Inflation report delivers more bad news to GOP

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New data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS) showed that inflation rose again in September — with the consumer price index (CPI) increasing by 0.6 percent.

Not only is the CPI up 0.6 percent from last month but is up 3.7 percent relative to September 2025 — well above the Federal Reserve’s 2 percent target.

Energy fuels rise: The Trump administration’s war in Iran has steadily raised regular gas and diesel prices over the conflict’s eight-month timeline. The BLS reported that there was a 9.1 percent increase in gas prices in September, which accounted for more than half of the monthly inflation increase.

Last month, energy prices increased by 5.2 percent as well after rising by 2.1 percent in August.

A gallon of regular gas costs roughly $4.33 as of Wednesday morning, up from $2.98 two days before the Iran war began, according to data from AAA . Diesel costs about $6.30 per gallon, an increase of roughly $2.41 from a year ago.

Madness before midterms: As debate season heats up, Senate candidates are encouraging President Trump to pull out of the Iran war to help lower energy prices.

On Tuesday night, Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) criticized the president’s diesel deal with Russia in her Senate debate against Democratic candidate Josh Turek.

Iowans have been hit hard by the rise in diesel prices, which Trump has attempted to address by making a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin .

“We need to lower gas prices in this country. We need to lower diesel prices, but I don’t think we need to be making a deal with Russia to do it,” Hinson said Tuesday night.

Turek agreed, but bashed the GOP candidate for voting with Trump to start the war in the first place. “We are in this situation because of this unnecessary war in Iran that Ashley Hinson voted in favor of continuing seven times,” he said.

Other GOP lawmakers break from Trump: Republican Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), John Cornyn (Texas) and Alan Armstrong (Okla.) were the latest members of the party to oppose Trump’s diesel deal with Russia on Tuesday.

According to The Hill’s Alexander Bolton , the three GOP senators joined a letter to the president, calling the deal a “gift to our adversary and betrayal of our allies.”

Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Lisa Murkowsi ( R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) also signed the letter.

Democrat James Talarico is set to appear in a televised Texas Senate town hall at 8 p.m. EDT, notably without his GOP opponent, state Attorney General Ken Paxton .

Talarico has repeatedly urged Paxton to take the debate stage with him ahead of November’s midterms, even posting a video to social media in which he appeared to call his challenger over the phone before being sent to voicemail.

Throughout Talarico’s flu-induced campaign trail absence last week, even President Trump called for a debate to help settle contentious Lone Star State race — peddling unfounded theories about the Democrat.

Talarico has denied these accusations, saying in a post to social platform X after his absence that he was ready to take Paxton to the debate stage “literally any time, any place, any network.” Tonight’s town hall will be co-hosted by CNN and Jubilee Media.

Debates galore: A day after the president made a rare visit to Alaska to bolster Sen. Dan Sullivan ’s (R) reelection bid, the incumbent will debate his three opponents at 10 p.m. EDT. Sullivan’s locked in a tight race against former Rep. Mary Peltola (D), while their two other challengers — Gerald Heikes (R) and another Dan Sullivan — trail further behind.

Earlier in the evening, gubernatorial candidates in Iowa and Maine will also meet face-to-face. The Democrats in both races are carrying significant leads in their respective races as of this week.

The president is set to make two campaign trail appearances today amid his homestretch campaign blitz.

He will give remarks in Arizona at 4 p.m. EDT before jetting to Montana to speak again at 8:15 p.m. EDT.

Ukrainian officials reported Wednesday that satellites from Elon Musk ‘s SpaceX are slowing down its air defense operations.

The country uses Starshield, a military-grade network of satellite services provided by Starlink.

Speed kills: A source familiar with the situation told The Hill’s Laura Kelly that Ukraine’s drones, airplanes and helicopters were impacted, with Starlink services being cut off for objects that traveled faster than 100 miles per hour.

The limitations to Ukraine’s air defense also impacted the country’s ability to defend themselves against explosive drones launched by Russia.

Trump’s threats: On Monday, the Trump administration threatened to cut off intelligence sharing and weapon sales to Ukraine if they did not stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has defended the strikes as a crucial way of retaliating against Russia.

Trump has told Ukraine to stop the strikes, saying they are causing the U.S.’s diesel prices to rise ahead of November’s midterms. Zelensky has said the Iran war is mostly to blame for global energy disruption.

⛳ A federal judge ruled on Tuesday that the Trump administration must stop work on the East Potomac Park’s golf course, a property the president has looked to redevelop. The administration removed hundreds of trees from the East Potomac Golf Links over the weekend, enraging the judge.

⛽ At his Alaska rally Tuesday night, President Trump pardoned two diesel mechanics previously charged with violating the Clean Air Act. The president signed the pardons for Zachary Czubak and Patrick Fleming on stage at the event in Wasilla.

❌Advancing American Freedom, a conservative think tank founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, is calling on the Trump administration to reverse their diesel deal with Russia, according to a letter obtained by The Hill’s Helen Huiskes .

✅Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-Ga.) said during his Tuesday night debate against Rep. Mike Collins (R-Ga.) that he would serve his full Senate term, saying he has “zero interest” in campaigning for the White House in 2028.

💸 The Trump administration announced Wednesday that Social Security benefits will increase by 3.6 percent in 2027.

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Politico: Florida Democrats test 2 different comeback strategies

The Washington Post: Reflecting pool liner failed in 85 places after flawed renovation, inspection found

The Wall Street Journal: Inside Kimberly Guilfoyle’s final days as Ambassador to Greece

The House and Senate out. President Trump is in Las Vegas and will travel to Arizona and Montana later today. (All times EDT)

4 p.m. : Trump speaks in Bullhead City, Ariz.

8:15 p.m.: Trump speaks in Kalispell, Mont.

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