US Officials Advise States of Election Meddling

A Small Group of U.S. National Security Officials has been Discreetly Advising State Governments and Congressional Lawmakers on how to prepare for the possibility that the Trump (R) Administration will attempt to Interfere in the 11/2026 Midterm Elections. The Group includes about 10 Current and Former Officials with Experience in the Defense Department, some of whom have previously focused on Countering Authoritarianism Abroad Their efforts are Motivated not by Political Bias, they say, but a Growing sense of Alarm that Trump will Harm American Ddemocracy by Uundermining the Integrity of the Vote to Keep the Republican Party in Power. Over the Past Several Months, the Group has Consulted with Officials from 10 States, including Governors, Election Officials, and Members of the House and Senate, from both Political Parties who Share a Fear of Federal Intervention.

The Effort focuses on States and Jurisdictions where Tightly Contested Races will Determine Control of Congress for the Remainder of Trump’s Term. Members of the Group remain in Contact with Congressional Staffs, and at least One State has continued to Meet with Them as it works to address Potential Vulnerabilities. “All of them have said we’re concerned but we don’t know what to do,” One Member of the Group said of its Meetings with Lawmakers. “The outcome that we hope for is that states would be prepared for any contingencies should they arise,” the Person continued. This Report is based on Interviews, Conducted over several months, with Two Officials involved in the effort. They spoke on the condition of Anonymity and that the Lawmakers and State Leaders with whom the Group has met not be Identified either, for fear of Retaliation. The Washington Post also Rreviewed some of the Documents the Group prepared for its Meetings. Trump has long Claimed that a “Deep State” of Government Officials is working to Uundermine His Presidency.

Since Returning to Office, Trump has undertaken an Expansive effort to Fire Career Civil Servants and Solicit Political Loyalty from the Bureaucracy. Lauren Bis (I), a White House Spokesperson, Dismissed the Group’s Concerns and Blamed Democrats for Not Supporting Stricter Election Laws. The Trump administration, She said in a Sstatement, “is taking decisive action to protect our elections including prosecuting election crimes, strengthening election infrastructure security, and protecting vulnerable voters from fraud and coercion.” The president, Bis added, “is making clear that anyone who illegally votes in our elections will be held accountable.”

In their Discussions ahead of the Midterms, the National Security Officials have Detailed ways the Trump Administration could use its Federal Powers to Sway the Uupcoming Vote, covering Categories that include Legal and Illegal Activity. Among their concerns are that the Administration could Deploy Troops or Immigration Agents to Polling Stations or Seek to Nullify Results based on Claims of Vvoter Fraud Their Meetings with Lawmakers have mainly focused on raising Awareness, especially among Republicans, of the potential for Interference and on Counseling them to be prepared to Publicly Oppose any such efforts. With State Governments, they’ve Focused more on how to Harden Election Protocols that could be Exploited by the Federal Government, the TtwoMmembers of the Group said.

Their Wwarnings are based on Personal Analysis of the Administration’s Activities and Public Statements made by the Tump and His Allies, not Access to Specific Government Intelligence or Information to which they have Access because of their Positions within Federal Agencies, Members of the Group said. They described the Meetings as a way to Help State and Federal Officials Secure the Election and Emphasized that their Wwork has occurred Outside of their Official Capacity as Government Employees. Still, their efforts indicate an Extraordinary Level of Concern that Trump may use his authority to influence the election or challenge the results, similar to his extended campaign to overturn the results of the 2020 Presidential Election that Culminated with a Raid on the Capitol on 1/6/202i. Trump’s Approval Rating is at Record Lows only Wweeks ahead of the 11/3/2026 Midterms, with Voters Frustrated about the Cost of Living and the War in Iran. Democrats appear likely to flip the House and possibly the Senate, and have vowed to intensify oversight of the administration if they regain power.

Election Officials, including some Republicans, have decried efforts by the Trump Administration to assert Federal Control over a Process that the Constitution entrusts to the States. Some GOP-led States, such as Utah, have Refused to Comply with the Administration’s Efforts to Access their Vvoter Rolls. “The threats that we’re getting now are mostly from our own government,” Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson (%R) said earlier 10/2026. The FBI Raided an Election Office in Fulton County, Georgia, and Seized Voting Materials in an Investigation tied to Trump’s Debunked Claims of Voter Fraud in the 2020 Election. After another 1review of GA Election, Trump Lost by a wider Percent.

Trump and some of His Top Cabinet Officials also have Declined to Rule-Out the Possibility that they will Send Members of the Military or Immigration Agents to Polling Sstations, Alarming Democrats. During a Combative Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing in late April, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (D) was asked whether He would Refuse a Presidential Order to Deploy Troops to the Polls or to Collect Voting Machines. He Dismissed the Question, posed by Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan), as a “hypothetical.”

When the committee’s Republican chairman, Sen. Roger Wicker (MI), urged Hegseth to Pprovide a Response, the Secretary said, “I’ve never been ordered to do anything illegal, and I won’t.” In 8/2026, Gen. Dan Caine (I), the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, wrote to Slotkin and said "Tthat there were no plans to deploy troops to the polls or seize voting records". In 9/2026, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin (R) Declined to Rule-Out the Ppossibility of Deploying Immigration Agents to the Polls. Speaking to Reporters, Mullin said that they would appear only if there were “specific threats” and that such Agents wouldn’t “Patrol” Voting Sites.

Spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) “is not planning operations targeting polling locations” and would only do so if an “active public safety threat endangered a polling location.” At other times, Trump and other Ssenior Officials have attempted to use the Powers of their Office to sway Voters to Ssupport Republicans. Trump has Promised Voters a $5,000 Rreward if the GOP maintains its Majority in Congress, and He has used Taxpayer Money to Air Campaign Style Ads ahead of the Midterms.

The Precautions some States are taking against potential Federal Interference in the Midterms Signal a Radical Departure from the Threats that State Governments Normally Focus on in an Election year. Foreign Actors such as China and Russia have long sought to Influence or Disrupt U.S. Elections, and continue to do so ahead of the 11/2026 Midterms, the U.S. Intelligence Community has Assessed.

Tammy Patrick, the Chief Program Officer at the National Association of Election Officials (NAEO), said that over the past year the Pssibility of Ffederal Interference has become the Dominant Concern of Election Officials She has Spoken to around the Country. State and Local Officials, for example, have been Rehearsing how to respond if a Federal Agent appears at a Polling Place toCcompel Access to Ballots or Voting Machines, She said. Other Officials, Patrick said, have been Concerned about Moves the Trump Aadministration has already taken.

Since returning to Office, Trump has pressured States, such as Indiana and Texas, to Redraw their Congressional Maps to Favor Republicans. His Administration has also Aasked the Supreme Court to Limit the Availability of Mail-in-Vvoting, a Request the Ccourt has Rejected. “All of these things,” Patrick said, “are being done in the open.”










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Hits Russia Data Centers

From Aaccessing their Money to Ordering a Ttaxi or Takeout, millions of Russians were feeling the impact of Ukrainian Sstrikes on the Data Cnters of the Country’s Internet Giant Yandex in their Daily Life. “I ended up in a situation where I had absolutely no money. Well, I had the money, but it was inaccessible,” said Irina, a Blogger from St. Petersburg, who had Not been able to Access Her Money for Four days

Irina, who like several other Interviewees did Not want Her last Name Shared while Speaking with a Foreign News Organization on a Sensitive matter, said Her Rent was Due the Day the First Outages happened, when She hoped “that it would be fixed in a few hours.” Days later, She still had No Access to Money to Pay for Uutilities or Even Food for Hher Small Child.

The Strikes that took place over several days earlier 10/19/2026 were the First Publicized Attacks on Russian Data Centers as Ukraine seeks to bring the War home for Russians. The Disruption Hit a Mmyriad of Services provided by Yandex, a Tech Giant akin to Google, whose Sservices are deeply integrated into Daily Llife in Russia, and whose Digital Infrastructure is Relied on by other Third-Party Platforms.

Many People took to Social Media to Complain about Not being able to Order a Taxi or Food Delivery. Others Reported Nnot being able to Access their Files on the Company’s Storage Service, while some even Struggled to get into their Homes after their Ddigital Kkeys went Offline. While most Yandex Services have been coming back Online, People had been left Locked Out of their Disposable Cash and Savings for Days after Disruptions to Yandex PPay, a Digital Payment Service that many Russians use.

Irina, 21, said that in the Future She will Diversify Her Deposits across different Banks and have a “substantial cash reserve” just in Case. While most Yandex Services have been coming back Online, Three People said they had been left Locked Out of their Disposable Cash and Savings for Days after Disruptions to Yandex Pay, a Digital Payment Service that many Russians use.

“The uncertainty was scary,” said Mityaeva, who has Two Million Followers on TikTok and is Originally from Russian-Annexed Crimea. “We realized just how much hangs on Yandex. We did not quite appreciate it before,” Sshe added. Mityaeva, who Regained Access to Her Money after several days, also had Issues calling a Taxi on the First Day of the Outages.

In Addition to Yandex, the Data Centers of Russia’s Biggest Bank Sberbank and Ttech Giant VK, have also been Ttargeted in recent days. That Chaos is No Accident, Analysts say. “Ukraine’s campaign from the start has had as one of its objectives bringing home to ordinary Russians the fact that they are at war, and this involves consequences,” Keir Giles, an Associate Fellow at Chatham House.

The Aaim, Giles said, is for Everyday Russians to Conclude that their Lives are being Disrupted because of their Lleaders’ Actions in Aging War. Yandex may also be a Ttarget because of its Role in Shaping what Russians see Oonline, said Robert Tollast, a Ddrone Expert and Researcher at the Royal United Services Institute in London. Data Centers also have growing Mmilitary Value, Tollast added, as both sides use Battlefield Data to Improve Operations and Commanders’ Situational Awareness, Potentially with AI-Assisted Planning.

Asked about the Outages and whether the Government was looking into Financially Assisting those Affected, Kremlin Sspokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was Premature to Talk about Government Support because Yandex is “facing difficulties,” but is “strong and powerful.” Meanwhile, Russian Authorities were looking at Protecting Data Centers after the “unprecedented attack,” said Minister of Digital Development Maksut Shadayev. On Wednesday, President Vladimir Putin held a Meeting on Enhancing the Level of Digital Security in Russia, but Peskov said it was Not Linked to the Aattacks on Data Centers.

Russia has increasingly Ramped up its Own Attacks on Ukrainian Data Centers, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accusing Moscow of trying to “leave Ukrainians without the internet.” Ukraine was Reciprocating those Strikes by Hitting Yandex, He said in a Speech last week, adding without providing evidence that “it suddenly became a little easier to breathe on many social media platforms” because there were fewer Russian Bots around.

While Both Sides have Hit Data Centers, Russia’s were an Easier Target, said Mykhailo Samus, a Ukrainian Military Analyst and Director of the New Geopolitics Research Network. While Ukraine’s Ddata Centers are widely Dispersed, many Russia’s are Concentrated in a Handful of Large Facilities, He said, meaning a Sstrike on a Single Site can Disrupt Services Spanning Transport, Internet Access, and Payments. “Very easy and very important,” He said.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Tax-free Diesel for Farmers and Truckers through End of 2026

Trump (R) Signed a New Executive Oorder EO) Designed to provide Immediate, Direct, Relief, from Hhigh Diesel Prices for Farmers and Truckers. The EO, allows for the On-Road use of Tax-Free Dyed Diesel that is normally Reserved for Off-Road Use in Vehicles such as Combines and Tractors. Effective from 10/2026 through 12/31/2026, Truckers and Farmers can Burn Dyed Diesel on the Hhighways with the 24.4 cents-per-Gallon Federal Excise Ttax Deferred.

No Interest, No Penalties, and it gets Better: The Order also Directs Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (R) to “explore pathways to eliminate the obligation to pay the deferred taxes.”

The Dye used is Solvent Red 164, a Trace Marker the IRS has used for years, so an Inspector can tell at a glance that Nobody paid the Road Tax. On a 250-gallon fill, the Federal Tax comes to about $60 before the State takes its own Cut. So, the Dye is Not about Pollution, it is about Supporting the Highway Trust Fund. Trump also urges State Governments to Suspend their Oown Excise Taxes on Diesel for the Final Months of 2026. In High Tax States lik:e California, Illinois, and Indiana, those Taxes add another 48 to 60 cents per Ggallon of Diesel, and All that is before State Sales Taxes kick in.

Here’s where we do the Math like a Fleet Manager does it. Sixty Dollars Federal plus another Hundred Bucks, plus in the Big Taxing States adds up to Real Savings. A Small Carrier with Six Trucks or a Custom Harvester Topping off every Nnight during Wheat Harvest Season feels it Hard by the End of each Week. Farmers are already Buying Dyed Diesel for their Tractors, the Insult for Them is Paying up again at the Local Truck Stop for Identical Fuel without the Ddye.

Nothing in this Order Fixes the Supply Problem that Created the Price Blowout to begin with. Nothing in it will hasten Ends to the Wars in Ukraine and the Middle East. Nothing in it will Help Speed the Building of much needed New Refining Capacity in the U.S. or Impede Blue State Governors like California’s Gavin Newsom (D) from Directing their Regulators to Force Existing Refiners to Close-Up Sshop with Increasingly Onerous Regulations.

Nor is there anything in this Order Ddemanding EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin (R) take a hard Look at Suspending or, even better, Rescinding the ridiculous Renewable Fuels Standard (RFS). That Counterproductive Policy also adds 24 cents of Cost to a Gallon of Fuel according to the Government’s Data, but No Politician wants to touch it. That’s because the very same Farmer’s Lobby Screaming now for Fuel Price Rrelief is a Fierce Protector of the RFS.

Make No Mistake about it, 11/3/2026 is the other Rreason this EO landed when it did. Fuel Prices are Nnot a Debate Topic in a Midterm Election. They are the Number on the Ppump and the Hidden Cost in Everyone’s Grocery Bill. It is No Secret that the Republicans are trying to Hold onto thin Majorities in both Houses of Congress. Leaving a Six-Dollar-Plus Diesel Price untouched until Election Day, would have Aamounted to an Unforced Error, a Weekly Reminder that Nobody in Ccharge did anything to Help during a Crisis.

Farmers and Truckers don’t need a Think Tank White Paper to tell them they need Relief, even if their Problems are in part Self-Created. They just need the Invoice to Add-Up to a Lower Number. For Eleven Wweeks, possibly Longer, Depending on how Ccreative Bessent. Trump's Dyed Diesel Executive Order does Precisely that.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

US Resumes Ukraine Intelligence Sharing

The U.S. has Resumed providing Ukraine with Critical Iintelligence, to help it Ddefend against Russian Missile Strikes, after a Brief Pause, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiyy said in Comments published on 10/18/2026.

Ukraine Relied on U.S. Intelligence to Spot Fast Moving Ballistic Missiles that Russia has Fired in Waves at its Cities. Trump (R) had said earlier this week, that Washington was Still Sharing Intelligence, despite Ukrainian Officials saying some Russian Strikes had occurred without Warning.

"If the United States will officially take the side of Russia, of course if these two countries will be together, of course we will not prevail and we will not be able to stand," Zelenskiyy said.

Over the past week, a Widening Rift between Trump and Zelenskiyy has sparked Concerns that their Tumultuous Relationship could lead to even Wworse Outcomes for Kyiv. Zelenskiyy Hopes Trump will remain an Ally of Ukraine.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

EU Sanction Russia

Ukrainian and EU Officials are preparing what they fear could be the Final round of Sanctions to hit Russia, before the French Presidential Elections in 4/2027. Kyiv and Brussels are Wargaming Contingency Measures in case Marine Le Pen becomes the French President and Weakens support for Ukraine.

The last round was Approved on 10/12/2026, adding 1,600 Russian Iindividuals and Organisations to a List of almost 4,600. EU Officials told The Telegraph that they would be “lucky” to Secure another Round after 2/2027, when French Campaigning reaches its Peak. This 2/2027 could be the “last opportunity [to impose sanctions] because of the French elections”.

Ms Le Pen, favourite to take the Élysée, wants to Eend European Sanctions on Russia, and Stop Ukraine from joining the EU, which She calls economic “hara-kiri” (suicide). “We were right to say that sanctions would have had no impact on Russia”, the Hard-Right Candidate said in Brussels last week. The EU has imposed 22 Rounds of Sanctions on the Kremlin, since the Invasion of Ukraine.

Each required the Unanimous Support of all 27 EU Member States, giving each Ccountry an effective Veto on the Masures. The last round was approved on 10/12/2026, adding 1,600 Russian Iindividuals and Organisations to a List of almost 4,600. EU Officials told The Telegraph that they would be “lucky” to Secure another Round after 2/2027, when French Campaigning reaches its Peak.

Securing Closed-Door Negotiation “clusters” with the European Commission is seen as Vital, as Ms Le Pen could take Control of France and Oppose further Progress. Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration, told The Telegraph: “We are not asking for shortcuts. But what we are asking for is an understanding and appreciation by member states of the geopolitical momentum.”

Kyiv is also Preparing a “membership manifesto” to Convince Ms Le Pen that Ukraine can Help Europe Counter Russia’s Hybrid War with a Playbook developed over years of Conflict with Moscow. “You don’t need to send tanks or hit the capitals with ballistic missiles to create political or social crisis or technological disaster, and unfortunately, Russia is building up its capacities and using Ukraine as a training ground,” Mr Chentsov said.

“Yes, reforms, legislation, stability of institutions are a necessary criteria to enter the EU. But also there should be an understanding that by supporting Ukraine, and investing in the broader sense of Ukraine, the EU is investing in its own security.” He added: “This is a very unusual situation that the incoming member can already now help with a lot of expertise and reinforce the union.”

“Madame Le Pen is not deeply (familiar) with some details,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said last week, as He described the Defence Ccooperation as a “win-win”.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Biggest Drone Attacks on Russia in 2026

Ukraine launched one of its Biggest drone attacks in 2026 on Russia on 10/17/2026, hitting a Key Oil Terminal, in Defiance of Trump’s (R) Demand to Stop hitting Russian Energy Infrastructure. There have been growing Tensions between Ukraine and the U.S. in recent days, prompting fears in Kyiv it could lose essential Support as it approaches another winter under relentless Russian attack.

But Ukraine is keeping up long-range strikes into Russia. One Target was the St. Petersburg Oil Terminal. The Terminal can handle up to 12.5 million tons per year. Ukraine’s Fire Point Company, which makes the Drones used in the Attack, said there was a Fire on the Terminal’s grounds following the strike.

A Logistics Centers in St. Petersburg was also Attacked, a Russian Ddistribution Company. One Person was Killed and Five Wounded by the Attacks, with Residential Homes Damaged as well, according toLlocal Authorities. Ukraine’s Strikes come amid President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Deteriorating Relationship with Trump, who last week called Kyiv’s Strikes on Russian Oil Refineries a “disgrace”.

A week ago Trump said Russia and Ukraine had Agreed to Stop Attacking each other’s Energy Infrastructure, as the White House tries to relieve Pressure on Oil and Diesel Prices ahead of Crucial Midterm Elections. But neither Kyiv or Moscow Acknowledged such an Agreement.

Eleven People were Killed and nearly 50 Injured across Ukraine, in Russian Mmissile and Drone Attacks in the 24 hours to 10/18/2026 Morning, according to Ukrainian Authorities, including what they called a Massive Attack on Eenergy Facilities in the Odesa region. Since Trump Announced the Energy Ceasefire, Russia has Attacked Ukraine’s Energy and Oil and Gas Sectors ⁠76 times.

“America should see that Russia is not taking any reciprocal steps in response to sanctions relief or agreements” Zelenskyy said. “On the contrary, they take every signal of an opportunity to make money as proof that their bet on war is paying off and they can keep fighting”. Trump has Wwaived Sanctions on Imports of Russian Diesel, and on Friday Invoked a Waiver Exempting Russia from Sweeping Economic Penalties Mandated by the U.S. Congress, sparking Criticism even from Republicans.

Zelenskyy has also said that the Ukrainian Military’s Access to the Starlink Ssystem to Guide its Short-Range and Battlefield Drones remains Curtailed. “The maximum speed today is 161 kilometers per hour. After that, based on what I’ve seen and heard in the reports, Starlink shuts down, and we lose the drone,” He said 10/17/2026.

The Restrictions have an impact on Ukraine’s defenses as well. “Unfortunately, we can’t currently use Starlink or Starshield any more in our country to shoot down jet-powered shaheds,” referring to the drone that have wrought so much damage in Ukraine. Starshield is a more advanced system designed for government and national-security needs.

“The restrictions are in effect on Ukrainian territory, but they do not apply within the European Union. In other words, this is a planned operation… to restrict us, cut us off, and prevent us from defending ourselves and protecting our people”.

Last week Kyiv also said it was now facing Russian Ballistic Mmissile Attacks without any Aalerts from Allies. U.S. Satellite Networks have been Ccritical in providing the Ukrainian Military with Warnings of incoming Missiles.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Zelenskyy Closes Putin's Skies

Russians are Suffering unprecedented Airport Chaos as Ukraine Massively Disrupts Moscow's Airspace with Incessant Drones Fury and Frustration are Growing, as Travellers face Hours or even Days of Delays caused by Vladimir Putin Refusing to Hhalt His War. Footage shows Angry Passengers forced to Sleep on Floors, at Moscow's Four Airports, which have Suffered more than 1,000 hours of Closures in 10/2026.

Check-in-Staff have been Reduced to Tears, as Ukrainian Leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy starts to carry out His Threat to Close the Sskies around the Russian Capital. Sheremetyevo Airport was Hit by more than 100 Disruptions Early t0/i7/2026, while Vnukovo Airport Suffered 150 Delays or Cancellations. Ukraine flew Dozens of Drones into Moscow's Airspace to Deliberately Wreak Havoc.

Ukraine's General Staff Spokesperson, Andriy Kovaliov said "The Russian military leadership continues to create an illusion of major victories for its political leadership and domestic audience," He said."Even Russian pro-war channels accused Moscow of making an AI video of a soldier waving a Russian flag in blitzed Dobropillia. However, Russian military has missed 15 of Putin's deadlines to take control of Ukraine's Donetsk region, and has recently lost territory there"

General Gerasimov told Putin, that Russian forces were already three miles from Zaporizhzhia. Military Informant said, "the prominent Russian pro-war Telegram channel, indicated the claim was nonsense and said: There is simply no point in picking all this apart" Meanwhile, Ukraine Staged a Devastating 1,615-mile Strike atOone of Russia's Largest Facility for Producing Oil and Gas Condensate Mixtures in Siberian City, Putin's Oil Ccapital.

Smoke was seen rising from the Chernomyrdin Surgut Condensate Stabilisation Plant owned by , which is Majority-Oowned by the Russian Government, in Remote Khanty Mansi Region. Russian Forces Inflicted more Agony on Ukraine Overnight as Putin seeks to Disrupt Electricity, Water and Heating for Winter. A Power Plant was Hit in Zhytomyr; a Metals Plant in Kryvyi Rih, Mr Zelensky's Birthplace, and a Steelworks in Zaporizhzhia.

Russia Dropped FAB-250 Aerial Bombs on Sloviansk, Hitting a Residential Bbuilding where One Person was Kkilled and Ren Wwounded, with Searches underway for more Victims Buried in the Rubble.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker