Saturday, October 18
Headlines
Win McNamee/Getty Images
Trump and Zelensky met amid push to end the war. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky came to the White House yesterday after President Trump said he believes he can convince Russia’s Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peace deal with Ukraine. During the meeting, Trump told journalists that fulfilling Ukraine’s request for Tomahawk missiles capable of reaching targets deep in Russia could lead to escalation, and said that he’d rather end the war without them, a departure from earlier comments suggesting he was ready to supply Ukraine with the weapons. But the president said that discussions on the subject are ongoing, while Zelensky suggested Ukraine could share its drone tech with the US in return. His visit came a day after Trump and Putin discussed the war by phone and agreed to meet in Budapest next week.—SK
John Bolton pleaded not guilty to mishandling classified information. Bolton—who served as a national security advisor during President Trump’s first term before becoming one of his most vocal critics—appeared in court yesterday to plead not guilty to the government’s case accusing him of emailing classified information to his family and keeping sensitive documents in his home. His recent indictment made him the third prominent critic of Trump to be hit with criminal charges in recent weeks. However, unlike the cases against former FBI Director James Comey and NY Attorney General Letitia James, the investigation into Bolton started during the Biden administration. In addition, the charges are more detailed and were filed by career prosecutors rather than one recently appointed by Trump.
Prince Andrew gives up title after Epstein accusations. King Charles III’s younger brother will give up his Duke of York title amid renewed fallout from his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prince Andrew said he made the decision after a discussion with the king because the accusations against him “distract from the work of” the royal family, though he said he continues to “vigorously deny” them. The decision came days after the publication of an excerpt from Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir that claimed Epstein forced her to have sex with the prince. Prince Andrew had already stopped royal duties and lost his military honors due to his Epstein ties in 2019, and later settled a civil lawsuit from Giuffre for a confidential sum.—AR
Robert Reich
Reform the Insurrection Act
Friends,
With No Kings rallies occurring across America tomorrow, and the Trump administration’s unhinged reaction to them on full display, it’s never been more important for Congress to reform the Insurrection Act. Please contact Congress and demand action immediately.
Donald Trump — the man who incited a violent insurrection against the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and has pardoned those who attacked our democracy — is now calling peaceful protesters “insurrectionists” and threatening to use military force against them.
The Insurrection Act, a 200-year-old law, gives presidents near-limitless power to deploy troops on U.S. soil with almost no oversight. It was meant for true emergencies. But as written, it’s an open invitation for abuse — allowing any president to send armed forces into American cities under almost any pretext. I fear Trump is about to seize that power.
At A Glance
Bookkeeping
> $3.9B: How much Americans are expected to spend on Halloween treats.
> 14.4: Divorces per 1,000 married women in 2023, down from 22.6 in 1980.
Browse
> Which cars birds are most likely to poop on.
> You might want to clean your showerhead.
> Honeycrisp apples are a farmer's nightmare.
> Why Oct. 5-14, 1582, never existed.
Listen
> These are unusually innovative times, says a Nobel laureate.
> 1440 Explores: Subscribe to our new podcast to learn about the birth of credit cards and why humans drink alcohol. Next episode—on ghosts—drops Oct. 30. (Apple | Spotify | YouTube).
Watch
> Why the US Northeast gets more rain on the weekends.
> How to build a Chinese typewriter.
> Three steps to making someone fall in love.
Long Read
> Think twice before trusting a wine connoisseur.
> How phones are flattening our friendships.
> Robot Figure 03 is gearing up to do your dishes.
Most Clicked This Week: Simple steps to help prevent dementia.
Historybook: "Moby-Dick" is first published (1851); The US formally took possession of Alaska from Russia (1867); Thomas Edison dies (1931); Astronauts Jessica Meir and Christina Koch conduct first all-female spacewalk (2019); Former Secretary of State Colin Powell dies (2021).
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> Ace Frehley, Kiss cofounder and Rock & Roll Hall of Famer, dies at age 74 after suffering injuries from a fall last month (More)
> Former boxing champ Ricky Hatton's September death ruled a suicide (More) | Over 1 million tickets already sold for 2026 FIFA World Cup set to be hosted in the US, Canada, and Mexico (More)
> Spotify partners with Sony, Universal Music Group, and other major music companies to develop AI music products and tools (More)
Science & Technology
> Microsoft rolls out artificial intelligence-focused upgrades to Windows 11 operating system, including enhanced voice chat features (More)
> Neuroscientists pinpoint astrocyte brain cell as key to converting emotional experiences into long-term memories; finding could inform future treatments for memory-related conditions such as PTSD and Alzheimer's (More)
> Researchers discover female stinkbugs store and coat their eggs with fungi to ward off parasitic wasps—a rare symbiotic relationship in which fungi act as a physical, rather than chemical, defense (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close down (S&P 500 -0.6%, Dow -0.7%, Nasdaq -0.5%) over concerns of loan losses at regional banks (More) | Oil prices drop to lowest level since February 2021 (More)
> Nestlé shares close up 9%—biggest one-day jump since 2008—after company says it will cut 16,000 jobs worldwide (More) | US tariffs to cost global businesses at least $1.2T this year, with most costs passed on to consumers, per new analysis (More)
> Harvard University's endowment grows 11.9%, up from 9.6% a year earlier, to nearly $57B for the fiscal year ending June 30; data comes amid federal funding pressures (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> President Donald Trump says he will meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Budapest in the coming weeks; announcement comes after the leaders engage in a roughly two-hour phone call ahead of Trump's meeting today with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (More)
> National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issues 2025-26 weather forecast, anticipating hotter and drier-than-average weather for southern and eastern US, wetter and colder conditions for northern states (More)
> French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu survives no-confidence votes after suspending government's pension reforms, earning support from the country's Socialist Party (More) | See previous write-up (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
A Cancer/Health Update
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SO...
In 2008, I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin's B Cell Lymphoma and almost five years later, 2012, I was diagnosed with Melanoma... and have been under treatment for both ever since. In January of 2026, I will begin my 18th year of chemo for lymphoma.
Over the years, I have had several different kinds of drugs, radiation, and surgeries to keep the cancers from growing. Some have been wicked, some have not; some sent me to the ER, others did not.
About 7-8 years ago, I had a dual access port installed because the veins in my arms had become too damaged to use. Also, about 7-8 years ago, I began infusions of IVIG because my blood work was showing signs of degradation.
Today, my WBC is below normal, my RBC is below normal making me anemic, my platelet count is below normal as are a few other markers of good health.
I have constant and above average fatigue daily, and my taste and smell have deteriorated; I have nausea from time-to-time, but it has recently declined.
The steroids that I had to take from the very outset of this treatment helped me gain 50 pounds which I subsequently lost due to simply eating less. I went from 250 down to 210 and now have a goal of 195 which is close to what I should be for my height and age.
My Oncologist focuses now on maintaining both cancers, so they do not grow. The Melanoma has come back twice, and it is quite remarkable that it has not killed me yet. It is also quite startling that the Lymphoma has not become aggressive which it most certainly can do, changing from small B cell to large B cell.
Up to this point, we have managed to stay ahead of the game.
My lifestyle has changed substantially with my two cancers as well as my age.
In addition to my two cancers, in 2008, I had a serious heart attack where the surgeons wanted to do a triple bypass. My ejection fraction was under 25 or 20, I just cannot remember. I had my three arteries cleaned out and five stints inserted.
Also, about 3-4 years ago, I had 5 lower back disks fused, rods and screws inserted and that surgery has altered my mobility as well. The disks fused were: L2-L3-L4-L5-S1.
All in all, for my age of 78, my health is in pretty good shape.
Human Remains in Antarctica Just Shattered Everything We Thought We Knew About Early Exploration
A groundbreaking discovery in Antarctica has unveiled the oldest known human remains on the continent, prompting a reevaluation of historical timelines and raising intriguing questions about early human exploration in one of the Earth's most inhospitable environments.
The discovery of the oldest human remains in Antarctica has prompted a re-evaluation of human history on the remote and icy continent. This find, initially made in the mid-1980s on Yámana Beach, introduces a narrative of ancient exploration and resilience.
The remains, thought to be from a young woman who lived in the early 19th century, suggest that human contact with Antarctica may have occurred much earlier than previously acknowledged. This revelation not only challenges established timelines but also evokes curiosity about the human capacity for survival in harsh environments.
Friday, October 17
Wonderings 14
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Time
We exist (for the time being - no pun intended) inside the concept of spacetime which is represented by our 3-Dimensional (width, length, depth) lives plus the passing of time that always seems to move forward.
As a result, we have the:
- past
- present
- future
And,
all of this seems pretty straight forward until one asks the question, when do these times begin and end?
Looking back, we can clearly see that the past is in the past and looking forward, we can clearly see that the future has not happened yet.
But,
look at these three more carefully, we can see that it is not so much straight forward.
We are in the past until the present happens but how does one delineate between the two; similarly, we are in the present until the future happens, but again, how does one delineate between the two.
- Does the past last longer than the present?
- Does the present last longer than the future?
As soon as I type my first letter onto this online posting format, I have moved into the future...
And, as soon as I type the second letter, I have moved into the future, which instantly becomes the present until the third letter is typed.
However, my mind is already in the future because I know what I am going to write next, therefore, that future knowledge is somehow taking place in the present which is the future's past.
The movement of time is fluid; it has no breaks, no pauses, no moments of reflection or clarity, it simply continues to move forward, leaving us forever caught in the conundrum of which time frame are we really operating in... especially when it all seems like the present to us.
Headlines
Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
Trump says he’ll meet with Putin in Hungary. Following what he described as a “lengthy” and “very productive” phone call with Vladimir Putin, President Trump said he plans to meet with the Russian leader soon in Budapest to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The phone call came ahead of today’s meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky at the White House, where the two are expected to discuss sending long-range Tomahawk missiles to Ukraine. The missiles would allow Ukraine to reach much farther into Russia, including to Moscow, which experts say could force Putin to negotiate. Trump said Putin “didn’t like that idea” when he brought it up during their phone call.
Furniture tariffs prompt IKEA to raise prices. The Swedish home furnishings giant, known for its low prices, is particularly vulnerable to tariffs because it sources only 15% of the products it sells in the US regionally. “We have to adapt and pass on parts of the cost increase to the customers,” Tolga Öncü, retail manager at Ingka (which operates most IKEA stores), told the Wall Street Journal. Total retail sales at the company fell for the second year in a row as inflation keeps US shoppers from making some big purchases. President Trump’s 25% tariff on upholstered wooden furniture, kitchen cabinets, and vanities went into effect this week.
Nestle is cutting 16,000 jobs as part of turnaround effort. The biggest food company in the world is slashing the roles to “simplify our organization” and “automate our processes,” CEO Philipp Navratil wrote in a LinkedIn post. The maker of everything from Kit Kat candy bars to Nespresso coffee pods, Nestle has faced investor pressure over falling demand in China and internal drama, including the ouster of its previous CEO, Laurent Freixe, over an undisclosed romantic relationship with an employee. Nestle’s stock spiked more than 9% yesterday following the news of the layoffs.—AE
Robert Reich
Who really works for whom?
Friends,
A formal organization chart of the Trump regime would show Trump on top, his Cabinet officers arrayed underneath him, the White House staff below them, and an assortment of lower-level appointees at the bottom.
The reality is far different.
Today I want to give you what might be described as a power map of the regime — where power really lies and who really reports to whom.
At the top center of the map is the troika of Stephen Miller, Russell Vought, and JD Vance. Their joint goal appears to be to destroy American democracy.
Their power comes from their knowledge, tenacity, connections, and fanaticism — and from Trump’s apparent willingness to sign off on whatever they want to do.
At A Glance
Auctioning off $15K fine-art tattoos.
Ranking the US' most budget-friendly tourist destinations.
How trees warn each other about potential danger.
Rating US airports based on timeliness.
Tips for increasing neuroplasticity.
Oldest woman to complete the Ironman World Championship.
See the 2025 Wildlife Photographer of the Year winners.
... and winners of the Nikon Small World competition.
In partnership: How to protect yourself from the $100B+ scam industry.*
Clickbait: A mushroom-powered outhouse.
Historybook: Actress Rita Hayworth born (1918); Mae Jemison, first Black woman in space, born (1956); Eminem born (1972); Mother Teresa wins Nobel Peace Prize (1979); Earthquake near San Francisco kills 63 (1989).
In The NEWS
Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> President Donald Trump threatens to move 2026 World Cup matches from Boston over alleged safety concerns; Boston is set to host seven matches at the international event (More)
> Penelope Milford, Oscar-nominated actress known for "Coming Home," dies at age 77 (More) | Drew Struzan, artist behind iconic movie posters like "Star Wars" and "Indiana Jones," dies at age 78 (More)
> MLB championship series continues tonight with NLCS Game 3 (6 pm ET, TBS) and ALCS Game 4 (8:30 pm ET, FS1); see latest scores and schedule (More)
Science & Technology
> Apple unveils series of products powered by faster M5 chip, designed to enhance performance of artificial intelligence-driven workloads (More)
> Researchers hypothesize early lead exposure damaged hominid brains, stunting language and social development; modern humans may have carried gene mutation that protected their brains, enabling higher intelligence (More)
> Physicists accidentally produce shortest X-ray pulses ever observed, a breakthrough that could allow scientists to examine atomic bonds in greater detail and observe the fastest processes within materials (More)
Business & Markets
> US stock markets close mixed (S&P 500 +0.4%, Dow -0.0%, Nasdaq +0.7%) amid ongoing concerns over US-China trade relations and a government shutdown (More)
> Investor group, including BlackRock, Nvidia, Microsoft, and xAI, agrees to buy Aligned Data Centers in $40B deal to secure computing capacity for AI; purchase is largest-ever global data center deal (More)
> Morgan Stanley tops Wall Street earnings and revenue estimates by the largest margin in nearly five years, posts record Q3 revenue of roughly $18B (More)
Politics & World Affairs
> Federal judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from firing federal workers during the government shutdown, following a lawsuit filed earlier this month by several unions (More)
> Dozens of journalists turn in Pentagon access badges after refusing to comply with government-imposed reporting restrictions (More) | President Donald Trump authorizes CIA operations in Venezuela, considering military strikes (More)
> Bodies of at least 19 Israeli hostages still unaccounted for, as Hamas claims it has returned all remains recoverable without extensive effort or specialized equipment; Israel maintains that peace deal hinges on return of all remains (More)
SOURCE: 1440 NEWS
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