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Morning Edition

Tesla unveils flying Roadster, oil hits $110 on Hormuz

Saturday, October 17, 2026 · 5:00 AM ET Anchored by Sarah Cole & Eric Lane (AI) 8:36
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RUSSIA

Trump waives new Russia sanctions and tariffs under Graham Act to ease fuel prices

FILE PHOTO: President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office, October 2026.
FILE PHOTO: President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office, October 2026. · Photo: The White House / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Who
President Donald Trump; Russia; buyers of Russian oil
What
Trump signed an executive order waiving sweeping Russia sanctions and tariffs on big buyers of Russian oil days before they took effect, as he seeks to lower fuel prices. Critics say it undercuts Ukraine.
When
Friday evening, Oct. 16
Where
Washington
Why
Diesel and oil prices have surged amid the Iran war, and the administration wants more Russian energy on the market.
OREGON

Oregon school shooting: gunman was former student, teacher and armed father credited with stopping him

FILE PHOTO: A Bend Police Services truck in Bend, Oregon.
FILE PHOTO: A Bend Police Services truck in Bend, Oregon. · Photo: born1945 / Flickr / CC BY 2.0
Who
16-year-old gunman; teacher Megan Lambert; armed bystander father; Bend Police
What
Police say the shooter, a former special-needs student at Silver Rail Elementary, killed three children and a teacher with a shotgun bought by his mother. A teacher fought him before a bystander shot him dead. The debate over gun-free zones and gun control continues.
When
Thursday, with new details Friday
Where
Bend, Oregon
Why
Investigators are working to determine motive and how the teen obtained the shotgun.
OMAR PROBE

Ilhan Omar fraud probe deepens as lawyers fight home search and agents reportedly collected DNA from her trash

FILE PHOTO: Rep. Ilhan Omar votes at her polling place in Minneapolis on Election Day, November 2024.
FILE PHOTO: Rep. Ilhan Omar votes at her polling place in Minneapolis on Election Day, November 2024. · Photo: Taylor Dahlin / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
Who
Rep. Ilhan Omar; HSI and federal prosecutors; her sister Sahra Noor
What
Omar's lawyers say authorities ignored a judge's limits on the raid of her DC home and want seized items returned. Sources say agents searched her trash for DNA, and her sister skipped an event after a reported subpoena.
When
This week; new developments Friday
Where
Washington, D.C.; Minnesota
Why
Probes into alleged immigration fraud and her financial disclosures.
IRAN

Oil hits $110 as Iran escalates Hormuz attacks; Trump doubts ground troops, nukes

FILE PHOTO: Masoud Pezeshkian, president of Iran, in an interview in December 2025.
FILE PHOTO: Masoud Pezeshkian, president of Iran, in an interview in December 2025. · Photo: khamenei.ir / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 4.0
Who
Iran; President Trump; CENTCOM; Houthis; Saudi Arabia
What
Brent crude touched $110, the highest since May. Trump says he can't see ground troops or nuclear weapons. CENTCOM says the naval blockade cost Iran $25 billion. WSJ reports Iran is feeding targeting intelligence to the Houthis for attacks on Saudi Arabia.
When
This week, Friday
Where
Strait of Hormuz; Saudi Arabia
Why
Escalating war with Iran is driving energy prices and raising questions about U.S. strategy.
ELECTIONS

DOJ lawsuit over California voters spurs Trump threat to jail election officials; suspicious mailings hit offices

FILE PHOTO: Exterior door of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, photographed in March 2025.
FILE PHOTO: Exterior door of the Robert F. Kennedy Department of Justice Building in Washington, photographed in March 2025. · Photo: Sdkb / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Who
DOJ; Trump; California election officials; FBI; Sens. Ted Cruz and Susan Collins
What
The DOJ sued to block ballots from 20,000 voters it says may be noncitizens, and Trump vowed jail for officials who count them. Suspicious powder letters have reached election offices and lawmakers; a separate suit alleges DHS collected voter data from 47 states.
When
This week
Where
California; Washington
Why
Dispute over voter roll maintenance and federal control of elections before Nov. 3.
WHITE HOUSE

Katie Zacharia out as White House press secretary after five days

FILE PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia holds her first press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Oct. 13, 2026.
FILE PHOTO: White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia holds her first press briefing in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room, Oct. 13, 2026. · Photo: Andrea Hanks / The White House / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Who
Katie Zacharia; Trump
What
Zacharia is leaving the press secretary job after five days amid questions over her claim to be a lawyer despite not passing the bar. The White House says she is transitioning to a new role. Candidates to replace her are being discussed.
When
Friday
Where
White House
Why
A rocky debut and the bar-exam controversy.
UKRAINE

Ukraine strikes Russian refineries as Trump-Zelensky rift grows over Starlink limits

FILE PHOTO: The Pentagon, headquarters of the US Department of Defense, in Arlington, Virginia.
FILE PHOTO: The Pentagon, headquarters of the US Department of Defense, in Arlington, Virginia. · Photo: Touch Of Light / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0
Who
Zelensky; Trump; SpaceX; Pentagon; senators
What
Ukraine resumed refinery strikes and is in talks to lift a Starlink speed cap. Trump says the White House didn't order the restrictions, and senators of both parties want answers. Russian jet-powered drones and attacks are testing NATO.
When
This week
Where
Ukraine; Russia
Why
Dispute over U.S. support and Russian energy deals.
MIDTERMS · 17 DAYS OUT

Midterms 17 days out: Trump rallies in Georgia, Senate debates turn heated in Maine and Alaska

FILE PHOTO: Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) in her congressional member portrait.
FILE PHOTO: Rep. Mary Peltola (D-AK) in her congressional member portrait. · Photo: Leah Herman, House Creative Services / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Who
Trump; Susan Collins; Troy Jackson; Dan Sullivan; Mary Peltola; Michele Tafoya; Peggy Flanagan
What
Trump rallied in Georgia as early voting set records. Collins and Jackson clashed in Maine, Sullivan and Peltola traded attacks in Alaska, and Tafoya hit Flanagan on Minnesota fraud. Trump endorsed Tafoya. Reports say the GOP money surge has barely moved polls.
When
Friday and this week
Where
Georgia, Maine, Alaska, Minnesota
Why
Senate control is at stake on Nov. 3.

Money & Markets

MARKETS

Nasdaq posts worst week since June as AI selloff hits tech and oil jumps

FILE PHOTO: The Nasdaq MarketSite in New York's Times Square, September 2021.
FILE PHOTO: The Nasdaq MarketSite in New York's Times Square, September 2021. · Photo: ajay_suresh / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.0
Who
Nasdaq; CoreWeave; investors
What
Tech stocks lost about $1 trillion in value as AI credit fears hit CoreWeave and chips, the VIX topped 22 and oil rose.
When
Friday
Where
Wall Street
Why
Doubts over AI profits versus debt costs, plus high oil prices.
DEFICIT

U.S. deficit nears $2 trillion as Treasury yields stay above 5% and inflation runs hot

FILE PHOTO: Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh in an official portrait, June 2026.
FILE PHOTO: Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh in an official portrait, June 2026. · Photo: Federalreserve / Flickr / Public domain
Who
Treasury; Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh
What
The fiscal 2026 deficit rose 12% to almost $2 trillion. Producer prices are up most since 2022 and Warsh withheld a rate signal ahead of the Fed meeting.
When
This week
Where
Washington
Why
Heavy borrowing, high rates and energy-driven inflation.
TECH

Tesla unveils flying Roadster as Apple's $1,999 foldable iPhone sells out

FILE PHOTO: SpaceX Starbase launch site in Texas, January 2026
FILE PHOTO: SpaceX Starbase launch site in Texas, January 2026 · Photo: NOAA / NODD / Wikimedia Commons / Public domain
Who
Elon Musk; Tesla; SpaceX; Apple
What
Tesla showed a Roadster using air thrusters to fly, fueling SpaceX merger talk. Apple says demand for its foldable iPhone Duo is extraordinary.
When
This week
Where
Texas; Cupertino
Why
Musk's SpaceX tech push and Apple's premium pricing bet.