The Latest: AP-NORC poll: Strong majority of voters believes Trump is failing at home and abroad

A strong majority of voters believe that President Donald Trump is falling short at home and abroad, and they want major change in the upcoming midterm elections, according to a new AP-NORC poll that raises serious warning signs for the Republican Party at a critical moment.

House Democrats are preparing an ambitious 100-day agenda focused on delivering their campaign promises — making life more affordable and conducting vast oversight of the Trump administration — if voters return them to majority control in the Nov. 3 elections. Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, in line to become House speaker, said Democrats will be united “right out of the gate.”

And Trump's new press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role. Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer, but so far, she and the White House have offered no evidence that she passed a bar exam.

The Latest:

At least two state election offices, in Louisiana and Oklahoma, have been evacuated this week after being sent envelopes containing white powder.

The mailings come just three weeks before Election Day and are reminiscent of similar threats in 2023, when several election offices received envelopes containing the powerful opioid fentanyl.

This time, authorities said no harmful substances were immediately identified. The Ohio Secretary of State’s office said the Postal Service had noted that similar mailings had been sent to election officials in multiple states.

The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors condemned the threats. “Those who administer our elections should never fear for their safety while carrying out their essential duties,” their joint statement said.

The associations said security measures are in place for future threats.

The Democratic National Committee says it’s raised more than $10 million from grassroots donors in September, a late surge of money for the cash-strapped party that outpaces the same month’s totals during the three previous midterm election cycles.

Chairman Ken Martin said it’s a “clear sign” Democrats are on a winning path. The party has struggled with fundraising during Trump’s second term, lagging behind Republicans and carrying debt into this year’s campaign season.

Joe Rospars, a Democratic strategist who worked on Barack Obama’s presidential campaigns, said small-dollar donations often reflect voter excitement and volunteering for the party and candidates. About 1 in 5 of the donors are giving for the first time, the DNC said.

“It means that the grassroots dollars are not just dollars. They’re energy,” he said.

Democrats are investing campaign cash in districts that have been longshots for years, counting on the unpopular war with Iran and upheaval in the armed forces to put more seats in play as the party pushes for control of the U.S. House. Democratic candidates who previously served in the military are running in Colorado, Florida, South Carolina and Virginia districts with significant veteran populations.

Although veterans hold all sorts of political beliefs, the population overall leans right — nearly 6 in 10 voted for Trump two years ago, according to AP VoteCast.

“I know there’s a bunch of veterans in the room, so I don’t have to tell you where we are with foreign policy,” Democrat Jessica Killin, an Army veteran who served in the Balkan war, told voters in Colorado’s 5th, one of the nation’s most veteran-heavy districts. “For the first time in history, now the global community thinks more of China than of the United States.”

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Meat is on the menu as Americans prepare to vote. As Democrats and Republicans argue over high prices and the Iran war, they’re also having a food fight over who’s the most red-blooded carnivore.

In Mississippi, Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom ’s video shows Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith saying that consumers upset over high beef prices “have so many proteins to choose from.” The video cuts to a man grilling burgers who says, “Pick another protein? I’d rather pick another senator instead.”

Elsewhere, Republicans have branded Democrats as opposed to meat, culturally out of step with voters, hostile to local cattle industries or just not manly enough.

The real issue is that ground beef prices have risen by 22 percent since Trump returned to office, and remain stubbornly high despite Trump’s decision to open U.S. markets to more beef imports, angering U.S. producers.

Student-led demonstrators clashed Thursday with Albanian police in the capital Tirana for a third day running, joining a broader anti-government movement launched in opposition to a major development project promoted by Trump’s daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

Youths protesting Albania’s long-serving Socialist government hurled rocks at a police cordon outside the Education Ministry, and riot police responded with tear gas and water cannons. Wednesday’s riots featured protesters attacking government buildings, banks and businesses, leaving 89 people injured including 61 police officers, according to the Health Ministry.

Student groups seeking education reforms have joined the so-called flamingo movement — named for the birds in a nature reserve where the luxury tourism development is planned — which is calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Edi Rama over allegations of widespread corruption and in opposition to the Kushner venture.

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits inched up last week as layoffs remain historically low and most American workers enjoy job security.

Initial jobless claims for the week ending October 10 ticked up by 1,000 to 199,000 from the week before, the Labor Department said Thursday. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, rose by 250 to 198,500.

Claims for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and economists watch them closely because they can provide signs of where the job market is headed. So far this year, claims have remained at a historically low level below 220,000.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending October 3 fell by 4,000 to 1.71 million, also a historically healthy figure.

Wholesale inflation rose more quickly than expected last month on a big jump in fuel costs, a sign that stubbornly rising prices remain an economic challenge for consumers and a political problem for Republicans as Americans begin to vote.

The Labor Department’s producer price index — which captures inflation before it reaches consumers — soared 6.3% in September from a year ago, up from 5.6% in August and the biggest increase since December 2022, the government said Thursday.

Thursday’s data amplifies the better-known consumer price index, released Wednesday, which also accelerated in September as gas prices jumped. A broad range of goods and services also got more expensive. Both inflation reports raise pressure on the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve to hike their key interest rate. Inflation has now topped the central bank’s 2% target for five and a half years.

Federal authorities investigating Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar seized the Democratic lawmaker’s phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe.

The subpoenas were issued for a grand jury collecting evidence in Minnesota as federal authorities probe potential fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation. The investigation led to federal agents searching Omar’s Washington, D.C. home on Monday just weeks before the November midterms, in which Omar is seeking reelection.

The scope of the investigation into Omar is unclear, though Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin has suggested that authorities were examining potential crimes related to her family’s immigration paperwork. Omar became a U.S. citizen in 2000 when she was 17 years old, five years after she arrived with her family after obtaining asylum in the United States.

The search of Omar’s home so close to next month’s midterm contests was swiftly condemned by Democrats, who accused the administration of targeting the Democrat for political purposes. Omar, in a statement on X, called the search an “attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement.”

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Voters are deeply frustrated with Trump’s leadership on the issues they say matter most, the new poll found.

The economy and the cost of living are high priorities for voters on both sides of the aisle. The survey found that the vast majority of Republican and Democratic voters say both issues are among the most important for the upcoming election.

But about 8 in 10 registered voters disapprove of how Trump is handling the cost of living and about three-quarters disapprove of his performance on the economy.

Even among Republican voters, only 44% approve of Trump’s performance on the cost of living, while 54% approve of his leadership on the economy. That’s a sharp contrast with other issues, like crime, where Republican approval is much higher.

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One thing is crystal clear on the eve of the 2026 midterms: Voters want change.

About half of voters say they want “substantial change” in how the country is run, according to the new AP-NORC poll. Roughly 3 in 10 want “complete and total upheaval.”

Democrats and independents are much likelier than Republicans to want a full overhaul of the country’s direction. But even Republican voters are still looking for something different. Slightly fewer than half, 45%, want substantial change, while 13% want upheaval.

“I’m kind of tired of sending people there, and nothing gets done,” Krista Kohles, a 70-year-old Republican told the AP. “Nothing’s changing.”

Democratic voters are more enthused than Republican voters about casting a ballot, according to a new AP-NORC poll conducted weeks before the midterm elections.

The survey finds that registered voters who identify as Democrats are more enthusiastic than Republican voters about voting, and more voters want Democrats to win control of Congress. The Democratic advantage is small in some cases, but taken together, the findings paint a challenging picture for Republicans.

Overall, about two-thirds of registered voters say it’s “extremely” important to vote in the upcoming election, while about 2 in 10 say it’s “very” important. But about three-quarters of Democratic voters say this is “extremely” important, compared to roughly 6 in 10 Republicans.

Clear contrasts were on display during a statewide debate between Alaska’s top two U.S. House candidates, starting with their attire.

Republican Rep. Nick Begich donned a suit and tie. Independent Bill Hill, a commercial fisherman, wore jeans, a dress shirt and zip-up vest and a cap with a fishing company logo.

Begich said he’s been effective. He expressed support for Trump, the president’s use of tariffs and the war in Iran. He said he wants to continue seeing expanded oil development in Alaska.

Hill asked Alaskans to look at their grocery bills and health care costs and ask if they’re better off than they were two years ago. He said many Alaskans are upset about U.S. involvement in “never-ending” wars.

The debate came a day after Trump held a rally in Wasilla in support of Begich and U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan.

Alaska independent U.S. House candidate Bill Hill is challenging Republican Rep. Nick Begich for Alaska’s only House seat. Hill faced criticism early on for declining to say which party he would caucus with were he to win next month’s election. He has been endorsed by the state Democratic Party.

During a debate Wednesday, Hill said he’d like to caucus with people who are “tired of this party-line partisanship” and who would support addressing issues like health care costs and pushing back against an overreaching executive branch.

Begich, an ally of Trump, said Hill is “too progressive” for Alaska and that it’s clear who he’d caucus with. Hill, meanwhile, accused Begich of being a rubber stamp for Trump.

The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration.

Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer as she has worked to establish herself as a commentator for conservative outlets like Fox News and Newsmax. But so far, she and the White House have offered no evidence that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China, where she worked for a large law firm years ago.

The questions add to the confusion surrounding Trump’s decision to hire Zacharia, who had worked for his social media company for only a few months when he announced her appointment and whose debut at the podium on Tuesday has been widely panned.

Afterward, the president was asked by reporters where Zacharia had passed the bar exam, following a report by the independent outlet Popular Information that she did not appear to be licensed in any state.

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House Democrats are preparing an ambitious 100-days agenda focused on delivering their campaign promises — making life more affordable and conducting vast oversight of the Trump administration — if the party seizes majority control in next month’s elections.

Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, who is in line to become House speaker if the party wins power, said the Democrats will be united “right out of the gate” on reinstating Affordable Care Act tax breaks, reversing Republican Medicaid cuts, holding votes against the Iran war and undoing President Donald Trump’s tariff regime.

They expect to launch the agenda in the first 100 hours, once the new Congress is seated in January.

“Fighting for an affordable America — that’s what unites Democrats all across the country,” Jeffries said recently at the party campaign headquarters in Washington.

“That’s our commitment to the American people, because the cost of living is way too high and far too many people who are working hard, playing by the rules, can’t thrive and can barely survive — and are drowning — in the Trump economy.”

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Stickers are seen at The High Museum of Art voting center on the first day for early voting in Georgia, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., poses for a photo with supporters after voting early at the Bessie Branham Recreation Center in Atlanta, Tuesday, Oct. 13, 2026. (Ben Hendren/Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP)

White House press secretary Katie Zacharia, center, White House aide Natalie Harp, left, and Danielle Alvarez, right, walk on the South Lawn as they arrive at the White House with President Donald Trump, early Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

President Donald Trump dances at a campaign rally at Majestic Valley Arena, Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026, in Kalispell, Mont. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Open enrollment for Medicare plans begins Thursday and enrollees will face a slew of changes that go into effect in 2027.

During the enrollment period, which ends Dec. 7, people will have the opportunity to choose between traditional Medicare and privately run Medicare Advantage plans in their area, as well as prescription drug plans. Those changes go into effect on Jan. 1.

Open enrollment also comes as inflation adds pressure on seniors whose healthcare costs have risen and as midterm elections are weeks away. Voters have consistently said cost-of-living is a major concern headed into the elections.

The Medicare enrollment period also comes as the Social Security Administration announced Wednesday that the annual cost-of-living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities will go up by 3.6% beginning in 2027, which translates to $75 extra per month for the nearly 72 million people who receive monthly Social Security benefits and about 7.3 million beneficiaries who get Supplemental Security Income.

New changes to Medicare coming in 2027 include higher Part D out-of-pocket caps, the end of temporary federal Part D premium subsidies, and new drug price negotiations.

Here are a few of the biggest changes:

The cap on annual out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare Part D drugs will increase to $2,400, up from $2,100 in 2026, and the standard deductible will increase from $615 to $700.

The temporary Part D premium subsidy will also end early.

The Trump administration concludes at year’s end a temporary Medicare Part D subsidy program that has helped offset premiums.

It was initially implemented by former President Joe Biden's administration in 2024 to lower patients’ Medicare Part D prescription drug costs in response to effects of the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has projected only modest price increases for most people. CMS did not respond to an Associated Press request for comment.

New Medicare-negotiated prices, part of a Biden-era law that allows the haggling for Medicare, will go into effect for 15 drugs, including weight-loss and diabetes medications Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy.

Additionally, Trelegy Ellipta, Xtandi, Pomalyst, Ibrance, Ofev, Linzess, Calquence, Austedo/Austedo XR, Breo Ellipta, Tradjenta, Xifaxan, Vraylar, Janumet/Janumet XR, and Otezla will be covered by Medicare as of Jan. 1.

CMS expects the change to lower prescription drug coverage for people enrolled in Medicare by $685 million in 2027.

AARP’s Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy Officer Nancy LeaMond said in a statement that “higher healthcare costs are making it harder for older Americans to afford the care they need."

“It’s more important than ever to shop around, compare your options, and choose the coverage that’s best for you," she said.

Along with the changes, President Donald Trump in recent weeks made a series of promises to Medicare enrollees and retirees.

Last week, Trump said his administration will make one-time payments of $90 per person in October to help more than 20 million Medicare enrollees — or less than one third of enrollees — pay for their Part B premiums. It will cost about $2 billion.

Not eligible are roughly 35 million Medicare Advantage enrollees, millions of other people with disabilities and low-income Medicare recipients.

According to the CMS website, eligible beneficiaries will receive one $90 rebate this month, with most getting a direct deposit. Others will receive a paper check from the Treasury Department later in October.

Trump also announced recently that roughly 1 million people would get rebate checks of $500 for Affordable Care Act premiums.

FILE - A Medicare Advantage PPO card rests on top of a Medicare card in Portland, Ore., June 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)