Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) is the third senator to officially run for governor this cycle, while at least four governors have turned down recruitment efforts to run for Senate.
Blackburn joins Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) and Michael Bennet (D-Colo.) in bucking D.C. for gubernatorial roles.
Why it matters: Governors used to jump at the chance to be a senator. But Govs. Brian Kemp (R-Ga.), Gretchen Whitmer (D-Mich.), Andy Beshear (D-Ky.) and Chris Sununu (R-N.H.) have all passed on open races next year.
Major League Baseball has announced that a minor league veteran umpire will become the first female umpire ever to work a regular-season Major League game.
Why it matters: When Jen Pawol walks on the field during this weekend's Marlins-Braves series in Atlanta, she'll be breaking another barrier in a league that helped break the color line with Jackie Robinson nearly 80 years ago.
Surprise!Minority Leader Chuck Schumer's dream scenario for Senate Democrats in the 2026 midterms is alive and kicking.
Why it matters: The party started the year hoping to just chip away at the GOP's Senate majority in 2026. But they can dare to dream bigger if Schumer (D-N.Y.) can close on his biggest recruiting targets.
U.S. adults' stance on corporate activism has flip-flopped, according to a Wednesday Bentley University-Gallup report.
Why it matters: After years of decline in support, more Americans across demographics and political affiliations want businesses to take a public stance on hot-button topics including free speech, immigration policy, diversity, climate change and health care issues.
President Trump does not oppose Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's plan to launch a new military operation to occupy the entire Gaza Strip, U.S. and Israeli officials say.
Why it matters: The Israeli Security Cabinet is expected to approve on Thursday a highly controversial plan to expand the war. According to the sources, Trump has decided not to intervene and to let the Israeli government make its own decisions.
The nation's violent and property crime rates dropped to a two-decade low in 2024, following the COVID-era surge in homicides, according to new FBI data released this week.
Why it matters: The numbers show crime was heading toward a 20-year record low in the last year of the Biden administration, despite President Trump's false campaign claims that President Biden was overseeing a nationwide crime spike.
The Library of Congress on Wednesday pointed to an unspecified "coding error" that led to key parts of the U.S. Constitution being deleted from the Constitution Annotated website.
The Trump administration is decreasing funding for the development of mRNA (messenger RNA) vaccines, which were crucial in the response to COVID-19.
Why it matters: mRNA vaccines are a public health tool to mitigating future pandemic-like situations, as researchers can move fast at a lower cost than other vaccine systems.
Wednesday marks the 60th anniversary of President Lyndon Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965 — a law aimed at ending discrimination and violence against Black Americans, Latinos and Indigenous people attempting to vote.
Through the lens: To commemorate the historical moment, here are some images that led to the law and its aftermath that transformed the United States into a genuine multiracial democracy.
If you follow markets and the economy, the only thing you've heard over the last few days is that AI spending is propping everything up, from GDP to the S&P, and that can't last forever.
Why it matters: When bubbles burst, they don't do it gently.
Colorado on Wednesday will become the second state to require pre-merger notifications, regardless of industry.
Washington became the first earlier this year, and at least five other states — including California — and the District of Columbia are considering similar rules.
Why it matters: States often lack visibility into pending mergers. These new laws aim to change that dynamic, which could increase antitrust enforcement actions.
Wednesday marks the 80th anniversary of the Atomic bombing of Hiroshima, Japan — an event that helped end World War II but also brought the world into the nuclear age and the Cold War.
Japan uses the anniversary to commemorate the lives of the Hibakusha, survivors of the bombing, and asks the world to heed the dangers of nuclear war.
The big picture: Here are some images from this crucial moment in world history.
President Trump on Tuesday again threatened to take federal control of Washington, D.C., following the alleged early-morning attempted carjacking and beating of a former DOGE staffer.
The big picture: The president has long lamented what he sees as the "horribly run" capital and expressed his desires to seize control over a "FILTHY AND CRIME RIDDEN EMBARRASSMENT TO OUR NATION." But nixing D.C. home rule is not something he could do via executive power.
After months of signaling she intended to run, Blackburn made her candidacy for governor official on Wednesday.
Why it matters: Blackburn's ties to President Trump, fundraising prowess and track record of winning statewide elections make her a formidable candidate.
As a working group begins to reimagine public schools in Indianapolis, funding and transportation are top of mind for many Marion County voters.
The big picture: State lawmakers created the Indianapolis Local Education Alliance (ILEA) this past legislative session, charging the group of city government and education leaders with crafting plans that address facility and transportation management, examining governance structure and looking for increased efficiency.
The alliance is expected to recommend by the end of the year how best to deepen collaboration between public and public charter schools.
Carol Leonnig and Aaron C. Davis, both Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporters, will be out Nov. 4 with "Injustice," billed as an investigation of "the subversion of the Justice Department over the last decade," starting with the department's "defensive crouch" in President Trump's first term.
Why it matters: "With a plethora of sources deeply embedded in the ranks of three presidencies," says the publisher, Penguin Press, "Leonnig and Davis reveal the daily war secretly waged for the soul of the department, how it has been shredded by propaganda and partisanship."
The U.S. travel industry is warning that a new $250 visa fee could deter millions of international visitors just as the country gears up to host the 2026 World Cup and 2028 Summer Olympics.
Why it matters: The fee comes at a crucial moment for U.S. tourism, with America's 250th birthday next year.
Now, for the first time, the levers of power are aligned to pursue that goal from inside the federal government.
Why it matters: Attorney General Pam Bondi's decision to order a grand jury investigation into Obama-era intelligence officials is a watershed moment in the history of MAGA retribution.
Onyx Impact is launching an effort to counter digital disinformation in Black communities — tapping influencers, local Black media, and digital tools to strengthen trust, boost engagement and fight suppression ahead of elections.
Gov. Greg Abbott acted to remove Texas Democratic Rep. Gene Wu from office after he refused to return to Austin, saying he will also target "derelict Democrat Texas House members" who left the state to stop a Republican-drawn congressional map.
Why it matters: Democrats appeared undeterred by Republicans' threats — despite facing possible political backlash, fines and legal challenges.
