Libyan unity talks upended as warlord's son linked to drone attacks on fuel facilities Western Libya's GNU say working with Saddam Haftar 'impossible' as US-backed merger plan breaks downAllegations that the son of the Libyan warlord Khalifa Haftar oversaw a "terror cell" that launched drone attacks on fuel storage facilities and power stations in western Libya have upended plans for the Tripoli-based government of national unity (GNU) to continue cooperating with Haftar on a plan to unify the country.Saddam Haftar, the deputy commander of the so-called Libyan National Army (LNA), has increasingly been seen by the US as an important figure in its plans to unify Libyan security, judicial and political institutions. Continue reading...
Row erupts over Cairo mural depicting Tutankhamun and Nefertiti with dark skin Artwork created in Tahrir Squarefor Chinese president's state visit to Egypt is painted over amid allegations it revived Afrocentric claims about pharaohs' originsOn the eve of the Chinese president Xi Jinping's state visit to Cairo last month, the city authorities were busy removing a 66-metre-long mural from the esteemed guest's line of sight.Depicting the Pharaoh Tutankhamun and Queen Nefertiti, the painting was among 40 murals commissioned to beautify the city for Xi's arrival and was painted by a group of young volunteers, Rasmet Basma, in Tahrir Square. Continue reading...
Trump administration diverts human rights funds to push far-right agenda abroad Support such as for white Afrikaners and anti-communism reveals how US is redefining what qualifies as human rightsWith hours left before the funding expires, the Trump administration is pushing to direct more than $175m of the state department's flagship human rights fund to a slate of awards that includes a huge $40m grant for an anti-communism fund, support for a group advancing white Afrikaner rights in South Africa, a campaign against Brazil's supreme court and programs that would reward ideological allies in Europe who protect "western civilizational norms".On Wednesday, the state department obligated the funds to the grantees hours before the deadline despite congressional concerns and requests not to do so, according to a source familiar with the negotiations. The state department declined to comment on questions from the Guardian specifically on whether it had obligated the funds and had "blown" holds from Congress due to concerns about the money's use. Continue reading...
South African leader urges men to speak up on gender-based violence after series of killings President announces measures amid anger at authorities over recent murders of womenSouth Africa's president has called on men to take more responsibility for violence against women as he announced measures to tackle the problem, amid anger at authorities over a recent wave of murders.Cyril Ramaphosa acknowledged that not enough had been done to protect women. He said police would be reviewing unsolved murders, attempted murders and serious sexual offences against women and children, as well as producing a funded plan to reduce the forensic backlog for such cases, both within 60 days. Continue reading...
Burundi agrees to receive 'third-country' migrant deportees from US Burundi joins several other African nations in accepting people deported under Trump's hardline policyBurundi has agreed to join a clutch of other African nations in receiving migrants from other countries deported from the US under Donald Trump's hardline immigration policy.However, Burundi will only accept those not accused of crime or terrorism links, said Nancy Ninette Mutoni, a spokesperson for the country's president, Évariste Ndayishimiye. Tuesday's announcement gave no details of numbers, timing or financial details. Continue reading...
US Coast Guard searches for missing air ambulance off coast of Massachusetts The plane was undertaking a medical evacuation from Bermuda with six people onboard when it lost contactThe US Coast Guard is searching for an air ambulance jet with six people onboard that lost contact with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) during a flight from Bermuda to Boston early on Saturday morning.In a statement to the Guardian, an FAA spokesperson said that the agency issued a search-and-rescue alert notice for a Gulfstream G-100 at about 1.20am local time on Saturday. Continue reading...
Cornell rape allegation puts fraternities' long struggle with trust back in focus Cornell rape allegation puts fraternities' long struggle with trust back in focusThe Cornell University gang rape allegation is the latest in a series of black marks for fraternities, leading critics to question why universities continue to support them. Fraternities, almost as old as the country itself, have been a staple at colleges for young men to come together with the stated goals of teaching leadership, community service and building friendships. But highly publicized incidents of sexual assault and hazing plague the groups, which could face a tough road to win back public trust. The alleged gang rape of a 20-year-old woman at the Chi Phi frat at Cornell in 2024 is the latest in a long list of incidents that have made the public wary of Greek life. A lawsuit filed last month by Jane Doe, the alleged victim who chose to remain anonymous, says on Oct. 20, 2024, she was coerced into alcohol and drugs at the fraternity and sexually assaulted by seven members.During the alleged assault, one of the fraternity brothers sent a message to a Snapchat group for the frat saying there was "free p----" upstairs, according to a screenshot from the lawsuit.The lawsuit targets Cornell, the Chi Phi fraternity, the victim's own sorority and the bar that served her alcohol at the beginning of the night when they allegedly knew she was underage.Jud Horras, president and CEO of the Foundation for Fraternal Excellence, said the men accused of sexual assault and those who saw that message and did nothing to stop it engaged in "a complete failure of membership of their fraternal obligations.""Expulsion from the fraternity, as well as suspension of the entire fraternity local chapter, is the exact right decisions that needed to happen," he added.Meanwhile, in a less publicized incident across the country, a former Northern Arizona University frat leader was sentenced Wednesday to two months in jail over a hazing incident that resulted in the death of a pledge, one of at least three people this year who died from hazing incidents at fraternities. The victim's parents are reportedly calling for reforms to campus Greek life.The data on hazing incidents and sexual assaults at frats is limited, with no conclusive nationwide numbers on whether the issue has become worse or how fraternities compare to other groups such as sports teams. But the Stop Campus Hazing Act passed in 2025 seeks to change that. Every Oct. 1, starting this year, institutions receiving federal student aid must publish their Annual Security Report and include hazing incident statistics, part of an effort to create the first national dataset showing the prevalence of hazing year-by-year. Elizabeth Allan, professor of higher education at the University of Maine and the founder of Stop Hazing, said her studies and interviews with students have shown her many involved in these situations don't support hazing but feel pressured by peers or alumni to keep "traditions" going. "We often hear from students that it's hard to change because the alumni of their organizations don't support change, and they come back to campus, and they want to see the old ways ... They didn't like being hazed themselves, and then when they became a leader in the organization, they tried to change, but they were outnumbered and often felt pressure from alums who, instead of being supportive of the change, reinforced the old ways," Allan said. "I think we could make a lot of headway toward prevention if students - if we could correct that misperceived norm," she added. "If students knew, 'Most of my peers agree with me that this is not good,' and they would feel more comfortable speaking out." It is estimated around 750,000 undergraduates are involved in fraternities and sororities across the country.Backlash to incidents of sexual assault and hazing are often targeted at specific organizations, rather than Greek life in general.Indiana University has placed five different frats on cease-and-desist, while Cornell disbanded Chi Phi in 2024 after Jane Doe's rape allegation came to light.But some argue these punishments lack the oversight that would be needed to fix more structural problems. "I can't think of a fraternity that doesn't have some level of prevention education as a core function of their required experience. I think where the opportunity exists is that that it's got to move beyond compliance, and so what that really means is engaging in that type of education that's designed to transform and really challenge chapter culture, as opposed to just being a box that needs to be checked," said Jason Bergeron, executive director of the Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors. "The challenge, the real challenge for accountability is how that becomes not compliance focused, but becomes a part of really building positive chapter cultures and engaging in meaningful chapter change," he continued. Bergeron said the frats that succeed in changing their culture are the ones that engage with the Title IX professionals on their campus and invited diversity, equity and inclusion staff to their spaces. "I think it is a really important tool in inviting people in to sort of demystify how these conversations occur and how cultural change ultimately can occur within fraternities," he said. Those who support Greek life and fraternities say the negative headlines don't represent the thousands of men who take seriously their obligation to speak out and intervene during unlawful or dangerous situations. "The research is actually clear: Fraternity men do a better job at intervening than men who are not in a fraternity and holding peers accountable. That being said, there was a complete breakdown of the obligations of membership in this Cornell situation, and fraternity men across North America want to see those individuals held to the highest degree possible of individual accountability as a reinforcing message of just how much disgust they have in what happened," Horras said. But the long history of hazing and sexual assault leave some pessimistic that anything will fix the reputation frats have given themselves. "A good deal of the vitriol or the blame against fraternities seems pretty warranted to me," said Nick Syrett, author of "The Company He Keeps: A History of White College Fraternities" and chair and professor of gender and women's studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison."I think the problem is the university trying to impose what we would think of as perfectly rational standards from above - it's not going to work unless the people who join the fraternities want to behave, and I don't see much evidence that lots of men joining fraternities do want to behave. They have sought out these organizations in part because of their reputations for drinking and partying and interactions with young women. So, I think it depends on the will of people to want to do the right thing," Syrett added. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.This article originally appeared on The Hill at https://thehill.com/homenews/education/6126503-cornell-rape-chi-phi-frat-greek-life/
Cruz rips Vance as 'insecure' after VP accused him of focusing on 2028 election Cruz rips Vance as 'insecure' after VP accused him of focusing on 2028 electionSen. Ted Cruz fired back at JD Vance for suggesting he's already focused on a 2028 presidential bid, calling the vice president "insecure" while insisting he's focused on the 2026 midterms."In my experience, people engage in political bomb-throwing when they're feeling insecure," Cruz said in a phone interview Saturday. "So he's welcome to make whatever comments he likes. I'm going to keep focusing on the midterms and helping us win on Election Day in the next 30 days."Cruz's comments came in response to an NBC News interview Thursday with Vance in which the vice president suggested Cruz was prematurely eyeing a White House run."It is really obvious to me that, at this very moment, Ted Cruz is running for president," Vance said. "At this moment, I'm not. I'm trying to help elect Republicans. That's what I'm going to keep on doing."Vance is widely viewed as the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination, but Cruz has said he doesn't believe Vance is the sure-fire nominee and suggested he might throw his own hat in the ring. "I'll certainly be part of the discussion," he told MS NOW in August.On Saturday, Cruz told POLITICO he is dedicated to helping Republicans maintain control of both chambers of Congress. He pointed to his travel this cycle to campaign with candidates in Georgia, Iowa, Nebraska, South Carolina as well as in his home state of Texas as proof. He also said he has trips planned this month to campaign with Republicans in Alaska, Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina."Over the last 10 years, there's no Republican in the country who has campaigned for more Senate candidates, more House candidates, more gubernatorial candidates than I have, and this year will be no exception," he said.Cruz rattled off a list of a dozen GOP candidates he's helped bolster in past years, including former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina, U.S. House candidate Karoline Leavitt - and the vice president."Indeed, ironically, I spent a full day on the road with JD Vance, campaigning with him when he was running for Senate in Ohio [in 2022]," Cruz said. "I was very glad he won that race. I was very glad to help him."A spokesperson for Vance did not immediately respond to Cruz's latest comments.Vance campaigned in Texas and Florida this week and will hold a rally in Alaska on Monday.This article originally appeared on Politico at https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/03/ted-cruz-blasts-jd-vance-as-insecure-says-hes-focused-on-helping-gop-win-midterms-01106033
The races that could expand Democrats' path to the White House are short on cash The races that could expand Democrats' path to the White House are short on cashFORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. - Perhaps emboldened by the rush of sweet tea he was sipping at The Floridian, an Old Florida institution here, David Jolly told me he "can get outspent by $100 million and win this race." The Florida Democrat may well have to test that argument. He is confronting the same daunting predicament as other gubernatorial candidates around the country: Democrats are poised to enjoy their best midterm election in two decades, but they may fall short in a series of governors' races because of the party's warped donor culture. Major Democratic contributors and small-dollar givers are flooding Senate hopefuls with cash, but in some of the most politically crucial states they could lose winnable gubernatorial races because they're being so dramatically outspent by Republican nominees and their allied groups. In former and future presidential battlegrounds Florida, Texas, Ohio, Georgia, Wisconsin and Nevada, the gubernatorial advertising gap is yawning. For the remainder of the campaign, Republicans are on track to outspend Democrats on television about 6-to-1 in Florida, more than 3-to-1 in Texas, 2.5-to-1 in Georgia, more than 2-to-1 in Wisconsin, and only slightly more narrowly in Ohio and Nevada. That's if current trends hold, as Democrats are largely booking week to week. So the difference in what's already booked is even starker. As Kinetiq Political Insights data tells me, a single Republican, the Georgia gubernatorial nominee, has nearly as much advertising on the books there as Democrats do at the moment in all six of these races combined. The public and private polling in these contests shows they're competitive, and GOP strategists tell me that, were it not for their financial advantage, they'd lose most of them. The Democratic Governors Association, with finite resources and 36 statehouse races on the ballot this year, is not on the air in Florida or Texas a month before the election. They're spending in Ohio, Georgia and Nevada, where Republicans control the governorship, but are hampered in part because of their obligation to defend their own incumbents and hold those states with outgoing Democratic governors. Liberal donors swooning over Senate races is not a new phenomenon. But it has accelerated in the age of Trump, and with decidedly mixed results. Checking the president by controlling Congress is easy to grasp, short enough to fit on a bumper sticker with the right brevity. Nothing animates Democrats like confronting Trump, and flipping the House and Senate does as much. Also, the attendant Washington-heavy focus of the media, along with social media algorithms that push what draws clicks, means most political hobbyists can tell you the name of big-state Senate candidates but not the party's gubernatorial nominees (looking at you, Texas). The problem is compounded for Democrats in capitals where they're out of power, and have been for decades, because the transactional money from interests with business before state government will be overwhelmingly directed to the incumbent party. Now, to be fair to Democratic donors, it's easier to grasp what's at stake for them and the country when they consider who will have congressional majorities. Particularly for Trump's final two years, it's understandable that that would mean more to, say, a Seattle-based contributor than who's in the governor's mansion in Tallahassee. But the left should know better by now. The aftermath of 2020 and the unsubtle steps the president is taking now to seize election machinery should have underscored the importance of state and local elections, particularly for those officers counting or certifying election results. More consequential, however, are the long-term implications of gubernatorial races this year. If Democrats can win contests in red-tinted states next month, particularly across the Sun Belt, they'll have a stronger infrastructure to be competitive in the 2028 presidential race. They would, in other words, have more paths to 270 electoral votes without living and dying with the fate of the blue-wall states across the Great Lakes. "We don't have a Democratic president; we don't have the person who says, 'If we win Florida, Texas and Georgia, the road to the White House is restructured,'" Jolly lamented. "There's nobody with that collective party interest to say, 'We got to focus resources in these two or three states to restructure them in '28.' It's just a lot of individual actors at the top." When I brought up DGA Chair and Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, whose presidential ambitions are no secret, Jolly said his victory would mean "not only does the road to the White House go through Florida, but the road to the Democratic nomination goes through Florida." And if his point wasn't clear enough, he pointed out that Govs. JB Pritzker of Illinois, Gavin Newsom of California and Wes Moore of Maryland had all contributed or were planning to come to Florida. Most of the party's most prominent figures, though, are focused on federal elections. Former President Barack Obama, for example, has raised money for House Democrats and has a fundraiser scheduled for Senate Democrats but hasn't yet committed to help Democratic governors. As large as the next race for the White House looms, 2030 will have a more lasting impact. The census that year will reshape both the presidential and congressional map, moving electoral votes and House seats south because of population shifts. This will only make the Sun Belt more pivotal. And if Democrats aren't competitive there, they'll not only have a hard time claiming the presidency, they'll risk being shut out of power in the House in an era when they've struggled to win Senate seats in vast swaths of the country (they haven't had more than 51 senators in their caucus for over a decade). No, governors can't automatically deliver states for their presidential nominees. But the chief executives can forge coalitions to demonstrate what's possible while also rebuilding the machinery in states such as Florida and Texas, where the party has atrophied. Neither state has elected a Democratic governor since the '90s. And while Georgia has elected a pair of promising senators, they've not elected a Democratic governor this century. And if they don't this year, neither Sens. Raphael Warnock nor Jon Ossoff may be on the 2028 national ticket given that a Republican would appoint their Senate successor. Most tangibly, Democratic governors can play a role in redistricting, whether it's after the next census or in the seemingly perpetual arms race that is reapportionment today. "If we can run point on the next redistricting, we can claw back four or six congressional seats," Jolly told me, alluding to outgoing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) middecade redraw to suggest he'd do the same even before the census. "I call it the DeSantis Precedent: Why can't I draw new maps when I get there?" Between just Florida, Texas and Georgia, there are currently 80 House seats. That number is expected to grow to 88 or 89 after the next census. Add in Arizona and Nevada, the two Western presidential battlegrounds of this era, and the future number could be as high as 114 - five Sun Belt states accounting for over a quarter of the entire House. Arizona, where Gov. Katie Hobbs is seeking reelection, is likely to remain in Democratic hands - and will as long as Republicans keep nominating Kari Lakes rather than Doug Duceys. But Democrats may not have a better chance at flipping governorships in the rest of these states than this year. To do so, they'll have to overcome a mountain of money. In Texas, that means state Rep. Gina Hinojosa overcoming a three-term incumbent, Gov. Greg Abbott, who entered the year with over $100 million on hand. In Georgia, former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is confronting a wealthy executive, Rick Jackson, who has poured over $100 million of his own fortune into the race since the primary. And in Nevada, the gap isn't quite as vast - but Gov. Joe Lombardo outraised Attorney General Aaron Ford about 5-to-1 in the first half of the year. In the Midwest, Democrats are facing another self-funder in Ohio, Vivek Ramaswamy, who can continue to write checks against Democrat Amy Acton, after former Sen. Sherrod Brown passed on the race in favor of another Senate bid, in part because, between national donors and super PACs, it's easier to finance. In Wisconsin, Republicans have been elevated by a sudden infusion of over $24 million from three donors. The flood of cash may not be enough to defeat Democrat David Crowley but could have downballot implications should Republican Rep. Tom Tiffany close the race to the infinitesimal margins that have marked Wisconsin elections in recent years. "Even if he only loses narrowly, the flood of Republican money could keep the state Legislature in GOP hands, denying Democrats a once-in-a-generation shot at unified control of the Wisconsin state government and a chance to undo the GOP's House gerrymander and address its intentionally restrictive voting laws before the next presidential race," said former Wisconsin Democratic Chair Ben Wikler. Back at The Floridian, Jolly conceded that part of his challenge is that Florida has, in the years after Obama carried it twice, taken on the reputation as fool's gold for Democratic donors, much in the same way as Texas. "We've had data for six months showing this race tied or us up, and people just struggle to accept the data because it's Florida," he said, as TV ads above the bar blared with political commercials. "It's a lot of heartbreak for people." Jolly's concern is that it's getting late early - there's no such thing as an Election Day in Florida. "I think 60% of the state has voted by Oct. 20," he said. But if Jolly, a former Republican House member who became a Democrat in the Trump era and whose accent evokes Matthew McConaughey, can narrow the spending gap this month, he may have a chance to spring an upset. He's running almost entirely on a mantra of being for housing, health care and education and against data centers. Polls show him winning enough Republicans and unaffiliates to be close, vital in a state where Democratic registration has collapsed. And Jolly's GOP opponent, Rep. Byron Donalds, recently took down his website's Trump endorsement language, only to restore it after it was revealed, and Trump issued a barely veiled threat. (Stephen A. Smith, though, has surfaced on Donalds' mailers.) Donalds also faces the challenge of overcoming a history of Black Republicans being rejected in gubernatorial and Senate races: No African American conservative has won either, without first being appointed, since Massachusetts Sen. Ed Brooke was reelected in 1972. Jolly is careful about Donalds' race and even made a point, at a Black church in Palm Beach County, of acknowledging to the audience that he grasped his opponent's history-making potential. That was before the verse-quoting Democrat, the son of a Baptist pastor, laid out a detailed indictment about Donalds' record on race-related issues and brought the audience to their feet by saying Florida schoolchildren must know about the state's Rosewood massacre. Jolly said he saw similarities between himself and James Talarico, the Senate candidate in Texas and another devout Christian Democrat. To compete as a Democrat these days in Florida and Texas, it does take faith. But it also requires cash. And unless Jolly finds more of it, he may wind up coming up just short. Isn't the most likely scenario, I argued, that he benefits from an extraordinary Democratic year but ultimately loses by a percentage point and a half or so because the state has just become so Republican and the financial gap is so vast? "It's always a possibility," he conceded. But, sipping his tea, Jolly said Trump's crushing win here in 2024 didn't tell the whole story and that a series of special elections pointed to considerable Democratic enthusiasm and Republican apathy. His conclusion: "Donalds has spent over $80 million, and this race is tied, or we're ahead." This article originally appeared on Politico at https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2026/10/03/democrats-have-a-money-problem-in-the-races-that-matter-the-most-01105500
Donald Trump's White House expanded its press team Friday, tapping Real America's Voice correspondent Beni Rae Harmony to be assistant press secretary.
The 24-year-old Harmony, who has served as Real America's Voice's White House correspondent since joining the conservative network in September 2025, confirmed her appointment on X Friday evening. TMZ reported earlier that day that she had been scooped up to work for Trump.
"I'm excited to announce that I am joining the Trump Administration as Asst. White House Press Secretary," she wrote. "It's been an honor to report, travel and cover this historic administration as Senior White House Correspondent for Real America's Voice. My goal has always been to ask the questions that matter to real Americans and make sure their voices are heard."
"I'm incredibly grateful to President Trump for this opportunity and his trust," she continued. "I'm looking forward to this next chapter - serving the American people and continuing to fight for the American Dream. America First."
Trump broke the news on Truth Social at the time, writing, "Our wonderful White House Press Secretary, and one of my most trusted aides, Karoline Leavitt, will be departing her role at the end of the month so she can spend more time with her beautiful young children and family, a decision I totally understand and respect!"
Leavitt welcomed her second child, a daughter named Viviana "Vivi" Riccio, in May 2026.
As Trump went on, he praised Leavitt's work in the administration and said she would remain involved in his political operation after leaving the White House, writing, "Karoline will continue on as one of my TOP outside Advisors, and will remain an influential voice within the Republican Party as we head into the Midterms."
Leavitt, 27, became the youngest person to serve as White House press secretary when Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Following the news of her planned exit, Leavitt wrote on X, "The truth is since returning to the White House after the birth of my daughter, I have felt in my heart that I cannot be the best mom my two young children deserve while devoting the constant time, energy, and attention required of the White House Press Secretary - and that is why I have ultimately made the bittersweet decision to depart the White House and embark on a new chapter in my life."
Vice President JD Vance and other Trump administration officials have stepped in to give press briefings as the press secretary position remains vacant. The post Trump Finds New Assistant Press Secretary in Real America's Voice Correspondent appeared first on TheWrap.This article originally appeared on The Wrap at https://www.thewrap.com/media-platforms/politics/trump-names-assistant-press-secretary-beni-rae-harmony/
Republicans are wary of the $200 million-plus price tag to save Ken Paxton Republicans are wary of the $200 million-plus price tag to save Ken PaxtonRepublicans know they have to spend big to save Ken Paxton. They're increasingly worried MAGA Inc. won't throw down in time.In private conversations over recent weeks, senior Hill Republicans and GOP officials have nudged President Donald Trump's team to start spending more on the Texas Senate race before it's too late, according to three people with direct knowledge of those conversations, who were granted anonymity to discuss them.Those fears escalated after audio leaked of Paxton privately trashing Trump's midterm convention, with some worrying it could impact whether MAGA Inc. continues spending after a current wave of GOP ad bookings run out Oct. 12.A Trump operative told POLITICO that MAGA Inc. and its affiliates are expected to spend near $45 million on direct mail, TV, and digital advertising in Texas through Oct. 12, an increase from its previous $20 million to boost Paxton. But they said the team is still assessing how much more money to send in the final weeks, in consultation with Senate Republicans and their top super PAC, the Senate Leadership Fund.The Trump operative, who like others in this article was granted anonymity to speak candidly, would not commit to any plans when asked by POLITICO.With national Democrats starting to finally spend for their Senate nominee, James Talarico, after months of holding off, and as polling of the race tightens, Republicans expect the cost of salvaging Paxton's campaign will only skyrocket. And, they've started to panic."It's a five-alarm fire, no doubt," one GOP senator said. "Can we put it out? I hope so.""This is a slow-moving car crash that we're witnessing right now," a Republican strategist in the state said. "And there's a 75% chance that the ultimate result here will be catastrophic from a GOP Senate majority standpoint."A fourth Republican, a national operative, spoke to the urgency factor: "While it's money we shouldn't have needed to spend, it needs to be spent now," said a national GOP operative, describing the state as more winnable than North Carolina, Georgia and potentially Ohio.Even with a massive war chest, Texas is turning into a huge money sink for the GOP that senators worry could hurt them in other tight races as they work to defend deep-red states and try to flip blue seats in Michigan and New Hampshire.Trump himself nodded to some of the concerns at a rally just across the Texas border in Oklahoma Thursday night, saying those voters aren't the ones he's concerned about."We're worried about Michigan. We're worried about Texas," he told the crowd. "We're worried about a few states."The president is scheduled to visit Texas again next week for a rally in San Antonio next Wednesday.SLF poured another $60 million into Texas on Wednesday, bringing its total expenditure there to a record-breaking $131 million. With the MAGA Inc. money and additional GOP ad reservations, the race is already on track to top $200 million from outside Republican groups hoping to save Paxton. Paxton's own campaign recently announced a $20 million ad buy - one of the largest single media investments in a Texas Senate race.Some Republicans want MAGA Inc. to take over spending for Paxton in Texas in the final few weeks, so SLF can focus its resources elsewhere. MAGA Inc. could also funnel money into SLF's recently established Texas PAC. But, according to two people with direct knowledge of that matter, that hasn't happened."At some point I think the people spending that money are going to have to make hard choices and figure out where the money can have the biggest impact, and certainly Texas is the most expensive," Sen. John Cornyn, who lost to Trump-backed Paxton in the primary, recently told POLITICO.SLF Executive Director Alex Latcham indicated to POLITICO the group will keep spending in Texas: "Senate Leadership Fund's investment through Texas PAC affirms our commitment to maintaining the Republican majority and defeating Far-Left liberals like James Talarico."But Republicans' money concerns have been complicated by Paxton himself. A growing number of GOP senators and top operatives have been stunned by what they described as unforced errors by the Texas Senate nominee. For example, he crossed one of the brightest red lines with Trump, telling a group of donors that "everybody's numbers dropped" after the president's GOP convention in Dallas last month, according to the audio leak reported by The New York Times."There seems to be very little strategy there," said another Republican senator, granted anonymity to candidly discuss the race. "Sometimes, I think [Paxton] wants to lose."The White House did not respond to a request for comment.Trump, while on his way to Texas to tour a motor facility on Thursday, told reporters he hadn't talked to Paxton about his convention comments. Later, he told a crowd in Texas that "Ken Paxton was at my side more than anybody, and I have to always remember that because he can be a pain in the ass sometimes. I'll be honest."Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) told reporters this week that he hadn't seen the audio of Paxton trashing Trump's convention. He acknowledged the stakes in his home state were high - and that the influx of cash is key."The reason that it is a serious race and a close race right now is that for several months the Democrats were massively outspending us," he said, "and I am glad now that we are seeing money invested in communicating with the voters."The White House has attempted to reassure concerned senators, with chief of staff Susie Wiles telling Senate Republicans this week that there will be enough money available for competitive races in the final stretch, according to two people with knowledge of the meeting.GOP operatives in both Michigan and New Hampshire said they feel that some of the cash being shoveled toward Texas should be going to their states instead. Most polls show Republicans running narrowly behind or neck and neck in both states, even though they hold a spending advantage on the airwaves there."We're focusing so much on 'we've got to put this money into Texas.' Why? We've never had a problem in Texas. Let's focus on taking back a seat we haven't had in years," said an ally of former Sen. John E. Sununu, who's in a tight race against Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas. "There are real chances in Michigan and New Hampshire," said the person, who was granted anonymity to speak candidly about the dynamics.Sununu's campaign did not respond to a request for comment.Latcham, who heads SLF, said that "Texas PAC is a dedicated effort that will not take resources from our other ongoing investments across the Senate map."Recent polling still shows the Texas Senate race with a razor-thin margin. Most public polling over the past two months shows Talarico with an edge, though Paxton's campaign released an internal poll Tuesday that shows Paxton leading by three points among likely voters, 48% to 45%."I don't think the needle has moved in the last month," said one Texas Republican elected official, granted anonymity to speak frankly. "Unless it's the worst polling that's ever been done in political history, all this spend hasn't changed anything, and I think people have made their mind up."Lisa Kashinsky, Samuel Benson, Alex Gangitano and Kelsey Brugger contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Politico at https://www.politico.com/news/2026/10/03/paxton-texas-senate-trump-gop-money-woes-01105707
Trump faces accusations of election interference as Brazil heads to the polls Trump faces accusations of election interference as Brazil heads to the pollsBrazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and U.S. President Donald Trump are seen in this combination of pictures created on Dec. 2, 2025. -Pablo Porciuncula, Andrew Caballero-Reynolds-Getty ImagesPresident Donald Trump on Thursday said he is following the upcoming Brazilian election "very closely," referring to Brazil as a "very important" country. "The people of Brazil are fantastic people," he told reporters outside the White House. "It's a very important election."The U.S. State Department later announced the suspension of its consular services in Brazil ahead of the election taking place on Sunday, citing unspecified security concerns. "U.S. citizens seeking emergency assistance during this time should not come to the Embassy, the Consulates, or other U.S. diplomatic facilities," the security alert advised.Brazilians are heading to the polls for a set of federal elections spanning congressional and gubernatorial races, alongside the first round of the presidential election votes. It's set to be a decisive moment for Latin America's largest nation, as the region has seen a shift toward the right in recent years. An Oct. 25 runoff is expected, as polls show a tight contest between leftist President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and far-right Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro, who was convicted last year for plotting a coup to overturn his 2022 election loss. Trump led the conservative voices denouncing the conviction, referring to the trial as a "witch hunt."While Trump has acknowledged his active interest as Brazil votes on its political future, there are concerns he could be too involved. Trump and his Administration have been accused of attempting to interfere with the high-stakes overseas election.In a letter sent to Secretary of State Marco Rubio in late September, Democratic lawmakers expressed "grave concern" over what they referred to as "the Administration's coordinated effort to threaten our strategic alliance with Brazil and undermine the Western Hemisphere's second-largest democracy ahead of its upcoming presidential election.""Over the course of President Trump's second term, we have seen U.S. officials engage in a sustained, multifaceted campaign of interference and destabilization in Brazil," the lawmakers said in the Sept. 24 letter, signed by 30 House Democrats and Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democratic Party.In another letter sent to Rubio on Monday, three Democratic Senators voiced similar concerns about potential U.S. interference."This effort first escalated sharply during the summer of 2025, with the [U.S.] Administration deploying tariffs and targeted sanctions to attempt to shape the Brazilian Supreme Court's verdict in the trial of former President Jair Bolsonaro on charges of attempting to foment a military coup to stay in power," said the Senators, noting that the tariff pressure escalated in July this year when the Trump Administration moved to impose a new 25% tariff on many imports from Brazil-a decision labeled a "lamentable milestone" by Lula's office.The Senators argued that the "campaign directed at Brazil's authorities resumed with the appointment of Darren Beattie as a senior advisor on Brazil issues in the State Department." Beattie served as a White House speech writer in Trump's first term, but was axed for attending a gathering of white supremacists. He returned to the fold early on in Trump's second term. When serving as undersecretary for public diplomacy and public affairs last year, he called one of Brazil's Supreme Court Judges a "key architect of the censorship and persecution complex directed against Bolsonaro and his supporters." Accusing the Trump Administration of using "diplomatic, economic, and political pressure in ways that risk weakening [Brazil's] democratic institutions [and] undermining confidence in Brazil's electoral process," the Senators closed the letter by asking the Administration to "commit to recognizing the certified outcome of Brazil's 2026 democratic elections."The White House has staunchly rejected claims of interference in Brazil's elections."Conservative leaders are winning elections across the Western Hemisphere on their own merit because everyone sees the success of President Trump's policies," said White House spokesperson Anna Kelly in a statement to TIME. "These claims are nonsense."President Lula has also expressed concern over Trump's interest in his country's election. "I have already told President Trump it is very important that the U.S. do not interfere in Brazil's elections," he said in a Sept. 22 interview. "Brazilian elections are the concern of the Brazilian people. American elections are the concern of the American people."Lula added that he is "very worried about Marco Rubio," claiming that the U.S. Secretary of State "is very closely connected to Bolsonaro's people," though he stressed that this was only "suspicion." TIME has reached out to the State Department for comment.
How the Trump Administration has been accused of meddling in Brazil's affairs
Trump has not formally endorsed either candidate in Brazil's presidential race, but his defense of former Brazilian President Bolsonaro, who was last year sentenced to 27 years in prison, is well documented.After Trump criticized the trial proceedings as a "terrible thing" in July 2025, the Trump Administration increased pressure on Brazil's government by imposing punishing 50% tariffs- extended in part due to Bolsonaro's treatment in the courts-and directing the office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to investigate trade relations with the country.The State Department added to the pressure later that same month, when Rubio called Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes' actions a "political witch hunt against Jair Bolsonaro" and announced visa restrictions on Moraes, unspecified judicial allies, and their immediate families.Feliciano de Sá Guimarães, an associate professor at the Institute of International Relations at the University of São Paulo, says Lula was able to turn the economic pressure into a political argument of his own."Lula realized that he could play [these threats] in his favor for electoral purposes," he says, explaining that Lula used the concept of "rally round the flag," meaning that once a country is targeted by another, "the incumbent President can rally the people and say, 'look our sovereignty is under attack.'"The theme of sovereignty has featured prominently in Lula's 2026 government manifesto, which points to Trump's tariffs as damaging the Brazilian economy.Guimarães says the U.S. Administration has since slightly altered its strategy, favoring an approach that could instead benefit Lula's opposition.Flávio Bolsonaromet with Trump, Rubio, and Vice President J.D. Vance at the White House in May. Trump later described the Brazilian lawmaker as a "smart young man, who loves his country very much." Shortly after that meeting, the U.S. Administration on May 28 designated Primeiro Comando da Capital and Comando Vermelho-two Brazilian gangs-as terrorist organizations, with Bolsonaro appearing to take credit for the move in the media.Guimarães says the issue may have resonated in Brazil due to public concerns about crime."Brazilians are so desperate with the situation of crime in the country that they are resorting to support any initiative, whether it's coming from the federal government or a foreign power to fix the problem," Guimarães explains, so the move could be seen to strengthen Bolsonaro's chances with the electorate.Economic pressure has continued as well. After ordering the USTR to investigate Brazil's trade practices last year, the office imposed 25% tariffs on the country in July under Section 301, for what it described as unfair trade practices.Other disputes have further heightened diplomatic tensions. At the end of July, Brazil denied visas to two U.S. State Department officials, accusing them of trying to interfere in the upcoming election. Shortly afterward, Brazilian Ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti had her U.S. visa revoked.
Is the Trump Administration influencing Latin America's rightward-turn?
Since returning to office, Trump has sought to exert U.S. influence more directly across Latin America.In November 2025, the Trump Administration released its National Security Strategy, which highlighted a return to U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere and the beginning of the implementation of the "Donroe Doctrine," an informal term for Trump's reinterpretation of the 19th-century Monroe Doctrine."The corollary of the 'Donroe Doctrine' is trying to stop the influence of extra regional powers in Latin America, mainly China," says Guimarães.Trump has also showcased his support for right-wing candidates across the region.In 2025, he endorsed close ally Javier Milei in Argentina's midterm elections and supported Tito Asfura to become the next President of Honduras.In June, he gave his "complete and total endorsement" to right-wing challenger Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia's June presidential election. (The Trump-backed populist went on to win the race.)In response to Trump's endorsement, House Democrats had sent a letter to Rubio expressing concern over what they said was "the brazen interference of senior U.S. officials, including President Trump" in Colombia's election. "This interference involves the full-throated endorsement of Abelardo de la Espriella, a candidate with a profoundly troubling record that appears to run counter to U.S. interests and potentially to U.S. laws," the lawmakers said.But perhaps one of the most significant displays of American power came when the U.S. military captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife during an overnight operation in January and brought them to New York to face narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges.Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela's acting president, has since adopted a friendlier posture toward the U.S. Administration, enabling access to the country's oil. In an interview with TIME conducted in late September, Trump heralded the operation in Venezuela as an "incredible" feat and one of the "great things" he's achieved in his presidency."The main reason the [U.S. Administration] will always prefer a right-winger more aligned with the United States, is so they can sell to domestic audiences that, at least in Latin America, Trump's policy is to some extent an effective foreign policy," Guimarães says.The State Department under Rubio's direction has been key in the Trump Administration's approach to Brazil, Guimarães says.He cites the creation of the Shield of Americas, a U.S.-led security and political coalition launched in March to fight drug cartels and transnational crime across the Western Hemisphere, as an example. Brazil has not joined the initiative.Guimarães calls it an "initiative launched by Rubio who wants to bring all Latin American countries under the yoke of the United States to fight organized crime," and argues that Lula's resistance could fuel Rubio's interest in seeing a right-wing government take power, as Bolsonaro has promised to integrate Brazil into the security initiative if he wins the presidential election.This article originally appeared on Time at https://time.com/article/2026/10/01/trump-brazil-election-interference-accusations-lula-bolsonaro-tensions/
