Washington Post Data Team

washingtonpost.comThe FDA rarely inspects much of the produce Americans eatAmericans are eating more imported fruits and vegetables, but less than 10 percent of facilities that account for 90 percent of shipments have been inspected since 2009.

Since 2009 the FDA has inspected only about 2% of the facilities in Mexico that ship produce to the U.S., a Post investigation found. "That’s a big concern for anybody who eats food in America." By @caitlingilbert.bsky.social & @rachelroubein.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/health/2026/...

Hundreds of high-profile, right-wing social media accounts, podcasts and other online media published 7,000+ statements questioning the election’s integrity so far this year, a Post analysis found. By @laurameckler.bsky.social @chrishacker.io & Patrick Marley www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Gas prices and mortgage rates are up, but the cost of eggs is down. Check out 13 charts that show how the economy has changed under Trump. By @rachellerman.bsky.social & @lmelgar.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

Incomes haven't kept up with rising costs in 42 of the 46 most competitive midterm districts. The problem is marginally worse in Republican-held districts. “I don’t know how people are supposed to live.” By @federicacocco.bsky.social, Erin Cox & Amy wong. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Washington Post Data Team reposted

washingtonpost.comTrump’s arch would cast shadow on Arlington CemeteryThe monument would darken the nation’s premier military burial ground early in the morning on more than 280 days a year, a Post analysis finds.

President Trump’s proposed 250-foot-tall arch would be a towering new presence in D.C. To understand its impact, The Post built a to-scale digital 3D model:

17h

NEW: Republican campaigns and political action committees have spent nearly $3 million at President Donald Trump’s businesses since he returned to office, an analysis from @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social found. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Washington Post Data Team reposted

washingtonpost.comTrump’s DOJ told a judge how to rule. Then it pulled her from court.Karen Donoso Stevens offers a rare firsthand look at the administration’s campaign to rewrite the rules of the immigration court system.

Exclusive: Karen Donoso Stevens offers a rare firsthand look at the Trump administration’s campaign to rewrite the rules of the immigration court system.

Washington Post Data Team reposted

washingtonpost.comIlhan Omar’s fundraising spikes after federal raid on her homeThe Minnesota Democrat took in more than $1.5 million on the day of and day after the Oct. 12 search.

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minnesota) raised more than $1.5 million in campaign funds on the day and day after the federal government searched her home in D.C. this month, according to a Post analysis.

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washingtonpost.comThe Pollwatcher: Another fraudulent pollster is out of business, and a third group just disappearedWhy a fake poll got into mainstream poll trackers, how it was discovered and the common thread behind both fake poll scandals this year.

This week's Pollwatcher is out: Another fraudulent pollster is out of business, and a third group just disappeared. Big props to @fiftyplusone.news for exposing Wedgewood, and a look at some broader issues www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

NEW: Jeffrey Epstein no longer dominates headlines like he did for much of last year, but the deceased sex offender is still showing up everywhere in Democratic attack ads. Analysis from @lukejconnors.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

washingtonpost.comDemocrats’ campaign ads increasingly hit Trump construction projectsAt least $1.8 million in Democratic ads have invoked Trump’s ballroom and other projects.

NEW: Democrats have spent at least $1.8 million on ads that invoke Trump’s ballroom project, according to a Post analysis of spending in competitive general election races. Read more of the analysis from @lukejconnors.bsky.social www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

washingtonpost.comTrump super PAC pumps $277 million into midtermsPresident Donald Trump's flagship super PAC, MAGA Inc., has spent about $34 million running attack ads targeting James Talarico of Texas and other Democratic candidates.

NEW from @ence.bsky.social: Trump's flagship super PAC, MAGA Inc., spent $277 million to boost Republicans in midterm races, leaving $164 million in the bank. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

washingtonpost.comGOP is touting tax cuts to keep Ohio and Congress red. Voters aren’t sold.Ohioans are getting bombarded with Republican ads on tax cuts, but the message is falling flat with many voters who feel the weight of higher prices.

NEW: @lukejconnors.bsky.social found that Republicans have spent $19 million on ads about tax on tips in Ohio's competitive races, which intended to sell voters on the One Big Beautiful Bill. But the message is struggling to connect with voters. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...

NEW: Last year, the White House told Texas to redraw its congressional map to create five new GOP seats. Now the plan may be backfiring. If voting patterns in South Texas this year look more like the 2018 or 2020 elections, these Trump+10 districts begin looking deep blue. 🎁 link: wapo.st/483AFxs

Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar's district was redrawn into a Trump+10 district. He still won the 2024 House vote — in his newly gerrymandered district — by eight points. Cuellar asked House Speaker Mike Johnson, "Do I thank you, or do I thank the White House?" wapo.st/483AFxs

Lots of voters in South Texas split their tickets, which has made these maps — which were not drawn using House-level voting data, just statewide races — especially problematic. Read the piece from @jherrerx.bsky.social and @ence.bsky.social here: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

washingtonpost.comPoll finds jump in Republicans who say Trump is enriching himselfAbout one-third of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents now hold that view, up from about one-fifth a year ago, a Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds.

NEW: @lydiasidhom.bsky.social analyzed 8,000+ ads to find mentions of Trump enriching himself. Few ads raise the issue –– even as nearly two-thirds of Americans say Trump is using the presidency for personal enrichment, according to a new Post-ABC-Ipsos poll. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

Washington Post Data Team reposted

Trump approval hits record low, handing Democrats a clear midterm edge, Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds. Our story -> www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

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Replying to @wpdatateam.bsky.social

After promising last year that he'd cut back on political spending, Musk has surpassed his own record of spending on political campaigns. He gave $268 million last quarter to help Republicans keep control of Congress. At least $158 million of that went to back Ken Paxton in Texas.

Washington Post Data Team reposted

Katie Zacharia's brief tenure as White House press secretary was even shorter than that of former White House communications director Anthony Scaramucci, who served in his role for 10 days. https://wapo.st/3TWBQM0

NEW: Megadonors have now poured *2.3 billion* into the midterm elections. Leading the pack is Elon Musk, the world's richest man, who is now the biggest individual political donor in American history. Meet all the megadonors, and see who they give to, here: www.washingtonpost.com/elections/in...

washingtonpost.comMegadonors gave $2.3 billion for 2026 elections. Elon Musk tops the list.Billionaires and Elon Musk, who recently temporarily achieved trillionaire status, make up the top individual donors.

Musk is just one of *six* donors who have given over $100 million to influence this year's elections. Four support Republicans, while two back Democrats. Meet all 50 of the top donors here: www.washingtonpost.com/elections/in...

washingtonpost.comAnalysis | Meet the mega-donors pumping millions into the 2022 midtermsThe 50 biggest donors this cycle have collectively pumped $1.1 billion into political committees and other groups competing in the 2022 elections.

Four people including 3 kids were shot and killed in Bend, Oregon yesterday. There have now been 21 mass killings with guns in 2026. @jdharden.bsky.social and @chrishacker.io have updated our tracker, which has now documented 2,733 people who have died in mass shootings since 2006. wapo.st/4yhEB8x

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Ence Morse

@ence.bsky.social

Replying to @ence.bsky.social

Way back in 2022, the *top four donors combined* didn't give as much as Elon Musk has disclosed giving through 8 pm on October 15. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

Washington Post Data Team reposted

Ence Morse

@ence.bsky.social

Elon Musk is now officially the biggest-ever disclosed midterm donor. Here's where the $$ went: Before tonight - $91 million to back Republicans. Tonight's filings - $158 million to SLF PAC to back Ken Paxton, plus $88 million to his America PAC TOTAL SO FAR: $337 million. & more coming tonight.

Washington Post Data Team reposted

washingtonpost.com8 in 10 Americans oppose live-streaming execution of Fort Hood shooterA slim majority of the public supports using a firing squad to execute Nidal Malik Hasan, but most are against broadcasting it, a Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds.

Majorities in *almost* every demographic and political group say the Fort Hood shooter's execution should not be live-streamed. MAGA Republican men are the exception, with 57% saying it should be live-streamed vs. 29% of MAGA Republican women (our poll interviewed >200 in each of these groups)

Scott Clement@sfcpoll.bsky.social

8 in 10 Americans oppose live-streaming execution of Fort Hood shooter, a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll finds www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

washingtonpost.comSecret documents reveal donors behind $330 million for Trump’s ballroomThe records offer a panoramic view of a fundraising campaign that is extraordinary for its size and opacity.

Sixty seven donors have given at least $10,000 to Trump's ballroom construction. In all, the administration has collected $333 million from private donors. By Jonathan O'Connell, Sarah Blaskey & @aaronschaffer.com, w/ assist from @kcrowebasspro.bsky.social: www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...

The Post found that companies or executives of firms that have had contracts with the federal government during Trump’s second term accounted for about half of the total raised for his ballroom construction.

Washington Post Data Team reposted

8 in 10 Americans oppose live-streaming execution of Fort Hood shooter, a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll finds www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

washingtonpost.comSocial Security emerges as a key issue in midterm battleground districtsDemocrats are trying to unseat Rep. Scott Perry (R-Pennsylvania) in one of several competitive races to focus on Social Security concerns, a Post analysis shows.

NEW: @lydiasidhom.bsky.social analyzed over 8,000 ads to find that Social Security is one of the most frequently mentioned economic issues by Republicans in competitive races, with the GOP spending about *seven* times more than Democrats on the topic www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

She found that Democrats spend more on ads focused on day-to-day economic concerns such as groceries, utilities, gas and health care costs. On Social Security, their ads typically promise to protect benefits and question whether Republicans can be trusted with the program.

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Emily Giambalvo

@emilygiam.bsky.social

How much does a college football team’s roster budget matter? We're tracking the results! So far, teams with a $5M+ advantage have won 68% of the time. When it’s at least $10M, they have won 80% of the time. And we're updating live through the season: www.nytimes.com/athletic/int...

washingtonpost.comElon Musk’s megaphone propels conspiracy theory about James TalaricoThe billionaire has a history of elevating false claims like the one about the Democratic Senate nominee, but his control of X gives him outsize influence ahead of the midterms.

NEW: @lukejconnors.bsky.social analyzed X posts to trace the origins of a viral conspiracy theory about Talarico and found that right wing political influencers posted about him more than ever so far this year www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2...

washingtonpost.comThese are the voters who will decide the midterm electionsMove aside, “soccer moms.” Take our quiz to see which types of Americans will determine control of Congress in November.

After unverified claims that Talarico was discharged from a mental health hospital spread on X, right-wing influencers posted about him more frequently on Sunday than at any other point this year

Washington Post Data Team reposted

Fenit Nirappil

@fenitn.bsky.social

Forget the soccer mom. Enter the "overtime mom," or “steel toes and tamales.” We crunched the numbers, and this is what we found on the demographics in battleground House districts: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

Washington Post Data Team reposted

About three dozen battleground House districts could go to either Democrats or Republicans during the midterm election this year. Take our quiz to see which types of Americans will determine control of Congress in November:

Washington Post Data Team reposted

Ence Morse

@ence.bsky.social

Read Jen's story — and take the beautiful quiz designed by @erxclau.me — here!!! So thrilled this piece is out. Gift link: wapo.st/4idKlLQ

Washington Post Data Team@wpdatateam.bsky.social

Jen Hernandez, and people like her, may just decide who controls Congress this year. Hernandez, 43, is Mexican-American, millennial, married, and lives in a small city in Colorado. In 2016, she voted for comedian Roseanne Barr. In 2020, she backed Biden, and in 2024 Jill Stein. 🧵

View full thread

This year's battleground districts are also *not* more suburban than the country as a whole. Or more rural. Instead, battleground districts are full of small cities -- like Greeley, CO, where Jen lives -- with high homeownership rates. wapo.st/4idKlLQ

wapo.stThese are the voters who will decide the midterm electionsMove aside, “soccer moms.” Control of Congress might come down to voters like these.

Story from @teoarmus.bsky.social @ence.bsky.social with beautiful quiz/graphics by @erxclau.me. Read Jen's full story and the complete analysis here: wapo.st/4idKlLQ

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wapo.stThese are the voters who will decide the midterm electionsMove aside, “soccer moms.” Control of Congress might come down to voters like these.

Then, we got to talk to Jen. She’s not a fan of Trump: he's “lining his pockets on the backs of harder-working Americans.” But she’s also skeptical about Democrats. She tries to keep up with Colorado candidates, taking notes on their policies when she sees political ads on TV. wapo.st/4idKlLQ

So how do battleground districts differ? First: voting-age citizens in battleground districts are more likely to be Hispanic. And they're less likely to be Black than American adults in other parts of the country. wapo.st/4idKlLQ

We analyzed hundreds of demographic variables to see how Americans in battleground districts differ from those living elsewhere. We found that people like Jen — Mexican-Americans, millenial Hispanics, married people, small city residents — will likely have an outsize political say this year.

washingtonpost.comMass Shootings: Tracking gun violence in the U.S.The Washington Post’s mass shooting database tracks gun violence events that left four or more people dead. See how many mass shootings occur each year.

Two mass shootings occurred in the U.S. Friday, including the shooting deaths of 8 people - two of them children - in Erie, Pa. There have now been 20 mass killings with a gun in 2026: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/inter...

washingtonpost.com8 killed, including 2 young children, in Erie, Pa. shooting, authorities sayAuthorities said those killed included a woman who was eight months pregnant and two young children.

For coverage in Erie, see @maeganvaz.bsky.social's story: www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2026/...