No verified sports results today. Back tomorrow.
The Young Global Citizen Daily
Saturday 31 October 2026 · No. 178
Top Story Midterms and Fuel
Trump Revives Two Cancelled Rallies as Fuel Prices Weigh on Midterm Voters
Trump Brings Back Two Rallies Before the Vote
Days before Tuesday's elections, the president reversed himself, while analysts warn that the cost of living could cost Republicans votes.
🧵 Follow the thread · 6 updates
US midterm elections
Selected reports · last 30 days · oldest → newest
12 Oct 2026 · Published report
Weeks Before the Midterms, Costs Weigh on Trump's Poll Numbers
A Reuters/Ipsos poll puts the president's approval at 32 percent, matching his lowest.
What changed? Our published coverage examined living costs and voter concerns before the midterms.
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
Earlier report · Published 12 Oct 2026
Weeks Before the Midterms, Costs Weigh on Trump's Poll Numbers
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
A Reuters/Ipsos poll puts the president's approval at 32 percent, matching his lowest.
On November 3 Americans vote for all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, 35 Senate seats and 39 governorships. Midterms fall halfway through a president's term and are often a verdict on the president.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll published on October 5 found Mr Trump's approval at 32 percent, matching the record low first reached in September. Asked what matters most, 52 percent named the cost of living. Among registered voters, 44 percent said they planned to vote for Democrats and 37 percent for Republicans.
Prices are also in the news from the pump: diesel averaged $6.28 a gallon, according to AAA, against $3.68 a year earlier. Mr Trump has blamed Ukraine for high diesel prices rather than the US-led war in Iran.
Why it matters
Congress writes the laws and approves spending, so who wins the midterms shapes what a president can do in his last two years. Polls are a snapshot, not a prediction of what happens on election day.
More to think about
Think like an analyst: the last two bars count registered voters only, while the first two may count everyone polled. Why might that matter? And what else, besides prices, could move voters before November 3?
For grown-ups: original sources
- https://forbes.com/sites/saradorn/2026/10/06/trumps-approval-rating-stagnates-at-record-low-32-in-latest-poll
- https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-09-21/exclusive-trump-approval-falls-to-career-low-of-32-as-high-costs-bite-reuters-ipsos-poll-finds
- https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/iran-war-trump-us-elections-saudi-arabia-yemen-houthis/
17 Oct 2026 · Published report
Three Weeks to the Midterms as Prices Weigh on Voters
All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot on November 3.
What changed? Our papers explained how the House and Senate elections can change control of Congress and the president’s room to legislate.
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
Earlier report · Published 17 Oct 2026
Three Weeks to the Midterms as Prices Weigh on Voters
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
All 435 House seats and 35 Senate seats are on the ballot on November 3.
Midterm elections are held halfway through a president’s four-year term. This year’s is on November 3, 2026. All 435 seats in the House of Representatives are up for election, along with 35 of the 100 Senate seats. The vote decides which party controls Congress.
Cost of living is a central worry. On October 14 the Labor Department reported consumer prices 3.7% higher than a year earlier, up from 3.4% in August, with gasoline the main driver, according to Reuters.
The Federal Reserve, the US central bank, meets October 27 and 28, and higher inflation puts pressure on it to raise its key interest rate.
Why it matters
Congress writes laws and controls federal spending, so the result affects what the president can do in his remaining two years.
More to think about
Why might a House with every seat up react faster to voters than a Senate where only 35 are up? How might rising prices change which issues voters care about?
23 Oct 2026 · Published report
Early Voting Surges in the Senate Battlegrounds
More than 13 million ballots are in, two weeks before the midterms.
What changed? Our coverage described early-voting increases in Senate battleground states, comparing participation with the same stage of the previous midterms.
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
Earlier report · Published 23 Oct 2026
Early Voting Surges in the Senate Battlegrounds
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
More than 13 million ballots are in, two weeks before the midterms.
On 3 November, Americans vote in the midterm elections for governors, state legislatures and Congress. An Associated Press analysis of early voting, using data through Tuesday, found that more than 13 million mail-in and early in-person votes had been cast. At the same point in 2022, the last midterms, the number was 9 million.
The jump is sharp in many states that will decide control of the Senate. Texas had nearly 1 million early ballots, up 74% from about 550,000. Kansas more than doubled, Maine rose 39%, and North Carolina and Ohio rose by 30% or more. Michigan and Georgia, whose Senate seats Democrats are defending, had high totals similar to 2022, while Iowa was down about 6%.
AP notes that part of the rise reflects states that expanded early voting and released more data. In most competitive states where Democrats are trying to flip Republican-held seats, Republicans were a smaller share of advance voters than four years ago. Texas does not report ballots by party.
Why it matters
Midterms decide who controls Congress, which writes the nation's laws. Early voting shows how engaged voters are, but it does not say who will win.
More to think about
Why might early votes not predict the result? What else could explain a rise in early voting besides more enthusiasm? What would you want to know about who is voting early?
24 Oct 2026 · Published report
Early Voting Surges Before the Midterms
More than 16 million Americans have already voted, mostly by mail.
What changed? Our older-reader coverage examined court decisions about voting rules close to Election Day and why the timing of changes matters.
The Global Citizen Plus · Ages 12–14
Earlier report · Published 24 Oct 2026
Early Voting Surges Before the Midterms
The Global Citizen Plus · Ages 12–14
More than 16 million Americans have already voted, mostly by mail.
On 3 November, Americans vote in the midterm elections. They are held halfway through a president's term, and they decide who sits in Congress, the group that makes the country's laws. Many people vote early, either by mail or in person, so that they do not have to wait for election day.
The University of Florida's Election Lab counts more than 16 million people in 41 states and Washington, D.C. who have already voted. About 10 million voted by mail and about 6 million in person. Early voting reached roughly 13 million on Tuesday, more than 40% above the same point in the 2022 midterms.
The Associated Press found huge surges in Kansas and Texas. Maine, North Carolina and Ohio each saw at least 30% more early voting than four years ago. In Georgia and Michigan the totals are, for now, similar to the last midterms. In Michigan, Democrat Abdul El-Sayed and Republican Mike Rogers debated in Detroit on Wednesday night and both focused on economic policy.
Why it matters
Midterms decide who makes the nation's laws. Early votes show how many people are taking part, but they do not show who will win.
More to think about
Why might more people vote by mail than in person? What would you want to know before treating early voting as a sign of the final result? Why might turnout rise in some states and not others?
For grown-ups: original sources
27 Oct 2026 · Published report
One Week Before the Midterms, Early Voting Spreads
Obama and Trump both campaigned in Michigan, and Fox News lists six Senate toss-ups.
What changed? Our report described the final week before 3 November: early voting opening in Washington DC, Oklahoma and Kentucky, and Fox News listing six Senate toss-ups, separate from any result.
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
Earlier report · Published 27 Oct 2026
One Week Before the Midterms, Early Voting Spreads
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
Obama and Trump both campaigned in Michigan, and Fox News lists six Senate toss-ups.
Election Day for the midterms, the vote halfway through a president's term, is 3 November. It decides whether Republicans keep control of the House and the Senate. Millions have already voted: AP data published on 17 October showed 6 million early votes across 39 states.
This week more states open early voting. It starts in Washington DC on Monday, in Oklahoma on Wednesday and in Kentucky on Thursday. Barack Obama rallied in Cleveland and Detroit on Saturday, and Donald Trump campaigned with Republican Mike Rogers in Port Huron, Michigan, on Sunday.
Fox News lists Alaska, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, Ohio and Texas as toss-up Senate states. Its Power Rankings predict Republicans would still lose the House even with a good showing.
Why it matters
Midterms decide who writes the laws and budgets that affect families, from fuel costs to schools.
More to think about
Why might early voting numbers be hard to read as a sign of who will win? What does it tell you that both parties are campaigning in Michigan? Why do the toss-up states matter more than the others?
31 Oct 2026 · Published report
Trump Revives Two Cancelled Rallies as Fuel Prices Weigh on Midterm Voters
Days before Tuesday's elections, the president reversed himself, while analysts warn that the cost of living could cost Republicans votes.
What changed? After announcing on 29 October that he would cancel rallies in Kansas and Iowa, Trump reversed course on 30 October; both are now set for Sunday, ahead of the 3 November midterms.
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
Earlier report · Published 31 Oct 2026
Trump Revives Two Cancelled Rallies as Fuel Prices Weigh on Midterm Voters
The Young Global Citizen Daily · Ages 12–14
Days before Tuesday's elections, the president reversed himself, while analysts warn that the cost of living could cost Republicans votes.
For many American families, the price at the gas pump is now part of the election. Voters choose a new Congress in the midterm elections on Tuesday 3 November, and President Trump has just rewritten his closing schedule. On 29 October he said he was cancelling his rallies in Kansas and Iowa. One day later, a source close to the administration said he would speak at both, in person, on Sunday.
Why would a rally in Kansas matter so much? The state has gone without a Democratic senator in a full term since 1932, which makes it a hard place for that party. Even so, an Emerson College poll found Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, at 49% against 45% for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. A single poll samples only some voters, so it hints at a close race rather than a result. The new schedule also leans harder on “tele-rallies”, in which Trump appears by video.
The pump is the reason analysts see risk for his party. They warn that Republicans could be punished over the cost of living, since fuel costs more than normal because of the US-Israel war on Iran. The global oil benchmark, Brent crude, briefly rose above $117 a barrel on Friday. That is its highest level since April and more than 60% above where it stood before the war.
Oil helps set what families pay for fuel, shipping and many everyday goods. Nobody can yet say how many voters will let prices decide.
Why it matters
Midterm elections decide who controls Congress, and the price of fuel is something every family feels. When prices rise, voters may judge leaders by what they pay, so an oil shock far away can become a ballot-box story at home.
6 of 6
More background: the story so far →
For many American families, the price at the gas pump is now part of the election. Voters choose a new Congress in the midterm elections on Tuesday 3 November, and President Trump has just rewritten his closing schedule. On 29 October he said he was cancelling his rallies in Kansas and Iowa. One day later, a source close to the administration said he would speak at both, in person, on Sunday.
Why would a rally in Kansas matter so much? The state has gone without a Democratic senator in a full term since 1932, which makes it a hard place for that party. Even so, an Emerson College poll found Democrat Adam Hamilton, a megachurch pastor, at 49% against 45% for Republican Sen. Roger Marshall. A single poll samples only some voters, so it hints at a close race rather than a result. The new schedule also leans harder on “tele-rallies”, in which Trump appears by video.
The pump is the reason analysts see risk for his party. They warn that Republicans could be punished over the cost of living, since fuel costs more than normal because of the US-Israel war on Iran. The global oil benchmark, Brent crude, briefly rose above $117 a barrel on Friday. That is its highest level since April and more than 60% above where it stood before the war.
Oil helps set what families pay for fuel, shipping and many everyday goods. Nobody can yet say how many voters will let prices decide.
Americans vote on Tuesday 3 November. These are the midterm elections. They decide who controls Congress.
President Trump said on 29 October that he would cancel rallies in Kansas and Iowa. The next day, a source close to the administration said he would go to both on Sunday after all. There will also be more tele-rallies. In these, he joins virtually.
Experts say fuel prices are a worry for Republicans. Fuel costs more than normal because of the war on Iran. Brent crude, a main oil price, briefly topped $117 a barrel on Friday. When fuel costs more, families feel it.
World Uk Budget
Britain's New Chancellor Offers Energy Help and Taxes Bank Profits
Britain's Budget Helps With Energy Bills
Healey's first budget gives households a one-off payment, while a weaker growth forecast limits how much he can spend.
A budget is a government's yearly plan for what it will tax and spend, and Britain's came on 28 October. Chancellor John Healey delivered it as the first of Prime Minister Andy Burnham's government. Burnham replaced Keir Starmer in July. The mood in the room was shaped by something far from London: gas and electricity prices are rising, largely because of the Middle East conflict.
That is why the headline measure is help with bills. A one-off payment of 100 pounds goes to 20 million households. Fixed fees on gas bills will be removed, and the freeze on fuel duty, a tax on petrol and diesel, will be extended.
To pay for some of it, Labour will double the surcharge on bank profits to 6% for 15 months from January. The Office for Budget Responsibility, the official forecaster, estimates this will raise 1.5 billion pounds. Healey said “Fiscal discipline is my first commitment” and kept the fiscal rules set by Rachel Reeves, which require day-to-day spending to be covered by tax receipts.
Yet the room for manoeuvre is shrinking. Growth is forecast at 1.2% this year and 1.0% in 2027, worse than expected for 2027 because of the Middle East war. Fiscal headroom for 2029-2030, the cushion before the rules are broken, falls to 15 billion pounds from 23.6 billion in March, as higher borrowing costs raise debt repayments. Healey also pledged to lift defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Burnham of delaying hard decisions, and he ruled out a snap election next year.
A budget is a government's plan for taxes and spending. Britain's came on 28 October. The new chancellor, John Healey, gave it.
Gas and electricity prices are rising, mostly because of the conflict in the Middle East. So every one of 20 million households will get a one-off payment of 100 pounds. Fixed fees on gas bills will be removed.
The government will also double a surcharge on bank profits to 6% for 15 months from January. Growth is forecast at 1.2% this year. That is lower than hoped for 2027, because of the war.
🗺️ Where in the world?
For grown-ups: sources
India Cyclone Arnab
After Arnab, Andhra Pradesh Counts Its Losses and Credits Early Warnings
Cyclone Arnab Leaves Damage in Andhra Pradesh
The chief minister puts preliminary damage at Rs 4,600 crore; evacuations of tens of thousands helped limit the harm.
Think of a cyclone in two halves: the days before it arrives and the days after. Arnab reached the Andhra Pradesh coast near Yanam on Wednesday 28 October, rated by the India Meteorological Department as a very severe storm, with gusts of up to 150 km/h. It lost strength within hours.
The first half is why the toll was not higher. About 50,000 people in Andhra Pradesh and about 48,000 in Odisha were asked to leave for safer ground, and at least 609 schools became shelters. A Kakinada resident named Sadiq said the alerts gave people time to get ready.
The second half is still being tallied. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu estimates the early loss at Rs 4,600 crore and says at least seven people died. Paddy fields were hit hardest, with crops on about 70,900 hectares damaged, and power failed in nearly 400 villages.
Cyclone Arnab hit the coast of Andhra Pradesh on 28 October. It was a very severe storm. Its gusts reached up to 150 km/h.
Before it arrived, about 50,000 people in Andhra Pradesh and about 48,000 in Odisha were told to move to safer places. At least 609 schools became shelters. A man named Sadiq said the warnings helped people prepare.
The chief minister says the damage is about Rs 4,600 crore. He says at least seven people died. Crops on about 70,900 hectares were damaged. Power was cut in nearly 400 villages.
🗺️ Where in the world?
Did you know?
Midterm elections get their name because they fall in the middle of a president's four-year term.
United States The Fed
The Fed Holds Interest Rates, but Two Officials Wanted a Rise
The Fed Keeps Interest Rates the Same
With inflation climbing because of energy prices, borrowing costs for families may rise before the year ends.
US ANNUAL INFLATION Percent, August and September
The Federal Reserve, the central bank that sets America's benchmark interest rate, decided to leave it alone on 28 October. It kept the rate at 3.75-4%, in a 10-2 vote. Interest rates set the price of borrowing, so they flow through to mortgages, car loans and credit cards.
The two votes against were not for staying put but for going higher. Governor Lisa Cook and Beth Hammack of the Cleveland Fed voted to raise rates by a quarter percentage point. Their worry is inflation, the rate at which prices rise. US annual inflation rose to 3.7% in September from 3.4% in August, with energy prices largely accounting for the surge. That links the Fed's room to the oil story playing out in the Gulf.
The Fed has already moved once this autumn. It raised rates in September, its first increase since July 2023. Policymakers are widely expected to raise them again at their next meeting on 8-9 December.
The Federal Reserve is America's central bank. On 28 October it kept its main interest rate at 3.75-4%. Ten officials voted yes and two voted no.
The two wanted the rate to go up a little. Inflation is how fast prices rise. It went up to 3.7% in September from 3.4% in August. Energy prices were the main reason.
Interest rates change what it costs to borrow money for things like homes and cars. Experts expect the Fed to raise rates at its next meeting on 8-9 December.
🗺️ Where in the world?
For grown-ups: sources
Sport
SPORTS CORNER: A QUIET DAY
In brief
More news
- Canada: Carney and EU leaders, meeting in Montreal, launched an Alliance for the Future, and Canada said it would join the EU's 90 billion euro support loan for Kyiv.
- Brazil: Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva won the 25 October runoff with about 51.75% of the vote, and rival Flavio Bolsonaro has not conceded.
New words
Words from this issue
- Midterm elections
- Elections held partway through a president's term that decide who controls Congress. Today: Americans vote in them on Tuesday 3 November.
- Brent crude
- A widely used global benchmark price for a barrel of oil. Today: it briefly topped $117 on Friday.
- Surcharge
- An extra charge added on top of a normal one. Today: Britain will double its surcharge on bank profits to 6%.
- Inflation
- The rate at which prices rise. Today: US inflation rose to 3.7% in September from 3.4% in August.
You read today's paper! 🎉
Ready for a game?