Friday, October 23, 2026

The Justice Department charged Nikki Cole Floris, 46, and Bradley Benavides, 56, former members of the FBI's Foreign Influence Task Force, with making false statements to Congress about their roles investigating Hunter Biden's laptop. Both turned themselves in to federal authorities Friday. FBI Director Kash Patel said the pair lied to Congress in 2023 about matters regarding investigations related to the 2020 election, and said "weaponization will never be tolerated at this FBI."

The Justice Department sued Thursday in Alaska federal court seeking to delay certification of the Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses to Democrat Mary Peltola. The DOJ cited a second candidate, Daniel J. Sullivan, who won 2.5% of the primary vote, arguing ranked-choice voter confusion could have cost the incumbent the election. Trump said he directed the lawsuit.

The Justice Department is investigating former Homeland Security adviser Corey Lewandowski over allegations he improperly profited from his role under Kristi Noem, who has since been ousted as secretary, following a criminal referral from DHS's inspector general. The inquiry reportedly began over a roughly $220 million advertising contract and, according to sources cited by NBC News, expanded after reports he allegedly sought payment from GEO Group, which the company declined. His representative has denied he demanded compensation and said he has not been contacted by the DOJ.

The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that New Hampshire can fully bar voters from using student IDs during the Nov. 3 midterm elections, a request backed by the Republican National Committee. A lower court judge had ruled officials must still consider student IDs when voters lacked other identification. The Supreme Court majority said the judge's intervention came too close to the election. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.

The Justice Department asked the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Thursday to intervene in its lawsuit against California, seeking to temporarily stop the state from counting more than 20,000 mail-in ballots the Trump administration claims were sent to noncitizens on the state's voter rolls.

Meta's board agreed to a deal with CEO Mark Zuckerberg to help fund payment of a proposed California billionaire wealth tax if voters approve it. Zuckerberg had raised concerns that selling shares to pay the tax could weaken his voting control and lead him to leave the state. Rep. Ro Khanna said the deal shows wealthy taxpayers would actually pay such a tax, criticizing opponents of the measure.

Calley Means, a senior adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and leading MAHA advocate, resigned Thursday. He cited "entrenched, dark forces in DC" in a statement on X while voicing "tremendous respect" for Trump and Kennedy. He helped revise dietary guidelines and push food companies to drop artificial dyes. The Wall Street Journal reported, citing unnamed people, that Means was frustrated by delays on policies including defining ultra-processed foods.

President Trump invoked the Cold War-era Defense Production Act on Thursday, directing up to $150 million in federal spending to boost domestic gasoline and diesel production. The move, detailed in a presidential memorandum, allows the administration to offer financial incentives for oil-related activities including drilling, pipeline construction and fuel storage, as the White House seeks to lower consumer gas prices.

President Trump urged Rep. Ilhan Omar to resign Thursday, alleging she used a fake name, after Fox News Digital reported her birth name was Ilhan Nur Said Elmi. Omar denied wrongdoing, calling the claims politically motivated. The Justice Department is investigating whether Omar committed immigration fraud when she became a citizen; a judge gave prosecutors until October 27 to argue for keeping related search warrant documents sealed.

The police officer who fatally shot a 1-year-old boy by firing into a moving vehicle during an alleged shoplifting incident in Senatobia, Mississippi, has resigned, the city's mayor said. The Mississippi attorney general's office had determined the use of force was justified. The boy's family, after reviewing officers' body-worn camera footage, said they do not believe the shooting was justified; their lawyer said an allegation of shoplifting

Israeli officials said two Palestinian gunmen opened fire near Hebron in the occupied West Bank on Friday, wounding five Israelis. The Wall Street Journal and CBS News reported two Israeli soldiers died in the exchange, a death toll not confirmed by other outlets. Israeli soldiers killed both suspected attackers, who the military said carried an M16 rifle and a handgun. Netanyahu ordered a closure of the West Bank, four days before Israel's general election.

A magnitude-7.0 earthquake struck China's Tibet region late Thursday, killing at least 16 people, local authorities said. More than 300 homes were destroyed in the Nagqu region, and injuries rose to 76 while the death toll remained at 16, according to officials. The quake hit a mountainous, sparsely populated area and was described by China's state broadcaster CCTV as the region's biggest in five years. Rescue efforts continue.

Gunmen opened fire Friday during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, killing at least seven people and wounding 34 others, authorities said. King Abdullah II called it a terrorist attack and vowed the "harshest retaliation." A manhunt is underway. Officials said the attack was motivated by extremist ideology; Jordan has moved to protect Christian houses of worship nationwide.

French authorities, including the interior minister, announced they will mobilize 70,000 security forces, backed by military units, for protests expected Saturday. The move aims to prevent a repeat of last weekend's unrest, which injured police officers and damaged stores. The Louvre and other museums will close for the day. Macron met with students amid the preparations.

Typhoon Champi struck Taiwan, killing one person who was swept away by waves off Liuqiu island, authorities said. Schools and workplaces were shut and nearly 1,000 flights were cancelled as the storm brushed past the island, causing widespread travel disruption.

The White House said first lady Melania Trump secured a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine in the front-line city of Oleshky, intended to let humanitarian aid in and residents evacuate. Ukraine and Russia confirmed the truce itself. Residents there have had to eat garden weeds to survive, according to the BBC.

Trump reportedly called Elon Musk to lift speed restrictions on SpaceX's Starshield network that had hampered Ukrainian drone operations, the Wall Street Journal reported. Trump confirmed restrictions were eased but would not confirm making the call, saying "he put it back." Ukrainian soldiers and officials say connections still fail when drones fly at high speeds, despite Trump's statement that the issue was resolved.

El Salvador deployed 100 special forces soldiers to Haiti on Thursday to rescue four Salvadoran soldiers, part of a U.N.-backed multinational force, who were kidnapped by gangs. Bukele said he had launched a military operation and threatened a harsher response if the men are not returned alive. The four are described as aviation technicians who came under attack.

A drive-by shooting in Trappes, outside Paris, left at least one person dead and multiple others injured on Friday. Reuters and CNN reported four wounded, while AP said five were wounded. Police called it a "terrorist incident," and officials said they are investigating it as a potential terrorist act; AP reported it as a suspected racist attack.

The Vatican announced on Friday that Pope Leo XIV will not travel to Assisi as scheduled next week, on the advice of his doctors while he recovers from surgery. Reuters reported the surgery was related to cancer.