Unbiased Updates

The Justice Department is looking into allegations that Alaska Democrats hatched a plot to confuse voters and steal votes, while the Democratic Senate candidate denies any involvement. Plus, President Donald Trump cancels two weekend rallies, with the GOP saying he’ll reach more Republican voters by phone. And one of the world’s biggest crypto companies says it was hacked to the tune of more than $6 billion. What we know so far. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 30, 2026.

In This Episode Midterms are less than a week away. Beyond who wins and who loses, what’s really at stake? We’ll speak with our senior politics reporter about overlooked storylines and how Tuesday’s election could reshape Washington. Plus, 34 years ago, James Carville had a simple message: “It’s the economy, stupid.” With prices still squeezing Americans, could that same message decide who controls Congress? We’ll ask our cost-of-living reporter. And more than 50 years after a teenage girl was murdered in Utah, investigators finally have an answer. How DNA evidence links her death to serial killer Ted Bundy. Become a Straight Arrow subscriber to get the full episode every week: san.com/getoffscript

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fires the military’s top planner as President Donald Trump reportedly considers new strikes against Iran after the midterms. Plus, a federal judge blocks the Trump administration from setting aside 20,000 California mail ballots, questioning its claims that the voters are noncitizens. And Alaska’s governor orders an investigation into alleged Democratic efforts to recruit a candidate with the same name as Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.

Israel’s election produces no clear winner, leaving Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s future uncertain as Arab-led parties could determine who forms the next government. Plus, Brazil’s defeated presidential candidate flees the country despite a court order, with the U.S. preparing to welcome him. And President Donald Trump rallies for Ken Paxton in Texas as rival James Talarico draws thousands across town in a heated Senate race. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026.

Israelis vote on Benjamin Netanyahu’s future as three years of war hang over an election that could leave neither side with a governing majority. Plus, James Comey is facing a third criminal case, this time accused of leaking national defense information in 2016, but the former FBI director denies wrongdoing. And a federal appeals court rejected the DOJ’s emergency request to set aside roughly 20,000 California mail-in ballots, with a lower court set to hear the case today. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2026.

Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won reelection, but opponent Flávio Bolsonaro refuses to concede and wants the results thrown out over an extension of voting hours. Plus, President Donald Trump called Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed a “jihadist” and alleged Muslim Brotherhood ties, prompting a sharp response from the Democrat. And the Trump administration is defending its lawsuit over Alaska’s Senate race, where two candidates with nearly identical names have sparked a fight over certifying election results. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 26, 2026.

President Donald Trump says Vivek Ramaswamy should not take down a controversial campaign ad featuring his opponent’s mother, who claims she’s lying to voters about childhood abuse. Plus, the Justice Department is investigating Corey Lewandowski, one of former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem’s top aides, for allegedly using his position to make extra money. And Ukraine’s access to Starlink has mostly been restored, but Trump refuses to say whether he made it happen. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 23, 2026.

In This Episode A candidate for the U.S. Senate has an unusual way of handling tough questions. He fires back with questions of his own. Is Abdul El-Sayed calling out unfair attacks, or is he dodging them? I’ll ask our senior politics reporter, Azi Paybarah. Plus, AI needs a lot of power. So much that tech companies are now building power plants to run their data centers. But our energy reporter, Keaton Peters, found that some of those plants are getting approved with little public input. And the communities are pushing back. And Ukraine says it just pulled off a first in warfare, using a flying drone to rescue a wounded soldier from the front lines. We’ll tell you how they did it. Become a Straight Arrow subscriber to get the full episode every week: ⁠san.com/getoffscript

Michigan’s Senate candidates clash in their final debate, with Republican Mike Rogers questioning Democrat Abdul El-Sayed’s loyalty to the U.S. Plus, Vice President JD Vance fires back at Republicans criticizing a controversial attack ad against Ohio Democrat Amy Acton, defending the ad despite growing backlash. And the Pentagon approves testing a military heat ray at the southern border, a weapon that causes an intense burning sensation to drive people away. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 22, 2026.

President Donald Trump is promising more money ahead of the midterms — this time, offering cash rewards to people who report government fraud. Plus, Elon Musk was the one who reportedly ordered restrictions on Ukraine’s Starlink service, disrupting military drones. Also, federal investigators question Ilhan Omar’s sister about immigration records, as Trump raises the possibility of the congresswoman going to jail. And a new attack ad from Vivek Ramaswamy’s campaign features his opponent Amy Acton’s estranged mother calling her a liar, prompting a fierce response from Acton’s brother over her childhood abuse. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026.

President Donald Trump suggests Ukraine needs a new negotiator as his administration reportedly holds up approval of critical Patriot missile transfers. Plus, Alberta voters overwhelmingly reject a move toward independence, with roughly 76 percent opposing a proposal that could have led to separation. And newly unsealed records raise fresh questions about whether O.J. Simpson had help covering up the murders, including disposing of the missing weapon. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2026.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy fears the U.S. could side with Russia as President Donald Trump eases sanctions on Moscow and accuses the Ukrainian president of resisting peace. Plus, deadly riots leave two dead and thousands arrested across France, as Macron promises a crackdown and unions call for more protests. And four Canadian soldiers die and 39 are injured when shifting winds send a fast-moving fire through a military training exercise. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 19, 2026.

Four people, including three children, are killed at an Oregon elementary school, where police say a bystander shot and killed the teenage gunman. Plus, Senate debates get heated in Maine and Alaska, with candidates trading accusations and one Democrat telling his Republican opponent, “Oh, shut up.” And the Trump administration sues California to block ballots from thousands of suspected noncitizens, but state officials say the government hasn’t provided reliable evidence. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 16, 2026.

Newspapers that look like traditional news but have a political agenda. Who’s behind them, and why they’re targeting voters ahead of the midterms. We talked to the reporter who investigated. Plus, AI is making political attack ads a lot more convincing. Now, candidates are threatening legal action over videos that put words in their mouths. Our media, bias and algorithms reporter, Mark Keierleber, looks at where the law draws the line. And earlier this week, we asked how growers get those record-breaking pumpkins so big. One of you had an answer — and it involves something you probably have in your fridge. We’ll see if it checks out.Become a Straight Arrow subscriber to get the full episode every week: san.com/getoffscript

President Donald Trump says government leakers should be shot, while new reporting reveals the military is considering using its largest non-nuclear bomb against Iran. Plus, new satellite restrictions disrupt Ukrainian drone operations, deepening Zelenskyy’s frustration with Washington as he questions whether the U.S. remains a reliable partner. And Trump’s new press secretary faces scrutiny over her legal credentials after a watchdog group requests an investigation into whether she misrepresented them. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026.

A federal judge blocks President Donald Trump’s White House press ban, ruling the president likely violated the Constitution by punishing news outlets for unfavorable coverage. Plus, Houthi attacks intensify across Saudi Arabia, raising pressure on Trump as he weighs whether to bring the U.S. into the fight. And Pope Leo is recovering from successful lung surgery as the Vatican confirms he has cancer. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026.

President Donald Trump defends easing restrictions on Russian diesel as lawmakers from both parties warn the move could help fund Putin’s war. Plus, Rep. Ilhan Omar accuses Trump of political intimidation after federal agents search her home just weeks before the midterms. And newly released 911 recordings reveal a half-hour delay in getting help to Christa Pike after her failed execution, as responders question whether the emergency is real. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026.

New video captures the terrifying moment a deadly Houthi strike hits a Saudi airport, sending ceiling panels crashing down on passengers. Plus, President Donald Trump is reportedly considering firing his ambassador to Greece, Kimberly Guilfoyle, amid allegations she sought money from a donor in exchange for political access. And a federal judge orders Trump’s $20 million taxpayer-funded ad campaign off the air, just hours before it was scheduled to end. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 12, 2026.

An ICE agent shoots a man in New York City with a five-year-old in the back seat, prompting outrage from the mayor. Plus, Michigan’s Senate candidates clash over President Donald Trump’s tariffs in a tight race that could help decide control of the Senate. And the USS Abraham Lincoln returns after more than 10 months at sea, with dozens of sailors meeting their babies for the first time. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Friday, Oct. 9, 2026.

Unbiased Updates went Off Script this week to discuss Obama returning to the campaign trail and the mysterious death at a Russian plague lab. We spoke with Straight Arrow’s Azi Paybarah and Jess Craig.Become a Straight Arrow subscriber to get the full episode every week: san.com/getoffscript