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In the last consumer snapshot before the 2026 midterm elections, the annual rate of inflation rose 3.7 percent.

Meanwhile, Tesla CEO Elon Musk is set to become the biggest donor of this midterm cycle, after spending more than $366 million on conservative candidates and causes.

And the Trump administration is once again targeting Rep. Ilhan Omar, with federal agents issuing subpoenas to her family as they searched her family history for instances of fraud.

And, in global news, fighting between the Saudis and the Yemeni Houthis is intensifying. A building owned by major Saudi energy company was the latest casualty as it was set ablaze late Tuesday. On Thursday, a presidential palace in Aden was also hit

Also in the Middle East, Iranian drone and missile attacks are heating up in the Strait of Hormuz. At least six cargo vessels were attacked and sunk this week.

In France, President Emmanuel Macron is accusing student protesters demonstrating against conditions in the nation’s schools of harboring political motivations and being exploited by his enemies. And in India, protestors put pressure on Prime Minister Modi.

We cover the most important stories from around the world in the News Roundup.

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A new report released yesterday shows inflation is on the rise.

Prices were up 3.7 percent in September over last year, the highest annual rate since May. The rising cost of fuel, specifically diesel, was a major factor in that jump. 

Why are these prices so high? And what does that mean for businesses and for you?

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For those experiencing hearing loss, being able to discern the speech of other people in noisy environments can be frustrating. And hearing aids often don’t convey sound in every situation.

Hearing loss affects 37.5 million adults in this country. And rates of hearing loss increase with age. Some 10 percent of those over the age of 55 have hearing loss that qualifies as a disability. And just over half of all people over the age of 75 have disabling hearing loss.

In this edition of “In Good Health,” we talk about the health issues that most affect us and put your questions to the experts. This time, we tackle hearing loss.

Here are some resources shared by our experts during this discussion:

- HearAdvisor.com – a hearing aid comparison and review site
- Hear & Beyond by Shari Eberts and Gael Hannan – a guide to navigating hearing loss
- Hearing Number app – a free smartphone app by Johns Hopkins University for measuring how much sound you can hear

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The U.S. Military educates, and trains some of the best and brightest across the U.S.

The Pentagon is a complex, big, and bureaucratic machine. It moves slowly. But it has evolved over time, reflecting changes in our society and politics. From the integration of the military in the late-1940’s to women finally being admitted to military academies, in the mid-1970s.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is on a mission to change what he calls a “woke” and “weak” military. He says he wants to bring back a “warrior ethos” and “lethality” to the military.

His strategy? Rolling back inclusive policies, firing high level officials, and overhauling military education. He’s been explicit about the kind of Pentagon he envisions, using vulgarities and slurs to make his point.

What do Hegseth’s reforms mean for service members, cadets, military families, and the next generation of recruits?

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Polls play a major role in U.S. politics. And in the months leading up to an election, they’re everywhere.

Polling doesn’t just indicate which party has a competitive advantage in a race. They also tell us about the issues that are most concerning to voters. And how these concerns break down by race, gender, education, age, and political affiliation. They also tell us the level of trust people have in the institutions tasked with carrying out our democratic processes.

In this installment of our weekly series, “If You Can Keep It,” we break down the purpose of polls and their place in our elections, politics, and democracy.

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