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Newsfeed // Issue 01 · Week of 13 Oct 2026 // checked Tue 13 Oct 2026

Newsfeed.

More of the week in politics, for when the front page wasn't enough. Each story gets a three-panel strip, a quick rundown and a short take. Same rules as the front page: quotes are word for word and every fact links to its source. Back to the front page.

U.S. · 5–8 Oct 2026

The Pentagon plans to make the Fort Hood shooter's execution public, and a livestream is on the table

Fort Hood, Texas, 2009: Nidal Hasan kills 13 people. A court-martial convicts him and sentences him to death in 2013. [2]

“We'll make sure that people are able to watch it, that it's public.”

Pete Hegseth, Defense Secretary, 8 Oct [2]

“…raises significant moral questions, above and beyond the questions related to the death penalty generally.”

Geoffrey Corn, Texas Tech law professor and former Army JAG officer [1]

What happened

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth says the firing-squad execution of Nidal Hasan, who killed 13 people in the 2009 Fort Hood shooting, will be public. A Defense Department official told Al Jazeera it would be livestreamed. [2]
  • Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth recommended an Army firing squad and President Trump approved it. [1]
  • The execution is set for 3 December at Fort Hood, at 1 p.m. Central, the same time of day as the 2009 shooting. [2]
  • No US execution has ever been televised; the last public execution was in Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1936. [2]

Sources: [1] CBS News · [2] Al Jazeera

8-bit drop · #06/18 · CommonSpicy DatelineThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

U.S. · 10–13 Oct 2026

The Justice Department investigates five TV networks for boycotting White House pool coverage

The TV pool goes quiet: five networks suspend coverage after reporters from three outlets lose their White House credentials. [2]

“Group boycotts among commercial competitors can violate the Sherman Act.”

Emily Covington, Justice Department spokesperson [1]

A federal judge had already ruled the credential ban likely unconstitutional on 24 September. [2]

What happened

  • The Justice Department is investigating whether ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News broke antitrust law by suspending pool coverage of the White House. On 10 October officials demanded the networks' communications about the pool. [1]
  • The networks stopped covering in solidarity after the White House revoked credentials for reporters from CNN, Politico and MS NOW. [2]
  • A federal judge ruled on 24 September that the ban was likely unconstitutional, and the credentials were reinstated. [2]
  • The White House took control of the pool in February from the White House Correspondents' Association, which had run it for more than a century. [3]

Sources: [1] The New York Times (via The Philadelphia Inquirer) · [2] Reuters (via KSL) · [3] BBC (via Capital FM)

8-bit drop · #07/18 · CommonFancy BulletinThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

U.S. · 20 Sept–11 Oct 2026

A judge orders the White House's taxpayer-funded TV ads off the air

$21.7 million of government TV ads, by AdImpact's count. The biggest, "Final Battle", reworks a 2024 campaign video. [1]

“Any time we can do a public service announcement and brag about America, I'm all about it.”

Markwayne Mullin, Homeland Security Secretary [3]

A judge orders the rest cancelled. Senate Democrats: "This is the sort of government propaganda one might expect in North Korea, not the United States of America." [1]

What happened

  • US District Judge Jennifer L. Rochon ordered the administration on 11 October to cancel its remaining taxpayer-funded TV ads. [1]
  • Homeland Security set aside $20 million for a "National Media Campaign" and awarded the contract on 20 September. AdImpact put spending on five ads at $21,705,138. [1]
  • The suit came from Common Cause, two labour unions and a Democratic Alabama state senate candidate; the DNC filed its own. [2]
  • The order lasts 14 days unless it's extended. [2]

Sources: [1] CBS News (AP) · [2] Democracy Docket · [3] Democracy Docket

8-bit drop · #08/18 · CommonTiny BulletinThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

Canada · 12–19 Oct 2026

Alberta votes on 19 October, with separation on the ballot

Alberta, 19 October: 10 questions on the ballot. The last one is about separating from Canada. [1]

“You can't build big things on fault lines.”

Mark Carney, Thanksgiving message, 12 Oct [2]

Premier Danielle Smith, on separation polling near 22%: "still too high for my liking." [2]

What happened

  • Albertans vote on 19 October on 10 referendum questions. The last asks whether the province should start the legal process toward a binding referendum on separating from Canada. [1]
  • Advance voting runs 13–17 October. Elections Alberta has received 650,000 special ballot requests, against 59,000 in the 2023 provincial election. [1]
  • Prime Minister Mark Carney used a Thanksgiving message to urge Albertans to stay in Canada. [2]
  • Premier Danielle Smith, who called the vote, supports staying; she called separation polling of about 22% "still too high for my liking." [2]

Sources: [1] Global News · [2] AP (via ABC News)

8-bit drop · #09/18 · CommonSwift BulletinThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

Canada · 22 Sept–24 Oct 2026

B.C.'s snap election: Eby runs against Trump's trade war, and the Conservatives lead

British Columbia goes to the polls on 24 October in a snap election called by Premier David Eby. [1]

“When you smell smoke you don't sit and wait to see what happens next.”

David Eby, calling the election [1]

Angus Reid, 1–3 Oct: Conservatives 48%, NDP 43%, Greens 7%. [3]

What happened

  • Premier David Eby called a snap election for 24 October, framing it as a response to Donald Trump and his trade war. [1]
  • The same day, seven CentreBC MLAs rejoined the Conservative caucus. Lorne Doerkson is the Conservatives' interim leader. [2]
  • Angus Reid's 1–3 October poll had the Conservatives at 48% and the NDP at 43%. [3]
  • Advance voting runs 16–21 October. [1]

Sources: [1] Narcity · [2] Daily Hive · [3] Angus Reid Institute · [4] Vic News (Mainstreet poll)

8-bit drop · #10/18 · CommonChill DeadlineThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

Global · 11–13 Oct 2026

Pakistan suspends the elected government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, run by Imran Khan's party

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 11 Oct: the federal government suspends the elected provincial government, initially for six months. [1]

“We have no problem with the sit-in. Do the sit-in as eagerly as you like; we have no issue with the sit-in.”

Mohsin Naqvi, Pakistan's interior minister, 12 Oct [2]

“The long march has not ended. But a historic crackdown against the party has begun.”

Sheikh Waqas Akram, PTI [2]

What happened

  • On 11 October President Asif Ali Zardari approved the cabinet's call for emergency rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, suspending the provincial government run by jailed former PM Imran Khan's party, PTI. [1]
  • The governor now runs the province with an advisory council, initially for six months. The government cited the province's "deliberate disengagement from the fight against terrorism." [1]
  • Chief Minister Sohail Afridi and some cabinet members were taken into "preventive custody", according to Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry. [2]
  • The law minister says militant violence in the province rose 196% in recent years. [3]

Sources: [1] Al Jazeera · [2] Al Jazeera · [3] AP (via News4Jax)

8-bit drop · #11/18 · CommonMega HeadlineThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

Global · 7–11 Oct 2026

Iran calls the US reply on reopening the Strait of Hormuz "insufficient"

The Strait of Hormuz: closed by attacks and mines since the war began in February. [2]

“They have given their reply, and we consider it insufficient.”

Mohsen Rezaei, Iran's Supreme National Security Council, 11 Oct [2]

“If you don't want a nuclear weapon, then why do you need 60 percent enriched fuel?”

JD Vance, US vice president, to Reuters [1]

What happened

  • Iran's Mohsen Rezaei says the US reply to Iran's seven conditions for reopening the Strait of Hormuz is insufficient. [2]
  • The war began with Israeli and US strikes in February. Iran effectively closed the strait with attacks and mines, and the US blockaded Iranian ports. [2]
  • Vice President JD Vance has called for a "meaningful" cut in Iran's enrichment. Iran has enriched uranium to 60%; weapons grade is about 90%. [1]
  • The US rejected Iran's proposal to manage the strait jointly with Oman. [2]

Sources: [1] Al Jazeera · [2] The National

8-bit drop · #12/18 · CommonRusty NewsieThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

Global · 27 Sept–12 Oct 2026

UK PM Andy Burnham says Iran's Revolutionary Guard was "almost certainly" behind the RAF Fairford incident

RAF Fairford, England: a base US bombers use to strike Iran. Seven men in their 20s are arrested and bailed without charge. [1]

“We will not tolerate these threats on our soil.”

Andy Burnham, UK prime minister, 12 Oct [1]

“You're barking up the wrong tree.”

Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, on X, 30 Sept [5]

What happened

  • Burnham told Parliament on 12 October that the incident at RAF Fairford, a base US bombers use to strike Iran, was "almost certainly directed by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard." [1]
  • Seven men, all in their 20s, have been arrested and released on bail without charge. [1]
  • Police found petrol in the vans but no explosives. [2]
  • Burnham also said Russia interfered in the 2016 Brexit vote, and the UK and EU set a summit in Brussels for 20 November. [3]

Sources: [1] Stars and Stripes · [2] Global News (AP) · [3] The Local (AFP) · [4] WSOC (AP) · [5] Al Jazeera

8-bit drop · #13/18 · CommonShy TickerThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

Global · 10–12 Oct 2026

China sanctions ministers from two of Taiwan's last allies after Lai's National Day speech

In the 24 hours to Saturday morning, Taiwan detects 21 Chinese aircraft and 7 navy ships. [2]

“Our aim by increasing investment in national defence is not to provoke; rather, it is to deter war.”

Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's president, 10 Oct [2]

Two days later, Beijing sanctions ministers from Paraguay and Belize, two of the 12 countries that still recognise Taiwan. [1]

What happened

  • China sanctioned Paraguay's communications minister Gustavo Villate and Belize's foreign minister Francis Fonseca on 12 October, freezing their assets in China. [1]
  • Paraguay and Belize are two of the 12 countries that formally recognise Taiwan. [1]
  • In his 10 October National Day speech, President Lai Ching-te defended a record NT$1.1 trillion (about US$34.5bn) defence budget for 2027, more than 3% of GDP. [2]
  • Beijing's Taiwan Affairs Office said the speech "disregards facts, distorts the truth, misleads the public, and reveals ulterior motives." [2]

Sources: [1] Al Jazeera · [2] Al Jazeera

8-bit drop · #14/18 · CommonCosmic TickerThis week · collect it for your portal and avatar

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