Israel dispute divides Michigan Democrats
Stevens' appearance with Rogers followed her removal from a joint event with El-Sayed and her criticism of his statements about Israel. Her fiancé said a few days earlier that he would vote for Rogers, arguing that El-Sayed had not adequately addressed the Jewish community's concerns.
On Friday, Stevens challenged El-Sayed over advertising from an independent left-leaning group that linked high grocery prices to U.S. support for Israel. Referring to his promise to remove money from politics, she said he should stop making Israel his explanation for everything Michigan cannot afford and urged him to condemn the advertising. El-Sayed said Saturday evening that his campaign had not produced the ad and that he disagreed with its content.
The dispute comes after a close August primary. When The Associated Press called the race with 99% of votes counted, El-Sayed had 48.5% to Stevens' 47.5%, a 1-percentage-point margin. Following the result, investment firm Piper Sandler increased its estimate of the likelihood that Republicans would retain the Senate majority from 55% to 60%.
Alaska inquiry focuses on similarly named candidates
In Alaska, the Justice Department has issued numerous new orders and grand jury subpoenas in a criminal investigation involving Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., whose name resembles that of Republican incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan. A person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press that investigators were seeking testimony or documents. The recipients and total number of orders and subpoenas have not been disclosed.
U.S. Attorney Michael Heyman said investigators intensified their work after The New York Times reported on an alleged Democratic effort to recruit Sullivan Jr. to draw votes away from the incumbent. The report said Democratic candidate Mary Peltola's campaign may have participated in recruiting him. The department has been examining the allegations for months, but the targets of its investigation remain unclear. Sullivan Jr. denies the allegations. Trump called this week for Peltola and her campaign team to be prosecuted.
The department has also asked a court in Anchorage to require separate storage of ballots cast for Sullivan Jr. Its filing says that would allow an examination, if needed, of whether the candidates' similar names confused voters. Republicans allege that Sullivan Jr., a political newcomer, is acting as a Democratic stand-in.
Alaska election officials initially removed Sullivan Jr. from the ballot in June 2026 after determining that his candidacy was not in "good faith." State courts subsequently allowed him to remain. He placed third in the August all-party primary with 2.5% of the vote, compared with Peltola's 49.5% and the incumbent's 41.4%.
The November ballot identifies "Dan S. Sullivan" as a registered Republican and incumbent, while "Daniel J. Sullivan Jr." appears without a party affiliation. Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski called the federal lawsuit wholly unnecessary, saying Alaska had already made the distinction clear and the Justice Department should not have brought the case.
Judges limit federal election demands
A judge rejected the Justice Department's request for a preliminary injunction involving about 20,000 California voters whom the department suspected were not U.S. citizens. The judge said the requested measure would severely damage election integrity and described the administration's attempt to strip states of their rights so close to an election as unprecedented.
In a separate case brought by election workers' unions, a court prohibited the administration from threatening election workers with prosecution. The preliminary injunction also prevents the Justice Department from demanding that local authorities purge voter rolls or reject ballots on the basis of lists of suspected noncitizens. The department did not immediately provide a statement.
Trump's $10 billion Journal lawsuit dismissed permanently
U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles in Miami dismissed Trump's defamation lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch on Saturday. The $10 billion case concerned the newspaper's reporting on Trump's ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Gayles dismissed it "with prejudice," permanently barring Trump from refiling the case.
The disputed article described a sexually suggestive letter and drawing said to bear Trump's name in an album assembled for Epstein's 50th birthday in 2003. The letter was reportedly collected by Ghislaine Maxwell. According to the Journal, it ends: "Happy Birthday — and may every day be another wonderful secret."
Gayles found that Trump had not established that the Journal and Murdoch made defamatory statements with actual malice. He also said the lawsuit sought to manufacture shortcomings in the newspaper's reporting.
The judge had dismissed an earlier version of the lawsuit in April 2026 because it failed to plead actual malice, while giving Trump an opportunity to amend it. Trump filed the revised complaint in May. In Saturday's ruling, Gayles cited the Supreme Court's 1964 New York Times Co. v. Sullivan decision: Public figures must prove that a publisher knew a statement was false or recklessly disregarded whether it was true.
Trump restores Iowa and Kansas campaign stops
Trump plans to visit Iowa and Kansas on Sunday after canceling in-person appearances in both states, according to a person familiar with his plans who spoke to The Associated Press. The cancellations had puzzled Republicans, who face close races in the two states.
The Republican National Committee had announced Thursday that Trump would instead support candidates through telephone rallies. Asked that day whether health concerns explained the Kansas cancellation, Trump rejected the suggestion and said he felt well. He had held 25 rallies by Thursday after announcing a goal of more than 30 during October.
D.C. and Virginia seek to block planned arch
Washington, D.C., and Virginia have sued to halt construction of Trump's proposed triumphal arch, arguing that the project lacks congressional approval. Their complaint in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia names the National Park Service, the Department of the Interior and their respective leaders, Jessica Bowron and Doug Burgum, as defendants.
Plans call for a 250-foot structure at Memorial Circle, between Arlington National Cemetery and the Lincoln Memorial. It would be about twice the Lincoln Memorial's height. An October court filing from the administration indicated that construction could start as early as Nov. 5, 2026.
Trump has described the arch as a "military complex" that could house weapons and snipers, but the latest plans contain no military elements. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan directed the two sides to agree by Saturday evening on a briefing schedule for the request for a temporary restraining order.
