FOUR-MINUTE READ | UNBIASED COVERAGE OF TOP POLITICAL NEWS
Federal Level
Trump Approves Rollback of Auto Mileage Rules
On Saturday, President Donald Trump said he approved new federal fuel-economy standards that would reverse Biden-era rules intended to encourage electric and hybrid vehicle sales. The administration did not immediately release the final requirements, but Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said an announcement would come Monday. A December proposal would lower the fleetwide target for cars and light trucks in model year 2031 to about 34.5 miles per gallon, compared with 50.4 under the prior standards. Trump said the change would reduce vehicle prices and encourage domestic production. The rule continues his administration’s broader rollback of federal support for electric vehicles.1, 2
White House Excludes CNN From Air Force One
On Saturday, the White House excluded CNN from Air Force One during President Donald Trump’s trip to Tennessee, although the network had been scheduled for the rotating television pool. White House guidance instead listed Real America’s Voice, which is not part of the five-network pool. A written pool report said there was no television pool for the trip. The action came after a federal judge temporarily restored White House credentials for CNN, MS NOW and Politico. That ruling addressed access to White House grounds but did not directly mention pool duties or Air Force One. The White House did not provide an immediate explanation.3, 4
Trump Escalates Break With Salazar Over Immigration
On Saturday evening, President Donald Trump reposted at least 14 messages criticizing Republican Representative Maria Elvira Salazar, including calls to replace her. The Florida congresswoman recently released an advertisement saying some of the administration’s immigration enforcement had gone too far. Trump had endorsed Salazar in August and said earlier in the week that he still supported her, while disagreeing with her border position. Salazar represents a heavily Hispanic Miami district that Democrats are targeting in November. Neither the White House nor Salazar’s office immediately clarified whether Trump’s endorsement remained in place. The episode exposed a campaign-season division among Republicans over immigration enforcement.5, 6
Trump Predicts Cuba Deal Without Military Action
On Saturday morning, President Donald Trump predicted the United States and Cuba would reach an agreement and said he did not expect military action to be necessary. He spoke to reporters outside the White House after being asked about reports that American military units had been activated in connection with Cuba. Trump said his administration wanted to open Cuba to Americans and help the country. His comments followed a Tuesday address to the United Nations in which he said his administration was seeking fundamental change in Cuba and predicted its government would fall. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has conducted negotiations with Cuba, according to Trump.7, 8
New Poll Shows Alaska Senate Race Nearly Even
On Saturday, a newly added Trafalgar Group poll showed Republican Senator Dan Sullivan leading Democratic challenger Mary Peltola by one percentage point in Alaska’s Senate race. The survey, conducted September 22 through 24, put Sullivan at 47 percent and Peltola at 46 percent. A previous poll taken September 14 through 17 also placed Sullivan ahead by two points, while two earlier September surveys gave Peltola leads of five and seven points. Alaska uses a top-four election system and ranked-choice voting. Democrats need a net gain of four seats to control the Senate, making Republican-held Alaska important to the party’s path to a majority.9
State Level
Jolly Campaigns in Volusia on Florida Priorities
On Saturday, Democratic nominee David Jolly campaigned for Florida governor in Daytona Beach, focusing on affordability, education, health care and disaster response. Jolly visited a local church and said Volusia County reflects the economic differences along the I-4 corridor. He criticized culture-war politics and called for a state fund to respond to major natural disasters. Republican nominee Byron Donalds had visited the area days earlier and emphasized price transparency as a way to stabilize costs. Both candidates have acknowledged that the next governor will need to work with Florida’s Republican-dominated Legislature. Voting by mail is underway ahead of the November election.10
Hilton Joins Pasadena Forum in Governor Campaign
On Saturday, Republican nominee Steve Hilton joined a conservative political forum in Pasadena as California’s governor campaign entered its final weeks. The event at Ambassador Auditorium was organized by AM870 The Answer and the Reagan Gold Group to energize activists before the November election. Other listed candidates included Republican lieutenant governor nominee Gloria Romero and state superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw. Hilton, who faces Democrat Xavier Becerra, said California’s policies and their execution needed to change. His campaign was among the event’s sponsors. The program also included political commentators, radio hosts and former Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva, who is seeking his old office.11
Holscher Starts Kansas Tour Focused on Costs
On Saturday, Democratic Kansas governor nominee Cindy Holscher began a statewide campaign tour in Marysville with a morning coffee for voters. Her campaign said the Common Sense and Lower Costs Tour would include at least 16 stops over two weeks, starting in eastern Kansas before moving west. Holscher planned to use the events to hear from residents and present proposals aimed at reducing costs for working families. She is a state senator and is running against Republican nominee Ty Masterson. Earlier in the week, her campaign announced a coalition of 21 current and former Republican officials supporting her. The Marysville stop opened the tour as planned.12, 13
◆
THIS POLITICAL NEWS REPORT IS FREE TO EVERYONE
WOULD YOU KINDLY SHARE IT WITH A FRIEND?
Article Sources
1. CNBC, “Trump says he approved new fuel economy standards, rolling back Biden-era rules,” Sept. 26, 2026.
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/09/26/trump-fuel-economy-cafe-standards.html
2. Reuters, “US to finalize sharply lower vehicle fuel economy standards,” Sept. 26, 2026.
3. Politico, “White House blocks CNN from traveling with Trump on Air Force One,” Sept. 26, 2026.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/26/white-house-blocks-cnn-air-force-one-tennessee-01094061
4. Associated Press, “CNN says it was left off Air Force One for Trump’s Saturday trip to a college football game,” Sept. 26, 2026.
5. Politico, “Trump turns on Salazar after Florida Republican challenges his immigration crackdown,” Sept. 26, 2026.
https://www.politico.com/news/2026/09/26/trump-maria-elvira-salazar-immigration-florida-01094098
6. CNN, “Trump posts series of attacks on GOP congresswoman who criticized him on immigration,” Sept. 26, 2026.
https://www.cnn.com/2026/09/26/politics/trump-maria-elvira-salazar-truth-social-posts
7. USA Today, “Trump on Cuba: ‘I don’t think we’ll need the military’,” Sept. 26, 2026.
8. Reuters, “Trump predicts Cuba and US will make a deal,” Sept. 26, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/trump-predicts-cuba-us-will-make-deal-2026-09-26/
9. The New York Times, “Alaska U.S. Senate Election 2026: Latest Polls,” Sept. 26, 2026.
10. WKMG ClickOrlando, “Jolly, Donalds campaign in Volusia as Florida governor’s race ramps up,” Sept. 26, 2026.
11. Pasadena Now, “Republican Governor Nominee Steve Hilton Among Speakers Slated for Conservative Forum in Pasadena Today,” Sept. 26, 2026.
12. Cindy Holscher for Governor, “Holscher Launches Statewide ‘Common Sense and Lower Costs Tour’,” Sept. 22, 2026.
https://www.cindyforkansas.com/news/
13. The Marysville Advocate, “Governor candidate to visit here,” Sept. 22, 2026.