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Election battle lines, Starlink towers, Ohio State at USC
The Justice Department's amended Alaska lawsuit seeks to block certification if a Republican Senate candidate narrowly loses, while California faces subpoenas; officials expect more challenges before Tuesday.
Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on this story, from Weekend Edition at 7:00 AM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are WSJ's, the jokes are ours.

From the show
At a glance
- First reported by WSJ: “Trump Administration, States Harden Battle Lines Ahead of Election Day”, with reporting from Fox News, Kiprinform, Reuters via Taylorville Daily News, Egyptian Gazette, Political Wire and CBS News.
- Covered on BBN on Saturday, October 31, 2026, at 7:00 AM ET on Weekend Edition, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman.
- Topics: Starlink, USC, Ohio State, Elon Musk, Trump.
- BBN covered this story before: Daytime Emmys chief on X: 'unrecognizable' from old Twitter (October 31).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- WSJTrump Administration, States Harden Battle Lines Ahead of Election Day
- Fox NewsElon Musk's Starlink could be your next cellphone carrier
- KiprinformTrump Administration Steps Up Legal Action Against States Days Before US Midterm Elections October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
- Reuters via Taylorville Daily NewsTrump escalates legal challenges against states as Election Day nears October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
- Egyptian GazetteTrump steps up legal fights with states ahead of Election Day - Egyptian Gazette October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
- Political WireTrump and States Brace for Election Day Fight October 29, 2026 · facts used on air
- CBS News2026 elections live updates as Trump rallies Florida voters, El-Sayed clashes with Stevens facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe Justice Department and the states are hardening their battle lines before Tuesday's midterms, the Wall Street Journal reports.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe Justice Department's amended Alaska lawsuit asks a court to block certification if a Republican Senate candidate loses narrowly, and Alaska election officials call it meritless.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIn California there are subpoenas in a criminal probe into alleged voting by non-citizens, Reuters says. Election officials expect more challenges before Tuesday.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorDifferent kind of signal: SpaceX is reportedly in talks for access to at least eighty thousand cell sites, which could make Starlink a rival to Verizon, AT and T and T-Mobile.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorEighty thousand towers. And my phone still drops in the kitchen.
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- Elon Musk Donates $5 Million To Greg Abbott · The Daily Caller
- How can Ohio State football beat USC? 3 keys for West Coast trip · Yahoo Sports
- Trump meme, Musk warning, viral pizza worker, Brewers ritual · Detroit Free Press
- Five things to expect in USC's blue blood battle with Ohio State · Yahoo Sports
- Camilla's dress, United's train and a cockroach milk verdict · HELLO!
- Daytime Emmys chief on X: 'unrecognizable' from old Twitter · New York Post
- Election battle lines, Starlink towers, Ohio State at USC (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Saturday, October 31, 2026 · the U.S. archive · all months



Photo: Pterantula (Terry Goss) at en.wikipedia · CC BY 2.5 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Mike Mozart · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: M. Rehemtulla · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons