A look ahead at the key events leading the news agenda next week, from the team at Foresight News. Delivered to your inbox on Fridays.
Leading the week
With midterms just a month away, next week sees debates in some of the most-hotly contested races. The Georgia Senate debate on Friday (October 14) is shaping up to be the pick of the bunch following bombshell allegations that the Trump-endorsed Republican candidate, Herschel Walker, paid for a former girlfriend to have an abortion back in 2009. Walker, who has repeatedly said during the campaign that he favors a total ban on abortions, has rejected the claims as completely false. But that hasn’t stopped one of his sons, MAGA influencer Christian Walker, from openly calling his father a liar and a hypocrite. All of which makes next Friday’s debate in Savannah must-watch TV as Walker tries to regain momentum in his bid to unseat Raphael Warnock.
There are also debates in a number of other key races next week: Monday (October 10) sees Ohio candidates JD Vance (R) and Tim Ryan (D) square off in the close race to replace retiring Republican Senator Rob Portman, while Thursday (October 13) sees the second debate in the Senate race in Wisconsin, where Democrats are still hopeful of defeating Ron Johnson. Friday (October 14) also sees a debate in Wisconsin’s gubernatorial race, where another Trump-endorsed candidate, construction executive Tim Michels, is hoping to unseat Governor Tony Evers.
The special House committee investigating the events of Jan. 6, meanwhile, holds a further public hearing on Thursday (October 13) though details remain scant in terms of what will be covered and who might appear as witnesses. The hearing, which may be the last before the panel publishes its final report before the end of the year, was rescheduled from September 28 due to Hurricane Ian. Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson has said it is possible that the hearing may include information garnered from the September 29 invterview with Ginni Thomas, wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas.
Looking abroad
After Russian President Vladimir Putin formally annexed four Ukrainian regions earlier this week, the UN General Assembly reconvenes its special session on Ukraine on Monday (October 10) when a resolution is expected to be voted on condemning Russia over its role in the so-called referendums. NATO defense ministers, including Lloyd Austin, will then gather in Brussels on Wednesday and Thursday (October 12-13) for meetings once again dominated by the conflict. The gathering includes a meeting of the US-led Ukraine Defense Contact Group, where further arms supplies to Ukraine will likely be discussed as Kyiv continues to make impressive territorial gains despite Russia’s partial military mobilization. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, meanwhile, will deliver a special address to the Council of Europe’s Parliamentary Assembly on Thursday (October 13) as Putin travels to Kazakhstan for a series of regional summits on Thursday and Friday (October 13-14).
On Sunday (October 16), one of the most significant gatherings in China’s recent history will begin with the opening of the 20th National Congress of the Chinese Communist Party. The meticulously orchestrated meeting takes place every five years, but this year is unusual as President Xi Jinping is all-but-certain to secure an unprecedented third term as party leader. There will also be particular interest among China-watchers in the make-up of the new Politburo Standing Committee, the country’s most influential body, for indications as to the extent of Xi’s authority over the party.