Wednesday, October 14

26 threads moved · 16 stories opened · 16 went quiet

Annual inflation rose to 3.7% in September, and U.S. stocks had their worst day since July. Zelenskyy said Russian strikes left at least 600,000 people in Ukraine without power. Pushback grew over the planned public execution of Nidal Hasan, and Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned in Maine.

The five

The economy
September inflation rises to 3.7%, stocks fall
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported Wednesday that annual inflation rose to 3.7% in September. U.S. stocks dropped to their worst day since July, Wcvb reported. The rate was 3% when President Trump took office in January 2025, and the Federal Reserve decides on interest rates later this month, The Hill reported.
The question
Should the Fed raise interest rates after 3.7% inflation?
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Russia and Ukraine
Russian strikes leave 600,000 in Ukraine without power
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at least 600,000 people were without power after overnight Russian missile and drone strikes. CNBC reported he said a ballistic missile hit energy infrastructure supposedly covered by the "energy ceasefire" Trump announced Sunday. Zelenskyy was set to meet Prime Minister Andy Burnham in London on Wednesday.
The question
Should Russia and Ukraine agree to stop attacking each other's energy infrastructure?
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Death penalty
Pushback grows over livestream of Hasan execution
BBC News reported that 72 former officers asked the Pentagon in a letter to cancel the livestream of Nidal Hasan's execution. The Hill reported that Trump and Vance signaled unease with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's plan for a public firing squad execution, and that the White House signaled a potential reversal.
The question
Should the military's firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Hasan be open to public viewing?
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Midterm messaging
Johnson campaigns in Maine as Wired reports aides see House as lost
Speaker Mike Johnson campaigned Wednesday in Maine's second congressional district and said Republicans will maintain their House majority. Wired reported that Trump aides see the House as lost and that the White House is focusing on Senate races. The midterm elections are weeks away.
The question
Will Republicans keep their House majority this fall?
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The Courts
Appeals court hears challenge to DC National Guard deployment
A federal appeals court opened a hearing on the legality of President Trump's deployment of National Guard members to patrol the streets of Washington, D.C. Judges questioned government lawyers during the hearing. It came more than a year after the deployment began.
The question
Should the president be able to send National Guard troops into DC?
Read the story ›

Also yesterday

ICE enforcement
A government report released Wednesday recommended automatic activation of ICE officers' body cameras; ICE rejected the recommendation, citing privacy concerns.
Fuel prices
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the U.S.-Russia diesel deal a "very risky choice," Reuters reported.
Iran
The Daily Express reported that President Trump admitted the U.S. may have gone "too far" in killing Iran's leaders.
Justice Department
The Boston Herald reported, citing an AP source, that Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone was seized and relatives were subpoenaed in a criminal probe.
Yemen
The Wall Street Journal reported that a Houthi strike hit a building at Saudi Aramco's headquarters in Riyadh.
The Supreme Court
The Supreme Court again sided with the Trump administration in a campaign ad dispute, USA Today and The Hill reported.
On the Hill
The Supreme Court docket lists FCC v. Brown, case 26A476, as active.