This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

Tomorrow’s Election Day, so get out there and vote. Don’t forget to check your ballot, registration status, and other important voter information with ASP’s Election Hub. 

I INVESTIGATION LAUNCHED INTO ALASKA SENATE RACE

Alaska’s governor has announced an official inquiry into allegations that the campaign for Democratic Senate candidate Mary Peltola recruited a candidate with the same name as her incumbent Republican challenger, Senator Dan Sullivan, to appear on the ballot. A New York Times report claiming multiple campaign aides actively sought out someone with the same name as Senator Sullivan prompted the investigation. Peltola denies she knew anything about the alleged plan, and her campaign has denied the reports. Daniel J. Sullivan, the same-name candidate, has denied any links to the Peltola campaign. The Department of Justice has issued subpoenas targeting Democratic officials allegedly connected to the effort to recruit Daniel J. Sullivan to run. 

>> Go deeper into the story here.

I WHAT’S DIFFERENT ABOUT YOUR HALLOWEEN CANDY THIS YEAR

Candy makers have started removing artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives from their products. Mars recently launched a new version of M&M’s without blue and brown candies because it couldn't find a cost-effective replacement for the synthetic dyes it was using. The shift comes as the Food and Drug Administration has pushed the food industry to remove artificial dyes from products, along with new laws from various state governments. 

>> Discover which candies will be the next for an all-natural makeover here.

 I FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS MEDICAID WORK REQUIREMENT RULE

A federal judge blocked a new requirement for chronically ill people on Medicaid to obtain proof that their conditions “significantly impair” their ability to comply with work requirements to stay enrolled in the program. The decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of 25 states and the District of Columbia, which argued the new rule would prevent eligible Americans from accessing care while overstepping the text of the law. The ruling makes it easier for some Medicaid recipients to obtain an exemption from work requirements, but does not strike down the work requirements as unlawful. The decision also upheld two other federal restrictions on how states can verify “medical frailty.” One restriction requires states to reject proof of a condition if the diagnosis is more than a year old, and the other allows only one self-attestation per continuous enrollment period. 

>> Find out more about how states are handling new Medicaid work requirements here.

I NASAL SPRAY MADE FROM TOAD VENOM SHOWS PROMISE IN TREATING DEPRESSION

An obscure psychedelic compound based on toad venom shows promise to help people with difficult-to-treat cases of depression. In a trial funded by biotech company AtaiBeckley, patients who received a single-dose nose spray of mebufotenin, also known as 5-MeO-DMT, began experiencing benefits about two days after treatment, and those benefits lasted at least eight weeks. Mebufotenin is different from other psychedelic treatments in that its effects take effect and subside rapidly, usually within about an hour. However, researchers caution that more work is needed to verify the results. 

>> Discover a plan to use psychedelics to reduce military suicides here.

I HEALTH DEPARTMENT EASES RESTRICTIONS ON PEPTIDES

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released an interim draft policy loosening restrictions on six unapproved injectable peptides, short chains of amino acids that help form many structures in our bodies. People use peptides in many ways for health and well-being, including insulin for diabetes, skincare, and support for joint and skin health. Common prescription peptides include GLP-1 treatments for Type 2 diabetes, such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, and others like Teriparatide or abaloparatide used to treat osteoporosis. The policy change means HHS will not take legal or regulatory action against licensed pharmacies, doctors, or federal facilities that prepare the peptides. Patients will still need a doctor’s prescription, and compounding pharmacies must follow specific protocols, including sourcing ingredients from FDA-registered facilities and tracking side effects. The change comes shortly after a corner’s report found the death of 75-year old actor Richard Norton in March 2025 was caused by his injection of peptides. At the time, Norton told his doctor’s nurse that “he had been administering double the prescribed dose” of two different peptides.

>> Gain insight into key changes in federal health research funding here.

Health and wellness are having a reset. 

Shifting health policies, wellness trends, and changing perceptions are reshaping everyday choices, from what goes into our food to the supplements and vaccines we take, and who earns our trust.

A Starting Point and Reuters are bringing The Health Reset to Boston, a live conversation with experts, industry leaders, and policymakers about the debates that affect our health. From ultra-processed foods and supplements to vaccines and GLP-1s, we’ll explore how science, regulation, and industry are influencing our wellness and lifestyle choices.

Tickets are free, and registration is officially open.

Is your email strategy due for a tune-up? GURU Conference (powered by Constant Contact) is back Nov 12–13, 100% free and virtual. You'll get email tactics you can steal the same day from top B2B and B2C marketers. Last year, 29,000+ marketers showed up. Save your free spot.

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A partnership between Merck and Moderna developed the first-ever cancer vaccine. Reuters reports and ASP recaps how it was created, why it works, the hurdles both companies had to overcome, and what comes next.  

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