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California's Proposition 40 would create the first U.S. tax on billionaires' net worth, but two rival measures, Propositions 41 and 42, contain "poison pill" language that could nullify it even if it wins a majority. Polling shows all three measures drawing majority support, pointing to voter confusion over the ballot language. A billionaire-backed coalition, including Sergey Brin and Eric Schmidt, has bankrolled the opposition, with spending topping $350 million against roughly $34 million raised by supporters, including labor unions like SEIU-UHW. Democrats are split: Bernie Sanders backs Prop. 40 while Gavin Newsom opposes it, favoring a national wealth tax instead. If competing measures both pass, the outcome would likely be settled in court.

A little-known outlet called the Buckeye Bulletin, which presents itself as an Ohio local news source, has been running Facebook and Instagram ads promoting Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, including a controversial ad featuring opponent Amy Acton's estranged mother. The site has no bylines, staff list, or funding disclosure, but its social accounts are managed by the Lincoln Media Foundation, tied to the Orange County-based Lincoln Club, a major California conservative donor group.

Researchers say the tactic mirrors "pink-slime" sites the foundation ran in 2024 targeting swing states. The outlet mixes political attacks on Acton with local-news-style filler to appear legitimate, raising concerns about undisclosed partisan influence ahead of Ohio's closely watched governor's race.

Ohio, which backed Donald Trump in 2016, 2020, and 2024, is showing early signs of a Democratic resurgence ahead of the midterms. According to Ohio Secretary of State data cited by CNN, Republicans' lead in pre-election voter affiliation in the state's most pro-Trump counties has shrunk from 30 points in 2024 to just five points this cycle, with Democrats showing stronger relative turnout even in heavily Republican areas. The data covers only early voting and should be treated cautiously, but the shift carries high stakes: Republicans are defending a U.S. Senate seat held by Jon Husted, the governor's office, and two competitive House seats.

Voter frustration over inflation and manufacturing-job losses appears to be driving disaffection among working-class voters who backed Trump in past cycles. Trump rallied for Husted in the Mahoning Valley this week, touting a new Defense Department facility in Cleveland and the continued operation of a Youngstown heat provider as evidence of his economic commitment to the region.

Ahead of the Nov. 3 election, Democratic candidates hold a modest edge in recent public polling for Ohio's U.S. Senate and governor's races, and prediction markets including Kalshi, Polymarket, and PredictIt show them similarly favored. News outlets are tracking these markets alongside polling as part of growing interest in their use for forecasting election outcomes.

Prediction markets are also drawing regulatory attention in Ohio: Attorney General Andy Wilson is leading a 39-state coalition asking the U.S. Supreme Court to clarify whether sports-related prediction markets should be regulated as state sports betting or as federally regulated financial contracts. A federal appeals panel recently backed Ohio regulators seeking to fine Kalshi $5 million for operating as an unlicensed sportsbook, though other courts have ruled in favor of prediction-market operators.

Other developments in the race include Sen. Bernie Moreno's FCC complaint against ABC News over a corrected story involving defense contractor Anduril, questions about a pro-Greg Levy ad possibly tied to Republicans, and Sherrod Brown ruling out support for impeaching President Trump if elected.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier asked a judge to compel Meta to adopt stricter child safety measures, after the state declined to join a nearly $17 billion multistate settlement with the company. Florida wants Meta to move faster in removing accounts used by children and to raise the minimum age for accounts from 13 to 14, a stricter threshold than what other states secured in their settlement.

Uthmeier argued that since Meta has already agreed to new safeguards elsewhere, Florida children should not receive weaker protections. Meta responded by pointing to its settlement with other states as a landmark agreement supporting teens and empowering parents, and suggested Florida direct its scrutiny toward other social media platforms instead.

The dispute highlights ongoing regulatory and legal pressure on major tech platforms over child safety practices, with state-level enforcement actions diverging in scope and demands even as companies tout industry-wide reforms.

Representatives from Google, Meta, OpenAI and Anthropic testified before the New York City Council on Monday as lawmakers examined risks posed by artificial intelligence and weighed a package of 10 proposed bills aimed at creating guardrails and accountability mechanisms for AI companies operating in the city. Former Anthropic researcher Jacob Coxon also testified at the hearing, which was accompanied by a council oversight news conference.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani had raised concerns ahead of the hearing, saying officials remain far behind in understanding the scale of what AI companies are developing and cautioning against framing regulation solely as part of a competitive race with China. The hearing follows a White House event last week attended by the same companies, where President Trump announced the creation of a "Super Intelligence Force." The proceedings reflect intensifying scrutiny of AI firms by local governments even as federal policy leans toward encouraging rapid development.

Kevin O'Leary's "Wonder Valley" project, rebranded in Utah as Stratos, aimed to build what O'Leary called the world's largest data center on 40,000 acres in Box Elder County, backed by a 9-gigawatt gas plant. The deal moved through the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and county commissioners at extraordinary speed, drawing scrutiny over water use near the shrinking Great Salt Lake, air pollution, and secretive dealmaking involving entrepreneur Austin Pritchett and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

O'Leary inflamed tensions by claiming on Fox Business that critics were linked to Chinese agents, naming local advocacy groups and individuals. He later retracted the claim, and Fox apologized on air; he and Fox were subsequently sued for defamation and have moved to dismiss the case. Commissioners approved the project after a chaotic public meeting where officials voted from a back room amid chants of "shame." Political fallout followed: Senate President Stuart Adams lost his primary, MIDA's director retired, and two commissioners were unseated. Litigation over a referendum continues, and MIDA has paused the project, with no tenant or land sales yet confirmed.