The Morning Roundup – October 26, 2026

Good morning from The Monolith Media. With the midterms days away, today’s coverage is dominated by the Senate battlegrounds: Trump and Obama dueling in Michigan, an AI attack ad shaking up the Texas Senate race, and a two-Dan-Sullivan ballot in Alaska that could end up in court. Also in the mix: Trump weighing moving reporters out of the White House briefing room, oil markets on edge over Saudi threats, and Elon Musk’s defense of restricting Starlink in Ukraine. The center is tracking the campaign trail race by race, the left is focused on the Starlink fight, and the right is spotlighting the DSA’s move against a Democrat in the Trump administration.

LEFT

NBC News (TODAY) – “Elon Musk Claims Ukraine Broke Starlink's Terms of Service”

Elon Musk is addressing the controversial disruption of Starlink service in Ukraine, saying the Ukrainian military violated the company's terms of service by using it in combat operations that led to deaths in Russia. Musk says that violation prompted restricted access to the satellite internet service.

CENTER

Mills Hayes (NewsNation) – “Trump, Obama campaign for rival Senate candidates in Michigan”

Donald Trump and Barack Obama took competing messages to Michigan voters as one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races heads toward Election Day. The dueling appearances underscore how central Michigan has become to the fight for Senate control.

Mills Hayes and Josie Fischels (NewsNation) – “El-Sayed slams Trump's Canada tariff cuts as 'arbitrary' midterms ploy”

Trump signed a proclamation Friday removing some Canadian products from the 50% tariffs he imposed in August while adding others. Michigan Democrat Abdul El-Sayed calls the changes arbitrary and casts them as a play for midterm votes in a race that also involves Republican Mike Rogers.

Justin Walker and Tatiana Carter (NewsNation) – “Alaska's two Dan Sullivans on ballot could lead to lawsuits, Dershowitz says”

Two candidates named Dan Sullivan appear on Alaska's ballot in the Senate race involving Mary Peltola, and Alan Dershowitz says the confusion could spark legal challenges. As the piece notes, a court fight likely can't begin until the votes are counted.

Xavier Walton (NewsNation) – “Will AI attack ads backfire on candidates in Texas Senate race?”

Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton released an AI-generated attack ad depicting Democrat James Talarico defacing the Bible. The piece asks whether synthetic attack ads like this could backfire on the candidates who run them.

Finya Swai, The Hill (NewsNation) – “Abbott links Hinojosa to Sharia law in Texas governor race”

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott criticized Democratic challenger Gina Hinojosa over an endorsement from CAIR, tying her to Sharia law. The attack is a sign of how sharp the Texas governor's race has become in its final stretch.

Dylan Furbay (NewsNation) – “Texas agriculture commissioner: GOP could pay price for data center push”

Texas's agriculture commissioner, a longtime Trump supporter, warns that rising costs, the data center buildout, and frustration in farm country could hurt Republicans at the ballot box. It's a notable intra-party warning heading into the midterms.

Mira Bhakta, The Hill (NewsNation) – “Trump confirms he is thinking about moving reporters out of White House briefing room”

President Trump confirmed he is considering moving reporters out of the White House briefing room. He wrote that he would use the press room's location for what he called very badly needed space.

Mira Bhakta, The Hill (NewsNation) – “Nicki Minaj tells Trump she'll support him if he runs again”

At a Michigan rally, Nicki Minaj told Trump she would support him if he runs again. She praised his work ethic, saying he wakes up at 4 a.m. and outworks people half his age.

TIPP Insights – “Saudi Oil Threats Keep Markets On Edge As Prices Slide”

Oil prices slid even as Saudi threats kept markets on edge, with U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude down 2.19% to $101 a barrel and Brent down 1.89% to $114.51. Prices remain elevated despite the day's decline.

Joe Klein (Substack) – “The Grand Alex Sanders”

Joe Klein remembers his friend Alex Sanders, who died last week in his sleep, as a politician who embodied what Klein believes the country has lost. He describes Sanders as gracious, brilliant, hilarious, tolerant, gentle, and the greatest storyteller he ever met.

USA TODAY – “Sean Hannity, Ainsley Earhardt marry with Fox News colleagues present”

Fox News hosts Sean Hannity and Ainsley Earhardt have married in Palm Beach, Florida, with Fox News colleagues in attendance, according to this USA TODAY video report.

RIGHT

Carl Campanile (New York Post) – “Exclusive | DSA targets popular lone Dem serving as critical agency chief in Trump admin.”

The Post reports that the Democratic Socialists of America are targeting NTSB Chairwoman Jennifer Homendy, described as the lone Democrat leading a critical agency in the Trump administration. The piece frames the move as the left turning on one of its own.

Sarah Jones (Page Six) – “Exclusive | Abby Lee Miller and Cathy Nesbitt-Stein reignite 'Dance Moms' rivalry on new show 'Hit the 8'”

Page Six reports that former 'Dance Moms' rivals Abby Lee Miller and Cathy Nesbitt-Stein are reigniting their feud on a new show called 'Hit the 8'.

Riley Cardoza (Page Six) – “Jack Antonoff reveals how he feels performing songs about ex Margaret Qualley in rare comment about split”

Jack Antonoff made a rare comment about his split from Margaret Qualley, discussing how he feels performing songs written about her.