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Obama Storms Virginia, New Jersey in Last-Minute Push for Democrats

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Obama Storms Virginia, New Jersey in Last-Minute Push for Democrats

 

Former U.S. President Barack Obama has returned to the campaign trail, lending his political weight to two crucial Democratic gubernatorial candidates in Virginia and New Jersey as both states prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday.

 

Obama, one of the Democratic Party’s most influential voices, is set to headline rallies in Norfolk, Virginia, and Newark, New Jersey, this weekend in support of Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill, the party’s flagbearers in the high-stakes elections.

 

The two races are widely viewed as an early test of the national political mood and a referendum on the country’s direction under Donald Trump’s presidency.

 

In Virginia, Obama will campaign alongside former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, who is locked in a tight race against Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears.

 

Later in the day, he will appear in Newark to drum up support for Representative Mikie Sherrill, who faces a stiff challenge from Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a former state lawmaker.

 

Party insiders say the choice of venues both cities with significant Black populations is deliberate, as Obama’s enduring popularity among minority voters remains one of the Democrats’ strongest mobilization tools.

 

A senior Democratic strategist said Obama’s presence is expected to “inject late momentum into both campaigns,” noting that voter turnout in urban areas could be decisive.

 

The rallies mark the climax of a weeklong show of force by the Democratic establishment. Several high-profile governors, many seen as potential 2028 presidential hopefuls have already joined the campaign trail to support Spanberger and Sherrill.

 

Among them are Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, Maryland’s Wes Moore, Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Pennsylvania’s Josh Shapiro, and Michigan’s Gretchen Whitmer.

 

Former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg also campaigned with Sherrill earlier in the week, using the event to criticise the Trump administration’s cancellation of the Gateway Tunnel rail project, a major infrastructure initiative that would have improved transit across the New York–New Jersey corridor.

 

While both Virginia and New Jersey are traditionally Democratic-leaning, analysts warn that complacency could be costly.

 

In 2021, Republicans stunned observers when Glenn Youngkin won the Virginia governorship, signalling conservative gains in suburban areas once considered Democratic strongholds.

 

In New Jersey, Sherrill’s lead has been consistent but narrow. Her opponent, Ciattarelli, has downplayed the impact of Obama’s visit, insisting that his campaign’s strength lies in “grassroots connections with ordinary voters.”

 

“This is what I refer to as the choreography of campaigns,” Ciattarelli told reporters after casting his vote on Friday. “Our focus is on the people, not on celebrity endorsements.”

 

The twin elections are being closely monitored in Washington and beyond. Political observers describe them as a barometer of the public mood ahead of the 2026 midterm elections, a critical period that could reshape the balance of power in Congress.

 

If Democrats secure victories in both states, it could provide a morale boost and signal renewed voter confidence in the party’s leadership.

 

However, any upset would likely embolden Republicans and fuel debate over Democratic strategy heading into the next national election cycle.

 

For Obama, this weekend’s appearances mark a return to familiar territory: rallying the Democratic base with his trademark blend of optimism and urgency.

 

At a private event ahead of the rallies, the former president reportedly told supporters that the upcoming elections are about “keeping the country on the path of inclusion, fairness, and forward progress.”

 

“Elections are about the future,” Obama said. “And the future we want is one where every American feels seen, valued, and protected.”

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Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting

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Two Dead, Nine Injured in Brown University Shooting

 

Two students were killed and nine others injured after a gunman opened fire at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, on Saturday, police said.

 

Authorities have detained a person of interest in his 20s, who is now cooperating with investigators.

 

The attack occurred around 4:00 p.m. local time (21:00 GMT) at the Holley Engineering Building on the eastern end of the university campus.

 

Police said the identities of the victims have not yet been released.

 

Brown University President Christina Paxson confirmed that all those affected, including the deceased, were students.

 

In a statement on Sunday, Paxson said parts of the campus remained restricted as police continued investigations.

 

She added that around 2,000 students were relocated to safe locations overnight and expressed gratitude to local residents who opened their homes to students.

 

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley said seven of the injured students were in stable condition, one was critical, and another had been discharged.

 

The mayor, who visited victims and their families in hospital, described their courage as “overwhelming” and confirmed that the shelter-in-place order issued earlier had been lifted.

 

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said the suspect was detained at a hotel in Coventry early Sunday morning based on a lead from Providence Police.

 

Police Chief Oscar Perez confirmed that officers were no longer searching for additional suspects and were working closely with prosecutors to collect evidence.

 

President Donald Trump, speaking at the White House, expressed sympathy for the families of the two deceased students and wished a speedy recovery for the nine injured.

 

The shooting brings the number of mass shootings in the United States in 2025 to 389, according to the Gun Violence Archive, which defines mass shootings as incidents with four or more victims killed or injured, not including the attacker.

 

Authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant as the investigation continues, while a vigil is scheduled for Sunday evening to support the Brown University community.

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Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting

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Bondi Beach Attack: 15 Dead, Father-Son Gunmen Behind Shooting

 

A mass shooting at Bondi Beach on Saturday left 15 people dead, including a child aged 10, during a Hanukkah celebration. Authorities are treating the incident as a terror attack.

 

Police confirmed the shooters were a 50-year-old father and his 24-year-old son.

 

The father died at the scene, while the son remains in critical condition.

 

The 50-year-old was a licensed firearms holder; six guns and two improvised devices were recovered from the site.

 

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the attack “an act of pure evil”, saying it deliberately targeted the Jewish community, and promised full resources to support the investigation and combat antisemitism.

 

NSW Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon said quick response, informed by last year’s Bondi stabbing, helped save lives.

 

328 officers have been deployed to protect Sydney’s Jewish community, while two properties in western Sydney were searched overnight.

 

Among the victims was British-born Rabbi Eli Schlanger. Eyewitnesses described the chaos, with some saying the gunfire felt like it lasted “an eternity.”

 

Authorities continue to investigate the attack as Australians reel from the tragedy.

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Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria 

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Trump Congratulates UK’s Farage, Ignores Starmer

Trump Reacts as ISIS Kills Three Americans in Syria 

 

President Donald Trump has pledged a “very serious retaliation” after an ambush in central Syria on Saturday, killing two U.S. service members and one American civilian interpreter, an attack the United States blames on the Islamic State (ISIS) group.

 

In a statement and social‑media post, Trump described the assault near Palmyra—a region still volatile and not fully controlled by the Syrian government—as “an ISIS attack against the U.S. and Syria.”

 

He mourned the three victims as “great American patriots” and confirmed that three other U.S. soldiers wounded in the attack are recovering.

 

Speaking from the White House before departing for a public event, the president said he expected a firm U.S. response, noting that there will be “very serious retaliation” against ISIS and any group that targets American forces.

 

Trump noted that Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa, whose government has been cooperating with U.S. forces in counter‑terrorism operations, was “extremely angry and disturbed” by the incident.

 

The ambush occurred as U.S. troops were engaged in a counter‑terrorism mission alongside Syrian partners; the suspected attacker was killed by coalition forces, U.S. Central Command said.

 

The identities and units of the deceased are being withheld pending family notification.

 

Defense officials, including Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, echoed Trump’s stance, issuing stark warnings that the U.S. will pursue individuals or groups that target Americans.

 

The U.S. maintains a force of around 900 troops in Syria as part of ongoing operations against ISIS remnants, despite the group’s loss of territorial control years earlier.

 

The attack is the first fatal incident involving U.S. personnel in Syria since the fall of the Assad regime, highlighting persistent security challenges and raising questions about the future scope of U.S. military engagement in the region.

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