Today's News with Larry Schweikart
TODAY'S NEWS, October 21-22, 2026
Episode Summary
Questionable polling firms, alleged political corruption, and shifting early-voting patterns dominate the political headlines, with Republican commentators arguing that the data points toward stronger GOP performance in several key races, including Arizona, Minnesota, and Texas. Other stories cover fraud charges against Democratic officials, a major Social Security account review, and concerns about political networks operating within government. The roundup also warns about AI-generated identities being used to deceive people and examines the Supreme Court’s decision to let litigation over restrictions on taxpayer-funded gender-transition procedures continue through the normal judicial process. Economic news features Meta facing a reported $25 billion privacy-related judgment, Britain approving new North Sea gas drilling, California’s costly high-speed rail project, eBay job cuts, and low weekly jobless claims. International developments include increased oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, European migration figures, a cybersecurity incident affecting British services, and Zelensky’s reported willingness to accept current front lines in a peace settlement. Entertainment headlines include an injury to Steelers coach Mike McCarthy and actress Evangeline Lilly’s retirement from Hollywood, while Japan prepares a mission to retrieve Martian samples.
Episode Notes
N POLITICAL NEWS
- 1) Two polling firms, Median Strategies and Wedgewood Polls, are accused of operating as propaganda projects rather than credible pollsters. The source highlights Wedgewood’s description of its work as a “social experiment” and criticizes Newsweek for previously relying on its polling.
- 2) Republican analyst Seth Keshel argues that early-voting patterns in Arizona point to strong GOP performance among Hispanic voters and potential Republican gains. Republicans reportedly hold a 1.6% lead in Maricopa County, improving Andy Biggs’ prospects for governor and making Arizona’s 1st Congressional District more competitive. The source also cites possible Republican gains in Minnesota’s Senate race and Texas, while noting that Abdul El-Sayed’s Michigan Senate campaign faces scrutiny over alleged overseas funding received by an operative.
- 3) Florida’s attorney general arrested the Democratic mayor of Kissimmee on fraud and grand-theft charges. Separately, a powerful Virginia Democratic state senator was charged with drug trafficking and money laundering.
- 4) A detailed analysis examines how color revolutions operate and whether similar dynamics are emerging in the United States. The source argues that investigations and reforms under Trump and DOGE have weakened progressive networks within government, while acknowledging the need for continued scrutiny.
- 5) Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin is criticized over reported comments about prosecuting young graduates who work for Republicans.
- 6) Social Security announced a major review involving more than 25 million accounts.
- 7) Phoenix experienced an unusual hailstorm with golf-ball-sized hailstones.
IN CULTURAL NEWS
- 8) A man reportedly sold his possessions and drove 1,200 miles to meet a woman he had fallen for, only to discover she was an AI-generated identity. The story raises concerns about increasingly convincing AI deception and emotional manipulation.
IN TRANSOID NEWS
- 9) The Supreme Court declined the Trump administration’s emergency request to immediately enforce restrictions on taxpayer-funded gender-transition procedures while related cases continue through the courts. The source describes this as an example of the Court allowing the judicial process to proceed rather than deciding an unresolved issue prematurely.
IN ECONOMIC NEWS
- 9) Meta was reportedly ordered to pay $25 billion in a New Mexico lawsuit involving allegations of misleading users about privacy.
- 10) Britain approved new North Sea gas drilling, highlighting continued reliance on conventional energy alongside renewable sources.
- 11) California’s high-speed rail project faces criticism over cost overruns, with approximately $15 billion reportedly spent without a mile of track laid.
- 12) eBay plans to cut 1,100 jobs, while the United States signed a deal with Lockheed Martin for 850 F-35 fighter jets.
- 13) Weekly U.S. jobless claims stood at 194,000, approaching a 57-year low.
IN INTERNATIONAL NEWS
- 14) More oil is reportedly passing through the Strait of Hormuz than before the recent conflict, challenging expectations about the disruption to oil shipments.
- 15) European migration figures since 2000 show Britain leading the countries listed, with approximately seven million additional migrants.
- 16) A global cybersecurity incident took 30 British services offline.
- 17) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly said he would accept a peace agreement based on the current boundaries of the conflict.
IN ENTERTAINMENT NEWS
- 18) Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike McCarthy injured himself during a game. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers joked that he would not want Tony Fauci administering vaccines to treat the injury.
- 19) Evangeline Lilly, known for The Hobbit and Ant-Man and the Wasp, announced her retirement from Hollywood, citing her Christian faith.
AND FINALLY . . .
- 20) Japan launched a mission to retrieve soil and rock samples from Mars, prompting the source to joke about whether Japan’s shrinking population will still be around when the samples return.