Mizzou sophomore opposite hitter Maca Lobaglio (10) and freshman outside hitter Maizy Agnello (3) wait for a play to be reviewed

(The Center Square) – A majority of American voters are concerned with socialist candidates running and possibly winning political office, according to a new poll.

The Center Square Voters’ Voice poll found that 55% of American voters are concerned about Democratic Socialist candidates running for and winning elected office in the U.S., while 37% aren’t concerned.

A slew of candidates running as democratic socialists appears to be raising alarms with a majority of American voters.

Of the 55% who are concerned, 35% are very concerned, while 20% say they are “somewhat concerned.”

Of those not concerned, only 17% say they are not too concerned, while 20% say they are not at all concerned.

The poll comes as several Democratic Socialist candidates have risen in popularity across the country. The Democratic Socialists of America are touting 67 wins across the country, with 93 running. However, the group includes 62 DSA candidates who have lost.

The latest poll comes on the heels of an August poll by The Center Square’s Voters’ Voice Poll, which found 63% of Americans are concerned with the growth of socialism or communism in American politics, while 29% were not concerned.

Of the 63% concerned in August, 36% said they were very concerned, and 27% are somewhat concerned.

The Center Square’s Voters Voice Poll, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, surveyed 2,527 registered voters from Oct. 5-7 via an opt-in online panel and text-to-web cell phone messages. The sample included 1,136 Republicans, 1,171 Democrats, and 220 True Independents, who did not lean toward either major party when asked.

Heading into the midterm elections in November, Republicans and several Democratic voices have warned against democratic socialists rising to power across the country, with the backing of U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.

It’s not only Republicans warning against socialism. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., has been outspoken on several self-proclaimed democratic socialists gaining popularity within the Democratic party.

Earlier in the month, Fetterman cited a CBS News poll that found nearly 60% of Democrats have a positive view of socialism.

“The Democratic Party is becoming the party of socialism. 58% view socialism positively. 50% view capitalism negatively. I’m a proud free market capitalist. This is lunacy,” the senator wrote on social media.

Fetterman isn’t the only Democrat calling out the party’s growing socialist arm; veteran Democratic strategist James Carville has called on the Democratic Socialists of America to drop the word “Democratic” from their name to distance the party from leftist policies.

In contrast to the CBS poll, The Center Square’s Voters’ Voice Poll found that 49% of Democratic voters are concerned with the rise in socialism or communism, while 40% aren’t concerned at all.

The poll comes as several democratic socialist candidates across the country, including in New York, Colorado, Michigan, California, and even Florida, have received the nod from Democratic voters to advance to the November elections.

The poll's margin of error is +/- 2.0%.

The Mizzou swimming and diving teams started their season with fourth-place finishes in both the men's and women's competitions in the SMU Classic.

Saturday, the second and final day of competition, saw eight Tigers place in the top three.

For the women, who were fourth of six competing schools, Megan Jolly finished second in the 1-meter dive, adding to her previous third-place result in the 3-meter. Alexis Cook was the other Tiger to finish second for the women's team, doing so with a 1 minute, 55.1 second time in the 200-yard breaststroke.

Natalie Zapotocka was the other lone third-place result for the Mizzou women's team Saturday. She recorded a 2:14.85 in the 200-yard breaststoke.

For the men's team, Matthew Judkins supplied the lone individual runner-up showing Saturday. He swam to a time of 1:44.12 in the men's 200-yard butterfly as the team placed fourth out of six teams.

Two other Mizzou individuals secured a bronze result. Luke Nebrich swam a 42.89 in the 100-yard freestyle, and Matthew Mortenson finished with a 1:58.21 in the 200-yard breaststroke.

The men's 200-yard medley relay placed second with a 1:24.98, while the 200-meter freestyle relay finished third with a 1:19.64.

The swimming and diving teams head back to Columbia for their home opener, hosting Missouri State on Friday and Saturday.

Columbia College volleyball celebrates back-to back wins

Columbia College volleyball went undefeated at the Campbellsville Tri-Match after defeating Cumberland and Campbellsville on Saturday in Campbellsville, Kentucky.

Columbia College opened with a five set win 25-16, 25-17, 22-25, 23-25, 15-11 against Cumberland University on Saturday morning.

The first set started off close until the Cougars took the lead and held on to it, with the largest lead being nine points. Junior outside hitter Isabella Kincaid closed out the first set with a kill. Columbia College ended the first set with 10 kills on 24 attempts and four service aces.

Junior setter Hannah Vogt opened the second set with a service ace, setting the tone early on. CC led nearly the entire set with Cumberland only having the lead once, when the set was 2-1. This time it was sophomore outside hitter Rowan Carr who closed out the set with a kill.

The third set started off similar to the previous two, with the teams trading points. The Cougars had a seven-point lead after redshirt sophomore middle hitter Kenedi Canty earned a kill, however, it was the last point for Columbia College in the third set.

The Phoenixes earned nine straight points to take their first set of the match 25-22. The momentum carried over with Cumberland winning the fourth set, the Cougars did not give up easily, fighting until the end.

Kincaid started the fifth set with a kill as CC tried to regain control of the match. The Cougars led the entire fifth set before senior outside hitter Viola Giangreco closed out the match with her 10th kill of the match, bringing the final score to 15-11.

Kincaid led the Cougars in kills with 14 and in digs with 16, while Vogt led the team in assists with 20.

Columbia College won its second match of the day in four sets 15-25, 25-22, 26-24 and 25-21 to Campbellsville on Saturday afternoon.

CC and Campbellsville exchanged points early on until Campbellsville found momentum and took the lead. The Cougars were unable to compete and lost 25-15, its first and only set loss of the match.

Columbia College opened the second set with a kill by Carr. The score was close until the Cougars took the lead in the middle of the set and kept it, winning the second set.

After a service ace from Vogt, CC and Campbellsville took turns leading the third set. The score went back-and-forth, but ultimately it was the Cougars who won the set 26-24 after an attack error by the Tigers.

The Cougars opened the fourth set with a 3-0 run before exchanging points with the Tigers for most of the set. The Cougars ended exactly how they started with another 3-0 run to bring the final tally to 25-21.

Columbia College volleyball will next face Central Baptist at 12 p.m. Thursday at the Arena of Southwell Complex in Columbia.

Columbia College women's soccer shuts out Central Baptist

Columbia College women's soccer defeated Central Baptist 4-0 Saturday afternoon, its third shutout win in a row.

The first goal came early on from senior forward Georgia Pardalos in the ninth minute, her 15th goal of the season. Only six minutes later, junior midfielder Macie Vincent scored another goal for the Cougars.

Sophomore forward Ella Bredensteiner scored the third goal of the match during the 40th minute. The final goal was scored two minutes after the second half began by Pardalos, her second goal of the match.

CC ended the match with 20 shots on goal, while Central Baptist had none.

Columbia College women's soccer next faces Williams Baptist at 1 p.m. Tuesday at WBU Soccer Field in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

Stephens soccer loses to Harris-Stowe State

Stephens soccer lost 1-0 against Harris-Stowe State on Saturday afternoon.

The only goal of the game was scored during the 81st minute by Laura Bordiga.

Stephens goalkeeper Petra Brncova had five saves in the match.

The Stars will face Hannibal-LaGrange at 3 p.m. Tuesday at Blackwell Field in Hannibal.

Columbia College men’s soccer wins at home

Columbia College men's soccer defeated Central Baptist 2-1 Saturday afternoon.

Drew Schlimme scored the first Cougars' goal in the 52nd minute, his second of the season. Ten minutes later, Central Baptist scored a goal of its own, tying the match 1-1.

The Cougars found the net again when midfielder Layton Dahl scored during the 84th minute, and CC held on from there. Both goals were assisted by Freddie Fenton.

Columbia College men's soccer next faces Williams Baptist at 3 p.m. Tuesday at WBU Soccer Field in Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

Jamal Roberts took the handoff two steps to the right, taking a second to read Texas A&M’s defensive front before making a decision.

Luke Work made the decision easy for Roberts. The right tackle mauled a Texas A&M defensive lineman to create an opening that right guard Curtis Peagler helped seal off up the middle, sending Roberts avalanching down the field.

A defensive back flung himself at Roberts, but hardly managed to even get his fingertips on Roberts' ankle, allowing him to continue bouldering 54 yards to the end zone.

The score put #14 Missouri up 27-6, putting an exclamation point on and marking the final score of Missouri’s win over the Aggies.

“He has a belief in himself that he knew he was ready for it,” Missouri coach Eli Drinkwitz said. “And when somebody believes in themselves, all it takes is other people to believe in him too and it can really be a special thing. I think he's got a lot of confidence in the way our offensive line blocks for him, our tight ends block for him and it's impressive to watch.”

The explosive run also put Roberts over 200 yards for the second straight game, putting him in rare air. In the last 20 years, only two other SEC running backs have achieved that mark in back-to-back games against FBS opponents: LSU's Leonard Fournette and Alabama's Derrick Henry. They both did it in 2015, a year when both were consensus All-Americans and Henry won the Heisman Trophy.

Roberts' achievement took the second-most carries out of the three to get there: 58 compared to 60 for Henry and 45 for Fournette. 

In the last two games, Roberts has been persistent, continuing to pack a punch even when the run game is struggling to be efficient early. Roberts finished the game against the Aggies with 222 yards on 34 carries.

Roberts had nine carries of 2 yards or fewer, not including a 2-yard touchdown run he punched in. His first three carries went for a net of 4 yards. In a halftime interview with ABC, Drinkwitz said that the inefficiency on second-down runs was one of the main factors that was holding the offense back.

But by maintaining his physicality, at least one of Roberts’ 34 carries was bound to break down an exhausted Texas A&M defense.

"The defense hung in there for a while," Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said, "But ultimately I think we wore down."

Early on, the Aggies constantly only gave him an inch. He knocked them down until he could break off enough space to run the distance.

“You just keep running the ball at them and just hitting them consistently, man, they're going to give up,” Roberts said. 

A linebacker through the majority of his high school career at St. Mary’s, Roberts said he still carries the mindset of a defender. He is coming to hit them.

“Just having that physicality growing up, being in the trenches, being grimy, having that dog in me, man, I love it,” Roberts said of his running style.

Missouri linebacker Nicholas Rodriguez said that his, ‘Welcome to college football’ moment was defending Roberts, a redshirt freshman when Rodriguez was a true freshman, in practice.

“He lowered that shoulder every time, I was like ‘Oh my goodness,” Rodriguez said.

Missouri’s offensive line and Roberts continue to play with energy and have the confidence in each other, exemplified best by the blocking from the front and the burst from Roberts on the 54-yard score.

“They know who I am as a running back and they know we can get it done up front,” Roberts said.

Similarly, against Florida in Week 5, Roberts broke off runs of 77 and 80 yards in the second half after having to fight for short yardage on most of his runs in the first half. He finished the game with 211 yards on 24 carries.

“He sees each and every hole, sees each and every crease throughout the game,” quarterback Austin Simmons said. “I think he just keeps on progressively getting better as the game goes on — that's something I haven't seen before.”

Drinkwitz provides updates on Jones after heart transplant

Missouri wore a sticker on the back of its helmets in the shape of a heart that read, “DJ” in recognition of Missouri freshman offensive lineman Johnnie “DJ” Jones, who received a heart transplant Wednesday night. Members of the coaching staff wore pins to recognize Jones.

Simmons said he’s checked in with Jones multiple times throughout his treatment.

“I just really love the fact that he's been positive throughout this whole entire period in his life,” Simmons said. “It's a rough patch, and he's been going through a lot mentally — and physically, of course. He's been talking to us in our group chat with the team, and it's just great hearing from him a lot.”

After revealing Jones’ need for a transplant in a press conference Tuesday, Drinkwitz talked to Marty Smith of ESPN with more details on Jones’ condition.

Jones was diagnosed with heart failure, Drinkwitz said to Smith. Missouri’s medical staff first detected the issue in the summer before sending him to Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, for a second opinion.

The team learned Sept. 30 that Jones was being placed on an ECMO machine, which pumps blood outside of the body to a heart-lung machine to remove carbon-dioxide and inserts oxygen into the body.

“Once you go on that, time starts really becoming of the essence,” Drinkwitz said to Smith. “Like 21 days (to live).”

Hours after Drinkwitz said Tuesday afternoon that Jones needed help in a hurry, Jones called Drinkwitz and the coaching staff, informing them that the medical team had found an available heart to transplant.

“It was unbelievable joy,” Drinkwitz said. “Our team and staff were so excited, but then everything had to go right from harvest to recovery to inspection.”

The surgery started at 10 p.m. Wednesday and continued through Thursday morning.

“DJ is heavily sedated right now, recovering from surgery,” Drinkwitz said. “So far so good as far as the body accepting the new heart. “

A fundraiser started by Jones’ family to help cover the medical costs had surpassed $37,000 by Saturday afternoon.

After Drinkwitz announced Jones’ situation, Jones and the program have received an outpouring of support from the college football community. With Jones and his family needing a place to stay while he underwent treatment, somebody from Florida State called and offered a condo for the family to stay close to the hospital.

“It's just unbelievable what college football people can do,” Drinkwitz said after the game. “Just so appreciative of the fans saying ‘Let's just help,’ because people helping people is a powerful thing. DJ knows we're pulling for him.”

Simmons’ impressive interception streak ends

Simmons threw his first interception of the season on MU's first drive of the game. His pass on third-and-3 was tipped at the line and floated into the hands of Texas A&M linebacker Daymion Sanford.

Simmons made it through 140 attempts on the year before the interception. Entering Week 6, he was the only Southeastern Conference quarterback with at least 100 attempts who had not thrown an interception.

It was the longest streak without an interception for a Missouri quarterback since Brady Cook set the SEC record with 326 in 2023. In the first six games last year, Missouri had already given up five interceptions.

The streak was a notable improvement for Simmons’ ability to protect the football. His previous longest streak was 35, carrying through backup action in 2024 and his first game as a starter at Ole Miss in 2025. In 2025, he averaged one interception for every 15 of his attempts.

"But the thing about Austin is nothing really fazes him," Drinkwitz said. "He's still always dialing it up and putting it in tight spots and trusting himself."

Tigers get well quickly

Missouri had a hefty availability report Saturday night, but that was cleared Saturday morning. After listing seven starters as questionable on every availability report from Wednesday-Friday, all seven players were active Saturday.

That included edge rushers Darris Smith and Langden Kitchen both making their returns after missing Week 5 with injuries.

Smith played on very few snaps, with Drinkwitz saying he wasn’t quite ready to return.

Two Missouri players exited the game with injuries, however, with defensive tackle Sterling Webb and linebacker Jeremiah Beasley both needing to be helped off the field by trainers in the second half.

Bolton, other greats return for Hall of Fame induction

Former Missouri and current Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton returned to Columbia for Saturday’s game, coming to town for his induction into the Mizzou Athletics Hall of Fame on Friday.

Bolton and the rest of the Hall of Fame inductees were recognized at a break during the first quarter of the game. The other members of the class include quarterback Drew Lock, assistant coach Andy Hill, softball’s Ashley Flemming, wrestling’s Daniel Lewis and track and field’s Nicki Webber Moore.

Bolton hyped up the crowd ahead of the game by banging the “Big MO” drum. Lock was unable to make the return to Columbia, as he’ll suit up for the Seattle Seahawks when they host the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. He did, however, join Friday night’s induction ceremony on a Zoom call.

Mizzou quarterback Austin Simmons threw his first interception of the season on a tipped ball in the first quarter, setting up the Texas A&M offense in the red zone and poised to score the first points of the game.

But the Tigers defense came prepared.

A pair of 4-yard runs set up the Aggies with a third-and-2 at the Tigers’ 6-yard line. Quarterback Marcel Reed dropped back to pass, throwing to Ashton Bethel-Roman on a slant route. But Trajen Greco read it, breaking up the pass and sending the ball high into the air and into the waiting arms of Elijah Dotson. The breakup took away a potential touchdown pass, while the interception wiped away any chance of an Aggies score.

“Did my job, made a play on the ball, and (Dotson) just happened to be in the right place (at the) right time,” Greco said.

That play set the tone for an elite defensive performance for Mizzou, which held Texas A&M to 216 total yards in a 27-6 victory.

The defense has held its opponents to 17 points or fewer in all of Mizzou's five wins. Mizzou’s run defense has been particularly stout, allowing 88.6 yards per game on the ground entering Saturday. The Tigers held the Aggies to 29 rushing yards. The previous week, they held Florida’s superstar running back Jadan Baugh to 13 yards on 12 carries.

“Starts with the coaches putting us in that position, and then us executing in practice,” linebacker Nick Rodriguez said. “I feel like we do a great job of that, getting attention to detail, investing in the process during the week.”

Rodriguez created havoc against the Aggies, leading the team with 13 tackles, 1½ tackles for loss and half-a-sack. Donta Simpson had an impactful game with 1½ sacks plus a pair of quarterback hurries. The Tigers finished the game with 13 quarterback hurries, making Reed feel uncomfortable in the pocket.

Entering the game, the Tigers’ pass defense was suspect. Mizzou allowed 231.2 yards per game in the air in its first five contests. The Tigers had their best game defending the pass in SEC play thus far, allowing 187 yards while picking off Reed twice.

Greco pulled in the second interception in the second quarter on a ball tipped by Bethel-Roman. He ran the ball back to the A&M 34-yard line, setting up a field goal for Blake Craig from 50 yards. The two turnovers flipped at least six points to the Tigers and set the tone for Reed’s struggles.

Greco finished the game with three tackles plus the interception and the pass breakup. The Tigers were credited with six pass breakups and forced Reed into 20 incompletions.

“We struggle to protect (Reed). We struggle to run routes and get open,” Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said. “We struggle to do it the way it’s being coached to do it. We struggle to deliver the ball where it needs to get delivered, and we struggle to do all of those things together consistently. So it is on every level.”

This season has been a continuation of Mizzou’s defensive success under coordinator Corey Batoon. In his first two seasons with the Tigers, the team ranked top 20 in points allowed per game in the nation. Entering the week, the Tigers allowed 20 points per game; a mark good enough for seventh in the SEC and 47th in the nation. After holding the Aggies to six points, they will climb the leaderboards.

“He's understated, and that's just because he walks with a humility that most people don't understand," Drinkwitz said of Batoon. "He's a very special coach, he's a very special defensive coordinator. Y'all would be shocked the way he gets in that defense’s ass. It's impressive.

"He brings it to the staff, and he brings it to those players, and those guys love him because they know that he's always trying to put them in the best position. He can call a game now, that dude can call a game, (and) does a great job of showing multiple looks. … He leads that group, and we're really fortunate that he chose to stay with us. He had plenty of opportunities. I appreciate the (Board of Curators) and president recognizing his talents and knowing that continuity is huge.”

The defense continues to be the Tigers’ most consistent unit. Mizzou totaled 399 yards on offense, but Simmons failed to find the same magic he produced against Florida. The quarterback ended the game 14 of 28 for 147 yards, a touchdown and a pick. He used his legs on several occasions, including a 13-yard scramble for a first down.

Jamal Roberts was the engine in the Tigers’ win, totaling 222 yards and a couple of touchdowns on 34 carries. He slammed the door shut, scoring from 56 yards out with under three minutes to give the Tigers a 21-point lead.

“When I think he can’t do anymore, he just does more,” Drinkwitz said. “Really impressive from him. … Big time for us.”

The special teams unit had some struggles. Brunno Reus recorded his shortest punt of the year at 26 yards, giving Texas A&M the ball at the Mizzou 40. While Mizzou’s defense limited the offense to 8 yards on three plays, the Aggies connected on a 53-yard field goal to take a 3-0 lead in the first quarter. Kicker Blake Craig made a pair of 50-plus yard field goals, but he had his 39-yarder blocked right before halftime.

Mizzou faces a big road test of the season in a showdown with No. 9 Ole Miss at 2:30 p.m. next Saturday in Oxford, Mississippi. In their first four games, the Rebels averaged 35.5 points per game.

(The Center Square) – A U.S. House of Representatives seat in Cleveland is at the center of the fight over labor policy and tariffs.

Democrat Brian Poindexter is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Max Miller, R-Ohio, in the newly competitive race to represent Ohio’s 7th Congressional District. Poindexter, a union ironworker, is leaning on his background in the trades to win over blue-collar voters, especially Republicans.

After allegations of spousal and child abuse against Miller became public this year, the nonpartisan Cook Political Report moved the race from “likely Republican” to “toss up.”

Democrats see an opportunity to flip a once probable red seat and regain control of the House after the midterms.

Control of the House will come down to a handful of battleground races like Ohio’s 7th District. Whichever party wins the majority on Nov. 3 will set policy priorities in the chamber for the last two years of President Donald Trump’s term.

Both Poindexter and Miller are running on reviving the manufacturing sector, but are taking different approaches to get there. Poindexter is focusing on labor law and the minimum wage, while Miller is homing in on tax policy and deregulation.

Poindexter says his first priority if elected to Congress will be union legislation. He has campaigned on his support for the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, which would make it easier for employees to join labor unions and bargain with their employers.

“I’ve spent my career on jobsites where safety rules weren’t ‘red tape,’” Poindexter wrote on his campaign website. “They were the difference between going home at night or not. Calling worker protections ‘burdensome’ ignores the reality of the people doing the work.”

Poindexter also supports raising the federal minimum wage, though he has not specified a figure.

Poindexter has been a union ironworker for 20 years and teaches an apprenticeship program in the field. He won an eight-way Democratic primary in May with 37% of the vote.

Miller’s approach to worker pay runs through the tax code. He voted for his party’s 2025 tax and spending package, dubbed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, and touted its provisions eliminating tax on tips and overtime.

Like Poindexter, Miller has vocalized support for career and technical education.

“The American dream does not require a 4-year degree and a mountain of student loan debt,” Miller’s campaign website says.

Poindexter has made his opposition to the Trump administration’s tariffs a central part of his House campaign. He says tariffs have raised prices for working Ohioans, especially farmers.

“While targeted tariffs can be a tool, I oppose the blanket tariffs that are making everything more expensive,” Poindexter wrote in a candidate survey.

Miller has backed efforts in Congress to preserve the administration’s tariffs, voting no on a resolution in February that would have overturned tariffs on Canada. He also voted in favor of multiple procedural measures restricting Congress’ ability to challenge the White House’s tariffs.

Miller, a former aide in the first Trump White House, was endorsed by the president in May. Trump called Miller “a fantastic champion for the great people of Ohio’s 7th Congressional District” who will “advance our America First agenda.”

November’s election will be the first under Ohio’s new congressional map. Trump carried the redrawn 7th District by 11 points over former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, according to the Downballot.

In his latest filings to the Federal Election Commission, Miller reported $2.14 million in funds raised and $1.38 million in cash on hand. Poindexter reported $603,000 with $312,000 still on hand.

Polls in Ohio will stay open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Election Day.

(The Center Square) - With three weeks until the midterm elections, unexpected races across the country are tightening as control of Congress hangs in the balance.

The race between U.S. Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kansas, and Democratic opponent Adam Hamilton tightened in recent weeks as control of the U.S. Senate is potentially up for grabs. The Cook Political Report moved the Kansas U.S. Senate race to a “toss up” this week as competition heats up in the race.

Democrats must gain a net four seats in the U.S. Senate to gain a majority in the upper chamber. A Democrat has not won a U.S. Senate seat in Kansas since 1932.

Hamilton, a United Methodist pastor, has focused his campaign on lowering household energy and utility costs, ending the Trump administration’s tariff policies, and expanding Medicare drug price negotiations.

Hamilton said he would support the Trade Review Act, legislation led by U.S. Sens. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., and Jerry Moran, R-Kansas. The legislation would require congressional approval for new tariffs and publish the cost of tariffs for Americans.

“When Washington imposes sweeping tariff taxes without a vote, the bill lands on Kansas farmers, manufacturers, and families in the form of higher prices on everything from equipment and fertilizer to groceries,” Hamilton’s website reads.

Marshall criticized the Trade Review Act when it was introduced in March 2025. He pushed for support of the president’s tariff authority and said it would bring back manufacturing jobs to the United States.

In an interview, Marshall acknowledged that the tariffs would cause “short-term pain.”

“This is also going to bring jobs back to America as well, which is a good thing,” Marshall said in a February 2025 interview. “So I think there’s some real good logic behind what President Trump is doing.”

Marshall has appeared to distance himself from the Trump administration’s signature policies in recent weeks. The incumbent senator expressed frustration over the president’s proposal to import beef from foreign countries.

“When [President Trump] does this, he sends the wrong signal to the rancher to keep his heifers rather than selling them into the market,” Marshall said.

Marshall has also highlighted access to healthcare as a key issue of his campaign. He touted his work on the Patients Deserve Price Tags Act, legislation that would require hospitals and insurance companies to publicly disclose prices for provided services.

Marshall estimated the bill would reduce healthcare costs by $1,000 per month in a family when it is signed into law.

“When this bill is signed into law, there will be total transparency of healthcare bills, which is going to drive competition, which is going to bring the cost of healthcare down,” Marshall told The Center Square on a press call.

While the bill has earned broad bipartisan support, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul voted against the legislation. He said individuals on Medicare and Medicaid will not have a meaningful change to their prices just because they are transparent.

“There's only a very small amount of this market that cares about this and these people don't have insurance,” Paul said. “When you mandate transparency on prices that are fixed, [it] doesn't change the situation.”

Hamilton has also focused his campaign on lowering healthcare costs. He called for reversing the cuts to Medicaid from the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” restoring Affordable Care Act subsidies, and expanding Medicare drug price negotiations.

Hamilton said he would expand the list of negotiated drugs on Medicare, extend negotiated prices to private plans and speed up the coverage timeline. He pointed to the Congressional Budget Office’s 2019 estimate that the actions would save roughly $456 billion over the next decade.

“The country wastes billions of dollars every year on overpriced drugs and wasteful paperwork that helps no patient,” Hamilton’s website reads. "These reforms lower costs for Kansas families while saving taxpayers money.”

Marshall has a significant fundraising lead over Hamilton with more than $6.2 million in campaign contributions and $5.3 million in cash on hand. Hamilton has more than $4.1 million in contributions and $1.7 million in cash on hand.

Marshall received more than $230,000 from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee PAC over the last year, according to Federal Election Commission records. He also received $10,000 from the American Crystal Sugar Company PAC and $3,500 from the Zeneca Inc., PAC, which is associated with the pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

Hamilton took out $50,000 in personal loans to support his campaign, according to most recent FEC data. He also received $7,000 from Steve Mandel, the founder of Lone Pine Capital, and $6,325 from Randy Clinkscales at Clinckscales Elder Law Practice.

Early in person voting in certain Kansas counties will begin on Oct. 14. Polling places are open throughout the state from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

For more information, visit the Kansas Secretary of State, at sos.ks.gov. For results on Election Day, visit thecentersquare.com/kansas.

(The Center Square) – The U.S. Coast Guard has surpassed its recruiting goals for the third consecutive year. 

Under the Trump administration, the Coast Guard now has its largest enlisted class in nearly four decades. 

In fiscal 2026, which ended Sept. 30, the Coast Guard enlisted 5,445 active-duty members, exceeding the 5,204 who enlisted in fiscal 2025 and the 4,422 who enlisted in fiscal 2024. 

The Coast Guard also commissioned 346 active-duty officers this past year – making it the second highest number in recorded Coast Guard history.

“We surpassed our recruiting goals because Americans are ready and willing to serve in the U.S. Coast Guard conducting exciting missions that deliver results our Nation needs,” Adm. Tom Allan, vice commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, said in a statement. “This momentum is about more than numbers; it is about being the world’s best Coast Guard and building the workforce America needs. We are proud to welcome our newest members and grateful to our recruiters for continuing to deliver exceptional results.” 

The recruitment record comes after the Trump administration and Congress allocated an historic nearly $25 billion to modernize the Coast Guard and expanded its interdiction efforts through the “Big Beautiful Bill.” It’s the largest single funding commitment in Coast Guard history.

Funds are being used to procure an estimated 17 new icebreakers, 21 new cutters, more than 40 helicopters and six C-130J aircraft. Funding also enabled the Coast Guard to modernize its shore infrastructure and maritime surveillance systems. It also enabled four new recruiting offices to be opened this year in Miami; Long Island, New York; Austin, Texas; and in the Netherlands, the Coast Guard said.

The record recruitment and infrastructure improvements are part of the Coast Guard’s Force Design strategic initiative. This includes fleet expansion, modernizing its workforce and enhancing readiness with a goal of growing its military force by 15,000 members.

The Coast Guard recently awarded a $400 million contract to modernize its training center complex in Cape May, New Jersey. The complex is used for basic training for its entire enlisted force. It’s the largest shore construction award in Coast Guard history. 

In Galveston, Texas, manufacturing of new Arctic national security cutters is underway.

Recruitment records were made as the Coast Guard continues efforts in other areas.

In August, the Coast Guard expanded maritime interdiction efforts in four major regions in U.S. coastal and international waters. It established four new “Customs Enforcement Areas,” expanding its enforcement jurisdiction from 12 to 24 nautical miles in designated waters adjacent to South Florida, Southern California, Puerto Rico and the Gulf Coast of Texas, The Center Square reported. 

Coast Guard crew are regularly interdicting human traffickers at sea and successfully interdicting transnational criminal narcotics traffickers, seizing records amounts of illicit drugs. In Operation Pacific Viper alone, Coast Guard crew seized 200,000 pounds of cocaine, The Center Square reported. 

They’ve also been interdicting alleged adversaries in the Arctic, including most recently, Chinese “research” ships off the coast of Alaska, The Center Square reported. 

Coast Guard crew also have been playing a role in border security. Recent efforts led to cartel operatives fired on them in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas, resulting in U.S. troops being surged to the area, The Center Square reported.

In 2025, the Coast Guard covered 95,000 miles of coastline, saved more than $974 million in property and facilitated more than $5.4 trillion in commerce. 

They also stopped 231 narco-terrorists and interdicted more than 231 metric tons of drugs. 

They also completed more than 6,700 search and rescue missions and saved more than 5,200 lives, according to the most recent Coast Guard data. 

(The Center Square) – Whether the Sept. 29 executive order of second-term President Donald Trump related to computer systems, software and processes that can emulate aspects of human work and cognition changes vocabulary beyond his administration will be told with time.

For now, replacing the term “artificial intelligence” with “super intelligence” is his request. Writing on social media this week, Trump doubled down by saying anyone using “artificial intelligence” as opposed to “super intelligence” is an “enemy” of the White House.

Part of his reasoning is “use of the word artificial makes intelligence fake.”

Elon Musk, who changed SpaceXAI’s name to SpaceXSI, and Jeff Bezos backed the terminology change.

Executive Order 14434 says in part, “The terminology used by the federal government should reflect the transformative capabilities of these technologies and the limitless opportunities they create for the American people.”

Researchers and critics from within the field say “superintelligence” has historically described hypothetical, future artificial intelligence that surpasses human intelligence in all areas rather than current language models.

Two of the nation’s leading research institutions into artificial intelligence, and its impact on people, are at Elon University in North Carolina through the Imagining the Digital Future Center and the Elon Poll. Multiple research reports coupled with polling nationwide have been delivered this decade.

Lee Rainie, director of the Imagining the Digital Future Center, in a digital interview with The Center Square said, “I’m not sure rebranding AI as ‘super intelligence’ will move the needle on the public’s views. Our recent surveys have shown growing public apprehension about the impact of AI -- everything from job loss to the construction of data centers to the possibility that rogue AI agents might wreak havoc on human existence.

“There is a growing sense that AI is likely to undermine humans’ sense of purpose, agency and thinking. Our new survey about the future of work show how most foresee the spread of AI systems as a painful bargain. They predict fewer jobs, pay that falls short of a decent living and work that offers less meaning. At the same time, many are using AI and reporting good results from it at work and in their personal lives. It’s a very mixed and fluid picture.”

Renaming ultimatums are nothing new for the 80-year-old president.

A short list would be Mount Denali back to Mount McKinley; Lake Ontario to Lake America; Gulf of Mexico to Gulf of America; and the John F. Kennedy Memorial Center for the Performing Arts to Trump-Kennedy Center. Then there’s the Department of Defense back to Department of War, or the idea floated of Strait of Hormuz to Trump Strait.

Objectively, some not all have gained traction and some not all have experienced strong rejection.

(The Center Square) – Most American voters say U.S. consumers ultimately pay for tariffs, a new national poll found. The White House says foreign exporters do.

The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll found 58% of registered voters said U.S. consumers pay most of the cost of tariffs through higher prices. Sixteen percent said U.S. companies that import goods pay the tariffs, 15% said foreign countries or foreign companies do, and 11% weren’t sure.

Among Republicans and Republican-leaning independents, 47% said U.S. consumers pay, more than double the 22% who said foreign countries do. The same group backed the tariffs 66% to 25% when asked whether they would support duties that helped protect some American industries but increased prices for U.S. households and businesses. Overall, voters split 42% support to 46% oppose.

“The Trump administration has consistently maintained that the cost of tariffs will ultimately be borne by foreign exporters who rely on access to the American economy, the world’s biggest and best consumer market,” White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers told The Center Square.

Phillip W. Magness, a senior fellow and the David J. Theroux Chair in Political Economy at the Independent Institute, said the poll shows voters have it right.

“Americans have correctly detected that tariffs on imports come from their own wallets,” he told The Center Square.

The empirical literature on Trump’s tariffs has consistently found that upward of 90% of the burden falls on the U.S. economy, and mainly on consumers, Magness said.

The Congressional Budget Office estimated in February 2026 that foreign exporters absorb 5% of tariff costs and that U.S. consumers bear the rest through higher prices. CBO told Congress in May 2026 that more recent evidence indicated the foreign share may have risen to 10% to 15% by the end of 2025.

Magness said the 15% who named foreign countries are “almost certainly repeating something that they’ve heard from figures in the White House.”

He pointed to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Stephen Miran, who chaired the Council of Economic Advisers and served as a Federal Reserve governor. Magness said their argument rests on a misunderstanding of international trade theory and has found no empirical support in studies of tariff incidence.

The Tax Foundation estimates the current tariffs raise taxes by an average of $820 per household in 2026, down from about $1,000 in 2025. The Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act in February 2026.

The Center Square has asked the White House five times since May whether it has estimated what the tariffs cost American consumers, including four times since August about the cost to the average household. The White House has not answered.

The U.S. goods and services trade deficit fell 19.9% in the first eight months of 2026 compared with the same period last year, as exports rose 11.8% and imports 4.4%, according to the Bureau of Economic Analysis. A White House official pointed to those figures.

That comparison runs against an inflated 2025 base, when importers rushed shipments ahead of the tariffs. BEA reported the monthly deficit at $105.6 billion in August 2026, up from $92.8 billion in July 2026.

Magness said the Republican numbers show voters are separating the policy from the explanation offered for it. Republicans “are not buying the White House’s talking points about foreigners paying for tariffs, even as many of them still back Trump’s policies in this arena for different reasons,” he said.

Support also varied by income. Voters earning less than $50,000 a year opposed the tariffs 48% to 36%, while voters earning more than $100,000 split 49% to 46% in favor.

Magness cautioned that the question’s reference to protecting American industries likely lifted support, noting that language about protection has historically boosted tariff numbers in polls. He said he expects support to fall as more Americans conclude the tariffs are not delivering that protection.

The Center Square Voters’ Voice Poll was conducted by Noble Predictive Insights from Oct. 5-7, surveying 2,527 registered U.S. voters. Respondents included 1136 Republicans, 1171 Democrats and 229 True Independents, (Independents who, when asked if they leaned towards one of the major parties, chose neither). The margin of error is plus or minus 1.95 percentage points.

The No. 5 Florida Gators walked into the Hearnes Center on Friday night with a 10-game win streak and didn't slow down, defeating Mizzou volleyball in a 25-13, 26-24, 25-13 sweep.

The Tigers' losing streak is up to three matches as they sit 8-8 with a 1-3 record in Southeastern Conference play.

Missouri hit .149 on attacks in the match with 29 kills and 15 errors. Florida recorded just three errors and added 44 kills for a .519 hit percentage. Missouri did not record a block in the match, and had three service aces with eight errors behind the line.

Kimani Johnson continues to lead the way for the Tigers on the court as she notched eight kills in 17 tries. Johnson has started to find her groove as the game appears to be slowing down a lot more for her.

"I think I'm starting to understand the game a little bit more," Johnson said in a press conference after the match. "How I can use my toolbox a little bit better, how I'm seeing the block, and just finding open spots on the court.

Florida middle blocker Alec Rothe got things going early for the Gators with three kills through the first 10 points of Set 1 to help Florida jump out to a 7-3 lead. Looking to pull away from Missouri, Florida was playing like the buzz saw that's been running through its opponents over its last 10 games.

After going down 7-3 early in Set 1, Missouri went on 3-0 run to keep things close and nearly made it a 4-0 run to get within a point of the Gators before a challenge reversed an out-of-bounds call. So instead of a 9-8 score, Florida led 10-7. An opportunity squandered, Missouri trailed the rest of the set, leading to the eventual 25-13 loss. The Tigers, did, however, make it tough for Florida to win the final point, a sign of things to come in Set 2.

And while Missouri tried to regroup before things really got out of hand, the fans in the Hearnes Center, which were loud to start the match, had gone silent.

Missouri started off Set 2 on the right foot, jumping out to a 5-2 lead behind a pair of kills from freshman standout Lydia Stahley. From there, Missouri clung onto a narrow lead until the media timeout. After a Kimani Johnson kill made it 13-10, Missouri looked like it would be the pace-setter this time around, but a 5-1 run from Florida — all via the kill — quickly shifted the momentum of the set as the two teams went to their benches.

The Tigers punched back with a 3-0 run, courtesy of Felder's rocket of a kill and Sierra Dudley getting an ace as Missouri jumped out in front 17-15. The two teams traded punches for the next handful of points, and after looking dead in the water after an ugly Set 1, Missouri was on the brink of tying it up.

Missouri then got to 23 after a Johnson kill, but Florida's Logan King came right back with her own to keep the two teams tied. Then, a Paige Felder kill put Missouri one point away from a Set 2 win, but Florida's timeout killed all momentum. Back-to-back Gator kills off the hands of blockers up front put Missouri on the ropes, and although Missouri coach Dawn Sullivan tried icing the Gators' server, it didn't work, and Florida took a commanding 2-0 lead over the Tigers with a 26-24 win.

"I thought our team played really well that set and really impressed," Sullivan said in a press conference after the match. "I think we have moments that we can play with any team. We just have to be able to be a little more consistent with what we do, and so (I) keep seeing glimpses of it, which I'm really excited about."

After the loss, the Tiger players showed one clear emotion – frustration. Florida, though, looked to slam the door shut, which is exactly what it did. The Gators got out to a 10-4 lead in the set and quickly forced a Sullivan timeout. But it was to no avail as Florida continued to put the hammer down on the Tigers as it led 16-6 before the gap briefly plateaued.

Then a 4-0 run made it 22-9, and Florida coasted to the sweep.

"Kudos to Florida," Sullivan said. "I though they just played a really clean volleyball game, and very strong both in reception and attack."

A point this season for Sullivan has been to serve tough. She felt her team early on did not serve tough and actually were playing out of system more often than they were in system, and they need to find their way back in system.

"I think it goes back to that reception piece, that first contact hit," Sullivan said. "How do we lift that ball up a little bit higher? How do we get that more into the pocket. Our setters are little bit too much on the run."

Missouri (8-8, 1-3 SEC) looks to get back on track as Auburn (11-5, 1-3) comes to town for a 2 p.m. match Sunday at the Hearnes Center.