In the Top of the News Stack, President Donald Trump campaigned Monday in Mississippi, as he continued a closing midterm rally blitz that has highlighted Republicans' challenges ahead of an election that could drastically shift power in Washington and statehouses across the country. "I'm here because Cindy's doing great, but I just got to make sure. I can't take a chance," Trump told the crowd, his voice audibly hoarse, as he worked to boost Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith, who is facing a surprisingly stiff challenge from Democrat Scott Colom.

Federal prosecutors have taken steps to charge ex-Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director James Comey with leaking national defense information, according to a court filing. It marks the third time the justice department has moved to bring criminal charges against Comey, a longtime critic of President Donald Trump.

Few details are provided about the two counts in the three-page filing, but Comey's lawyers said in separate court papers that the case stemmed from an alleged disclosure of classified information to the New York Times in October 2016, while he was head of the FBI. Comey denied any wrongdoing in a video posted on Substack on Monday, calling the charges an "appalling abuse". Comey denied any wrongdoing in a video posted on Substack on Monday, calling the charges an "appalling abuse". "It would almost be funny if it weren't such an appalling abuse of the department of justice, one that we cannot become numb to," he said in the clip.

"Nothing's changed with me - I'm still innocent, I'm still not afraid of these people and I still believe in the independent federal judiciary." Comey was charged in Washington DC through a criminal information, which is a formal written charging document filed directly by a prosecutor. This is different to a criminal indictment, which must be approved by a grand jury, a group of citizens sworn in to review if evidence is strong enough to prosecute.

A federal judge ruled Monday that the Department of Justice’s firing last year of New York federal prosecutor Maurene Comey, the daughter of former FBI Director James Comey, was unlawful. Judge Jesse Furman, in his ruling, also granted Maurene Comey retroactive reinstatement and back pay as an assistant U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York from her termination on July 16, 2025, through Dec. 20, 2025, when the judge inferred she accepted another job. The DOJ said it would appeal Furman’s ruling in which the judge rejected the department’s arguments that the attorney general had authority to dismiss Comey without cause. The case is in in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Comey’s lawyers, in a statement, said, “This hard-earned victory belongs to Ms. Comey, to all civil servants, and to all fighting for the rule of law.” “As the Court correctly held, to accept the government’s argument about unlimited executive power ‘would be to unsettle the very equilibrium established by this Nation’s constitutional system,’” the lawyers said. “This decision reaffirms our bedrock system of checks and balances: the President is not above the law.” Before her termination, Comey was involved in a series of high-profile federal prosecutions, including ones against the sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell and Sean “Diddy” Combs. Her lawsuit against the DOJ argued that her termination violated federal law and the Constitution and stemmed from President Donald Trump’s longstanding animus toward her father, whom Trump had fired as FBI director in 2017. James Comey is currently under federal indictment that accuses him of threatening Trump’s life by posting on Instagram a photo of seashells forming the number “86 47.” His attorneys are seeking to have that case tossed out. James Comey, who denies any wrongdoing, previously had another federal indictment against him filed by the DOJ under Trump dismissed.

First Lady Melania Trump successfully secured a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, localized to the city of Oleshky. Both nations agreed to temporarily stop all military action in Oleshky to allow for humanitarian aid to enter and to prepare a civilian evacuation through a designated safe passageway. “The situation in Oleshky is dire. Oleshky is a front-line war city on the brink of disaster.  Oleshky’s remaining population is comprised primarily of elderly residents who urgently need medical attention, medicine, food, and clean water,” said First Lady Melania Trump. “The people of Oleshky have limited electricity, live amid mined roads, and endure regular military attacks. It was abundantly clear that without my intervention, the possibility to bring humanitarian aid into the city and to evacuate the elderly would be impossible. "First Lady Melania Trump and her representative worked directly with Russian and Ukrainian leadership to define the terms of the localized ceasefire. The First Lady initiated discussions with both nations and aligned the parties on the agreement’s objectives, technical procedures, timing, processes, and terms, in her formal role as Exclusive Intermediary. “Non-military, civilian leaders from both countries will work together to visit Oleshky residents in their homes and determine the level of assistance they require. Residents who wish to evacuate will receive coordinated support and transportation to their preferred destination. I anticipate some will want to go to Russia, and some to Ukraine,” said First Lady Melania Trump.  

President Donald Trump said on Monday that he is offering a $1 million reward for anyone who reports voter fraud -- in past elections or in the upcoming midterm elections -- that leads to a conviction. "Anybody reporting Voter Fraud in the past Elections, or the upcoming 2026 Midterm Election, will be paid $1,000,000 upon the arrest and conviction of those that created the Fraud," Trump wrote in a social media post.