Originally published October 24, 2026 at 8:28 p.m. CDT. Weather conditions, voting schedules and other time-sensitive information refer to the original publication date and are not live updates.
Trumps vote early • $800M church settlement • Iran threat memo
THE FIVE NATIONAL STORIES AMERICANS SHOULD KNOW TODAY
TONIGHT’S FIVE
- Trumps vote early in Florida
- $800M church settlement
- Iran threat to U.S. staff
- Ukraine: Starlink restored
- DOJ orders ballot checks
TRUMPS VOTE EARLY IN PERSON IN FLORIDA
President Trump and first lady Melania Trump cast their midterm ballots in person in Palm Beach County, Florida, on Saturday, CBS News reported.
Saturday was the first day of early voting in Florida, which runs through Halloween.
They voted at the Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections building before heading to Georgia for a rally in Perry backing Republican Reps. Mike Collins and Rick Jackson.
Earlier this week, the president said he prefers to vote on Election Day. In recent elections, he has voted by mail.
Palm Beach County, Florida
NEW YORK ARCHDIOCESE AGREES TO $800M SETTLEMENT
The Archdiocese of New York has agreed to pay $800 million to settle claims brought by some 1,300 people who say they were sexually abused, NPR reported.
Archbishop Ronald Hicks said the deal has not yet been signed. A lawyer for the plaintiffs said all plaintiffs had agreed to the settlement.
The archdiocese earlier planned to sell some of its Manhattan properties to raise $300 million to pay survivors.
In 2024, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles agreed to an $880 million settlement.
New York
INTEL CHIEF WARNS OF IRAN PLOTS AGAINST U.S. STAFF
Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned Friday that Iran has "substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel" abroad, according to a memo obtained by CBS News.
"The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries," Clayton wrote.
Clayton's memo does not identify specific targets or countries, or say whether attacks may be imminent.
The State Department ordered non-essential U.S. embassy personnel and their families to leave Saudi Arabia.
Washington
UKRAINE SAYS STARLINK BACK TO FULL SPEED
Ukraine said Saturday that the Starlink satellite system and the military's Starshield were back to high operating speeds after more than a week of disruptions, NPR reported.
"The speeds are now where they need to be," President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
Elon Musk said limits on speed or usage "are decided by the US military and ultimately POTUS." The Trump administration has denied interfering with Ukraine's Starshield access.
Ukraine
DOJ ORDERS 18 CALIFORNIA COUNTIES TO CHECK BALLOTS
Federal prosecutors sent letters to county registrars across California on Friday demanding they set aside and verify ballots the Justice Department said may belong to noncitizens, CBS News reported.
At least 18 counties have received similar letters and were given a 48-hour deadline.
"Any election official who knowingly processes the ballot of a noncitizen is opening themselves to legal jeopardy," said First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli.
Data shows illegal voting by people who aren't U.S. citizens is incredibly rare, CBS News reported. A hearing in a related lawsuit involving L.A. County is set for Tuesday.
California
WASHINGTON WATCH
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 25th, 2026AD
Tuesday: Federal court hearing in the Justice Department's lawsuit over L.A. County ballots, CBS News reports.
Through Oct. 31: Florida early voting continues, CBS News reports.
That’s America Tonight.
The headlines change every day.
The consequences last for years.
