Morning Briefing · Monday, October 26, 2026
7 stories, five minutes, and what each one means for you.
The big story
Supreme Court Declines Lester Landrum's Federal Gun Case
The Supreme Court has declined to hear Lester Landrum's challenge over a gun kept in a Mississippi home and its link to interstate commerce. The Oct. 19 order list shows "certiorari denied" with no noted dissent and no explanation.
What it means for you
- The Supreme Court will not review Landrum's petition, No. 25-7530, so the question he raised goes unanswered in this case.
- Under the Scarborough standard as the column describes it, prosecutors need show only that a gun was at some time in interstate commerce.
Politics
Washington Supreme Court Candidates Raise $3.5 Million Ahead of Election
Candidates for five Washington Supreme Court seats have raised $3.5 million as of Oct. 23, more than the past six election cycles combined, according to state Public Disclosure Commission data. The Spokesman-Review described it as the most expensive judicial election in recent state history.
What it means: Five seats on the state's top court are on the ballot, so the result could change the makeup of the court.
Sanders Campaigns for Abdul el Sayed in Michigan, Attacks Trump
Sen. Bernie Sanders rallied in Grand Rapids on Oct. 25 for Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul el Sayed and sharply criticized President Donald Trump. Sanders made several accusations against Trump, which are his own claims and were not independently confirmed in the report.
What it means: If voters weigh the rally, they should note that the report carries only Sanders's side, with no response from Trump or Republicans.
What It Means: Alaska Suit Raises Questions on Federal Election Role
The Justice Department is asking a court to bar Alaska from certifying its Senate result in one narrow scenario, and Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the suit on Oct. 25. The case raises a question conservatives care about: how much power Washington should have over elections the states run.
What it means: If the race is close, the suit's hypothetical could come into play after the Nov. 3 count, with early voting already underway, per CNBC.
Your paycheck
Gas averages $4.29, diesel $6.35 nearly eight months into Iran war
The national average for regular gasoline stands at $4.29 a gallon, up from $2.98 before the war with Iran, according to a Seattle Times report. Diesel averages $6.35, as fuel costs weigh on households a week before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
What it means: Regular gasoline costs $1.31 more per gallon than before the war, based on the $4.29 and $2.98 averages.
Big Tech Earnings Test AI Spending as Borrowing Costs Stay High
Alphabet, Microsoft and Amazon report earnings this week as investors ask whether heavy AI spending is paying off. With interest rates high and inflation stubborn, the borrowing behind those bets costs more.
What it means: Inflation is expected to read 3.7% for September, well above the Fed's 2% target, so higher prices for gasoline, food and clothes are likely to persist for now.
Asian Shares Slip and Oil Falls After Wall Street Decline
Most Asian stock markets fell on Monday, Oct. 26, and oil prices dropped after climbing to their highest level in more than four years. Investors are waiting on big-company earnings, central bank decisions and a key inflation reading in the week ahead.
What it means: Inflation is stubbornly above 3% in the U.S., and the September PCE reading is expected at 3.7%.
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