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Musk Pours $276 Million Into the Midterms, and Federal Agents Raid Home of Rep. Ilhan Omar

October 13, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

Musk Doubles Down on Midterm Spending, Federal Agents Raid Ilhan Omar's Home

Elon Musk spent nearly $300 million to help Donald Trump win the presidency in 2024, then said he was done. "I think in terms of political spending, I'm going to do a lot less in the future," Musk said last year. "I think I've done enough." Instead, the New York Times has learned Musk has now spent even more on the upcoming midterms — at least $276 million in a rescue mission to try and save Republicans' majority in Congress. That total only includes donations that are public; according to one person with knowledge of the matter, Musk has also made some seven-figure donations through groups not required to disclose their donors.

The Quietest $276 Million in Political History

Musk's spending has backed a major Republican turnout operation through a super PAC he founded, which is active in seven Senate battlegrounds and nearly three dozen House races. The group says it's knocked on millions of doors in a sprawling canvassing operation. Musk actually ramped up that effort after a request from Trump's political advisors this spring, according to a person familiar with the discussion.

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:29) **Musk Quietly Pours $276 Million Into Midterms** - The world's richest man reverses his pledge to reduce political spending and has now spent even more on the 2026 midterms than he did in 2024.
  • 2 (03:05) **Federal Agents Raid Home of Rep. Ilhan Omar** - The Department of Homeland Security searched the D.C. home of the Minnesota congresswoman, investigating potential immigration crimes including false statements and fraud.
  • 3 (04:43) **Trump's Russian Diesel Deal Sparks Diplomatic Crisis** - The president's agreement to lift sanctions on Russian diesel to lower U.S. gas prices has stunned European leaders, who see it as sending billions to the Russian economy.
  • 4 (05:56) **Ceasefire in Lebanon Has Not Ended Israel's Destruction of Southern Lebanon** - The Times found that since the April ceasefire, most of the roughly 60 villages and towns in the area occupied by Israel have been leveled.
  • 5 (08:00) **NASA's Perseverance Rover Breaks Mars Mileage Record** - The car-sized rover has now clocked 28.1 miles on the red planet, more than any rover before it.
  • 6 Standout Quotes
  • 7 "How much is the Justice Department acting because it believes there is evidence of a crime here, and how much is the Justice Department acting because President Trump has demanded it?" - Devlin Barrett on the raid of Ilhan Omar's home

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Show Notes

Plus, setting a record on Mars. 

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