Thursday, October 8

President Trump said the United States will not strike Iran before the midterms, and the Pentagon said the firing squad execution of Nidal Hasan will be livestreamed. Bloomberg Law reported the Justice Department is seeking an indictment of Cassidy Hutchinson. A federal judge extended his order blocking the White House ban on three news outlets.

1. 
   Iran
   Trump says U.S. will not strike Iran before the midterms

   President Trump said Thursday on social media that the United States will not attack Iran before November's midterm elections, CBS News reported. NBC News reported the pledge is meant to reassure Republicans. The New York Times reported the military has drafted options for three days of strikes, but the president has repeatedly vetoed plans to restart the war.

   The question

   Should the Trump administration publish a detailed strategy for the Iran war?

   Publish strategyKeep strategy private
   Read the story ›
2. Death penalty
   Pentagon says Nidal Hasan's execution will be livestreamed

   Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Thursday that the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan will be public, and the Pentagon said it will be livestreamed. Hasan killed 13 people in 2009. Lawmakers have condemned the plan as "barbaric," and Vice President Vance says he won't watch it.

   The question

   Should the military's firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan be open to public viewing?

   Make it publicKeep it closed
   Read the story ›
3. Justice Department
   Justice Department investigating Cassidy Hutchinson

   The Justice Department is investigating former White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson over her testimony to the House Jan. 6 committee, according to reports published Thursday. Bloomberg Law reported, citing sources familiar with the investigation, that prosecutors are seeking a federal grand jury indictment on charges that she lied to Congress.

   The question

   Should the Justice Department seek criminal charges against a former White House aide over her testimony to a congressional committee?

   Pursue chargesDrop the case
   Read the story ›
4. Press freedom
   Judge extends order blocking White House ban on three outlets

   U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly on Thursday extended by two business days his temporary restraining order blocking the White House from banning CNN, MS NOW and Politico. He said he will rule by Tuesday on a longer-term order. Business Insider reported he called the Justice Department's national security defense of the ban "an uphill climb."

   The question

   Should the White House be allowed to bar specific news outlets from its press areas?

   Allow the White House banBlock the outlet ban
   Read the story ›
5. The Courts
   Campus rallies for Jane Doe spread as Cornell case draws filings

   Rallies in support of Cornell's Jane Doe were held Thursday at Columbia, Duke and other campuses as part of a national day of action, according to ABC7 New York and others. NewsOne reported a defendant, Gillio Lopes, petitioned to remove Attorney General Letitia James from the case, and that Jane Doe reported a swatting incident.

   The question

   Should the governor replace the local prosecutor in the Cornell assault case?

   Replace the prosecutorKeep the original prosecutor
   Read the story ›

• Russia and Ukraine

  Zelenskyy said Thursday there would be a response to a Russian strike that hit two buses in Kramatorsk, killing 30 people, France 24 reported.

• Brazil

  A Brazilian Supreme Court justice issued an arrest warrant Thursday for Eduardo Bolsonaro, brother of presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro, Al Jazeera and 12news reported.

• Senate races

  Arab-American leaders in Michigan denounced as racist a Trump social media post calling Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed "Mohammed El-Sayed."

• The economy

  The Washington Times reported the federal budget deficit reached $2 trillion in fiscal 2026, up from $1.8 trillion the year before.

• ICE enforcement

  A New Jersey city voted 5-0 to bar ICE from staging operations on its property after residents said agents used its zoo and parks.

• Gaza

  The New York Times reported Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed no regrets over his Oct. 7 anniversary statement after criticism from Jewish leaders and boos at a vigil.

11 stories closed across 10 threads. Each stays on its thread’s timeline and reopens if the reporting comes back.