Hegseth fires top general amid Iran strike plans; Alaska governor orders ballot probe

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fires the military’s top planner as President Donald Trump reportedly considers new strikes against Iran after the midterms. Plus, a federal judge blocks the Trump administration from setting aside 20,000 California mail ballots, questioning its claims that the voters are noncitizens. And Alaska’s governor orders an investigation into alleged Democratic efforts to recruit a candidate with the same name as Republican Senator Dan Sullivan. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026.