Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) secured victory in a special election last night, a win that shrinks the House Republican majority to five seats, potentially impacting legislative maneuverability. The formal swearing-in is anticipated by October 7, at which point the House composition will be 219 Republicans to 214 Democrats. This reduced margin means the Republican party can afford to lose only two votes on legislation before requiring Democratic support. The election of Grijalva is also significant as she is expected to provide the 218th signature needed for a discharge petition. This petition aims to bypass House GOP leadership and force a vote on a resolution compelling the release of the Epstein files. The 218-signature threshold is the minimum required to successfully advance a discharge petition. This development follows President Donald Trump's significant shift in stance on the war in Ukraine, where he now calls for increased pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin. Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson supported Trump's position, stating the US president is "100 per cent right" about Putin's failures. Separately, the World Health Organization reiterated this morning that there is no conclusive scientific evidence linking acetaminophen use during pregnancy to autism, a concern previously amplified by President Trump. The WHO also reaffirmed that childhood vaccines do not cause autism. Earlier this morning, an escalator malfunction was reported at UN headquarters involving President Trump and the First Lady.
