Morning Briefing · Wednesday, October 28, 2026
7 stories, five minutes, and what each one means for you.
The big story
Trump and Vance Campaign in Battleground States as Midterms Near
Congressional campaigns have less than a week left, according to a Washington Examiner report published Oct. 28, 2026, with control of the House and Senate at stake. Trump and Vance are working battleground states to boost Republican turnout, while Democrats are relying on Obama, Harris and Buttigieg.
What it means for you
- If the Examiner's account holds, the coming days are the last window for either party to win over voters before the midterms.
- Control of both the House and the Senate is at stake, according to the Washington Examiner.
Politics
Trump Faces Iran Choice as War Pressures Prices and Midterms
President Donald Trump said on Oct. 25 that he must choose between finishing the war with Iran and making a deal, with the war nearly eight months old. The choice comes as the war weighs on prices, on troops and on the midterm vote.
What it means: Trump told Fox News on Oct. 25 that he must choose between finishing the war and making a deal. USA Today reported he has suggested major operations could resume after the midterms.
Iran War Has Cost U.S. Military $47.1 Billion, Estimate Shows
U.S. Central Command told Congress the war in Iran had cost the U.S. military $47.1 billion as of Oct. 16, according to USA Today. The figure leaves out damage to U.S. bases, so the full cost is higher.
What it means: The $47.1 billion total leaves out damage to U.S. bases and facilities, so the final cost will be higher, according to USA Today.
Grand jury rejects DOJ bid to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, reports say
A federal grand jury in Washington rejected a Justice Department request to indict former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson over her 2022 testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee, according to The Washington Post. A DOJ lawyer told a judge in open court that a requested indictment was turned down, without naming her.
What it means: No indictment of Hutchinson has been returned, according to the reports.
Your paycheck
Fed Expected to Hold Interest Rates Despite Rising Inflation
The Federal Reserve is expected to leave interest rates unchanged on Oct. 28, according to the Associated Press, even though inflation has picked up in recent months. The decision comes as families face higher prices for gas, groceries and borrowing.
What it means: If mortgage rates stay near the three-year high of 7.4% reached earlier this month, home buying could remain expensive for many families, though AP says the rate has since slipped a bit.
Trump Announces Methane Rule Rollback at Lubbock Rally
President Donald Trump announced the proposed methane rule change on Oct. 27 at a campaign rally in Lubbock, Texas. He claimed it would save consumers and energy producers $45 billion.
What it means: The $45 billion savings figure is Trump's own claim. The reports did not say how it was calculated.
Trump Set to Announce Looser Methane Rules for Oil Drillers
President Donald Trump is expected to announce on Oct. 27 a proposal to ease a Biden-era limit on methane emissions from oil and gas drilling. The Associated Press says the change is meant to spur more drilling as the president draws criticism over fuel costs.
What it means: If the proposal does spur more drilling, as the AP says it is meant to, the effect on fuel prices is still unclear. The reports did not say whether prices would fall.
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