FOUR-MINUTE READ | UNBIASED COVERAGE OF TOP POLITICAL NEWS
Federal Level
Judge Throws Out Trump Libel Suit Against WSJ
A federal judge in Miami on Saturday dismissed President Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against The Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch over a story about Trump’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein. U.S. District Judge Darrin Gayles dismissed the case with prejudice, which means it cannot be refiled, and wrote that the president was “grasping at straws.” The judge ruled that Trump did not show the paper acted with actual malice, the standard public figures must meet to win a libel case. Gayles also noted that the Journal reported Trump’s denial that he wrote the letter. The White House did not immediately respond to the decision.1
DOJ Eyes Supreme Court in California Ballot Fight
The Justice Department said on Saturday that it will probably ask the Supreme Court to step into its fight over California mail ballots before Tuesday’s election. “I think probably the Supreme Court’s next on this one,” acting Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter told Fox News. The department wants California to set aside ballots from more than 20,000 registered voters it alleges are likely noncitizens. A federal appeals court ruled 2-1 earlier in the week that the department had failed to justify that emergency request. California officials have said the federal list is unreliable and likely includes many people who are citizens.2, 3
D.C. and Virginia Sue to Stop Trump Triumphal Arch
Washington, D.C., and Virginia sued the National Park Service and the Interior Department on Saturday to stop construction of President Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch near Arlington National Cemetery. The lawsuit, filed by Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb, calls the project “flagrantly unlawful.” It argues that federal law requires Congress to approve memorials on federal land in the capital area. The administration has said construction could begin as early as next week. The suit joins two earlier challenges, and a federal judge said she would consider one of them over the weekend.4
Trump Holds Six Tele-Rallies From Mar-a-Lago Club
President Trump took a break from in-person campaigning on Saturday and instead called in to six telephone rallies from his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida. The calls supported Republican candidates in Pennsylvania, Ohio, New York, Michigan and Florida, including Stacy Garrity for governor of Pennsylvania and Vivek Ramaswamy for governor of Ohio. Trump announced each call on Truth Social and urged supporters to answer their phones. He has pledged to hold more telephone rallies on Monday. Trump is scheduled to return to the campaign trail on Sunday with in-person rallies in Iowa and Kansas, two states with close Senate races.5, 3
Jeffries Predicts Democratic House Majority in Virginia
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CBS News on Saturday that he is “very confident” his party is close to winning back control of the House. Jeffries spoke before a rally in Virginia Beach for Democrat Elaine Luria, who is challenging Republican Rep. Jen Kiggans in a rematch for Virginia’s 2nd Congressional District. The event fell on the last day of early in-person voting in Virginia. Asked what would count as a good night for Democrats, Jeffries answered, “the majority.” He also said Trump “will have no choice but to accept the results” if Democrats win one or both chambers.3
State Level
Alaska Asks Judge to Dismiss DOJ Senate Ballot Lawsuit
The Alaska Attorney General’s Office on Saturday asked a federal judge to dismiss a Justice Department lawsuit that seeks to block certification of a possible Democratic win in the state’s Senate race. The suit centers on independent candidate Daniel J. Sullivan, who shares a name with Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. The state argued the federal claims have “no legal basis” and said the relief the department wants would violate ballot secrecy. State officials also said the ballot was designed to reduce voter confusion. U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason had set Saturday as the deadline for arguments on dismissal.3, 2
El-Sayed Campaign Asks Stevens to Skip Final Events
Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign has asked Rep. Haley Stevens, his former primary rival, to stay away from his remaining events before Tuesday’s election, CBS News confirmed Saturday. The request followed a dispute on Friday, when Stevens asked El-Sayed to condemn an outside group’s ad tying aid to Israel to grocery prices and to apologize for past remarks. El-Sayed’s campaign said it has no tie to that ad and accused Stevens of reopening the primary. The two had been expected to appear together Sunday in Detroit. El-Sayed faces Republican Mike Rogers in a race rated a toss-up.3, 2
Hinojosa Joins Talarico as Paxton Rallies in Houston
Texas Democrats and Republicans held competing events on Saturday as the state’s Senate race entered its final weekend. Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for governor, appeared at a Houston stop for Senate nominee James Talarico and told supporters, “No one ever thought that we would ever get this close.” Talarico also held a block walk in Dallas to encourage voter turnout. Republican nominee Ken Paxton rallied supporters in Houston on his statewide bus tour. Hinojosa’s campaign planned a Spanish-language ad during Saturday’s Canelo Alvarez boxing match, aimed at Hispanic men, that contrasts her plans with those of Republican Gov. Greg Abbott.3
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Article Sources
1. Associated Press (via Citrus County Chronicle), “’Grasping at straws’: Judge dismisses Trump suit against Wall Street Journal over Epstein letter,” Oct. 31, 2026.
https://www.chronicleonline.com/news/national/grasping-at-straws-judge-dismisses-trump-suit-against-wall-street-journal-over-epstein-letter/article_9134c7db-9f36-5916-b0bc-8a045cac77f3.html
2. Reuters, “US campaign enters final weekend as Alaska, California ballot fights heat up,” Oct. 31, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/us-campaign-control-congress-enters-final-weekend-2026-10-31/
3. CBS News, “2026 elections live updates: Trump takes part in online rallies as candidates make their final push,” Oct. 31, 2026.
https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/2026-midterm-elections-campaigns-weekend-before/
4. TIME, “D.C. and Virginia Join the Fight to Block Trump’s Triumphal Arch. What Happens Next?,” Oct. 31, 2026.
https://time.com/article/2026/10/31/d-c-and-virginia-join-the-fight-to-block-trump-s-triumphal-arch-what-happens-next-/
5. NBC News, “Election 2026 live updates,” Oct. 31, 2026.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/live-blog/trump-administration-rally-midterm-election-peltola-live-updates-rcna606665