Today's top lines

• Vance faces Michigan voters. In a CBS News town hall in Flat Rock on Oct. 17, Vice President JD Vance agreed that gas prices are too high and said they should fall once the Iran conflict ends. He said he has seen no evidence that Trump is involved in corruption. He also said he has not decided on a 2028 run.
• Backlash over Russia sanctions waiver. On Oct. 16, Trump signed an order setting aside some Russia-related sanctions and tariffs under the Graham Act, citing U.S. national interests as fuel prices rise. Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and Thom Tillis, Nikki Haley and Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal all criticized the move.
• Michigan Senate stays heated. Abdul El-Sayed (D) confirmed that his sister-in-law was a plaintiff in a 2016 lawsuit over the terrorism watchlist. He said she did nothing wrong. Mike Rogers (R) released an ad built on a line from their debate, and Barack Obama is scheduled to campaign with El-Sayed on Oct. 24.
• Energy costs dominate Texas. Ken Paxton (R) and James Talarico (D) are both promising relief on energy prices. Paxton wants to end the federal gas tax. Talarico wants to repeal tax breaks for data centers. Sen. Ted Cruz has been campaigning for Paxton in the final stretch.
• Minnesota's only Senate debate. Peggy Flanagan (D) and Michele Tafoya (R) clashed over fraud in state programs, affordability and Trump's policies in their one scheduled debate, for the seat Sen. Tina Smith is leaving.
• Dueling House forecasts. Speaker Mike Johnson predicts Republicans will keep a narrow working majority. House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries is preparing a first-100-days agenda. A new Washington Post analysis puts Trump's approval at a record low.