PBS NewsHour

The campaign is in its final stretch and the attacks are getting increasingly personal. In Ohio, Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy's campaign is behind an ad featuring the estranged mother of his Democratic opponent, Amy Acton, disputing Acton's account of her childhood. For analysis, Geoff Bennett spoke with Democratic strategist Faiz Shakir and Republican strategist Whit Ayres.

This November, voters in Virginia, Nevada, Missouri and Idaho will decide on the future of reproductive rights. In deeply red Idaho, a citizen-led initiative faces an uphill battle to restore some abortion rights. Special correspondent Sarah Varney reports on whether the fallout from the overturning of Roe v. Wade and frustration over the current law will be enough to sway conservative Idahoans.

Voters will weigh in on more than 140 ballot measures next month in 40 states. From abortion to voter ID to debates over transgender rights, the measures touch nearly every corner of the political debate. Republicans are counting on some of them to energize their base in a tough midterm environment. Liz Landers discussed the issues with Reid Wilson of Pluribus News.

California officials are calling for an investigation into the actions of federal immigration officers after they allegedly injured and detained a U.S. citizen. Ricardo Gonzalez's detainment comes as an investigation by ProPublica found that more than 500 citizens have been caught up in the administration's immigration operations. William Brangham discussed more with ProPublica's Nicole Foy.

David Beasley spent more than three decades as a Republican, serving as South Carolina's governor before leading Nobel Peace Prize-winning efforts at the U.N. World Food Programme. Recently, he announced that he's walking away from his party as he laments a rise in toxic vitriol emanating from the GOP's standard-bearer. Beasley joined Amna Nawaz to discuss more.

The NFL welcomes an investigation into the Philadelphia Eagles' handling of Jalen Hurts' blood clots after the players' union asked for one, Commissioner Roger Goodell said Wednesday.

President Donald Trump's political groups have spent more than one-quarter of a billion dollars to bolster Republicans in the final stretch of this year's midterm elections, an unprecedented amount for a sitting president that underscores the stakes on Nov. 3.