Mid-Day Digest -- October 1, 2026

October 1, 2026’s Mid-Day Digest highlights several developments across the U.S. economy, politics, criminal justice, and defense. The Bureau of Economic Analysis revised 2026 second-quarter GDP growth upward to 2.2%, with first-half growth averaging 2.15%. YTD inflation was revised to 3.4% versus an expected 3.7%. In Washington, Democrats blocked two GOP-backed measures: the Stop Insider Trading Act and the Ratepayer Protection Act, with the Senate adjourning until after midterms. In Tennessee, convicted murderer Christa Pike survived an attempted execution by lethal injection after receiving multiple doses of pentobarbital, prompting Gov. Bill Lee to place a hold on all executions for the rest of the year. Separately, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth invited governors to bid on hosting a new military base at MCB Quantico.