Here’s the biggest news you missed this weekend
Nov. 1 — Sen. Tim Scott, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Gov. JB Pritzker47:27Get more newsonShareAdd NBC News to GoogleNov. 1, 2026, 6:00 PM ESTBy Mark Hodge and Kayla HayempourRep. Haley Stevens, D-Mich., endorsed Republican Senate candidate Mike Rogers on Sunday, a major shake-up in the final stages of a top battleground race that could determine which party controls the Senate.
The congresswoman’s announcement marks a whirlwind turnabout from just days ago, amid a dispute with Democratic candidate Abdul El-Sayed’s campaign over an outside ad that Stevens said was antisemitic. NBC News reported Saturday that El-Sayed’s campaign had asked Stevens to no longer attend campaign events.
“Hey, Michigan, as you may have seen, our Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate, Abdul, said that I was no longer welcome in his campaign and that I should stay away,” Stevens said in a video.
“And he’s right, and that’s why I am endorsing Mike Rogers for the United States Senate today,” she said.
Democrats have a sizable advantage in the battle for control of Congress days ahead of the midterm elections, a new national NBC News poll finds, with voters clamoring for change and voicing all-time high disapproval of President Donald Trump.
Registered voters prefer a Democratic-controlled Congress by a 7-point margin, with Democrats leading Republicans 52%-45% — 2 points more than in last month’s poll. That includes a 21-point lead among independents.
The president’s disapproval rating has climbed to 60%, a new high mark across his two terms in the NBC News poll. And for the first time in 30 years of NBC News polling, more voters say they are dissatisfied with their financial situation (51%) than satisfied (49%).
But it’s not all good news for Democrats: The poll contains fresh signs that a number of voters are pushing back on the GOP, as opposed to falling in love with the Democratic Party.
U.S. Senate candidate Mary Peltola; Dan J. Sullivan; Sen. Dan S. Sullivan, R-Alaska.Bloomberg; AP; GettyA federal judge in Alaska on Sunday dismissed the Trump administration’s lawsuit seeking to separate and preserve certain ballots in the state’s upcoming Senate election, where GOP Sen. Dan Sullivan faces Democrat Mary Peltola.
In the last week, Peltola’s campaign has faced scrutiny after The New York Times reported the campaign and other Democrats recruited a candidate — Dan J. Sullivan — to run for the Senate with the same name as the incumbent senator.
Citing potential voter confusion, the Trump administration sought to separate and preserve ballots with votes for Dan J. Sullivan, arguing that if the incumbent loses, it may be because people voted for the other Sullivan by mistake.
In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Sharon Gleason voiced concerns about voters’ right to a secret ballot.
Tim Scott calls Peltola campaign ‘immoral’ and ‘unethical’ amid Alaska ballot dispute02:57Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., declined to say whether he would accept the results of the Alaska Senate race if Peltola wins.
Asked on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” whether he would accept the results if Peltola is certified to have won the Senate seat, Scott did not directly answer the question.
“Dan Sullivan is going to win, Kristen,” he told moderator Kristen Welker. “You know that, and that’s the only thing I’m going to tell you, because it’s the truth.”
A fire burns in Frankfurt's city center on Oct. 31.Andreas Arnold / dpa/picture allianceRioters looted stores and set fire to barricades in Frankfurt on Saturday as demonstrations across Germany called for lower living costs and better education.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in more than 30 cities, including Berlin and Frankfurt, in protests organized by the campaign group Gen Z Regelt, or Gen Z Takes Charge.
France, Italy, Serbia and Spain have seen protests against the cost of living, among other causes. As the demonstrations began Saturday afternoon in Paris, protesters were pictured holding a banner that read: “We do not need tear gas for our future to be blurry.”
Martha Stewart on May 12 in New York City. John Lamparski / GettyMartha Stewart on Sunday responded to backlash about her Halloween costume, saying she was “distressed” to learn that her outfit, which depicted a “hungry” homeless person, had caused offense.
Stewart shared a photo of herself in tattered clothing, holding a clipboard that read, “I AM HUNGRY HELP ME!!” She posed with a tired expression and makeup meant to look like dirt on her face.
The photo was the third slide in an Instagram carousel promoting her candle collection on QVC.
Many interpreted the costume as mocking the poor, and some called it “out of touch” and “dystopian.”
Golden State Valkyries players lift the WNBA Championship trophy after defeating the Atlanta Dream in Game 7 of the 2026 WNBA Finals at the Chase Center in San Francisco on Saturday.GettyIn only their second season in existence, the Golden State Valkyries are WNBA champions.
The Valkyries won their first title on Saturday, defeating the Atlanta Dream 68-63 in the first Game 7 in WNBA Finals history. Forward Gabby Williams led with 30 points and was named MVP.
Williams scored just two points in the first half, but rallied with 28 in the second, a record for the most points scored in a half in the WNBA postseason. Teammate Kiah Stokes led rebounds at 13.
“This is just incredible,” Stokes said of her fourth championship title. “But just my teammates, they’re amazing. The love that we feel is just incredible. I mean, this one just might be as good as my first.”
It looks like Mars, like we're on another planet.
Extreme heat and drought, intensified by a “super” El Niño weather pattern, have made this Indonesia’s worst fire season in more than a decade.
The persistent haze has affected millions across the region since the fires began in July, forcing school closures in several countries and fueling disputes over who is to blame. Protesters in Indonesia have accused their government of failing to act, while neighboring countries are threatening legal action.
Mark HodgeMark Hodge is a platforms editor for NBC News based in London.
