The "Ruthless Podcast" Fellas have some of the best political insights in the game, and we asked them what they'll be looking at ahead of Tuesday's critical midterms.

Control of the House and U.S. Senate are at stake as Democrats try to take back Congress after Republicans swept the White House and both chambers in 2024.

From what polls are or aren't reliable, to the races sparking the most interest, to what the media continues to get wrong in political coverage, the Fellas have your answers.

MEET THE RUTHLESS PODCAST FELLAS

Comfortably Smug

If you could only watch one race on election night, which is it, and what’s the first thing you check when the polls close?

Maine Senate. Susan Collins has an incredible ability to lose every poll and win every election, thus far. Will she be able to overcome the atmosphere of this election is a huge question. The first thing I check when polls close is early exits, which I find to be the most reliable and illuminating data on election night.

What’s the one number you trust more than the polls (early vote, turnout, special election overperformance, fundraising, something else), and what threshold would make you feel good or bad about your side?

EARLY EXIT numbers are the most trustworthy!  Dems always talk about a red mirage followed by a blue wave on election nights. If early exits don't go Republicans' way, it will be a bad night. 

What is the media overhyping going into the midterms, and what is it ignoring?

The media is overhyping Barack Obama as a candidate surrogate. He stumped for Hillary [Clinton], he stumped for Kamala [Harris], and they both lost. Obama has no coattails. 

Which poll, pundit, or conventional wisdom do you not believe, and why?

I do not trust any polls. Early exits are the only reliable source of data. 

John Ashbrook

TRUMP AND TOP DEMOCRATS TARGET KEY STATES AHEAD OF ELECTION DAY

If you could only watch one race on election night, which is it, and what’s the first thing you check when the polls close? 

Ohio Senate. Watch returns in the 50 counties where President Trump outperformed Mitt Romney by 10 or more points. 

What’s the one number you trust more than the polls (early vote, turnout, special election overperformance, fundraising, something else), and what threshold would make you feel good or bad about your side? 

[Mike] Rogers' performance in Oakland County is a number to watch. And also his share of the vote in Michigan’s Seventh Congressional District. He could come out on top if he outperforms his 2024 vote totals in those areas. 

FOX NEWS UNVEILS 2026 MIDTERM ELECTION COVERAGE PLANS

What is the media overhyping going into the midterms, and what is it ignoring? 

The media always overhypes late-breaking vibes and underreports multi-year, local level grassroots operations. Good candidates can overperform the environment with competent campaigns.

Which poll, pundit, or conventional wisdom do you not believe, and why? 

Public polling is often less reliable than professional private surveys based on years of state and local level expertise. So I’m always skeptical of public polling. But the one thing they’ve captured accurately is the difficult environment Republican candidates are currently navigating.  

Michael Duncan

WATCH: ‘RUTHLESS’ SHARES AN INSIDER’S GUIDE TO ELECTION NIGHT

If you could only watch one race on election night, which is it, and what’s the first thing you check when the polls close?

Michigan's Senate race. First thing we're checking is Abdul El-Sayed's support with Black voters in Wayne County.

What’s the one number you trust more than the polls (early vote, turnout, special election overperformance, fundraising, something else), and what threshold would make you feel good or bad about your side?

Early vote. Banking votes early makes you sweat election night less, and it lets you know where you're getting enthusiasm. 

What is the media overhyping going into the midterms, and what is it ignoring?

The Florida Senate race. Angie Nixon is a DSA loon and every interview she gives is a disaster. The media hasn't really covered the ranked choice process in Maine and Alaska. It's possible it could take weeks for us to know who has the Senate Majority.

Which poll, pundit, or conventional wisdom do you not believe, and why?

The pollsters who were off by 10+ points in the Dem primaries in Wisconsin and Michigan and are now publishing general election polls. 

A Colorado mother of three says her family was denied $12,000 in taxpayer-funded preschool benefits because she chose a Catholic education for her children, accusing the state of discriminating against religious families through a program promoted as universal.

Erika Nagle, whose children attend St. Mary Catholic School in Littleton, Colorado, told Fox News Digital that two of her children were denied access to the state's preschool funding program, leaving her family to cover additional education expenses.

"We are being excluded from this benefit because we are Catholic," Nagle said in an interview with Fox News Digital. "And so in a state that preaches inclusion, they are actively going out of their way to exclude a huge chunk of people because of our religious beliefs."

SUPREME COURT TO HEAR CATHOLIC PARISH'S CHALLENGE AFTER COLORADO BARRED SCHOOLS FROM UNIVERSAL PRE-K PROGRAM

At the center of the dispute is Colorado's universal preschool program, which Nagle says provides more than $6,000 per eligible child for preschool education. Catholic schools challenging the program argue that the state's participation requirements unfairly burden their religious beliefs and admissions practices.

According to Becket, Colorado launched its preschool funding program in 2023, offering eligible families approximately $6,300 to cover 15 hours of preschool per week. The organization said the program was promoted as a universal benefit that would allow parents to choose among public, private and religious preschools, prompting Catholic families across the state to seek participation.

Nagle says the consequences go beyond her family's finances.

"We have had two preschools in the archdiocese that have been closed down," she said, arguing that the program is affecting Catholic school enrollment and pressuring families to abandon the religious education they want for their children.

ARKANSAS STUDENTS OUTPERFORM NATIONAL AVERAGE AFTER UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE EXPANSION, GOVERNOR SAYS

"The state is dangling a carrot over here, incentivizing people to leave their faith, to abandon the Catholic education that they want," she said.

Nagle argued that nearly every school has admissions criteria tailored to the community it serves, whether that means prioritizing neighborhood children, people who identify as LGBTQ, children with special needs or low-income families. She said St. Mary similarly prioritizes Catholic families while welcoming students whose families are willing to respect the school's religious teachings. Nagle questioned why the Catholic school's admissions practices should be treated differently.

"The state grants $6000 per family to be used during the year before kindergarten, so the year when they're in pre-K, which is technically the year before kindergarten, and you can use it at the school of your choice," Nagle said. "And so Catholics are forced to pay the price for the school of our choice, which is Catholic school. And so you have thousands of Coloradans that are being forced to pay more than anyone else."

The legal battle raises questions about the extent to which religious schools can participate in publicly funded education programs while maintaining faith-based admissions policies.

VERMONT PAYS $566K IN DAMAGES, LEGAL FEES TO CHRISTIAN SCHOOL IT BANNED FROM ALL SPORTS COMPETITIONS FOR YEARS

"Colorado shouldn't force Catholic families to give up their choice, which is a faith-based school, and, you know, the state is letting other schools serve their communities, but they're not letting Catholic families serve their communities," Nagle said. "And to me, it also makes me wonder, is this by design, is this paving the way for godlessness or for what? Why can't Catholic families receive this benefit when there are other schools that were granted their exemption for other admissions requirements?"

The Supreme Court is hearing the case on Tuesday.

A spokesperson for the Colorado Department of Early Childhood (CDEC) said the department could not comment on pending litigation.

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Fox News Digital reached out to Colorado Gov. Jared Polis' office for comment but did not immediately receive a response. 

FIRST ON FOX — Angel Studios is drawing a line in the sand against Hollywood's approach to entertainment, announcing sweeping new content standards that ban on-screen sex, nudity and certain profanity while promising millions of paying members the power to decide which movies and television shows make the cut.

In an exclusive interview with Fox News Digital, Angel Studios co-founder and Chief Content Officer Jeff Harmon said the entertainment industry has increasingly lost touch with the families it once served, prompting his company to establish what it calls "The Angel Promise."

"I think Hollywood generally kind of lives in a bubble," Harmon said. "These are excellent craftsmen. They're the best storytellers in the world. Hollywood has built the best storytelling infrastructure in the world."

COMEDIAN LEANNE MORGAN CALLS OUT HOLLYWOOD FOR LIVING IN A 'BUBBLE' AND MISJUDGING WHAT AUDIENCES WANT TO SEE

"But at the same time, they've kind of drifted more and more away from the values-based audience that they used to serve," Harmon said. "And with that, in our view, as brothers and as fathers, as a father, Hollywood hasn't been giving me consistently what I need. Once in a while, you get a good one, but you have to sift through all these things to find your good movies and your good stories."

The new initiative, announced Thursday, establishes three core commitments governing Angel's entertainment offerings, namely, audience approval of content, strict standards involving sex and language, and expanded parental controls.

"We promise there's never going to be nudity, and there'll never be sex on screen," Harmon said, explaining that families participating in the Angel Guild will not have to worry about encountering such material when evaluating potential projects.

The company is also drawing a firm boundary around profanity, pledging that Angel's original productions will not misuse God's name.

NEW STUDY REVEALS THE SINGLE MOST CRITICAL FACTOR IN WHETHER CHILDREN KEEP THEIR FAITH INTO ADULTHOOD

"This is a completely unique one," Harmon said. "This has never really happened in Hollywood history."

Harmon described the restriction as part of the company's effort to build trust with religious families.

"What we promise our viewers is that this timeless principle that's thousands of years old, and we're a very faith-friendly studio, is that we're not going to have misuse of God's name on the system on any Angel original content," Harmon said. "So any content we create. Where we are originating, meaning it comes to Angel first, those shows, those TV shows and movies, will not have misuse of God's name, so that families of faith, 'cause we're a faith-friendly studio, can trust that language won't be there."

Under the new standards, the company also prohibits use of the F-word in its stories and profanity in titles submitted for children ages 12 and younger.

HOLLYWOOD PRODUCER BEHIND 'APOLLO 13' REJECTS POLITICS IN HIS MOVIES, SEEKS TO UNITE AUDIENCES

The announcement represents a significant effort to distinguish Angel from traditional Hollywood studios, with the company placing its audience at the center of decisions about what gets produced and distributed.

Harmon said the Angel Guild, which has approximately 3 million paying members, gives viewers an opportunity to approve or reject projects before they enter the company's entertainment ecosystem.

"This is the first time in history that a major Hollywood studio, or top 10 studio in the United States, has come and said, we're going to let the audience have a veto right," Harmon said.

Under Angel's stated policy, films and television series must receive a score of at least 70 out of 100 from Guild members to qualify for inclusion in its entertainment ecosystem.

Harmon said the founders' experiences raising children helped shape the new standards.

"Angel was co-founded by four brothers and a cousin," he said, adding that the founders have 34 children between them.

CREATING THE DEFINITIVE MOUNT RUSHMORE OF PIXAR MOVIES FROM A PARENTS' VIEWING PERSPECTIVE

The goal, he explained, was to create entertainment that parents could trust without having to sift through potentially objectionable content.

The third component of the Angel Promise focuses on parental controls. Angel says Guild members will help establish recommended age ratings and plain-language descriptions of potentially sensitive material, while new controls in the Angel app will allow parents to tailor viewing choices to their families.

Harmon said the broader ambition is to reshape the relationship between filmmakers and audiences.

"Our goal was to set out and try to fix this problem of kind of stepping out of the Hollywood bubble and stepping into middle America's shoes," he said.

The company says its Guild has paid out nearly $300 million to filmmakers, while Harmon said more than 100 films were available for members to vote on at the time of the interview.

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For Harmon, the new promise is about establishing permanent standards that will outlast any individual film, filmmaker or executive, and give families greater influence over the entertainment they consume.

Some of the studio's prominent recent films include "David" and "The King of Kings."

• We asked three stylists to share which wardrobe items people may want to reconsider this fall.
• Personality-driven pieces are replacing the quiet luxury trend, the experts said.
• Baggy and chunky styles could be getting a more refined update this fall.

As the leaves change colors in autumn, wardrobes tend to shift too.

Although adding warmer tones and heavier layers may be typical updates, other parts of your cozy fall transformation may be worth reconsidering this season.

Business Insider asked three professional stylists which wardrobe staples are starting to feel dated and what they recommend wearing instead.

Here's what they had to say.

Sweaters with shoulder details could replace bulky cable-knits.

Fashion is leaning away from dropped shoulders and oversized, bulky shapes in heavy-textured sweaters, said David Zyla, stylist and author of "Color Your Style."

Instead, the stylist recommends reaching for structured sweaters that bring the volume higher up on the body through more defined shoulder details.

This might look like styles with "built-in shoulder pads and strong horizontal boat-neck seaming or balloon sleeves," Zyla told BI.

Wearing baggy everything may not be in style this fall.

According to Fred Kim, a New York-based stylist, wearing baggy clothing from head to toe is fading in popularity. There's no need to rid your closet of relaxed pieces entirely, though.

Instead, the stylist recommends being more intentional about where you add volume.

"I think a modern approach would be just kind of getting rid of the oversized items and just keeping it a little more refined, or choose one area to create volume," Kim said.

For instance, he recommends pairing a fitted T-shirt with a relaxed trouser or a straight-leg jean with a looser-fitting jacket.

Consider replacing low ankle booties with taller boots.

Wardrobe stylist Rachel Varney said booties that dip down too low on the ankle are starting to feel outdated.

"I just think that maybe it's better to keep our ankles covered for the fall," Varney told BI.

She also said booties with a side zipper can create an especially awkward gap between the shoe and the pants, which can create a less-flattering silhouette.

Instead, the stylist recommends opting for boots that come up higher on the ankle.

Bodycon and cutout dresses are giving way to more romantic, vintage-inspired designs.

Tight bodycon silhouettes, plunging necklines, and cutout designs are stepping aside as softer, more romantic styles start to trend, Zyla said.

"This version of sexy this season is all about movement," the stylist told BI. Think vintage-inspired dresses with dropped waists and rich details like embroidery, beading, fringe, tulle, and velvet.

It might be time to put away the moto jackets.

Moto jackets have been around for a while, Zyla said, and it might be time to replace them with something more modern.

The stylist suggested tailored, shrunken, and cropped fitted jackets as updated alternatives.

Funnel-neck jackets are an especially notable style this season, he said, appearing on everything from utility bombers to cropped silhouettes.

"Beyond the regal chic connotation of the tall, stiff collar, it's also a super-practical solve in keeping the neck warm," Zyla told BI.

The quiet-luxury trend is taking a backseat to bolder pieces.

Several of the stylists BI spoke with agreed that quiet luxury — which focuses on understated, minimalist fashions — is on its way out this autumn. Kim said the more neutral, uniform looks can feel a little too predictable.

"I just feel like we need to kind of liven up the wardrobe a little bit," Kim told BI. He recommended incorporating more color and texture, maybe even by bringing vintage pieces into your wardrobe.

Cargo pants with too many pockets might be wearing out their welcome.

According to Kim, cargo pants with too many pockets or zippers can feel outdated. Utility styles are still relevant, he said, but may be best done more simply.

"I would probably look for a relaxed cotton twill trouser with one or two subtle pockets, where you still get the functionality but you're not looking like you're heading into the woods or something," Kim told BI.

Swap daintier jewelry for a statement brooch.

"I think it's time to put the dainty, minimalist multi-layered chain necklaces in a drawer and use your jewelry box to store some focal-point brooches," Zyla told BI.

There are a lot of options, he said. Brooches are showing up in a variety of designs, from autumnal motifs like leaves, pinecones, and acorns to more classic florals.

The stylist also suggests experimenting with placement rather than simply pinning one to your collar. Try adding a brooch to a handbag, using one to pin a cardigan closed, or placing one at the waistline of a dress.

Chunky sneakers could be replaced by slimmer options.

Varney and Zyla both agreed that platform, clunky sneakers are worth skipping this season.

Chunkier styles can look especially clunky when paired with dresses, Varney said, and they also are often not as flattering as slimmer-fitting shoes.

Instead, the stylist recommends slimmer or sportier sneakers for a sleeker look. Zyla said satin sneakers are another solid footwear option gaining attention this season.

"These hybrid shoes feature soft satin finishes, really sleek low-profile silhouettes, and iconic lace-up ribbon ties," Zyla told BI.

Consider taking a break from athleisure as everyday clothing.

Workout clothes as everyday wear is something Kim would love to see less of this season, particularly on men.

Comfort is still important, but the stylist recommends choosing more intentional fabrics, such as cotton, over synthetic materials that can sometimes read as overly casual.

Basic leather styles may take a backseat to funkier options.

Leather has been a longtime wardrobe staple in shoes, bags, and belts, but this season might feature more fun twists on the classic material.

For example, Zyla said, croc-embossed leather is gaining traction this fall.

"We're seeing it in leather jackets. We're seeing it in bags and skirts and handbags," Zyla told BI. The textured finish offers a more interesting alternative to basic leather this fall.

This story was originally published on September 15, 2026, and most recently updated on October 27, 2026.

• When a member of Gen Z smells good, you can probably thank Sol de Janeiro.
• I'm a millennial and new to the brand, so I tried six of its popular fragrances.
• The best scent, in my opinion, is also one of the brand's most underrated.

Millennials had Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works. Gen Z has Sol de Janeiro.

The body, hair, and fragrance brand, founded in 2015, has become a major player in the industry. A 2025 fiscal year report from L'Occitane Group, Sol de Janeiro's parent company, said the brand accounted for 31.6% of the group's sales. The report also described Sol de Janeiro as Sephora North America's No. 1 beauty brand and the No. 1 fragrance brand on Amazon US at the time.

Two Sol de Janeiro products have led that charge. First, millennials embraced the $48 Brazilian Bum Bum Cream after it launched in 2015, turning it into a skincare staple.

Tweens and teens have now become obsessed with the $39 Cheirosa perfume mists, the first of which debuted in 2020. The sprays have become a staple of young people's shopping hauls, holiday wish lists, and what's-in-my-bag videos.

The brand confirmed to Business Insider that its three most popular scents are Cheirosa 62, 40, and 68.

I'm a big fragrance fan myself, but I had yet to try the perfume mists. So I went to Ulta Beauty, purchased a $49 sample set of six Sol de Janeiro scents, and tested them on my skin.

Considering each mist's scent, staying power, wearability, and personal preference, here's how I'd rank them from worst to best.

I wish the Cheirosa 71 mist had more depth.

If there's one thing I love more than fragrances, it's sweet treats — so Cheirosa 71 should have worked for me.

Sol de Janeiro says the scent is inspired by the iconic Confeitaria Colombo bakery in Brazil, with notes of caramelized vanilla, toasted macadamia nut, sea salt, white chocolate, and tonka bean.

When I tried it, the mist smelled more like a gingerbread cookie to me. Then, as it settled, it transformed into something more reminiscent of a graham cracker drizzled with caramel.

Some critics of this scent say it smells like buttered popcorn. I didn't notice that on my skin.

Instead, it reminded me of a holiday hand sanitizer from Bath & Body Works. I can appreciate the scent for a moment, but I don't want it to linger all day. It's too strong and sickly sweet for me.

Cheirosa 62 is Sol de Janeiro's most famous scent, but it's not my favorite.

I'll be honest. I was never that impressed by Cheirosa 62, the scent made famous by the brand's Brazilian Bum Bum Cream.

Sol de Janeiro describes the fragrance as "irresistible and sunny." It's a nod to Brazil in 1962, when "The Girl from Ipanema" was written.

With notes of pistachio, almonds, heliotrope flower, jasmine petals, vanilla, salted caramel, and sandalwood, Cheirosa 62 is exactly that. I'd describe it as summer in a bottle.

That said, it also makes the fragrance seasonal for me. It just doesn't feel right to wear in the fall, winter, or spring.

I also think the notes lend themselves better to a richer, creamier product, like the Bum Bum cream.

The Cheirosa 39 mist stands out, which I appreciate.

If any Sol de Janeiro scent smells like buttered popcorn, I think it's this one.

This scent is meant to be beachy, as if you were lounging on a hammock with the breeze in your hair, Sol de Janeiro says. It has notes of coconut cream, toasted vanilla, tropical orchid, sandalwood, and praline.

When I first spray the mist, that combination smells like buttered popcorn on my skin. That's not any reflection of Sol de Janeiro. Perfumes smell different on everyone because of their individual skin chemistry.

But I'm not complaining. I actually like the scent. It's decadent, intriguing, and different than anything else in my fragrance collection.

The coconut and vanilla notes come through more as it settles, with florals peeking through. It takes some time, but it eventually transports me to an island.

So while I might not wear Cheirosa 39 every day, I will add it to my perfume rotation.

I feel fresh, youthful, and like I'm on vacation when I wear Cheirosa 68.

The Cheirosa 68 scent was inspired by Brazil's Tropicália Movement in 1968, which influenced the country's art, music, and culture.

It includes notes of dragonfruit, lychee essence, Brazilian jasmine, ocean air, hibiscus, vanilla, and musk.

To me, it smells sweet, sunny, and refreshing. I could see myself wearing it to the beach or for a night out with friends.

Considering my current fragrance lineup, I'll probably wear this on occasion when the weather is warmer. If I were a teen in 2026, though, I'd probably wear this Sol de Janeiro scent every day.

Cheirosa 40 reminds me of my favorite scent from Victoria's Secret.

The famous Carnaval Ball in Rio inspired the Cheirosa 40 perfume mist.

On its website, Sol de Janeiro says it's meant to be sultry and delicate, with notes of black amber plum, crème de cassis, jasmine, Brazilian orchid, vanilla, and musk.

In my experience, each of those notes comes through with a single spray of the fragrance. It's one of the most mature and longest-lasting scents in the lineup I tried.

It also reminds me of my favorite Victoria's Secret scent: Bombshell Intense. Naturally, I have to recommend it to fellow millennials looking to get in on the Sol de Janeiro trend.

I can't get enough of Cheirosa 48.

Sol de Janeiro says on its website that this scent should be as liberating as the "energy of 1948, when the bikini was first spotted in Brazil."

Liberating is accurate, but I'd also say this scent is exhilarating. Its notes blend guava nectar, coconut water, orchid, lemon, wild orris, pink musk, and vanilla.

Together, they create a fragrance that's as refreshing and exciting as a poolside drink in the summer. Still, the musk notes make it more versatile than a basic summer scent.

Cheirosa 48 is the Sol de Janeiro mist I'll be wearing year-round.

The current wave stands in sharp contrast to Karachi's original cafe culture.

The post Karachi’s cafe culture turns coffee runs into the new social trend appeared first on BOL News.

Milky beauty proves that less really can be more with its soft, glowy finish.

The post Milky beauty trend takes over Instagram with soft, glowy looks appeared first on BOL News.