Today's News with Larry Schweikart
TODAY'S NEWS, October 12-20, 2026
Episode Summary
Republicans are reporting strong early-voting and mail-in ballot numbers across several key states, though congressional projections remain competitive, with Pennsylvania, Arizona, Florida, and other districts shaping the fight for the House. The roundup also highlights immigration enforcement, allegations of noncitizen voting, school enrollment declines, and disputes over election integrity and government oversight. Economic developments include a proposed flying car, federal investment in energy infrastructure, falling pending home sales, and industrial production growing at its fastest pace in four years. Internationally, France and other European countries face unrest and growing support for anti-immigration parties, while the conflict in the Middle East is reportedly shifting energy influence toward the Americas. Entertainment and sports headlines cover NFL quarterback injuries, Christina Applegate’s reported diagnostic reversal, actor R. J. Witte’s death, media layoffs, and users returning from BlueSky to X. Medical news focuses on a retracted vaccine-related study, changes to Obamacare enrollment, and concerns about government pressure on online health discussions. The final story questions the price and symbolism of Kylie Jenner’s $50 million Victoria’s Secret bra, contrasting it with the affordability principles of bra inventor Ida Rosenthal.
Episode Notes
IN POLITICAL NEWS
- 1) Republicans are reportedly outperforming Democrats in early and mail-in voting in Pennsylvania, Nevada, Texas, and Florida. District projections remain mixed, with possible Democratic gains offset by Republican holds and pickups. The source estimates Republicans at 209 seats and Democrats at 212, while highlighting encouraging signs in Arizona’s 6th District and New York’s 17th. Nebraska Senate candidate Dan Osborn is reportedly losing staffers.
- 2) The Trump administration sued California over counting ballots cast by noncitizens. The source also cites arrests in North Carolina and charges in California involving alleged noncitizen voting.
- 3) Amy Acton, a Democrat challenging Vivek Ramaswamy, reportedly faced an unusual setback when her own mother appeared in an advertisement opposing her.
- 4) An informant claims to know where the knife used to murder Nicole Brown Simpson is located.
- 5) A school shooting in Oregon was reportedly stopped by an armed civilian.
- 6) Authorities arrested 491 fugitives reportedly hiding in public housing.
- 7) California allegedly directed more than $350 million in fire-relief funding toward low-income housing construction without providing direct assistance to people who lost their homes.
IN ILLEGAL CRIMINAL ALIEN NEWS
- 8) Bank of America was reportedly fined $1.2 billion over alleged financial misconduct involving China.
- 9) Ilhan Omar has reportedly disappeared from public view amid questions about her immigration records and possible denaturalization. The source claims federal investigators have DNA evidence relevant to allegations involving her family, but provides no independent substantiation for those claims.
- 10) California public schools are reportedly seeing sharp declines in immigrant student enrollment. The source attributes the trend partly to stricter border policies and also points to broader dissatisfaction with public schools, including a projected 7,000 to 10,000-student enrollment decline over a decade in Chandler, Arizona.
- 11) More than 3,000 visas have reportedly been revoked under Trump.
IN CULTURAL NEWS
- 12) Derek Thompson and Daniel Cox discuss declining rates of dating, marriage, dancing, and physical affection among younger generations. The discussion links social anxiety and changing gender expectations to weaker relationships, while the source raises concerns about political divisions among young women.
- 13) A teacher reportedly broke down in tears after finding that only one of 34 students could perform age-appropriate academic work.
IN ECONOMIC NEWS
- 14) Elon Musk introduced a flying-car concept. The source calls it a technological breakthrough while acknowledging unresolved questions around affordability, refueling, and flight regulation.
- 15) Musk said he would give every American child a share of SpaceX. Separately, Anthropic reportedly plans to contribute to a public-interest fund, which the source questions given the company’s lack of profitability.
- 16) The Department of Energy backed plans for a $581 million expansion of the energy grid.
- 17) Pending home sales dropped sharply.
- 18) A Minneapolis restaurant operating without listed prices is closing, prompting criticism of its business model.
- 19) Federal authorities accused ten banks of “de-banking” conservative customers.
- 20) U.S. industrial production is reportedly growing at its fastest rate in four years.
IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- 21) France is experiencing escalating riots, curfews, and political backlash, with the source linking unrest to immigration and integration issues. Protests and disturbances are also reported in Portugal, Italy, Belgium, and Albania, while Poland is presented as a contrasting example.
- 22) Kim Jong Un’s whereabouts remain uncertain amid rumors that he may have died following botched surgery. The source questions the credibility of official North Korean images intended to show that he is alive.
- 23) Denmark’s anti-immigration party reportedly more than tripled its vote share and number of seats.
- 24) The film Replacing Europe reportedly traces financial networks it alleges are contributing to destabilization in Western Europe.
- 25) The Financial Times reportedly acknowledged that the Middle East conflict has shifted energy power toward the Americas, potentially for the long term.
IN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
- 26) Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts is reportedly out for the season with blood clots in his lungs. The source raises concerns about how the team handled his health and notes other NFL quarterback injuries, while questioning whether highly specialized conditioning leaves players more vulnerable. The author also expresses frustration with the Dallas Cowboys’ ownership.
- 27) Christina Applegate reportedly says doctors told her she had been misdiagnosed with multiple sclerosis, although her symptoms remain and she still uses a cane and wheelchair.
- 28) R. J. Witte, an actor with cerebral palsy who played Walter White’s son in Breaking Bad, died by suicide at 34. The source praises the natural portrayal of disability in his role.
- 29) A Netflix film vice president reportedly left amid industry layoffs, while CNN reportedly dismissed Christiane Amanpour.
- 30) The author gives a positive review of Run, Hide, Fight: Infidels, describing it as a worthwhile film.
- 31) Users are reportedly leaving BlueSky and returning to X.
IN MEDICAL NEWS
- 32) A study supportive of COVID-19 vaccination was retracted over false data. The source notes that its lead researcher had a previous paper retracted and questions the accountability of the other authors.
- 33) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that tens of thousands of people who were reportedly ineligible for Obamacare had been removed from enrollment.
- 34) Newly released documents reportedly suggest that Biden administration policies governing COVID-related social media discussions were part of a broader effort to restrict online health discourse.
AND FINALLY . . .
- 35) Kylie Jenner appeared on the Victoria’s Secret runway wearing a bra reportedly valued at $50 million, sparking criticism over its cost and symbolism. The source contrasts the spectacle with Ida Rosenthal, the Russian-born socialist immigrant who helped invent the modern bra and reportedly kept prices affordable during the Great Depression.