Israel election deadlocked with Netanyahu bloc at 53 seats

The Commerce Department releases its final reading on the country’s gross domestic product and the state of inflation on Oct. 29, days before next week’s midterm election. The report will show whether the economy grew faster in the summer than in the spring, according to NPR. Economists expect gross domestic product to be higher, but some say the growth feels delicate.

The tech industry’s continued investment in artificial intelligence and consumer spending are driving gross domestic product, NPR’s Stephan Bisaha reported. Economist Mark Zandi told Bisaha it is “very, very fragile growth,” and he blames inflation for the fragility.

Consumer prices rose 3.7% in September from a year earlier, and prices are outpacing wage growth. The Federal Reserve held interest rates steady on Oct. 28 and will be paying close attention to the Commerce Department’s inflation reading, according to NPR.

Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis’s FRED database put real gross domestic product at about $24.4 trillion as of Oct. 29.

The release lands in the final stretch of the midterm campaign, where the focus has shifted from whether a Democratic wave will happen to its potential magnitude, according to an NPR analysis. Democrats continue to invest in competitive Republican-dominated races, and Republicans are matching those efforts. NPR counted 70 districts where both parties are investing more than six figures in their final messaging.

Former President Barack Obama campaigned in Georgia for Democrats on the night of Oct. 28, highlighting the high cost of living and how Trump’s policies contribute to rising prices, NPR’s Stephen Fowler reported. Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff is likely to win the Senate race, while Georgia’s governor race remains uncertain. Millions of voters have already cast early ballots. Fowler said data show increased turnout among Latino and young voters in Democratic areas, as well as among non-supervoters, who typically do not participate in primaries, creating uncertainty about what the final electorate will look like and indicating that Republicans will have to rely on a large Election Day turnout to stay competitive.

A federal judge denied the Department of Justice’s emergency request to halt the processing of ballots for 20,000 individuals the department identified as “likely” noncitizens. The department filed a notice that it is appealing the decision.

Across the U.S., voters will see 145 statewide ballot measures on the November ballot, according to Ballotpedia. Key themes include abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, taxes and voting.

In Israel, the election is in a deadlock. More than 90% of the votes have been counted, and no candidate has a clear path to forming a coalition. Parties need 61 seats in parliament for a majority; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his allies have secured 53 seats, while his top rival, Gadi Eisenkot, and his allies have garnered 48.

NPR’s Daniel Estrin said there are several options for breaking the impasse. Eisenkot’s camp could win by partnering with Arab-led parties, which recently secured a record 19 seats in parliament. But Estrin said the partnership seems unlikely due to the political risks; Arab political leaders in Israel have been demonized, he said. Israel could hold repeat elections, but Estrin said Eisenkot does not want that because the opposition would have a hard time getting votes a second time. Estrin said Eisenkot will be under pressure to enter a unity government with Netanyahu, especially if Israel launches a new war with Iran.

A lawsuit filed Oct. 28 against the Department of Education alleges that the Trump administration is illegally refusing to follow the rules of a program known as “closed school discharge.” For more than three decades, federal law has required the U.S. Secretary of Education to cancel debts for qualified borrowers when their schools close unexpectedly. Student Defense, a nonprofit borrower advocacy group, filed the suit on behalf of potentially thousands of borrowers. The Education Department told NPR it stands by its implementation of the program.

A hacking group breached the Department of Homeland Security’s personnel files on Oct. 28, exposing the names, phone numbers and addresses of more than 40,000 DHS agents and associates, including those in undercover operations.

American automakers reported increased revenues for the third quarter but face higher costs for key components such as computer chips, steel and copper, as well as higher transport fuel costs. The Department of Health and Human Services announced a new policy that will let small compounding pharmacies make six peptides that have not been approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Bernie Taupin, Elton John’s lyricist on nearly every album, is stepping into the spotlight for the first time in 40 years. His new album, The Sea Has No Mercy, features a collection of songs entirely written and sung by him. Taupin said that until recently he had not considered writing for himself, but he is now ready to share his own musical voice. He told Morning Edition’s A Martínez that more so than a songwriter and a lyricist, he thinks of himself as a storyteller.

Medicare’s open enrollment window runs through Dec. 7. More than half of Americans in Medicare choose a Medicare Advantage plan, which is run by private insurers instead of the federal government. Medicare Advantage is popular because it covers dental and vision, often with lower premiums than traditional Medicare. But private carriers can pick and choose where the plans are offered and can withdraw from unprofitable communities; over the last three years, insurers have left regions on an increasingly large scale, according to recent JAMA research.

NPR offered these tips for navigating Medicare open enrollment this year:

  • Check whether a Medicare Advantage plan is still offered. Plans closing should have sent letters in early October, and beneficiaries can log in to Medicare.gov to verify a plan’s status.
  • Call a state’s State Health Insurance Assistance Program. It is free, federally mandated and offers unbiased information on all options; shiphelp.org locates the state’s program.
  • Look for local Medicare counseling services. Brokers can be helpful, but beneficiaries should choose one who discusses all options, including traditional Medicare and supplemental plans.
  • Double-check anything seen on Medicare’s Plan Finder with a doctor’s office or another Medicare assister.
  • Be cautious about sharing personal information such as a phone number; some online agencies may sell it, leading to spam calls and potential scams.