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, October 29
Audio Shows Spanish Controllers Cleared Train Before Fatal Crash
Leaked recordings show a Renfe train was told to proceed at normal speed minutes before it hit a stalled Iryo train near Urda, killing at least 68 people.
Written from 6 reports by outlets across the spectrumNorth Korea fires ballistic missiles off east coast amid border tensions
South Korea said the short-range missiles were launched from near Wonsan as disputes over a border mine blast and military talks remain unresolved.
Written from 6 reports by outlets across the spectrumRussian drone hits Dnipro station platform, killing at least 13, Ukraine says
A jet-powered drone struck a crowded platform in Dnipro on Thursday, with officials reporting at least 13 dead and other fatal strikes elsewhere in Ukraine.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrumUS economy grew 3.4% in third quarter as inflation rose to 3.7%
Preliminary government data showed faster growth from July through September, powered by consumer spending and AI investment, alongside elevated inflation days before the midterms.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumTrump calls for Peltola to leave Alaska Senate race over second Sullivan
Trump accused Peltola's campaign of recruiting a second Dan Sullivan to confuse voters, a claim her campaign denies, as Alaska's governor ordered an investigation.
Written from 6 reports by outlets across the spectrumHegseth removes Pentagon's top planner over alleged leaks
Army Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia was removed as the Joint Staff's strategy chief amid disputed allegations of leaking classified information on Iran and Ukraine, with the case referred to the Justice Department.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumNew polls suggest Democrats gaining in red states before Senate vote
Trump headed to Ohio after Texas rallies as poll suggested tied or Democratic-led races in South Carolina and North Carolina with Senate control at stake.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumJudge rejects US bid to segregate 20,000 California ballots
A federal judge denied an emergency Justice Department request to set aside mail ballots from voters it described as likely noncitizens six days before the midterms.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumData leak exposes details of more than 40,000 DHS employees
A nonprofit published personnel data it said came from DHS's Okta login system, including names and contacts for staff in surveillance and undercover roles.
Written from 7 reports by outlets across the spectrumBrewers beat Rays 4-1 in Game 5 to win first World Series title
Milwaukee won the best-of-seven series 4-1 in St. Petersburg to earn the franchise's first championship since its start as the Seattle Pilots in 1969.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumNetanyahu bloc leads Israel vote but falls short of majority
With nearly all ballots counted, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc holds 53 seats to 48 for Gadi Eisenkot's bloc, leaving both short of 61 and Arab parties holding a record 19.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrum
Wednesday, October 28
FBI searches Southern California home in probe tied to ex-Rep. Eric Swalwell
The FBI confirmed a court-authorized search of a home in Southern California tied to an ongoing criminal investigation; sources told ABC News it is connected to former Rep. Eric Swalwell, one week before the midterm elections.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumTwo high-speed trains collide in central Spain; reported death toll ranges from 10 to 30
Regional officials said the death toll could rise after two trains from Renfe and Iryo collided on the Madrid-Andalusia high-speed line, and rail service was suspended.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrumJudge skeptical of U.S. bid to block California from counting 20,000 ballots
A federal appeals court on Monday rejected a Justice Department request to set aside about 20,000 California mail-in ballots, and a Los Angeles judge said Tuesday he would rule on the request Wednesday.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumOil prices rise as Houthi attacks on Saudi refinery raise supply worries
Oil prices rose as Houthi attacks on a Saudi Arabian refinery raised supply worries, while the Houthis claimed attacks on Saudi oil pumps and a Riyadh airport and MS NOW wrote that President Trump was celebrating higher prices.
Written from 3 reports by outlets across the spectrumTrump and Talarico hold dueling rallies in Texas one week before midterms
The president and Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico both campaigned in Texas on Tuesday, with rallies in Lubbock drawing large crowds a week before the midterm elections.
Written from 7 reports by outlets across the spectrumIran war cost reaches $47.1 billion, U.S. military says
The U.S. military puts the cost of the war with Iran at at least $47.1 billion as of mid-October, as President Trump weighs new strikes after the midterm elections.
Written from 6 reports by outlets across the spectrumGrand jury declines to indict former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson
A federal grand jury in Washington declined to indict Cassidy Hutchinson, rejecting a Justice Department request to charge her over her 2022 testimony about President Trump’s conduct on Jan. 6, 2021.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumFEC electronic filing system goes offline a week before midterm elections
The agency's campaign finance filing system has been down since Monday night, and none of the reports gives a cause for the outage.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumFed expected to hold interest rates steady Wednesday as inflation stands at 3.7%
Most economists and markets expect the Federal Reserve to keep rates unchanged after its September increase, days before the Nov. 3 midterm elections.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrumGrand jury declines to indict Cassidy Hutchinson over Jan. 6 testimony
A federal grand jury in Washington declined to indict former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson on charges of lying to Congress over her testimony about the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, people familiar with the matter said.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrum
Tuesday, October 27
At least 60 Orthodox Christians killed in attacks in Ethiopia's Oromia region
Church officials say attacks on October 20 and 24 in central Oromia killed at least 60 people and burned 20 homes, while the regional government pledged to pursue those responsible.
Written from 3 reports by outlets across the spectrumExit polls show no clear winner in Israeli election as coalition talks loom
Exit polls released after voting ended Tuesday put neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc nor the opposition at the 61 seats needed for a majority in the Knesset.
Written from 5 reports by outlets across the spectrumU.S. issuing visas to Flávio Bolsonaro and family after his election loss, official says
A senior State Department official said Flávio Bolsonaro and his family will be allowed into the United States after he lost Brazil's presidential runoff, as his whereabouts remained unconfirmed.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumIsraelis vote in first election since Oct. 7 attack; Netanyahu's future at stake
Polls opened at 7 a.m. in a close race among a fragmented field of parties, and the outcome may take days or weeks to become clear.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumFlavio Bolsonaro reportedly leaves Brazil for US after losing presidential election
Brazilian Senator Flavio Bolsonaro has left for the United States after losing Sunday's presidential runoff, two sources said, as his passports were canceled in a money laundering probe he denies.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumDemocrats hold 8-point lead among likely voters in final pre-election poll
A Marist poll for NPR and PBS News finds Democrats ahead 52% to 44% among likely voters, and more likely voters say their midterm vote is against Trump (44%) than for him (21%).
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumFinland and Norway leaders hold rare call with Putin on ending Ukraine war
Finnish President Alexander Stubb and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre spoke with Vladimir Putin in a 90-minute call as Russia attacked transport infrastructure in Kyiv.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrumTrump offers $1 million reward for tips on voter fraud leading to convictions
Trump said Monday that anyone who reports voter fraud in past elections or the 2026 midterms that leads to an arrest and conviction will be paid $1 million, but the White House has offered no details on how the reward would work.
Written from 8 reports by outlets across the spectrumDR Congo Ebola cases top 10,000 as infections confirmed in Kenya and Nigeria
Congo's health authorities report more than 10,000 cases in an outbreak involving the Bundibugyo strain, for which there is no approved vaccine or specific treatment.
Written from 4 reports by outlets across the spectrum
