Trump Stumps in Iowa as Courts Tilt Midterm Rules

A federal judge in Florida ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation suit against the BBC by Dec. 11 or risk dismissal of the case. The same day, Trump stood before a crowd in Sioux City, Iowa, for more than an hour and a half, campaigning for Rep. Ashley Hinson in the final stretch before Election Day on Nov. 3. The deposition he'd skipped on Oct. 16 was canceled for what his team called a "matter of national importance." BBC attorney Charles Tobin told U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett what that matter turned out to be: a political rally and a fundraiser. "He was participating in party politics and prioritized that over sitting for the deposition," Tobin said.

The State's Role

The rally unfolded alongside moves by state institutions that bear directly on who gets to vote. The Supreme Court ruled that student IDs can't be used in New Hampshire for the midterms, granting an emergency request filed by the state with the backing of the Republican National Committee. The brief order said a federal judge shouldn't have changed voting rules so close to the Nov. 3 election, citing existing precedent. New Hampshire's ballot includes a closely watched Senate race between Republican former Sen. John E. Sununu and Democratic Rep. Chris Pappas for the seat held by retiring Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.

Federal agents searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington home on Oct. 12, 11 days ago, as part of a criminal investigation. A person familiar with the probe told NBC News that possible charges include conspiracy and making false statements in immigration paperwork. Omar has denied the allegations. Trump denies he had anything to do with the investigation, while calling her a "terrible person." Justice Department veterans were alarmed by the timing, so close to the midterms. Former President Barack Obama denounced the search and what he said were efforts to deport her, calling them an effort by Trump to intimidate her.

At the rally, the crowd broke into chants of "lock her up" as Trump railed against Omar and called on her to resign. The chant, as the base report notes, began as a reference to Hillary Clinton and was a fixture of Trump's presidential campaigns.

Who Pays, Who Performs

The event offered little on wages, rents or healthcare. Its content was personal and theatrical. State Rep. Joe Mitchell, running for Congress in Iowa's 2nd District, presented Trump with a certificate for a "Man of the Century Award." "This man has fought more for humanity and for America than any other president ever," Mitchell said. Trump took the certificate and shook his hand.

Trump told the crowd he had a right to run again because, he claimed, "they cheated." He lost re-election to Joe Biden in 2020. He also cited a figure of 25 million people entering the country without documentation under Biden. That figure is false. At most, 10.2 million people crossed the border without documentation, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection data.

He also said he urged Ohio gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy to keep running an ad featuring the estranged mother of his opponent, Amy Acton. "You got to ride with it," Trump said. Hinson, who is trying to show distance from Trump given his low approval ratings, said the ad should come down. She told ABC News, "I think about it as a mom, and you think about childhood having to relive that trauma." Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine also called for its removal.

The Map Ahead

In Iowa, NBC News classifies the Senate race between Hinson and Democratic state Rep. Josh Turek as a toss-up. The governor's race to succeed Republican Kim Reynolds, who isn't seeking re-election, pits Democrat Rob Sand against Republican Zach Lahn. Two House seats are battlegrounds: Democrat Christina Bohannan against Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks in the 1st District, and Democrat Sarah Trone Garriott against Rep. Zach Nunn in the 3rd. Hinson didn't appear at a September rally featuring Vice President JD Vance.

Vance held his own rally in North Platte, Nebraska, where Republican incumbent Pete Ricketts faces independent Dan Osborn after Democrat Cindy Burbank dropped out this summer. Cook Political Report rates the race likely Republican. Nebraska voted for Trump in 2024 by more than 20 points.