Friday, 30 October 2026

Trump reversed course on canceling rallies in Kansas and Iowa, announcing he would hold in-person events in both states after initially opting for telephone rallies. The sudden reversal came amid concerns about Republican losses in competitive races.

A federal appeals court rejected the Trump administration's emergency bid to set aside over 20,000 mail-in ballots in California from people suspected of being noncitizens, calling the request 'plainly unconstitutional.' The ruling leaves California's election procedures intact days before the midterms.

The Trump administration renewed its bid to challenge Alaska Senate election results, issuing DOJ subpoenas and pursuing legal action based on allegations that Democratic operatives recruited a spoiler candidate named Dan Sullivan to confuse voters against Republican incumbent Dan Sullivan. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy suggested the state might withhold election certification if Democrat Mary Peltola wins.

James Comey's legal team sought to have a third criminal case against the former FBI director dismissed, arguing the case wasn't presented to a grand jury within the statute of limitations. The case, filed in an unusual 11th-hour move by prosecutors, alleges Comey leaked classified information a decade ago.

A federal judge ordered a special master to investigate whether Trump administration officials lied about plans to close the East Potomac Golf Course, after discovering contradictory statements from parks officials and DOJ lawyers regarding upcoming renovations.

A Texas grand jury indicted ICE officer Mario Alberto Morales on a charge of second-degree aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after he allegedly deliberately drove his SUV into a fleeing immigrant, causing multiple leg fractures and a hip injury.

The G20 summit in Atlanta cancelled its traditional family photo after European foreign ministers refused to be photographed alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, over objections to Russia's presence at the gathering amid the Ukraine conflict.

The Trump administration approved a $2.1 billion sale of Patriot air defense interceptors to Ukraine, providing the most effective weapon for downing Russia's ballistic missiles. The sale came amid continued humanitarian operations and a fragile ceasefire in parts of Ukraine.

Qatari officials traveled to Iran in a mediation mission to revive the US-Iran ceasefire deal, amid speculation about potential resumption of hostilities and mixed signals from Washington and Tehran regarding war or negotiations.

Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago-born U.S. citizen who has been critical of the Trump administration, became the first sitting pope known to vote in a U.S. election by submitting an absentee ballot for the midterm elections in Illinois.