricting push linked to midterms.
Trump has shown warmth toward New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani as their public ties deepen. While the two leaders express friendliness, they are navigating policy disagreements—especially on housing, taxation, and media access—amid ongoing UN meetings and a looming midterm landscape.
The administration has directed that imprisoned transgender women be housed in men's facilities and has barred gender-transition treatments. Lower courts have blocked the policy, requiring ongoing hormone therapy for transgender inmates as lawsuits proceed. The Supreme Court has been asked to intervene on an emergency basis, with a response due by Oct. 8.
The Senate has considered a war powers resolution aimed at constraining Trump’s Iran conflict, with Republicans increasingly questioning the costs of gas and everyday living as farmers and rural voters feel economic strain ahead of November.
The Constitutional Court has accepted a case challenging unique barcodes on ballots used in the Feb. 8 election, testing whether they render votes traceable and violate ballot secrecy. A ruling could reshape Thailand’s political landscape and economy, with potential early elections if ballots are struck down.
The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the Department of Homeland Security to resume using the revamped SAVE database to check voter citizenship, reversing a lower-court ban. Three liberal justices have dissented, and advocates warn the tool has flagged U.S. citizens and risks wrongful removals ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.