President Trump signed an executive order on Friday that waived sweeping new sanctions against Russia and buyers of Russian energy that would have taken effect on Sunday.

The Details: The sanctions were included as part of the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act of 2026, which passed the Senate in July and the House in September with bipartisan support. The sanctions would have included 500% tariffs on Russian goods, 100% tariffs on most countries that bought Russian crude oil or natural gas, and the prohibition of US citizens investing in Russia's energy sector, among other things.

Doubled Down: Trump wrote on Sunday, "My decision on Russia is a very simple one. I am in the process of negotiating Peace in the war between Russia and Ukraine, and don't want to do anything that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table." He added that he wants to maintain a status quo where Russia "is doing very little, if anything" to help Iran "compared to what they could be doing" and that Ukrainian strikes on Russian refineries have hurt American businesses.

Previously: Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) passed away in July, and his sister has since replaced him. The sanctions package passed the Senate in July just after his funeral. Ukrainian President Zelenskyy attended both his funeral and the Senate vote.

More Recently: As diesel prices have surged worldwide, earlier this month, President Trump struck a diesel deal with Russia, which media outlets across the spectrum framed mostly negatively. Trump also called for Ukraine to "get a new president." Last week, Ukraine reported losing access to its Starlink internet service, and media outlets have framed differently whether SpaceX CEO Elon Musk or the Trump administration was more to blame.

Media Framing: Outlets across the spectrum noted that Trump's order drew bipartisan pushback. Outlets from the left generally framed the decision more critically than those on the right. For instance, The New York Post (Right bias) wrote in its headline and lead that Trump "cited" the "national interests of the United States" in the order, whereas NBC News (Lean Left) framed Trump as "arguing" in favor of such. Some outlets, like Fox Business (Lean Right) and BBC News (Center), noted in headlines that Trump wasn't waiving all of the Russia sanctions, while most other outlets didn't include this distinction.

Perspectives: The Wall Street Journal's Editorial Board (Lean Right) described the waiver as "assistance" to Putin, of whom Trump is now the "best friend in the world after, perhaps China's Xi Jinping." UnHerd (Center) contributor Jennifer Kavanagh argued that despite the ongoing "narrative" that Trump goes back and forth between favoring Ukraine and Russia, his "decision-making on Ukraine is far more consistent than this framing implies." She added, "What has always mattered most for Trump is what is best for him and his political future. Right now, that's anything that will push gas prices down to help his party avoid big losses in the midterms… Trump is on no one's side but his own."

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Scenes of unrest and devastation have emerged from France, where, after weeks of protests, riots have swept across many of the country's major cities.

Leading Up: Protests began nearly a month ago when students protested in support of striking teachers and for better overall conditions and resource allocation at their schools. The unrest spread across the country in the following weeks and turned into riots over the weekend – with hundreds of thousands reportedly involved. The unrest drew increased worldwide media attention on October 6 when President Trump wrote on Truth Social, "What's happening in France is nothing less than out of control mass migration. This isn't about schools, this is about Islam wanting to take over a once great Country!"

Latest Developments: French police have reportedly arrested over 1,800 so far this weekend. Rioters have looted businesses, attacked police, and burned down buildings. Notably, a 143-year-old town hall in the city of Limoges was burned and collapsed. Vice President JD Vance shared the footage and wrote, "Western liberals imported the third world into France and other countries in the name of diversity and compassion. They ignored fundamental questions of assimilation and compatibility. They were told it would lead to this, and they didn't listen… And I hope Americans are paying attention. This is the future congressional Democrats seek for your country." Videos of the unrest have circulated widely on social media platforms like X.

For Context: As of Sunday, the unrest has reportedly spilled over into neighboring countries Spain, Italy, and Portugal. The riots come as polls have found President Emmanuel Macron's disapproval rating has risen to over 80%. Macron said on Saturday, "We will all stand united against the sowers of chaos, who seek only to bring down our institutions and prevent those who peacefully express their demands from doing so."

Blame Game: Several media outlets across the spectrum have framed a root cause of the prolonged protesting and now rioting as French citizens' dissatisfaction with schooling and the cost of living. ZeroHedge (Lean Right) wrote, "Corporate media continues to run the narrative that 'demonstrators' are merely kids demanding greater education funding, higher teacher salaries, and protection of pensions and public services from budget cuts. This is the far left, which wants nothing more than to burn down the West." Right-wing leader Marine Le Pen blamed both Macron's policies and the "far-left." Left-wing leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon criticized police for escalating violence and targeting union leaders. French commentator Arnaud Bertrand (Not rated) said, "Pretty funny to see everyone blame this (rightly condemned, to be clear) on whatever their political bogeyman is: I've just seen people say that this is because of, take your pick, 'communism,' 'Islamism,' 'third worldism,' 'Russia,' and 'China.' As if France needed any outside help to riot..." He went on to argue that France is in a fiscal, societal, and political crisis.

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Katie Zacharia has been removed from the White House Press Secretary position after five days.

The Details: A White House official announced on Friday that Zacharia had been "let go" and later that she was "transitioning" out of the position. President Trump told reporters he'd suggested she reconsider the job following public scrutiny, reportedly telling Zacharia, "I'm not sure you can ever be happy in this stuff. There's nothing easy about this stuff." Zacharia was announced as press secretary on Oct. 12 and held her first briefing on Oct. 13.

For Context: According to Reuters (Center bias), Zacharia received a call about the press secretary role on Oct. 7 and was offered the job on Oct. 9. She was set to succeed Karoline Leavitt. Zacharia was previously pressed by reporters on her legal background. On Thursday, Wall Street Journal (Center) published an exclusive report that Zacharia didn't pass the bar exam despite referring to herself as a lawyer in public appearances.

'1/11th of a Scaramucci': The Hill (Center) highlighted social media commentary that compared Zacharia to Anthony Scaramucci, who served as press secretary for 11 days during Trump's first term. It shared Scaramucci's X post saying, "Records are made to be broken. But I take no pleasure in other people's pain." The Hill also shared posts from users who joked about whether Zacharia would last "one Scaramucci" after her first press briefing on Tuesday was "heavily scrutinized." Scaramucci had also wrote on X earlier this week, "The clock is running. Thus far 1/11th of a Scaramucci."

Republican Skepticism: CNN (Lean Left) wrote, "White House press secretary Katie Zacharia's first week was all about Katie Zacharia, when the role should have been about the president and his agenda." The outlet said a "pair of tough Fox News interviews foreshadowed Zacharia's change in fortune," as the questions "reflected serious skepticism about Zacharia's ability to represent the president going forward." CNN described Zacharia being "on the defensive" and said Fox News (Right) host Sean Hannity (Right) "sounded like he was belatedly vetting Zacharia for the job — unintentionally highlighting Trump's lack of vetting."

In Defense of Zacharia: Breitbart (Right) focused on the White House's suggestions that the move was to protect Zacharia. It highlighted quotes from Trump that Zacharia had "been treated very badly by the media…she's been treated very rough." Breitbart also quoted Trump saying, "She's a nice person, very nice person. I've watched her for years on television. But, I said, 'Is this for you Katie? Because honestly, you don't need this.'" It noted Hannity's interview with Zacharia, but emphasized internal praise among the Trump administration for her.

'Fired' vs 'Let Go': In their headlines, outlets on the left more often said Zacharia had been "fired" compared to outlets on the right, which used the White House's phrasing that she'd been "let go" or was "transitioning out."

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The Trump administration filed a lawsuit Thursday against California to block roughly 20,000 voters alleged of being noncitizens.

The Lawsuit: The lawsuit asks a federal judge to keep election officials from counting ballots submitted by the listed voters unless their citizenship status can be verified. Los Angeles County is where most of the alleged ineligible voters are registered, and election officials said they had not opened the thumb drive containing the list of voters "because doing so would conflict with established data privacy and information security protocols," according to The New York Times (Lean Left bias).

'Outraged': Outlets on the right tended to frame the lawsuit around election integrity, with Just The News (Lean Right) calling the issue a "major election integrity showdown." Other outlets like Blaze Media (Right), while also framing the events around election integrity, highlighted California Governor Gavin Newsom (D) being "outraged over [the] Justice Department lawsuit."

'Sad, Desperate Attempt' or 'Opportunity To Self-Correct': Attorney General Todd Blanche said on X that the list of "more than 20,000 individuals who @USCIS and @HSI_HQ identified are likely noncitizens and who are on California's voter rolls" is "of serious concern." Blanche added that "We provided California an opportunity to self correct its records and we requested that it segregate the suspected illegal ballots for the upcoming election." Gov. Newsom also took to X, saying "This is a sad, desperate attempt by Trump to use his politicized Justice Department to try to suppress California voters just three weeks before Election Day." He added that "Courts have made clear the federal government has no role in running state elections."

'Highly Unusual' and 'Highly Inappropriate': Outlets on the left were more likely to frame the lawsuit around previous losses in court, and alleged issues of inaccuracy with other lists created for other states. The Los Angeles Times (Lean Left) highlighted the timing of the lawsuit, citing "experts" saying it is "highly unusual, particularly given that California voters have already begun voting in the Nov. 3 midterms via mail ballots." The article added that state officials said "It's also highly inappropriate and based on questionable federal data that has proved wildly inaccurate in other states."

RELATED: California Vote Count: Delayed For Accuracy or Fraud?

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Eric Deters, a former lawyer and Republican candidate, has sued former US ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle. The defamation lawsuit involves statements related to text messages that reportedly showed her asking him to pay $100,000 toward her personal debts.

The Details: Deters filed the lawsuit in Kentucky state court on Thursday, saying Guilfoyle and her legal team made false statements about his allegations. The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) previously reported on messages that appeared to show Guilfoyle asking Deters to send money to her American Express account. Guilfoyle's lawyer questioned whether the messages were authentic and said she was owed money for travel and events organized by Deters. Deters denied owing her money and says he previously paid her $300,000 in speaking fees.

For Context: Guilfoyle resigned from her post earlier this week, at the request of the White House, after a series of revealing reports from The Wall Street Journal. Days prior, n anonymous US official told Associated Press (Lean Left) President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio were "extremely pissed off" by Guilfoyle's alleged conduct. She has called the allegations false and said she would defend her reputation. President Trump said the administration did not like what it was reading about the situation. According to one of The Journal's reports, Guilfoyle told Greek officials that the US played a role in the collapse of the Romanian government earlier this year

What Happens Next: Deters said he plans to question Guilfoyle and Donald Trump Jr., Trump's eldest son, who was previously engaged to Guilfoyle. Deters has also said he would drop the lawsuit if Trump takes action on a separate legal case involving Abubakar Atiq Durrani, a doctor who is accused of fraudulently performing unnecessary spine surgeries on hundreds of patients at Cincinnati-area hospitals.

How The Media Covered It: Media outlets across the political spectrum covered the lawsuit and Guilfoyle's resignation, but New York Post (Lean Right) used more dramatic language and emphasized Deters' broader allegations and demands. CBS News (Lean Left) focused on the defamation lawsuit, the disputed text messages and the competing claims from Deters and Guilfoyle's legal team. The Post gave more attention to Deters' demand that Trump help secure a physician's extradition in exchange for dropping the lawsuit, along with his claims that he has more damaging information about Guilfoyle. 

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Earlier this week, claims spread on social media that Ukrainian strikes on Russian data centers had torpedoed online traffic to conservative voices such as Tucker Carlson (Right bias) or Germany's populist right-wing AfD party. Now, mainstream media outlets across the spectrum have pushed back on the claims as potential misinformation.

Ukrainian Strikes: On Oct. 12, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "When our strikes reached Yandex's data centers, it suddenly became a little easier to breathe on many social media platforms. A lot of people noticed it. There was less hate, less division, and fewer provocations. Because there were fewer bots. And it's pretty clear where those bots were coming from." BBC News (Center) reached out to Zelenskyy's office and reported, "Zelensky's office told BBC Verify the president was 'talking about the atmosphere on social media' rather than a fall in bot activity. It added it had seen 'reports of fewer provocative and hateful comments' from many social media users."

Western Commentators: Conservative commentator Matt Tardio, who appears to be very critical of Russia and supportive of Israel, claimed on Oct. 13 that several Western commentators who have been critical of American foreign policy regarding both Russia and Israel saw dramatic declines. Specifically, he singled out Tucker Carlson, Max Blumenthal (Left), Douglas Macgregor, Scott Ritter, Ben Swann, and Rick Sanchez. Several prominent individuals, including Bill Browder, an American who previously managed huge investments in Russia, and writer and former British politician Louise Mench, spread the claims and criticized Carlson. Laura Loomer (Right) wrote on Oct. 12, "I for one am thankful to see less Russian bots online sharing Tucker Qatarlson's content and accusing everyone of being a pedophile and an Israeli spy."

RELATED: Laura Loomer Pivots on Ukraine After Press Trip to the Country | AllSides

AfD: Czech Member of the European Parliament Tomáš Zdechovský claimed on Oct. 11 that AfD-related online activity saw a steep decline, though he noted it was unconfirmed. On Oct. 12, Polish cybersecurity outlet Niebezpiecznik claimed the graph was fake and generated with AI by a 24-year-old flight attendant. German state media outlet DW News (Center) published a fact check on Oct. 14 that concluded, "There is no clear evidence linking the attacks to a decline in bot activity." DW noted, "Particularly striking is that the graph extends to October 15… when the graph first appeared online on October 11. Data for a future date cannot exist."

Critical Commentators: Glenn Greenwald (Center) wrote on Oct. 13, "Nothing is easier than feeding people fake stories about Russia and then having them spread it mindlessly and uncritically. Even after we watched the US media and Democratic Party do exactly this for 3 years, only for it to be exposed as a hoax, it just continues unimpeded." Ilya Zolovsky, senior editor of the US NGO Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, wrote on Oct. 12, "Last night I was struck – really, almost radicalized – watching in real time as experts at the heights of their careers boosted emotionally satisfying narratives that were pretty much entirely wrong." In his own analysis, he concluded the claims were "based on data that has been misunderstood or appears to be entirely made up."

RELATED: Is Europe Preparing for a Wider Conflict With Russia? | AllSides

Russian Media: Kremlin-funded RT (Lean Right) published an analysis in which it compared the "'Russian bots' lie" to the long-running media narrative that Russia has been engaged in "hybrid war" against EU states. It noted that some of the first prominent organizations and commentators to pour cold water on the claims have previously been very critical of the Russian establishment. RT concluded the story "fell apart the moment it was subjected to some basic scrutiny."

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Ukraine accused Elon Musk's SpaceX for throttling Starlink technology which impeded both frontline operations and defense capabilities against Russian attacks.

For Context: Starlink services are crucial for both communications and the operation of drone technology and intelligence gathering in Ukraine's fight against Russia. The military version, however, called Starshield, is owned and operated by the US government, according to Musk. Musk took to social media on Wednesday, refuting claims that he had anything to do with the technology slowdown, saying "Starshield systems are owned and controlled by the US government. Any limits on speed or usage are decided by the Us military and ultimately POTUS." He further explained that "Starlink is a commercial service owned and controlled by SpaceX. Usage of Starlink is limited to civilian or defensive activities and cannot be used for offensive military action, as doing so would be inappropriate for a commercial company." Sources reported that services were cut off for objects that traveled more than 100 miles an hour but have since been restored to full capacity according to reporting from Axios (Lean Left bias).

'Close Trump Ally': NBC News (Lean Left) highlighted Ukrainian officials saying the "timing could not be a coincidence given that Musk is a close Trump ally."

US-Ukraine Relationship: Axios highlighted the "strained" relationship between the US and Ukraine, saying "the Trump administration sided with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week by lifting sanctions on Russian oil sales." The article also mentioned that after services were fully restored, "Ukraine conducted a strike overnight against a Russian oil refinery—defying President Trump's demand that it stop hitting those facilities."

'Get a New President': President Donald Trump, after securing the new deal with Russia for oil and diesel fuel, said "it's time for Ukraine to get a new president." The US has contracts that ensure intelligence sharing with Ukraine, and according to a Wall Street Journal (Center) report, no explicit threats were made to stop sharing intel. However, a Reuters (Center) report claimed the "US has threatened to cut off intelligence and arms supplies to Ukraine."

'Pointed To The Trump Admin': Fox News (Right) highlighted Ukraine's "scrambl[ing] to reverse new Starshield restrictions put in place by the trillionaire's [Musk's] company that disrupted operations and threatened Kyiv's ability to intercept Russian attack drones," adding that "Musk pointed to the Trump administration." The article also mentioned that "Musk did not say whether President Donald Trump, War Secretary Pete Hegseth or another U.S. official personally authorized the new restriction or explain why it was imposed."

RELATED: Elon Musk Gives $276 Million to Republican Groups Ahead of Midterms

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President Trump on Thursday called off the public execution of Fort Hood shooter and former Army Maj., Nidal Malik Hasan.

The Details: In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote he didn't want to subject "good and well-meaning" people to the sight. The public execution was set to take place on Dec. 3 at 1 p.m., the same time Hasan had opened fire at Fort Hood in 2009. It received bipartisan criticism from election officials and the public, with 71% of Americans saying they were opposed to having executions broadcast live. Hasan is still set to be executed by firing squad on Dec. 3, and Trump said the victims' families would be allowed to attend in person.

Fort Hood Shooting: Hasan killed 13 people and injured 32 others after opening fire at Fort Hood, Texas. According to The Hill (Center bias), Hasan, an American-born Muslim, said he'd "switched sides" in the US-Afghanistan war. During the attack, he was also shot by police and paralyzed.

For Context: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced last week that Hasan's execution by firing squad would be made public and live streamed. Hegseth defended the decision to reporters, saying, "people need to understand that there's serious consequences for these types of things." The last public execution in the US was over 60 years ago.

Praise for the Cancellation: Fox News (Right) highlighted praise from Fort Hood survivors, who called the decision "a positive move" and that the cancellation "proves that we are a better people, a better nation, and that we're not barbaric." The Blaze (Right) said the cancellation had many Christians "expressing gratitude," specifically Catholics. It said that group "took exception" to the public execution despite it being "praised by many."

A 'Rebuke' of Hegseth: The Washington Post (Lean Left) framed the decision as Trump "a significant rebuke" of Hegseth, who it said "has remained in the president's good graces through numerous controversies." It described what appeared to be internal division between Trump's allies over the public execution, saying Hegseth "touted his live-stream plan," while Vice President Vance, House Speaker Mike Johnson and Trump all expressed concern or said they wouldn't be watching. The Associated Press (Lean Left) also noted praise for the cancellation from Catholic members and reported that Trump "had for days distanced himself from Hegseth's announcement."

Quote Placement and Photo Bias: At the top of their articles, the Washington Post and Associated Press both included a quote from President Trump saying the execution "might have been a strong deterrent for the World to witness how America deals with Terrorists and SCUM like Hasan." Fox News included the quote lower down in its coverage. Washington Post also used a photo of Hegseth looking uncomfortable as its story photo, which could reflect photo bias considering its story angle.

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President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that "Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland."

The Announcement: Trump made the announcement about the "massive" exploration in Greenland on his Truth Social account, saying "There are Experts that are saying that the amount of easily available Oil is far greater than that of almost any land, anywhere in the World and, even more importantly, from a Security Purpose in the Defense and Offense of both the United States of America, and Europe, is second to none. Any future attack on the United States will have to come across Greenland, where our Defense will routinely knock down drones, missiles, or any other form of weapon not yet even conceived. It gives us time, location, and sightline, like nowhere else in the World!"

'Pushed Back': Some outlets on the left, like CNN (Lean Left bias) highlighted that the deal between the US, Denmark, and Greenland signed last month does not change the fact that Greenland is autonomous and has a "right to self-determination." The article also mentioned that "if the US wants to explore Greenland's resources, it would have to do so within the Arctic Island's legislation." CNN cited Greenland's deputy mining minister Jørgen Hammeken-Holm saying that while "there are activities by US companies" taking place within Greenland, that it is "very far away from 'massive' exploration." According to CNN, "Greenland's government pushed back against President Donald Trump's claim" of "massive" exploration beginning.

'Strategically Important Arctic Island': Fox News (Right) framed the announcement around the "strategically important" nature of the island, providing details on the agreement such as restrictions on military installations by non-NATO countries and "safeguards against potentially threatening foreign investments in sensitive sectors, including natural resources and critical infrastructure." The article also highlighted a White House official saying, "American leaders have recognized the strategic importance of Greenland for over a century, adding that "Only President Trump had both the vision and the ability to convert that recognition into a strategic victory for the United States."

'Our New And Beautiful Greenland': Newsweek (Center) said that Trump "touted a new program to explore oil, gas and mineral deposits," while highlighting that he referred to the development by saying "our new and beautiful Greenland." The outlet also mentioned that "The deal followed months of threats by Trump to take over the island, by force if necessary." However, the outlet mentioned later in the coverage that both "Denmark and Greenland" had "welcomed the deal Trump announced last month, saying it means that Arctic security would come under the protection of NATO, rather than just the U.S. and Copenhagen."

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American Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle has resigned at the White House's request after a series of reports from The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) alleged misconduct.

WH Position: Elina Shirazi of The Daily Mail (Lean Right) asked the new White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia during her expedited first briefing on Tuesday about a "timeline" for when Guilfoyle may be fired. Zacharia replied, "We have asked Ambassador Guilfoyle to resign. She has been a wonderful asset to the team, and we wish her well." Trump told reporters, "She was doing a good job, but… I didn't like what I read."

Guilfoyle's Statement: Guilfoyle announced her resignation on X. She said as ambassador she "helped secure historic agreements to expand American liquefied natural gas exports to Europe, advanced the Vertical Corridor to reduce Europe's dependence on Russian energy, strengthened our defense and security partnership with a critical NATO ally, and expanded opportunities for American businesses." On The Journal's reporting, she said, "These allegations are false, and I intend to vigorously defend my name, my reputation, and my integrity… I will not allow false accusations to define my decades of public service." She added, "I will always be a loyal supporter of President Trump and his mission to Make America Great Again."

WSJ Reporting: Over the past few weeks, The Journal published three separate exclusive reports on Guilfoyle's conduct. The first report detailed her "persistent promotion" of the Greek energy firm Aktor as she worked to promote an international US liquefied natural gas pipeline in the region. It also spawned a separate storyline that Guilfoyle had reportedly boasted about being involved in the April collapse of the Romanian government. Top Democrats called for a probe into Guilfoyle following the report. The second report revealed that she asked a Trump donor to pay down a $100,000 credit card bill of hers in exchange for access to the president days before her confirmation hearing. The third report claimed she bragged about a pair of wealthy Greek businessmen who funded luxury vacations for her.

RELATED: Did the Trump Administration Help Topple Romania's Government Earlier This Year? | AllSides

Rumblings: On Monday, Associated Press (Lean Left) reported speaking to an anonymous "senior US official" who said Trump and Rubio were "extremely pissed off" with Guilfoyle after reading The Journal's report and were considering firing her.

How The Media Covered It: Outlets from the left generally authored more charged headlines than outlets from the right or center. The New York Times (Lean Left), which described The Journal's reporting as "damaging," wrote, "'Honey Please': The Steep Rise and Sudden Fall of Kimberly Guilfoyle." The Daily Beast (Left) wrote, "​​Trump Delivers Brutal Parting Diss to Kimberly Guilfoyle." Jacob Sullum of Reason (Center) argued that Guilfoyle's alleged corruption "pales" in comparison to Trump's "presidential profiteering." He described the $100,000 that she allegedly sought as "pocket change" compared to ways Trump has capitalized on his office. The National Review's (Right) Editorial Board called Guilfoyle's alleged corruption "disturbing, but not unexpected" and suggested, "The Republican worry has to be that if Democrats take the House, their investigations will expose similar self-dealing, and not 5,000 miles away in a picturesque European country."

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The 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday ruled that California can't enforce ICE agents to display identification while on duty.

The Details: A three-judge panel unanimously voted that the state's No Vigilantes Act violated the Constitution Supremacy Clause, which established that federal law takes precedence over conflicting state law. The judges said that states generally can't regulate federal operations without congressional approval. The law would've required non-uniformed and plainclothes law enforcement officers to display visible identification, such as their name, badge number or agency.

For Context: California had enacted the No Vigilantes Act and the No Secret Police Act in response to ongoing ICE raids, saying the goal was to increase "transparency and accountability" for federal agents. The Justice Department sued to block the law last fall, arguing it unconstitutionally regulated federal operations. Over a dozen other states have pursued similar laws.

Other California Laws: The New York Post (Right bias) said that despite legal challenges, "Democrats in California have continued with their crusade against ICE agents." The outlet said Wednesday's ruling could be "a blow" to other newly enacted laws also targeting federal agents. The Post Millennial (Right) described the ruling as a "blow to Gavin Newsom." It noted the Justice Department's concerns that California's laws could expose federal agents and put officers at risk of doxxing. The Post Millennial also reported that one of the judges in the opinion was appointed by former President Obama and another was appointed by President Trump.

'Disappointment': The Hill (Center) quoted California Attorney General Rob Bonta who said he was "disappointed" by the ruling and that law enforcement's refusal to identify themselves "undermines our collective safety." The Hill framed the debate as California lawmakers fighting against the Trump administration, citing other times that Bonta has accused the Trump administration of stepping "well outside the boundaries of normal practice" with law enforcement.

Voter Sentiment: The Los Angeles Times (Lean Left) contextualized the ruling within a September poll showing a 40% disapproval rating of Trump's handling of immigration. The outlet said the decision comes as ICE "is quietly shedding many of the 12,000 new recruits it hired last year" and that despite "public outrage over Trump's militarized mass deportation efforts…[immigration] remains a potent election issue." The LA Times also highlighted voter concerns over the spread of measles, the cost of living, the Iran war and data center proliferation.

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Cornell University banned its fraternity houses from hosting parties and social events as the investigation and lawsuit around Jane Doe's alleged gang rape by seven fraternity members continues.

The Details: University President Michael Kotlikoff announced the directive on Tuesday, barring all fraternities on the university's Interfraternity Council from hosting events for the rest of the school year. He also announced that the university will add staff to the Office of Civil Rights who will specifically help individuals report sexual misconduct and navigate the investigation process.

For Context: Cornell and seven former members of Cornell's chapter of the Chi Phi fraternity are in the midst of a civil suit brought by victim Jane Doe, who alleged she was coerced into taking drugs at a Chi Phi fraternity party and then sexually assaulted by seven male members of the fraternity in 2024. The victim accused the university of inadequately responding to the reported crime.

Pushback Against the Ban: An attorney for one of the defendants in Doe's lawsuit said, "Shutting down Greek social events doesn't mean students will stop getting together. Some gatherings may simply move off campus, where there's even less oversight… If Cornell wants to make students safer, it needs to do the harder work: establish consistent safety standards across campus, educate students about alcohol and consent, enforce the rules, improve reporting, and investigate allegations fairly."

How the Media Covered It: NPR (Lean Left bias) wrote that the details of Doe's allegation "sparked fury across the nation" and noted that Cornell's new directive came after student groups hosted protests on the campus. It also reported that Doe's lawyer claimed that Doe has been sent death threats since filing the lawsuit. BBC (Center) wrote that fraternities have existed at US colleges and universities "for decades," but that the organizations have "become notorious for binge-drinking, partying, and dangerous hazing rituals" over the years. Fox News (Right) reported that some of the accused men in the case have asked for New York Attorney General Letitia James to be taken off the case due to the fact that she previously made X posts in support of Doe.

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Following the Monday morning raid of Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-MN) home in Washington DC, theories around Omar's US citizenship have emerged as plausible reasons behind the raid.

'A Big Clue': The New York Post (Right bias) highlighted changes concerning Omar's birth date in public records shortly after the start of her congressional term. The article explained that "Omar's birthdate had been listed in the Minnesota Legislative Reference Library as Oct. 4, 1981, as well as on reference sites such as Wikipedia and in media outlets like the BBC, for the entire time she served in the state House and for several months into her congressional term." The change to 1982, according to the Post, is an "alteration [that] could offer a big clue as to what federal immigration agents were searching for when they raided her DC home," adding that the switch has "spurred frenzied accusations that she misrepresented her age to secure US citizenship." If the 1981 date is correct, the outlet explained "that would mean she couldn't have legally become a US citizen in 2000," because she would not have been a minor.

'Extremely Unusual': Some outlets on the left, like The Washington Post (Lean Left) and The Independent (Lean Left) framed the developments around the timing, with the Post saying, "it is extremely unusual for federal agents to take public investigative actions related to a member of Congress just weeks before an election because doing so could cast a candidate who is not criminally charged in a negative light." The Independent echoed this framing, saying "The timing of the latest probe against Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, a longtime Trump target, has raised eyebrows with just weeks to go until the midterm elections." The Washington Post article said that the raid, according to three people familiar with the matter, "centers on claims that she [Omar] or her late father may have lied on decades-old immigration paperwork to secure legal status and eventually U.S. citizenship." The article also highlighted that "Omar—a Minnesota Democrat who was born in Somalia and fled civil war there with her family before eventually immigrating to the United States in 1995—has repeatedly rejected such allegations, which have circulated in conservative media for years."

RELATED: Ilhan Omar Corrects Filings That Said She Was Worth Up to $30M, Blames Accounting Error

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Over the past three months, trillionaire Elon Musk has given $276 million to several Republican super PACs and organizations.

The Details: Musk gave $158 million to the Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC backing Republican Senate candidates, between July and September. He also gave $20 million to the Congressional Leadership Fund, an organization supporting GOP House candidates. Musk's own America PAC received more than $76 million, while the Lone Star Liberty PAC backing Texas Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton received $10 million; the Republican Governors Association received $10 million; and the Republican Attorneys General Association received $2 million.

'Midterm Rescue Mission': Some outlets like Reason (Center bias) featured the opinion that "Republicans are in trouble," and writer Liz Wolfe said that "Elon Musk is trying to bail them out." According to Wolfe, "The case for self-interest is strong," explaining that "Musk's companies are rather politically exposed" and that he "depends on government contracts, licenses, and regulatory goodwill." The New York Times (Lean Left) similarly said that Musk's spending is a "Midterm Rescue Mission for Republicans," asserting that his spending is "building a huge turnout operation to help the party battle headwinds in the midterm elections."

'Eye-Popping, Nine-Figure Sum': Outlets on the right, like The New York Post (Right) tended to highlight that the funds are helping in what the Post article called "tough House and Senate races." The Post also called the funding by Musk "quite the turnaround," explaining that he "famously had a falling out with President Trump last year and announced he was leaving the Republican Party to form his own America Party."

RELATED: Elon Musk Reportedly Reviving America PAC Ahead of Midterm Elections

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Georgia's Democratic gubernatorial nominee, Keisha Lance Bottoms, debated by herself on Monday after her Republican opponent, Rick Jackson, declined to participate.

The Details: Bottoms answered questions from two journalists for 30 minutes next to an empty podium on Monday night. In her opening remarks, she said, "Rick Jackson is the first gubernatorial candidate not to stand here in 32 years. He would rather hide behind his billions than explain to you his record of making billions off the taxpayers of Georgia." Jackson's campaign told WSB-TV (not rated) that he had a scheduling conflict and was campaigning in the Savannah area. Jackson told reporters earlier on Monday that, "Out of probably 10,000 people I've talked to, not one of them has mentioned anything about a debate because that's not important to the people."

For Context: Bottoms and Jackson previously debated on October 6 during a town hall hosted by Atlanta News First. Jackson also participated in the first round of gubernatorial debates in April. Bottoms had agreed to six debates during the general election season. Incumbent Gov. Brian Kemp (R) is term-limited, making this election in Georgia an open seat.

How the Media Covered It: Outlets on the left and Newsweek (Center bias) described Jackson as a "billionaire" in their reporting and included how much money he's spent during his campaign. Fox News (Right) conversely described Jackson as a businessman and philanthropist. The Daily Beast (Left) said Jackson "was left humiliated after dodging a high-profile debate." The outlet said Bottoms was left to "roast an empty podium" and "took full advantage of the bizarre optics" created by Jackson's absence. Daily Beast also highlighted Jackson's ties to MAGA and President Trump. Fox News focused on Bottoms being the former Atlanta mayor and a senior advisor to former President Biden. Newsweek described the debate as "unusual" and mentioned that if Bottoms wins, she would become the first black woman to serve as governor in the US.

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Outlets across the spectrum have framed President Trump's recent diesel deal with Russia negatively, with criticisms ranging from the impact it could have on the 2026 midterm elections to how it could benefit Russia.

From the Right: The Washington Examiner (Lean Right bias) called the deal "worse-than-useless" and said it won't help the Republicans win over voters who are upset with high energy prices. The outlet wrote, "It is too tiny and comes too late to change anyone's mind about the economy. Worse, it provides much-needed economic relief to a Russian war machine that continues its unrelenting attacks on Ukraine." The National Review (Right) made a similar case and added that it makes Trump look "desperate" and domestically politically weak, something that "will be a rich source of pressure points" for American adversaries. In an opinion for The Atlantic (Left), David Frum (Lean Right) called the deal a "potential lifesaver" for Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow-based Andrew Korybko (Lean Right) approached commentary from a different angle than most Western commentators and described the deal as part of a "pressure campaign against China."

From the Center: In an opinion for UnHerd (Center), David Rundell said Trump's deal matters "more from a geopolitical perspective" than anything, and whether it helps Republicans in the upcoming midterms "remains to be seen." He implied that in the long-term, the deal may do more damage to public opinion on the American and European perceptions of each other. He said Americans "increasingly view European governments" as taking advantage of America's energy exports to keep their own prices down while falling short of NATO defense commitments, and that Europeans now "see a transactional Trump administration extorting its allies for domestic political purposes."

RELATED: Diesel Prices Soar Across the West as Trump Considers US Export Ban

From the Left: The Guardian (Left) highlighted comments from analysts. One argued the amount released will be too small and claimed it won't make it to the US until the end of the month. Another said the deal's "full terms are highly unlikely to be met as a result of the impact of Ukrainian drone strikes on Russian refining which have limited its diesel output." In an opinion for The Atlantic, Jonathan Lemire and Simon Shuster framed the deal as a "boost to Russia's faltering economy" that undermines sanctions and an attempt by Trump to scapegoat Ukraine – which has continuously bombed Russian oil refineries – for high energy prices. The New York Times (Lean Left) highlighted how the deal has "stunned" European governments, which have maintained a hardened stance toward and energy sanctions on Russia but are close allies of the United States.

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Katie Zacharia hosted her first press briefing as the new White House press secretary on Tuesday and halted proceedings at 14 minutes. Outlets across the political spectrum described her appearance as "nervous." Outlets from the left and center highlighted additional information about Zacharia's background and the potential challenges she will face in the role.

The Details: New York Post (Right bias) wrote that Zacharia was "visibly nervous" and stumbled over her words, such as when she accidentally referred to her husband as the president. President Donald Trump said, "I thought she was very good." The Post also shared comments from Trump Administration officials, one of whom said Zacharia looked "absolutely stunning" and that the official "loved that she shared a little about her personal story, her family, and how she plans to balance motherhood with the high demands of the job."

A 'Devoted Fan' of Trump: NPR (Lean Left) included Trump's statement that Zacharia is "a devoted fan and member of MAGA" with an "unblemished record of support." NPR claimed that Zacharia has used social media "to amplify right-wing conspiracy theories," such as claims that Democratic leaders were involved in pedophile rings. NPR also noted that Zacharia stepped in as spokesperson "at a moment when his popularity has fallen to record lows and Republicans are scrambling to limit potential losses in the midterm elections."

What Challenges Will She Face? Newsweek (Center) highlighted that Zacharia will face challenges such as defending the administration's record before midterms, explaining the president's shifting foreign policy positions, and building credibility with the press in the midst of ongoing legal battles between the White House and some outlets. Newsweek reported that "voters have expressed dissatisfaction with Trump's performance" in areas like the economy and the cost of living, meaning that her responses in the briefing room "will be closely watched and could quickly become campaign talking points for both parties." The outlet also highlighted that though Zacharia has experience appearing on "Trump-aligned" outlets like Fox News (Right) and Newsmax (Right), she will need to handle questions from "a wider array of media."

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President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio are considering firing US Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle after The Wall Street Journal (Center bias) published a series of revealing reports on her conduct, according to a new report from Associated Press (Lean Left).

The Scoop: AP reported speaking to an anonymous "senior US official" who said Trump and Rubio are "extremely pissed off" by Guilfoyle's reported conduct and will decide on a course of action later this week. AP wrote, "Rubio had been particularly angry, not least because he visited Athens just last week and Guilfoyle attended most, if not all, of his events and greeted him on his arrival with a bear hug as the allegations swirled." A second anonymous official said the State Department is doing its own investigation into the allegations.

Response: Guilfoyle's lawyers rejected that she had done anything wrong and said in a released statement, "Ambassador Guilfoyle has served, and will continue to serve, with integrity, honor and distinction. We are evaluating all available legal remedies to collect this debt and any other potential causes of action." Rubio told reporters in Athens on Oct. 8, "You guys walk around thinking that because some source told you something and you reported it, it's the gospel. It's not the gospel."

Report #1: On Sept. 25, WSJ reported on Guilfoyle's close involvement with 39-year-old American Christos Marafatsos and "persistent promotion" of Aktor, a Greek energy firm he lobbies for. It described Guilfoyle as having so far played "one of the Trump administration's most important diplomatic roles" in how she has promoted a "vertical gas corridor" designed to carry US liquefied natural gas from Greece, through Central and Eastern Europe to Ukraine. This report also spawned a separate storyline that Guilfoyle had reportedly bragged about the April collapse of the Romanian government, suggesting that the Trump administration was responsible for it and could topple the Greek government as well. Top Democrats called for a probe into Guilfoyle following the report. 

RELATED: Did the Trump Administration Help Topple Romania's Government Earlier This Year? | AllSides

Report #2: On Oct. 7, WSJ published text messages between Guilfoyle and Trump donor Eric Deters in which she asked him to pay a $100,000 credit card bill for her, days before her first ambassador confirmation hearing. Previously, in January, Guilfoyle told Deters that some of his public commentary about their "private arrangement" – in which she would provide him access to President Trump – would "literally cost [her her] ambassadorship." A representative for Guilfoyle said she disputed the authenticity of the messages but didn't elaborate further. WSJ noted that also on Oct. 7, at a press conference in Athens, Rubio said she was doing a "great job" and had been a "strong" ambassador. WSJ stood behind its reporting in a video short posted on Oct. 9.

Report #3: On Oct. 10, WSJ reported that it had obtained an audio recording from the 2026 World Economic Forum in which Guilfoyle allegedly bragged about a pair of wealthy Greek businessmen who were funding luxury travel for her. WSJ said that in the recording, Guilfoyle confirmed that she flew to the conference with Aktor CEO Alexandros Exarchou.

For Context: While the US government provides housing and official travel for ambassadors, many expenses, such as hosting guests for dinners or other functions, generally come out of the ambassador's own pocket. Guilfoyle was engaged to Donald Trump Jr. from 2020 until 2024 and previously worked as a Fox News (Right) host.

Bias Notes: WSJ's reporting included notable bias against Guilfoyle. While it prominently provided comments from Guilfoyle's representatives, WSJ often slanted coverage by including some of Guilfoyle's most expletive statements or using charged phrasing. For instance, in its Oct. 10 feature, it said Guilfoyle was "flexing connections" and "expressed fury." In several reports, it also described her as a "MAGA icon."

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Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) raided Rep. Ilhan Omar's (D-MN) home in Washington, DC, on Monday, according to "a source familiar with the matter" cited by Fox News (Right bias).

The Details: Fox reported, "Two sources close to the investigation say the search stems from a criminal fraud investigation into the Somali-born congresswoman's immigration paperwork, which was filled out by her late father when she was a child." The investigation led to HSI executing "a judicially authorized search warrant secured by the Department of Justice [DOJ]," according to an unnamed DOJ spokesperson.

Media Framing: Fox broke the "still-developing" story first, while New York Post (Right), Daily Mail (Lean Right), Associated Press (Lean Left), and others closely followed. Fox labeled HSI "the principal [sic] investigative arm of [Department of Homeland Security (DHS)]" and highlighted that the department "plays a major front-line role in America's counterterrorism operations." New York Post included the same context and noted the immigration probe in its headline, framing the investigation as more judicious. Daily Beast's (Left) headline, on the other hand, said Trump "wants [Omar] thrown in jail," framing the investigation as more of a personal vendetta.

The Beast emphasized the vendetta narrative in its report, quoting President Donald Trump's Truth Social post in January in which he stated, "'Scammer' Ilhan Omar and her absolutely terrible friends from Somalia should all be in jail right now, or far worse, send them back to Somalia." The outlet highlighted that Omar has been a US citizen since 2000 – a fact omitted by many outlets on the right. HuffPost (Left) further framed Omar as "one of the first Muslim women elected to Congress."

RELATED: Ilhan Omar's Somalia Comments Spark Calls for Deportation | AllSides

Investigation Origins: HuffPost reported, "[Border Czar Tom Homan] had said the administration was investigating Omar over allegations – made by the president without evidence – that she married her brother to get US citizenship." New York Post said the allegations were rather, "that she married her brother in order to help him secure a US visa or student loans." New York Post did highlight Omar's denial of the claims "as baseless bigotry" and noted, "No formal criminal charges or court filings have been brought against Omar to date," but it also contextualized other allegations against her, such as tax fraud.

RELATED: Trump Names Former ICE Director Tom Homan as 'Border Czar' | AllSides

Reuters' (Center) initial and brief report did not provide any additional information or context, but it noted that the investigation is ongoing, as did most other news outlets. Reuters also highlighted the anonymity of Fox's sources.

For Context: Minneapolis police officers reportedly raided Omar's son Adnan's home in late August; however, outlets across the political spectrum omitted this as context, as the raid did not appear to involve Adnan directly – police arrested Adnan's roommate, Abdulrahman Abdi, on a weapons charge after finding no proof of his insurance or license at an earlier traffic stop.

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The increase in data centers across the US is influencing voters ahead of midterm elections. Outlets across the political spectrum noted how the topic has split both voters and candidates, while some outlets on the left highlighted the turn against Republican candidates.

Data Center Construction: Data from Cleanview Research shows that 75% of data centers under construction and 80% of data centers in the planning stages are located in predominantly Republican states. A CBS News (Lean Left bias) and YouGov (Center) poll showed that 50% of Americans opposed data center construction in their area and that many believed they would create short-term jobs but not long-term jobs. CBS reported that while more Republicans think data centers are needed for competitiveness, a majority of them opposed the construction of data centers near them.

In State Races: Fox News (Right) reported that data centers-related policies were on seven ballots, including in California, Florida, Illinois, Kansas, Nevada, Ohio and Wisconsin, which it said "underscor[es] how quickly data centers have become a political flashpoint." It noted divides in elections across the country, including in Texas where candidates debated tax breaks for data centers, meanwhile Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) paused data center permitting.

The Economist (Lean Left) argued President Trump's messaging around data center development "isn't landing with his own supporters" and highlighted races in Nevada, Colorado and Ohio where Democrats were campaigning on stricter restrictions on data centers. CBS also reported some Republican nominees were breaking with Trump on data centers and that the issue seemed to be "the single issue where Democratic and Republican candidates sound nearly identical." The outlet reported campaigns have spent $45 million this year on ads that mention data centers — most of them in opposition.

RELATED: The Insight: The Data Center Dilemma | AllSides

Among Republican Voters: A Fox News poll found 71% of American voters opposed building a data center in their area, but that 52% supported building them in remote locations, while 44% opposed. It also reported that Republican voters more often supported AI and data centers compared to Democrat voters. Conversely, The Economist claimed that data centers were "turning Trump voters into Democrats" as the number of those planning to vote Democrat has risen from 54% to 61% among those living within a mile of a data center. It reported that 17% of people living within 1.2 miles of data centers who voted for Trump in 2024 said they would support a Democrat now — compared to 6% of Trump voters elsewhere.

Democrat Messaging: The Hill (Center) shared a memo sent by The Tech Oversight Project, a tech watchdog group, that outlined messaging for Democrat candidates. The memo discussed the cost to voters, saying that "Big Tech companies have claimed billions in federal and state subsidies" and taxpayers are left "holding the bill." The Hill said the memo also underscored that Republicans are aware data centers are a problem for some of their candidates, including in Ohio. The outlet argued Democrats "have increasingly viewed data centers as a means of knocking their GOP opponents over cost of living and corruption concerns."

RELATED: Amazon Announces $1 Billion for Communities Near Its Data Centers | AllSides

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