INTERNACIONAL
Battleground Republicans break with Trump on key issues in final midterm sprint
Battleground Republicans are breaking from President Donald Trump with increasing frequency as Election Day draws closer and the party fights to protect its congressional majorities.
With just three weeks until voters head to the polls to decide who controls Congress for the latter half of Trump’s term, some Republicans are putting distance between themselves and Trump as the party faces significant political headwinds.
Veteran GOP strategist Doug Heye told Digital that such a strategy at this juncture was «not a surprise.»
«It happens in midterms when presidents aren’t popular,» Heye said. «Add to that the more outlandish things he’s done — often on things that have nothing to do with lowering costs, ending the war with Iran, etc. — this was bound to happen.»
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It’s a similar situation to what’s played out with past presidents during a midterm election year, most recently with former President Joe Biden in 2022.
And the Republican National Committee (RNC) is arguing that the party is united behind Trump, while conceding that GOP candidates have individual stakes.
«Unlike the Democrats who are in a full-blown civil war with extremists, Republicans remain united behind the president’s agenda of cutting taxes, lowering drug costs and securing our communities. We are laser-focused on winning, and our candidates will run the races necessary to best represent their districts and prevent Democrats from taking control,» RNC spokeswoman Natalie Baldessarre said.
And running their own races is what several are notably doing, balancing individuality with their support for Trump and the GOP base.
At least two House Republicans, Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Mike Lawler, R-N.Y., have touted conflict with Trump in advertisements.
TRUMP-LINKED SUPER PAC PULLS FUNDING FROM 2 HOUSE REPUBLICANS AS GOP FIGHTS TO KEEP MAJORITY
Kiggans is out with a new ad touting herself as «one of the most bipartisan members of Congress,» who has taken on her «own party to protect jobs, and working with Democrats to save healthcare.» One visual referenced a news article that said, «Kiggans bucks Trump on offshore wind.»
Meanwhile, Lawler recently released an advertisement in which he highlighted taking on «the left and the right,» followed by a clip of Trump calling him a «pain in the a–» on state and local tax deduction issues.
But for many, like Lawler, it’s a balancing act of trying to keep Trump and the GOP base happy, while courting independent voters.
White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said, «No one can dispute the fact that President Trump has created one of the most robust coalitions in political history with the MAGA movement, and the president understands how to communicate with them.»
«President Trump is the unequivocal leader, best messenger and unmatched motivator for the Republican Party, and he is committed to maintaining Republican majorities in Congress,» Ingle told Digital.
«The president signed the largest working-class tax cuts in history, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, sealed the border, drove violent crime to the lowest level in nearly a century, unleashed an energy revolution, added more than a million private-sector jobs and sent Americans’ 401(k)s climbing to record highs,» Ingle continued. «The choice has never been more clear: doubling down on President Trump’s winning, commonsense agenda or the Democrats’ extreme liberal policies and obstruction.»
Still, the political tightrope was on full display when Lawler appeared on stage at Trump’s midterm convention in September, when he noted he and the president didn’t «always agree.»
He told Digital at the convention, «I fundamentally believe if you want to get things done, you have to be able to work with whoever the president is. And it’s why I’ve consistently been rated among the most bipartisan and effective members of Congress.»
Former Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., and Sen. John Husted, R-Ohio, also notably appeared at Trump’s convention in Dallas.
They have, however, split from Trump on some key issues in an effort to show daylight between themselves and the president.
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They have called for an end to the Iran war and have diverged from Trump on data centers — the president declared on Truth Social shortly after the midterm convention that «the only reason that communities throughout the U.S.A. should not want Data Centers is if they want to end up being backwards and poor.»
But it’s a key sticking point for several Republicans on the trail who recognize the bad optics the hulking, windowless behemoths have with voters. Many, including Husted and Rogers, don’t believe it’s an issue that the federal government should have total dominion over.
«What we’ve said is there should be a moratorium until we get all of the voters’ decisions and questions answered,» Rogers told Digital during the convention. «These are big decisions. I don’t think there should be a federal ban, because if the federal government can ban it, it can also tell you have to have one.»
Another vulnerable GOP lawmaker who broke from Trump on the issue of data centers is Rep. Tom Barrett, R-Mich., who has maintained that it should be a decision for local governments whether to allow such facilities in their backyards.
«When you have people colluding with these corporations to come in and build a data center, before people in the community even know about it, because of these non-disclosure agreements, I think that violates the trust that people have or don’t have with their local officials right now,» Barrett said on Fox News’ «The Big Weekend Show.»
Barrett is also one of a small handful of House Republicans who has consistently voted against the U.S. operation in Iran without congressional approval. The Middle East conflict has gained a steady stream of GOP opposition the longer it’s gone on, as evidenced by the growing number of Republicans voting for Democrats’ war powers resolutions in the House.
Among them is Rep. Marianette Miller-Meeks, R-Iowa, who previously voted with the GOP on similar measures until the most recent such vote in mid-September.
And Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, who voted against reining in Trump on Iran, noted on the Woo & WayCo podcast last week, «We need to get out of this war quickly.»
«What [Trump] did to stop a nuclear danger is a beautiful thing, but right now, you know, I don’t think anyone can cut a deal with Iranians, because you can’t trust them,» Miller said.
The Ohio Republican’s re-election chances are up in the air amid a slew of domestic abuse allegations from his ex-wife and former father-in-law.
He did notably appear at Trump’s rally in Youngstown, Ohio.
Trump’s plan to import foreign beef has also gotten some pushback from vulnerable House Republicans like Miller-Meeks and Rep. Zach Nunn, R-Iowa.
Nunn, another battleground Iowan, introduced a bipartisan bill last month that would suspend Trump’s plan while directing the federal government to find a strategy to grow domestic cattle numbers.
And some candidates, like Rep. Tom Kean, R-N.J., do not mention the president on their websites at all. References to Republicans on Kean’s site are few and far between, but it touts him as an «independent leader standing up for what is right for New Jersey.»
A separate White House official argued that Republicans distancing themselves from Trump «could not be further from the truth — President Trump is still the unequivocal leader of the Republican Party.»
politics, donald trump, midterm elections, republican convention, battleground voters
INTERNACIONAL
Iowa Dem Senate candidate says he’s too busy campaigning to attend all state House votes
Democratic Iowa State Rep. Josh Turek defended his attendance record after being called out by his opponent, Republican Rep. Ashley Hinson, R-Iowa, during a Tuesday night debate for the state’s open Senate seat.
Hinson remarked on Turek’s absences while responding to a question posed to both candidates about Iowa’s rising cancer rates.
«You have to show up to vote for things like pediatric cancer research, and I’ve invested in legislation to make sure that we’re redirecting those resources to get to where it needs to go to help get to the bottom of this cancer crisis,» Hinson said.
As Digital first uncovered, Turek missed 261 votes in Iowa’s state legislature from Jan. 12, 2026, through May 3, representing nearly 58% of the total votes during that time.
The debate’s moderator asked Turek directly why he missed the votes.
DEM SENATE HOPEFUL RIPPED AS ‘ABSENTEE LEGISLATOR’ AFTER MISSING NEARLY 60% OF VOTES
«I have gone out there, and I have met with Iowans all over the state, all 99 counties, hundreds of public forums,» Turek responded.
POLL: TUREK, HINSON IN CLOSE IOWA SENATE RACE
«Meanwhile, Ashley Hinson, since she’s decided to run for U.S. Senate, has not done one in-person town forum. Also, in my first three years in the legislature, [I had] more than a 90% attendance record,» Turek continued.
«I want to ask again, though, why did you miss those votes?» the moderator repeated.
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«I’m out campaigning. I’m out meeting Iowans all over all 99 counties. I’ve done hundreds of in-person town halls. Meanwhile, Ashley Hinson, since she’s running for the U.S. Senate, has not done a single in-person town hall,» he said.
Hinson objected to the notion that she hasn’t done any town halls during the campaign cycle.
POLL: A CLOSE SENATE CONTEST IS BREWING IN IOWA
«I’ve done more town halls than the percentage of time he showed up to work this year. 42% of the time is all Rep. Turek showed up to work this year. That’s two out of every five days of work,» Hinson said.
«Iowans, if you’re watching tonight, you should know if you don’t show up to work two out of five days, you’re not getting a promotion. You’re getting fired. I am proud of my bipartisan record working with both parties to get things across the finish line. I rank in the top 20% of bipartisan lawmakers in Congress and I have a 99% attendance record even while running a statewide campaign,» she concluded.
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Turek, before the moderator moved on, chimed in, adding, «She also missed 193 votes.»
A spokesperson for the Hinson campaign clarified to Digital that the 193 votes Hinson missed accounted for her entire time in Congress, while the 261 votes Turek missed were in the 2026 legislative session alone.
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The Hinson campaign also disputed the idea that she hasn’t held any town halls.
«Since being elected to Congress, Ashley Hinson has held 47 in-person town halls and more than 30 telephone town halls — speaking directly to Iowans about the issues that matter most to them,» Billy Fuerst, the Hinson campaign communications director, told Digital.
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«Ashley has a 98.8% lifetime voting record while Josh Turek registered a 42% voting record in the State House this year. Ashley missed 16% (94 of 553) of committee amendment votes over the course of her congressional tenure, but has been present for all final passage votes (final passage votes include the amendment language) in her time on the Appropriations Committee — 70 total bills since 2021,» Fuerst concluded.
Rep. Turek and his campaign did not immediately respond to Digital for comment.
Digital’s Leo Briceno contributed to this report.
politics, senate, midterm elections, iowa, democratic party, republicans
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The entire Horn of Africa region is said to be on a knife’s edge. As explosions reportedly claimed to be caused by drones hit Ethiopia’s capital city in early October, the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa warned U.S. citizens of the danger of «long-range attacks.»
Analysts say there’s a high probability that Ethiopia and Eritrea are about to erupt in a new war, with worrying regional backing for both sides.
Former CIA analyst and National Security Council Africa Director Cameron Hudson says the Trump administration needs to become more involved. He told Fox News Digital, «Regional leaders will say privately that they don’t want a regional war. But with so many armed actors and so much meddling going on in each other’s countries, a regional conflagration becomes increasingly likely. It is this kind of miscalculation that the Trump administration needs to be working now to guard against.»
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The U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa took to its website to caution Americans in Ethiopia that it «is aware of reports of possible long-range attacks directed at Ethiopian military installations on several instances in October of this year. U.S. citizens should accordingly exercise caution and follow the advice of local authorities.»
The Embassy also hit out at reported disinformation, «some social media accounts contain false and misleading reports about the security situation in Ethiopia. U.S. citizens are urged to verify information using multiple sources or reliable information.»
Indeed, although explosions in and around Addis Ababa, mainly at military installations, can be confirmed as having taken place, it cannot be established that the frightening spectacle of drones crashing into buildings in a major African city which houses the headquarters of the African Union happened.
Requests for comment to the Ethiopian government were not returned.
Analysts say there is a high probability that Ethiopia and Eritrea are about to erupt in a new war. (Getty Images)
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Blen Mamo, executive director of the Ethiopian Horn Review think-tank, told Fox News Digital this is potentially a worrying development. «If identified as an aerial or drone attack, they exceed the capabilities of Ethiopia’s domestic insurgent groups, confirming Ethiopia’s allegation of foreign state involvement.»
The rebel groups opposing Ethiopia’s government have joined together to form the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival. This coalition claimed responsibility for the Addis Ababa attacks, stating they used drones.
Destroyed ammunition lies on the ground under the charred wreckage of an abandoned truck damaged by a drone strike during fighting between the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces in Adi Mesno, Southern Tigray region, Ethiopia, Oct. 9, 2026. (Reuters)
Dr. Jalale Getachew Birru, regional expert of the U.S.-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data research group, is also concerned about a new phase of conflict using drones. Birru told Fox News Digital, «should the Alliance for Survival possess drone capabilities, it could fundamentally alter the dynamics of the conflict, refocusing strategic control on aerial dominance.»
In early October, Ethiopian troops pushed out rebel groups who had occupied the Tigrayan capital, Mekelle. This operation ended a four-year-long ceasefire between Ethiopia and Tigray, the northernmost province of Ethiopia.
Members of the Ethiopian Federal Police (EFP) patrol aboard a pickup truck as they resumed operations after federal forces pushed back the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in Mekelle on Oct. 9, 2026. Ethiopia and Eritrea each accused the other of starting a war of aggression as an internal Ethiopian conflict threatened to escalate into a regional war. Over the past week, the Ethiopian army has pushed back the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and seized their capital city, Mekelle, with Ethiopian Airlines saying flights to the city would resume from Oct.11. (AFP via Getty Images)
Last week, reports claimed Eritrean troops had entered Ethiopia. Although the allegations have not been independently verified, Fox News Digital has seen multiple videos showing what appears to be large convoys of trucks carrying uniformed soldiers passing through the Ethiopian city of Adigrat. Addis Ababa is said to have subsequently launched drone attacks and pushed the Eritreans back over the border.
The latest fighting was sparked principally by Ethiopia’s statements that it wants to get access to Red Sea ports. The country became landlocked when Eritrea became independent in 1993. In a speech as he was sworn in for a new five-year term Oct. 5, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said sea access was «of vital importance to Ethiopia’s civilization.»
He added, «Based on the principle of give and take, we will work diligently to ensure that Ethiopia has an outlet to the sea.»
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Members of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) gather in front of Mekelle Alula Aba Nega International Airport after federal forces retook control of the facility in Mekelle on Oct. 6, 2026. (AFP via Getty Images)
Possible regional expansion of any conflict also comes from the creation of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. Egypt and Sudan are at odds with Addis Ababa, after it built the dam across the Blue Nile, affecting access to water to these countries which are downstream. Egypt this month took up a formal position against Ethiopia, when it created a coalition with Sudan, Eritrea and Somalia.
The State Department has been active diplomatically to try and resolve the situation. A spokesperson told Fox News Digital that Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker met this month with Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh and spoke with Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timotheos.
Also, Assistant Secretary for African Affairs Frank Garcia met with Minister Saleh. The spokesperson added, «Both U.S. officials underscored the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity for all countries in the Horn of Africa.»
Following these discussions, State Department spokesman Thomas «Tommy» Piggott released a statement, saying, «Increasing cross-border tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have the potential to affect the entire region. The Horn of Africa cannot sustain another military conflict and humanitarian crisis. A conflict jeopardizes ongoing U.S. collaboration on shared interests with both countries.»
Piggott added, «We strongly urge Ethiopia and Eritrea to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of their neighbors, exercise maximum restraint and return to dialogue and cooperation as agreed in their 2018 peace framework. Peace through dialogue is the only path toward sustainable security, economic growth, and prosperity.»
The Horn Review’s Mamo told Fox News Digital the reality on the ground is «increasingly pointing toward a conflict that may prove impossible to avoid,» and warned of Egypt’s motives: «Parallel military and technical cooperation with Asmara (the capital of Eritrea) also adds strategic depth along Ethiopia’s northern frontier, while Egypt’s expanding role in Somalia and Red Sea port initiatives extends its regional influence.»
«The situation in Ethiopia and in the region is extremely dynamic,» analyst Cameron Hudson told Fox News Digital. Hudson added, «The question remains, given the weakness of the internal (rebel) coalition, will external forces attempt to step in and exert greater leverage against Abiy.»
He continued, «We are seeing Eritrea begin to move forces into Ethiopia, while a coalition of regional states including Somalia, Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea have issued a statement that amounts to a veiled threat against Ethiopia and its regional ambitions to establish a Red Sea naval presence and expand a series of hydroelectric dams on the Nile. The entire Horn of Africa region is on a knife’s edge and it is being made only more complicated by Houthi efforts to shut Red Sea shipping and the war in Iran.»
Members of the Ethiopian National Defense Force parade during a celebration of Ethiopian Defense Force day in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. (Amanuel Sileshi/AFP via Getty Images)
«The risk of regional conflict remains high,» Hudson said. «Egypt would be happy to see Ethiopia bogged down in internal conflict and unable to pursue its ambitions on the Nile and in the Red Sea. Similarly, Sudan hopes that internal conflict in Ethiopia distracts Addis from its support of the rapid support forces militia in Sudan’s war.»
«Local disputes can quickly become regional and international disputes with global consequences very quickly in this corner of the world,» Hudson added, «Closure of the Bab el Mandab Strait, owing to unchecked tensions and violence across the Red Sea, will quickly be felt in the U.S.»
world, africa, wars, geopolitics
Una habitación individual para el fin de semana del 9 al 11 de octubre parte de USD 30 en la Ruta de las Flores, según un sondeo publicado por la Defensoría del Consumidor que informó tarifas de alojamientos en los principales circuitos turísticos de El Salvador.
El precio mínimo se ubicó en Concepción de Ataco, mientras que las opciones con valores más altos aparecieron en sectores de San Salvador y Surf City.
En su investigación, la institución incluyó 44 establecimientos, recolectó 133 precios y abarcó 15 distritos de 11 municipios. El relevamiento se realizó el 6 y 7 de octubre, con tarifas vigentes entre el 9 y el 11 de ese mes.
La Ruta de las Flores concentra las alternativas individuales de menor valor dentro del sondeo. En Concepción de Ataco, el precio más bajo registrado fue de USD 30, mientras que en Juayúa hubo opciones desde USD 35. Sonzacate figuró con tarifas individuales desde USD 38, y Apaneca, desde USD 45.
En zonas como Acajutla, los precios para grupos fueron superiores: una habitación doble alcanzó USD 294.98, una triple llegó a USD 420.35 y una cuádruple se ubicó en USD 545.71.
En otros sectores de la ruta, como Ahuachapán, Concepción de Ataco y Juayúa, las tarifas individuales relevadas se ubicaron entre USD 60 y USD 125. Las habitaciones dobles llegaron hasta USD 158 y las cuádruples, hasta USD 210 en algunos puntos de este circuito turístico.
San Salvador ofrece habitaciones desde USD 40 hasta USD 380
En San Salvador, el sondeo abarcó el Centro Histórico, Escalón, San Benito y sectores cercanos. La tarifa inicial para una habitación individual fue de USD 40, mientras que el precio más alto registrado para esa categoría alcanzó los USD 380.
Las diferencias también se extendieron a las habitaciones dobles, triples y cuádruples. En la capital se detectaron opciones dobles desde USD 50 y tarifas que superaron los USD 400 en alojamientos de segmentos superiores. Para grupos, las alternativas relevadas partieron de USD 60 en habitaciones triples y de USD 103 en cuádruples.
Surf City presenta precios desde USD 45 en Playa El Tunco
En Surf City 1, que incluye sectores de La Libertad Costa, Tamanique y Santa Tecla, la habitación individual más económica tuvo un costo de USD 45 en Playa El Tunco. En esa misma área hubo opciones desde USD 65, mientras que los valores subieron hasta USD 275 en puntos ubicados sobre la carretera Litoral.
La oferta en Playa San Diego registró tarifas desde USD 105 para una habitación individual, con cuádruples de USD 125. En Playa Cangrejera y Santa Tecla, el sondeo encontró tarifas individuales desde USD 153,40 y hasta USD 223,02. Algunas alternativas no incluían desayuno, un aspecto que también incide en la comparación final de precios.
Para viajeros en grupo, las tarifas relevadas en sectores de Playa El Tunco llegaron a USD 255 en habitaciones triples y hasta USD 329 en cuádruples.
La zona oriental combina oferta urbana y estadías de playa
La zona oriental, que comprende San Miguel, Usulután, La Unión y Surf City 2, mostró opciones individuales desde USD 44 en San Miguel. En la ciudad, otras tarifas relevadas fueron de USD 49, USD 69 y USD 100.30.
En los sectores de playa, los precios fueron más altos. En El Cuco y Playa Las Flores, dentro de Chirilagua, se registraron habitaciones individuales desde USD 75 y USD 85. En Jucuarán, cerca de Playa Los Mangos, el valor relevado fue de USD 105, mientras que en La Unión hubo una opción desde USD 112.
Las habitaciones cuádruples de la zona oriental partieron de USD 78 en San Miguel y llegaron hasta USD 195 en sectores costeros de Usulután. La mayoría de los alojamientos relevados informó que incluía desayuno, aunque el documento identificó excepciones.
La Defensoría del Consumidor recomendó cotizar y comparar tarifas antes de contratar la estadía, consultar los horarios de entrada y salida, revisar posibles cobros por camas adicionales, alimentación, aire acondicionado o penalidades, y verificar las políticas de cancelación.
La entidad señaló que, si el alojamiento no coincide con lo ofrecido o el servicio resulta incompleto, el consumidor puede reclamar y exigir un descuento o la devolución de lo pagado por prestaciones no recibidas.
Hoteles,El Salvador,Defensoría del Consumidor
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