US politics and the latest from the Middle East are two of the most popular stories across the American newspaper front pages. Though the stories vary from state to state, the upcoming US presidential election is a unifier for the American press as all the papers have a take. 

The ongoing crisis in Lebanon and fears of an all-out regional war in the Middle East are also popular topics today – as they are across many global newspapers.

Elsewhere, the rest of the US front pages feature local state issues. 

What’s trending on today’s front pages

Politics, Government and Elections 

The newspaper features a lot of domestic politics, from the upcoming US Presidential election to the House of Representatives. The second assassination attempt on Donald Trump also features on the front pages – as reports emerge that the suspect left a note explaining his plans.

‘Donald Trump showing strength in the Sun Belt,’ writes the Chattanooga Times Free Press, which looks at the latest polling.

Chattanooga Times Free Press says Donald Trump is showing strength in the “Sun Belt” – “setting the stage for an extraordinarily competitive contest in three key states, according to the latest polls.” 

‘Trump elevated racist conspiracy about Harris,’ says San Francisco Chronicle.

San Francisco Chronicle reports that former president Donald Trump “elevated a racist conspiracy theory about Kamala Harris” back in 2020. 

‘Funding extended through Dec 20,’ writes the Ventura County Star.

Ventura County Star says leaders in the House of Representatives have reached a deal to extend government funding through Dec. 20 that is all but guaranteed to pass

‘Avoiding devastating government shutdown,’ says Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

Florida paper Sarasota Herald-Tribune also reports on the deal struck saying it is “kicking the can down the road as lawmakers try to avoid a devastating government shutdown”.

‘New York fires the starting gun as mail-in votes begin,’ says Democrat and Chronicle.

Rochester Democrat and Chronicle says New York “fired the starting gun Friday” as counties sent their first batches of mail-in ballots to voters who requested them. 

The Norwalk Hour suggests the presidential race could be critical to state repairs saying billions are at stake in the election in the form of federal funding to repair the state’s ageing railroads. 

Crisis in the Middle East – Lebanon bombed

The front page of the San Antonio Express-News writes that 500 people have been killed in Lebanon after Israeli airstrikes. 

‘US sends troops as incidents spike,’ reports The Spectrum.

A similar story leads The Spectrum which reports the Pentagon has announced that it’s bolstering its forces in the Middle East as “incidents between Israel and Hezbollah spike.” 

‘Isael unleashes ariel attack,’ says Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette says “Israel unleashes ariel attack” noting the attack is the “deadliest barrage since the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war.” 

‘Anyone who is a terrorist should be murdered,’ quotes The Washington Post.

The Washington Post writes “Israel pounds Lebanon as conflict widens”. The paper speaks to Shelly Liss Barkan, who said: “I think the Israeli army until now has been too patient.” The schoolteacher is one of the 300 or so residents of Shlomi, a small town near the border with Lebanon, who have refused to leave, she said. “I’ve lost my patience. Anyone who is a terrorist should be just murdered. It’s enough. How can we live like this?”