Trump defends gifted Air Force One from Qatar and makes 2nd Amendment pitch as he campaigns for GOP
KALISPELL, Mont. (AP) — President Donald Trump has used a western campaign swing to pitch Republicans as 2nd Amendment guardians and defend his acceptance of a gifted luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One. In a Wednesday evening rally in Montana, Trump hewed closer to the kind of attack lines the GOP wants to hear as he stumps for its candidates, when he portrayed gun rights as “under siege” if Democrats win in November’s midterm elections. His message was more off script earlier in the day as he campaigned in an economically struggling corner of rural Arizona. Trump opened his remarks there by describing how the new jet parked behind him was a gift from the Qatari royal family.
Justice Department threatens California with legal action over claim of noncitizens on voter rolls
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Justice Department is threatening California with possible legal action over what it says are noncitizens believed to have received mail ballots for next month’s midterm elections. A letter sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Shirley Weber from Trent McCotter, the acting deputy attorney general, says the Justice Department has provided officials in Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive containing a list of names the federal government believes are likely noncitizens. The letter gives the state 48 hours to review the list. The Los Angeles County registrar says his office is reviewing the demand with the secretary of state and state attorney general.
Inflation worsened last month to 3.7% in sign that prices remain elevated as midterm elections near
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. inflation accelerated last month as gas, clothes, and air fares got more expensive, evidence that rising prices remain an economic challenge just a few weeks before the midterm elections. The consumer price index rose 3.7% in September compared with a year ago, the Labor Department said Wednesday, up from 3.4% in August. The figures underscore the lingering impact of the Iran war on gas prices and the stubborn persistence of inflation. The report also raises pressure on the Federal Reserve to raise its key interest rate further to combat inflation.
Social Security recipients to get 3.6% cost of living boost, an average of $75 per month
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Social Security Administration projects a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities starting in 2027. Some recipients say it won't offset rising prices. This adjustment means $75 extra per month for the nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million Supplemental Security Income recipients. Inflation continues to pressure household budgets and savings, and some older Americans feel the increase isn't enough. The Social Security Administration faces a looming bankruptcy date if a funding shortfall isn't addressed by Congress. Lawmakers have proposed measures to replenish the trust funds, including lifting the payroll tax cap to generate substantial revenue.
ICE rejects suggestion that its officers wear body cameras that automatically activate
WASHINGTON (AP) — A government report urges U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure body-worn cameras are activated when needed, suggesting automatic activation in certain situations. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement disagrees, citing privacy concerns. The report, released Wednesday, highlights the need for transparency and accountability, especially after incidents where officers opened fire without wearing cameras. The Government Accountability Office report covers policies from February 2025 to September and suggests improvements for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says all offices received cameras by Aug. 5, but the report noted some officers were confused about when to activate them.
Cornell president pressed by faculty frustrated by his handling of fraternity rape allegations
ITHACA, N.Y. (AP) — Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff faced off with angry members of the school’s faculty at a meeting to debate a no-confidence vote in his administration. The meeting on Wednesday underscored deep frustration on campus over his administration’s handling of a woman’s report that she was gang raped at a fraternity house in 2024. Kotlikoff earlier this week announced new restrictions on fraternity parties and expanded involvement by state police. He asked the faculty for more time to implement reforms.
Police investigate report of sexual assault at a fraternity party near the University of Chicago
CHICAGO (AP) — Police are investigating a report that a woman was sexually assaulted during a fraternity party near the University of Chicago campus. Chicago police said Wednesday that no charges have been filed. The university says a person of interest has been identified. Police say the 21-year-old woman reported the attack to officers early Sunday after attending a party at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house. The fraternity says none of its members took part in the alleged assault. The Chicago case follows an uproar at Cornell University, where a woman says she was drugged and gang raped in 2024. Her attackers have never been charged with crimes.
Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she’s a lawyer
NEW YORK (AP) — The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration. Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer. But so far, she and the White House have offered no evidence that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China, where she worked for a large law firm years ago. The questions add to the confusion surrounding President Donald Trump’s decision to hire Zacharia, whose debut at the podium on Tuesday has been widely panned.
Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone seized and relatives subpoenaed in criminal probe, AP source says
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal authorities investigating Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar have seized the Democratic lawmaker’s phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe. The subpoenas were issued for a grand jury collecting evidence in Minnesota as authorities probe potential fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation. The investigation led to the search Monday of Omar’s Washington, D.C. home just weeks before the November midterms, in which Omar is seeking reelection.
US stocks drop to their worst day since July as inflation worsens
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks dropped to their worst day since July. The S&P 500 fell 1.1% Wednesday for its fifth loss in the six days since setting its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average slipped 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 1.9%. A report showing inflation accelerated last month raised expectations on Wall Street that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates. Making borrowing money more expensive could slow the build out of AI data centers, and AI stocks were the heaviest weights on the market. Bank of America sank after reporting a weaker profit than analysts expected.
