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【美国中期选举】美情报人士：中俄伊利用生成式AI介入选举

2026年10月15日 06:58 / 联合早报

• 据知情人士及研究人员透露，俄罗斯、伊朗和中国正利用生成式AI工具，在美国中期选举前加强虚假信息宣传。 – 两名知情人士称，俄罗斯围绕中期选举的网络宣传活动迄今最为积极，中国和伊朗也表现活跃，但尚不确定是否已实施。 – 一名了解美国情报的人士透露，俄方试图抹黑支持乌克兰的个别议员，中方针对与对华政策相关的特定选举，伊方则试图削弱公众对美选举制度的信任。

美国中期选举临近，图为10月14日，特朗普总统在亚利桑那州布尔黑德市的劳克林/布尔黑德国际机场出席中期选举造势集会。 （法新社）

据知情人士及独立研究人员透露，俄罗斯、伊朗和中国正在利用人工智能（AI）工具，在即将到来的美国中期选举前大幅加强虚假信息宣传。

彭博社报道，美国的敌对势力一直在使用生成式AI软件，例如OpenAI 的ChatGPT和Anthropic PBC的Claude，轻松策划大规模的宣传活动，旨在挑起分歧并动摇国外的政治走向。美国官员和研究人员目前担心，恶意行动者可能会利用相同的策略瞄准11月3日的中期选举，不过尚不确定他们当前是否正在这么做。

另一个担忧是，地缘政治对手可能试图操纵AI聊天机器人，影响AI辅助搜索查询所显示的内容，使虚假信息显得更可信。两名知情人士透露，迄今俄罗斯围绕美国中期选举开展的网络宣传活动最为积极，中国和伊朗也表现活跃。

报道指，虽然恶意行动者长期以来一直利用AI工具制造假新闻、虚假信息和深度伪造视频，但生成式AI技术的巨大突破给美国和其他国家带来新的挑战。

参议院情报委员会首席民主党议员、弗吉尼亚州民主党参议员沃纳（Mark Warner）说：“这些AI工具可以帮助外国行动者策划行动、确定目标受众，并研究如何提高干预行动的效果。这意味着威胁发生重大演变，我们必须认真对待，需要比对手提前考虑好几步，而不是在后面追赶。”

影响力和舆论攻势的精细程度不断上升，特朗普政府却以侵犯言论自由为由，解散政府内部用于打击此类活动的多个项目，例如美国联邦调查局（FBI）的“外国影响力特别工作组”，以及国家情报总监办公室（ODNI）的“外国恶性影响中心”。

战略对话研究所（Institute for Strategic Dialogue）情报行动政策与研究高级总监沙弗（Bret Schafer）在谈及美国现状时指出：“在技术能力飙升的同时，我们却在收缩防线。眼下正是我们需要全员动员、共同应对这一新挑战的关键时刻。”

据知情人士透露，针对美国选民、旨在影响中期选举的线上舆论攻势已经展开，但目前尚无证据表明外国行动者正在针对投票基础设施，或试图直接篡改计票结果。

俄罗斯驻美大使馆未对电邮采访做出回应。彭博社记者尝试通过电话联系伊朗驻联合国代表团发言人，但未能接通。中国驻美大使馆发言人则说，中国“反对出于政治目的散布虚假信息，反对利用网络安全问题抹黑中国”。

白宫发言人比斯（Lauren Bis）在电邮声明中指出：“特朗普政府正在采取果断行动保护我们的选举，包括起诉选举犯罪、加强选举基础设施安全，以及保护弱势选民免受欺诈和胁迫。”

特朗普曾多次否认美国情报机构有关俄罗斯试图帮助他赢得2016年大选的说法，但他今年夏天在一次黄金时段讲话中指责中国干预2020年美国选举。

一名了解美国情报的人士透露，在与中期选举有关的影响力行动中，俄罗斯行动者一直试图抹黑支持乌克兰的个别美国议员，而中国支持的行动则针对与美国对华政策相关的特定选举。伊朗方面试图削弱公众对整个美国选举制度的信任。

目前很难评估这些活动对中期选举可能产生的具体影响，部分原因在于，某些行动的目标是为了在更广泛的议题，如美国对乌克兰的援助上动摇选民倾向，而非针对某一具体的国会选区。

Top U.S. banks dropped customers over political and religious views, regulator says

2026-10-14 16:42:04 EDT / CBS News

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October 14, 2026 / 4:42 PM EDT / CBS News

Top U.S. banks have “debanked” customers because of their political or religious views, as well as their business activities, according to a report from the Treasury Department’s Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The report, released on Wednesday, examines a practice that President Trump has claimed discriminates against conservatives over their views. Debanking has also been highlighted by some cryptocurrency investors, who claim their accounts have been closed because banks are uncomfortable working with crypto industry clients.

The OCC said the report was in accordance with Mr. Trump’s 2025 executive order requiring federal banking regulators to review complaints to identify financial institutions that had declined business with clients because of their views.

Some conservatives have argued that they’ve been unfairly targeted by financial institutions, although the OCC found that some banks had also refused to do business with Democratic-leaning organizations. Debanking can also occur for legal and regulatory reasons, such as if a bank detects potentially fraudulent activity or an account is overdrawn.

The OCC, which reviewed 100,000 complaints and hundreds of bank decisions between 2020 and September 2025, found that the nine largest national banks it supervises had policies that swayed their decisions based on political, religious or business activities.

“Americans should have access to financial services regardless of their beliefs, affiliations or political views. Fair access to financial services is not a mantra — it is a mandate,” said Comptroller of the Currency Jonathan V. Gould in a statement on Wednesday.

The incidents cited in the report include the payment processor WePay, which is now defunct and was acquired by JPMorgan Chase in 2017. WePay closed the accounts of several merchants selling MAGA- or Trump-related items, the OCC said.

“Our policies prohibit discrimination against customers based on political or religious views,” a JPMorgan spokesperson said. WePay’s processes “did not meet our expectations. We identified it, corrected it, and the business no longer operates.”

The OCC also found that some banks turned away customers due to their industries. For instance, businesses involved in oil and gas exploration, coal mining or firearms were restricted from some financial services, the agency concluded.

Other banks cited in the report, including Citibank and Wells Fargo, declined to comment and pointed to a statement from the Bank Policy Institute, a trade group for the banking industry.

“The banking industry supports fair access to banking services and has been working to ensure that government regulations and policies enable banks to serve law-abiding customers,” the Bank Policy Institute said in response to the OCC’s findings.

The group added, “We support efforts to establish clear and consistent standards that promote access while maintaining sound risk management, including the administration’s recent efforts to prioritize supervisory attention on material financial risk and rather than reputational risk.”

Edited by Alain Sherter

Ex-intel official spills about ‘UAP’ investigations in new book

2026-10-14T23:46:25.277Z / CNN Politics

By Jake Tapper, CNN

Published 7:46 PM EDT, Wed October 14, 2026

https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/video/uap-ufo-investigations-defense-lead-jake-tapper

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Ex-intel official spills about ‘UAP’ investigations in new book

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Fox News Poll: Cost-of-living concerns weigh on GOP in midterms

Approval of President Trump’s job performance hits record low 36%

October 14, 2026 6:00pm EDT / Fox News

By Dana Blanton, Fox News

Trump takes questions from reporters on Russia-Ukraine war, midterms, livestream execution

President Donald Trump addresses reporters at the White House about the Russia-Ukraine war. Trump criticizes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, saying he could have settled the war many times.

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When voters rate the economy and the president negatively just weeks before Election Day, the incumbent party is vulnerable, and that’s certainly the case in the latest Fox News survey.

The economic landscape is stark. Six in 10 voters say the cost of living is their top economic worry, overshadowing government spending (15%), jobs and income inequality (7% each), tariffs (6%) and taxes (5%).

Majorities rate the economy negatively (74%) and expect it to worsen next year (53%), while two-thirds are dissatisfied with how things are going in the country (66%). Few, 18%, say their family is better off compared to two years ago. Independents say they’re worse off (52%) and think the economy will get worse (70%).

FOX NEWS POLL: IT’S A LONE STAR SENATE SHOWDOWN BETWEEN TALARICO AND PAXTON

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A majority of voters, 55%, say inflation is “not at all” under control. That’s up from a low of 45% earlier this year, and includes 30% of Republicans.

President Donald Trump’s lowest job rating is on inflation: 22% approve, a new low. Last summer, 36% approved. Four years ago, before the 2022 midterms, 29% approved of former President Joe Biden’s performance on inflation.

Disapproval of the job Trump is doing has reached 77% on inflation, 70% on the economy, 69% on tariffs and 64% on foreign policy. A smaller share, but still a majority, disapprove of his handling of immigration (56% disapprove), while border security is the only issue that is close to positive (50% approve, 50% disapprove).

Trump’s overall job approval is 36%, his lowest ever in a Fox News survey for either term. It had been holding steady at 39% since May. The decline is mainly driven by decreases among voters under age 45, those with annual household income below $50,000, non-White voters, and those without a college degree.

FOX NEWS POLL: MICHIGAN VOTERS SPLIT BETWEEN EL-SAYED AND ROGERS

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Approval stands at a low of 76% among Republicans. That’s down 3 points since last month, 12 points since September 2025, and 16 points since early in his second term (March 2025).

As in most midterms, voters are prone to punish the party in power: 7 in 10 say they will vote to send a message to Trump, with nearly twice as many expressing opposition (47%) as support (25%).

If the election were today, 54% of voters say they would back the Democratic candidate in their House district and 45% would support the Republican. That is outside the margin of error and is a wider lead than last month when Democrats were ahead by 51%-44%. The race narrows among those saying they are certain to vote, with the Democratic candidate ahead by 52%-46%.

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The survey finds about the same number self-identify as Democrats (43%) and Republicans (41%), and both parties feel equally certain about voting (62% and 64% respectively), while more Democrats (61%) than Republicans (52%) say they are extremely interested in the election.

Party loyalty is solid: 98% of Democrats support their party’s candidate, and 94% of Republicans back theirs. Independents favor the Democrats by 26 points.

The Democratic candidate is the choice among Whites with a degree, those under age 45, women, union households and Hispanics. The Republican is ahead among Whites without a college degree (White men without a degree in particular), those 65 and over, voters who attend religious services regularly, military veterans and White evangelical Christians.

While 43% of Hispanic voters supported Trump in the 2024 election, just 31% prefer the Republican candidate this year.

“When the country is this closely divided in terms of partisanship, slight differences in defection and turnout rates can make all the difference,” said Republican pollster Daron Shaw, who helps conduct the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. “Republicans have time to close these apparent gaps, but it’s getting late.”

Meanwhile, Democrats lead on 10 out of 13 issue concerns.

The top five voter concerns are government corruption (60% extremely concerned), inflation (58%), gas prices (50%), government leadership (49%), and healthcare (48%). And double digits more trust the Democrats than the Republicans to handle each of those.

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Republicans retain the advantage on crime (by 10 points) and border security (R+8), while views are closely divided on immigration (R+3). The Democrats are seen as better on healthcare (D+22), inflation (D+16), gas prices (D+12), voting rights (D+12), election integrity (D+12), government leadership (D+11), what’s taught in public schools (D+11), artificial intelligence (D+10), government corruption (D+10) and foreign policy (D+9).

Republicans have lost ground on key issues compared to four years ago, when more voters trusted them by 21 points on border security, 13 points on inflation and 9 points on foreign policy.

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Other issues that voters are extremely concerned about are the Iran war (42%), immigration (35%), crime (34%), voter suppression (32%), AI technology (32%), what’s taught in public schools (29%), voter fraud (28%) and border security (25%).

While corruption in government and inflation are the top two worries about both parties, far more Democrats (72% and 70%) than Republicans (47% and 49%) are extremely concerned.

The issue that helps explain the Democrats’ advantage isn’t an issue at all. By a 14-point margin, more voters think the Democrats will do a better job “fighting for people like you.” Majorities of White voters with a college degree (53%), men (52%), women (60%) and non-White voters (77%) think Democrats will fight for them. Whites without a college degree are split 49-49%.

Despite their issue advantage, just 35% say Democrats have a clear plan for dealing with the country’s problems, and 33% say the same about the Republicans. That reverses the Republican advantage from July 2025, when 43% said the Republicans had a clear plan compared with 33% for the Democrats.

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There’s deep dissatisfaction with lawmakers: 15% approve of Congress, while 84% disapprove. Remarkably, that’s above the low of 9% approval in October 2013.

Both parties are viewed negatively. The Democratic Party is underwater by 16 points (42% favorable, 58% unfavorable), while ratings of the GOP are net negative by 23 points (38% favorable, 61% unfavorable).

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Yet, favorable ratings fail to translate directly into vote choice. One third of those backing the Democratic candidate (31%) dislike the party, while 23% of those supporting the Republican dislike the GOP. Among the 26% who dislike both parties (double haters), Democrats lead 62%-36%.

Here’s how polarized the parties are: Just 16% of Republicans say that Democrats love America and want what’s best for the U.S., and even fewer Democrats, 6%, think Republicans do.

Compared to four years ago, the number of voters saying Democrats want what’s best for the country is up four points, while fewer say Republicans love the country now by 6 points.

Poll-pourri

Fifty-one percent of voters have a favorable view of capitalism compared with 32% for socialism. Compared to a year ago, positive ratings of capitalism are down 2 points while they are up 5 points for socialism. Eight in ten of those with a positive view of socialism support the Democratic candidate, while 6 in 10 of those viewing capitalism favorably back the Republican.

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Voters who plan to cast their ballots early favor the Democratic candidate (by 19 points) as do mail voters (D+33), while the candidate choice splits among those voting in person (early or on Election Day).

Six in 10 oppose U.S. military action against Iran, and they back the Democrats by 56 points.

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A new high of 46% think the U.S. is too supportive of Israel, and those voters favor the Democratic candidate by 42 points, while the 4 in 10 who think U.S. support of Israel is about right pick the Republican by 27 points.

Nearly 6 in 10 have a negative view of artificial intelligence technology, and they back the Democratic candidate by 27 points.

Conducted Oct. 9-12, 2026, under the direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News survey includes interviews with a sample of 1,202 registered voters randomly selected from a national voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (114) and cellphones (786) or completed the survey online after receiving a text (302). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±2.5 percentage points. Sampling error for results among subgroups is higher. In addition to sampling errors, question wording and order can influence results. Weights are generally applied to age, race, education and area variables to ensure the demographics are representative of the registered voter population. Sources for developing weight targets include the most recent American Community Survey, Fox News Voter Analysis and voter file data.

Fox News’ Victoria Balara contributed to this report.

As head of the polling unit, Dana Blanton runs the Fox News Poll and oversees the Fox News Voter Analysis election survey.

Rep. Ilhan Omar’s relatives issued subpoenas as part of immigration probe

2026-10-14T18:04:00-0400 / CBS News

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Updated on: October 14, 2026 / 6:07 PM EDT / CBS News

Multiple relatives of Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar received grand jury subpoenas, as part of the ongoing criminal investigation into her family’s history for evidence of possible fraud and false statements in their immigration paperwork, sources familiar with the matter told CBS News.

The subpoenas were issued on Friday, just days before Omar’s home in Washington, D.C., was searched early Monday morning by investigators from ICE’s investigative unit.

The subpoenas were first reported by the New York Times.

The decision by the Justice Department to take those overt investigative steps so close to the midterm elections has sparked criticism. It appears to run contrary to the DOJ’s own internal guidelines, which stipulate that federal prosecutors and agents “may never select the timing of any action” for the “purpose of affecting any election, or for the purpose of giving an advantage or disadvantage to any candidate or political party.”

Customarily, the Justice Department has operated under an unwritten, so-called “60-day rule” cited in a 2016 DOJ inspector general report. It refers to the general practice of prosecutors to avoid the public disclosure of investigative steps related to electoral matters or the return of indictments against a candidate for office within 60 days of a primary or general election.

Omar, a frequent critic of President Trump’s — and a frequent target of Mr. Trump and his allies — has denied any wrongdoing, and she has accused the Trump administration of attempting to “target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.”

Mr. Trump said Monday that he had “nothing to do with” the raid. Sources said Attorney General Todd Blanche, however, was aware of the search. The Public Integrity Section, which handles the nation’s most politically sensitive criminal investigations, was consulted, the sources also said.

But that section was largely gutted by the Trump administration last year, with only two attorneys remaining in its ranks. It was not immediately clear what type of guidance the section may have provided to the department before the search was executed at Omar’s home.

It was also not immediately clear why the government moved to execute the warrant so close to the election, since some of the documents in question date back to Omar’s childhood and were completed by her late father.

The warrant to search Omar’s home was only approved by a magistrate judge in Washington after an extended back-and-forth discussion with Justice Department attorneys about how to address concerns stemming from the United States v. Rayburn House Office Building case, sources with knowledge told CBS News. That crucial 2007 D.C. Circuit Court case held that in a criminal investigation of a sitting member of Congress, the executive branch can’t review information that is seized in a search without allowing that member to first screen it for legislative privilege under the Constitution’s Speech and Debate clause.

Initially, the warrant did not take the Rayburn case into account because the investigators searched the congresswoman’s home and not her congressional office, but the magistrate judge ordered them to include protocols that would allow Omar and her counsel to review the materials and assert legislative privilege, one of the sources added. CBS News has not yet been able to determine who Omar’s lawyer is in this case.

Homeland Security Investigations, or HSI, the department’s criminal investigative arm, is leading the investigation, with the Department of Justice assisting.

This is at least the second active criminal investigation involving Omar and her family.

Two sources familiar with the matter previously told CBS News that the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., is also conducting a criminal investigation into the valuation of several of her husband’s businesses — which D.C. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro confirmed during a Fox News interview this week.

The businesses run by her husband Tim Mynett came under scrutiny after financial disclosures she was required to file as a member of Congress showed the value of the businesses had jumped to being worth between $6 million and $30 million.

Omar later blamed the valuation calculations on an accounting error and filed an amended form that listed the couple’s joint assets as being valued between $18,004 and $95,000.

美伊局势升级 霍尔木兹海峡两天内两货轮被击沉

2026年10月15日 07:52 / 联合早报

新加坡海事及港务管理局星期三（10月14日）证实，名为GFS PRIDE的货船（图）10月13日遭击中后受损起火，随后沉没，船上的21名人员全部安全撤离。 （路透社档案照片）

海事官员星期三（10月14日）证实，过去24小时内，两艘商船在霍尔木兹海峡附近遭弹体击中后沉没。随着近10天来这个关键水道的袭击事件剧增，全球能源与航运安全再度引发高度担忧。

本次击沉的两艘船只分别为新加坡注册集装箱船GFS PRIDE，以及挂安提瓜和巴布达国旗的散货船Cape Dao。前者驶经海峡时受损起火沉没，21名船员安全撤离。后者9月23日遭袭受损数周后于海峡附近沉没，造成一名船员死亡。

据国际海事组织（IMO）数据，这是自今年2月28日美伊冲突爆发以来，该水域沉没的第二和第三艘船只。

单日六船遭袭创开战以来新高

海事安全数据显示，自本周以来，霍尔木兹海峡及附近海域已有至少10艘商船遭袭，频次创下开战以来最高纪录。其中10月11日单日多达六艘被击中，13日又有四艘遭袭。近期袭击已造成两名海员失踪，冲突爆发至今累计导致约24名海员死亡。

今年3月起，伊朗为报复美以打击，开始袭击未经其许可通行的商船。10月至今已发生23起袭船事件，月均频次几乎翻倍。

海事分析师指出，10月初波斯湾地区的石油出口流量曾一度恢复至战前80%的水平，这促使德黑兰提高袭击频率，意在打断能源航运复苏并向全球市场施压。此外，美国承诺近期不发起新打击，也被伊朗视为可在低即时军事风险下加大压力的窗口期。

Election officials warn of confusing information in texts sent to voters

2026-10-14 6:54 PM EDT / CNN Politics

Election officials warn of confusing information in texts sent to voters

By Jake Tapper, CNN

Published 6:54 PM EDT, Wed October 14, 2026

https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/14/politics/video/election-officials-warn-of-confusing-texts-sent-to-voters-musk-lead-jake-tapper

Election officials warn of confusing information in texts sent to voters

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Carly Koppes, Republican election chief in Weld County, Colorado, joins The Lead.

0:34 • Source: CNN

Dem senator’s hiring announcement sparks GOP eruption over who is encouraged to apply: ‘Blatantly illegal’

Conservatives say the senator’s social media post violates civil rights law, but legal guidance suggests otherwise

October 14, 2026 12:48pm EDT / Fox News

By Robert Schmad

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A Democratic senator is facing accusations of racial and sexual discrimination over a controversial social media post encouraging members of minority groups to apply for a role in his office.

“I’m hiring motivated and eager interns for the Spring 2027 semester in my Boston office. BIPOC, LGBTQ+, working class, veterans and other underrepresented candidates with Massachusetts ties are encouraged to apply,” Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., posted to X on Tuesday.

“Are white men allowed to apply, Senator?” Rep. Brandon Gill, R-Texas, shot back on X Tuesday.

DEI HIRING BOOST FOR ONE BLUE STATE’S MUSLIM COMMISSION INITIATIVE FLIES IN FACE OF TRUMP’S ANTI-WOKE PUSH

U.S. Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) looks on during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol on March 26, 2025 in Washington, DC.(Getty Images)

Conservatives on X erupted with anger over the post, with some going as far as to claim the senator’s job posting was illegal.

“Crazy that a United States Senator can openly violate civil rights law on Twitter,” conservative activist Chris Rufo wrote.

“This is blatantly illegal,” Katie Miller, podcaster and wife of White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller, wrote.

NEW YORK TIMES SUED BY FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OVER ALLEGED ‘DEI-RELATED’ EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION

Sen. Ed Markey, the more progressive of the two candidates, has the backing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley.(Jemal Countess/Getty Images for MoveOn Civic Action)

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has stated in past guidance that encouraging applicants from certain backgrounds to apply for a job does not necessarily violate federal discrimination law. However, the agency also warns that job advertisements expressing preferences based on race, sex or other protected characteristics may be unlawful.

The Congressional Accountability Act also applies federal workplace discrimination protections to congressional offices.

The actual job posting on Markey’s Senate website does not bar White people from applying, despite questions raised by Gill and others about whether certain applicants were being favored.

Other conservatives stopped short of accusing Markey of breaking the law, but characterized his hiring practices as unjust nonetheless.

“You’ll notice it’s never ‘I’m resigning my Senate seat because white men have too much power’ or ‘I’m donating my house to reduce the racial wealth gap,’” online commentator Bernard Stanford wrote. “That would at least be a personal decision. But no — the white male sacrificial burden is always foisted upon someone else.”

DEMOCRATS’ GENERATIONAL BATTLE ERUPTS AS 80-YEAR-OLD SENATOR FACES YOUNGER CHALLENGER

SBA Administrator Kelly Loeffler hit back at Democratic Sen. Ed Markey on Tuesday after he accused the SBA of raising a “Christian nationalist” flag over its headquarters to honor Flag Day.(Getty Images)

“Democrats will write stuff like this and then wonder why young white straight men have rejected their party in droves,” journalist Corey Walker said.

“This is disturbing, especially from the Ranking Member of the Senate Small Business Committee,” Small Business Administration Administrator Kelly Loeffler posted to her X account. “From day one we’ve said it: politicians need to stop picking winners and losers — and stop turning every government program into a DEI grift. America’s entrepreneurs compete on merit, not identity. That principle should be nonnegotiable for anyone entrusted with shaping our nation’s small business policy.”

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Markey’s office did not respond to a request for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Wednesday.

Hochul deflects when pressed on ties to ‘anti-Christian’ Mamdani in fiery debate moment: ‘Shame on you’

2026-10-14 14:32:25 EDT / Fox News

The Republican challenger accused Hochul of campaigning with a mayor who ‘doesn’t believe in American values’

By Andrew Mark Miller, Fox News

Published October 14, 2026 2:32pm EDT

Hochul changes subject in heated exchange when pressed on Mamdani support

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman sparred over her support for NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani during a contentious debate Tuesday night.

New York Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul declined to directly defend socialist New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani during Tuesday night’s gubernatorial debate after her Republican challenger accused him of being antisemitic, anti-Christian and un-American.

“With all the issues that face New York City, the first thing he did was sign an executive order to water down the definition of antisemitism, shame on you, mayor,” Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman said on the debate stage before pointing his attention at Hochul over her endorsement of the socialist New York City mayor.

“You are campaigning around the state with a guy who doesn’t believe in American values,” Blakeman said. “He talks about collectivism. That means you take personal property rights away. You take other people’s property rights. This is a guy that’s anti-Christian, couldn’t find an hour out of his day to attend the installation of a new archbishop here in New York City, the biggest religion in the city of New York. Look, if you want to campaign with him, that’s fine. But I will tell you right now, I think Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite. I believe he’s anti-Christian. And I don’t think he has American values.”

Hochul responded by turning to the moderator and deciding to answer a previous question about comments, reported by the New York Times, Blakeman made in a “secret meeting” related to whether the NYPD under Mamdani would respond if far-left protesters were causing violence against the Jewish community. Blakeman disputed her characterization of that meeting before complimenting Mamdani for selecting and keeping Jessica Tisch as NYPD commissioner.

“Let’s move on,” the moderator then said.

SCHUMER, JEFFRIES DODGE MAMDANI CONTROVERSY AS FELLOW NEW YORK DEM UNLOADS

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman sparred over a variety of issues in their first and only debate, including NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani(Anna Connors – Pool/Getty Images; John Nacion/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)

“Antisemitism is on the rise, and it’s occurred under your watch, and Zohran Mamdani is fueling it,” Blakeman added before the conversation moved to another topic.

Republicans quickly highlighted the exchange on social media.

HOCHUL’S OFFICE MOCKS KATIE ZACHARIA WITH AARON RODGERS INJURY POST DESPITE GOVERNOR’S PRESS SECRETARY SCANDAL

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani speaks during a press conference at the site where a man was shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer during an operation in the Bronx, on October 8, 2026, in New York City.(Ryan Murphy/Getty Images)

“Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite, he’s anti-Christian, and he’s anti-American. And Kathy Hochul is campaigning with him,” Kristin Cianci, Northeast Comms Director for the Republican National Committee (RNC) posted on X. “What an utter disgrace. New York deserves better.”

“Zohran Mamdani is an antisemite, anti-Christian and anti-American,” the New York Republican Party posted on X. “And he’s Kathy Hochul’s best friend. “

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Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman face off in the only scheduled debate ahead of the November New York gubernatorial election on Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in New York.(Anna Connors/Pool The New York Times)

Hochul was asked about the exchange and why she “didn’t defend the mayor” by a reporter on Wednesday morning during a press conference on the state’s investment into the first-ever community center in Jackson Heights.

“I’m not going to take the bait from someone who’s throwing out such insane arguments,” Hochul said.

“He had a litany of things that were either false or so absurd that I’m not going to dignify them with a response from me, the governor. So, everyone knows I reject that, his description of the mayor. The mayor and I are great partners, we’re working hard together. And I’m not gonna give him the dignity of responding to those kind of crazy comments. And that’s pretty consistent how I’ve been.”

The two New York politicians clashed on a variety of issues on Tuesday night, including President Donald Trump, a recent ICE-involved shooting, energy prices, and inflation.

Democrats outnumber Republicans by a roughly two-to-one margin in blue-leaning New York state, but polling in September indicated that Blakeman has cut his deficit against Hochul to single digits.

Hochul, who is running for a second full four-year term steering the nation’s fourth most populous state, stood at 50% support among likely voters in New York, with Blakeman at 41%, according to a Siena College poll conducted Sept. 11-17.

By a 50%-30% margin, voters said Mamdani’s support for Hochul is a plus for the governor’s bid for re-election.

Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report

Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.

Trump-backed GOP candidate who ousted scandal-plagued incumbent warns against ‘never-ending war’ with Iran

October 14, 2026 3:38pm EDT / Fox News

‘I think we need to draw this conflict down. And we need to make sure that Iran is not a nuclear threat.’

By David Unsworth, Fox News

Ryan Elijah, who defeated Rep. Cory Mills in the Republican primary, says the U.S. must prevent a nuclear-armed Iran while drawing down the military conflict.

For 14 years, Ryan Elijah reported on Central Florida’s biggest stories from the television newsroom. Now, he is on a mission to represent the same community in Congress.

Elijah stepped into a contentious GOP primary in which he warned that incumbent Cory Mills was at risk of losing the Republican-leaning district to the Democrats, following a series of personal and professional scandals.

Elijah won a convincing victory in the August 18 Republican primary, receiving 47% of the vote to Mills’ 34%.

Trump, who had originally endorsed Millls, later claimed that he had privately encouraged the embattled congressman to withdraw from the race.

REP CORY MILLS DRAWS FIRST REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER AS SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS, EXPULSION THREAT MOUNT

Former local TV news anchor Ryan Elijah unseated Rep. Cory Mills in a high-stakes Florida GOP primary race.(Mike McClain/Ryan Elijah for Congress)

Recently, the veteran television journalist sat down with Fox News Digital to discuss his views on Iran, affordability, and immigration, while pledging to remain an independent voice in Congress, and a strong advocate for Volusia and Seminole counties.

Elijah did not take the decision to leave working in media lightly, but felt a call to leadership:

“I love my job. It’s something I could have retired from TV and been perfectly happy. But I think we all look for the time you’re asked to step up and lead. And for me, that was this time. When we saw how the primary was playing out, it just became clear that we were going to lose this election in November.

“And I decided that we had the connections in this community to throw our hat in the ring. We had the trust from the community and the primary played out a lot like we thought it would, where people wanted a choice. I think that’s what primaries are all about in Seminole County and Volusia County spoke really loud. In that primary, and now I think they put us in a great spot to hold this seat in November.”

Elijah pledges to put transparency and accountability front and center for the constituents of the seventh district:

“Well, I think transparency and accountability are huge issues. I think when I talk to people, they don’t feel like they’re heard very much in Washington. And I think that you have to be transparent about whatever you can. And first of all, if you have nothing to hide, that’s the best way to be transparent because you can exactly show your business dealings and how your life dealings are.

Rep. Cory Mills, R-Fla., attends the House Armed Services Committee hearing titled “Department of Defense FY2027 Budget Request,” in Rayburn building on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.(Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

“And that’s something we’ve talked about a lot…and then in terms of accountability, no one is above the law. And that’s a message that Americans want to hear, whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, there are laws for a reason, and we have to make sure those laws are upheld.”

As the military engagement with Iran is rattling global energy markets and pinching American’s pocketbooks, Elijah concedes the need to thwart a nuclear Iran, but also is wary of another forever war:

GOP RISING STAR HELPED TOPPLE TRUMP-BACKED INCUMBENT. NOW HE’S CAUGHT LEADERSHIP’S EYE

“This is a decade-long issue and a conflict between Iran and its proxies, where they have targeted and they have killed Americans. So the U.S. military right now is trying to end that conflict. But as representatives, we have to listen to the American people. We have to listen to central Floridians.

“And they have been very clear on this. They’re concerned about it. They are concerned this is going to be a never-ending war. They don’t want that. I don’t want that either. I share that belief, which is why I think we need to draw this conflict down. And we need to make sure that Iran is not a nuclear threat.”

Despite previous media reporting that the Trump administration is open to allowing Iran to continue its uranium enrichment program, potentially allowing the development of Iranian nuclear weapons, President Donald Trump has taken a hardline stance on the issue, repeatedly saying he would not allow the country to develop any nuclear weapons.(Getty Images)

On the immigration issue, Elijah cites improvement under GOP leadership on the issue, but argues that enforcement focus should remain on criminals:

“This is another issue where I think you have to look at where we’ve come from. When you let tens of millions of illegal people into this country, you’re going to have issues that take a long time to fix. And I think if you look at the way there has to be a federal, a local, and a state cooperation with immigration, that’s what it takes to work. Which is why when I talk to all the sheriffs in our district that are endorsing us, they’re handling immigration much better than other parts around the country because they have that cooperation.

“We need to start with the criminals. We have got many criminals still here illegally in the United States. That’s what they focused on in central Florida. That’s what ICE needs to focus on, removing the criminals. And there’s a compassionate way to handle this as we’ve got an issue that is not going to be fixed in just six or 12 months.”

Elijah consistently emphasizes that he will be an independent voice for the district, not a partisan rubber stamp:

“Well, I’ve said a lot. Look, I ran in this primary without the president’s endorsement. I’ve been an independent voice in this and I’ve told a lot of people that ask me that question.

“As you can imagine, I go to a lot of doors. That’s a question: ‘Will you support the president? Will you not support the president?’ And what I tell them is, if it’s a policy that supports our country and supports our district, I’m going to support that policy.

An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent stands before a large American flag.(Photo by Charly Triballeau/ AFP via Getty Images)

“More often than not, I will because I’m a Republican. I like a lot of those policies. If there’s a policy I disagree with, we won’t. So in that situation, that’s where things are at.”

Finally, Elijah acknowledges that affordability, while lacking a quick and easy fix, is the defining 2026 issue for much of the electorate:

“I think the number one thing that we hear from people, and that’s affordability, and that’s not an easy fix, but I think what they want out of government is accountability. We talked about that before, that government is going to be accountable on its spending, on its policies, and getting inflation down, which is going to lower interest rates. It’s going to lower the cost of living.

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“People in Central Florida, people around the country, they want to be heard. And what they’re saying in a very clear tone right now is make sure that you control government spending and protect the future of our children. That’s probably the biggest thing I want them to notice.”

Elijah will be facing Navy veteran and former NASA employee Bale Dalton in the November 3 general election.

David Unsworth reports on Latin America. You can follow David Unsworth on Twitter @LatinAmerUpdate