Pro-trump ads continued airing on taxpayer-funded buys even after President Trump said a super PAC would take over the costs, and despite a federal judge’s order to pull them, according to officials and ad-tracking data. An analysis of AdImpact data shows nearly $22 million in public funds have paid for the campaign-style spots since late September, with almost $10 million spent after Trump pledged on Oct. 5 via Truth Social to shift financing to his MAGA Inc. super PAC. The White House has described the broadcasts as public service announcements, while a lawsuit by Common Cause and others argues the government financed them without congressional approval, violating long-standing restrictions on taxpayer-funded publicity and propaganda.
Today’s top stories
Trump steps up travel ahead of the midterms. He rallied supporters in Youngstown, Ohio, last night and is scheduled to appear in Alaska today, with additional events later this week. On the trail, he has urged supporters to vote as if he were on the ballot.
- Trump’s events mirror his presidential-era rallies, where he touts accomplishments, spotlights superfans, and criticizes Democrats, according to reporters covering the tour. The appearances underscore his continued influence over the GOP, even as his approval has slipped. Republicans like Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Sen. Jon Husted drew enthusiastic crowds alongside him, though the electoral payoff remains uncertain.
- With weeks to go until Election Day, polling will proliferate. Polls can inform, but they are not predictions. Voters should consider methodology and margins of error as new surveys arrive.
- The NPR app has consolidated election coverage on a dedicated 2026 Election tab, including headlines, podcasts, videos, and more.
Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., home yesterday morning. Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, called the action politically motivated by the Trump administration. The Department of Justice said Homeland Security Investigations agents executed a judicially authorized search warrant approved by DOJ as part of an ongoing federal probe. Current and former federal officials familiar with the matter, who were not authorized to speak publicly, confirmed that the multi-year investigation includes whistleblower complaints and focuses on allegations of immigration fraud.
- A neighbor said she was awakened around 4:30 a.m. by loud knocking and saw vans and agents wearing gloves moving in and out of the residence. Vice President JD Vance has previously accused Omar of immigration fraud, which she denies. Omar, who came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia and is a naturalized citizen, said on social media that the president has targeted her with smear campaigns for years and vowed not to be silenced. Trump has said he is not involved in the investigation.
Living better
The United States is seeing its worst measles resurgence in decades, with more than 3,600 confirmed cases and two deaths reported as of late September. Clusters in multiple states and exposures in public places, including bars, stadiums and transit hubs, have raised concerns for travelers. Nearly all U.S. measles cases involve unvaccinated individuals, and as outbreaks expand in some states, the risk of exposure increases, especially when flying or taking trains.
- People with two doses of the MMR vaccine are considered protected.
- Measles is highly contagious. It spreads through the air when an infected person breathes, coughs or sneezes, and the airspace can remain infectious for up to two hours.
- Confirm your vaccination status with your healthcare provider, who may recommend a booster based on your health history.
- Some immunocompromised people cannot be vaccinated and rely on herd immunity. For measles, that threshold is about 95% vaccination coverage.
- Symptoms such as fever, cough and rash typically appear 7 to 14 days after exposure, and can take up to 21 days to develop, which complicates tracing.
Picture show
The Metropolitan Museum of Art has opened a major exhibition pairing two giants of 20th-century art. Jackson Pollock’s drip paintings are internationally known, while his wife, Lee Krasner, has long been overshadowed. With more than 120 works on view, including 74 by Krasner and 48 by Pollock, the show elevates Krasner as a central force in Abstract Expressionism in her own right.
3 things to know before you go
- American economists Robert E. Hall of Stanford and Michael Woodford of Columbia won the 2026 Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for research on managing boom-and-bust cycles to reduce inflation and unemployment.
- New White House press secretary Katie Zacharia is set to hold her first briefing today, after raising her profile on conservative media and promoting right-wing conspiracy theories.
- In Lagos, Nigeria, the morning rush often makes breakfast a street-side affair. Akara, a fried bean cake with deep roots in West Africa and ties to the trans-Atlantic slave trade, remains a beloved staple.
Pro-trump ads and the legal fight ahead
The dispute over pro-trump ads is likely to intensify as courts weigh whether the government’s messaging crossed legal lines into political advocacy. For Hawaiʻi voters tracking national politics, the outcome could shape how administrations communicate in the homestretch of elections, and who ultimately pays for it.
Trump’s events mirror his presidential-era rallies, where he touts accomplishments, spotlights superfans, and criticizes Democrats, according to reporters covering the tour. The appearances underscore his continued influence over the GOP, even as his approval has slipped, similar to his presence at Trump Montana Arizona rallies set as election nears.
The NPR app has consolidated election coverage on a dedicated 2026 Election tab, including headlines, podcasts, videos, and more. For official measles information, travelers and residents can review guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as outbreaks continue.
