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It’s Wednesday and we are just 4 weeks out from Election Day, though many states have already begun to vote.
Here’s what we are tracking today:
Trump’s top campaign advisers took money from a pro-Putin government in Bosnia
Trump’s sons’ investments have “won” more than $6 BILLION in government contracts
Trump wants a presidential retreat at his West Palm Beach golf club
Troy Jackson hammers Susan Collins on debate night (and more debate news)
The trade deficit widens, real wages fall, tariffs drive more inflation
Scott Bessent’s reported meltdowns and tantrums
Houthi attacks, a $200 oil warning, and a Gulf hurricane
Rubio claims Hormuz is open, Iran says not so fast
The Russia-Ukraine war spills into the Black Sea
Trump posts a transphobic ad attacking Annie Andrews, the Democrat running for U.S. Senate in South Carolina
Rubio dodges on Kimberly Guilfoyle
“The Orange Plague” statue in European Parliament
Thanks again to all our subscribers! As a reminder, we have made all our news updates completely paywall free through the midterm elections. We hope you all have been finding them useful. If you want to support, consider joining as a paid subscriber now.
Independent media needs you more than ever right now, so thanks to all of you who are able to step up. It truly means the world to us.
The Grift That Keeps On Grifting
While Trump was doing midterm rallies last week, James Blair and Chris LaCivita, the 2 men running his political operation, were in Bosnia’s Repulika Srpska giving election advice to its Russia-aligned government, per Ken Vogel on the NYT.
Each was reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of dollars via a DC law firm. Milorsad Dodik’s nationalist party has cultivated close ties with Putin while courting Trump’s orbit, and Trump-linked lobbyists and operatives have pulled in over $4 million from that government since early 2025.
Trump’s response? He said on Truth Social that they’re just “outside consultants” and he has “no idea” who else they work for, claiming if there’s a conflict he will terminate them “immediately.” These are the people running the GOP’s midterm strategy, and even Republican consultants are asking how seriously the White House is taking these upcoming elections.
A person close to the White House told Politico Playbook: “Not a good look. I think Chris is doing what Chris has always done - and my guess is after 2 years on the campaign and 2 more in the WH James wanted a taste of $ ... and honestly I think it may piss DJT off.”
Then there’s the “family business.” An ABC News analysis found defense and tech companies backed by Don Jr. and Eric Trump have received or been promised more than $6 BILLION in government contracts since the brothers invested. Must be their brilliant business acumen.
And per the Washington Post, Trump wants to turn part of his West Palm Beach golf club into an official presidential retreat modeled after Camp David, with part of the county-owned property handed to the federal government and his private club operating right alongside it. Trump says he’ll fund construction. I’ll believe it when I see it.
Debate Season
With Election Day under 30 days away, that means debate season is upon us.
In the first of 4 debates Maine Senate debates, held 8 years to the day after Susan Collins voted to confirm Brett Kavanaugh, Troy Jackson tied her to Trump on tariffs, ICE, Iran, and the Supreme Court. When Collins touted a rural hospital fund in Trump’s 2025 law, which cuts about $1 trillion from Medicaid, Jackson compared her to an arsonist wanting credit for bringing a cup of water to the blaze. When she bragged about getting road salt off the Canada tariff list, he noted Mainers can’t eat road salt and she’s responsible for all the other tariffs. Collins still insists Kavanaugh didn’t lie to her about Roe v. Wade, and asked whether she’d stand with Trump if he came to Maine, she just insisted he won’t come. Jackson also brought up the recent corruption allegations against Collins. They meet again Thursday.
And elsewhere…
Rob Sand debated Zach Lahn for Iowa governor, Wes Moore debated Dan Cox, and Georgia and Michigan governor candidates squared off. Tonight is Shapiro vs. Garrity in Pennsylvania, Iowa Senate, and Arizona’s 1st District.
Midterm Donation Decisions
Trying to figure out where to donate to help win the midterms this year but don’t want to waste your money? Here are 3 simple rules.
Give now: Early money lets campaigns plan, and late money can’t buy back time.
Skip the campaigns that are already well funded: Your dollars matter most where the need is real.
Don’t forget the state races: Many are decided by a few thousand votes.
Following all three on your own takes a lot of research, which is where Oath comes in. Oath is a donor-first platform that turns real-time financial and polling data into a simple answer to “where should my money go?” Over 150K donors use it to guide their giving, and we built a special slate just for MeidasTouch readers so you can put your money where it counts.
Your Paychecks: Down, Their Portfolios: Way Up
The trade deficit widened to its largest level in more than a way, with imports exceeding exports by about $106 billion. Trump promised his tariffs would bring that number to zero.
The BLS’s own data shows real wage growth negative for the 5th straight month, at -0.2% in August. A new New York Fed study found tariffs added 2.9% to goods inflation by February. Without them, goods prices would have slightly dropped.
Federal Reserve data shows the top 0.1% now hold more than 6 times the wealth of the bottom half. And Semafor reports the New York Fed began visiting JPMorgan, Wells Fargo, Barclays,, and Morgan Stanley to question their exposure to private credit firms, which tells you regulators are worried about what’s lurking in this economy.
Bessent’s Messy Meltdowns
The man in charge of all of this is Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and oh boy… A Wall Street Journal deep dive painted a very ugly picture: profanity-laced tirades, staff avoiding him, dramatic firings. Officials say he got so pissed off about how his briefing book was organized that he threw the binder at a wall. Bessent denies the story. When Code Pink hecklers interrupted him at a DC restaurant back in December, the owner and a nearby diner say he berated the owner and spit in his own food before leaving.
Bessent continues to tout his “Operation Economic Outcast” against Iran, boasting that Iran’s rial hit record lows and Iran loaded 0 crude last month. Iran parliament speaker Ghalibaf answered with “boo!” and a ghost graphic showing U.S. Brent prices, 10-year-yields, junk bond spreads, and diesel all spiking while consumer confidence, housing affordability, and foreign purchases of U.S. Treasuries plunge.
Oil, Hormuz, and the Regional War
Marco Rubio, speaking in Greece, insists the Strait of Hormuz is open and nearly as much oil is flowing as prior to the war. Iran’s General Mohammad Reza Naqdi says the Strait is closed and Iran’s forces have full control, and the IRGC said through state-backed Fars that the southern routes will soon be blocked. Iranian President Pezeshkian vowed to resists, and per IRNA he will meet Putin at the CIS summit in Turkmenistan.
On CNBC, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum claimed Trump “stopped World War 3” and blamed Ukraine for high diesel prices. What planet do these people live on? Reality check:
Oil is rising on Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia
The EIA raised its 2026 Brent forecast 8% to $98, with Q4 expect at $105
Vitol’s chief warned of a tanker shortage and the risk of $200 oil
Tankers are now charging around $1.3 to $1.5 million a day to haul crude oil of the region (it was around $30,000 before the war)
Rosemary Kelanic notes the U.S. has committed 30% of its deployed navy to keep Gulf oil flowing at $100 a barrel
Tropic Depression Nine is forecast to become a hurricane by Thursday and hit the northern Gulf Coast near the Alabama-Florida Panhandle Friday, potentially threatening offshore production and refineries
The Ukraine War Rages On
Ukraine struck an oil tanker now burning off Sochi, while Russia keeps pounding Kyiv with ballistics and cruise missiles and upgraded drones that Ukraine, short on Patriots after Trump withheld weapons, is struggling to intercept.
Trump’s Transphobic Attacks
Trump began this morning posting an ad featuring a man in drag in a grocery store with the message “We Can’t Trust Annie Andrews.” This comes after he used an anti-trans slur against the South Carolina Senate candidate. Dr. Andrews is a pediatrician and a mom of 3. This is the disgusting messaging Trump has now resorted to in order to assist Darline Graham, the sister of the late Lindsey Graham.
Some Final Quick Hits
Marco Rubio was asked in Greece about congressional scrutiny of now-Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle’s controversial tenure. He said it wasn’t the right “forum” and praised her
"A Jens Galschiøt sculpture of a naked, 23-karat gold, obese Trump riding a starving man’s shoulders is on display in the European Parliament in Strasbourg
Trump is heading to San Antonio tonight, but don’t expect Greg Abbott to be in attendance. He’s avoiding it completely. Meanwhile, MAGA Mike Johnson is bringing in activist Scott Presler as the “closer” in Pennsylvania.
My brothers and I wrote WTF America?! for days exactly like this one. It’s out October 20, so preorder the hardcover, audiobook, or e-book today.
Thanks for reading and shoutout to the Meidas Mighty!











I charge much less than anyone else in south Florida. And I tell patients "if [they] can afford it." If they can't, I tell them to pay me whatever is easy. If they can't afford anything, I don't charge them. I don't always remember if a patient paid. I'm not here for that. I'm here to help them with their problems. I just need enough to pay my bills and support myself. I don't live high. If I wanted to be rich, I would have done something else. Turn an unpaid bill over to collections? No possibility on earth. They would at most get a call from me to ask how things are going, and if finances are a problem. If they are, I fix the problem. One of Hippocrates' reminders is that we're there for the patients' benefit. They're not there for ours.
i love you for this life as you’ve lived it.
when our eldest was an infant our pediatrician discovered the hospital my husband worked at was closing. when i brought the baby in with a fever he told me to sit by him at his desk and told me to never to hesitate bringing the baby to him because of money issues. i still think of Dr. Evan’s with nothing but love and gratitude.
Dr Evans was exactly right. I have been a psychiatrist for over 48 years. I have never ever, not once, refused to see a patient for money reasons, and I never would.
I always say we have the American medical industry. It is not "health care." It commonly has little or nothing to do with anyone's health. Its purpose is to move money from wherever it is to providers, other vendors, and insurance companies. The two most central things to remember are 1) that we spend far more on the American medical industry than real countries spend on actual health care, and 2) that our results are worse than in almost all developed countries. The latter is complicated, and has a number of causes. It is also true that 3) we do not provide whatever we provide for everyone, and 4) the commonest cause of personal bankruptcy in this country is now, and has always been, an inability to pay medical bills. Dr Marshall might be about exhibit A.
Medicine is now a money machine. For men and women with a calling (as you have) it must be excruciating…
Little more than a money machine, although I've heard some people say it's better outside FL, or south FL. All of my experience has been in MA and FL. I have not seen evidence that's better other than where I am.
Beyond excruciating. And the problems are much bigger than I am. So I gave up trying to fight them. I just practice my own way.
Although I've come to know a few Substackers, and two were running for federal office. One came in second in a 7-person primary, so he's not involved in what he hoped was his House race any more. Close, but... Another is running for Senate as an independent, and I doubt he'll lose to the R incumbent. I told both of them that if they win, I would take myself to DC, and talk to as a large a group of electeds as possible, to explain the problem. Maybe a government heavy enough with Ds and Is will do something about it. That will depend on a government/legislature that refuses to be bought off by the industry. My Senate candidate friend won't be bought off, and maybe a large enough number of others won't, either. I'll see if I get a phone call inviting me to DC.
My dad, a family physician, only ever sent one patient to collections. That farmer leased a new Cadillac every year to drive around town. My mother in exasperation, finally talked him into using a collection agency. He never took even that person to court.
The United States is the only western 'democracy' where medical bankruptcy is a phenomenon. We need Medicare for all!
Yes! And finally, a strong majority of Americans agree.
The MAGA MAGGOTS drove Americans to support MEDICARE FOR ALL by destroying HEALTH CARE!
Send support to Abdul El Sayed MD PHD. He is running on a platform of Medicare for All. He is a public health doctor, here in Michigan!
Scott, little by little, democracy is winning!
If I bumped into Jack Smith I would say thank you, then get out of the way.
lol. He along with Letitia James would make great attorney generals.
Ditto
Perfect response! That needs to be on one of my sign's on Nov. 3Rd. 🎉💙🇱🇷
Sam, how about a fist bump to show STRONG!!!
Eric “Schmitthead” Schmitt is one champion rake-stepper! He should write a book on how to be your own worst enemy. That was prime time tv at its best!
I get to go to the Speakers Series in Denver tomorrow night and hear Jack Smith! I can't wait. He's a hero!
Roger Marshall sounds disgusting. Read about him on Wikipedia and it made my stomach turn. Hope he gets beaten badly.
You are so lucky! Have a great time. I just checked and it's sold out!
Marshall=Liar, liar pants on fire!
No to Supremes owning stocks. How else could they be impartial?
Jack, you are my hero! Keep fighting that awful orange man....
Sorry Scott, Jack Smith is my new hero for today!!
If you watched the video, Klobuchar should be your new heroine. Smith contributed essentially nothing. Klobuchar did every bit of the heavy lifting.
However lookout for Shivon and Elon with AI, tricky distancing, self-deciding non-human or humans with chips in their brains oversight of military weapons, and takeover of farming...no humans is their ultimate game - more $$$ for them with fewer humans...greedy bunch of self-serving autocrats - see Drey Dossier live post from yesterday who tracks the story with receipts
I hope that when we get a democratic president (and hopefully, Trump will be impeach ed - along with JD Vance, or die in office) the new president will appoint Jack Smith as the head of the Justice Department. That would give back true meaning to "justice".
Gin, let us know how the Speakers Series in Denver with Jack Smith is tomorrow!!! So looking forward to hearing about it!
My nephew voted yesterday in Ohio 🤞 turning Ohio Blue The voter sticker was the prettiest one I've ever seen. We are voting on October 22nd in Delaware. Everyone please vote first day of early voting in your State. 🇺🇸💙💙💙🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊
I've already voted straight Blue up and down my ballot here in Michigan and my ballot is listed as accepted for counting by the Secretary of State's Office. Ballots went out on September 23rd. The SOS released a statement this morning that ballots cast are up 30% over this time in 2022.
👍👍👍👍👍 I'm so happy to hear your news.
To Jack Smith, I would say, Thank you for your service!
To the Rethuglicans in the House, MOVE THE F over and get lost. We don't want corrupt pedophiles, thieves, and con artists representing us.
To SCOTUS, to those of you who have been bribed, I hope you are all impeached, thrown off the court, and never allowed to practice law.
Jack Smith is a hero to us all. He speaks truth and rule of law, stands up for the Constitution, and I thank him for all of this!
That doctor should be shamed for such callous actions, people can barely afford basics these days. Throw the MAGAT out.
SCOTUS should be smart enough to recuse in any cases that they have a vested interest in; that said, they should know BETTER!
My ballot is being sent, I should have it by the weekend! Another vote in the millions of votes to bring decency back and restraint on the mis-leader in the WH! 10/17 will be crucial in making the resistance stronger!
Let's get in some good trouble, Scott!
No surprise that a justice thought one of the oil company attorneys gave an answer that was "a little slippery." C'mon -- he's an oil company attorney!
Everywhere you look Corruption far and wide. The solution? VOTE!!! VOTE IN candidates who will get to work FOR the people of America and FIX this Corruption!!! VOTE OUT any politician anywhere in America that is part of this MASSIVE WIDE SPREAD Corruption........
I don't particularly have a problem with anyone owning stocks, including judges, government officials and legislators at any level. BUT, none of those people should be allowed to make any decision of any kind that would benefit a corporation they have a financial interest in... EVER! That being said, dishonesty in government seems to be the norm, especially by trump, MAGA politicians, and some judges, including Supreme Court Justices. The swamp is thriving! So, ugh!
Are Republicans seriously going to win over 200 seats in the House? It looks like the majority will come down to the swing seats you listed .
I can't fathom the idea of Mike Johnson retaining his Speaker position and rubber stamping everything Trump wants, and just sending everyone home when it looks like he might have to actually do some governing
What is wrong with our country that over 200 districts would send their Trump supporting Representatives back to continue doing damage to the people? People are absolutely horrible to assist Trump. Do they really believe they're going to get a $5,000 check?
I was really hoping for a blue tsunami, a win too big for Fascist Trump, Johnson, Miller and that whole rotten group to legitimately be able to contest.
You're worrying me that it's going to be close. That's not a wave, that's a ripple, a thrown pebble in the lake.
We need a huge Democrat win, or our country will be in even more danger than it is now.
The numbers of MAIL-IN BALLOTS are staggering!
It also adds up to COST SAVINGS!
More than 900,000 mail-in ballots being sent to Massachusetts voters. Here's how and when to return them.
By Neal Riley
October 7, 2026
excerpt:
Voting by mail in Massachusetts? With about a month to go until the general election, more than 900,000 mail-in ballots are on their way to voters who requested them, Secretary of State Bill Galvin's office says.
https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/vote-by-mail-in-ballots-massachusetts-deadlines-application/