Haley Stevens' stunning Senate endorsement

Plus: Press freedom under attack  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Richard Hall | November 02, 2026     Hello there. The closer we get to Election Day, the stranger things become. We start today with a stunning story of Democratic Representative Haley Stevens endorsing the Republican candidate for Senate, Mike Rogers, after a bitter public feud with her former primary opponent, Abdul El-Sayed. Stevens’ last-minute flip earned her the ire of Democratic Party leaders, both nationally and in Michigan. We’re also taking a look at two major defeats for the free press in Egypt and Russia last week, and President Donald Trump explains how he’d react to a Democratic victory in the midterms. IN TODAY’S BRIEF Haley Stevens’ pivot Trump’s triumphal arch The cabinet hits the campaign trail A blow for press freedom Musk’s midterms Mr Veto         READ THIS FIRST Trump invites Haley Stevens to join GOP after Democrats condemn her ‘betrayal’ Emily Elconin—Bloomberg/Getty Images President Donald Trump invited outgoing congresswoman Haley Stevens to join the Republican Party after she surprisingly endorsed her state’s GOP nominee for the U.S. Senate, Mike Rogers, over her partymate, Abdul El-Sayed, in a last-minute move her fellow Democrats have called a “betrayal.” “I don’t know Haley, I’ve never met Haley,” Trump said at a rally in Iowa on Sunday, the final weekend before the Nov. 3 midterm elections. “But Haley said what few people are willing to say. I think I’d probably—I’d love her to join the Republican Party actually.” The context:  Stevens’ shock announcement of an endorsement for the GOP candidate just days before Election Day could upend a tight race that may decide the fate of the upper chamber. A number of Democrats have shared their dismay and disappointment, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who criticized Stevens’ “despicable betrayal” and said that Senate Democrats were “united” in their support for El-Sayed. —Chad de Guzman Read the full story here.         SPONSORED BY THE MARKETING MILLENNIALS A free newsletter read by 117,000 marketers The best marketing ideas come from marketers who live it. That’s what The Marketing Millennials delivers: real insights, fresh takes, and no fluff. Written by Daniel Murray, a marketer who knows what works, this newsletter cuts through the noise so you can stop guessing and start winning. Subscribe and level up your marketing game. Sign Up Free         IN THE NEWS D.C. and Virginia join the fight to block Trump’s triumphal arch. Saul Loeb—AFP via Getty Images Washington, D.C., and Virginia sued the National Park Service and the Interior Department on Saturday in a last-minute bid to stop construction on President Donald Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch. The Trump Administration has said that construction could begin as early as next week. The new challenge joins two existing lawsuits against the arch, adding to a series of legal battles testing the limits of Trump’s authority to remake Washington. Calling the project “flagrantly unlawful,” the lawsuit points to the Commemorative Works Act, which requires congressional authorization for memorials on federal land in Washington and its environs. The lawsuit also alleges violations of the Administrative Procedure Act, the National Environmental Policy Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, arguing that the Administration failed to adequately assess the project’s effects and consult as required. “In their rush to break ground on the Arch, Defendants have made only half-hearted gestures at complying with these requirements,” the lawsuit filed by Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones and D.C. Attorney General Brian L. Schwalb, claims. “Perhaps recognizing that the project is legally indefensible, Defendants have made clear that they will attempt to outrun judicial review.” —Rebecca Schneid Read the full story here.         THE CONTEXT Top Trump officials are hitting the campaign trail. Is that legal? Kent Nishimura—AFP/Getty Images Top Trump Administration officials have taken to the campaign trail to boost Republican candidates ahead of the pivotal midterm elections as the party battles to retain control of Congress.  Cabinet members and other leading Trump officials have been wading into the midterms in these and other ways for months. In August, for instance, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers in Michigan. Legal experts and advocacy groups contend that in making such moves, members of the Administration have violated a decades-old law: the Hatch Act, passed by Congress in 1939, which places restrictions on certain political activities for federal executive branch employees. The Administration has argued that the officials have participated in political events in a strictly personal capacity, which is permitted under the Hatch Act, and that their actions have been cleared by lawyers and ethics officials. But several top Trump aides—including at least nine of his 15 Cabinet secretaries—have been hit with formal complaints that their actions have violated the law. “The number of Hatch Act violation complaints is extreme and abnormal for election time, especially for complaints against senior officials,” Kedric Payne, the head of ethics at the Campaign Legal Center, a legal nonprofit that has filed a complaint against the Trump Administration for using taxpayer money to fund political ads, tells TIME. —Connor Greene Read the full story here.         SPONSORED BY FINTECH TAKES The Free Newsletter Fintech and Finance Execs Actually Read Most coverage tells you what happened. Fintech Takes is the free newsletter that tells you why it matters. Each week, I break down the trends, deals, and regulatory shifts shaping the industry — minus the spin. Clear analysis, smart context, and a little humor so you actually enjoy reading it. Subscribe free. Sign Up Free         IN FOCUS Egypt and Russia silence two of their last independent newsrooms Roger Anis—Associated Press Last week in Egypt, the editor-in-chief of prominent online outlet Mada Masr, one of the few remaining independent news sites in the country, was convicted of operating an unlicensed website. Lina Attalah was released after approximately seven hours in custody, but the court ordered the website closed and its equipment confiscated. The same week, Russia’s Novaya Gazeta, an independent newspaper whose co-founder won the Nobel Peace Prize, announced it was shutting down after years of pressure from the Kremlin. The moves against the two outlets are the culmination of efforts by governments in both countries to stamp out what remains of a free press. Although their methods differed, both have dealt serious blows to independent journalism, and press freedom organizations are sounding the alarm. A statement signed by 119 civil society organizations and independent media outlets described Attalah’s prosecution as an “unprecedented attack on press freedom,” and an “escalation that threatens the future of the entire independent media, knowledge production, and civil society space in Egypt.” Mada Masr has faced arrests and attacks by the Egyptian government for years, and Attalah was named one of the world’s 100 most influential ​people by TIME in 2020. Attalah’s lawyers said she would appeal the decision, arguing that the site had applied for a license three times, most recently in 2023, and that application is still pending. Novaya Gazeta has also faced years of lawsuits, arrests, and seizures, as well as the murder of six of its journalists since it was founded in 1993, following the collapse of the Soviet Union. The newspaper is one of the few independent outlets in Russia. Its coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has brought a severe backlash from the Kremlin. In early September, the Justice Ministry added Novaya Gazeta to its “foreign agents” register. The newspaper said in a statement on Friday that it received an eviction for its Moscow office and the banks that helped it collect payments from readers stopped doing so. It blamed Russia’s security services for the moves. “They killed us,” the statement said. “This is a coordinated action. The banks’ excuses—that they are simply following internal corporate rules—will convince no one. The state’s repressive apparatus, officers of Russia’s Federal Security Service who have embedded themselves inside every organization, set these rules instead. They consider the country their own property,” it said, according to a translation by Meduza, another independent Russian media outlet based outside of the country. —Richard Hall         ONE NUMBER $445.6 million Elon Musk is reportedly the largest single donor in the 2026 midterm cycle. He has given $445.6 million to help elect Republicans, according to an updated tally by the New York Times—that’s three times as much as the next largest donors, Richard and Elizabeth Uihlein. SOURCE: NEW YORK TIMES         A VIRAL MOMENT Mr. Veto President Donald Trump offers some insight into how he would deal with a Democratic-controlled Congress if the opposition party wins both the House and Senate in the midterms.         SPONSORED BY ROKU Why are so many brands shifting ad spend to CTV? For marketers who want a presence in streaming, Roku is the obvious place to go. With 47% of all streaming time in the US, it has more reach than every competitor. Discover how Roku Ads Manager can spread your message across 100+ premium apps in a single, self-serve ad buy. Set up your campaign today.       Linked In this addictive word-association game, find the steps that will unite two seemingly unrelated words in just four moves. 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