Trump and Obama in Michigan, Cornell Jane Doe Ruling, Rubio's CIA Offer to Cubans: AM Update 10/26

Good morning, everyone. I'm Megan Kelly. It's Monday, October 26th, 2026, and this is your AM update. The big thing is, that does not describe a giant blue wave. That would be a fairly historically narrow house majority. A new CBS news poll showing Democrats maintaining their lead in the battle for control of the House, though Republicans still have a narrow path to holding onto their majority. A judge allowing Jane Doe to remain anonymous in the Cornell gang rape lawsuit, despite the fact that she named all seven men she's accusing. We'll take care of Cuba on our way back from around. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging Cubans to secretly work with the CIA, as President Trump threatens military action against the island's Communist regime. And a Coast Guard rescue swimmer describes his harrowing effort to save 16 people stranded in the Pacific, battling towering waves and near total darkness. All that and more coming up in just a moment on your AM update. 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That's MK to 9-8-9-8-9-8, check it out today. A new CBS News poll showing Democrats maintaining their advantage in the battle for control of the House, though Republicans still have a chance to hold on to their majority as both parties make a final push to get voters to the polls ahead of next week's midterm elections. According to the latest CBS News UGov survey, Democrats leading Republicans 53-45% among likely voters nationwide with Democrats estimated to win approximately 229 House seats enough to take control of the chamber, but short of an overwhelming majority. The poll finding the economy and inflation remain top concerns for voters as most Americans express pessimism about their financial futures, regardless of which party controls Congress. More voters expecting their finances to worsen under Republican control than Democrat control, although neither party enjoys majority confidence in its ability to improve the economy. The survey also finding that neither party has convinced most voters it has a clear plan for governing with 4 and 10 Democrat voters acknowledging they don't believe their party has a clear plan, but supporting its candidates primarily out of opposition to President Trump. CBS finding Democrats projected gains have remained relatively steady in recent weeks, and Republicans still have a narrow path to maintain control of the House. CBS News director of elections and surveys, Anthony Salvanto, explaining yesterday why the outcome on Election Day remains far from certain. Number one turnout is a big factor. It does favor Democrats. Right now, more Democrats tell us that they are definitely going to vote or already have than Republicans do. But here's the thing about the Republican side. If you look at the voters who say, "Well, there may be going to vote." More of them are Republicans. They're just planning to stay at home right now. If they get activated or motivated, then yeah, this thing could shift or change a little. President Trump embarking on an aggressive campaign schedule, holding rallies in Iowa, Florida, Georgia, and Michigan over the past several days, with additional stops planned every day this week. In Michigan, one of the country's most closely watched Senate races, drawing national attention, has President Trump intensifies his criticism of Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, who is facing Republican former Congressman Mike Rogers. The two candidates competing to replace retiring Democrat Senator Gary Peters as Republicans hope to win their first U.S. Senate race in Michigan in more than three decades. President Trump repeatedly calling El-Sayed a "jihadist" and questioning his ties to the Muslim Brotherhood. The Washington Post confirming El-Sayed was listed as a signatory on a 2012 letter supporting Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi, a senior leader of the Muslim Brotherhood. The Post report detailing social media posts from El-Sayed's half-sister describing their family's history with the Muslim Brotherhood, including their mother's involvement, as well as campaign donations from individuals affiliated with organizations previously scrutinized in a Hamas financing investigation. El-Sayed denying any personal affiliation with the Muslim Brotherhood and accusing Republicans of targeting his Muslim faith. Former President Barack Obama coming to El-Sayed's defense during a campaign rally in Detroit Saturday, as he makes stops in Michigan and Ohio in the final days before the midterms to drum up support for Democrat candidates. "They will use lies, and they will use fear, and they will use division, and they may even use your name or your faith to somehow suggest that you are dangerous and less than trust worthy and less patriotic and less American than there. We have seen this movie before, I started in it. I've got a long-form birth certificate to prove it. This stuff didn't work on me, not a mission, it's not going to work on our bill." Rogers was asked about President Trump's comments about El-Sayed yesterday on NBC. "President Trump says your opponent is a violent terrorist, violent. Again, there's just no proof of that, and he has denounced, he was asked directly if he denounces the Muslim Brotherhood, he has, do you agree with calling him a violent terrorist? No, it's not true. The guy said, "Are you going to answer the question?" He said, "Yeah, absolutely. I'll answer the question." "You agree with calling him a violent terrorist? Is that up to your standard?" No, I don't. I've never called him a terrorist. This election is about me versus Abdul. I mean, he's a Democrat socialist of America aligned candidate who has these pretty radical support groups that don't like America. President Trump doubling down last night while speaking to reporters on his way to Michigan to rally for Rogers, where he appeared with rapper Nicki Minaj. "We don't want to see a jihadist senator. We don't want to see a member of the Muslim Brotherhood in our center, and we want somebody very capable. And I think Mike Rogers would do a great job. He's going to be a great senator. Mike Rogers is apple pie. He's a perfect guy for our country." The latest real clear politics polling average shows L. Syed leading Rogers by just 1.9 points, 47.9 to 46%. Prediction market CalShi giving L. Syed a 67% chance of winning this race compared to 33% for Rogers. L. Syed was up 73% earlier this month, as traders have pulled Rogers' chances of winning closer to his opponent in recent days. Our sponsor CalShi reflects what traders actually believe. It's real-time odds on the midterm elections. Give it a try by using code Megan Kelley or click the link in the description. New users get 25 bucks free when they trade just 25 bucks. A New York judge ruling that the woman accusing seven former Cornell University fraternity members of gang rape can remain anonymous as her civil lawsuit moves forward. The woman filing her civil lawsuit September 16th, alleging Cornell and others failed to protect her following the alleged assault. Manhattan Supreme Court Justice Fadra Perry Bond issuing the eight-page ruling Friday, citing concerns about harassment and retaliation amid an online campaign to uncover Jane Doe's identity. The woman alleging that seven men drugged and sexually assaulted her at Cornell's Chi-Fi fraternity house in 2024, though text messages by the alleged victim in the days following the incident seemed to suggest it was consensual. All seven men deny the allegations. The local DA declining to pursue criminal charges in 2024 based on the accuser's own sworn statement. The York Attorney General Letitia James now overseeing a reopened investigation following criticism of how the case was originally handled. In her ruling, Judge Perry Bond pointing to the highly publicized nature of the allegations and what she describes as, quote, widespread reports of certain malicious actors behavior, noting none of the defendants opposed Jane Doe's request to remain anonymous. Under Friday's order, court filings must continue identifying the woman as Jane Doe and the defendants and their attorneys are prohibited from publicly revealing her identity. They can still privately share that information with potential witnesses and others when necessary to investigate the allegations and prepare their defense, provided those individuals agree to keep the information confidential. The decision following a wave of online efforts to identify Jane Doe. analysis commissioned by the New York Times finding more than 25,000 posts on social media, purporting to name her in just one week. The judge also suggesting additional privacy efforts for the accused men and potential witnesses, inviting attorneys to propose an agreement, providing, quote, "all involved parties with some degree of protection regarding their sensitive personal information." The defendant's name's already public in court filings, thanks to Jane Doe, the proposed protections instead focusing on sensitive personal information like home addresses and phone numbers. Separately, one of the accused men, Diego Sarabia, filing a motion Friday seeking to dismiss the civil claims against him, arguing the allegations involving him amounted to a forced kiss rather than rape, and that the claims were filed too late or lack sufficient legal grounds. His attorney contending Jane Doe's lawsuit broadly accuses all seven men of sexual assault, despite alleging very different conduct by individual defendants. The university itself facing scrutiny over its handling of the allegations, hiring former deputy attorney general Sally Yates to conduct an independent review of its sexual assault policies and procedures. Coming up, Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging Cubans seeking political change to secretly cooperate with the CIA, and a 24-year-old Coast Guard rescue swimmer recounting the dramatic overnight mission to save 16 people of the coast of Mexico. You might already own a firearm, but what if you could start with less lethal methods to avoid the financial and mental repercussions of pulling the trigger? This is where Berna comes in, that's B-Y-R-N-A. Berna's less lethal launchers are equipped with tear gas and kinetic ammunition, and they are designed to incapacitate an attacker for up to 40 minutes. 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And Berna is trusted by hundreds of police departments, too, which know the value of having multiple options of self-defense. Try before you buy, visit Berna.com to find a Berna dealer partner near you. That's B-Y-R-N-A dot com. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging Cubans who want political change to secretly cooperate with the CIA, as the Trump administration steps up its campaign against the island's communist government. In a Friday ex-post, Secretary Rubio writing quote, "To those who seek to create positive change in Cuba, now is the time." The Secretary pointing to the regime's broken promises, corruption, and privileges enjoyed by the ruling elite, urging Cubans to quote seize this opportunity to create the change you desire through a discreet partnership with the CIA. The CIA subsequently sharing Rubio's message, along with a Spanish language appeal and a video explaining how Cubans can contact the agency. Secretary Rubio's appeal coming shortly after President Trump renewed his threats against the Cuban government during a Friday campaign rally in Fort Myers, Florida. The latest warnings from President Trump and Secretary Rubio come amid a month's long campaign to pressure Cuba's communist regime into making major changes. The administration imposing an oil blockade earlier this year, cutting off critical fuel supplies as Cuba struggles with widespread blackouts crumbling infrastructure and shortages of basic necessities. The new restrictions adding to more than six decades of U.S. economic sanctions against the communist government. In May, the DOJ bringing criminal charges against former Cuban President Raúl Castro and five others, accusing them of involvement in the 1996 shootdown of two Americans civilian planes that killed four people. Castro denying the allegations. Secretary Rubio taking a leading role in the administration's efforts to spur political change on the island, issuing this warning to Cuba's leadership during a Fox News interview last month. The truth is Cuba's already fallen. It doesn't have a functional economy and it's governed by people who continue to preach about some revolution that has been dead for 20 years. It's never worked. We're hopeful that Cuba will choose a different path. We're hopeful that the people that today sort of control the arms and the repressive regime, that there'll be some people in there that open their eyes to the reality of what they're facing. Unfortunately, the people that continue there to chant revolutionary slogans, too many of them still believe that they could wait out this administration and make no changes or do nothing. They are wrong and they will learn the lesson the hard way if they don't correct. The admin continuing to apply economic pressure in recent weeks, imposing new sanctions earlier this month against a Cuban state-owned bank that US officials accuse of providing financial services to an Iranian bank, already under American sanctions. The White House also leaving open the possibility of a negotiated resolution. Mr. Trump predicting last month that the US and Cuba would eventually reach an agreement without military action, although the status of those discussions remains unclear. Cuba's foreign minister Bruno Rodriguez pushing back against Secretary Rubio in a social media post Friday, writing quote, "We reject any threats stemming from US ambitions toward Cuba." A 24-year-old post-guard rescue swimmer recounting his extraordinary effort to save 16 people stranded in the Pacific Ocean, battling towering waves, darkness, and exhaustion after their boat capsized over the coast of Mexico earlier this month. Josh Law describing the harrowing overnight operation in an interview with the Associated Press. The ordeal beginning around 1 a.m. on Friday, October 16. The Coast Guard receiving a distress call from a sinking boat, roughly 140 miles off of Mexico's Baja California Peninsula. By 2 a.m., Law and three other crew members taking off from a Coast Guard air station in Ventura, California. Helicopter pilot Lieutenant Miyako Miller facing the difficult task of locating the sinking vessel in near total darkness. With no moonlight to guide them, Miller relying on night vision goggles and the stars to navigate across the open ocean. As the crew approaches the boat's last reported location, Miller spots faint lights in the water, revealing survivors scattered across the ocean, some clinging to wreckage or one another. Law then lowering himself into waves reaching 6 to 8 feet, the helicopter's powerful rotor blades whipping up even more turbulence. Law swimming to each survivor and towing them to a rescue basket lowered from the helicopter. The crew lifting survivors into the aircraft one by one, Law's protective suit slowly beginning to fill with water weighing him down. After nearly two hours in the ocean, Law telling the AP the physical toll was catching up to him, "I was experiencing exhaustion at that point, adding, but what I was experiencing was nothing compared to what they were. I just had to keep that in mind." With 16 people rescued and the helicopter running low on fuel, the crew heading to San Diego, where ambulances were waiting. During the flight, Law treating three survivors with serious wounds, including injuries the Coast Guard says were consistent with shark bites. The crew returning back to their base later that morning, completing what Law says was the longest rescue mission of his career. Eleven others aboard the boat were never found, with the Coast Guard, U.S. Navy, and Mexican authorities searching more than 2,400 square miles before calling off the effort two days later. Federal authorities now investigating what the boat was doing so far off the Mexican coast. According to the Mexican Consulate, all 16 survivors are Mexican nationals. The boat traveling through an area frequently used by migrant smugglers, although authorities have not confirmed whether the passengers were attempting to enter the U.S. illegally. Customs and border protection interviewing the survivors, with U.S. officials telling the AP nearly half have since been returned to Mexico. And that'll do it for your A.M. update. I'm Megan Kelly. Join me back here for the M.K. Show. Live on Sirius XM's The Megan Kelly Channel 111 at New East on youtube.com/megankelly and on all podcast platforms.