Polls: 59% of Latino voters back Democratic candidates, Trump support erodes

Latino Voters Abandon Trump Ahead of Midterms

Two recent polls indicate that a majority of Latino voters have turned away from President Trump, confirming a trend that has been building since his return to office and the start of his aggressive immigration enforcement policies.

• A new NBC News/Telemundo poll shows Latinos favoring Democrats by 59 percent in the upcoming midterm elections—nearly double their support from 2024.
• A CBS News/YouGov poll reports 60 percent of Latino voters prefer Democratic House candidates.
• Overall, 69 percent of Latino voters disapprove of President Trump's performance ahead of the midterms.

This marks a sharp reversal from 2024, when Trump won a groundbreaking 42 percent of the Latino vote, sparking talk of a new multicultural Republican coalition. That coalition now appears to be collapsing, as voters respond negatively to Trump's handling of the economy, his inaction on the affordability crisis, and his mass deportation campaign.

However, this does not guarantee automatic turnout for Democrats. Forty-two percent of Latinos still hold a negative view of the Democratic Party, which has not fully capitalized on two years of violent arrests, kidnappings, shootings, pepper-ball incidents, and killings.

Right-Wing Commentator Benny Johnson Sued for Defamation

Right-wing commentator Benny Johnson is being sued for defamation after branding a group of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) protesters as "left-wing terrorists."

On October 3, 2025, Johnson accompanied top Homeland Security officials to an ICE facility in Broadview, Illinois, where a crowd had gathered in a designated "free speech" zone. Johnson filmed as ICE agents broke up the peaceful protest, shoving and striking attendees until they fell to the ground.

He then posted videos to his social media channels on X, Facebook, YouTube, Instagram, and Rumble, narrating that protesters were "left-wing terrorists" who had been "arrested for attacking police officers and ICE officers."

Nearly a year later, two of those protesters—Harvard University data scientist Kyle Frankovich and contracted court reporter Maureen Foody—have filed a joint lawsuit against Johnson, claiming he knew his portrayals were false but "did not care."

According to the complaint, the duo "sang songs, participated in prayers, held signs, and recorded official activity." Neither was charged with a crime, though they were detained for roughly eight hours and released a half-mile from the jail.

Johnson's content from that day has accumulated millions of views and interactions. In one post, Johnson claimed he saw "dozens of Democrat domestic terrorists arrested today for VIOLENT ASSAULT on federal law enforcement"—a post viewed 1.7 million times.

Frankovich told MS NOW that he was "shaken" by Johnson's posts and the comments from followers that likened him to an antifa leader and attempted to dox his identity. Some comments included calls to torture, shoot, and kill the arrested protesters.

"You shouldn't get to lie about me," Frankovich said.

Trump Administration's Brazil Election Interference May Backfire

The Trump administration has intensified its election interference efforts in Brazil, using sanctions, tariffs, and narratives to boost Flávio Bolsonaro—son of right-wing hard-liner and convicted traitor Jair Bolsonaro—against incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The strategy may backfire.

The administration has:

• Threatened military action against Brazil
• Classified Brazilian criminal groups as terrorist organizations
• Sent State Department officials to Brazil to delegitimize its election system
• Hosted pro-Bolsonaro social media influencers at a private roundtable at the U.S. Consulate in São Paulo

Eduardo Bolsonaro, another son of Jair Bolsonaro, even suggested the Trump administration might reject the election outcome if Lula wins.

"Brazil did not want the U.S. imposition of this category on these criminal organizations because it opened the door for many ways in which the Trump administration could interfere in Brazilian internal politics," said James Green, a Brown University professor of Portuguese and Brazilian studies.

While Lula's approval rating hovers around 50 percent—much higher than Trump's at any point in his second term—the election margin is expected to be close. Voting begins Sunday.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett Accused of Premature Lobbying Efforts

Texas Representative and former Senate candidate Jasmine Crockett has been accused of launching her lobbying career before leaving office.

Reporting from Zeteo revealed that Crockett, who lost a contentious Democratic primary to state Representative James Talarico, was advertising political consultation services on her merchandise website, the "Clapback Collection." Listed services included:

• Campaign management and strategy
• Communications and public relations
• Government relations and lobbying
• Digital and social media
• Political risk management

The page has since been taken down but remains accessible via the Wayback Machine.

A spokesperson for Crockett said: "This website is and has always been focused on selling campaign merchandise. The Congresswoman has only advertised it for merchandise and did not build it. She never directed anyone to add the button you are inquiring about."

Critics have raised concerns. "Not waiting until you leave congress to start lobbying is impressive," Drop Site's Ryan Grim wrote on X.

Crockett has refused to endorse Talarico, instead sparring with people online and making a guest appearance at a Chris Brown concert.

G7 Agrees to Release 100 Million Barrels of Oil After White House Plea

The Group of Seven Nations agreed Friday to release 100 million barrels of oil from its stockpiles, following a desperate plea from the White House.

The G7 held an emergency meeting Friday morning to discuss global energy costs. The discussion followed a pressing call between Donald Trump and French President Emmanuel Macron, during which the U.S. leader asked for assistance amid the current oil crisis and floated the idea of banning U.S. diesel exports, according to CBS Chief Foreign Affairs Correspondent Margaret Brennan.

The G7—comprising Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the U.K., and the U.S.—said the barrels are expected to hit the market over the next four months.

In a statement, the group said it had "agreed on decisive, coordinated measures to stabilize immediate energy supplies, shield households and businesses from price shocks, and strengthen the long-term resilience of global energy systems."

Trump announced after the meeting that "Europe has just agreed to release a massive amount of their heavily stocked Diesel Oil. The process will begin immediately."

However, two diplomats who spoke with Politico suggested the G7 declaration was largely a reiteration of an agreement from March, when the International Energy Agency led an effort to release some 400 million barrels of oil. That sale was stalled due to the low availability of cheaper U.S. crude oil, though an EU diplomat told Politico the oil was finally released.

Oil and gas prices have risen sharply since the start of the Iran war and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In early February, before the conflict began, gas cost approximately $2.99 per gallon. Today, a gallon costs $4.39 on average, according to the AAA fuel price tracker.

Diesel has risen from an average of $3.70 per gallon last year to $6.37 per gallon today.

This story has been updated.