Just the Facts
Each top story, read across outlets on the left, center and right, and rewritten with the spin taken out. Every fact links to the reports that state it.
Thursday, November 5
Russell Brand convicted of rape, sexual assault by London jury
A London jury convicted the 51-year-old actor on one rape count and three sexual assault counts involving four women, acquitting him on three other counts, with sentencing set for Monday.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumMelania Trump to host Russian, Ukrainian officials at White House
The first lady will bring Russian and Ukrainian representatives together on Thursday after a brief Oleshky ceasefire allowed civilians to evacuate.
Written from 7 reports by outlets across the spectrumTrump lawyers to argue appeal of 2024 hush money conviction
Lawyers for President Trump and Manhattan prosecutors face a New York appeals panel Thursday over his 34-count falsifying business records conviction.
Written from 3 reports by outlets across the spectrumDemocrats' midterm sweep sets up health care fight with Trump
Democrats plan to press to restore expired insurance subsidies, reverse Medicaid cuts and scrutinize health officials, but any law will need President Trump's signature.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumSix killed, several injured in early-morning Brooklyn house fire
Four people were pronounced dead at the scene and two later died in hospitals after a three-alarm fire on 58th Street in Sunset Park, officials said.
Written from 3 reports by outlets across the spectrumDublin-Rome Aer Lingus flight diverted to France after bomb threat
Flight EI402 with 151 passengers and six crew landed safely at Evreux air base under military escort amid wider threats disrupting European air travel.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumUS stocks climb after Democrats take House and Senate
Markets rose Wednesday as investors weighed a new balance in Washington and President Donald Trump said he would accept the midterm results.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumHong Kong jails Joshua Wong for 10 years in foreign collusion case
Joshua Wong, already serving time for subversion, received a 10-year sentence after pleading guilty to colluding with foreign forces.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumLeon Black sues Rep. Robert Garcia alleging defamation over Epstein remarks
Black alleges Garcia defamed him over Epstein ties.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumIsrael's Herzog accepts election results, starts coalition talks
President Isaac Herzog accepted the certified October 27 results and began consultations on who should try to form a government after neither major bloc won a majority.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrum2 dead, including suspect, in shooting at Citibank campus near Tampa
Authorities said a gunman drove onto the Citibank complex and opened fire in an outdoor lunch area before being shot by a security guard.
Written from 6 reports by outlets across the spectrumMississippi Senate race too close to call as vote count continues
Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Democrat Scott Colom were separated by a fraction of a point with nearly all votes counted.
Written from 6 reports by outlets across the spectrum
Wednesday, November 4
Voters reject data centers in nearly all local ballot measures
Voters in 10 states backed limits or bans on data center construction in nearly every local measure on the ballot in the 2026 midterms.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrumUkraine releases bodycam video of Russian strike on aid site in south
Police video shows civilians entering a shelter before a second strike hit in Kamyshuvakha, where the death toll remains disputed as rescue work continues.
Written from 6 reports by outlets across the spectrumTrump asks advisers about Hegseth future after midterm losses
President Trump is privately asking advisers whether Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth should keep his job after Republican midterm losses tied to the Iran war, while publicly saying he is doing good work.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrumJeffries launches House speaker bid after Democrats retake majority
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries formally sought support for speaker in a letter to colleagues after Democrats regained the House in Tuesday's midterms.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrumJohnson won't seek minority leader job after Republicans lose House
House Speaker Mike Johnson told staff he will step aside after Democrats won the House majority, opening a race between Steve Scalise and Jim Jordan for minority leader.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumVance says Iran war cost Republicans the 2026 midterms
Vice President JD Vance said many 2024 Trump supporters voted for Democrats over the war, inflation and U.S. policy toward Israel.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumTroy Jackson defeats Susan Collins in Maine Senate race
Democrat Troy Jackson defeated Republican Sen. Susan Collins in Maine early Wednesday, flipping a Republican-held Senate seat.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumKeisha Lance Bottoms wins Georgia governor race, flipping office
The former Atlanta mayor defeated Republican Rick Jackson and will succeed Gov. Brian Kemp as Georgia's first woman governor.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumDemocrat Gina Hinojosa elected Texas governor, defeating Abbott
Hinojosa ousted three-term Republican incumbent Greg Abbott to become the first Democrat elected governor of Texas in more than 30 years and the first Latina governor of Texas.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumU.S. conducts limited strikes in Strait of Hormuz before midterms
The Monday strikes on Iranian targets came hours before Tuesday voting as talks continued over ending an eight-month conflict.
Written from 7 reports by outlets across the spectrumAbdul El-Sayed defeats Mike Rogers in Michigan Senate race
Democrat Abdul El-Sayed defeated Republican Mike Rogers in Michigan to become the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Senate.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumDemocrats win House and Senate, ending full Republican control
Projections give Democrats both chambers, with the House majority still to be finalized and control to change on Jan. 3.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumJames Talarico defeats Ken Paxton to win Texas Senate seat
Democrat James Talarico defeated Republican Ken Paxton in Texas, taking a Senate seat Democrats had not won since 1988.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrum
Monday, November 2
Sunday, November 1
Nine killed as business jet crashes in Florida neighborhood
A Learjet 60 flying from Texas to the Bahamas went down in Palm Beach County on Sunday, killing all nine aboard.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumFBI says North Korea stole $6.3 billion from Binance in record theft
The FBI attributed the theft of billions in digital currency from Binance this week to North Korean hackers known as TraderTraitor, while President Trump said investigators were still learning about the case.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrumHaley Stevens endorses Republican Rogers in Michigan Senate race
The Michigan Democrat backed Republican Mike Rogers over Abdul El-Sayed two days before the midterms after a feud over Israel and a disinvitation from El-Sayed events.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumJudge rejects bid to delay Alaska Senate certification over same-name candidate
The Justice Department sought to pause certification if Sen. Dan Sullivan lost because of confusion with another Dan Sullivan on the ballot.
Written from 7 reports by outlets across the spectrum
