Support independent journalism Support us   First Thing: Democratic leaders condemn federal raid on Ilhan Omar as she vows not to be silenced

Martin Belam   Good morning. Ilhan Omar has said she will not be silenced after federal agents raided her home. In a social media post, the Minnesota congresswoman criticized the raid as an attempt by the Trump administration “to target political enemies and weaponize law enforcement”. Donald Trump and key allies have accused Omar of fraud related to her family’s immigration history, fantasizing openly about denaturalizing her and expelling her from the country. Omar said in her post: “This is just the latest escalation in his campaign of political intimidation. I will not be silenced.” How have Ilhan Omar’s Democratic colleagues reacted to the raid? House Democratic leaders, including minority leader Hakeem Jeffries, party whip Katherine Clark and caucus chair Pete Aguilar, issued a joint statement excoriating the president for the search, calling it “deeply disturbing”. The Democratic leaders vowed to “deliver full accountability for the rogue abuse of power” from the US Departments of Justice and Homeland Security.

Mamdani says ICE agents who shot man in New York looked like ‘mass shooters’ Zohran Mamdani. Photograph: Seth Wenig/AP The New York mayor, Zohran Mamdani, compared US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)’s recent shooting of a man in Manhattan to a mass shooting scene – and called for an end to the agency’s operations in his city. Oscar Belgal, 28, was struck in the neck during an enforcement operation while he was in his car with his five-year-old child also inside. Describing his perspective on videos of the shooting scene that have emerged since, Mamdani told MS NOW it was unclear even to the mayor that the agents in the footage are law enforcement personnel based on their being in plainclothes.

Federal judge orders temporary halt to taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ads The ads promoted the president ahead of the midterm elections. Photograph: Ron Sachs/EPA A federal judge has ordered Donald Trump’s administration to temporarily halt the broadcast of taxpayer-funded television ads promoting the president ahead of the 3 November midterm elections. A temporary restraining order aimed at the ads is meant to stay in effect for at least 14 days. The administration “shall not enter into, renew, or expand any agreement authorizing the development, creation, dissemination, placement, or airing of the … advertisements,” the judge said in her ruling. She also ordered the administration to cancel the remaining portion of a $20m advertising purchase, halting further spending on the campaign.

Anti-vaxxers target Texas measles doctors to cast doubt on deaths amid outbreak An MMR vaccine being prepared. Photograph: Mary Conlon/AP Amid rising measles outbreaks and fatalities across the US, anti-vaccine activists – including figures such as HHS Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr and Children’s Health Defense – are actively working to dispute official death tolls and cast doubt on the virus’s severity. To deflect accountability for the resurgence of preventable disease, these groups are promoting claims that patient deaths stem from medical error and inappropriate treatment rather than measles complications, even filing formal medical board complaints against treating pediatricians. Public health experts and physicians warn that this playbook fuels distrust, vilifies frontline healthcare workers, and distracts from the core issue of declining vaccination rates

Latin American organised crime ‘may operate in 16 European countries’ Cocaine hidden in ship off the Canary Islands. Photograph: Policía Nacional A four-month investigation by the Guardian has revealed that the surge in cocaine trafficking to Europe is directly linked to the expanding presence of Latin American criminal networks in Europe, where they have forged close ties with local mafia organisations. The investigation, utilising databases, police and intelligence agencies, along with interviews with judges, prosecutors and experts from eight countries, shows that cartels and factions from Colombia, Brazil, Ecuador, Venezuela, Mexico and the US are active in at least 12 European countries. The figure could be even higher, as it includes only groups officially identified in Europe and does not include gangs that lack a physical presence in Europe while working in “joint ventures” with European mafias.

In other news … RJ Mitte played Walter White Jr in Breaking Bad. Photograph: David Levene/The Guardian RJ Mitte, the actor best known for Breaking Bad, has died aged 34. Mitte, whose personal experience living with cerebral palsy informed his role as Walter White Jr in the show, took his own life in Brownsville, Texas. The Archbishop of Catholics in the US military has condemned Pentagon plans to livestream an execution, and says Catholics on the army firing squad should ask to be excused, since it clashes with church teachings. Theme park company Six Flags temporarily closed nine rollercoasters across six amusement parks after one person died. Several others were injured in an incident involving a coaster in Georgia. About 70 runners participating in Utah’s Moab 240 ultramarathon were successfully evacuated after being stranded by flooding stemming from the remnants of Tropical Storm Rachel. Qantas has been forced to ground a plane in Rome after bedbugs were discovered on the aircraft on its way from Perth.

Stat of the day: Michael Jordan Last Dance jersey bought for record $14m in private sale Chicago Bulls’ Michael Jordan. Photograph: Mark J Terrill/AP A jersey worn by Michael Jordan during the 1998 NBA finals has been sold for $14m in what is said to be the highest price ever paid for a piece of basketball memorabilia.

Culture Pick: Below review – a killer snot-berg causes chaos for Josh Hartnett Josh Hartnett as Calvin in Below. Photograph: Netflix/PA Don your best plaid shirts for this Netflix supernatural thriller about a gang of beefy fishermen who tackle sea monsters. It is totally ridiculous – but Sarah Dempster says you will have loads of daft fun.

Don’t miss this: Fraternities are the most likely place for unwanted sexual contact – should they be shut down? Cornell University students hold protest signs. Photograph: Angelina Katsanis/Reuters As an alleged 2024 gang rape at Cornell comes to light, Eric Berger reports that US universities are grappling with a choice: student safety or alumni donations.

… or this: Athletics wishes it could scrub the women’s marathon world record – what can be done? Ruth Chepngetich of Kenya. Photograph: Patrick Gorski/USA Today Sports Ruth Chepngetich’s failed doping test, five months after she obliterated the record in 2024, left the sport deeply uneasy but powerless to act. Sean Ingle has spoken to Brett Clothier, the head of the Athletics Integrity Unit, which prosecuted the case against Chepngetich.

Climate check: IPCC is under pressure to delay publication of key global climate report Ceylon spotted deer drink from a water hole that has shrunk due to a drought in Sri Lanka. Photograph: Eranga Jayawardena/AP In this analysis piece, our environment editor Fiona Harvey examines how some petro-states and major developing countries want to postpone one of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s key reports.

Last Thing: Amelia Earhart expedition aims to solve mystery of disappearance Amelia Earhart. Photograph: Albert Bresnik/AP Researchers will head to a remote Pacific atoll where they suspect the famed aviator Amelia Earhart crash-landed in 1937, but sceptics say the satellite images that have inspired the trip are unlikely to be of her aircraft.

Sign up First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now.

… there is a very good reason why not to support the Guardian Not everyone can afford to pay for news. That is why our website is open to everyone. But – if you can afford to do so – here are three good reasons why you might consider becoming a Guardian supporter today: 1 Your funding means we can be completely independent 2 High-quality, trustworthy journalism is a public good 3 You can support us however you like Help power the Guardian’s journalism at a time when misinformation is rife online and good news can be hard to find. It could be a one-off payment or a regular monthly amount of your choice. Thank you. Support us

Get in touch   If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com   Manage your emails | Unsubscribe You are receiving this email because you are a subscriber to First Thing. Guardian News & Media Limited - a member of Guardian Media Group PLC. Registered Office: Kings Place, 90 York Way, London, N1 9GU. Registered in England No. 908396

[NEW POLLS] These races are about as close as it gets

In neck-and-neck elections like these, a little goes a long way

‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Robert, This November, we’re fighting to elect Democracy Defenders in a handful of governors’ races we’ve pinpointed as critical for securing fair maps and voting rights. New polling shows that some of these elections are about as close as it gets. Take a look at a few of the latest: But you know what? Polls don't vote. Those undecided voters will make up their minds based on what they hear in the next few weeks. So there’s plenty of work still to do to win these elections. And if we win, our democracy will be stronger. These elections — and a whole lot of the other 300+ other Democracy Defender races we're competing in — are going to come down to the wire. The effects of these victories — or losses — will be felt for years to come. Rush a donation to help invest in the most critical state-level races like these governors’ elections >>   If you've saved your payment information with ActBlue Express, your donation will go through immediately: Donate $5 Donate $15 Donate $30 Donate $50 Donate $100 Another amount   Thanks so much, NDRC Election HQ DONATE

Paid for by the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, John Bisognano, President. National Democratic Redistricting Committee 712 H St NE, #25 Washington, DC 20002 United States Click here if you'd like to receive fewer emails from the NDRC. unsubscribe Text MAPS to 36787, STOP to end. Msg and Data rates may apply