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Midterm ad spending has surpassed a record $11 billion , according to Ad Impact. An NPR analysis found that candidates in four major Senate races spent more than $15 million on fundraising ads in the 2025-26 election cycle. Meanwhile, President Trump has been campaigning in tight races across states like Texas, Mississippi, and Kansas.
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Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., speaks during a campaign event on October 17, 2026 in Marietta, Georgia. Elijah Nouvelage/Getty Images hide caption
The election in Israel is too close to call after voters turned out in record numbers to decide whether to keep Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in office or oust him for an alternative. Netanyahu was in a tight race with his top rival Gadi Eisenkot, a center-right former military chief of staff. Final vote tallies may take time, and if no bloc secures a majority, it could take days or weeks for party leaders to form a governing coalition and determine the next prime minister.
The Federal Reserve typically combats inflation by raising interest rates. While prices are currently rising faster than average wages, investors don't expect a rate hike at today's meeting.
The Ebola outbreak has surpassed 10,000 people infected since its declaration in May , according to the latest figures from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This outbreak has spread faster than any in history . It is also the largest in geographic scope, spanning from Nigeria to Kenya, and is second in death toll with nearly 5,000 deaths. Around one-third of those who have died have been children.
The results of the 2026 midterm elections will shape the final two years of President Trump's second term and serve as a precursor to the 2028 general election. This month, Morning Edition is reporting from six states that could change the balance of power in Washington.