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Today’s best stories
US government continues to pay for ads promoting President Trumpeven after announcing that his super PAC MAGA Inc. would take over the funding. A federal judge ordered the ads removed, but they remained on the air. An NPR analysis of AdImpact data reveals that nearly $22 million in public funds have been spent since the campaign began in late September. Nearly $10 million of that was spent after Trump pledged, in an Oct. 5 post on Truth Social, to privately fund the campaign. The White House called the ads public service announcements, but a lawsuit filed by Common Cause and others argued that they were funded without congressional approval, violating restrictions on taxpayer-funded advertising and propaganda.
President Trump leaves the stage after speaking at a campaign rally in Syracuse, New York on October 9, 2026.
Alex Wong/Getty Images
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Alex Wong/Getty Images
Trump has stepped up his campaign travel as the midterm elections approach. He rallied his supporters in Youngstown, Ohio, last night and is heading to Alaska today. More events are planned for later this week. He tries to encourage his supporters to vote by telling them to pretend to be on the ballot.
- 🎧 Trump’s events resemble his presidential campaign rallies: He highlights his accomplishments while calling out superfans and insulting Democrats, NPR’s Danielle Kurtzleben said. First. Kurtzleben adds that Trump’s election campaign emphasizes that the GOP is still his party, despite his waning approval. Candidates like Ohio GOP gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Republican Sen. Jon Husted have thought big and grateful, but Kurtzleben says the benefits of appearing alongside Trump remain unclear.
- ➡️ A few weeks before election daypolls could start to flood the landscape. Although they are a useful tool, remember that they cannot predict the future. Keep these tips in mind as the surveys roll in.
- ➡️ The NPR app brings together all of NPR’s election coverage in one place – from the biggest stories across the country to issues that matter close to home. Browse headlines, playlists, podcast episodes, videos and more, all in the Election 2026 tab.
Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s Washington, D.C., homeyesterday morning. Omar, a Minnesota Democrat, says the research was politically motivated by the Trump administration. The Justice Department told NPR in a statement that Homeland Security Investigations agents “executed a judicially authorized search warrant,” approved by the DOJ, as part of an ongoing federal investigation. Current and former federal officials with knowledge of the research who were not authorized to speak publicly confirmed the details, revealing that the multi-year investigation includes whistleblower complaints and focuses on allegations of immigration fraud.
- 🎧 One of Omar’s neighbors, Sharon Jackson, 79, tells NPR’s Luke Garrett she was awakened yesterday around 4:30 a.m. there was a loud knock and vans and officers wearing gloves were heading to and from the congresswoman’s house. Vice President JD Vance previously accused Omar of immigration fraud, which she denies. Omar is an American citizen who left Somalia as a refugee. She said on social media that the president had spent a decade targeting her with smear campaigns and had vowed not to allow himself to be silenced. Trump says he is not involved in the Omar investigation.
Live better
The safest way to protect yourself against measles while traveling is to get vaccinated.
Malte Mueller/Getty Images
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Malte Mueller/Getty Images
Living Better is a special series about what it takes to stay healthy in America.
The United States is experiencing the worst resurgence of measles in decades. More than 3,600 confirmed cases and two deaths were reported by the end of September. Outbreaks in several states and exposures in public places like bars, sports stadiums and public transportation have raised concerns about travel safety. Nearly all cases of measles in the United States are among unvaccinated people, and as outbreaks grow in some states, the risk of exposure increases. Here’s what you need to know before traveling by plane or train.
- ✈️ People who have received two doses of the MMR vaccine are considered protected against measles.
- ✈️ The disease is very contagious. It is spread through the air when an infected person coughs, breathes or sneezes. This airspace can remain contaminated for up to two hours.
- ✈️ Check with your healthcare professional about your vaccination status. They may recommend a booster based on your medical history and condition.
- ✈️ People who are immunocompromised may not be able to get vaccinated and often rely on herd immunity for protection. For measles, the herd immunity vaccination threshold is 95%.
- ✈️ Measles can be difficult to track because symptoms, such as fever, cough and rash, usually appear seven to 14 days after exposure and can sometimes take up to 21 days to surface.
Image exhibition
When Lee Krasner was asked in a 1978 interview what she was doing while her husband Jackson Pollock was becoming so famous, she responded, “I was working all the time.” Krasner is shown above, at work, in 1981.
Ernst Haas/Getty Images
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Ernst Haas/Getty Images
The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s blockbuster new exhibition features the works of two 20th-century artists. Jackson Pollock is well known for his dripping paintings. His wife, Lee Krasner, has often been overshadowed by her husband. This show finally gives Krasner the recognition she deserves. With more than 120 pieces on display – 74 by Krasner and 48 by Pollock – the exhibition also highlights Krasner as a titan of abstract expressionism. Check out some photos from the exhibition.
3 things to know before you leave
American economists Robert E. Hall and Michael Woodford were announced Monday as winners of the 2026 Nobel Prize in Economics at the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences in Stockholm.
Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images
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Jonathan Nackstrand/AFP via Getty Images
- Americans Robert Hall of Stanford University and Michael Woodford of Columbia University won the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for their work on managing boom and bust cycles to reduce inflation and unemployment.
- Trump’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, will hold her first press briefing today. She increased her notoriety by appearing in conservative media outlets and promoting right-wing conspiracy theories.
- Heavy early morning traffic can make breakfast a luxury in Lagos, Nigeria. Akara is a roadside must-see. For NPR’s Breakfast Around the World series, Emmanuel Akinwotu explores the salty snack’s deep roots in Nigeria and West Africa, as well as its spread around the world during the transatlantic slave trade.
This newsletter was published by Suzanne Nuyen.
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