Cruz Campaigns for Paxton in Texas Senate Race | JQJO

Senator Ted Cruz, though not on the ballot, is campaigning across Texas as if he were running for the U.S. Senate. He has poured money into supporting Attorney General Ken Paxton, introduced Paxton to his donor network, and even offered sartorial advice after President Donald Trump mocked Paxton’s appearance. Cruz’s effort reflects Republican fears that many voters will stay home in a year where the party’s base is split. By rallying behind Paxton, Cruz hopes to secure a GOP nominee who can fend off Democratic challenger James Talarico and maintain Republican control of the Senate.

The campaign highlights the strategic importance of Texas in national politics. With the state’s large electorate, the outcome will influence the balance of power in Washington. Cruz’s active role underscores the interconnectedness of state and federal races and the high stakes for both parties.

Anthropic has not yet clarified whether the shares of its new public‑benefit fund will be distributed directly to Americans. Elon Musk has urged the company to give those shares to the public.

Federal authorities charged twenty‑eight people across California with illegally registering to vote or casting ballots in federal elections despite not being U.S. citizens. Eleven were arrested Monday, with seventeen others expected to be taken into custody soon. All defendants are lawful permanent residents, not undocumented immigrants. The charges come weeks before the November third midterm elections, escalating the Trump administration’s fight with state election officials. California officials argue the cases are isolated and not evidence of widespread fraud.

The Los Angeles Lakers waived former first‑round pick Dalton Knecht on Monday, two days before the 2026‑27 NBA season opens and the league’s roster deadline. Knecht, selected 17th overall in 2024 from Tennessee, had been on the roster since a failed trade to the Charlotte Hornets in 2025. His production fell to 4.2 points in about 10 minutes per game last season, prompting the team to cut him to make room for Bronny James and Jaden Hardy. Head coach JJ Redick said the team’s needs and fit had changed. Knecht’s contract had two years remaining on a four‑year, $18.4 million rookie deal. The Lakers will open the season Wednesday night at home against the Golden State Warriors.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham announced new rules to protect motorists from harsh private parking charges. Drivers will receive a guaranteed five‑minute period to decide whether to park and a ten‑minute window to leave without penalty. Charges may be cancelled for vehicle breakdowns, medical emergencies, or honest mistakes such as wrong registration entry. Maximum appeal charges will be capped at twenty pounds, and operators risking non‑compliance may lose access to DVLA data. The changes aim to address the record seventeen million private parking tickets issued in 2025‑2026, which could cost drivers more than four point six million pounds daily.

The Mississippi Attorney General’s Office announced Monday that a police shooting that killed one‑year‑old Kohen Wiley on June 14 was justified. The incident occurred when a Senatobia officer fired at a vehicle after a shoplifting call. The Mississippi Bureau of Investigation investigated. Wiley’s family, represented by attorney Ben Crump, challenged the findings and requested body‑camera footage. The AG’s statement was issued four months after the shooting.

Pennsylvania’s health department issued a health alert Monday after measles cases in pregnancy rose sharply, leading to an increase in congenital measles. The alert detailed clinical guidance for managing exposures during pregnancy and newborn care. As of October nineteenth, the state reported one thousand two hundred eighty‑six measles cases across forty‑two counties, with two hundred forty‑seven hospitalizations and six deaths. The first death in the outbreak was a newborn boy who died immediately after birth. The alert follows a decade‑long absence of congenital measles in the United States.

A new report shows the United States is constructing more fossil‑fuel power infrastructure than it has in a decade, even as renewable‑energy growth slows down.

Week 6 of the NFL season is very nearly a wrap, with the Washington Commanders and San Francisco 49ers scheduled to face off on Monday Night Football to close the week.

Xiaomi announced the Redmi K100, a flagship phone with a battery capacity in the neighborhood of ten thousand milli‑ampere hours. The device will launch on October twenty‑seven at seven p.m. China time. The K100 is the first Redmi K series phone to include a dedicated gaming chip in its base SKU. Earlier this year, Honor released the Power2 with a battery slightly over ten thousand milli‑ampere hours, and the Realme P4 Power also crossed the ten thousand milli‑ampere hour threshold. The trend reflects a focus on mobile gaming and extended battery life in Chinese smartphones.

IGN recently announced a wave of layoffs, letting go of longtime hosts Brian Altano and Seth Macy. The two, along with Max Scoville, have launched an independent gaming podcast network called X Button on Patreon. The new network hosts two shows: X Button, a general gaming podcast, and Ninfriendo 64, focused on Nintendo. The move follows IGN’s decision to retreat from its well‑known gaming podcasts, citing insufficient revenue for weekly production.