NPR reports that many congressional districts redrawn to boost Republicans aren’t delivering clear wins. Citing Cook Political Report ratings, NPR says that of 15 districts drawn to favor the GOP, only five are rated likely or solid Republican; most are toss-ups or lean Democratic.
What changed
NPR says former President Donald Trump pressed Republican-led states last year to redraw maps to avoid typical midterm losses. But NPR’s Tamara Keith told the Up First podcast that some lines were drawn around the 2024 Trump electorate—and his support has since weakened, particularly among young and Latino voters. NPR adds that several targeted Democratic incumbents remained to fight for their seats.
An unnamed Republican strategist involved in midterm races, who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly, pushed back in comments to NPR, saying redistricting “creates new battlefields” but doesn’t “create outcomes.”
Brazil: Lula wins again
NPR reports that Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva won a fourth presidential term in Brazil, defeating Flávio Bolsonaro by more than 4 million votes in a runoff. NPR notes it’s the first time since Brazil’s 1989 return to democracy that a candidate who finished second in the first round went on to win the presidency. NPR’s Carrie Kahn says Lula’s victory appears to slow a recent rightward trend in Latin America, adding that his late-campaign message warned that a Bolsonaro return would threaten Brazilian democracy.
Protests surge in France—and beyond
Large demonstrations against the government continued in France over the weekend, with more than 100,000 people in Paris and more than 400,000 nationwide, according to NPR. What began with student demands over conditions has widened into a broader movement, as NPR reports unions and public-sector workers joined to call for more public spending and to protest inequality. Similar protests have emerged across Europe, from Spain to Serbia. NPR’s Eleanor Beardsley says the movements are often leaderless and driven by young people frustrated with their prospects.
In Serbia, NPR reports crowds celebrated in Belgrade after a student-led “student-list” defeated the party of longtime leader Aleksandar Vučić in Sunday’s parliamentary elections. NPR says the win followed two years of protests over corruption and accountability.
AI’s hurricane forecast gets a real-world test
NPR says that when Hurricane Isaias made landfall in Destin, Florida, as a Category 2 storm on Oct. 9, 2026, Google DeepMind’s AI model outperformed a traditional model by correctly forecasting a Florida Panhandle strike rather than a turn toward Louisiana. The National Hurricane Center began incorporating Google DeepMind into official forecasts last year, and by the end of the 2025 season it was among the best at predicting storm strength and track, according to NPR. NPR notes AI relies on patterns from past storms, can function as a “black box,” and still requires human forecasters to interpret results and deliver clear guidance.
Health and demographics to watch
- Maternity costs: A federal requirement for personalized cost estimates under the No Surprises Act was supposed to take effect in 2022 but hasn’t been implemented by regulators, despite congressional pressure, NPR reports. NPR suggests consumers enroll newborns by their plan’s deadline, confirm their annual out-of-pocket maximum, use in-network providers, review bills for errors, and seek financial assistance if needed.
- Measles: The CDC has reported 4,588 confirmed U.S. cases this year through Oct. 22—more than double all of 2025—with cases particularly high in Pennsylvania, according to NPR’s summary of CDC data.
- Fertility: The U.S. general fertility rate fell 1% to a record low in 2025, the CDC says, with birth rates down among women in their 20s and up among women ages 30 to 45, NPR reports.
