The Morning Roundup – October 22, 2026

Less than two weeks before the midterms, the morning's news runs through Ohio. Vivek Ramaswamy's attack ad against Democrat Amy Acton, which features her estranged mother, has Trump defending it and Republican Gov. Mike DeWine condemning it. Also on the board: Trump praising a rallygoer who punched a protester in South Carolina, more turnover in the White House as the press secretary's five-day tenure and a top MAHA adviser's exit draw coverage, and Aipac pulling back from direct candidate endorsements. The left focuses on the fallout over the Ohio ad, Aipac's retreat and the cracks in the MAGA-MAHA coalition. The center sticks to what Trump said and did. The right is zeroed in on the press secretary drama inside the White House.

LEFT

Dana Bash (CNN) – “Why Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine’s condemnation of Vivek Ramaswamy’s attack ad could swing the race“

Bash and the Inside Politics panel break down Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine's condemnation of Vivek Ramaswamy's attack ad against Democrat Amy Acton, which features Acton's estranged mother. The panel weighs why criticism from DeWine, a Republican who has endorsed Ramaswamy as his successor, could swing the governor's race.

Alice Speri (The Guardian) – “Aipac halts candidate endorsements amid US backlash against Israel“

Speri reports that Aipac will stop endorsing candidates and making direct contributions to them, a reversal she frames as a sign of how sharply US opinion of Israel has shifted during the Gaza war. Critics call it an admission that the brand has become toxic, but the piece stresses that Aipac isn't leaving elections: its super PAC, United Democracy Project, and its donor networks will keep spending millions, including in Michigan's Senate race.

Sarah Owermohle and Adam Cancryn (CNN) – “MAHA adviser who introduced RFK Jr. to Trump quits admin amid frustrations over food policy“

Calley Means, the MAHA figure credited with introducing RFK Jr. to Trump, has resigned as a senior health official. People familiar with his decision say he was frustrated by stalled food policy, such as a definition of ultraprocessed foods, and by pushback from agriculture groups. The reporters cast his exit as the latest strain on the MAGA-MAHA alliance before the midterms, though Means himself praised Trump and Kennedy on his way out.

Charles P. Pierce (Esquire) – “When You’ve Got 6,000 State Senate Seats to Fill, You’re Occasionally Going to Elect a Homophobic Sauerkraut Salesman“

In his weekly tour of down-ballot races, Pierce mocks JD Vance's Ohio campaigning for Ramaswamy and highlights strange state legislative contests in California, Iowa and Oklahoma. His point is that with roughly 6,000 state legislative seats on the ballot, voters will inevitably elect some oddballs, and that state politics deserves more attention than it gets.

CENTER

Zac Anderson (USA TODAY) – “Trump defends controversial ad in Ohio governor's race“

Trump defended Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial ad in the Ohio governor's race, writing in an Oct. 22 social media post that the press was trying to convince people the ad was bad "because it's so good!" The piece covers the president leaning into an ad that has drawn criticism, including from within his own party.

USA TODAY – “Trump praises rallygoer for punching protester: 'I loved that'“

At a rally in South Carolina, President Trump praised an attendee who punched a protester, saying "I loved that." The report notes that several protests broke out within minutes of Trump taking the stage as the crowd cheered him on.

Mallory Wilson (The Hill) – “Trump laments NY horse drawn carriage ban“

Trump said Thursday that he is sad to see New York City's horse-drawn carriages go as the City Council prepares to pass a ban on them. It's a small story, but it's another case of the president weighing in on his hometown's local politics.

USA TODAY Staff (USA TODAY) – “Brawl breaks out in Albania’s parliament amid nationwide student protests“

This USA TODAY video shows a fight breaking out among lawmakers in Albania's parliament. The feed item frames it against a backdrop of nationwide student protests in the country.

AP (NewsNation) – “Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in ‘Picket Fences,’ ‘Alien,’ dies at 93“

Tom Skerritt, the Emmy-winning actor known for "Picket Fences," "Alien" and "Top Gun," has died at 93. His family said he died of natural causes.

RIGHT

Emily Goodin (New York Post) – “Karoline Leavitt drops 'brutal' verdict on Katie Zacharia's brief performance as WH press secretary“

Former press secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News the job "was not for" Katie Zacharia, who lasted five days as Trump's press secretary after a nervous first briefing. Zacharia's camp calls the criticism unfair and says she remains loyal and is avoiding interviews, while some in the administration admit she was given a rough start. The White House isn't expected to name a replacement before the midterms.

Hilary George (Page Six) – “Alix Earle pairs $72K diamond necklace with satin hot pants“

Influencer Alix Earle wore a $72,250 diamond and tourmaline necklace to launch her skincare brand Reale Actives in Toronto, then suited up in the Maple Leafs' locker room. The item also notes that the brand passed $1 million in sales within minutes of its US debut and recaps her split from Alex Cooper's Unwell Network.