Alaska Clash, a Spy Near Nvidia, and the Best of October

Good morning, it's Friday, Oct. 30. The Alaska Senate race is in the spotlight over two Dan Sullivans. First time reading? Join millions of insatiably curious readers. Sign up here.

Also in today's Digest: an alleged Chinese spy's ties to Nvidia (Need To Know), the death of Sir Patrick Stewart (Sports, Ent., & Cult.), the giant crane that maybe never existed (Sci. & Tech.), the elixirs of longevity (Best of Etc.), and much more. 

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 Need To Know 

Alaska's Sullivan Showdown

President Donald Trump called for Alaska Democratic Senate nominee Mary Peltola to be prosecuted and removed from the ballot after a New York Times report (free w/email) alleged her campaign recruited a candidate sharing the name of her opponent, Sen. Dan Sullivan (R).

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy (R) also ordered an investigation Wednesday, days before Tuesday’s midterms. The effort reportedly began in 2025, and Peltola’s former campaign manager said she was aware of it but wasn’t directly involved. Peltola’s campaign denies involvement, as does the second Sullivan, a retired teacher who is one of four candidates in the race. State election officials initially disqualified him over concerns about voter confusion, but the Alaska Supreme Court reinstated his candidacy. The Justice Department sued last week to block certification of a Peltola victory if confusion over the second Sullivan affected the outcome.

In a Sullivan twist, Anchorage's former mayor—a third Dan Sullivan—endorsed the incumbent in August. Why are there so many Dan Sullivans in Alaska?

Chinese Spy Targets Nvidia

US intelligence agencies believe Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang is the target of a Chinese spy, according to a New York Times report (free w/email). 

Alice Huang, who is unrelated to the Nvidia CEO, is a senior executive at Singapore-based data center company Megaspeed, which has been accused of smuggling AI chips into China. The pair were seen together at a Taipei bar in 2024 and a restaurant in 2025, interactions Nvidia is defending as standard business engagement. President Donald Trump was reportedly briefed on US intelligence concerns about Alice Huang a year ago and did not take action. Nvidia has generated roughly 15 cents of every dollar the US stock market has returned since 2023. Jensen Huang has, meanwhile, lobbied Trump to ease restrictions on the sale of advanced AI chips to China.

The US and China are battling for an edge in AI development. See inside the underground network to get chips into China.

DoorDash Buys Instacart

Food and retail delivery app DoorDash is acquiring grocery-focused rival Instacart for $17B, the companies announced yesterday. DoorDash shares rose 5.6% on the news; Instacart shares slid 2.2%. 

DoorDash handles nearly 61% of all restaurant deliveries, ahead of Uber Eats (26%). The platform already partners with 2,700 Kroger stores and 600 Costco warehouses in addition to several regional grocers. Instacart has partnerships across 1,800 chains to own roughly 21% of online grocery sales, trailing Amazon and Walmart’s collective 47% market share. The acquisition marks DoorDash’s latest effort to broaden courier offerings beyond restaurant deliveries. Through partnerships with Macy’s, Target, and other retailers, the company has enabled same-day deliveries of clothing, electronics, and more. Watch a video overview of DoorDash’s planned expansions, including an AI-powered assistant, here.

Nearly four in 10 US adults order restaurant delivery at least once a week; see which cities have the highest delivery markups here (scroll for map). 

 In The Know 

Science & Technology

> Researchers identify age-related differences in colorectal tumor composition and gene activity that may explain why the cancer is more aggressive in younger adults (More) | Colorectal cancer is mysteriously on the rise across age groups (More)

> Scientists track muscle movement using implanted magnetic sensors, paving the way toward more precise control of prosthetic limbs (More, w/demo video) 

> Giant crane believed to have gone extinct thousands of years ago may never have existed, according to new study linking bone fragments to larger version of the common crane (More) 

Business & Markets

> US stock markets close lower (S&P 500 -0.3%, Dow -0.3%, Nasdaq -1.4%); Google parent company Alphabet shares drop 12.3% following third-quarter earnings report that fell short of analysts' expectations (More) 

> US gross domestic product climbs at 3.4% annual rate, the fastest pace in a year, per Commerce Department third-quarter data (More, w/graph) | Inflation rate rises to 3.6%, personal consumption expenditures index shows (More) 

> European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde will resign from her position in February, roughly eight months before her eight-year term ends; Lagarde cited a desire to speak more openly about world affairs, without specifying issues (More) 

Politics & World Affairs

> Pentagon fires Lt. Gen. Brett Sylvia, refers him for potential criminal prosecution over alleged leaking of classified information on Iran, Ukraine (More) | See list of high-profile departures under Secretary Pete Hegseth (More)

> Russian drone strike on civilian train station in Dnipro, central Ukraine, kills at least 14 people, per Ukrainian authorities (More) | See war updates (More, scroll for maps)

> Israel's governing Likud Party claims fraud, foreign interference lifted Arab voter participation in this week's elections; Israeli police dispute the allegations (More) 

The Ballot Box

With Election Day approaching, 1440 is exploring the surprising history, unusual rules, and lesser-known stories behind US elections. Follow along 'til Tuesday, plus find resources to help you vote.

> The midterm curse? There's a consistent pattern in American midterms: The president's party almost always loses ground. See just how often.

> A congressional plot twist: Republicans won control of the House in 1930. But by the time the new Congress convened, Democrats were in charge. What happened?

> Nearly two centuries of power: The House has changed hands repeatedly since 1840. Watch the balance of power shift in this interactive.

Before you vote: Check registration | Find your polling place | View your ballot

Editor's note: More than 12 million monthly clicks can't be wrong. Here are the most popular stories we ran in October. Enjoy!

(10/8/26) Longevity expert says people who reach 100 have three drinks in common.

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(10/16/26) Why does it say "YKK" on your zipper?

(10/29/26) See the 25 best places to retire in 2027.

(10/6/26) See this year's best dog photo.

(10/8/26) The best (and worst) US cities to drive in, ranked.

(10/23/26) Airbnb cracks down on hosts putting guests to work.

(10/15/26) This shade of green is Benjamin Moore's Color of the Year for 2027.

(10/15/26) The food that may actually be healthier as leftovers.

(10/20/26) Why did we start saying "Roger that"?

Clickbait: The lake on Earth no humans have ever seen.

Historybook: President John Adams born (1735); Orson Welles broadcasts "The War of the Worlds" radio hoax, causing panic in US (1938); Muhammad Ali defeats George Foreman in historic Rumble in the Jungle (1974); Ivanka Trump born (1981).