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Mamdani’s Oct. 7 commemoration outrages supporters and critics of Israel NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani tried to thread a needle on the third anniversary of the Oct. 7 attacks by condemning Hamas’ “horrific war crimes” and denouncing Israel’s “genocide” in Gaza. It did not go well. https://apnews.com/article/nyc-israel-mamdani-zohran-jewish-hamas-80287b04b0a4f4e73bed42884be2ee5f?
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Crimes, Homicides & Suicides
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
First suicide memorial by a US archdiocese signals Catholic Church's compassionate shift A memorial for lives lost to suicide and their surviving families who grieve them has been dedicated by the Archdiocese of Chicago. The archdiocese says it's the first memorial of its kind in the United States and illustrates the Catholic Church’s major shift to a more compassionate understanding of suicide and mental illness. Read more. Why this matters: Catholic teaching still considers suicide a grave sin. But it acknowledges that mental health problems can lead people to suicide and says salvation is possible for those who take their own lives. Chicago-born Pope Leo XIV has dedicated some of his monthly prayer intentions to people suffering from mental health problems and suicidal thoughts. He called on the church to become “a safe space where everyone has a place." Though the memorial is on Catholic grounds, it seeks to support mourners across faiths. It features sculptures of an angel and bronze doves that rise upwards in a symbol of “hope and transcendence.” RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Priest, at funeral, criticized teenager who killed himself Family loses appeal in lawsuit over priest’s funeral remarks Pope convenes cardinals and asks their priorities for 2 years, with Latin Mass off the agenda -
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3 word devotional
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This Day in History
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Word of the Day (and other daily nuggets)
THIS DAY IN HISTORY October 9 1967 Che Guevara is executed The socialist revolutionary and guerrilla leader is killed at age 39 by the Bolivian army, one day after the U.S.-military-backed Bolivian forces captured Guevara. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT Arts & Entertainment 1946 “The Iceman Cometh,” by Eugene O’Neill, opens on Broadway Colonial America 1635 Rhode Island founder banished from Massachusetts Crime 1942 A Chicago bootlegger escapes from prison European History 1974 Oskar Schindler—credited with saving 1,200 Jews during the Holocaust—dies 1975 Andrei Sakharov wins Nobel Peace Prize Inventions & Science 1936 Hoover Dam begins transmitting electricity to Los Angeles 1988 Rotary engine inventor Felix Wankel dies 1992 Meteorite crashes into Chevy Malibu Natural Disasters & Environment 1963 Landslide kills thousands in Italy -
South African-born jurist Navi Pillay wins Nobel Peace Prize for her work in international justice OSLO, Norway (AP) — Navi Pillay, a South African-born jurist and former U.N. human rights chief whose career has spanned from defending the rights of an imprisoned Nelson Mandela to leading a panel that found that Israel committed genocide in Gaza, won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for efforts that the award committee said promoted international law as it comes under attack. https://apnews.com/article/nobel-peace-prize-f60744c07df969e50e9e69786fdb7de1?
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> Nobel Peace Prize winner is due to be announced this morning at 5 am ET; watch live broadcast (More) | ... and did you know Adolf Hitler was once nominated? (More via podcast) > President Donald Trump says the US will not attack Iran before next month's midterm elections (More) | USS Abraham Lincoln returns to San Diego Bay after deployment that included 265 uninterrupted days at sea (More) > Russian glide bomb kills at least 30 people on buses in eastern Ukraine (More) | See war updates (More)
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Business & Markets
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 -0.5%, Dow +0.1%, Nasdaq -1.3%) after Brent crude oil prices rise 4.1% to $104.3 per barrel (More) | How soaring diesel prices may affect you beyond the gas pump (More) > Trump administration suspends Microsoft, Adobe, and at least six other tech companies from program that allows skilled foreign workers to apply for green cards, accusing them of abusing the visa system (More) | How does it work? (More) > Nvidia and Oracle shares fall 3% and 5.5%, respectively, on reports that OpenAI's annualized revenue is $20B short of a prior $70B estimate due to investor miscalculations (More) -
> Computer scientist Margaret Hamilton, who led the development of the flight software for NASA's Apollo program, dies at age 90 (More) | SpaceX's Crew-12 astronauts return to Earth after nearly eight months in space (More) > Underwater acoustics from healthy coral reefs help restore degraded reefs and rebuild their fish communities (More) | Why are reefs getting sick? (More, w/video) > Collagen-eating enzymes that emerged roughly 550 million years ago may explain why later soft-bodied animals are largely absent from the fossil record, while earlier ones are more commonly preserved (More)
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> Canadian author Anne Carson wins Nobel Prize in literature for her work blending ancient Greek and Roman works with contemporary influences (More) | See all previous winners (More) > Cleveland Guardians force Game 5 against Chicago White Sox in American League Division Series tomorrow at 8 pm ET (More) | Full MLB playoff bracket and schedule (More) > Podcaster Joe Rogan renews multiyear partnership with Spotify that carries a reported earnout of $250M; “The Joe Rogan Experience” has topped Edison Research’s list of the most listened-to podcasts in the US since 2019 (More)
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Slow and Steady Aging Scientists identified unique genetic traits that may explain how Jonathan, a roughly 194-year-old giant tortoise and the world’s oldest land animal, has lived so long. The study results, published this week, could offer insights into human longevity. Jonathan is believed to have hatched in 1832, the same year author Lewis Carroll and architect Gustave Eiffel were born. The 400-pound tortoise lives on a remote island off Africa’s west coast, where researchers traveled to swab his saliva. The sample revealed 287 genetic variants unique to Jonathan, including some linked to cancer suppression and inflammation reduction. Researchers also found that his molecular "on-off" switches regulating DNA repair, energy production, and other processes were resistant to wear and tear, resembling those of much younger tortoises. Changes in these switches—called the epigenome—are one of the nine hallmarks of aging (w/video). Experts say Jonathan's longevity is likely due in part to his vegetable-heavy diet, favorable tropical climate, and attentive veterinary care. Watch him get a bath here.
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Hurricane Isaias is expected to make landfall along the US Gulf Coast late tonight or early tomorrow as a Category 2 or higher storm. See updated forecast cone. The storm, packing sustained winds of 100 mph as of this writing, is expected to strike between Mississippi and the Florida Panhandle, bringing storm surges of up to 7 feet, heavy rainfall, and damaging winds (why the storm’s so-called “dirty side” faces the greatest surge risk). Officials have issued evacuation orders, closed schools, and declared states of emergency in Florida and Alabama. Heavy rainfall is expected to spread inland across the eastern US this weekend. Isaias is the first Atlantic hurricane of the 2026 season, forming more than four months after the season began. Its late arrival is attributed partly to El Niño, a weather pattern that increases wind shear and disrupts hurricane formation. The storm formed just one day shy of tying a 121-year-old record for the latest first Atlantic hurricane, set Oct. 8, 1905. Isaias makes landfall as hurricane, hammering US Gulf Coast with powerful winds, dangerous flooding GULF BREEZE, Fla. (AP) — Isaias crashed into the U.S. Gulf Coast on Friday as a dangerous Category 2 hurricane, hammering communities in Alabama and the Florida Panhandle with damaging winds, heavy rain, flooding and life-threatening storm surges. https://apnews.com/article/hurricane-isaias-landfall-gulf-alabama-mississippi-919a46d4bd705726b4e57f18ce677ac5?
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Artificial Intelligence
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
A new college course proposal: "Living AI" Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Jim writes: I met with faculty and the AI task force at Furman University in Greenville, S.C., and got a smart, provocative question: What do I wish liberal arts colleges taught students about AI to prep them for working? In other words, what do CEOs want and need based on the known-knowns of AI capabilities today and our evolving expectations? 💭 My dream: Every college student, from Day 1, takes a course every semester called "Living AI." It's constantly updated — how to use the newest models and how to grapple with their ethical, philosophical and practical consequences. It fits into a three-track approach: 1. 🧠 Think without it. In most classrooms, greatly limit or ban AI. Courses built to deepen and widen thinking should force students to read, reason and write on their own. We need thinkers and problem-solvers. In an AI-saturated world, original thinking becomes your differentiator. You can't steer or judge AI's output if you don't know anything about the world yourself. 2. 🤖 Work with it. Every major should graduate students with real expertise in using AI for that specific field. A marketing grad should run AI like a pro for marketing. Same for biology, finance, history, nursing. This means faculty teaching field-specific application, not just the generic tutorial. 3. 💡 Live with it. That's the Living AI course concept for everyone. Hire realists. Find clear-thinking, practical teachers who use and track the models and capabilities, not doomers or cheerleaders. People who marvel at its new capabilities, then clinically assess the real-world impact. Keep it alive. This can't be a static course. The models change constantly, and capabilities grow exponentially. So the "Living" part is vital: Treat it like an ever-evolving topic. Try to match the pace of the class with the pace of tech, which is hard but doable. Teach beyond the tech. These students will face wild philosophical and ethical questions: What is consciousness? Can a machine be a friend? What counts as your own work? Who is responsible when an AI agent screws up? Use each week's AI news to tee up those debates. Treat it as living history. No one gets to sit this one out. This is our electricity moment. It's a generational challenge and opportunity. The course should push students to think about shaping AI to benefit society, not just themselves. 👀 Worth a read: The New York Times dug into research on students' brains on AI (gift link). This, buried midway through the story, should be stamped on every classroom wall: "These studies so far agree: Artificial intelligence is affecting how people, especially the young, learn and remember. Whether we will be dumber as a result might depend on how — not if — we use AI." -
Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Corrupt Bargains View in browser Kimberly Guilfoyle was so close to getting it right. The Trump hanger-on—former fiancée to Don Jr. and the current ambassador to Greece—was exchanging messages with a man named Eric Deters, according to a bombshell Wall Street Journal story last night. Deters, a right-wing podcast host, failed political candidate, and suspended lawyer in Kentucky, wanted help in clearing up some tax issues, and also wanted the Trump administration to extradite a doctor whose alleged fraud victims he was advising in a legal case. Guilfoyle, the messages indicate, wanted money—in one instance, a $100,000 wire—and she wanted it untraceable. Guilfoyle was right to worry about secrecy. She was about to begin confirmation hearings for her ambassadorship, and understood the pay-to-play could hurt her. Yet neither she nor Deters could stop breaking the Stringer Bell rule by recording their skullduggery in writing. “It won’t show up anywhere if you wire money to American Express,” Guilfoyle wrote. “Please.” And in another: “Honey please I need you to get this done for me today.” Yet even as she laid these instructions out, she kept haranguing Deters for indiscretion. “I really wish you would stop papering all these things. It’s really dangerous and not helpful to you or me while you could simply just call me on signal,” she wrote, referring to the encrypted messaging app. In one message, she wrote, “If you write an email or a text about, l’m gonna kill you cause I love you but you’re so out of control.” Unfortunately for Guilfoyle, her Signal messages were not as safe a space as she might have wished. (The Journal does not reveal how it viewed the messages. Guilfoyle’s lawyer broadly disputed their authenticity to the paper but offered no details.) Somehow, this is not the only Trump scandal with Balkan ties in the news this week. The New York Times reported that James Blair and Chris LaCivita, who are ostensibly President Trump’s top political advisers, traveled—during an intense midterm campaign in which Republicans appear to be on the verge of serious setbacks—to advise a candidate in Bosnia and Herzegovina’s self-governing Serbian entity. Both of these stories show the way that many people in Trump’s orbit view their positions not as public service but as a profit center. There’s a long and often depressing pattern of former officials capitalizing on government and political work, but Trump’s aides aren’t even willing to wait until they take their leave to start taking. Forget a team of rivals. Trump world is a team of mercenaries, in some cases literally. Jared Kushner, who was a senior adviser in his first presidency and is married to his daughter Ivanka, continues to work as an envoy for Trump while pursuing business deals around the world. As Dexter Filkins wrote in The New Yorker in September, Kushner’s record as a diplomat is underwhelming, yet his financial gains have been enormous. “He represents a new kind of Washington figure, for whom public office serves as a means to extraordinary wealth,” Filkins wrote. Kushner and Ivanka Trump even have their own Balkan boondoggle, an attempt to develop an island in Albania that has run into legal and political difficulties. Earlier this year, the Times reported that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick helped negotiate access to Kazakh tungsten reserves for an American mining company, and the federal government provided $1.6 billion in financing. Lutnick’s sons and Trump’s sons are both involved with companies that stand to profit from the deal (though representatives for them have said that they did not play a role in the deal). A Washington Post investigation this summer noted that Trump’s sons have invested heavily in defense-technology companies; the companies have scored “at least $3.2 billion in direct government business since the sons invested and an additional $3.1 billion in future contract options.” (Company representatives told the Post that they secured their business without assistance from Trump’s sons.) Where do any of these people get the idea that this is appropriate or that they can get away with it? From the president himself, naturally. Trump has moved on from small-scale grifts such as charging the Secret Service exorbitant fees to stay in his hotels during his first term to far more ambitious and lucrative schemes such as crypto ventures; even conservative estimates put his gains during this term alone in the billions. Though Trump doesn’t have ethical scruples, he does have a sense of right and wrong: It’s right for him to profiteer, but wrong for others to make too much money from his name. That’s where Blair, LaCivita, and Guilfoyle may run into trouble. Politico reports that Republicans’ “knives are now fully out” for the two consultants. Trump himself weighed in on Truth Social, saying he was unaware of their clients but adding that he “will, on reflection, ask them and, if there’s a conflict, I will terminate them, immediately!” Firing them just before the midterms seems risky, as it might just create more chaos for Republicans, but they could make for good scapegoats after the fact. Trump has not spoken publicly about the Guilfoyle story, although Vice President Vance said he didn’t “love that.” In a further embarrassment, the article emerged while Secretary of State Marco Rubio was visiting Athens. Perhaps inevitably, Guilfoyle’s relationship with Deters ended acrimoniously. “I have paid you $300,000 over the years,” he wrote her in 2025, adding, in an amusingly self-negating flourish, “As of this memo, I have not received one favor. I am not naive or a sucker.” She was not happy, either. “What a nightmare you’ll literally cost me my ambassadorship stop writing,” she told him at one point, per the Journal. Her warning may have been too late. Related: MAGA is making the world safe for corruption. The watchdogs are barking themselves hoarse. ps:It's astounding the amount of corruption from this administration!! And not one word from those that complained about the Biden, Obama, Bush2, Clinton, Bush1, Reagan, Nixon, etc.! Actually all combined they don't equal what we've seen from this administration!!!!! Absolutely Pathetic!! -
Gun violence, Terrorism and senseless killings!!
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Man with a gun and knife is fatally shot by security at Nashville federal courthouse, police say A man armed with a pistol and knife was fatally shot by a security officer Thursday just inside the busy entrance of a federal courthouse in Tennessee’s largest city, authorities said. Read More. Immigration agents shoot a man during arrest in New York City October 08, 2026 Federal immigration agents shot and wounded a Dominican man while arresting him in New York City on Thursday, in what the Department of Homeland Security called a “targeted enforcement operation.” The agency did not describe exactly what led to the shooting. Read more -
2025/26/27/28 Primaries & General Elections
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Rogers and El-Sayed are set for their first debate in Michigan's Senate race after online sparring Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed, competing for an open U.S. Senate seat in Michigan, are set for their first campaign debate Thursday after weeks of sparring both online and in advertisements that are flooding the state in one of the nation’s most closely watched races. Read More. -
The Housing Market and Home Ownership
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Average long-term US mortgage rate at highest level in nearly 3 years after 7th weekly rise in a row Mortgage rates marched higher for the seventh week in a row, driving the average long-term U.S. home loan rate to its highest level in nearly three years.The benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage climbed to 7.40% from 7.28% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.30%. Read More. -
Lufthansa, Indian airlines suspend Riyadh service after explosions hit Saudi capital Airlines including Lufthansa and Air India have temporarily suspended operations to Saudi Arabia's capital after explosions, including a large blast heard at the international airport in Riyadh, were reported Thursday. Read More.
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The Pentagon
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed WASHINGTON (AP) — The firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed, the Pentagon said Thursday, a stunning revelation about plans for the first military execution in more than 65 years after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had described it as being “public.” https://apnews.com/article/fort-hood-shooter-execution-pentagon-818853afc1be5c70fe41c5b781a8d559? -
📺 1 for the road: What to watch this weekend Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Whether you crave horror, thriller, comedy or sci-fi, there's a new streaming pick for you this weekend, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes. 😱 Carrie (Prime Video) Mike Flanagan's adaptation of Stephen King's novel follows Carrie White (Summer H. Howell), a sheltered teen who faces a viral bullying scandal at her new school and discovers telekinetic powers. 👽 Disclosure Day (Peacock) A Kansas City meteorologist (Emily Blunt) and a cybersecurity whistleblower (Josh O'Connor) race to reveal evidence of extraterrestrial life and a decades-long cover-up. 🪄 Small Prophets (Apple TV) Seven years after his partner Clea disappears, Michael Sleep (Pearce Quigley) follows an alchemy recipe his father gave him to create magical spirits that can predict the future. More recs.
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Polls and Survey's
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Americans' food faith plummets Data: Gallup. Chart: Avery Lotz/Axios Americans' confidence in food safety has plummeted to new lows amid several high-profile recalls, Axios' Avery Lotz reports from a new Gallup poll. By the numbers: Less than half of U.S. adults say they have a great deal (11%) or a fair amount (36%) of confidence in the federal government to ensure food safety, according to the poll, which was conducted last month. A majority has not much or no confidence in the government's ability to police their food — a first in Gallup's poll, which has been conducted intermittently for over two decades. 🛒 Americans' confidence in food sold at grocery stores has also dropped, falling to a record low of 65% saying they are somewhat or very confident. That's down from 81% in 2019. 🖼️ The big picture: This summer saw a flurry of overlapping recalls and FDA investigations, while health experts warned that Trump administration cuts had weakened public health and food safety infrastructure. Gallup's poll was conducted around the time the federal government declared the end to an outbreak of cyclospora, a parasite that caused stomach illnesses, two deaths and more than 500 hospitalizations across 21 states. Go deeper ... Explore the data. -
The Intercept Investgations
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
He Confessed to an Afghanistan War Murder. The U.S. Military Promptly Closed the Case. In the spring of 2023, on a partly sunny day where the temperature flirted with 70 degrees, an Army veteran of the Afghanistan War walked into the unique Prairie-style police headquarters in Banning, California. In a private room in the detective bureau, the former specialist, who served with the storied 82nd Airborne Division, sat down with a special agent from the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division — better known as CID — to make a confession. https://theintercept.com/2026/10/07/afghanistan-war-crime-confession-accountability/? Feds Charged Activists Just Before Major Anti-ICE Protest in a Tiny Vermont Town Williston, a small Vermont town of 10,000 people, is best known as a bucolic suburb of Burlington laden with historic buildings and farmland. https://theintercept.com/2026/10/07/ice-protest-vermont-surveillance-charges/? Armed Border Agents Arrest Protesters, Bulldoze 200-Year-Old Tree to Build Border Wall For more than 70 days, dozens of activists and an ancient cottonwood tree on the Arizona–Mexico border have successfully disrupted the construction of President Donald Trump’s ruinous $50 billion border wall. https://theintercept.com/2026/10/08/border-wall-tree-sit-protest-bulldozed/? Antisemitism Law Helped Get a Professor Fired for Free Speech, Lawsuit Says An Iranian exile group colluded with university officials and a state lawmaker in Arkansas in a relentless, ultimately successful campaign to get an Iranian American professor fired, according to a new lawsuit. https://theintercept.com/2026/10/06/professor-fired-free-speech-iran-antisemitism-law/? The U.S. Military Struggles to Protect Its Bases Amid Failing Iran War The U.S. military is struggling to protect its overseas bases amid a conflict with Iran that has spun out of self-styled War Secretary Pete Hegseth’s control. https://theintercept.com/2026/10/06/iran-war-uk-fairford-overseas-bases/? The Key Witness Against Richard Glossip Just Returned to Court. It Didn’t Go Well. When the elevator doors opened, the reporters waiting in the hallway immediately crowded around the gaunt, orange-clad man who emerged, escorted by his public defender and a sheriff’s deputy. The three men made their way toward the seventh-floor courtroom of Oklahoma County District Court Judge Natalie Mai, as reporters shouted questions. https://theintercept.com/2026/10/06/justin-sneed-richard-glossip-trial/? -
Donald Trump has sweeping plans for a second administration. Here’s what he’s proposed
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
New US indictment charges Maduro with overseeing machine of repression, torture of Americans NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. prosecutors unveiled sweeping new criminal charges against former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Thursday, accusing him and his wife of heading a state-sponsored system of repression responsible for beating, asphyxiating, and delivering electric shocks to scores of victims, including several Americans. https://apnews.com/article/maduro-venezuela-criminal-case-da82df35aab0f02e344d1c3de0ed31d7? The Trump administration is suspending Microsoft from a green card program, alleging fraud WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration announced Thursday it was suspending Microsoft and several other firms from a program allowing foreign workers to apply for green cards, as it also lashed out at universities that bring international students to the U.S. on exchange programs. https://apnews.com/article/h1b-visa-program-vance-microsoft-e7b3a407f822702b269ee277d21343ea? ps:Just Pathetic!!!!! 🇮🇷 President Trump said today that the U.S. will not attack Iran ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections. More from Barak Ravid. 🧑💻 The Trump administration is blocking Microsoft, Adobe and several other tech companies from hiring foreign-born workers for permanent U.S. jobs. Vice President JD Vance said today: "Our message to Microsoft is, you're a great American company, but you've got to hire great American workers." Go deeper. Trump honors Microsoft’s CEO after Vance drops an H-1B visa hammer on the company President Donald Trump celebrated tech billionaires for their contributions to America on Thursday only hours after a company run by one of them, Microsoft, was accused by his vice president of abusing the visa system to bring in more foreign workers. Read More. -
👋 Good morning! It's a great day to have a great day. In today's edition: Three MLB teams advance, Rahm leaves LIV, Golden State and Atlanta go up 2-0, NFL power rankings, Jock Stocks, Saban doc premieres, and more. Yahoo Sports AM is written by Kendall Baker and Jeff Tracy. Let's sports... 🚨 ICYMI HEADLINES ⛳️ Rahm leaves LIV: Jon Rahm, one of the biggest names remaining in LIV Golf, is exiting the league as it prepares to transition into its next phase. The Spaniard reportedly "reviewed the proposed terms of LIV 2.0 ... and has determined that those terms are unacceptable to him." 🏈 Eagles trade Jurgens: The Eagles traded two-time Pro Bowl center Cam Jurgens to the Ravens for two draft picks, meaning they've now lost three starting offensive linemen since opening day after Landon Dickerson got injured and Lane Johnson retired. Despite what appears like a puzzling move, GM Howie Roseman says they're still "trying to win this year." 🏀 Happy trails, Dana: Longtime Oregon head coach Dana Altman is retiring less than a month before the season begins. Altman, 68, led the Ducks to nine NCAA Tournament appearances in 16 seasons, and will be replaced on an interim basis by assistant Tony Stubblefield. 🎾 Coco withdraws: Following her fourth-round defeat at the China Open, Coco Gauff announced she's withdrawing from next week's 1000-level Wuhan Open, which she won last year. Her decision comes amid a "draining" week in which she received an "insane" amount of racist comments after defeating a Chinese teen in the third round. ⚾️ Trump to honor Clemens: President Trump announced at a rally in San Antonio on Wednesday that he's giving Roger Clemens the Presidential Medal of Freedom, and that he called commissioner Rob Manfred earlier this year to push for the seven-time Cy Young winner (and alleged steroid user) to get into the Hall of Fame. ⚾️ DIVISION SERIES DODGERS, RAYS, BREWERS CLINCH (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) Four teams had a chance to clinch a spot in the League Championship Series on Wednesday; only three got the job done. Sorry, Southsiders. Dodgers 4, Braves 1 — The quest for a three-peat marches on, as Los Angeles quieted the crowd in Atlanta to reach its eighth NLCS in the past 11 seasons. Andy Pages got the big hit, a two-run go-ahead single in the seventh, and Dave Roberts moved into second all-time with 72 playoff wins as a manager (Joe Torre, 84). Can't win if you don't hit: The Braves' offense was anemic all series, batting just .145 including an unsightly 1-for-23 with runners in scoring position (.043). "[The fans] are well within their rights to boo," said Ronald Acuña Jr., who struggled as much as anyone. "I didn't do anything." (Sarah Stier/Getty Images) Rays 4, Yankees 3 — Tampa Bay brought out the brooms in the Bronx, hanging on for a narrow victory to clinch its first trip to the ALCS since 2020. The Yankees, meanwhile, extend their World Series drought to 17 years, tied for the longest in franchise history since winning their inaugural championship in 1923. Jeffrey Maier 2.0: The most consequential play of the night came in the sixth inning, when Yankees 2B Anthony Volpe hit a game-tying two-run homer that was downgraded to an RBI double due to fan interference. It was reminiscent of the infamous Jeffrey Maier catch in the 1996 ALCS — 30 years ago tomorrow — albeit with the opposite outcome. Everybody be cool, this is a robbery! (Gregory Bull/AP Photo) Brewers 3, Padres 1 — Manny Machado and the 47,712 fans at Petco Park thought San Diego had this game tied up in the eighth inning, but Brewers centerfielder Garrett Mitchell had other plans, robbing the would-be game-tying homer to help Milwaukee advance to its second straight NLCS. Up next? A rematch with the Dodgers. Going out with a whimper: The Padres went 0-for-21 at the plate to end the season, marking the longest hitless drought by an NL team to end a postseason all-time. (Michael Reaves/Getty Images) Guardians 9, White Sox 3 — The Southsiders entered the day hoping to celebrate their first playoff-series-clinching win at home in 120 years; instead, Cleveland's offense finally came alive for a season-saving victory. 10 of 11 Guardians who came to the plate reached base safely, combining for 11 hits and 10 walks while striking out just six times. Speaking of strikeouts: Cleveland’s pitching staff made history by striking out 19 batters, the most ever by a team in a 9-inning postseason game. 🏀 WNBA SEMIFINALS VALKYRIES, DREAM TAKE CONTROL Tiffany Hayes' 21-point effort off the bench sparked the Valkyries win. (Jed Jacobsohn/NBAE via Getty Images) On Oct. 5, 2023, the WNBA awarded the Bay Area an expansion team. Three years later, the Golden State Valkyries have already become: The most valuable franchise in women's sports ($1 billion per CNBC, $850 million per Sportico). The first WNBA team to eclipse 18,000 fans per game for a whole season. The first women's sports team to eclipse $100 million in annual revenue. The first WNBA expansion team to reach the playoffs in its inaugural season. And now this: They followed up that final achievement in year two by posting the WNBA's second-best record, and are now one game from the Finals after beating the defending champion Aces, 83-81, on Wednesday to take a 2-0 series lead. (Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) Meanwhile, in Atlanta: Angel Reese and the Dream held on for a 101-98 overtime win over the Liberty to take their own 2-0 series lead — a deficit no WNBA team has ever come back from in a best-of-five series. 🏈 WEEK 5 NFL POWER RANKINGS (Joseph Raines/Yahoo Sports) The undefeated 49ers have surged to the top of our latest power rankings, setting the stage for a season-long battle for supremacy in what once again looks like the NFL's best division. Division breakdown: The mighty NFC West, which made history last season when three teams won 12+ games, currently has by far the best average ranking of any division, with those same three teams landing in our top eight. The woeful NFC South brings up the rear, without a single team in the top 15. NFC West (9.5): 49ers (1), Seahawks (2), Rams (8), Cardinals (27) AFC West (14): Chiefs (3), Raiders (10), Broncos (14), Chargers (29) NFC North (14.5): Bears (6), Vikings (9), Lions (19), Packers (24) AFC North (14.75): Ravens (7), Bengals (11), Browns (20), Steelers (21) NFC East (17.25): Cowboys (12), Eagles (15), Giants (17), Commanders (25) AFC East (19.5): Bills (5), Patriots (13), Jets (28), Dolphins (32) AFC South (20.75): Jaguars (4), Colts (22), Texans (26), Titans (31) NFC South (21.75): Falcons (16), Panthers (18), Saints (23), Buccaneers (30) Notice anything? A regional hierarchy appears to have emerged this season: The two West divisions lead the way, followed by the North, East and South divisions. Kind of strange, isn't it? 📉 JOCK STOCKS BLOOD IN THE STREETS IN Q3 The S&P 500 gained 2.3% in Q3 despite turbulence throughout. While sports franchises were resilient, the market offered little hospitality to many companies operating in sports and sports-adjacent industries. 🎰 Sports gambling: The giants in sports betting struggled again, with FanDuel owner Flutter dropping 27% and DraftKings down 25%. Other businesses in and around the space also stumbled as the industry remains plagued by prediction market competition, organic growth concerns, and legislative changes. 👟 Apparel and footwear: The biggest sign that conditions were challenging? Nike (-13%) was one of the best performers in Q3. Under Armour (-30%), Hoka owner Deckers (-21%), Adidas (-20%), and On (-16%) all struggled amid soft demand and heavy discounting. ⛳️ Golf: Wavering consumer appetites extended to the golf course, as softer forward-looking guidance from both Titleist owner Acushnet (-30%) and Callaway (-25%) weighed on share prices after strong first-half performance. Higher material and import costs have also contributed to struggles. 🎟️ Ticket marketplaces: StubHub (-57%) and Vivid Seats (-41%) struggled as much as anyone in Q3, as a World Cup hangover and regulatory headwinds (i.e., all-in fee transparency) stifled growth trajectories. Structural developments are also threatening the business, as primary market sellers become more aggressive with dynamic pricing. Bottom line: You can hardly go a day without positive news for sports franchise valuations. The story in other pockets of the sports ecosystem is not nearly as positive. This story was written by Dylan Dittrich, author of our new sports business newsletter. 📺 VIEWING GUIDE WATCHLIST: THURSDAY, OCT. 8 Chicago's Rate Field before Game 3 on Wednesday. (Jessie Alcheh/MLB Photos via Getty Images) ⚾️ ALDS, Game 4 The White Sox (up 2-1) will try to finish the job tonight at home (8pm ET, TBS), while the Guardians hope to send the series back to Cleveland for a decisive Game 5. Jekyll and Hyde: Cleveland's offense in Games 1 and 2 scored just three runs on seven hits before erupting for nine runs and 11 hits in Wednesday's victory. Which team will show up tonight? 🏈 Buccaneers at Cowboys Week 5 kicks off at Jerry World (8:15pm, Prime), where the 2-2 Cowboys host the winless Buccaneers, who are off to their first 0-4 start since 2013. Don't bet on it: Tampa Bay (currently +8.5) has failed to cover the spread in an NFL-record 13 consecutive games. Got plans tonight? Gametime is the best place to score last-minute tickets to the events in your city. 🏈 LET'S PLAY TRIVIA TIME (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) "Saban," a six-part docuseries chronicling the life and career of legendary college football coach Nick Saban, premieres tonight on ESPN (6pm ET). Question: While Saban is best known for coaching Alabama, he was also the head coach at three other colleges and one NFL team. Can you name those four teams? Answer at the bottom. 🏎️ START YOUR ENGINES YAHOO SPORTS x APPLE TV (Apple) This weekend's Formula 1 Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix 2026 continues our season-long partnership with Apple TV for F1 coverage. Tune in: Tomorrow's practice and sprint qualifying (4:30am ET; 8:30am), plus Saturday's qualifying (9am), will air for free on Yahoo Sports. Saturday's sprint (5am) and Sunday's race (8am) will stream on Apple TV, the new U.S. home of Formula 1. Trivia Time answer: Toledo (1990), Michigan State (1995-99), LSU (2000-04), Miami Dolphins (2005-06)
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The Department of Homeland Security
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Documents show DHS probed nonprofits, obtained millions of records in hunt for noncitizen voters The Department of Homeland Security obtained tens of millions of unspecified records as part of a sweeping nationwide effort to find voter fraud, according to internal DHS reports, and weighed using undercover agents to investigate voter registration efforts by nonprofit groups. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/10/07/repub/documents-show-dhs-probed-nonprofits-obtained-millions-of-records-in-hunt-for-noncitizen-voters/? -
Florida Politics
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
Ingoglia seeks ‘transparency’ on property insurance payments to affiliates TAMPA — Florida Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia is calling for more transparency when it comes to payments made between property insurers and their affiliated companies. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/10/07/ingoglia-seeks-transparency-on-property-insurance-payments-to-affiliates/? Florida government gearing up for Hurricane Isaias This story has been updated to reflect that Tropical Storm Isaias has been updated to a hurricane and its trajectory. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/10/07/florida-government-gearing-up-for-tropical-storm-isaias/? As state consider changes, new online tool eyes impacts of declining vaccination rates What would result if Florida reduces the number of vaccines Florida children are required to receive to attend school and daycare? https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/10/07/as-state-considers-vaccine-changes-new-online-tool-examines-sickness-death-cost-impacts/? Florida county wants motocross course on land bought for conservation One of the great things about hiking around Florida’s precious conservation lands is how quiet they can be. You can get away from all the noise and — I SAID, YOU CAN GET AWAY! FROM ALL THE NOISE! https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/10/08/florida-county-wants-motocross-course-on-land-bought-for-conservation/? -
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Before Mojave: Burt Rutan, the Pathfinders, and the Ethos of Direct Construction
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The Federal Bureau of Investigation
phkrause replied to phkrause's topic in Politics (Mainly US) and other American interest items
FBI says it stopped a Mall of America terror attack by a teen after agents sold him an assault rifle MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — FBI agents thwarted a terror attack by a teenager on the Mall of America after monitoring him for nearly two years and ultimately supplying him with the AK-47 he planned to use, authorities said Wednesday. https://apnews.com/article/fbi-terror-arrest-mall-america-somali-teen-366922e521871e5da57c0e86cd7e2b16?