Current Events Afternoon Briefing — Saturday, October 24, 2026 at 3:15 PM

#1Trump barnstorms Georgia and Michigan as early voting tops 23 million

With ten days until the November 3 midterms, President Trump and the first lady cast early ballots today before a weekend rally swing through Georgia and Michigan. Democrats are posting a roughly 15-point lead in early-vote returns, but Republican election-day enthusiasm remains high. Source: Fox News — https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/trump-weekend-rallies-georgia-michigan-2026-midterm-elections

#2Appeals court orders California to answer DOJ over ballots mailed to alleged noncitizens

A federal appeals court ruled California must respond to the Justice Department's emergency request in a suit over roughly 20,000 alleged noncitizens who received mail-in ballots. DOJ wants those ballots sequestered before they're processed — with the midterms days away. Source: Fox News — https://www.foxnews.com/politics/california-must-respond-dojs-emergency-request-over-ballots-mailed-alleged-noncitizens-court-rules

#3Mortgage rates hit a three-year high as inflation and debt worries bite

Mortgage rates have climbed to their highest level since 2023, compounding sticky inflation and investor anxiety over federal fiscal footing. The one bright spot: business inflation expectations for the year ahead ticked down to 2.3 percent, hinting the recent spike may be temporary. Source: Washington Examiner — https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/4752575/spike-mortgage-rates-inflation-debt-woes/

#4Ilhan Omar fraud probe widens as she disputes reports about her name and family

Homeland Security Investigations searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington home under a court-authorized warrant and seized her phone in a criminal probe of alleged fraud in family immigration paperwork. Omar denies wrongdoing and went on camera today to push back on conflicting reports about her name; no charges have been filed. Source: Washington Examiner — https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/entertainment/4778598/ilhan-omar-not-deny-related-ex-husband-moment-guy-benson/

Top World Stories

#5France erupts: 400,000 protesters, nearly 1,000 arrests, Louvre shuttered

France's interior ministry counted more than 400,000 demonstrators nationwide today, with arrests surging from 135 to nearly 1,000 as police fired tear gas and water cannons in Paris, Lyon and Marseille. The Louvre, Musée d'Orsay, Picasso Museum and Grand Palais all stayed closed, and the unrest spread to Rome and Albania. France's 10-year yield has crossed 5 percent for the first time since 2002. Source: Fox News — https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/france-protests-paris-rioting-looting-10-24-26

#6Gunmen kill nine at Greek Orthodox funeral in Karak, Jordan

Attackers stormed a church in Karak during a funeral service, and the death toll has risen to nine. Jordanian authorities say the assailants subscribed to extremist takfiri ideology tied to ISIS. Source: Fox News — https://www.foxnews.com/world/death-toll-rises-9-church-attack-officials-blame-extremist-islamist-ideology

#7Iran war pressure builds as intel memo warns of advanced plots against Americans

A US intelligence memo says Iran has intensified efforts to target American personnel abroad, with some lethal plots reaching advanced stages. Iran claims seven tankers were hit near the Strait of Hormuz this week and has threatened US bases, while Netanyahu urges Washington and Israel to move on Tehran's regime — Brent crude touched a five-month high near 115 dollars. Source: Fox News — https://www.foxnews.com/live-news/us-iran-war-israel-netanyahu-oil-prices-10-23-26

Science & Technology

#8Isaacman locks in a 2028 moon landing and four Artemis missions

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman set the timeline: Artemis III launches by mid-2027 for rendezvous and docking tests in low-Earth orbit, with boots on the lunar surface on Artemis IV in 2028. He's also pivoting the agency toward a 20-billion-dollar surface base and long-duration lunar stays instead of an orbiting station. Source: Fox News — https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nasa-chief-vows-four-moon-missions-before-trumps-term-ends-ambitious-2028-timeline

#9Ukraine says military-grade Starlink service is restored after restrictions

Zelenskyy announced that Starlink and Starshield operations are back to pre-restriction speeds, calling performance "where they need to be." The outage window had rattled Kyiv's frontline communications just as Moscow and Kyiv eye a new round of US-brokered talks in Abu Dhabi around mid-November. Source: The Epoch Times — https://www.theepochtimes.com/world/ukraine-says-military-grade-starlink-service-restored-after-experiencing-restrictions-6108405

Wildcard

#10NASA joins the federal probe into eleven missing and dead scientists

NASA says it's now coordinating with other agencies on the investigation into eleven scientists tied to nuclear, space and UAP research who have died or vanished since 2022. The FBI, Energy Department and Department of War are all involved, and Director Kash Patel has promised a final report "in short order." NASA insists nothing so far indicates a national security threat. Source: Fox News — https://www.foxnews.com/us/nasa-coordinating-relevant-agencies-missing-scientists-probe