Senate Democrats are turning to borrowed money for the midterm homestretch, taking out a $15 million loan as billionaire Elon Musk pours another $76 million into the fight to elect Republicans.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee disclosed the loan in a Federal Election Commission report filed Thursday. The borrowing comes as the party tries to put more races in play before Election Day, with millions already flowing into contests across 10 states.
Republicans, meanwhile, are getting another massive infusion from their biggest financial backer.
Musk contributed $76 million to his America PAC during the first two weeks of October, pushing his total political giving this cycle past $442 million. The group has spent tens of millions on online ads, mailers and text messages aimed at voters in competitive House and Senate races.
The dueling financial moves underscore the costly battle for control of Congress as both parties race to reach voters in the campaign's final days.
Senate
Wall Street took another hit Friday as surging oil prices sent stocks tumbling, raising fresh concerns about inflation, borrowing costs and the growing financial toll of the U.S. war with Iran.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged 541 points, or 1%, by 11:12 a.m. Eastern, while the S&P 500 slipped 0.2%, putting the benchmark index on pace for its second consecutive weekly decline.
The NASDAQ Composite managed a 0.2% gain, thanks largely to technology heavyweights that helped prevent even steeper losses across the market.
But the bigger story was oil.
Brent crude jumped 2.4% to $115.86 per barrel, its highest level since March and a dramatic increase from below $97 at the beginning of October.
The relentless climb is delivering another financial headache for American families already struggling with stubborn inflation and elevated interest rates.
The U.S. conflict with Iran has severely disrupted global oil supplies, pushing energy costs higher and threatening to drive up prices on everything
President Donald Trump's Justice Department has launched a major legal challenge in one of the nation's most closely watched Senate races, seeking to prevent Alaska from certifying election results under certain circumstances that federal prosecutors argue could undermine the integrity of the vote.
The lawsuit, filed Thursday in federal court, centers on Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan's reelection battle against former Democratic Rep. Mary Peltola. With control of the Senate at stake in November's midterm elections, the contest has attracted national attention as Republicans fight to maintain their congressional majority.
But the administration's concerns involve another candidate whose name is nearly identical to the incumbent senator's.
Daniel J. Sullivan, a retired teacher from Petersburg, Alaska, is also running for the seat. Justice Department attorneys contend that his presence on the ballot could confuse voters intending to support Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, potentially changing the election's outcome.
The administration is asking a federal judge to prevent Alaska
Rep. Ilhan Omar fired back at President Donald Trump on Friday, unleashing a blistering personal attack after the president demanded her resignation over newly reported federal court documents raising questions about her identity.
The Minnesota Democrat took to X to denounce Trump's accusations, accusing the president of spreading conspiracy theories and using the Justice Department to target political opponents.
Omar, one of Trump's most outspoken critics in Congress, did not hold back.
"The pedophile protection party's president is laundering right-wing conspiracy theories through the most corrupt DOJ in American history."
She then accused Trump of repeatedly targeting her whenever his administration faces negative headlines.
"Whenever the news turns bad, this creep reaches for one name: mine. So let's make it crystal clear. My name has always been Ilhan Omar."
But the Democratic congresswoman wasn't finished.
In a final jab, she turned her attention to Vice President JD Vance.
"Maybe you should focus on what your VP's real name is."
Ric Flair was taken to a hospital by ambulance Friday after a fall outside a Florida restaurant, hours after telling fans a blood clot had forced him to scrap an upcoming appearance, according to TMZ.
The wrestling great, 77, suffered cuts to his head and eye during the incident in Tampa. TMZ reported that Flair had walked outside the restaurant that morning when he "suddenly fell and injured his face."
The hospital trip adds to a string of health setbacks for the WWE Hall of Famer, who survived multiple organ failure in 2017 after being placed in a medically induced coma.
Earlier this year, Flair acknowledged he needed to put his health first. In May, following a rant about an apparent trademark dispute involving his son, he disclosed "health issues" and said he was taking time to "focus on" his health.
Friday began with another unwelcome announcement for fans: Flair would not be attending Washington State
Former U.S. Representative Mary Peltola, the Democratic Party candidate for U.S. Senate in Alaska, has sought to distance her campaign from a recent fundraising email sent by former Vice President Kamala Harris's political organization.
The email, which was sent by Harris' Fight for the People PAC, referenced closely-watched Peltola's Senate bid against incumbent Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan and solicited joint contributions.
"Alaska is a must-win Senate seat for Democrats to retake control of the Senate," the email read in part. It then urged recipients to "help Mary Peltola get the support she needs" by splitting a donation between Peltola's campaign and the Fight for the People PAC.
"So if there's anyone who can flip Alaska and secure the Senate majority for Democrats – it's Mary. But she cannot do it alone," the email went on. "When we all stand behind Mary, we can give
Tommy John, an electrifying left-handed pitcher who spent parts of 26 seasons in Major League Baseball, passed away on Saturday at his home in Lakewood Ranch, Florida. He was 83-years-old.
"Thomas Edward 'Tommy' John Jr. passed away peacefully at his home in Lakewood Ranch last night surrounded by his loving wife, Cheryl, and his sister-in-laws Judith Florentino and Karen Jordan. A private celebration of life will be held in Florida," John's agent, Mike Maguire, announced in a statement.
John had been in hospice care. His wife, Cheryl John, stated that the cause of death was bladder cancer. He had undergone treatment related to a recurrence of the disease in the period leading up to his death.
We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tommy John, a veteran of 26 MLB seasons who helped revolutionize recovery from pitching injuries
A 19-year-old suspect was taken into custody on Saturday in connection with a shooting earlier that morning on the campus of Virginia State University that left five people wounded.
The suspect, who has been identified as Camron Harris of Henrico, Virginia, was located hiding in a closet inside Seward Hall, a university dormitory, at approximately 4 p.m. He was taken into custody roughly 14 and a half hours after the incident and is being held without bond at the Chesterfield County Jail.
According to Chesterfield County Police, officers responded at about 1:28 a.m. to a report of a shooting in the 3300 block of Boisseau Street, near the university's Quad Annexes and outside campus residence halls in Ettrick, Virginia. Upon arrival, they found five individuals with gunshot wounds. The victims, who ranged in age from 17 to 23, consisted of four males and
Hayden Panettiere, the American actress known for her roles in television series including "Heroes" and "Nashville," passed away unexpectedly in Greenville, South Carolina on Sunday at the age of 36.
Her father, Skip Panettiere, confirmed the death in a statement shared by her publicist. "It is with profound sadness that we share the tragic passing of our beloved Hayden," the statement said. "She was an incredible light and a force of nature who brought immeasurable love and joy to all who knew her — and to the millions who watched her onscreen. We ask for privacy as our family takes time to process this unimaginable loss."
Authorities in Greenville reported that officers and emergency medical personnel responded to a call about an unresponsive woman at approximately 1:50 p.m. on Sunday. Medical assistance was provided, and Panettiere was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The Greenville
President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon on Sunday evening to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. The announcement came hours before the start of the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise, which began as scheduled on August 17 and is set to continue through August 27.
The exercises involve approximately 18,000 South Korean military personnel along with U.S. forces and participants from several United Nations Command member states. They include a mix of command post simulations, live field training, and other activities designed to maintain combined defense readiness. Officials had indicated the drills would address evolving capabilities, such as responses to drones, GPS disruption, and cyberattacks.
In a Truth Social post, Trump announced that the exercises will largely continue as planned this go around, but will be scaled down significantly going forward.
"Based on my very good relationship with Kim Jong Un, of North Korea, I
Scott Jennings isn't exactly shutting down speculation that he could trade CNN's studio for the White House briefing room.
The 48-year-old conservative commentator sidestepped questions about replacing outgoing press secretary Karoline Leavitt during an Aug. 13 appearance on CNN's "The Source."
"Your name keeps getting floated," host Kaitlan Collins told Jennings, a veteran of two George W. Bush campaigns and a former adviser to Sen. Mitch McConnell. "Have you heard anything from the White House on that job opening?"
"I don't really have anything to say about it other than… I would get to see you everyday," Jennings replied. "I would think you'd be happy about this."
"I already see you every day," Collins pointed out.
Jennings, now a CNN senior political commentator and contributor, countered that they cross paths only "one or two days a week."
"Can you imagine, every single day, getting to go to work where I
Outgoing Rep. Nancy Mace shocked supporters this week by unveiling a heavily tattooed look as she launched a new YouTube show and opened up about the personal turmoil she says drove her to get the ink.
Mace, R-S.C., showed off tattoos covering both arms while promoting "Get Maced," a new online program where she plans to weigh in on politics and the news of the day.
The 48-year-old Republican had revealed earlier this year that she got nine tattoos in rapid succession, but she had largely kept them covered in public until now.
Mace said in February that the tattoos were tied to a difficult stretch in her personal and political life, including staff departures, the breakup of her engagement and other painful experiences.
She described the tattoos as a way to reclaim control over her body and identity.
"So my story is I am totally broken," she told
