Balm — Friday, October 30, 2026 AM

Pope Leo XIV Votes by Mail in U.S. Midterm Elections, a First for Any Sitting Pontiff

Pope Leo XIV, born in Chicago, submitted a mail-in ballot for the Illinois midterm elections, becoming the first sitting pope known to have voted in any political election in history. The Vatican confirmed the vote. Pope Leo XIV has cast a mail-in ballot in the 2026 United States midterm elections, voting in Illinois, where he was born in Chicago before becoming a priest and eventually rising to the papacy. The Vatican confirmed the vote, making him the first sitting pontiff known in history to have cast a ballot in any political election. Popes historically hold citizenship in Vatican City, a sovereign state, but Leo XIV retains his American citizenship, which entitled him to participate in U.S. elections. The pope has had a publicly noted tension with President Donald Trump on several policy matters, though the Vatican did not disclose how Leo voted or for which candidates. The midterm elections, taking place in early November, will determine control of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate. The act carries both historical and symbolic weight: no previous pope has been documented voting in any national election, reflecting the traditionally apolitical stance of the Holy See. Leo XIV's decision is particularly notable given the Catholic Church's significant influence among American voters and his public profile on issues including immigration, poverty, and international conflict.

U.S. Midterm Elections Five Days Out: Early Voting Surges, Both Parties Face Uncertainty

Early voting in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections is significantly outpacing 2022 totals, with sharp increases in competitive Senate states. Both parties face consequential outcomes as control of the House and Senate remains contested. With five days remaining before Election Day on November 4, early voting in the 2026 U.S. midterm elections is running substantially ahead of the pace set in the last midterm cycle. An Associated Press analysis of voting data shows particularly sharp increases in states hosting competitive Senate races, suggesting elevated voter engagement on both sides. Democrats are seeking to reclaim majorities in the House and Senate, having been in the minority since the 2024 elections. Republicans, defending their narrow congressional majorities, face difficult terrain in several states that had previously been considered safe. The outcome of the elections will shape the final two years of President Trump's term, affecting his ability to pass legislation and conduct oversight-free executive action. Climate and energy policy, immigration, healthcare, and economic affordability are among the leading issues identified by voters. Prediction markets and polling trackers have shown volatile signals in competitive races, and analysts note that the accuracy of such tools in forecasting midterm elections remains an open question. Both parties are in the final stretch of campaign spending and candidate scheduling, with Trump reversing earlier decisions to cancel rallies in Iowa and Kansas as those races tightened. The elections will also decide dozens of governorships and state legislative seats, which carry implications for redistricting and state-level policy.

Trump Administration Rolls Back Proposed Kratom Opioid Restrictions Following Industry Lobbying

Federal health officials reversed a proposed ban on certain opioid-level substances in kratom products after lobbying by the kratom industry. The rollback allows some levels of the substance to remain in products marketed as natural supplements. The Trump administration reversed an earlier proposal to restrict powerful opioid-like substances found in kratom products, following lobbying by the kratom industry. Under the revised position, some levels of the substance will be permitted to remain in products that are marketed as natural supplements, rather than subjected to the stricter regulatory controls that had been proposed. Kratom is a plant-derived product sold in stores and online, commonly marketed for pain relief and mood enhancement, and has been the subject of ongoing regulatory debate due to its opioid-like effects and association with dependence and adverse health events. Reporting noted that the policy change could benefit a Republican donor facing wrongful death lawsuits related to kratom products. The FDA has previously warned consumers about the risks associated with kratom use. The reversal represents a significant shift in the administration's approach to regulating the substance.

The New York Times

Alaska Senate Race Entangled in Spoiler Candidate Investigation as Election Approaches

Alaska's governor ordered an investigation into allegations that a second candidate with the same name as Republican Senator Dan Sullivan was recruited to appear on the Senate ballot as a spoiler. The Justice Department has escalated a parallel criminal investigation, issuing grand jury subpoenas. Democratic candidate Mary Peltola denied any knowledge of the alleged scheme. Alaska's governor ordered a state-level investigation into allegations that individuals recruited a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to appear on the Senate ballot alongside Republican incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan, with the apparent intent of confusing voters. Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system, and the presence of a similarly named candidate could affect how ballots are cast and counted. The Justice Department separately escalated a criminal investigation into the matter, issuing grand jury subpoenas. Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola stated publicly that she had no knowledge of any such effort. Senator Sullivan said he did not find her denial credible. The race is considered competitive heading into Election Day, which adds significance to any factor that could affect vote counts. The allegations, if substantiated, would represent a coordinated attempt to manipulate an election outcome through ballot confusion rather than through standard campaign activity.

DOJ Awards Nearly $300 Million to Four Cities for Violent Crime Reduction Initiative

The Department of Justice awarded nearly $300 million to Jacksonville, Baton Rouge, Jackson, and St. Louis through its Model Cities Initiative to fund violent crime reduction efforts. The Department of Justice announced that four U.S. cities — Jacksonville, Florida; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Jackson, Mississippi; and St. Louis, Missouri — will share nearly $300 million in federal funding through the DOJ's Model Cities Initiative. The program is designed to support violent crime reduction efforts in participating cities. The announcement represents one of the larger single federal crime-focused funding allocations in recent years. Details on how each city plans to deploy the funds were not included in the available source material.

Trump Administration Plans to Deport Dozens of Afghans to Afghanistan via Pakistan

The Trump administration is preparing to fly Afghan immigrants from Louisiana to Pakistan, where they are expected to be transferred across the border into Afghanistan, despite documented risks of persecution for some deportees. The Trump administration is planning to deport a group of Afghan immigrants currently held in Louisiana by flying them to Pakistan, from which they are expected to be expelled into Afghanistan. Human rights advocates and refugee organizations have raised concerns that some individuals subject to deportation face credible risks of persecution if returned to Afghanistan under Taliban rule, particularly those who worked with the U.S. government or military during the two-decade American presence there. The deportation route through Pakistan reflects the absence of a direct U.S.-Afghanistan deportation arrangement. Reporting did not specify the exact number of individuals on the planned flight or the legal proceedings, if any, that preceded the deportations. The move is part of a broader administration policy of expanding deportations to include nationals of countries with limited or no prior deportation agreements with the United States.

The New York Times

Supreme Court November Arguments Begin; Groups Seek to Maintain Border Wall Construction Halt

The Supreme Court's November argument session opens Monday. Separately, advocacy groups have asked the court to leave in place a lower court order halting border wall construction in southwestern Texas. The Supreme Court begins its November oral argument session on Monday. In a related development, advocacy groups have filed an application asking the court to keep a lower court injunction in place that is currently blocking border wall construction in southwestern Texas. The administration has been seeking to proceed with construction in that area, and the case reflects ongoing litigation over the scope of executive authority to build border infrastructure. The November session also includes arguments on criminal law questions and a religious discrimination challenge brought by Catholic preschools in Colorado. The court's term will address a range of significant legal questions with implications for immigration policy, religious liberty, and criminal procedure.

Israel Election Results Leave No Clear Majority; Coalition Negotiations Begin

Final results from Israel's election show Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc fell short of a parliamentary majority, with Arab-led parties reaching a record 19 seats, leaving the path to government formation uncertain. Israel's election results have confirmed that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allied parties did not secure enough seats to form a governing majority in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Netanyahu's bloc is reported to have won approximately 53 seats, short of the 61 needed for a majority. Arab-led parties made historic gains, reaching approximately 19 seats, and their performance has emerged as a significant factor in what will now be complex coalition negotiations. Netanyahu made public allegations of fraud related to Arab voter turnout, claims that have not been substantiated by election authorities. His longtime ultra-Orthodox coalition partners are reportedly exploring whether to break with him and support opposition figures, including Gadi Eisenkot, though no formal moves have been confirmed. The opposition, combining various factions including Arab-led parties, could theoretically assemble a bloc of around 67 seats, though translating that into a stable governing coalition would require agreement among parties with sharply differing positions on security, religion, and Palestinian statehood. Analysts note that neither leading candidate, Netanyahu or Eisenkot, has proposed substantially different approaches to Israel's military posture or the question of a Palestinian state. Weeks of difficult negotiations are expected before any government can be formed. For the United States, the outcome carries significance given Israel's role as a close ally, its ongoing military operations in Gaza and Lebanon, and the diplomatic status of any future Israeli government.

Novaya Gazeta, Russia's Prominent Independent Newspaper, Announces Permanent Closure

Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's most prominent independent news outlets, announced it will permanently close next month after losing its newsroom and donation platforms under sustained government pressure. Novaya Gazeta, one of Russia's best-known independent newspapers with a history spanning more than three decades, announced it will permanently cease publication next month. The newspaper cited what it described as intolerable pressure from Russian authorities, including being stripped of its physical newsroom and having its donation and funding platforms blocked. The outlet's former editor-in-chief, Dmitry Muratov, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2021, in part for Novaya Gazeta's journalism in conditions of growing press restrictions. The closure marks a significant moment in the ongoing contraction of independent media inside Russia, which has accelerated since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. International press freedom organizations have documented a sharp decline in the number of independent Russian-language outlets operating inside the country. The newspaper described the situation as part of a broader systematic suppression of civil society in Russia.

Tech Stocks Fall as AI Infrastructure Spending Weighs on Investor Confidence

Shares in major technology companies declined sharply as investors grew concerned about the scale of spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure. Intel's stock fell roughly 20% after reporting that the AI boom had hurt sales to personal computer makers. A broad selloff in technology stocks was driven by growing investor concern over the mounting costs of artificial intelligence infrastructure buildout at major U.S. technology companies. Amazon, among the latest large tech firms to report earnings, announced continued and expanding capital investments in AI data centers, adding to similar announcements from other major players. Intel reported that the rapid growth in AI-focused hardware had, paradoxically, hurt its core business supplying chips to personal computer manufacturers, as customers redirected purchasing toward AI-specific chips made by competitors. Intel's shares fell approximately 20% following the earnings report. The tech-heavy Nasdaq composite index fell to its lowest level in more than two months during the same period. Analysts note that while companies are betting large sums on AI becoming a dominant future business, the return on that spending remains unproven, creating uncertainty about whether the investment cycle will pay off. The situation was compounded by the $6.3 billion Binance cryptocurrency hack, which added to negative sentiment across the broader technology and digital asset sector.

Oil Company Profits Reach Multi-Year Highs as Iran War Drives Energy Prices Up

BP reported an 18-year profit high of $8.46 billion for the quarter. U.S. oil industry profits exceeded $130 billion during the same period, nearly three times the comparable 2025 figure, driven by elevated oil and gas prices linked to the conflict with Iran. BP reported quarterly underlying profits of $8.46 billion, the company's highest in 18 years, attributing the result primarily to elevated oil refining margins driven by the ongoing conflict involving Iran, which has significantly affected global energy markets. Separately, U.S. oil industry profits for the same period exceeded $130 billion in aggregate, according to reporting based on earnings data — roughly three times the profit recorded by the same sector in the comparable quarter of 2025. The sharp rise in energy company earnings has drawn criticism from labor and consumer groups who argue that households and businesses are bearing higher energy costs while producers benefit. The war's impact on global oil supply chains and pricing has raised concerns about energy affordability heading into winter, particularly for families who rely on heating oil, where bills could be substantially higher than last year. The U.S. Federal Reserve and economic analysts are monitoring energy price inflation as a factor that may complicate the broader inflation picture.

Federal Reserve Holds Interest Rates Steady at Latest FOMC Meeting

The Federal Reserve issued a statement following its most recent Federal Open Market Committee meeting. The statement reflects the committee's current monetary policy position. The Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee issued its policy statement following its most recent scheduled meeting, maintaining its current interest rate stance. The Fed's rate decisions are closely watched by consumers and businesses because they influence borrowing costs for mortgages, car loans, credit cards, and business financing. No additional detail was available in the source beyond the issuance of the statement.

Federal Reserve

FDA Removes Black-Box Warnings From Three Additional Menopause Patch Treatments

The FDA removed black-box warnings about cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and dementia from three additional menopause hormone patches, acting without convening an advisory committee and providing limited public explanation of the scientific basis for the decision. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that three additional patches used to treat menopause symptoms will no longer carry black-box warnings — the most serious warning label the agency applies — related to risks of cardiovascular disease, breast cancer, and dementia. The FDA did not convene an expert advisory committee before making the change and offered limited public disclosure of the scientific reasoning behind the decision, according to reporting on the announcement. This follows at least one prior instance of the agency bypassing its standard advisory review process for menopause-related treatments. Black-box warnings are intended to alert prescribers and patients to serious or life-threatening risks identified in clinical evidence. Critics of the move have questioned whether removing the warnings without a full advisory review adequately protects patients. Proponents of removing the warnings have argued that the original labels overstated risks based on outdated or misapplied research. The specific brand names of the affected patches were not identified in the available source material.

The Guardian

HHS Secretary Kennedy Authorizes Broad Use of Unapproved Peptide Injections, Overriding FDA Guidance

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unilaterally authorized widespread availability of several unapproved peptide injections promoted by online influencers, a move the FDA had advised against. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. issued a unilateral declaration making several unapproved peptide injections broadly available, overriding the Food and Drug Administration's guidance recommending against the move. The peptide injections at issue have been promoted by online health influencers and are not FDA-approved drugs, meaning they have not completed the agency's standard review process for safety and efficacy. The FDA had previously flagged concerns about their widespread use. The decision allows the injections to circulate more widely without the regulatory review ordinarily required for medical treatments. Critics within the medical and regulatory community have raised concerns about patient safety when unapproved substances are made widely available without adequate evidence of their effects. The specific peptide injections affected by the declaration were not individually named in the available source material.

The New York Times

Binance Cryptocurrency Exchange Loses $6.3 Billion in Apparent Hack; North Korea Suspected

Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange, reported approximately $6.3 billion was taken in what analysts describe as likely the largest crypto theft on record. Multiple blockchain intelligence firms identified North Korea as the probable actor. Binance said it would cover all customer losses. Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, disclosed that approximately $6.3 billion was affected in what it described as a security incident. The company temporarily suspended withdrawals and said it had frozen about $3 billion of the affected assets. Binance stated that all customer losses would be covered, though the company did not immediately confirm the full extent of funds taken at the time of initial disclosure. Multiple blockchain intelligence and cybersecurity firms have attributed the theft to North Korea, specifically identifying its state-affiliated hacking operations as the likely actor, though this has not been formally confirmed by law enforcement. North Korea has a documented history of state-sponsored cryptocurrency theft, which security analysts say has been used to fund government programs. United States authorities are involved in the investigation. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission chairman told reporters that blockchain technology allows authorities to trace the movement of stolen funds, and called the incident part of a broader pattern of cyber incidents targeting the crypto sector. The hack sent cryptocurrency prices and shares of publicly traded crypto-related companies lower. Bitcoin and other digital assets declined, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq composite fell to its lowest level in more than two months in the days surrounding the announcement. The scale of the theft, if confirmed, would represent the largest cryptocurrency heist in history, surpassing previous high-profile exchange hacks. The FBI is reported to be working with Binance on the investigation.