October 25, 2026: All Newsclips

Lead Stories

As Republicans brace for election losses, Musk prepares for war

Elon Musk has adopted a war posture in response to looming threats of congressional investigations: If Democrats win control of Congress in next month’s midterm elections, Musk has signaled he is bracing for a fight. “Live by the sword, die by the sword,” he said Wednesday in a post on X, responding to a Politico report that cited Democratic lawmakers seeking to investigate him. “Those who pick fights with me should understand that I will find out who is really pulling the strings and come for them, not just their puppets,” said Musk, the CEO of Tesla and SpaceX. Musk’s battle-ready stance comes as a host of Democrats have said they are eager to wield the power of their office to investigate the world’s richest person should they win either chamber in the midterms.

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As Republicans’ election prospects have soured, lawmakers are building momentum for probes looking into the tech mogul, his companies or the work of the U.S. DOGE Service, which Musk oversaw and which was instrumental in dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (Connecticut), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, said in an interview Thursday that he would investigate Musk and DOGE if Democrats win. Blumenthal led inquiries relating to the cost-cutting group but was in the minority and did not have subpoena power, which could be used to compel the attendance of witnesses, as well as the production of documents and records. “The American people have a right to know the cost, the consequences and the chaos resulting from DOGE and … what he may be concealing,” Blumenthal said. “There is a web of potential corruption here that needs to be explored.” He dismissed Musk’s threats of retaliation, expressing surprise at his strong reaction.

Why Texas’ early voting totals don’t match what counties are reporting

Counties across Texas have reported record-breaking turnout during the first week of early voting, including tens of thousands of mail-in ballots. But as of Friday, the totals on the state’s election website didn’t match many of those being touted by local officials. In Bexar County, for instance, only eight people voted by mail, according to the state’s site. In reality, according to Michele Carew, the county’s election administrator, nearly 18,000 people have cast ballots by mail. “We do not leave this office until we report numbers to the state,” she said. The state’s turnout data continues to lag significantly for many large urban counties, especially for mail-in ballots, an error that local election officials say is linked to the same flawed system that caused a massive backlog of voter registrations in recent weeks.

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In person vote totals have also lagged. Election officials in Fort Bend County – one of the state’s most competitive districts – reported more than 75,000 ballots cast in person as of Friday morning while the state’s website shows just over 41,000. Local election officials said they are still confident in the state’s election night reporting system, which functioned without any issues or delay in the March primary, but are frustrated the turnout numbers aren’t being accurately reported. “It's not that we haven't entered the data, it's just not reflecting here,” said Kristin Miles, the election administrator in Bastrop County and the president of the Texas Association of County Election Officials, referring to the Secretary of State’s portal. Local elections officials have said the problem lies with the state’s online voter system, Texas Election Administration Management (TEAM), which was was overhauled in July 2025. In February, they wrote to Jane Nelson, then the Secretary of State, noting that “counties face daily challenges with TEAM’s core functionality.”

State reps now investigating Aqua Texas after hundreds complain about soaring water bills

Hundreds of customers have contacted KPRC 2 about soaring Aqua Texas water bills. Now, state lawmakers are looking into how the increases were allowed and whether state rules need to change. State Rep. Gary Gates says he is working with Rep. Cody Harris to examine the rules governing water rate increases and whether Aqua Texas adequately invested in its infrastructure before raising rates. “I want to know the guidelines that allows a utility company that has monopoly to overnight to be able to raise their rates 100%, 200%, 300%,” Gates told KPRC 2. The lawmakers’ efforts follow KPRC 2’s reporting on customers who say their water bills have doubled or tripled, including residents in the Lakes of Mission Grove subdivision in Richmond, where the issue first came to light.

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Why are Aqua Texas water bills increasing? Aqua Texas received approval for interim rates from the Public Utility Commission of Texas in March 2026. The new rate structure includes tiered water charges based on consumption and changes to wastewater billing. The company told the PUC that its infrastructure investments include replacing water mains, drilling new wells, building water and wastewater treatment plants, and upgrading storage tanks. Gates wants to know whether the utility adequately planned for those costs before seeking higher rates. “I think we’re going to probably find out that just like CenterPoint, I believe Aqua did not do, especially when they’re sitting there saying that we have all these capital needs,” Gates said. Those are Gates’ concerns, not findings that Aqua Texas failed to maintain its system.

U.S. evacuates Mideast outposts after suspected Iranian plot to target Americans

U.S. intelligence suggests Iranian preparations to attack Americans throughout the Middle East have reached “advanced stages,” prompting a sudden exodus of personnel from embassies and military bases throughout the region, officials said. Jay Clayton, the director of national intelligence, summarized that finding in a brief memo Friday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio. “Iran has substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel. The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries,” he wrote. The U.S. in recent days ordered the departure of diplomats and staff from the embassy in Saudi Arabia and other countries, initially citing threats from the Iran-backed Houthi militants in Yemen. The U.S. also has evacuated personnel from military bases across the region in preparation for renewed fighting, according to U.S. officials familiar with the planning.

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A U.S. official said Friday that suspected Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. personnel informed the decision to order embassy staff from their posts. This month, the U.S. evacuated bomber aircraft from a base in the U.K. because of intelligence about an Iranian plot to attack aircraft and personnel, the Journal has reported. The State Department on Friday updated its travel advisories for 13 Middle Eastern countries over concerns about Iran and the Houthis. Tehran has long promised retaliation if the U.S. resumes attacks. “Last time you wanted to ‘finish the job’, Iran emerged even stronger. Want to try your luck again? Be our guest. But be careful; we have unfinished jobs too,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi posted on social media in recent days. U.S. officials confirmed the memo and the intelligence, which was reported earlier by Axios. Before the war began in February, Trump administration officials warned about the potential for Iran to strike American targets first, adding that it necessitated the U.S. to begin pre-emptive attacks on Iran alongside Israel.

Cornyn voters become key prize in Texas Senate race

They lost their candidate. Now they could help decide who wins. Republicans who backed John Cornyn in his bitter Senate primary fight against Ken Paxton are among the most coveted voters in Texas. But many are struggling with where to land in November: Stick with Paxton, cross party lines for Democrat James Talarico or sit out the race altogether. About 910,000 Texans voted for Cornyn in the March Republican primary. A little more than 500,000 backed him in the May runoff, which he lost to Paxton by nearly 28 percentage points. They make up only a sliver of the Texas electorate, but in a Senate race this close, the Cornyn bloc has become one of the biggest prizes in the Nov. 3 election.

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Paxton, the attorney general, has leaned on President Donald Trump’s endorsement to rally the GOP base, while Talarico, an Austin state representative, has emphasized unity and affordability to attract disaffected Republicans. Cornyn’s supporters are squarely in the sights of both campaigns. Interviews by The Dallas Morning News reveal deep divisions among them over Paxton’s character, loyalty to the Republican Party and Democrats’ efforts to win them over. Adora Gnuschke, a 39-year-old Cedar Park real estate agent, voted for Cornyn in the Republican primary, putting aside her concerns that he wasn’t always aligned with the president. She also questioned the longtime senator’s record on issues such as illegal immigration and Second Amendment rights. Still, she recognized the value of his seniority and had reservations about Paxton’s personal conduct stemming in part from his 2023 impeachment. “Integrity is important in politics,” Gnuschke said. Gnuschke plans to vote for Paxton despite her earlier hesitancy because it’s “way more important” for Texas to maintain its Republican identity. She also supports his positions on issues, such as transgender athletes competing in girls’ sports.

State Stories

Amphitheater developer used El Paso property to secure $20 million loan for another Texas project

The company planning to build a 12,500-seat amphitheater in Northeast El Paso used land it acquired from the city as collateral for a $20 million loan to help finance construction of another amphitheater near Dallas, according to federal securities filings. Venu Holding Corp., the Colorado-based entertainment company developing the Sunset Amphitheater at the former Cohen Stadium site, borrowed the money in July from Ryan LLC, a Texas-based tax consulting firm and business partner of the company. The 90-day loan carried an 18% annual interest rate.. To secure it, Venu pledged properties and other assets connected to several projects, including its 20-acre El Paso site. The arrangement highlights how Venu’s construction spending far outpaces the revenue its existing operation generates – meaning the company has to seek funding from investors, lenders and real estate transactions while its new amphitheaters remain under development.

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The city of El Paso provided Venu incentives worth nearly $31 million and conveyed city-owned land for the project. “VENU is developing several amphitheaters at once. Like any developer building at that pace, we use our full balance sheet to keep every project on schedule,” the company said in an emailed response to questions. “Pledging assets to support a short-term construction facility is a common tool and does not change our commitment to any market.” Since putting the El Paso property up as collateral in July, Venu has strengthened its short-term finances with a $60 million sale-leaseback transaction involving the company’s McKinney, Texas, property with STORE Capital, a real estate investment company. Under the sale-leaseback arrangement, Venu sold the land beneath the McKinney venue and parking garage before agreeing to rent it back. The sale-leaseback deals that Venu has also used elsewhere allow the company to raise cash from real estate without issuing new shares, although it also creates ongoing rental expenses.

AI ad mocks Talarico as Bible-defacing radical. Democrats bet it will backfire.

Texas Senate candidate James Talarico strolls through a dimly lit warehouse with rows of television sets arrayed on the floor in a recent campaign ad. The TV sets are airing Republican attack ads that portray the Democratic candidate as a Bible-defacing radical who advocates for sex change surgery for minors. “No, I’m not a member of the Chinese Communist Party,” Talarico says as he faces the camera and walks around the room TED Talk style. “No, I don’t support sex change surgeries for kids.” Talarico blasts the AI-generated ads as an effort by GOP Senate nominee Ken Paxton and his allies to lie to voters about Talarico’s record. “I don’t have to use AI, because the truth about Ken Paxton is bad enough,” Talarico says in the ad.

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The Talarico spot highlights a clear trend in the ad wars of the 2026 midterm campaign cycle. Republicans are going all in on AI-generated ads. Democrats, meanwhile, are shunning them and trying to turn the tables on the GOP, suggesting the ad campaigns are emblematic of a party that doesn’t care about the truth and can’t be trusted. Another Talarico ad, for example, accuses Paxton of “selling off Texas” for the construction of data centers. It includes the disclaimer: “Made by humans, not AI.” The 2026 midterms offered the first real showcase of AI campaign ads. Campaigns spent over $137 million on ads generated or enhanced by AI this midterm cycle, up from $50,000 in the 2024 elections, according to an estimate from the Wesleyan Media Project, which analyzes political advertising. Republican candidates and groups have aired the overwhelming majority of those ads, accounting for 88 percent of spending, or around $120 million. Multiple Democratic strategists and campaign advisers told The Washington Post they believed voters’ concerns about cost of living, corporate power and political authenticity outweighed the edge Republicans might gain from using synthetic video.

Paranoia spreads as election officials prepare for federal intervention in midterm elections

“I think this is an environment where, if you’re not paranoid, you’re kind of crazy.” David Axelrod, the architect of Barack Obama’s 2008 and 2012 presidential runs, offered this assessment during a Sept. 29 sit-down at the Economic Club of Chicago. Speaking beside his Republican counterpart, Karl Rove, Axelrod said he worries that Donald Trump will use the U.S. Department of Justice to try to steal this November’s elections. He speculated that Trump could declare a national emergency and send the military to patrol the polls and seize voting machines. Rove called his colleague’s concerns ridiculous, but Axelrod isn’t the only one worried. Recent pieces in The New York Times, NPR, Reuters, and Votebeat detail how election officials across the country are preparing for trouble this November.

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Votebeat reported that Nevada election officials have put together a “Mad Libs of legal filings” in case they need to file any lawsuits against the administration’s actions come November. Reuters reported that California officials have developed their own response if Trump sends federal agents to polling locations. The Times reported that Utah officials have planned for federal interference. Other reports cited similar responses from Michigan and South Carolina officials. Former Justice Department attorney Gary Restaino described a “nightmare scenario” to NPR. “What if there was a search warrant executed a few days after the elections in which the seizure of materials and machines prevented the tabulation and counting and certification process from occurring?” Restaino asked. Trump is well-known for normalizing such ideas. The Times recently reported that the country’s top executive has cast doubt on its elections on 445 of the 632 days of his second term, as of Oct. 14. In January, he told Times reporters that he regretted not sending National Guard troops to seize voting machines in Georgia after the 2020 election. (About three weeks later, the FBI confiscated boxes of ballots from the state.) In February, he told a radio host that Republicans “oughta nationalize the voting” in at least 15 Democratic areas.

How an education nonprofit is helping Margil Elementary students thrive beyond the classroom

At Margil Elementary, Communities In Schools of San Antonio (CIS-SA) has spent the past eight years helping make that support a reality for students and their families, addressing needs that go beyond academics. The nonprofit works to support the “whole child,” connecting students with resources, mentorship and emotional support so they can focus on learning and reaching their full potential. For Margil Elementary Principal Andrea Castañeda, the need for that support is something she sees firsthand. Before CIS-SA stepped in, school staff often used their own resources to help students facing challenges at home.

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“You have to have a heart to be a teacher here at Margil,” Castañeda said. “Our teachers would buy clothes, buy food. We would always have little food drives. We would always have clothing drives, coat drives, but it wasn’t enough.” With 375 students enrolled at Margil Elementary, meeting students’ needs can mean addressing much more than what happens during the school day. That can include helping families access food and clothing, as well as recognizing when a child needs emotional support. Castañeda recalled one student who arrived at school carrying luggage and duffle bags. Staff checked in to see whether the student needed help — an example of how educators and support staff work to recognize when a child may be facing difficult circumstances. CIS-SA CEO Jessica Weaver says schools are focused on education, while the nonprofit helps connect students and families with additional support. “Schools do what they do best. And that’s academics. And then what we do is we bring in the other part of the support system that our kids and our families need,” Weaver said.

Longhorns used AI against Florida — a 'new wave' of tech for Texas Athletics

Chris Del Conte was buzzing as he geared up for a board meeting Thursday. Texas’ athletic director was giddy, less than 18 hours before the department he leads was set to announce a major new initiative — one he says will change college athletics. “This is the new wave,” Del Conte said in an exclusive interview. In the fourth quarter of last week’s game against Florida at Royal-Memorial Stadium, the Longhorns put the new initiative to use. Down 20-17 and facing a fourth-and-2, Texas needed a spark. So, coach Steve Sarkisian and his staff turned to their new artificial intelligence data analytics platform, Bevo Lab. While the Longhorns ultimately failed to convert after quarterback Arch Manning lost three yards on the play, Del Conte said the moment was a pivotal embrace of the new tech. “It’s happening,” Del Conte said. “They’re bought in.” College football coaches using AI isn’t new. But Texas isn’t turning to traditional chatbots.

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Bevo Lab, which is being officially announced Friday, functions as the athletic departments’ personal AI sports intelligence platform. Coaches, trainers, nutritionists, student-athletes and analysts will use it to improve performance on the field, court and even pool. Sponsored by Dell Technologies Inc., Google and SHI International, it is also a living, breathing classroom for undergraduate students to shape the future of AI in sports. “I have no doubt this will fundamentally change how college athletics programs look at data and utilize data,” Deputy Athletics Director Drew Martin said. “Oh no doubt,” Del Conte said. “I’m fired up. I’m excited. This is earth-shattering.” In sports, there's always been an abundance of data. Game strategy, injury recovery, training schedules, rosters and scouting all rely on that data for success.

The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders have unionized

The DCC is the most famous squad in the world, and the newly formed Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders Association (DCCA) could very much pave the way for other cheerleading squads to fight for compensation and benefits that better match the rigours of the job. This is a meaningful moment for the sport, and one that’s thankfully being documented for a wide-reaching platform like Netflix. Good for her, indeed.

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‘Too little, too late’: 41-month sentence in $1M fraud of University of Austin founder Lonsdale

John Robison, convicted in July of defrauding University of Austin founder Joe Lonsdale through a real estate scheme, has been sentenced to 41 months in federal prison and ordered to pay back the $1 million he took from the Austin-based conservative billionaire. U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman called Robison’s crime brazen and the evidence overwhelming. The four federal counts on which he was convicted by a jury, including wire fraud and money laundering, stem from a deal he pitched to Lonsdale in 2022 to purchase 1,800 acres along the Colorado River outside Bastrop to develop a campus for the University of Austin. Lonsdale, a tech entrepreneur who co-founded Palantir, was then designing the conservative university he later launched.

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In early 2022, Lonsdale gave $1 million to Robison’s Four Gates Property L.P. to be held in escrow. Robison agreed that the money would not be used until he had successfully raised at least another $1 million. The next day, though, $250,000 was transferred to Robison’s personal account. Federal prosecutors said Robison used the money to pay back other debts and fund his lifestyle. The sentence was handed down after two teary-eyed statements from Robison and his life partner, Jason Papp, 52. “Joe lost a million dollars and his wealth doesn’t make that loss less, and I am deeply sorry,” Robison said, saying he recognized that Lonsdale’s immense wealth, estimated at about $3 billion, did not ameliorate the crime. He spoke of finding religion again, joining his late mother’s church in Lakeway. He spoke of his shame and regret, saying that he would be serving two sentences: one handed down by U.S. District Judge Pitman, the other levied by shame and the knowledge that he must regain the trust of his community. Papp told the court that he had seen his partner change over the past year, that shame and regret had taken a toll. “He told me he was glad his mother wasn’t alive to see all this,” Papp said.

Building evacuated after suspicious package delivered to Crockett’s district office

Dallas Police and a hazardous materials team from Dallas Fire and Rescue responded to the building at 1825 Market Center Ave. in the Design District after staff in Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett’s district office, located on the fourth floor of the building, reported receiving a suspicious package. The building, the first floor of which formerly housed a Chase Bank, is also where Dallas Voice offices are located (we are on the second floor) and where the district office of the late Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson was located (on the fifth floor).

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Dallas Voice Publisher Leo Cusimano and Associate Publisher Leo Cusimano were in the office at the time. Mantooth said building officials asked everyone on the third floor and above to evacuate, and suggsted that those on the first and second floors should evacuate if they felt it necessary. Mantooth said that haz mat officers had secured the package and removed it from the building taking it away with them for further investigation. We have no other information at this time, but we will post updates as information becomes available.

A man on a Texas ballot is dead. Why his opponent could still lose.

A recent text message sent to Brazoria County residents regarding votes cast for the late Brazoria County Precinct 2 Justice of the Peace, Richard Davis, has caused confusion as early voting continues. Davis, who is facing Shenequa Harrison, died Sept. 14, but since he died after the 74th day before election day, Nov. 3, his name still appears on the ballot. If Davis receives a majority of the vote, the Brazoria County Commissioners Court will appoint a qualified replacement to serve a two-year term until voters select a permanent successor in the next general election.

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Has this happened before? Yes. For example, in September 2020, former Conroe Mayor Toby Powell died after a battle with cancer. Powell's name remained on the ballot and faced former Councilman Jody Czajkoski at the polls Nov. 3. According to Montgomery County Election Central, Czajkoski garnered 55.61% of the vote to Powell’s 44.39%. If Powell had won, the city would have held a special election to fill the position.

A Texas cop signed on to help ICE deport his neighbors. It tore the town apart.

The new patrol officer parked his black Dodge Charger outside a house off Main Street and approached on foot. A Mexican ballad was playing. Someone had called in a noise complaint, claiming it sounded as if people were fighting. But as the officer, Jaron Alexander, got closer, he found nothing of the sort. A middle-aged woman greeted him as her daughter, Joanna Martinez, petite and visibly pregnant, looked on. “What kind of party are you all having?” she remembers him asking. Behind her were three generations of an extended family. They were celebrating a 3-month-old’s baptism over pozole verde, horchata and beers. Alexander ran some IDs and found no issues. The music wasn’t even that loud, he thought. He told them to have a good night, and then he left. That encounter, in early October last year, was the first of many that Alexander and Martinez would have in tiny Ingram, Texas, a 1.5-square-mile town of 1,900 people beside the Guadalupe River. But it was the only one before Ingram signed an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement that would roil the town and tear Martinez’s family apart.

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“Her and I, at the beginning, I felt like we were running into each other all the time,” Alexander told us, in one of eight conversations over four months that offer a rare window into the thoughts of one of the local police officers on the front lines of the Trump administration’s deportation campaign. In a town as small as Ingram, drivable in five minutes end to end, more run-ins were probably inevitable. Later that October, Alexander pulled over a work truck for rolling through a stop sign, and soon there Martinez was, demanding that he let her friends go rather than let immigration take them. He didn’t. He pulled over another driver in November who turned out to be her cousin, the father of the baby they celebrated at the baptism party. Alexander handed him over to immigration agents as well. Alexander, who is in his mid-30s, with dirty blond hair already turning gray, says he didn’t come back to Ingram to help deport his neighbors. In his telling, he just ended up making it part of his job. The town was where he started his law-enforcement career years earlier, before he took a better-paying position with the county, as a sheriff’s deputy. But things recently started to fall apart, first in his marriage, next at the sheriff’s office: A 185-page internal investigation found that he had an affair before his divorce was final and used a county vehicle to carry it out, then lied about it all. He says the investigator called him an “embarrassment to the profession.” The sheriff’s office fired him. (Alexander said at the time, and again to us, that he did not have the affair.)

Pflugerville candidate faces ‘Mister Rogers’ branding dispute

A Pflugerville City Council candidate who calls himself “Mister David Rogers” on his campaign website has received a cease-and-desist request from Fred Rogers Company over campaign branding that resembles elements associated with the “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood" TV show. The dispute centers on several elements of Rogers’ campaign that evoke Fred Rogers’ longtime persona on the children’s television show “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood.” On his campaign website and signs, Rogers calls himself “Mister David Rogers,” but “Mister” and “Rogers” appear in larger lettering than “David,” making “Mister Rogers” the most prominent part of the name. His campaign also uses the slogan “It’s a beautiful day in Pflugerville,” echoing the “beautiful day” language associated with the opening of Fred Rogers’ show, and shows Rogers wearing a cardigan sweater, similar to the clothing Fred Rogers routinely wore on the show.

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David Rogers, who is running for Place 2 on the City Council, said he has not done anything wrong. "I have not violated any trademark in using my own name," Rogers said. "I have great respect for Fred Rogers and have tried to live by his example because I respect his guidance." He said he had referred the cease-and-desist request to a lawyer. In an email, Fred Rogers Company said: "We are aware of Mr. Rogers' actions and have sent a cease and desist, as we would to any candidate regardless of political affiliation." The company owns the copyrights to "Mister Rogers' Neighborhood." Fred Rogers hosted the children's television show from 1968 to 2001. Rogers is giving up his City Council seat in Place 6 to run for the Place 2 seat against incumbent Ceasar Ruiz.

Texas sues OpenAI, Sam Altman over product safety

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Friday launched a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, alleging they misled consumers about the safety of the company’s artificial intelligence chatbot and failed to protect users from harm. The lawsuit is the latest example of a growing legal offensive from states against the ChatGPT maker, as the federal government has largely maintained a hands-off approach to AI regulation. “With the rapid advancement of AI technology, OpenAI has the responsibility to protect users and warn them of the many dangers of its platform,” said Paxton in a statement. “I will fight to protect Texans from the harms of AI and ensure that powerful technology companies are not above the law.” The lawsuit, which was filed in a Texas state court, alleges that OpenAI’s business practices violated the state’s consumer protection and children’s online safety laws. It echoes the set of lawsuits filed by bipartisan attorneys general in eight states last week alleging OpenAI violated their respective state laws.

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The complaint alleges OpenAI misled consumers by marketing ChatGPT as safe and failing to disclose risks, citing instances in which the chatbot allegedly encouraged self-harm and fostered unhealthy relationships with its users, including children. Paxton in the lawsuit also points to a series of incidents in which rogue AI agents from OpenAI hacked or attempted to break into the websites and systems of other private companies. The complaint argues that OpenAI has rushed its products to market for its own financial gain, disregarding internal safety warnings. The complaint asks the court to prohibit OpenAI from offering ChatGPT to minors in Texas and to block the company from releasing new AI models to Texas users without approval from an independent third-party evaluator. The state is also seeking civil penalties of $10,000 per violation of its consumer protection law. OpenAI spokesperson Jason Deutrom said in a statement that the company works with experts to continually improve ChatGPT, mitigate risks and build additional safeguards. “Governments have an important role to play in setting robust safety standards for AI, and we’re committed to working with Texas and other states on advancing pragmatic AI policies that apply to the entire AI industry - not just one company,” they said.

From the bleachers to the ballot box, a community weighs a changing Texas

In the bleachers at any high school football game across Texas, you'll be hard-pressed to find something fans love more. Eric Schultz called high school football in Texas a "function of the community." He came to the Deer Park High School homecoming game in the suburbs of Houston with his wife and kids even without a player on the field. "No matter if you're in a big city or rural, rural Texas where I grew up everybody goes to the game," Schultz said. "You know it's the same principle as going to church." The football field remains common ground for Texans in a state where the political tide appears to be shifting. Once reliably red for Republicans, this year Texas is flashing shades of blue. From the economy to immigration, voters across the Lone Star State are wrestling with the top political issues while they consider the candidates.

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On the ballot this midterm election are two historically close races. Democrats Gina Hinojosa and James Talarico are forcing their Republican counterparts, Gov. Greg Abbott and Attorney General Ken Paxton, into ultra-competitive contests for governor and Senate, respectively. Recent polling from theTexas Politics Projectshows Talarico a few points ahead of Paxton and the race between Hinojosa and Abbott effectively tied. Emily Taylor, who came to the game to watch her niece Sydney cheer, said this cycle feels different to her. "The other day, I took some back roads leaving a restaurant that I had never taken before, and I saw two houses that had Talarico and Gina Hinojosa signs outside, and it made me so hopeful because I do not remember seeing that during Kamala Harris’s run," Taylor said. Taylor is a Democrat living in Deer Park, a traditionally conservative suburb of Houston. She said her faith is important to her and that she believes Talarico spotlighting his Christian values on the campaign trail will help him win the support of more moderate Republicans.

Houston Hindus say Republicans are fueling anti-Indian 'demonization'

Vasant Bhatt, a 21-year-old political science major at the University of Houston, got 2.6 million views and a torrent of racist backlash Monday when he posted why he voted for Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico. Until recently, Bhatt was a conservative. He interned with U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz's 2024 campaign and with the Texas Youth Summit in The Woodlands. He’s a second-generation Indian American and a lifelong Hindu; he cleanses himself and performs a puja, which includes prayer, every morning. In response to his viral post, Republican commentators called him disloyal to America and encouraged him to self-deport. “That reaction was disturbing, but I'm not shocked,” Bhatt said. He said that ever since debate over H-1B visas divided Republicans in late 2024, anti-Indian and anti-Hindu rhetoric within the party has grown louder.

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“My biggest concern is the extent to which politics has become organized around just resentment,” said Bhatt, who now identifies as “politically homeless,” and expects to be voting for Democrats in the future. The share of Hindu Americans who describe themselves as Republican doubled from 2013 to 2025, reaching 14%, according to PRRI's religion census. But as denigration of Hindus and Indians becomes more common in online conservative spaces, some Hindu Republicans are reassessing their loyalties. A month ago, GOP Texas Railroad Commission candidate Bo French went viral when he shared a picture of what appeared to be Indian American students cheering at a Texas Longhorns football game. “The problem is now obviously far worse than anyone imagined,” French wrote, adding: “I weep for the families in Texas who can’t get into UT because they prioritize foreigners over Texans.” The comments prompted some backlash from within the GOP. Republicans including outgoing U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Karl Rove, deputy chief of staff to former President George W. Bush, said they wouldn't vote for French. President Donald Trump left French off of a Texas endorsement list he posted to social media this week, but state Republican Party officials have yet to publicly admonish French or any other candidates about anti-Hindu or anti-Indian remarks. D'rinda Randall, chair of the Republican Party of Texas, said she didn't want to comment on French's post.

City of Canton mayor resigns after apologizing for 'gossip comment' in wake of back-to-back tragedies

The City of Canton announced the resignation of Mayor Lou Ann Berry on Friday, Oct. 23, one day after she apologized following backlash for a comment made during the press conference. The city had called the press conference after the tragic losses of a Van Zandt County Sheriff's deputy in a shooting and a deadly fire that claimed the lives of a mother and four children that happened hours apart. "The City of Canton has been informed today that Mayor Lou Ann Berry intends to formally resign from the office of Mayor," the town said in a statement shared to social media on Friday. "This process involves several legal steps and will be completed in conformance with Texas law. It is anticipated that a written letter of resignation will be formally received next week. Neither the City nor Mayor Berry have any additional statement at this time, but a public update will be issued when the letter is received by the City."

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The statement was shared less than 24 hours after the City of Canton shared a statement from Berry that read: "I apologize for my 'gossip' comment that was broadcast after an interview this morning pertaining to the officer shootings and loss of lives in a fire. My comment had nothing to do with the unfortunate events of last evening," Berry said in the statement. "My biggest regret on this pop off comment is that it has become a distraction from the seriousness of the loss of these lives and the major injury to our city policeman. I am praying for all the families involved." The City of Canton held a press conference on Thursday, Oct. 22, in the wake of two tragic events in Van Zandt County that happened just hours apart. Van Zandt County Sheriff's Deputy Adam Al-Sherifi was assisting the Canton Police Department in serving a warrant around 10 p.m. on Tuesday when he was killed in the line of duty. The sheriff's office said the suspect, identified as Mi Van Nguyen, "fired more than 800 rounds" in the shootout. A few hours later at 12:30 a.m., officials said the housefire broke out that claimed the lives of Jasmine Henson and four of her children. Her seven-year-old Grayson and long-term partner Cody survived the fire, according to statement by the family. WFAA sister station KYTX was present at the press conference and livestreamed the event. "It's a tragedy for our city. It's a tragedy for our county. It's a tragedy for Henderson County for their deputies who came and helped to answer the call, and it's a tragedy for the man who was to be had the warrant served," Berry said during the press conference before her self-described "pop off comment."

National Stories

GOP pushes for oversight of Musk’s dominance of space

Republican lawmakers alarmed over Ukraine’s loss of access to a Starshield, a critical battlefield tool, are pushing for more congressional oversight on what some view as Elon Musk’s “space monopoly,” fearing that Musk will have too much power over future national security operations. Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, on Thursday said he’s concerned that U.S. national security has become overly reliant on Musk and his company, SpaceX, which owns Starlink and its military-oriented sister company Starshield. Cramer visited the Senate SCIF (Secure Compartmented Information Facility) to get a classified update on Ukraine’s loss of access to Starshield. He expressed “my concern” that “we’re putting too many eggs in one company’s basket when it comes to our space assets.”

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He said he would appeal to Republican leadership that “we pour a lot of resources … into making sure there’s a lots of competition both for satellite production and satellite launch.” Cramer said SpaceX has too much of a stranglehold on the commercial space industry and expressed concern that it could have major future implications for U.S. national security. Cramer said he has significant concern that Musk “has as much power as he does as one individual and one company over America’s ability to protect the domain of space, which is a war-fighting domain.” A Senate Republican aide, who requested anonymity to comment on the sensitive topic, confirmed it’s “a concern” that Musk’s SpaceX has become too dominant. Musk’s dominance over space operations was crystalized in March of 2025 when NASA needed a SpaceX dragon capsule to rescue astronauts Suni Willias and Butch Wilmore, who had been stranded for 286 days on the International Space Station because of a critical propulsion failure suffered by Boeing’s Starliner, which was originally scheduled to pick up the crew.

ICE said a man jumped on the hood of their vehicle. Video — and police — say otherwise

When footage of a man being hit by federal immigration officers’ SUV in Northern California became public, the Department of Homeland Security responded by saying the man had jumped on the vehicle’s hood. Local police raised doubts about federal officials’ account as they announced a criminal investigation into Tuesday morning’s incident involving the pedestrian, 37-year-old Antonio Moreida, citing video footage that contradicted DHS’ statement. Footage from a nearby surveillance camera, a bystander’s cellphone recording and Moreida’s GoPro, which had already been made public at the time of the agency’s statement, told a different story of what happened on a residential street in Woodland, an agricultural city just outside of Sacramento.

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The incident is the latest in which DHS’ account has been contradicted by officials and video evidence amid the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. In a statement Wednesday morning, DHS said Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers didn’t hit a pedestrian. “An agitator jumped onto the hood of an ICE vehicle and the officer driving applied the brakes,” a DHS spokesperson said in a statement in response to CNN’s request for information. “The agitator slid off the hood. ICE immediately contacted EMS and the Woodland Police Department. Flopping for the camera is dangerous, especially when it interferes with a federal law enforcement operation,” apparently accusing the man of faking his injuries. After the incident on Tuesday, Woodland Police Chief Ryan Kinnan said in a statement he found footage of the incident troubling. Investigators were working to gather evidence and statements and to review available audio and video related to the incident, including video taken from multiple perspectives, police said in a Facebook post. Woodland Police didn’t take part in the ICE operation the agents were involved in that morning, police said. The following day, Woodland Police called DHS’ account “inconsistent.”

With jet fuel prices near a record, holiday airfares soar higher

Herb and Latasha Williams flew from Dallas to Baltimore/Washington International Airport this week for a quick vacation to celebrate his birthday. But their plane tickets cost hundreds of dollars more than they expected. And Latasha Williams is now wondering if they can afford to travel for the holidays. “I kind of wanted to go somewhere warm. Florida, I’m thinking,” she said. Then she looked at airfares. “Maybe next year. Maybe,” she said with a laugh. “Fingers crossed.” Those planning to fly this holiday season, should be prepared to pay more than they did last year. Experts expect airfares for this holiday travel season will be the highest in years as airlines scramble to cover the rising cost of jet fuel, which is one of their biggest expenses.

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The average price of jet fuel in the U.S. topped $4.75 per gallon this week, according to the tracking firm Argus. That’s close to an all-time high, and almost twice what it was a year ago. “Airfares right now are at what we see as a 10-year high because of the high cost of jet fuel,” said Hayley Berg, the lead economist at Hopper, a travel tech company. “Airlines have to pass on these super high jet fuel prices in the form of higher fares to consumers.” Airfares for Thanksgiving are up about 30% compared to last year, according to Berg. Tickets for the Christmas holiday are up more than 20%. But so far, Berg said, travelers seem willing to pay, at least for their big holiday trips. “We’re at the time of year where travel is really sticky. Even with higher prices, travelers are unlikely to make major changes to their traditional holiday home for the holiday trips,” Berg said in an interview with NPR. U.S. airlines say demand is holding steady even as fares have gone up. In an earnings call this month, Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said consumers have put up a “limited amount of resistance” and still view airfare as “reasonably affordable” even after fare increases.

12 people, including 6 minors, injured in shooting near Florida university stadium

At least 12 people, including six minors, were injured in a shooting near Florida A&M University’s stadium in Tallahassee late Saturday, police said. Eleven of the injured sustained gunshot wounds, the city’s police chief, Lawrence Revell, told a news conference. The twelfth person — a grandmother of one of the victims — injured herself while fleeing the scene, he added. At least three of the victims were seriously injured, including one in critical condition, Revell said. The others are in stable condition.

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Six of the victims are juveniles and the youngest is 11. One victim is believed to be a Florida A&M University student, Revell said. He said no arrests have been made. The incident took place shortly before 8 p.m. at the intersection of two streets near Bragg Memorial Stadium, Revell said. The Florida A&M’s football team had played a homecoming game against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff at the stadium earlier that evening. Preliminary findings indicate that “an altercation occurred” before the shooting, Revell said. Police believe it was an “isolated incident between two or three individuals.’ About two dozen officers had been in the area before the shooting, he said. In a statement on social media, Florida A&M University said the campus “remains safe” but advised people to avoid the area to allow police investigate.

Obama seeks to shore up Abdul El-Sayed with Black voters at Michigan rally

Former President Barack Obama rallied for Michigan’s Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed in Detroit on Saturday as the bitterly fought contest could come down to the city’s substantial Black vote. “We’re clear about the choice in this election,” Obama said. “Abdul is fighting for change, real change, change that will bring an end to this war. Change that will get money out of politics and put money in your pocket. Change that will finish the job we started with the Affordable Care Act and guarantee quality, affordable healthcare to every single American.” “You hear people say this is somehow radical,” Obama continued. “What is radical about that?”

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The former president, who rallied earlier Saturday in Cleveland, was joined by El-Sayed, gubernatorial nominee Jocelyn Benson and downballot Democrats less than two weeks before Election Day. Like his speech earlier in the day, Obama lambasted President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans for “broken promises” made during their 2024 campaigns and criticized Trump’s handling of the Iran war and tariffs, both of which he said have had an outsize effect on Michigan. “Does anybody really think this guy is spending that much time thinking deeply on these issues? I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but he is very focused on home renovation. He should be on HGTV,” Obama said of Trump’s extensive changes to the White House. “You remember — roll back the tape: ‘We’re gonna drain the swamp,’” Obama added. “The only thing they drained is the reflecting pool on the National Mall because some no-bid contract got it all messed up.” The Black vote has become a focus in the race as both El-Sayed and his Republican opponent, former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., have sought to improve their standing with the critical electorate. Detroit, a city where 75% of the population is Black, is crucial to statewide victories for Michigan Democrats. In the Democratic primary, El-Sayed underperformed there compared to his opponent, Rep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich.

Government contractor arrested for allegedly leaking national defense information

Federal authorities arrested a government contractor and charged him with leaking classified national defense information, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday. FBI investigators have accused 42-year-old Ian Brinksman, an employee of a third-party company which provided services to a government agency, of leaking national defense information to his girlfriend, who writes an online publication on Substack. “A fundraising article reportedly published by Individual 1 in September 2026 claimed Individual 1 had “published reporting based on classified [relevant U.S. government agency] assessments.” Individual 1 posted on her social media profile, “I also accept leaks,” the DOJ said in its release. Brinkman was arrested following a search of his Washington, D.C., home.

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Quotes included in the affidavit match the description of posts to the Capital & Empire Substack, a Congress and defense publication written by Aida Chavez. Chavez did not immediately respond to The Hill’s request for comment. Chavez’s past work has appeared in The Hill, according to her bio on the social platform X. In the DOJ’s statement announcing Brinkman’s arrest, FBI Director Kash Patel said any employee caught leaking classified information will “be met with the full weight of justice.” “Protecting America’s secrets is a top counterintelligence priority of this FBI – and anyone caught abusing their position of trust within the government by jeopardizing national security and putting our brave warriors at risk will be met with the full weight of justice,” Patel said. Identifying and prosecuting leakers has been a priority for the second Trump administration, threatening prosecution of both the government employees and media organizations that publish leaks. In July, the DOJ moved to subpoena four journalists from The New York Times for their reporting on a luxury jet gifted to the president by Qatar, which was used as Air Force One but has periodically been pulled for security concerns.

Police and protesters clash in Paris as an estimated 410,000 demonstrate across France

Clashes erupted in Paris as a mass march drew to a close Saturday, with more than 400,000 people rallying across France over school funding and soaring living costs in a fresh challenge to President Emmanuel Macron. Police made nearly 1,000 arrests, the government said. The Paris march began peacefully, a week after widespread rioting and looting during protests across the country. But near the demonstration’s endpoint in eastern Paris, masked protesters hurled objects and fireworks at police, who answered with clouds of tear gas, deafening sound grenades and jets of water cannons. Officers with megaphones urged protesters to disperse. Some demonstrators panicked as tear-gas canisters landed in their midst, scattering with screams. Veteran protesters shouted after them: “Don’t run!”

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The Interior Ministry put nationwide turnout at 410,000 — fewer than the 550,000 it said protested last weekend — while the CGT union that helped organize some of Saturday’s protests estimated nearly 800,000. The ministry’s estimate included 110,000 in Paris, where authorities confined the march to the city’s southeastern edge, away from the center. The CGT put the number of protesters in Paris at 250,000. More than a month of unrest that started with protests in high schools for more funding and teachers is testing Macron’s authority in the final months of his presidency before voters choose his successor in May. The stakes are high: The far-right National Rally party has accused his government of failing to protect the public and urged people to channel their anger into votes for its candidate Marine Le Pen. On the far left, presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon has backed demonstrators and criticized policing that has left some teenage protesters with life-changing injuries. As dusk fell Saturday, violence erupted at the end of some of the 289 protests counted by the Interior Ministry nationwide. Street fires burned in the cities of Marseille and Lyon. Police used tear gas in Lyon, Clermont-Ferrand, Strasbourg and Bordeaux and water cannons in Nice and Nantes, French media reported. In Nice, far-right extremists fought with demonstrators downtown and 11 people were arrested, regional authorities said.

Copyright October 25, 2026, Harvey Kronberg, www.quorumreport.com, All rights are reserved