DALLAS — Democrats see a rare opening in Texas, and James Talarico is giving them their clearest shot in years at turning one of the state’s two Senate seats blue. If he pulls off the upset, the former teacher and Presbyterian seminarian could knock the first brick loose in Texas’ red wall.The polling and fundraising figures help explain why Democrats see that possibility.To put it in perspective, Talarico’s polling leads are wider than those recorded against Ted Cruz in 2018, when Beto O’Rourke came closer than any Democrat in decades to winning a Texas Senate race. And the enthusiasm on the ground from those who spoke with Fox News Digital backs up the numbers.DEEP IN TRUMP COUNTRY, A NEW GENERATION REVEALS THE DIVIDE BEHIND TEXAS’ TIGHT SENATE RACEWhat’s more, Talarico’s campaign raised $64 million from July through September, more than three times Trump-backed candidate Ken Paxton’s $18 million haul over the same period. Since launching his campaign, Talarico has raised more than $146 million.But Paxton, currently the state’s attorney general, has enjoyed Republican outside groups pouring more than $200 million into Texas to support him, nearly all of it bankrolled by Elon Musk, the world’s richest man. Additionally, MAGA Inc., President Donald Trump’s principal super PAC, has spent another $33.7 million on ads backing Paxton, according to AdImpact.At his Dallas rally on Thursday, Talarico underscored that divide by casting the race as a David and Goliath fight, telling supporters they were his weapon against powerful interests.”David wasn’t as big or as strong as Goliath. He didn’t have as many weapons, but he had hope. He had faith, and he had a slingshot,” he said. “Dallas, you are my slingshot. The people of Texas are my slingshot.”Talarico’s momentum has also shown up on the campaign trail.Earlier this week, Talarico hopscotched across Texas, stopping in El Paso before holding events in Midland and Amarillo and drawing a larger-than-expected crowd in deep-red Lubbock on Tuesday.Meanwhile, Trump campaigned with Paxton about four miles away that same night, shifting his rally time so it overlapped with Talarico’s event.The dueling rallies put the race’s divide on display. Talarico’s campaign said more than 4,000 people signed up for his Lubbock rally, prompting a move to a larger venue.”I know that we’re not the only show in town tonight, and I appreciate all 4,000 of you that showed up here this evening,” Talarico said at the Fiesta Center in Lubbock on Oct. 27. “That’s a lot of Talafreakos in one room.”The Democratic candidate and his supporters have embraced the moniker “Talafreako,” a nickname first given to him as a derogatory dig by Republicans and President Trump.Voters at Talarico’s rallies in Lubbock told Fox News Digital that Trump’s repeated Texas visits signaled Republican anxiety, while Paxton backers remained confident the state would stay red after a costly and contentious primary that saw Republicans divided over Paxton and sitting Sen. John Cornyn, who was ultimately ousted in the May runoff.”Trump’s in Lubbock? Trump’s in Lubbock, Texas? He’s scared, he is scared,” one supporter told Fox News Digital.Natalie, from Friona, called Trump’s same-day rally a sign Republicans were “nervous.””I think it’s performative, like to come the exact same day as he is here,” she said.Jenny, from Brownsville, told Fox News Digital outside Trump and Paxton’s rally that the race was “not close” and she predicted that “Paxton will wipe the floor” with Talarico.DUELING RALLIES THRUST DEEP-RED LONE STAR TOWN INTO THE CENTER OF THE POLITICAL UNIVERSEBeyond the rally crowds, some Talarico supporters in Dallas and Lubbock said Paxton’s past legal controversies and impeachment by the Texas House shaped their views of the Republican nominee.”We’re here in support of honesty, decency and integrity,” Lori, a Dallas voter who has voted Republican in the past, told Fox News Digital. “That’s what we like to see in a candidate, and we think Talarico is all that in one.”George, a lifelong Texan at the Dallas rally, said years of watching Texas politics had become “heartbreaking” and called Talarico “a breath of fresh air.”In Lubbock, Georgia cited several of Talarico’s policies and called him “authentic.” She also said his lack of an indictment was a plus, contrasting him with Paxton.MEET THE VOTERS WHO COULD BREAK THE GOP’S DECADES-LONG GRIP ON A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLDElias, a nurse from Lubbock, said Paxton’s past controversies and impeachment by the Texas House reflected poorly on the Republican nominee.”I think it shows that Paxton is a weak leader,” Elias told Fox News Digital. “He had a chance to kind of redeem himself despite his ugly past, but he’s not a man, he can’t stand up for himself. He needs daddy Trump to come and support him.”With Election Day on Nov. 3, the question is whether Talarico can turn rally crowds and a polling lead into a historic win. A victory would crack the GOP’s decades-long grip on Texas. A loss would leave Democrats still searching for a path to turn the state blue.
Peltola Campaign and DSCC Call NYT ‘Decoy Dan’ Bombshell a Mere ‘Distraction’ and Brand DOJ’s Court Accusations ‘Nonsense’ in Desperate Motion to Dismiss
Former Rep. Mary Peltola said in August 2026 that “it should be a criminal offense to lie or mislead the electorate.” (@NRSC / X screenshot)
The legal battle over Alaska’s controversial U.S. Senate election intensified Thursday after Democrat Mary Peltola’s campaign and the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) filed a new motion asking a federal judge to throw out the Trump Justice Department’s lawsuit.
In a Motion to Dismiss the Amended Complaint filed October 29 in United States v. State of Alaska, attorneys for Alaskans for Mary and the DSCC, including lawyers from the Elias Law Group, insist that the NYT’s detailed account of a “ballot composition project” to recruit a namesake spoiler carries “no legal significance.”
They label the entire set of allegations a “distraction” from what they call the DOJ’s “meritless claims.” When the DOJ pointed to the campaign’s earlier court statements as misleading, the motion dismissed the charge with one word: “Nonsense.”
The Gateway Pundit has extensively documented the scheme for months. In June, TGP reported how Democrat operatives worked to place a same-name challenger on the ballot as a Republican primary spoiler specifically to confuse voters and siphon support from incumbent Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, the President’s endorsee.
After the Alaska Division of Elections initially barred him as a non-good-faith candidate, state courts ordered his inclusion; he advanced with roughly 2.5% of the primary vote.
The New York Times report, based on interviews with about a dozen people involved or informed of the effort, text messages, and documents, described an internal “ballot composition project” in which Peltola campaign staff were directed in summer 2025 to search voter records for Alaskans named Dan Sullivan. A Midwestern operative reportedly traveled the state under a fake name, pitching candidates over beers, including to retired Petersburg teacher Daniel J. Sullivan.
The goal, according to the reporting: dilute the incumbent’s support on Alaska’s ranked-choice, top-four ballot so Peltola could win. Former Peltola aide Elisa Rios was among the sources; the campaign and DSCC have denied recruiting candidates.
In the court filing, the intervenors concede the amended complaint adds “additional allegations, based on recent press reports, about how Daniel J. Sullivan came to run for office and why,” but claim they “change nothing.”
They argue the NVRA (which the DOJ cites) regulates only voter registration, not ballot design or candidate qualifications; that statements of purpose create no enforceable duties; and that the DOJ lacks constitutional authority to interfere in state elections absent a clear statute.
They further contend there is no plausible evidence of voter confusion given the ballot’s distinctions, different middle initials, “Incumbent” next to Sen. Dan S. Sullivan (Registered Republican), and no party designation for the other Sullivan, and that any post-election investigation into voter motives would be impossible because of secret ballots and unlawful under the Constitution.
The motion urges dismissal with prejudice before Election Day and notes agreement with the League of Women Voters that sanctions should be considered.
The campaign’s tone is dismissive even as the legal and investigative pressure mounts. President Trump has publicly called for Peltola and those involved to be prosecuted, stating they “got caught” and that false statements under oath could constitute perjury.
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy ordered a state Department of Public Safety investigation after the NYT report, citing an organized effort to confuse voters. The decoy candidate reportedly refused to answer questions under oath and has conducted no campaign events. The DOJ has issued a flurry of subpoenas.
The post Peltola Campaign and DSCC Call NYT ‘Decoy Dan’ Bombshell a Mere ‘Distraction’ and Brand DOJ’s Court Accusations ‘Nonsense’ in Desperate Motion to Dismiss appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
California Sanctuary Cities Ignored 8,901 ICE Detainers and Released Violent Criminals, House Judiciary Report Finds
Photo courtesy of Gavin Newsom on Facebook.
A new House Judiciary Committee report states that authorities in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego ignored a combined 8,901 ICE detainers, allowing criminal aliens with records that included homicide, sexual assault, kidnapping, burglary, weapons offenses, and child abuse to be released back into communities.
The 22-page interim staff report, led by Chairman Jim Jordan and Rep. Tom McClintock, was released on Thursday.
According to the report, the Los Angeles Police Department honored just four of the 4,177 ICE detainers it received between January 2020 and June 2026, a compliance rate below 0.1 percent.
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office rejected all 2,201 detainers it received between January 2020 and August 2026.
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office declined 2,527 detainers between January 2023 and June 2026, including 894 in the last year.
The report details:
The effects of Los Angeles’s longstanding pro-criminal alien policies have been devastating. Herbert Nixon Flores, an illegal alien from El Salvador, “had been ordered removed and physically deported from the United States 10 times” since 1990. His criminal history “included carrying a concealed weapon, trespassing, burglary, disturbing the peace, possession and transportation of a controlled substance, impersonation, driving under the influence, driving without a license, driving with a suspended license, resisting arrest, vandalism, criminal threats and illegal entry.” On September 7, 2020, he was arrested “for a domestic violence with injury charge by [LAPD].” The next day, ICE lodged a detainer with LAPD, but local law enforcement released Nixon Flores onto California streets. Four months later, Nixon Flores murdered his ex-girlfriend in front of their young child. In other cases, LAPD’s compliance with sanctuary laws meant declining detainers for criminal aliens who were later arrested for committing serious crimes, including murder.
Other examples used included David Mora Rojas, a Mexican national who overstayed a visa and was arrested five days before the February 2022 Sacramento church shooting in which he killed his three daughters and another man before killing himself.
ICE had requested notification of his release, but he was freed on bail.
The report also pointed to Anatoly Varfolomeev, who testified before Congress that his 19-year-old daughter Anya and her friend were killed in a November 2021 crash by Oscar Eduardo Ortega-Anguiana, a previously deported Mexican national driving nearly 100 mph, and blamed California’s policies for enabling the deaths.
Bill Essayli, first assistant U.S. attorney for the Central District of California, told the New York Post that the “blanket disregard of all immigration detainers is one of the largest public safety threats to our country.”
“States like California are actively shielding criminal illegal immigrants from deportation to score political points. They would rather release these criminals back into the community than allow ICE to do its congressionally mandated job.”
Essayli concluded, “Sanctuary state policies are not only wrong, they’re deeply un-American.”
These reckless California policies stem from the 2013 Trust Act and the 2017 California Values Act, which generally barred state and local resources from being used to assist federal immigration enforcement, with some exceptions for certain serious crimes.
The report notes that California authorities released 4,561 immigrants sought by federal agents between January 20, 2025, and early February 2026, and that ICE had 33,179 active detainers for criminal illegal aliens in the state as of February 2026.
Governor Newsom’s office has previously claimed that California “blocks” cooperation with ICE are false and that the state has transferred more than 12,000 people from state prisons into ICE custody since 2019, while accusing federal officials of failing to pick up roughly one in eight state prisoners with outstanding detainers.
The governor’s office did not respond to the Post’s request for comment on the new report.
Republicans are advancing the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act, which would prohibit state and local measures restricting cooperation with federal immigration authorities.
The Judiciary Committee advanced the bill in March.
In the conclusion of their report, the committee wrote:
Democrats’ open-borders policies and sanctuary jurisdictions have had devastating consequences for U.S. citizens. Even after the American people resoundingly rejected Democrats’ pro-illegal alien policies in November 2024, Democrats across the country reinforced sanctuary policies to ensure that the millions of illegal aliens who entered the U.S. are never removed from the country. California is just one example of Democrats’ efforts to erase national borders and undermine immigration enforcement. Meanwhile, President Trump and House and Senate Republicans continue to work on commonsense solutions to secure the border, enforce federal immigration law, and protect American communities.
On March 5, 2026, the Committee favorably reported H.R. 7640, the Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act. The Shut Down Sanctuary Policies Act protects American communities by prohibiting state and local laws and policies that restrict cooperation with federal immigration officials. The bill also would defend cooperative jurisdictions from frivolous lawsuits from sanctuary officials, allow jurisdictions to receive federal funding if they do not thwart federal law, and give much-needed relief to victims of sanctuary policies. The Committee will continue its oversight into sanctuary jurisdictions that prioritize the comfort of illegal alien criminals over the safety of U.S. citizens.
The post California Sanctuary Cities Ignored 8,901 ICE Detainers and Released Violent Criminals, House Judiciary Report Finds appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.
California election workers get subpoenas from federal officials
The Department of Justice issued grand jury subpoenas to election workers in Los Angeles to prove that noncitizens are on California’s voter rolls.
Senator Rips Trump’s ‘Insane’ Plan For Iran Escalation, As Pentagon Transport Planes Land In Israel
Senator Rips Trump’s ‘Insane’ Plan For Iran Escalation, As Pentagon Transport Planes Land In Israel
There are continuing signs that President Trump may be ready to pull the trigger on ordering another major attack against Iran, though the American public might be wondering what the endgame or ‘mission accomplished’ moment might be – which has remained undefined and elusive after seven full months.First, Israel’s national KAN News reported late Thursday that ten US Air Force transport planes arrived at airbases in southern Israel, part of a surge in Pentagon equipment transfers across the region. KAN said this is preparation for a “short, focused war with Iran” – with the aircraft likely stocked with air defense systems.Confirmation of the airlifts arriving in Israel came a day after The Wall Street Journal reported that “The U.S. military is sending an additional Patriot system to Israel from Texas to beef up its missile defenses in the country, according to flight-tracking data and two officials with knowledge of the movement.””U.S. forces in the region have been restocking their munitions, and bomber aircraft and jet fighters are preparing for strikes, some of the officials said,” the report indicated. “An additional aircraft-carrier strike group and Marine expeditionary unit are also poised to join an armada of roughly 20 other warships operating in the Middle East next month, although some ships could rotate out.”All of this build-up looks to be doing practically nothing to deter the Iranians from what are now daily attacks on internatonal shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. There have been at least a half-dozen tanker attacks, mine hits, or incidents resulting in serious damage in the strait this week alone. And another Friday:IRAN CLAIMS OIL SUPERTANKER HIT MINE FRIDAY IN HOMRUZ: FARSNext, the US has reportedly been warning Gulf allies of a new round of strikes on Iran to come. They must brace themselves for the inevitable Iranian retaliation, which it seems the Pentagon is powerless to stop.Also, on Thursday top US admirals briefed the Commander-in-Chief on ‘options’ for a renewed war. This saw CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper at the White House, along with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Dan Caine.Will US regional allies cooperate and sign on to whatever next escalation phase might come?Now would be a good time for Ankara and Riyadh to make clear that their airspace is not open for any US attack on Tehran. https://t.co/CV5OFauM1g— Daniel McAdams (@DanielLMcAdams) October 29, 2026
But the meeting is said to have heavily focused on the status of the US Navy mission in the Strait of Hormuz, where record levels of wartime oil transit is making its way out. The admin might be content to keep this uneasy status quo sitution going, which has relied heavily on ‘dark’ transits and smaller ship-to-ship transfers under the ‘protection’ of the US Navy. The meeting also included the presence of Vice President JD Vance, Energy Secretary Chris Wright and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles – as reported in Axios.At a moment the Iranians have not backed off their conditions for ending the war, one influential diplomat says that there needs to be a longer ‘time out’ and that some kind of deal could be ‘very close’ (though we’ve heard all of this many times before). Per Axios:U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Tom Barrack told CNN on Thursday that the U.S. and Iran are “very close” to a deal to deescalate tensions.”I think we’re very close to finally getting to a place where we can say, ‘Let’s just have a timeout,'” he said. “We’re not going to have an overall solution immediately, but we can allow the region to find its own pace.”There’s of late been independent and local reporting of limited US attacks against the southern Iranian coast, reportedly against rocket launch and other Iranian ‘defensive’ sites – but little can be proven or conformed amid the fog of war and competing claims.The U.S. carried out a small wave of airstrikes against southern Iran last night, striking the naval base in Bandar-e-Jask and an anti-ship cruise missile launcher on Qeshm Island. Axios’ Barak Ravid reported that these were “self defence strikes”, but since deleted his post.… pic.twitter.com/hQDvJlG0oi— AMK Mapping 🇳🇿 (@AMK_Mapping_) October 30, 2026
Another sign that things could soon rapidly escalate – likely after the midterm elections (at least according to Trump’s latest words) – is that Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy has late this week revealed he’s been briefed on the Trump administration’s plans to resume military operations after the November 3 vote in the US.Notably, he warned that the plan is “insane” as it “will lead to devastating escalation and the likely destruction of our commitment to the rule of law.” Murphy highlighted recent reports potential US strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure, in an effort to sow societal breakdown and collapse in the country, but did not elaborate with details.”The plan that they have developed will lead, in my view, to a prolonged escalation of this war that will be devastating for our security interests,” he added in his remarks, and further warned of American service members being put at risk.Trump is reportedly planning to restart war with Iran after the election.Some of us have been briefed on the war plan. And while I cannot disclose any details, I can say this: the plan is insane. It will not achieve objectives and will set off a new cycle of escalation. pic.twitter.com/adWJfHVIok— Chris Murphy 🟧 (@ChrisMurphyCT) October 29, 2026
The Senator further hit out at the White House for lack of Congressional authorization for the war. “Every first year law student could tell you that this war is illegal” in the domestic sense, Murphy asserted. “But it is also clearly in contravention of international law and commitments that we have made to the rule of law to deliberately target civilians and to use the harm or potential harm of civilians as leverage in war.”This “cycle of escalation” – as he called it, has already been on display throughout the summer, given each new US military action has served to lead to each new round of escalation, also as America’s Gulf allies get pummeled with Iranian missiles and drones each time.
Tyler Durden
Fri, 10/30/2026 – 09:25
Tennis star Genie Bouchard kicks off Halloween weekend with Britney tribute, Caleb supports kids & beer sword
Welcome to Screencaps, “America’s Best Daily Column,” as named by the readers. Screencaps, which publishes seven-days-a-week, is a mix of sports, pop culture, and emails from sane readers from around the world. This column isn’t for the coastal elites. Give us a week to steal your heart. Our track record is pretty good. Let’s have some fun.It’s like shooting fish in a barrel right now for this column. I was telling Mrs. Screencaps this week that there are days of the year I don’t like to take off work because the content is just so good. Those days include the holidays and Halloween.Why wouldn’t I take off the holidays? 1. It’s my column. I don’t feel like it’s fair to SeanJo to tell him to work the holidays when I started this column. 2. The content is always great. July 4? Are you kidding me? The content is off the charts. Christmas? Instagram models dump out all sorts of content. New Years? Having to work in the morning tends to prevent me from going to nuts the night before. Thanksgiving morning is one of the easiest editions of Screencaps to produce. People are in a good mood. They want to show me what they’re cooking.CARMEN ELECTRA OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF HALLOWEEN SEASON AT A GAS STATION, POSTGAME POLICE CHASE & BALL-SACAnd they’re dialed into the content because they’re not at work.As for Halloween, I literally get paid to report on Halloween costumes. After being told this week by some idiot emailer that I should retire, my resolve is stronger than ever. No, I won’t retire. I built this column into the greatest job on the Internet. You’d have to yank it out of my cold dead hands.Thank you to retired tennis star Genie Bouchard for kicking off the weekend with a Brit Brit tribute. Well done.📩 Email: joe.kinsey@outkick.comSend photos, stories, tips, rants—whatever you’ve got.📰 Screencaps Page:👉 Read the latest Screencaps– Jayson asks: A buddy of mine writes a mailbag column for a website. He said that occasionally, he will get emails from “psychos” who flip on him for not reading their questions. Have you ever received that kind of junk since starting Screencaps? If you do, do you answer them back, or simply ignore them?Kinsey: I’ve never had emailers turn heel because I wouldn’t publish their emails, but I’ve had guys who claimed to be fans and loyal readers who turned out to be total scumbags, especially after I left Busted Coverage and joined Clay Travis here at OutKick. There have been guys who felt like I should’ve given them freebies that brands used to send to me.As for a–hole emailers, I like when people write and snap on me. It’s great content. Typically, when I reply to their emails, the people disappear.WARREN SAPP GETS INTO CONFRONTATION WITH FLORIDA STATE FAN DURING TAILGATE, TIM MCGRAW’S BRONZER & DALE ARTA quick Google search reveals that Elizabethtown College was having revenue trouble in 2024 when the school cut 13 faculty members. You know what they didn’t cut? Women’s golf where members of the team are really killing it out on the links.• Legacy reader Jess in Alabama, who has been emailing longer than pretty much any other OutKick reader, says it’s just convenient: The guy who wrote in that only the elderly or disabled should get delivery groceries is forgetting the time in his life with babies. I can get off my lazy ass, but y’all don’t want to see that diaper blowout spill on the aisle next to your shoe or hear the tantrum that happens 1 out of 4 trips. I’ll let the grocery guy pick out a bag of potatoes or mustard or random stuff I grab off the shelf. Then I’ll find time to stock my own meat and fruit when I get a chance. And I am not complaining about my life. I’m very grateful. And very grateful not to ruin your pleasant experience at the grocery store.SUPERMARKET VOTED BEST GROCERY STORE IN AMERICA AS CUSTOMERS PRAISE MEAL KITS, VARIETY OF OFFERINGS• Louie in Savannah pushes back on Chris A.’s email: I have been following along with the grocery pick up debate the last few days and have to weigh in, especially after the comment about those that do it are lazy and park in the fire lane.We use it every week. We are quite able bodied, just busy as hell.BABY BOOMERS HATE 10 THINGS ABOUT TODAY’S GROCERY STORESMy wife is the “Food and Beverage Coordinator” in our home and we have been using the Kroger “Click list” just about every week since it became an option years ago. I imagine every store in different parts of the country have varying experiences but there are so many benefits for us to ordering online and picking it up. My wife just submitted ours and I’m picking it up on the way home from work tomorrow. I’ll be in the parking lot for no more that 15 minutes total. It’s very convenient and actually saves money. There is no impulse buying when you pick it up, only what you ordered. We also aren’t bringing our teen and pre-teen sons into the store who are suddenly starving (as always) and now want to throw everything they see into the cart and grab a sushi roll to devour while walking around. As an added bonus, once every two months or so, the store accidentally loads someone else’s partial order into the car and there is no way to tell until you get home. It is like a bonus mystery box. We always call to let them know but they always say to keep the items.Sure, there are issues with produce or other things sometimes but the customer service personnel are always nice and they will throw a $20 coupon into the next order for the inconvenience. Also, beer and wine purchases are allowed as well so that is one fewer stop while running errands.With as busy as we are in my house with jobs, school and sports, grocery pick up saves a ton of time!Everywhere is different I am sure but it’s a huge benefit for our house.• Voiceover Mike writes: To be honest, my wife will put in a weekly Target order, something of a holdover from Covid days, and I’m usually the one on pick-up duty. Do I feel a little emasculated, sitting next to soccer moms in their SUVs and Teslas waiting for their orders? Maybe a little. Will I let the Target order picker select produce for me? Nope. I hit the grocery store for that.If it were my choice, I’d wander the aisles, list in hand, and pick everything myself, but I’ve been relegated to pick-up duty. Keep up the great work, and never underestimate the importance of what you do for us.• Tom T. is fired up: Nice fall weather hare in VA. It’s a good day to shake my old man fist at the clouds.Chris A. really nailed it! Get off your lazy butt and go get your own damn groceries! Also, if you are under 40 and would like to one day own a home, get off your lazy butt and go get your own damn groceries, and then COOK your own damn food. I just do not get the allure of Door Dash, unless you have been drinking beer all day, because nobody should be drinking and driving in this day and age. Also, make your own damn coffee in the morning.I also LOVE the entitled losers who park in the fire lane while their spouse “runs” into the grocery store “for one thing”. I always give ‘em the hairy eyeball as I walk into the grocery store.• Bob in Cincy says: Our strategy for groceries is to leverage the Kroger pickup for staples such as canned good, frozen items and the like. No veggies or fruits. For those we go to Dorthy Lane or Fresh Thyme which are more expensive in general. The online shopping is convenient I’ll admit, and less expensive than DL or FT. It works well for us.• Joe in E. Tennessee checks in: What am I going to do with the twenty or so chip clips that are currently keeping my cereal fresh!?!? I’ll run out of room on my refrigerator!!!Kinsey: The Big Chip Clip lobbyists will not stand for these resealable bags. Just wait. Congress will intervene.ZERO BS. JUST DAKICH. TAKE THE DON’T @ ME PODCAST ON THE ROAD. DOWNLOAD NOW!• Darren in NE ATL shares: Had almost forgotten a fall golf memory. Late fall in the 90’s, with my dad, north of Dover, DE. Probably low 40’s. Pushed a drive near a lake into clumped grass. Got there and a slow moving, big ass snake was right at my ball. Seeing as my one true phobia is snakes, I took a stroke penalty for a lost ball, and ran the he’ll away.################SIGN UP FOR THE DAILY OUTKICK NEWSLETTERThat is it this morning. What a morning it has been. Mrs. Screencaps, whose birthday is Sunday, has been sick on and off all week and she’s dealing with a sore back. It takes a village around here, that’s for sure. But, we made it through another week of life.Let’s go have a great Halloween, if you celebrate. I have one more morning to go. Tomorrow morning will be 13 straight editions of Screencaps before I get to turn off the alarm Sunday morning. Let’s finish strong.
Unhinged judge who called Latino attorney a ‘White savior’ ordered to undergo psychiatric examination
A Trump-appointed judge was ordered to undergo a psychiatric examination as part of an ongoing judicial misconduct investigation after she called a Latino attorney a “white savior” who was intimidated by “Black excellence” due to his “White mediocrity” during a hearing.U.S. District Judge Ada Brown of the Northern District of Texas, who is Black and Native American, was temporarily removed from her docket by the Fifth Circuit Judicial Council earlier this month, following a May judicial-conduct complaint filed by attorney Ezra Young, whose permission to practice before Brown had previously been revoked.The complaint centered on Brown’s rhetoric toward Young during his appearance for a show-case hearing, in which he was facing sanctions over allegations from Brown that he shared sealed court filings online. Young represented a Black law professor who sued Southern Methodist University, alleging she was denied tenure because of discrimination. He joined the case in 2022 and appeared before Brown before the judge barred him from practicing in her courtroom.OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE TORCHES TRUMP ADMIN IN LATEST COURTROOM SHOWDOWN, REFERS ATTORNEY FOR BAR REVIEWDuring the April hearing, Brown railed against Young, accusing him of “bullying” the black attorneys on the case.”You’re the White savior, come to save all the stupid Black lawyers in Texas who need your help, from New York,” Brown later said, according to the transcript obtained by Bloomberg.Brown repeatedly brought attention to Young’s skin color, calling him “white presenting” and “fair skinned” after Brown told her that he was a Latino.”I think what’s happening here, quite candidly, is you are very intimidated for some reason, Mr. Young, with Black excellence, in light of your White mediocrity. Yeah. Right?,” Brown said. “You should write that down. I mean, you — I’m — you look like a White man, right?”She also called Young a “Chad” which she said is the male version of “Karen.””It’s someone who calls the manager when they don’t get their way. They stomp their foot when the rules are supposed to apply to them, right?” Brown said.OBAMA-APPOINTED JUDGE WITH TIES TO ANTI-TRUMP CONSPIRACY THEORY HIT WITH MISCONDUCT COMPLAINTBrown also accused Young of sensationalizing the case after reading a news article that quoted his brief and referenced another law professor’s comparison of the Black professor’s treatment in the tenure dispute to a “lynching.””And so when I read a headline — a sensationalized, very racialized headline that says, ‘it’s like I’ve been lynched,’ and it’s literally got no connection to this case, I have to ask you, Mr. Social Media, Main Character Chad, White Hero, Savior, Loves to Help Black People Be An Ally, where the lynching in this case came from?” Brown said.The release of the April court hearing transcripts come as Brown shared with lawyers, judges and several media outlets via email of Young’s complaint and her response.Meanwhile, in a July 28 filing responding to Young’s complaint, Brown stood by her conduct.”I do not believe my demeanor was inappropriate at any time, especially during the candid conversations about race,” Brown wrote.”I take to heart the lessons I have learned from this experience and I ask the Chief Judge to weigh this candor, as well as my commitment to being mentored by senior judges with more experience in such situations when determining an appropriate disposition,” Brown wrote. “I realize the importance of public confidence in the judiciary and take to heart my role in fostering the public’s faith in it.”President Donald Trump appointed Brown to the federal court in Texas in March 2019. She is the first Black woman to serve in that court.
What’s Holding Up American Investment In Eurasia?
American agents have made big promises on American investment in Eurasia. Despite promises, investment is lagging. Why?
Today’s Mortgage Rates: October 30, 2026
Average mortgage rates today
Mortgage Type
Label
Rate
APR
30-Year Fixed
Most Popular
7.02%
7.06%
30-Year FHA
Lower Credit
6.65%
7.85%
30-Year VA
Military
6.75%
6.92%
30-Year Jumbo
High Balance
7.35%
7.38%
15-Year Fixed
Shorter Term
6.37%
6.44%
7/6 ARM
Shorter Term
6.65%
6.72%
HELOC
Home Equity
7.99%
7.99%
Home Equity Loan
Home Equity
8.23%
8.23%
Updated on 10/29/2026
Rate data provided by RateUpdate.com. Displayed by Mortgage Research Center, LLC, NMLS# 1907, Equal Housing Opportunity, Payments do not include taxes or insurance premiums. Actual payments will be greater with taxes and insurance included. Rate and Product details
Mortgage rates fell again, with the 30-year fixed-rate average at 7.06%. Lower rates are spurring some buyers to take advantage of the fall buying season, which has been slower than usual so far.
Key mortgage rate averages:
The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.06% APR
The 30-year fixed-rate FHA mortgage averaged 7.85% APR
The 30-year fixed-rate VA mortgage averaged 6.92% APR
The 30-year fixed-rate jumbo mortgage averaged 7.38% APR
The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.44% APR
The 7/6 adjustable-rate mortgage averaged 6.72% APR
The rate on a HELOC averaged 7.99% APR
The rate on a home equity loan averaged 8.23% APR
Mortgage rate trends
According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, loan applications increased by 3% for the week ending Oct. 23, when the rates started trending lower.
Mortgage rates are still hovering in the low 7% range, below their recent yearly highs but well above last year’s level. Most housing experts expect rates to stay near or above 7% through year’s end. In written comments, Kara Ng, Zillow’s senior economist, says affordability challenges remain for would-be buyers, but waiting for lower rates may not yield significant savings.
“For a buyer who has decided to purchase a home but is questioning when, here is the tradeoff. Borrowing costs are expected to ease, but only slightly,” Ng says. “Home values, meanwhile, are expected to rise modestly nationwide, offsetting some of the savings from lower rates.”
Ng estimates the difference in monthly payments at today’s rates versus next year’s forecast rate is just $26.
Which loan is best for you?
When shopping for a mortgage, you may be offered several loan options to meet different needs. Here’s a rundown of the most common loan types you’ll find, and who they work best for.
30-year conventional mortgage: Conventional loans work best for borrowers who have a credit score above 620, have saved enough to make a down payment of at least 3% and are looking for flexibility in the type of property being purchased.
30-year Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage: FHA loans are good for first-time homebuyers, borrowers with less-than-perfect credit scores or those with a high debt-to-income ratio.
30-year U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loan: Specifically designed for active-duty and retired service members, members of the National Guard and Reserves, and surviving spouses. Offers 0% down loan options, competitive rates and accepts less-than-perfect credit scores.
30-year jumbo loan: Good for homebuyers purchasing property that is priced above the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) conforming loan limit. In 2026, that limit is $832,750 in most of the U.S. but increases to $1,249,125 in high-cost areas.
15-year fixed-rate loan: Borrowers who prefer a shorter loan term and can afford to make higher monthly payments will pay less overall interest with a 15-year mortgage and pay off the loan faster.
7/6 adjustable rate loan: Good for a buyer who wants to lock in a favorable interest rate for a set period of time and either plans on selling the home before the interest rate starts, is willing to make a higher monthly payment once the rate becomes variable or is open to refinancing the loan.
Home equity line of credit (HELOC): A good option for a homeowner who wants to access the equity they’ve accumulated in their home and have an open line of credit to use as needed.
Home equity loan: Another option for a homeowner who wants to access their home equity and have the financial capacity to take on a second mortgage.
How mortgage rates affect affordability
Your mortgage rate can make a big difference in how much home you can afford and how large your monthly payments are. That’s true whether buying your primary residence, an investment property or refinancing an existing loan.
Here’s an example. If you bought a $250,000 home and made a 20% down payment of $50,000, your starting loan balance would be $200,000. On a $200,000 home loan with a fixed rate for 30 years, here’s what you would pay:
At a 3% interest rate = $843 in monthly payments (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees)
At a 4% interest rate = $955 in monthly payments (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees)
At a 6% interest rate = $1,199 in monthly payments (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees)
At an 8% interest rate = $1,468 in monthly payments (not including taxes, insurance, or HOA fees)
Using a mortgage calculator lets you see how a lower rate or other changes could affect what you pay. A home affordability calculator can also estimate the maximum loan amount you may qualify for based on your income, debt-to-income ratio, mortgage interest rate and other variables. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can also provide a range of rates lenders offer in each state.
Current mortgage rates FAQs
What is today’s current mortgage rate?
The average rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.06% as of October 29, according to Money’s rate data. Other rate surveys show 30-year rates averaging above 7.2%.
What are mortgage rates today?
As of Oct. 29, the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was averaging 7.06%, according to Money’s rate data. The average rate for a 15-year fixed-rate loan is 6.44%
Will mortgage rates get to 4% in 2026?
No, they won’t. The current average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 7.06% as of Oct. 29, and most housing experts expect rates to stay near or above 7% through year-end.
How much is a $300,000 mortgage at 7%?
The monthly payment on a 30-year, $300,000 conventional mortgage at 7% is $1,995.91, excluding taxes, insurance and HOA fees. Your actual payment will vary depending on your credit score, down payment, lender and location, among other factors.
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