FOUR-MINUTE READ | UNBIASED COVERAGE OF TOP POLITICAL NEWS
Federal Level
Appeals Court Dismisses Federal California Ballot Bid
On Monday, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals dismissed a Justice Department effort to force California election officials to set aside mail ballots from voters the administration says are likely noncitizens. In a 2-1 decision, the panel said it lacked jurisdiction because the government had not given a federal district court adequate opportunity to consider its request. Judge Patrick Bumatay dissented. The majority noted the department sued less than three weeks before the Nov. 3 election. Gov. Gavin Newsom called the ruling a positive development, and the department can still ask the full court to reconsider the appeal.1, 2
Justice Department Files Third Case Against Comey
On Monday, newly unsealed court documents showed the Justice Department has brought a third criminal case against former FBI Director James Comey, alleging he improperly shared classified information tied to an October 2016 New York Times story. The department said it filed a criminal information to extend the statute of limitations. Comey’s attorney, Patrick Fitzgerald, said the filing was not approved by a judge or a grand jury and is barred by a 10-year limit. Comey said in a video statement that he remains innocent. His lawyers have asked a judge to dismiss the information, and that request is still pending.3
Judge Rules Firing of Prosecutor Maurene Comey Unlawful
On Monday, U.S. District Judge Jesse Furman ruled that the Trump administration unlawfully fired Maurene Comey, a former federal prosecutor in Manhattan and the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey. She was dismissed in July 2025 and alleged the firing violated civil service protections. The Justice Department had argued that prosecutors can be removed without cause. The judge granted her request to be reinstated retroactively through December 2025 so she could receive back pay and qualify for retirement benefits. A department spokesperson said it disagrees with the decision and will appeal in due course, though one of her claims remains undecided.4
Reuters Poll Shows Trump Approval Edging Up to 32%
A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Monday found President Donald Trump’s approval rating at 32%, up one point from last week’s record low. Among registered voters, 47% said they would pick Democrats for Congress and 36% Republicans, a gap one point narrower than in the poll that closed Oct. 19. When undecided voters’ leanings were included, Democrats led 50% to 41%. Some 73% of voters said their cost of living was heading in the wrong direction. The five-day online poll surveyed 1,679 adults, including 1,280 registered voters, and has a margin of error of 2 percentage points for all adults.5
Advocacy Groups Sue Over Refugee Green Card Policies
On Monday, refugee advocacy groups filed a class action lawsuit in federal court in Massachusetts challenging three Trump administration policies. The suit names the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. It targets a hold on green card applications from refugees admitted under the Biden administration, re-interviews of those refugees, and an Oct. 14 rule that cuts the time to respond to a notice of termination from 30 days to 10. The plaintiffs, who include four individual refugees, ask a judge to block the policies. News outlets covering the suit said they had asked the agencies for comment.6, 7
State Level
Moore and Obama Push Maryland Redistricting Measure
On Monday, Gov. Wes Moore joined Democratic leaders at a Bowie voting site to urge support for Question 3, a proposed constitutional amendment on how Maryland draws congressional districts, as a new television ad featuring former President Barack Obama debuted. Dan Cox, the Republican candidate for governor, said, “If it’s wrong for another state to do it, then it’s wrong for us to do it.” A UMBC poll released in October found 53% of likely voters planned to vote against the measure, 25% planned to vote for it and 19% were undecided. Voters decide Question 3 on Nov. 3.8, 9
Shapiro Signs Pennsylvania School Cellphone Ban Into Law
On Monday, Gov. Josh Shapiro signed Senate Bill 1014 at Lenape Middle School in Bucks County, creating a bell-to-bell ban on personal mobile devices in Pennsylvania schools. The law covers public, private, charter and cyber charter schools, and each district must adopt a way to enforce it before the 2027-28 school year begins. Exceptions include disability accommodations, medical conditions and English language learners. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that the bill passed the legislature with bipartisan support. Shapiro said schools will not be told how to carry out the policy but will be empowered to do so.10, 11
Michigan State Survey Shows Benson Ahead of James
On Monday, Michigan State University’s Institute for Public Policy and Social Research released a survey showing Democrat Jocelyn Benson leading Republican John James 53.3% to 40.9% among likely voters in the governor’s race, with 5.9% undecided. In the U.S. Senate race, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed led Republican Mike Rogers 47.7% to 44.2%. YouGov interviewed 1,000 Michigan adults from Oct. 2 to 19, and the margin of error is plus or minus 4.4 points for the 836 likely voters. Institute director Matt Grossmann said the gap between the governor and Senate races has grown. The institute said El-Sayed outperformed Benson among voters under 30.12, 13
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Article Sources
1. CBS News, “Court dismisses DOJ’s request to force California to set aside ballots,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/appeals-court-dismisses-doj-trump-california-ballots/
2. California Attorney General’s Office, “Attorney General Bonta Scores Early Legal Victory Against Trump Administration’s Attempt to Interfere in California Elections,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-scores-early-legal-victory-against-trump-administration%E2%80%99s
3. NPR (Associated Press), “Trump administration attempting to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey again,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.npr.org/2026/10/26/nx-s1-6018628/trump-administration-attempting-to-prosecute-former-fbi-director-james-comey-again
4. Reuters, “Trump administration’s firing of prosecutor Maurene Comey was unlawful, judge rules,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/legal/litigation/trump-administrations-firing-prosecutor-maurene-comey-was-unlawful-judge-rules-2026-10-26/
5. Reuters, “Trump approval rises from record low to 32% ahead of midterm election, Reuters Ipsos poll finds,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-approval-rises-record-low-32-ahead-midterm-election-reuters-ipsos-poll-2026-10-26/
6. The Hill (via Yahoo News), “Trump administration sued over refugee policy changes,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/trump-administration-sued-over-refugee-170212022.html
7. GBH, “Mass., national groups sue Trump administration over refugee policies,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2026-10-26/mass-national-groups-sue-trump-administration-over-refugee-policies
8. CBS News Baltimore, “Gov. Wes Moore rallies support for Maryland’s Question 3 as campaign ad dispute unfolds,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.cbsnews.com/baltimore/news/wes-moore-rallies-support-marylands-question-3-campaign-ad-dispute/
9. FOX45 News (WJLA), “Obama urges Marylanders to vote yes on Question 3 in new ad,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://wjla.com/news/local/obama-urges-marylanders-to-vote-yes-on-question-3-in-new-ad
10. WHYY, “Pa. becomes 27th state to fully ban phones in school,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://whyy.org/articles/pennsylvania-school-cell-phone-ban-josh-shapiro/
11. The Philadelphia Inquirer, “Gov. Shapiro went to Central Bucks to sign the school cell phone ban,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.inquirer.com/education/josh-shapiro-central-bucks-school-cell-phone-ban-pennsylvania-20261026.html
12. Detroit Free Press (via Yahoo News), “MSU survey: Benson opens big lead, El-Sayed narrowly ahead of Rogers,” Oct. 26, 2026.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/politics/articles/msu-survey-benson-opens-big-211803051.html
13. Michigan State University IPPSR, “Michigan State of the State Survey 95 Topline Results,” Oct. 2026.
https://ippsr.msu.edu/sites/default/files/soss/soss95.pdf