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Trump approval hits record low, handing Democrats a clear midterm edge

Two weeks from Election Day, Republicans face a bleak political landscape. President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to a new low, and support for Democrats in the race for control of Congress is rising as inflationary pressures contribute to an acrid mood among voters, according to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll.

Trump's approval among U.S. adults now stands at 33 percent, with 66 percent disapproving; 52 percent said they disapprove strongly. That approval rating is four percentage points lower than in July and eight points lower than at this point last year. It's lower than at any point in his first term. Among likely voters, Trump's approval is 38 percent, with 62 percent disapproving.

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The poll also finds that, for the first time in more than a decade, Democrats are seen as more trusted to deal with the economy.

In the competition for control of the House, Democrats hold an eight-point lead among registered and likely voters, an improvement for the party since The Post's July poll, when the Democratic lead was three points with registered voters.

Trump is central to Republicans' struggles. In a separate question, the poll asked voters whether they would rather have a Democratic-led Congress acting as a check on Trump or a Republican one to support his agenda. By 58 percent to 39 percent, registered voters said they prefer the Democrats. That margin is roughly double what it was a year ago.

The collective results of the new survey reveal an electorate that has lost faith in the president, is deeply worried about his decision to go to war with Iran, is feeling the effects of that war - especially the price of gasoline - on their pocketbooks and now has more confidence in Democrats than Republicans to deal with major issues. Today, 72 percent say the country is heading in the wrong direction, up five points since April.

The new survey findings do not predict how individual House or Senate races will turn out in November. But they help to explain why Republicans are on the defensive in these final weeks, even in areas where they have traditionally held a strong advantage.

Republicans still enjoy an overall lead in money to pour into political advertising that they hope will hold back the Democratic tide. Tellingly, those resources are shifting to protect some candidates in redder areas, a sign of the growing concerns among party leaders and strategists about the overall climate.

As always, the question of who turns out to vote will decide how individual races go, with many of the most competitive Senate races still in the balance. Nationally, Democrats have a big advantage among those who said they're "certain to vote" or have already done so, but Republicans fare relatively well among voters who turned out in the 2024 or 2022 elections, which are also strong predictors of voting.

One critical unknown is how many of Trump's 77 million voters from the 2024 election will cast ballots. Midterm turnout is always lower than in presidential years and Republicans have had a harder time turning out their supporters when Trump is not on the ballot.

The poll echoes those challenges.

Democratic registered voters are more likely than Republicans to say they are certain to vote or have already done so, 75 percent versus 67 percent. While 75 percent of Republicans who support the MAGA movement say they're certain to vote, that drops to 57 percent among non-MAGA Republicans (though more than a quarter of these non-MAGA Republicans said they prefer Democrats in control of the next Congress). By contrast, 79 percent of Democrats who support the Democratic Socialists of America say they are certain to vote, as do 73 percent of nonsocialist Democrats.

Presidential approval has long been one of the most important indicators of how a midterm election will go. Based on history, Republicans are poised to lose seats from their narrow House majority and likely to lose control of the chamber next month. But how many is more difficult to predict because, in contrast to some past years, there are fewer swing districts.

Republicans may also retain backing from voters who expressed only limited dissatisfaction with the president. The Post-ABC-Ipsos poll finds that among the 10 percent of likely voters who said they "somewhat disapprove" of Trump's performance, 58 percent prefer the Republican candidate for the House.

Economic issues stand as a major threat to the GOP's hold on the House and Senate. Trump's economic approval rating has fallen to 28 percent, down from 33 percent in July, 41 percent in February and 49 percent at this point in the 2018 midterm election campaign. About 3 in 4 Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of inflation and the cost of living in the United States.

By a 3-1 margin, Americans said the state of the economy is either not so good or poor. Most Republicans (53 percent) rate the economy positively compared with 9 percent of Democrats and 16 percent of independents. At this point in 2022, when President Joe Biden was in office, impressions of the economy were almost identically negative. But in a sign of how party allegiance can affect attitudes, 54 percent of Democrats then rated the economy positively, compared with 8 percent of Republicans and 16 percent of independents.

Economic strains on many Americans are great enough that 48 percent say they are financially worse off than when Trump returned to office in 2025. That represents the highest percentage saying this about any president in Post-ABC polls since 1986. Among these financially stressed Americans, 78 percent favor Democrats for Congress, along with 71 percent of independents.

Affordability is an issue that nearly all candidates are talking about this fall and the survey points to many areas of difficulty for families. The biggest is the cost of gasoline. In February, before Trump launched the war with Iran, 71 percent said gasoline was affordable. Today, as the war has disrupted supplies and shipping, pushing up gasoline and diesel prices significantly, perceptions have flipped, with 71 percent now saying gasoline is not affordable.

Majorities also say groceries, health care and home energy are unaffordable, all up significantly since before the Iran war. Fewer than 4 in 10 said going out to dinner is affordable, down from half who said this in February.

The shift against the president ripples throughout the survey. On Iran, 65 percent said it was a mistake to take military action and 68 percent disapprove of the way Trump has dealt with U.S. allies. Roughly 6 in 10 disapprove of his handling of immigration, a sharp departure from the beginning of his second term when 50 percent said they approved. A majority (56 percent) said Trump has gone too far in deporting undocumented immigrants, which compares with 48 percent in April 2025 as the deportation effort was beginning.

Trump's negative ratings are boosted by significant criticism from his 2024 voters, including 23 percent who disapprove of his overall performance, 31 percent who disapprove of his management of the economy and 38 percent who disapprove of his handling of inflation. Most of these critics said they support Republicans for Congress, but they're far less certain about casting ballots this year than Trump voters who approve of him.

Trump is judged harshly on several measures of his commitment to fundamental principles of democracy. At least 6 in 10 people said he is not committed to protecting freedom of the press and freedom of speech, free and fair elections, and respecting the authority of Congress or the courts.

Beyond major issues, the public disapproves of the ways Trump has conducted himself in office. The poll finds that 66 percent said he is using the presidency to enrich himself, up from 56 percent last fall. Eight in 10 think it is inappropriate that he has pushed to put his name on the Kennedy Center in Washington (59 percent view this as "completely inappropriate"), and 74 percent say it's inappropriate that the federal government paid for television ads promoting Trump and his policies. Overall, 66 percent said they see Trump as "too extreme."

The dissatisfaction with Trump inevitably has spilled onto a Republican Party that has been remade in his image. Registered voters said they trust Democrats over Republicans to handle the economy by 40 percent to 33 percent, the first Democratic advantage on the economy in Post-ABC polling since 2014. Voters split about evenly on this question in April and July of this year. Democrats also hold double-digit advantages on trust to handle inflation and the cost of living.

Democrats are seen as more trustworthy on many issues even though 54 percent of U.S. adults have an unfavorable view of the party, perhaps because even more Americans - 63 percent - dislike the Republican Party. The Republican Party is seen as too extreme by 55 percent of U.S. adults, compared with 36 percent who see the Democratic Party that way.

Americans hold negative impressions of the president's MAGA movement and of democratic socialism, which has roiled the Democratic Party this year. But the MAGA movement is seen even more negatively at 69 percent unfavorable compared with 59 percent unfavorable toward democratic socialism.

One-quarter of Americans dislike both major political parties, but as often happens, these "double-haters" swing against the party in power, favoring Democrats by 58 percent to 32 percent in support for Congress.

One factor boosting Democrats this fall, and another sign of how Trump's policies and performance have hurt him and his party, is a shift in the partisan leanings of Americans. The Pew Research Center's annual benchmarking survey - a comprehensive poll conducted over several months - found 47 percent of U.S. adults identified as Democrats or lean Democratic this spring, while 43 percent identified as or leaned Republican.

That marked a shift from both 2025, when 46 percent of adults identified as Republicans and 45 percent as Democrats. Post-ABC-Ipsos polls are calibrated to match Pew's estimates for partisanship, and the latest poll reflects the national shift in party leanings.

Read detailed results and cross tabs from the Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll . The poll was conducted online Oct. 9-13 among 2,545 U.S. adults nationwide reached through the Ipsos KnowledgePanel, an ongoing panel of U.S. households recruited by mail using random sampling methods. Overall results have a margin of error of plus or minus two percentage points. The error margin is plus or minus 2.2 points for results among 2,032 registered voters and likely voters; all registered voters were assigned a probability of voting to produce likely voter results. The sample was weighted to match population demographics, 2024 turnout/vote choice and political partisanship.

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Graphics:

President Trump's approval rating reaches record low

Democrats hold eight-point advantage in national support for Congress

Democratic-leaning groups more certain about voting in 2026 midterms

Economic ratings similar to before 2022 midterms, far worse than in 2018

Record high say they are 'not as well off' financially as when Trump entered office

More Americans see gas, staples and splurges are "unaffordable"

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A dramatic El Niño effect is headed for the West Coast

One of El Niño’s most dramatic effects is waiting in the wings and could soon cause chaos along the West Coast, especially in California, forecasters warned.

A historic El Niño is expected to up the intensity of atmospheric rivers – long corridors of water vapor in the atmosphere that can transport tremendous amounts of moisture and produce heavy rain or snow when they reach land.

"A stronger El Niño brings stronger atmospheric rivers," Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources, told USA TODAY. "There aren't necessarily more of them, but atmospheric rivers are more intense during a strong El Niño like this one."

In addition, strong El Niños also increase the frequency of non-atmospheric river storms in California, he said.

Carney says 4 service members killed, dozens injured in fire at Alberta military base

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Sunday that four service members were killed and dozens more seriously injured in a fire at a military base in Alberta, describing it as one of the worst peacetime tragedies for Canada’s military on domestic soil.

Fire crews scrambled late Saturday as fierce winds whipped flames beyond Canadian Forces Base Wainwright and into the surrounding rural area. The Canadian military said Sunday there were no indications that the incident was the result of terrorism, but the cause remained under investigation.

Speaking in a televised address, Carney said the families of those killed had been notified and that the situation was still evolving.

Carney said the service members killed and injured were participating in military training when the fire broke out Saturday.

Flags would fly at half-staff on federal buildings across the country in honor of those affected by the tragedy, he said.

Carney said those affected included reservists and soldiers from Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry, one of Canada’s most storied military regiments. The personnel had come from bases across the country to train at Wainwright.

It was not immediately clear exactly how many people had been injured. Alberta health officials said patients from Wainwright had been transferred to four hospitals — two in Edmonton, one in Red Deer and one in Calgary.

Cathy Keane, a mayoral candidate in Ontario, said her eldest son was among the military personnel critically injured. “As a mother, right now I need to be with my son and family,� she wrote on Facebook, saying she was traveling to Alberta.

A doctor at a hospital in the city of Edmonton, 180 kilometers (112 miles) northwest, told Canada’s national broadcaster that patients were taken to hospitals across the city as healthcare facilities around the base became “completely overwhelmed� by the number of people needing care.

“This number of patients would overwhelm the city of Edmonton,� Dr. Warren Thirsk, an emergency department physician at the Royal Alexandra Hospital, told CBC News. “It is more patients than any of us want to count right now. It’s a disaster. It’s a one in every 15- to 25-year disaster.�

Hospitals end mass-casualty emergency

Alberta health officials said Sunday they had ended the “Code Orange� emergency activated at several hospitals after the fire. The designation allows hospitals to mobilize staff and free up beds to handle large numbers of seriously injured patients.

The province said the response involved 22 ground ambulances, six airplanes and two helicopters, with assistance from neighboring Saskatchewan.

Wainwright Mayor Bruce Pugh said the town’s small hospital was not designed to handle a mass-casualty incident but praised the response of local medical personnel. He said helicopters and planes had been transporting patients to other facilities for treatment.

Pugh said military medical personnel parachuted into Wainwright shortly before midnight, their red parachutes illuminated by flares, as reinforcements arrived to help respond to the disaster.

At least 10 ambulances were parked in and around the Wainwright health center late Saturday as paramedics and soldiers rushed about. One patient was seen being loaded into an ambulance.

The town of Wainwright, near the base, has about 7,000 residents.

Military rules out terrorism as cause

Defense Minister David McGuinty said the Royal Canadian Mounted Police were involved in investigating the incident and described the situation as “very, very active and delicate.� He said authorities were still working to determine what happened and expected to provide further information.

McGuinty said Sunday he was traveling to Edmonton to be briefed on the latest developments. He said the military was working closely with Alberta’s government and local authorities.

The Canadian Armed Forces had said it would not release casualty figures until relatives were notified. Carney said Sunday that the families of the four service members killed had been informed.

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police said officers were called shortly after 4 p.m. Saturday following reports of a fire in a training area at the base.

Firefighters faced a volatile situation. Large areas of the province were hit during the day by a windstorm with gusts up to 100 kph (62 mph). The wind toppled some trees and sent signs flying and garbage cans rolling down streets.

By 11 p.m., the Municipal District of Wainwright said on social media the fire was being held and that property and critical infrastructure were protected. There was no evacuation order for residents.

McGuinty, speaking to reporters in Ottawa, confirmed the casualties but had no other details to share.

“I cannot recall such an incident in my short time for sure as a minister, but I cannot recall an incident like this in recent memory,� McGuinty said.

“We will have more to say in the coming hours and days,� he added.

He said Armed Forces members were at the scene and that RCMP were also involved. “This is an active and delicate situation and soon to be an active and delicate investigation.�

Alberta receives offers of support and assistance

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe said his province was sending assistance to Alberta but did not specify what resources were being deployed.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith described the fire as “significant and tragic� and said it was affecting many military personnel.

She said Alberta had convened its emergency management cabinet committee to coordinate the response.

Carney praised emergency crews who battled the fire through the night and said STARS air ambulance helicopters had flown in from Edmonton and Saskatoon.

CFB Wainwright is one of Canada’s busiest military training bases, where soldiers prepare for combat operations. It is home to the Canadian Maneuver Training Center, which conducts realistic battlefield exercises, and the 3rd Canadian Division Training Centre, which provides military training.

Canadian Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre said he had spoken with Carney and the defense minister to offer support to those affected by the fire.

“Pray for Wainwright, everyone,� Poilievre said in a social media post. He urged people in the area to follow emergency instructions and keep roads clear for first responders.

The fire also disrupted advance voting ahead of Monday’s referendum on whether Alberta should begin a process that could lead to independence from Canada. Elections Alberta said the advance polling location at Wainwright Communiplex closed early Saturday and ballots and election materials were transported securely. It identified polling locations in Lloydminster and Vermilion as alternatives.

2 people killed, including 6-year-old boy, after mother drives into soccer game: Police

Trump endorses Netanyahu just 9 days before Israeli elections

With just over a week to go until Israel’s election day, President Donald Trump finally gave the full-throated endorsement that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had long sought.

The president called Netanyahu a “Great Warrior Prime Minister� in a post on social media, which he said serves as his “Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu.�

Trump also hinted at a possible resumption of hostilities in the unpopular war with Iran — a war the US launched alongside Israel eight months ago — saying that if the Iranians do not “change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job.�

Netanyahu was quick to respond, thanking Trump for the “tremendous support and the joint work.�

Trump told Axios journalist and CNN Global Affairs analyst Barak Ravid in a brief phone interview that he had always intended to endorse Netanyahu. “I was always going to do that. I just didn’t want to do it too soon,� he said.

Trump added that they have a “good relationship� and would “continue to do well� together if Netanyahu is reelected, according to Ravid.

“It is important that Israel has a person they can count on,� Trump said.

It was an endorsement that seemed uncertain until it finally arrived and cannot mask what has become at times a rocky relationship between the two.

For years, Israelis driving the country’s highways in the final weeks of an election have seen the same image: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu standing beside President Donald Trump, under the slogan, “A different league.�

Less than two weeks before the October 27 vote, the billboards of Netanyahu are back. But this time Trump is not on them.

The president still appears in some videos for Netanyahu’s Likud party, but his absence may signal something beyond advertising.

Until Sunday, Trump had held off endorsing Netanyahu.

“I’m not involved in [Israeli] politics anymore,� he told Time earlier this month. On Thursday, Trump told Newsmax that Netanyahu would like him to be involved in the election. “I’ve had a very good relationship with him,� he said, but avoided endorsing him again. When asked directly whether he trusts Netanyahu, he said bluntly, “I don’t trust anybody in the world of politics.�

Trump has starred in Netanyahu’s campaigns since 2013, when still a businessman and TV personality, he released a video urging Israelis to “vote for Benjamin.�

When Trump entered the White House in 2017, he showered Netanyahu with political gifts.

About two weeks before Israel’s April 2019 election, Netanyahu was in Washington to watch Trump sign a historic proclamation recognizing Israeli sovereignty over the occupied Golan Heights. In January 2020, five weeks before Israelis went again to the polls, Trump unveiled the Israeli-Palestinian “Deal of the Century� plan. Netanyahu stood smiling by his side.

Ahead of this election, there has been no red carpet. The last time Netanyahu and Trump met at the White House in August, there were no cameras. The two did not meet at all when Netanyahu traveled to New York for the UN General Assembly in September.

Over the course of the last year, Netanyahu has taken steps that have drawn fury from Trump, including undermining Trump-led peace efforts by striking inside Lebanon and Gaza.

Trump has cursed the prime minister out in phone calls and warned him he’s losing support among Americans, according to people familiar with the conversations. He’s asked why Israel was blowing up apartment buildings in Lebanon and warned about the risk of a global economic downturn as a result of the Iran war.

Inside the White House, many of the moves were interpreted as election-year posturing by Netanyahu, whose internal politics are well known by Trump and his advisers. Over the summer, many Trump advisers came to the conclusion that Netanyahu was trying to prolong the Iran war to bolster his own political standing.

Trump has given Netanyahu a degree of leeway because of those political concerns, people familiar with the matter said. But he’s still grown frustrated at some of Israel’s actions, many of which he believes run counter to American interests.

Another person close to Trump suggested his lack of endorsement had been tied to Netanyahu’s weakness in the polls. Trump has long been careful to avoid endorsing candidates who seem likely to lose.

In conversations over the past several months, Trump has quizzed Netanyahu about the election and his prospects, according to people familiar with the matter. While Netanyahu has sought to project confidence, Trump is well aware of the prime minister’s difficult political position.

As Netanyahu’s standing fell in the Trump administration, so did Trump’s standing in Israel.

According to Israeli sources close to Netanyahu, Trump was originally meant to be a centerpiece of Netanyahu’s campaign. Last December, at Mar-a-Lago, the prime minister announced that Trump would become the first non-Israeli to receive the prestigious Israel Prize. Netanyahu aides hoped Trump would accept the prize in person at Israel’s Independence Day ceremony in April, giving jumpstarting the campaign.

Then came the war with Iran.

The joint US-Israeli attack began on February 28 with the two leaders projecting strategic harmony. Netanyahu thanked “my friend, President Donald Trump,� calling him “a leader who stands by his word.� Trump described the two of them as “war heroes� and publicly demanded that Israel’s president grant Netanyahu a pardon in his ongoing corruption trials.

But Trump never showed interest in attending the Israel Prize ceremony. By then, the fighting in Iran had ended and ceasefire talks were underway.

The Iran ceasefire and subsequent memorandum of understanding were deeply unpopular in Israel, particularly on the right. Yinon Magal, a pro-Netanyahu TV anchor, called Trump a “loser� after the deal was signed.

A July survey by the Jewish People Policy Institute found that only 7% of Israelis had “a great deal of trust� that Trump “will do the right thing� on US-Israel relations, and 45% had none.

“Trump’s stock in Israel, especially among right wing-voters, has weakened,� a Likud source said. “An endorsement would not necessarily have helped Netanyahu so much, so he did not invest much in it.� Another Likud source said, “It’s not as if Trump will endorse any other opponent, so it’s nice to have, but not a must.�

Netanyahu’s opponents are watching, but with less alarm than before. “A year ago, our camp was calling anyone close to Trump to prevent an endorsement,� one senior opposition figure said ahead of Sunday’s news. “Now it doesn’t really matter, the charm is not there.�

When Trump was asked specifically about who is currently polling as Netanyahu’s leading challenger, he said, “Well, I don’t know, I don’t hear bad things about him.� He then said, “They’ve written Bibi off many, many times, just like they’ve written me off many, many times. I wouldn’t underestimate Bibi.�

Trump has his own reasons for distance. American public opinion of Israel has fallen sharply, declining even more against the backdrop of the Iran war. Israel’s average net favorability fell from +51 points in July 2018 to -16 in July 2026, according to multiple polls, a 67-point drop over eight years.

As America quickly soured on the Iran war, a source familiar with the relationship said, Trump has been “trying to shed the image that Netanyahu pulled him into it.�

Still, the apparent distance may be misleading. Israeli sources say the two leaders have recently discussed renewed strikes on Iran. Israeli security sources told CNN preparations are underway - pending Trump’s decision - with timing unclear because of the US midterm elections.

Netanyahu rejected suggestions he was seeking escalation before the vote.

“It is not convenient for us, it’s no good,� he told Army Radio this week. He complained that if Iran fired missiles at Israel, his opponents “will blame me.�

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Coastal storm threatens East Coast with high winds and flooding

A slow-moving coastal storm is expected to bring high winds, flooding and dangerous surf to parts of the East Coast this week, with forecasters also monitoring the system for possible subtropical development.

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) said Sunday that a storm-force non-tropical low was expected to form off the Southeast coast on Sunday or Sunday night and move “slowly and erratically� through the middle of the week. The agency gave the system a near-zero chance of development within 48 hours and a 30 percent chance within seven days.

“Regardless of development, this system will cause high winds, coastal flooding, and dangerous surf along portions of the U.S. East Coast,� the NHC said.

If it develops into a named subtropical or tropical storm, it would be called Josephine, according to the list of next named storms.

The possibility comes during an unusually quiet Atlantic hurricane season. Through October 18, the basin had produced nine named storms but only one hurricane, Isaias, which is currently the year’s only major Atlantic hurricane.

Forecasters say the storm does not need to become Josephine to produce significant coastal impacts.

“AccuWeather hurricane experts continue to monitor a medium risk for tropical or subtropical development off the East Coast between October 19th and October 23rd,� Alexander Duffus, a meteorologist for forecasting operations with AccuWeather, told Newsweek in an email Sunday.

Duffus added: “Regardless of if this will eventually be designated as a subtropical or tropical storm by the National Hurricane Center in the coming days, gusty winds, rough surf, beach erosion and coastal flooding can be expected for portions of the mid-Atlantic through early to the middle of this week.�

East Coast Threats

The most prolonged effects are expected from the Delmarva Peninsula into eastern North Carolina, with rain, gusty winds, beach erosion and coastal flooding among the threats, according to The Weather Channel. High surf and dangerous rip currents could extend much farther, from Florida to New England.

AccuWeather said the most significant coastal impacts could occur around the Outer Banks of North Carolina, southeastern Virginia and the beach communities of Maryland and Delaware.

“The coastal hazards risk at this time is greatest from coastal New Jersey to the Outer Banks of North Carolina through Tuesday,� Duffus said. “Very wind[y] conditions are expected with gusts from 40-60 mph that can blow around unsecured objects. Coastal flooding and beach erosion can also occur, especially during high tide cycles.

Coastal Flooding and Beach Erosion

The storm’s slow movement could prolong its effects on vulnerable beaches and coastal communities.

The Weather Channel reported that the system could remain offshore for days, producing high surf, rip currents, coastal flooding, rain and strong winds. The outlet said the storm was not expected to be as strong as the late-September nor’easter but could linger through much of the week.

AccuWeather similarly forecast long-duration gusty winds, beach erosion and tidal flooding, with the Outer Banks and southeastern Virginia potentially seeing greater impacts than areas farther north because of the storm’s expected position and duration.

The National Weather Service’s Eastern Region coastal hazard page showed a range of active coastal and marine hazards Sunday, including coastal flood, high surf and gale alerts in parts of the region.

Newsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to produce this story. Learn more about Martyn here. Contact Newsweek editors for this story: Steve Mollman and Anthony Murray.

Rubio says Trump will take up to 60 days to weigh Russia sanctions

By Nandita Bose and Gram Slattery

Oct 17 (Reuters) - The day after waiving sanctions and tariffs related to Russian exports, US President Donald Trump said on Saturday he has yet to announce a final decision on the matter, ‌while Secretary of State Marco Rubio said officials want more time to evaluate the situation.

Rubio said on Saturday that ‌the president will use up to 60 days to assess the economic impact of Russia-related sanctions and tariffs that he waived a day earlier.

"A lot of you don't ​know what my decision is yet, but we'll figure it out, and you'll figure it out," Trump told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.

In a Truth Social post on Sunday, Trump wrote that his decision-making was aimed at avoiding anything "that will drive, foolishly, Russia away from the bargaining table."

Trump signed an executive order on Friday waiving key sanctions and tariffs under the law known as the Graham ‌Act, which he signed last month at �the urging of lawmakers who want to pressure Moscow over its war in Ukraine.

The measures, including tariffs on Russian goods and penalties on countries buying Russian oil and gas, were due to take effect next �week. Friday's order did not specify how long the waiver would last, but Rubio said Trump opted for a 60-day review.

"I think the president wants to take the 60-day period of time to sort of analyze what imposing both sanctions and tariffs will mean to the global economy and ​even to ​the US economy," Rubio told reporters before boarding a plane for a trip ​to Uzbekistan.

Friday's executive order drew criticism from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, ‌who warned it would embolden Russian President Vladimir Putin and prolong the war.

DIESEL SUPPLIES

Rubio on Saturday also defended a separate US agreement with Russia to increase diesel supplies to global markets, aimed at easing fuel prices that have climbed amid the war with Iran and disruptions to energy supplies.

"That diesel is going to be sold one way or the other," Rubio said. "The only difference is how much of it the United States was going to get."

Under the agreement, Trump said Russia initially would supply more than 300,000 metric tons of ‌diesel to the United States, followed by shipments in November and beyond.

The ​diesel agreement is "a carrot to try to end the war, not an economic lifeline" ​to Russia, US Secretary of Energy Chris Wright said ​during a Sunday interview on ABC's "This Week."

But "the only way they can get additional diesel to export is ‌if they turn down the conflict with Ukraine," Wright told ​CNN's "State of the Union" program ​on Sunday.

“If Russia can bring additional diesel to the market and export it, it would benefit American consumers,� he told CNN. “He's putting pressure that would both benefit American consumers and be a step forward for peace in the Russia-Ukraine war.�

Rubio said ​the diesel deal and sanctions waiver reflected ‌the challenge of managing conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine that have disrupted global energy supplies.

"These conflicts around ​the world are starting to crash into each other," he said.

(Reporting by Nandita Bose in Kentucky, Gram Slattery in ​Washington and Doyinsola Oladipo; Editing by Sergio Non and Christopher Cushing)

Jackson doesn't regret telling Collins to 'shut up' after protester interrupted debate

WASHINGTON (AP) — Maine Democrat Troy Jackson says he does not regret telling Sen. Susan Collins that she should “shut up� after the Republican suggested a protester who interrupted their recent debate was one of his campaign's backers.

"She said that it was a Troy supporter. She accused me of setting that up. I had no idea who it was,� said Jackson, a former president of the state Senate who is trying to deny Collins, the longest-serving Republican woman in Senate history, a sixth-term. He spoke in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union� that aired Sunday.

During their final debate Thursday night in the closely contested race, as the Nov. 3 election nears a protester opposing data centers began yelling as Collins spoke. While moderators asked for that person to be removed, the senator said the demonstrator was “obviously one of Troy’s supporters.�

Jackson responded: “Oh, shut up. I don’t even know that kid.�

The Sunrise Movement group posted on its Instagram page that the outburst came from one of its members. In a caption of an Instagram post, the group's page said: “We’re proud of this Sunrise volunteer who took action yesterday.�

The New York Times said the protester, Henry Elgie, a 19-year-old student at Bowdoin College in Maine, told the newspaper in an interview Saturday that he had “zero coordination� with Jackson's campaign. "I do not know Troy Jackson personally or at all,� he was quoted as saying.

The Sunrise Movement is a left-wing political advocacy organization that champions the Green New Deal, aimed at transitioning the U.S. economy to 100% renewable energy. The group, which has local arms around the country, regularly organizes protests, sit-ins and climate strikes.

Jackson told CNN that he shook hands with Collins after each of their debates.

“But what I’m not going to be is talked down to by Sen. Collins,� he said. He added: "I’m fighting for Mainers and I just think that was another situation where she was talking down to me and I’m not going to apologize for that.�

Collins told Fox News’ Sean Hannity on Friday that she was “struck by how reflective the response, ‘Oh, shut up,’ was.� Collins said "the fact that it seemed like such an automatic, quick reply was very telling.�

She cited what she said was “the reputation� that Jackson had in the Legislature “particularly when he’s dealing with women with whom he disagrees. So in some ways it didn’t surprise me.�

Some state lawmakers who worked with Jackson have criticized him as having a temper, including once throwing a plastic water bottle on the ground in frustration while disagreeing with a female lawmaker. Asked by reporters during the campaign about the confrontations, Jackson said, "I wear my heart on my sleeve.� He took responsibility for his outburst and apologized to those he had confrontations with at the time.

Jackson was asked on CNN about some Republicans who are saying there were stories that he was aggressive in his tone to women from his time in the Legislature and that his remark Thursday night was another example of that.

Jackson said some Republicans have been spending millions “attacking me and my family, making untrue claims. … So it doesn’t surprise me."

A timeline of the Cornell rape case, from the alleged 2024 incident to the frat party ban

The investigation into an alleged "gang rape" at Cornell University in October 2024 has drawn nationwide attention after a former student identified as "Jane Doe" filed a civil lawsuit last month, accusing seven fraternity members of drugging and assaulting her for hours.

Last week, Cornell announced that it is suspending "all parties and social events" at fraternity houses for the rest of the academic year while an independent review is underway.

"These measures will provide time for a thorough review of fraternity life at Cornell to determine whether and how it can safely continue," Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff wrote in a letter to the Cornell community.

Kotlikoff also announced that the university would enlist "experienced, trauma-informed criminal investigators" to investigate allegations of sexual assault on its Ithaca, N.Y., campus.

Earlier this month, Cornell's board of trustees announced it had retained former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, a partner at law firm King & Spalding, to lead an outside review of how the university responds to sexual assault.

Separately, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul appointed New York Attorney General Letitia James as the special prosecutor to oversee the criminal investigation after losing faith in both Cornell and Tompkins County District Attorney Matthew Van Houten, who initially declined to bring charges in the Jane Doe case.

"This young woman had already endured something that is utterly unspeakable," the governor said. "And then at every turn, she was failed by people and institutions with an obligation to protect her."

All of the men identified in Jane Doe's civil suit have denied any wrongdoing, according to the New York Times. None has been charged with a crime. On Friday, a New York judge denied a request from one of the accused fraternity members for a gag order in Jane Doe’s civil case.

Here is a timeline of the case, from the alleged incident to the reopening of a criminal investigation, culled from Jane Doe's civil lawsuit, statements from Cornell and public officials, and other reports.

August 2022

"Jane Doe" begins her freshman year at Cornell University, where she joins a sorority, Tri-Delta's Alpha Beta Chapter.

Oct. 19-20, 2024

Jane Doe drinks vodka at her residence at the sorority before attending a Tri-Delta event hosted at Moonies Bar and Nightclub, where she is allegedly served alcohol despite identifying herself as underage.

• Around 11 p.m., Jane Doe walks to the Chi Phi fraternity house, arriving "visibly intoxicated" after consuming "about 10 standard drinks within the past 3 hours," according to her civil lawsuit. Shortly after arriving, Jane Doe is allegedly pressured by two fraternity brothers into snorting what they said was ketamine before taking part in a threesome proposed by the men. "In her drunken state, Plaintiff was incapable of consenting to this proposition," the lawsuit alleges.

• At 1:41 a.m., one of the men sends a message to the fraternity's Snapchat group suggesting that she was available for sex, according to the lawsuit, which included a screengrab of part of the group chat. The complaint alleges that multiple fraternity members show up and rape her over several hours. During the alleged assault, the fraternity members begin "pouring lines of Ketamine all over her body and snorting them," per the complaint.

• At around 5:45 a.m., the alleged assault ends and Jane Doe loses consciousness, her lawsuit states. Later that day, Jane Doe returns to the sorority house "in a state of shock," per her suit.

Oct. 21, 2024

Jane Doe exchanges text messages with one of the men she would later name in the lawsuit, who tells her, "I just wanted to apologize for how things went down the other night," according to the New York Times. She replies: "At the end of the day non of the sexual stuff was illegal and honestly i really liked being w u and matt."

Oct. 22, 2024

Jane Doe makes an appointment at Cornell Health for a urinary tract infection and wants to be tested for sexually transmitted diseases, telling the doctor she contracted it "in a traumatic way," per the Times. The doctor doesn't follow up and suggests she "go to therapy."

Oct. 23, 2024

In another text exchange, Jane Doe tells one of the fraternity members that "my reputation is destroyed and I'm utterly ashamed," according to ABC News. In the same exchange, she also says: "everyone needs to grow up because sexuality and sex and [stuff] is changing and stuff like this is going to become more common. i'm also really open minded tho. i love u king."

Oct. 30, 2024

Jane Doe sends a text to the same frat member saying she was "uninvited" to an upcoming Chi Phi Halloween party. "i knew this was going to happen. the woman will always get the short end of the stick," she writes. "yall aren't my friends. yall are covering your a****."

Nov. 7, 2024

In a recorded phone call with one of the fraternity members, Jane Doe says she was "10 shots deep" when she arrived at the Chi Phi fraternity house and is now struggling to remember what happened, according to audio obtained by ABC News. The fraternity member insists Jane Doe told him she was sober before the alleged encounter, which she denies. At one point during the call, Jane Doe tells him, "If I wanted to take this somewhere, what y'all did would be classified as gang rape."

The fraternity member then suggests that their memory of what transpired may be inaccurate. Jane Doe pushes back: "No, because I remember looking up and being like, 'That is too many people.'"

Nov. 8, 2024

Jane Doe reports the Oct. 19-20 incident to campus police.

Nov. 14, 2024

According to CBS News, Jane Doe gives an interview to campus police in which she states: "I can say with 100% confidence I was raped." (Van Houten later says his office was not provided with a transcript of that interview when it decided not to pursue charges.)

Nov. 15, 2024

Jane Doe gives a sworn statement to campus police in which she says that the incident "felt like coercion," according to ABC News. She recalls that at one point, she said "no to the foursome" that one of the fraternity brothers had proposed. She also states: "I remember being totally disgusted at the situation, and I felt very tired and intoxicated. I would say that my level of overall intoxication was about a 8 out of 10 level of intoxicated. I would say that it was the most intoxicated I've ever been in my life. I felt like I was unable to make any decision because of how intoxicated I was."

Nov. 26, 2024

Cornell President Michael Kotlikoff publishes an open letter to students and alumni with an update on the "ongoing investigations into the serious and deeply disturbing allegations of drug abuse and sexual violence at the Chi Phi fraternity house." He says that "interim measures in the form of temporary suspensions were issued for a number of students to protect the immediate physical health and safety of all students."

"The behavior that has been outlined in the many allegations received is abhorrent and cannot be tolerated within our community. I urge anyone who has experienced or is aware of sexual misconduct on our campus to report it," he adds. "Only those who perpetrate sexual violence benefit from its concealment."

Jan. 14, 2025

Cornell commences a Title IX investigation in response to Jane Doe's allegations, according to her lawsuit, holding at least 12 hearings over a four-week period in May.

According to ABC News, Jane Doe tells the school's investigators that she "felt like bait" on the night of the alleged assault.

"I felt like lions around me," she says during one of the hearings.

The comments are included in a 99-page report prepared in August by the university as part of its Title IX investigation, per ABC. The report also includes comments from a fraternity member who Cornell's investigation later concluded did not engage in the assault but was found responsible for "attempted sexual exploitation." 

"I was sorry that maybe if it wasn't consensual and she was victimized, I was sorry for not stopping it," the fraternity member says, according to ABC.

According to the New York Times, Jane Doe tells Cornell's Title IX investigators that she did not consider herself a victim until she saw the incident being discussed as a "gang rape" in an online forum.

"That's the first time I had ever heard the narrative change that I wasn't a whore and that I was assaulted," Jane Doe tells investigators, per the Times.

Feb. 6, 2025

Cornell establishes a Presidential Task Force on Campus Sexual Assault that is "charged with understanding and addressing sexual assault involving undergraduate students on the Ithaca campus."

March 10, 2026

Cornell University releases the task force's final report with recommendations aimed at "developing a holistic public health framework for addressing sexual assault":

"By improving communication, education, transparency, and access to resources, we can ensure students are well-informed and supported as we work to confront sexual assault at Cornell," the school says. "Among the key measures in the report are launching a public health campaign; increasing students' knowledge and clarity of reporting options and confidential resources; developing new educational opportunities, including courses focused on sexual citizenship; prioritizing evidence‑based prevention strategies; and expanding training for students, leaders, and residential staff."

Sept. 16, 2026

Jane Doe files a civil lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court against Cornell University, seven members of the Chi Phi fraternity, the Chi Phi and Tri-Delta Alpha Beta House chapters and the owners of Moonies Bar & Nightclub.

Sept. 21, 2026

Cornell University releases a statement saying it is aware of "a lawsuit concerning the deeply disturbing allegations of sexual assault involving members of the student community that occurred in 2024." 

The university says that it "adjudicated the allegations consistent with university policies," adding: "Federal privacy law prohibits Cornell from disclosing specific information regarding individual students and we therefore are unable to make a public statement on any other disciplinary response."

Sept. 28, 2026

Van Houten, the Tompkins County district attorney, announces that he has reopened a criminal investigation into the alleged incident. Van Houten describes the allegations as "morally disturbing," but argues that the facts he knew at the time did not support a prosecution. 

"My office obviously did not and could not have based our November 2024 decision on the allegations in a civil lawsuit that would not be filed until nearly two years later," Van Houten says in a lengthy statement that sought to explain why he initially decided not to prosecute the case.

Cornell releases a statement saying it supports the district attorney's decision to reopen the case, while pushing back against critics who say it did not "impose consequential punishments for those involved."

"The complainant and respondents had the opportunity to testify and present evidence," the school says. "At its conclusion, the hearing panel issued a range of sanctions, which included expulsions and suspensions from Cornell. None of the individuals charged were offered the opportunity to write essays as a sole consequence of their involvement."

Oct. 1, 2026

Hochul says she has lost faith in Van Houten and signs an executive order appointing New York Attorney General Letitia James as the special prosecutor to oversee the investigation.

Oct. 2, 2026

Hochul holds a press conference with James to explain her appointment as special prosecutor, saying Jane Doe was "failed" by people obligated to protect her.

"In what world would the police learn from a victim that she'd been literally gang raped while intoxicated by five men in a fraternity house and not elevate those allegations to the district attorney?" Hochul says. "In what world does the district attorney not even interview her or anyone else involved or even request the full transcript?"

James says that the case is "now an active criminal investigation."

"We will review the facts, gather evidence, interview witnesses and, if warranted, pursue prosecutions," she says, adding: "I know that you want answers. I do too."

Oct. 3, 2026

Kotlikoff, Cornell's president, posts an eight-minute video statement, saying it "has been one of the most difficult weeks" in the university's history, and that the school "must do better" to address sexual assault and substance abuse on campus.

"What happened to Jane Doe in 2024 is deeply disturbing and will weigh heavily on our community for years to come. My heart aches when I think of what she experienced," Kotlikoff says. "It raises heartbreaking and troubling issues about sexual assault, dehumanization and aspects of party culture, alcohol and drug use. It also raises questions around the investigations conducted after the allegations were reported."

Oct. 4, 2026

Jane Doe's attorney, Thomas Giuffra, says his client has received "multiple threats" in recent days from people who want her to withdraw her lawsuit.

"There are people out there trying to track her down," Giuffra says on CNN's State of the Union. "They said, 'We're gonna shut you up. You're gonna still get hurt by us.'"

Oct. 5, 2026

Thousands of people gather at Cornell for a protest against the university's handling of sexual assault cases. The "Justice for Survivors" rally takes place in front of Day Hall, which houses the university's administrative offices and had been vandalized by activists overnight.

"We are known as the rape school," Saya Taylor, a Cornell sophomore, says at the event. "We can be known as leading a nationwide reform movement."

Kotlikoff and Ryan Lombardi, the school's vice president for student and campus life, meet with the Graduate and Professional Student Assembly, which presses them on their response to Jane Doe's allegations.

"We're all angry. I understand that anger," Kotlikoff says, according to the Cornell Daily Sun. "People want easy answers to this."

Oct. 6, 2026

Cornell's board of trustees announces it has retained former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, a partner at law firm King & Spalding, to lead an independent review of how the university responds to sexual assault on campus.

Oct. 13, 2026

Cornell imposes a ban on all fraternity parties and social events for the remainder of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Kotlikoff, Cornell's president, also announces that the university will enlist "experienced, trauma-informed criminal investigators" to review allegations of sexual assault on campus.

"These are first steps toward systemic change," Kotlikoff writes in a letter to the Cornell community. "We will take all necessary steps to address the conditions that led to Jane Doe's experiences, and those of other survivors. Cornell must be a place where safety is not an open question."

In an interview with the New York Times, Kotlikoff says he learned of Jane Doe's allegations shortly after she reported them to campus police, but did not follow up with her or seek to determine whether the fraternity members she accused had been punished. He also says he was not informed when Van Houten, the local prosecutor, declined to bring charges and was unaware that Jane Doe had dropped out of Cornell until last month, when she filed suit.

"The fact that Jane Doe experienced what she experienced at Cornell is something that I am personally sorry for," Kotlikoff says. "And I think this entire campus is sorry that occurred."

Oct. 14, 2026

In a "heated" meeting, Kotlikoff is pressed by "angry" faculty members over the university's handling of the Jane Doe case. The meeting is held as the faculty senate is considering a no-confidence resolution to condemn the school's response to sexual violence on campus. A vote on the resolution is expected at the end of the month.

Oct. 16, 2026

A New York judge denies a request from one of the accused fraternity members for a gag order limiting what lawyers and parties in Jane Doe’s civil lawsuit can say publicly. Judge Phaedra Perry-Bond calls the dispute a “side show,� according to ABC News.

Lawyers for two of the accused students also continue pressing for James to be removed as special prosecutor, pointing to a social media post in which she expressed support for Jane Doe. Hochul has said she stands by the appointment.

The same day, students hold a mock trial outside a Cornell Board of Trustees meeting, “convicting� the fraternity system, Kotlikoff and several administrators in protest of the university’s handling of the case.

'It's like a war zone': Fresh clashes break out in Paris after historic day of unrest

By Sybille de La Hamaide, Clotaire Achi and Abdul Saboor

PARIS/LIMOGES, Oct 18 (Reuters) - President Emmanuel Macron appealed for calm on Sunday, a day after France suffered one of its worst days of unrest in years, with thousands arrested and shops looted or damaged after protests over high prices and declining public services.

Fresh ‌clashes broke out in Paris and Marseille, where riot police intervened to prevent attempts to ransack businesses.

Nationwide demonstrations had erupted into riots on Saturday, with a town ‌hall torched, shops pillaged and buildings covered in graffiti as violent groups clashed with police in cities across the country.

"Looking at these images, we have all asked ourselves: What was going through their minds? How can French people do ​this to France?" Macron said in a televised address to the nation.

"Nothing justifies it, nothing explains it, nothing excuses it. Tonight, we all feel anger and shame."

Saturday's unrest laid bare the deep anger at Macron, who leaves office in 2027 after a decade in power that has increasingly become defined by social discontent, a weak economy and ballooning debt.

Macron said those protesting peacefully had legitimate grievances and their actions should not be confused with those seeking to wreak havoc.

He stopped short of declaring a state of emergency, as demanded by some right-wing politicians, but said the government would act to ‌allow prefects to ban protests if necessary to protect public buildings �and local businesses.

PARIS PROTESTS 'LIKE A WAR ZONE'

The government has blamed the violence on what it said were ultra-left groups, as well as criminals it said had instigated the looting.

One protester died on Saturday after suffering a cardiac arrest during demonstrations in Paris. Police made 2,400 arrests across France, �while nearly 1,000 officers were injured, French Interior Minister Laurent Nunez said.

Police again clashed with protesters and fired tear gas at Place de la Republique on Sunday afternoon, and protesters had set fire to piles of bicycles. A Reuters witness said there appeared to be several hundred protesters in the area.

A massive clean-up operation took place in cities from Lille in the north to Marseille in the south and ​from ​Strasbourg in the east to Bordeaux in the southwest, where a masked mob invaded the residence of the ​local prefect.

"It's like a war zone here!" exclaimed Dutch entrepreneur Tije De ‌Boer, who was visiting Paris with his children and said the unrest forced him to evacuate his hotel at Place de la Republique.

More than half a million people joined marches in scores of cities on Saturday, marking the convergence of a month-long student movement with broader social discontent against rising living costs and declining public services.

SEVERAL HUNDRED SHOPS DAMAGED

While hundreds of thousands protested peacefully across France on Saturday, violent fringe groups targeted public buildings, looted luxury boutiques and supermarkets, and attacked police vehicles and officers.

Far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen, frontrunner going into next year's presidential campaign, also called for calm, saying France must not become accustomed to images of the country being battered, abused and ransacked.

"Violence is not an opinion. Destruction is not a ‌form of expression. And chaos cannot serve as a project for France," she said in a video address.

Hard-left ​France Unbowed presidential candidate Jean-Luc Melenchon said Macron needed to answer the demands of protesting high-school students.

In Limoges, ​famed for its porcelain, the collapse of the town hall's clock tower in a ​fiery blaze revived memories of the 2019 fire that devastated Paris' Notre Dame cathedral. Mayor Guillaume Guerin said not enough officers from the national police ‌had been deployed to his city.

"There was a clear, premeditated intention to ​burn down the town hall, and the people ​inside feared for their lives," Guerin told Reuters on Sunday. He threatened to resign if the city did not receive the funds needed to repair the town hall.

Economy Minister Roland Lescure pledged support on Sunday for business owners who suffered losses. "Those who break things will pay, repair the damage and be held accountable for their intention to ​sow chaos," Lescure said in a statement.

French retailer Carrefour's CEO Alexandre ‌Bompard told French broadcaster BFMTV that 50 of the company's shops had been damaged, including 20 that were looted, with losses from the damage running into ​the tens of millions of euros.

(Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide, Janis Laizans, Abdul Saboor, Clotaire Achi, Marc Leras, Michel Rose, Elizabeth Pineau, Natasa Bansagi; Writing ​by Sybille de la Hamaide; Editing by Richard Lough, Elaine Hardcastle, Jan Harvey and Edmund Klamann)

What are self-replicating 'AI worms', and why is Anthropic worried about them?

Warnings about what artificial intelligence might do in the future – together with alarming reports of what it has gotten up to already – are being issued so quickly that even security experts have difficulty triaging what to worry about.

Yet a report this week from Anthropic’s offensive research team grabbed attention by describing a new, practical threat, one devoid of human characteristics or apocalyptic musings. The red team, as such internal testers are called, said it created a malicious AI program that spread autonomously through internet-connected “smart� televisions and could do the same inside other ordinary devices. While machines running AI usually need a fair amount of computing power, the researchers said that their program split parts of itself among 15 televisions and was still able to function by using a bit of power from each.

Related: AI in your oven? Anthropic warns models ‘months away’ from self-replication on smart devices

In addition to evoking the horcruxes that kept pieces of Lord Voldemort’s soul alive within objects in the Harry Potter series, the report alarmed some professionals because the generally weak security of smart televisions and many other “internet of things� devices would be very hard to correct, even with a concerted effort.

“It’s something to worry about just like every other wave of cyber-attacks. We need to mitigate the possible effects,� said Joshua Saxe, who led development of Meta’s AI security effort. “I’m concerned right now that folks in the cybersecurity community are not taking these kinds of real risks as seriously as they should be.�

The damage of such “AI worms� could be astonishingly large. Self-replicating computer viruses, which need not trick a human to propagate, are known as worms, and earlier worms have wreaked some of the worst havoc in the history of the internet.

That legacy includes the Morris worm of 1988, which arrived before the mainstream consumer internet, when a graduate student released a program that took advantage of various software flaws and weak passwords, copying itself so rapidly that many infected machines slowed to a stop. The US and Israel brought worms into international espionage with the stealthy Stuxnet in the lat 2000s, which sabotaged Iranian nuclear centrifuges. Other worms like the Russian NotPetya and North Korean-attributed WannaCry have caused tens of billions of dollars’ worth of damage worldwide.

Many of the world’s most destructive worms have depended on known vulnerabilities that device owners have not patched, sometimes months after patches became available. The Anthropic team predicted that a worm like theirs could function in the same way and be harder to stop, because smart devices receive patches less often than phones or laptops. Worse, they theorized that an AI worm could keep adapting to other types of hardware by researching newly disclosed vulnerabilities.

What differentiates AI worms from typical reproducing viruses is that AI models can learn as they go, said Ariel Herbert-Voss, an early security expert at OpenAI who now runs AI security startup RunSybil. Existing cybersecurity infrastructure is not ready for the proliferation of such threats, Herbert-Voss said. “We need to better enable our security teams. We need to be giving them more resources to fix problems.�

Worms could also be used for benevolent purposes, suggested Chris Inglis, a former deputy director of the National Security Agency who served as National Cyber Director in the Biden White House.

“The question of whether AI worms are plausible has been settled by several breakout events over the past six months,� Inglis said by digital message. “The better question is how we will employ them, counter them, and/or combine them with other emerging technologies.�

Anthropic researchers said a successful AI worm would need to have more capability on less powerful devices than is possible right now – but they added that current trends will make that feasible by year’s end. Their research follows a paper published by experts at the University of Toronto a few months ago, which infected a full-size computer and could spread to similar machines more rapidly than the television worm.

“The capabilities have been developing very rapidly,� said co-author and Toronto PhD student Jonas Guan.

Guan and other experts said that, as a practical matter, an AI worm should not top anyone’s list of AI fears. The Anthropic version moves very slowly, Guan said, and worms have predictable and detectable actions that can be blocked at multiple layers. Basic security hygiene, including requiring strong passwords and two-factor authentication, would stop most worms and other hacking, experts said.

“Nothing about this is truly feasible or impactful,� said Juan Andres Guerrero-Saade, vice-president of research at security firm SentinelOne. “It’s nifty stunt hacking that’s getting way more amplification in service of the ridiculous doomer narratives that suggest models have a mind and will of their own.�

Anthropic did not respond to an interview request.

Outside Washington, many in the AI and security worlds believe greater government oversight of AI is now essential. But members of Congress have introduced mutually conflicting bills, while the White House has so far created only a small review board.

Security researchers and laypeople alike find themselves weighing the motivations behind fearful prognostications from AI companies, which range from espousing quasi-religious beliefs, to seeking legislation to exclude rivals or save money, to hyping the anticipated multi-trillion-dollar public valuations of the San Francisco AI giants.

“The claim that a lot of this is marketing is correct, but the reality dwarfs any PR,� said Gadi Evron, who is running a conference on AI security in San Francisco this month called Unprompted. “Whatever claims the labs are making, they are not warning us enough. We need to understand that nobody can stop the AI storm.�

Trump's D.C. golf course overhaul will close popular links for 15 months

Topline

East Potomac Golf Links, a highly popular municipal golf course in Washington, D.C., and the target of one of President Donald Trump’s contentious renovation projects, will close for 15 months starting in November, the president said on Sunday.

Key Facts

Big Number

430. That’s how many healthy, non-invasive trees were removed from the East Potomac Golf Links in a few hours last week, the Trump administration acknowledged. “Breakneck speed to clear trees that posed no harm,� District Court Judge Ana Reyes wrote in a memo accompanying an order to stop cutting down any tree at the course until Oct. 26. “The reason? Disputed. The budget? Unclear. The environmental impact? Unstudied. The urgency? None. Next steps: bulldoze hundreds more.�

Contra

Days after the order was signed, the Trump administration moved to disqualify Reyes from presiding over the case, claiming she “hamstrung the Government’s legitimate attempts to maintain East Potomac Park� and accused her of being biased against the Trump administration. “More than being upset and furious right now, I am just deeply disappointed in the government,� Reyes reportedly told Justice Department lawyers at a hearing. When one attorney told the judge the government had done its best to gather information about the tree removal project, Reyes reportedly responded with: “You did not do your best. You did �your absolute worst.�

Key Background

Trump previously announced work would begin on renovating the golf course in September. The current course has two nine-hold courses for easier difficulty levels, one par 72 18-hole course, and a mini-golf course. Green fees max out at $48 for the 18-hole course on weekends and holidays, but the easier courses cost even less. Trump, who is an avid golfer and investor in high-end golf clubs like his Trump Doral in Miami and Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, New Jersey, said he planned to replace the municipal course with a “championship-level� course. In his post on Sunday, Trump doubled down on this promise, writing the “United States Golf Association, PGA of America, and the PGA Tour have already been notified that they will soon have one of the Best and Most Spectacular Golf Courses anywhere in the World to put on their list of great places to play, and hold Major Events.� During his second term in office, Trump has been increasingly concerned with renovation projects and new monuments around the national capital, including building a new White House ballroom, a triumphal arch and renovating the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool.

Further Reading

This article was originally published on Forbes.com

U.S. taking Putin's side would be a 'historic mistake,' says Zelensky

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that the U.S. formally siding with Russia’s Vladimir Putin would be a “historic mistake,� but said he still sees President Donald Trump as an ally despite a series of moves that have unsettled his country and its friends on Capitol Hill.

“We want to trust him,� Zelenskyy told NBC News’ “Meet the Press� on Sunday, referring to Trump. “I hope that he will change his decisions, because I think that it’s all mistakes, and it will not help us, and it will not help United States.�

Trump on Friday waived sweeping new sanctions against Russia passed by Congress, saying in an executive order that the move “is in the national interests of the United States.� Passed with bipartisan support and signed by Trump last month, the sanctions were intended to target Russia’s revenue streams by punishing global buyers of Russian oil and gas.

The waiver came days after a deal with Putin to release hundreds of thousands of tons of Russian diesel fuel onto the global market as fuel prices soar.

At the same time, Zelenskyy said, U.S. intelligence sharing was briefly “blocked,� blinding Ukraine to incoming ballistic missiles, while limits have been placed on Starlink technology critical to intercept jet-powered drones.

Zelenskyy told moderator Kristen Welker that Ukrainian officials believe the decision to limit Starlink, imposed by Elon Musk’s SpaceX, came in response to a “message from American government.�

The U.S. has been Ukraine’s most significant backer across four and a half years of war, but personal relations between Trump and Zelenskyy have appeared severely strained in recent weeks, with each offering public criticisms of the other.

Asked about Trump’s remark this week that the Ukrainian leader was “more difficult to deal with than Putin,� Zelenskyy said he was “very honest� with Trump.

“Maybe it’s not very polite,� he said, but it is “better to have partners who are very open and clear than to have those who are killers, even with a smile on their face.�

Zelenskyy, who accused the U.S. of betraying Kyiv last week, said that his feelings have not changed. He warned that Trump’s diesel deal with Russia “will strengthen Putin in his will to occupy us.�

Announcing the deal week, Trump expressed hopes that it would go some way to address soaring fuel costs.

But Zelenskyy said the deal wouldn’t have “a real influence� on the price of oil in the U.S. because the rising prices were due to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz, not Ukraine.

“I don’t know all the reasons why President Trump makes such deals,� he said.

Of the prospect of the U.S. more formally siding with Russia, he said: “If these two countries will be together ... we will not prevail, and we will not be able to stand.�

Zelenskyy said it was a “pity� Trump had waived the sanctions in a bill named for the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who he said was “a great supporter of peace and of Ukraine.�

“He invested his life and time because he really believed in Ukraine,� he said.

In a separate interview on “Meet the Press,� Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., defended Trump’s decision to lift the Russia sanctions.

“He’s trying to walk this fine balance between trying to be able to put pressure on Russia, but also to be able to help the American people, so he is choosing the American people first is what he’s doing,� Lankford said, pointing to high gas prices.

Asked whether Trump’s moves indicate the president is siding with Putin, Lankford said that Trump was “siding with the free people of Ukraine,� adding later that Trump was working to get the two countries “to the table to be able to negotiate.�

The war has seen little recent movement on the frontline, with Russia continuing to occupy around a fifth of Ukraine. Trump had vowed to end the conflict within days of his second term, but peace talks have effectively stalled, with Ukraine saying that Russia has rejected a short-term ceasefire and that Putin’s terms for peace are tantamount to a full surrender.

Meanwhile, another difficult winter looms for Ukrainian civilians, with a critical munitions shortage limiting Zelenskyy’s ability to defend infrastructure against Russian strikes.

Zelenskyy said he was due to speak to U.S. negotiators by phone later Sunday and was still hopeful of a meeting in the days ahead. “I’m very open for this, even with all the difficult circumstances,� he said.

He cited some progress after a multiday interruption to U.S. intelligence about incoming Russian ballistic missiles, which he said has now been “deblocked.�

“We are very thankful for this,� he said. “Now it works.�

European and Ukrainian officials previously told NBC News they believed that a move to limit sharing intelligence, coming only days after Trump eased sanctions on Russia, were most likely aimed at pressuring Kyiv into making concessions at the negotiating table amid a stalemate in peace talks.

While Zelenskyy indicated that the intelligence problem has been resolved, he said that Ukraine was still facing an ongoing speed restriction on its use of Starshield, the military version of the Starlink service.

Asked if he thought Trump or Musk had directly made the decision to limit Starlink, Zelenskyy said that he didn’t know but thought “both� were involved. He said that if Trump decided tomorrow to lift the restriction, “it will immediately work as it was before.�

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com

Trump's most controversial moves have something in common: This DOJ office

When White House officials wanted to know if President Donald Trump could send the U.S. military to help capture President Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, a special unit in the Justice Department assured them it was legal.

When the administration was preparing to strike suspected drug traffickers’ boats on the open sea without congressional approval, the same small unit declared the action permissible.

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When the White House asked if the Presidential Records Act was constitutional, the office ruled it was not, giving Trump the apparent green light to save fewer records from his second term.

As the Trump administration pushes the bounds of executive power, the Justice Department unit known as the Office of Legal Counsel, or OLC, has affirmed some of its most high-profile and controversial actions - even as many experts question their legitimacy and some are later struck down by the courts.

Tucked away on the Justice Department’s fifth floor, the two dozen or so lawyers at the OLC are charged with assessing the legality of actions the executive branch wants to take, especially those that are novel or likely to be contentious. Much of its work, particularly on national security matters, remains shielded from public view, but some of the office’s conclusions have emerged in often dense legal opinions.

The OLC during Trump’s second term is not the first to be accused of adopting shaky reasoning to justify a president’s policies. Under President Barack Obama, the OLC wrote a controversial rationale for launching a deadly drone attack on a U.S. citizen overseas. Under President George W. Bush, the office justified the used of “enhanced interrogation� - what some call torture - against enemy combatants, including waterboarding.

But because Trump has advanced so many controversial policies - including imposing global tariffs, refusing to spend congressionally allocated funds and pushing to more broadly deploy the National Guard - the OLC now faces particular scrutiny.

Critics contend that during Trump’s second term, the OLC is sometimes responding to legal questions that appear personal to Trump, rather than addressing live policy debates, as is typical. For instance, Trump had quibbled over the Presidential Records Act after he was indicted in Florida for allegedly mishandling classified materials. These critics said the OLC opinion on this act seemed aimed at Trump’s prior issues with the law, rather than any active policy issues.

“It is not inconsistent with the type of advice OLC of any flavor, Democrats or Republicans, would give to other presidents,� said Carlos Uriarte, a Justice Department political appointee during the Biden administration who worked closely with the OLC. “What’s different is that this administration seems to be more willing to go into theoretical questions that are not before them.�

Trump’s OLC is headed by T. Elliot Gaiser, a 37-year-old former solicitor general of Ohio described by current and former colleagues as a constitutional originalist who, like Trump, has an expansive view of executive power.

Gaiser, who represented Trump’s losing presidential campaign in 2020 and refuses to acknowledge Joe Biden won that election, said his role in the Justice Department is to provide honest legal advice, not push for any particular outcome.

“We’re the least interested in advocating, [and] the most interested in saying, ‘Here’s our frank view of where we think we stand in respect to the law,’� Gaiser told The Washington Post in a rare interview.

His sparsely decorated office is filled with bound books of legal opinions, which surround a desk Gaiser proudly says is believed to have once been used by former Supreme Court justice Antonin Scalia, who headed the OLC under President Gerald Ford.

People who know and have worked with Gaiser spoke positively about him, with former associates describing him as “brilliant.� Gaiser clerked on the Supreme Court for Samuel A. Alito Jr. when the justice wrote the landmark opinion restricting abortion access. As OLC head, Gaiser has written conservative opinions backing restrictions around abortion access, expanded gun access and greater White House authority.

Gaiser said he has not hesitated to tell the White House when its ideas should not be enacted, though he declined to share specifics. Gaiser, and others familiar with the office, noted that the president is not required to listen to the OLC.

Much of OLC advice is shared privately. As a result, public perceptions of the OLC are largely shaped by the opinions it releases, even as they represent only a portion of its work.

The office’s role could become even more central if Democrats take control of Congress. The office recently approved an expanded view of executive privilege, for example, which Democrats fear will be used to shield Trump’s associates from testifying before Congress.

Gaiser’s office could also get asked to provide legal advice if outcomes are challenged during and after next month’s midterms. The office has already determined that the executive branch can legally seek a state’s voter rolls and share them with immigration authorities - a key part of the Trump administration’s strategy to identify noncitizen voters as it tries to argue that voter fraud is rampant.

Asked during the interview in his office who won the 2020 election, Gaiser demurred, citing his work as a lawyer for Trump’s campaign that year.

He cannot say publicly who won, Gaiser said, because that would reveal too much about the privileged legal advice he gave Trump campaign officials when he was their attorney.

“Joe Biden was sworn in as the president. He was certified the winner of the election by the Congress,� Gaiser said. “What I privately think happened in the 2020 election - what advice I provided to the president as the head of the campaign or to others in the campaign, the other campaign lawyers - that’s the kind of stuff I just really can’t get into.�

Although many Trump appointees display sharp elbows and make frequent appearances on cable news shows, Gaiser takes a lower profile, even as his work is attracting increased attention, including from Democratic lawmakers and federal courts.

After the OLC declared in April that the Presidential Records Act was unconstitutional, a federal court responded to lawsuits and said that, at least for now, the White House had to preserve records as normal. Advocacy groups are fighting to unseal the OLC’s memo justifying the deadly boat strikes in international waters.

One former OLC attorney, speaking on the condition of anonymity to offer a sensitive assessment, said the office’s opinions are based on shoddy legal arguments.

Under previous administrations, “you have opinions that at least try to grapple with counterarguments,� but that is not the case today, the former OLC lawyer said.

Gaiser sharply disputes the assertion that his office’s opinions are not high-quality, saying he and his lawyers deliver honest, accurate assessments.

“There is a continuum with the advice you give. You can say, this is lawful but risky. This is lawfully safe. This is unlawful,� Gaiser said. “OLC has a measure of independent counsel that we offer.�

During the first Trump administration, the OLC pushed back on some of the president’s most explosive actions. Steve Engel, then head of the OLC, testified about the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol that he had advised Trump appointees that some of their plans to question the results of the 2020 presidential election were not legal.

Under Engel, the OLC also advised that an executive order ending birthright citizenship - the legal principal that virtually everyone born on U.S. soil is a citizen - would be unconstitutional, according to multiple people familiar with the matter, and the president did not issue one.

But when Trump became president a second time, he issued an order to end birthright citizenship on his first day in office. The OLC did not review it or the other executive orders Trump issued immediately upon his return, according to two people familiar with the matter.

The Supreme Court later affirmed birthright citizenship in a ruling that Trump called a “miscarriage of justice.�

Gaiser, who was confirmed in July 2025, had not taken office at that point, and said his office has since reviewed all of the president’s executive orders before they are issued.

The OLC attracted a burst of attention in August when it issued an opinion on executive privilege, which can shield communications between presidents and their aides. The office declared that the doctrine covers not only official advisers, but can also expand to cover outside associates consulted by the president in certain circumstances.

The opinion was released as the American Bar Association was suing the Trump administration over its efforts to sanction law firms that hired Trump’s perceived foes or took on cases he disliked. The ABA is seeking testimony from Boris Epshteyn, one of Trump’s outside advisers.

The ABA assailed the OLC opinion as self-serving and suspiciously timed. But Michael Edney, who worked at the OLC under Bush, said the opinion’s reading of executive privilege was not unreasonable, given the importance that some presidents place on outside consultation.

“It’s not all that crazy to me,� he said.

Most experts said that while OLC lawyers are not required to be blind to the president’s agenda, they cannot simply interpret the law to suit his priorities. Former OLC employees said the office should not be a rubber stamp, regardless of whether the president heeds its opinions.

“In the executive branch, like everywhere else in the world, lawyers give advice and clients make decisions,� Edney said. “Their job is to provide legal advice.�

Related Content

A new generation of synthetic drugs is changing America's overdose crisis

Warning: This story contains descriptions of drug-taking from the start and discusses suicide

The few grains of fentanyl sit in the silver foil as a straw, held between Mike's lips, hovers above, with a cigarette lighter below. The 48-year-old army veteran is crouched low in an alleyway in Columbus, Ohio's Linden neighbourhood.

"This drug will damn near make you do anything, unfortunately," he says.

The hit he's smoking cost three or four dollars.

"You can snort too much and you can't take it back. Kind of like a gunshot. Can't call the bullet back," he says.

He burns the foil and inhales. As the opioid takes hold, he grips the fence behind him. He sways as a low moan comes from deep in his throat - he could be humming a tune.

We've spent a few days with Mike - he's been our guide through the neighbourhood's back streets. Everyone seems to know him and he's regarded fondly. He helps out at a local pawn shop and gas station, and that's how he feeds his 20-year-old opioid addiction.

Synthetic opioids are more powerful and in plentiful supply, and they have transformed the drugs landscape.

Fentanyl, which is entirely man-made, is 50 to 100 times more powerful than heroin, which is cultivated from poppies. It is now often cut with synthetic tranquillisers, which make reviving overdose victims more difficult. These are homemade threats, where cocktails of synthetics can be made in American basements and bathtubs.

We have Naloxone (brand name Narcan) in our pockets, in case anyone on our team comes into contact with fentanyl or anyone around us overdoses. It's a nasal spray that immediately reverses opioid overdoses and its widespread adoption has transformed the number of fatal overdoses in the United States.

At its peak in 2022, 110,000 Americans were dying from overdoses, mostly from opioids. The number has been dropping since, down to around 70,000 last year. But that doesn't mean the opioid crisis is over.

It's likely that the reversal drug in my pocket, which has saved tens of thousands of drug users' lives, would not have worked on Mike. Because he wasn't just smoking fentanyl.

The pupils in his milky blue eyes shrink to pin pricks. "Opioids make your pupils go smaller, but not that small," he says in a singsong voice. Even the fentanyl, dangerous enough on its own, has other synthetics added.

When we ask what he thinks his drugs have been cut with, he replies: "Xylazine, and the one we can't pronounce."

Medetomidine is what he means. Like xyalzine, it is also referred to as tranq and both are synthetic animal tranquilisers. "Large animal tranquilisers," as one recovery expert told me.

They help prolong the high from the fentanyl but are a sedative that slows breathing and, importantly, naloxone doesn't work against them. Xylazine also causes necrotic skin ulcers, wounds so deep they can make it down to the bone and are difficult to treat.

Recovery group offering hope

At the Glenwood Church on the other side of town, members of the Hope Dealer Community, a recovery group, gather for a weekly meeting. For many, their struggles are written in their care-worn faces, and their eyes are those of survivors of a great trauma.

They take to the stage at the front of the church and share their stories with a brutal and courageous honesty.

One man tells the story of his overdose in July 2022. Two paramedics worked on him, trying to save his life. He had naloxone drips in both arms. They hit him with the opioid reversal three times to no avail. "That's it, I'm gonna call it," said one of the medics. But the other insisted on one more try, and it was that which saved his life.

As the crowd shouts encouragement, Tonya takes to the lectern. She recounts how her nephew died of an overdose while she was overdosing at the same time from crack cocaine, a stimulant spiked with fentanyl, a synthetic opioid.

"It's not luck. I'm supposed to be here," she says with tears in her eyes. The audience yells its agreement.

Both in Columbus, and later in Chicago, we would hear of crack cocaine users who had died of overdoses after their drugs contained fentanyl. On the street, it's called a "hot dose".

"In the last 12 months in Franklin County [Columbus], 78% of fatal overdoses are from stimulants," explains Scott Sanders, 65, who runs Hope Dealers.

Scott is almost 10 years sober, a powerfully built man in his early 60s with an electric energy. When he asks the room to raise their hands if anyone has overdosed, most of the gathering does so.

"The crisis has just shifted," Scott tells me afterwards. "The tragedy is stimulant users who are purchasing crack think that's what they're getting, and they're not. They're getting crack mixed with fentanyl or other opioid cocktails and overdosing without being aware of it."

Overdose deaths among black men in Ohio are actually increasing, he adds.

His organisation works with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on a drug sampling programme. Participants bring their needles or pipes for swabbing and the samples are sent to the CDC's laboratory in North Carolina.

That's how we learned that Mike's instincts were right, he likely wasn't just smoking fentanyl. One of the drug kits he brought in tested positive for medetomidine.

"The drug supply in 2026 is this: we think we are buying crack but we're not, we're buying a number of different things," says Scott. "Today it is mixed, not just cut, but mixed with other drugs such as fentanyl or meth, and then other adulterants chemicals that are made in basements."

And it was basement-made synthetic drugs that would cause a dramatic increase in overdose deaths one state over, in Illinois.

• Watch the documentary on YouTube

I meet a dealer in Chicago who works for the Mexican cartels selling fentanyl. He would only speak to us if we agreed to mask his identity.

Challenged on his role in the 50,000 people dying each year because of the opioid crisis, he says he knows it is wrong. But when asked why he keeps doing it, he said the end justifies the means.

He told me that despite the latest efforts by the US government to target the cartels by declaring them terrorist groups and labelling fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction, his supply chain is as strong as ever.

When I ask him if the targeting of boats containing suspected traffickers by the Trump administration has made any difference, he replies that his product is still getting through from Mexico.

"If it doesn't go over the wall, it goes under the wall. If it doesn't go through the border, it comes through the top border. This game is about adaptability."

And when I asked what has changed in his business, his answer was clear.

"Synthetics. We haven't seen... what synthetics can do yet. It's not even the tip of the iceberg," he tells me.

A novel approach

Chicago's largest jail, one of the largest jails in America, is Cook County. Traditional drugs were usually brought into the jail in body cavities, so the jail had the same body scanners you find at airports to prevent that happening.

"In 2023, all of a sudden we saw a spike in overdose deaths, but then hand in hand with that we saw, around persons that had either passed away or people we revived, paper all over the place," explains Sheriff Tom Dart, who runs the jail. "We were seeing paper that was being burned and all of this was completely novel."

The facility, which averages one or two overdose deaths a year, lost eight inmates that year to fatal seizures.

Security footage shows prisoners spasming and collapsing. It also showed them lighting paper in microwaves in the cell block kitchens.

It was indeed, as Dart said, a novel approach. Drugs were being mailed into the jail soaked in the pages of books and in letters.

"Cannabinoids and being soaked in a range of other things that were then subsequently lit on fire and inhaled to get high", the sheriff explained.

Cannabinoids, sometimes know as K2, are an entirely synthetic version of a cannabis plant extract. They are extremely dangerous and were to blame for the fatal seizures.

In August, I joined Dart's corrections officers as they prepared for an early morning raid on the jail's high security D block. Around two dozen officers tread lightly and speak in hushed tones as they gather outside the block door. "Don't let them hear you. Silence, silence," commands one of the officers leading the search.

As the officers rush in, I smell burning paper in the air and can hear the sound of toilets flushing, presumably as contraband is hurriedly disposed of.

As the search gets under way, the focus is on any paper in the cells - the books and letters belonging to inmates.

The detainees are escorted to a holding area as the cells are turned over. Every scrap of paper in the rooms is checked by the officers. There are burn marks on the vents in many of the cells, where inmates place smoulder tapers that allow them to ignite the drug-soaked paper.

Now every piece of post that enters the jail is scanned for moisture. Somewhere between a quarter and a fifth of all packages and letters test positive and are rejected.

Outside the jail's walls, it's not hard to encounter the effects of the synthetic drugs wave on Chicago's streets. In the west of the city, day and night, men and women are bent double, swaying, as Mike did, as fentanyl and other synthetics surge through them.

In the upscale Oak Park neighbourhood, the local metro station has a vending machine that dispenses naloxone for free. Nearby, a gaunt-looking man in a wheelchair has deep wounds in his legs, likely from xylazine use. He's being tended to by 40-year-old Karen Bell.

Karen is a recovery worker with the group Liv4Lali. A former heroin user, she's 17 years free from hard drugs.

She exudes kindness, and when I ask her about the drugs being used now, she says, "so many things are being mixed in right now. And it's affecting our bodies, whether it's the wounds, whether it's the withdrawals - and sometimes wounds can extend to the point where it's life changing."

Her organisation, like Hope Dealers in Columbus, distributes test strips which check drugs for fentanyl, medetomidine, xylazine and other adulterants.

The drugs now, says Karen, are "way more dangerous".

"Because before, back in my day, I stopped using heroin 17 years ago, right. That was still heroin. When you bought that you knew it was heroin. But now, when you buy a bag, you don't know really what it is," she tells me.

Dart has been sheriff of Cook County for 20 years, so I ask him how the war on drugs was progressing. "I don't think there's anybody involved with it who would sit there and say it's a raging success. It's not," he tells me.

And the new problem, he says, reiterating the Chicago drug dealer, is synthetics.

"The tradition has always been that law enforcement had an even more vital role because everything that was potent was coming across the border, whether it was coming from Colombia, Mexico, China, the poppy fields of Afghanistan. Now, with the explosion of synthetic drugs, people can do this in their house, in their sink, in their bathtub, you name it."

Victory in the war on drugs won't come from focusing just on the supply side, the sheriff adds. "Front and centre there's got to be huge substance abuse treatment," he says, mentioning a number of recovery programmes running in his jail.

"You can reduce the market if you can address people's issues with substance abuse. And I know many people who, after long struggles, have come out on the other side in a really good way."

'A lot of people are struggling'

Karen knows how difficult it is to quit. She was still using heroin when she got pregnant with her daughter, Abby, now 17. After our meeting at the metro station, I meet them both in a country park in a suburb outside Chicago. With typical care, Karen tells me to watch out for the poison ivy as we walk along a muddy track.

It wasn't far from here, around 17 years ago, that she was at her lowest ebb.

As the wind blows through a tall oak tree beside us, she says: "The day I found out I was pregnant, I was on my way to commit suicide. I was so fed up with trying to quit. I was so fed up with living in a tent in the woods, using a bucket. I was so fed up with losing my friends and family because I was just so ashamed."

A pregnancy test changed her mind. She then spent time in Cook County jail for theft. Her parents, sensing an opportunity for her to get clean, refused to pay her bail money. So Karen got clean and Abby was born inside the jail.

When I ask Abby, who wants to become a tattoo artist, whether she's ever been tempted to experiment with drugs, she says: "Nah, I've seen it mess with my family too much, with my dad, my mum, killing my aunt, my uncles. You know, it's not worth it to get high for like a couple of hours."

She continues: "There's a lot of people are struggling, especially that our country is raising our prices, raising the prices on food and it's causing it. A lot of mental health now is very expensive so people can't get help, and one way they can turn to that is by drugs."

Generations of Americans have endured the drugs crisis, but it is never the same crisis. It has shifted from heroin, to prescription opioids to fentanyl and now to a whole new range of synthetics.

Successive administrations have fought - and lost - the war against drugs. The dealers, the suppliers, the cartels and users all adapt, always a few steps ahead of efforts to stop them.

Additional reporting by Darren Conway

If you are suffering distress or despair and need support, you could speak to a health professional, or an organisation that offers support. Details of help available in many countries can be found at Befrienders Worldwide.

A list of UK organisations that can help is available here.

Developing coastal storm to bring flooding and beach erosion to mid-Atlantic

JD Vance faces tough questions on Iran war, immigration and gas prices in town hall

In an hour-long town hall hosted by CBS News, Vice President JD Vance argued the Trump administration's handling of the economy and Iran strategy will pay dividends in the future.

He was also pressed on the Trump administration's controversial immigration tactics, widespread discontent about the cost of living and his own political future during "Things That Matter: A Town Hall With Vice President JD Vance," which aired Saturday evening and was hosted by "CBS Evening News" anchor Tony Dokoupil.

Vance took questions from voters in Michigan, a swing state that helped propel Vance and President Trump to victory in 2024 — and is the host of a tight Senate race that could help determine which party wins control of the upper chamber in next month's midterm elections.

Vance says he hasn't decided if he'll run for president

If he decides to run for president in 2028, the vice president is widely viewed as an early frontrunner in the Republican primaries and a possible heir to Mr. Trump's political movement. Mr. Trump has called Vance his "most likely" GOP successor and has joked about a potential contest between Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Asked by Dokoupil if there's any chance he won't run, Vance said: "Of course there's a chance."

"The way that I think about life, big life decisions — my wife will tell you this — is I'm a procrastinator. I hate thinking about it," said Vance, adding that he'll "have to think about it."

He also noted that he and his wife, Usha Vance, have four young children, and the second lady "has never loved politics," though "she loves public service."

On economy, Vance says "we're turning the ship around" but it will take time

Several town hall attendees asked Vance about cost-of-living issues. 

The topic weighs heavily in the midterms, and has demonstrated it's a liability for Republicans based on CBS News polling. Voter dissatisfaction with inflation and the state of the economy under the Biden administration helped bring Mr. Trump and Vance to power, but polls indicate that most voters are still unhappy with the economy and hold the Trump administration responsible.

Sandy Johnson said the family entertainment center she owns is "barely making ends meet," and asked when she can expect changes "so that the normal American has money to spend on small businesses."

The vice president argued it could take some time. 

"What broke the United States, as much as I might like to criticize Joe Biden, but it was a bipartisan, multi-generational failure to under-invest in American workers, to under-invest in American manufacturing, to ship all of our good jobs overseas," Vance said. "If all the good jobs are overseas, then people here in Michigan can't spend money at your family business."

He pointed to promises of new foreign investment in the United States, and growth plans by the three major Detroit-area automakers, General Motors, Ford and Chrysler parent Stellantis.

"We are turning the tide on this," Vance said, referring to the decline in U.S. manufacturing. "And I think there are all these things I pointed to that show signs of progress. But Sandy, I'll be the first person to tell you that, just as this country wasn't broken in one presidential term, it's gonna take more than 18 months to fix things and turn them around."

Since Mr. Trump returned to office last year, the unemployment rate has remained low, but inflation has remained stubbornly higher than the Federal Reserve's 2%-per-year target, eating into Americans' wages. The number of manufacturing jobs has also remained roughly flat.

Asked by Dokoupil about Mr. Trump's assessment of an "A+" economy, Vance said the president was referring to new investments, "but he would be the first person to tell you that you gotta build the factories first before you can employ the workers working in those factories."

Vance later said: "I think what we're doing is, we're turning the ship around."

Iran and energy: "I recognize that gas prices are too high right now"

One of the biggest pressure points on Americans' wallets is the Iran war, which has kept oil prices high even as the U.S. and Iran have refrained from active fighting in recent weeks.

Keshon Wheatley, a barber from Detroit, told Vance that he voted for Mr. Trump in 2020 and 2024, in large part because he gave the president credit for low gas prices during his first term. Now, gas prices are far higher — and he said he plans to vote for Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed, not Republican Mike Rogers.

Vance pointed to Iran's attacks on oil tankers.

"We've never had a situation like this, where you have effectively the largest state sponsor of terrorism that's trying to completely choke off world energy supply," the vice president said, arguing that "if we just … left, and we let the Iranians control shipping out of the Strait of Hormuz, what that would mean is you would pay a lot more for gasoline."

Asked how long it will take for prices to ease, Vance said, "When this conflict is over, we are going to see gas prices come down." He said oil is still being exported from the Middle East because of efforts by the U.S. military to allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.

On the competitive Michigan Senate race, he argued El-Sayed — a frequent critic of the Iran war — has not offered a solution to the problem, and gave Rogers credit for calling for the war to end. "He's been remarkably independent about this," Vance said of Rogers.

Dokoupil asked Vance why the U.S. hasn't decisively won the Iran war, which has dragged on for longer than Mr. Trump initially expected.

Vance argued that "in some ways we have won decisively," but "the enemy gets a vote here."

The vice president — who participated in negotiations with Iran over the summer — defended the president's Iran strategy, and said the Trump administration is looking for a "final firm commitment from the Iranians that they're not going to rebuild their nuclear program."

Man whose wife died in Iranian strike decries "fundamental failures"

The Iran war has also imposed human costs, with 21 U.S. service members killed and hundreds injured since the conflict began in late February. 

In the war's early hours, six U.S. Army Reserve soldiers were killed in an Iranian strike on a site in Kuwait, including Master Sgt. Nicole Amor. Her husband, Joey Amor, asked Vance about reports that the facility in Kuwait was not adequately secured.

"Though the Iranian drone was the weapon that killed my wife, there were a lot of mistakes and a lot of fundamental failures that led up to that," Amor said, asking Vance "how this administration is gonna start holding those leaders accountable."

Vance said he didn't doubt there were failures, but "sometimes information doesn't filter up to me." He vowed to "take every single failure extremely seriously."

He also noted that cheap drones have changed warfare, and "we have changed a lot of our tactics to try to suppress that drone fire, to try to protect our troops to make it so that more people don't have to pay the ultimate sacrifice."

Vance also said: "I know that there are some issues with, for example … where troops were located that we realized was a huge mistake and that we could do better on. And we have changed that."

Nun presses Vance on immigration tactics

Sister Nancy Sylvester, a member of the Sister Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, asked Vance about the Trump administration's approach to immigration enforcement.

She asked Vance, a fellow Catholic, "how you would justify [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement tactics] to people of faith," and "what policies would you advocate to try to promote more compassionate and [respectful] behavior toward our immigrant sisters and brothers."

Vance responded, "We're trying to strike a balance between: How do we do law enforcement, but how do we also do it humanely, and how do we not do so little law enforcement that you actually empower some of the worst people in the world."

Vance later said most ICE agents are "amazing people who are patriots," but some of them "make mistakes" or "really screw up." He added that "obviously, we have a responsibility to prosecute, investigate when people do screw up."

Asked if any major mistakes by ICE come to mind, Vance responded that "there are a number of cases where we've investigated and either provided further training, or sometimes even provided disciplinary situations within ICE."

Another town hall attendee pressed Vance on some of the administration's rhetoric around immigration, including Vance's own comments that likened some holders of employment-based H-1B visas to "foreign indentured servants."

Vance responded, "To the extent that my rhetoric has been imperfect here, that's on me."

He said his comments were "not a criticism of the H-1B holder."

"That's a criticism of a company who brings a person in, who sometimes will literally lay off an American worker, bring somebody else in, and knows that person, if they complain, if they get too uppity at work, if they have a disagreement with their boss, they couldn't just lose their job, … they can be shipped back to their country of origin," Vance said. "And I think that gives employers way too much power."

He said, "My goal here is not to dehumanize any immigrant." But he said he is seeking "to make it so that we can have a country with some baseline of social cohesion and sense of community, because what happens when too many people come to the United States, even if they're very good people, … [is] it changes the country in very profound ways."

"D.C. is a corrupt town," but Vance says no evidence Trump is participating in it

Dokoupil asked Vance about polling that indicates many voters are concerned about corruption and believe Mr. Trump is prioritizing his own personal business interests while in office. 

Vance said, "I've never seen anything like that from the president."

"Yes, D.C. is a corrupt town," Vance said, but "I have not seen a single shred of evidence that he participates or sanctions in that corruption."

Dokoupil also asked about a string of recent reports, including Mr. Trump's cryptocurrency earnings and U.S. Ambassador to Greece Kimberly Guilfoyle's ouster over allegations that she asked a person seeking help from the Trump administration to wire her $100,000. Guilfoyle has denied all wrongdoing. Mr. Trump has denied any conflicts of interest.

Vance responded: "If somebody's selling access to the White House, that's disgusting and despicable and they should suffer consequences."

The vice president also said he will "follow the law" if a Democratic Congress launches investigations and subpoenas the Trump administration.

Data centers need to be "good community citizens"

A major point of tension in many communities across the country is the explosion in data center development, as the artificial intelligence boom leads to insatiable demand for computing power.

Mr. Trump has enthusiastically backed the AI industry, casting it as an engine of economic growth and a key area of competition with China. He has also argued data center construction can be beneficial to local communities, bringing jobs and investments in crucial technology. But many voters have raised concerns about noise, disruption and pressure on the electrical grid, leading to calls for development to slow down.

Vance took a question from one Michigan resident who lives across the street from a data center and said the constant buzzing has made "opening our windows to let in a breeze … a luxury that we could no longer enjoy."

The vice president said "data centers can be good" and can also "cause real problems." He said his view is that data centers should be "good community citizens," offering more tax revenue to local governments. The data centers should also not lead to higher residential utility bills, Vance said.

"Some of the economic benefits they're generating, they can't just go to a few tech billionaires," he said. "It has to go to the community writ large."

Watch the full episode of "Things That Matter: A Town Hall With Vice President JD Vance" streaming on Paramount+, YouTube, CBS News 24/7 and CBSNews.com.

Thousands return home as Southern California fires leave houses in ruins

German travelers Luis Widmesser and Lukas Holzer, both 19, were heading to a campground in San Diego on the 5 Freeway on Friday afternoon when authorities blocked off the road and diverted traffic.

The pair, on an 8-month road trip from Canada to Argentina, ended up spending the night in their tent atop their Suzuki outside the San Juan Capistrano Boys and Girls Club, which served as an evacuation center for people forced to leave due to the Norte fires.

“We don’t have such big wildfires in Germany,� Widmesser marveled at the force of nature that upended their travel.

Amid unusual heat and unrelenting winds, hundreds of firefighters worked to contain several small, but destructive fires that ignited across Southern California. But as the weather cooled, high winds simmered down, and a Red Flag Warning from the National Weather Service expired by 6 p.m. Saturday, residents in Los Angeles and Orange counties began to return home as evacuation orders were lifted.

The Norte fire — the most devastating blaze — scorched more than 570 acres in residential neighborhoods in San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano, damaging or destroying at least six homes. Since the fire broke out Friday morning, it has hollowed out several stately homes on Via La Mirada and has continued spreading west into nearby gated communities.

Read more: Chaotic scene as Norte fire burns homes in Orange County, fierce winds fan other blazes

“We’re thankful enough that the wind conditions allowed those air assets to continue flying the entire time, which was a gift,� said Capt. Sean Doran, a spokesperson with the Orange County Fire Authority. “We’re very grateful to be able to just really capitalize on those air resources because, some really big wind events, you can’t.�

Authorities allowed 3,700 residents who had been under evacuation to return to their homes Saturday morning.

Firefighters began to gain the upper hand on the fire throughout Saturday afternoon, keeping the flames within the burn scar and building containment lines around the fire. By Saturday evening, firefighters had increased containment of the fire to 25%, and nearly all evacuation orders for the fire in San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente were lifted.

The only exception, fire officials said in a social media post Saturday evening, would be Via La Mirada north of Esperanza, which would remain shut off to vehicles because of emergency crews in the area.

Susan Kannakko, 51, who lives on Calle Delgado in San Clemente, said the fire rushed down the hill toward her house Friday without warning.

“It was like out of a movie, when the spaceship comes in, and everything goes black. All the black smoke was billowing in. There were embers in the house. We thought we were gonna lose everything. We were escaping as the fire came over us.... All I could see was flames — left, right, and to the sky.�

In the commotion, she was briefly separated from her 85-year-old mother, who lives with her. Both were safe at an evacuation center in San Juan Capistrano on Saturday.

One of their housemates, Luke Falanga, 30, has a room that faced the fire, so he spotted it before others and warned them.

“All of a sudden the sun changed color, and I thought it was an eclipse,� Falanga said. “It was the smoke. No one saw it coming. My room faces the hill.�

Read more: Climate change is weakening Santa Ana winds — but won't save SoCal from devastating fires

He and a housemate stayed to save the house, even as the roof caught fire.

“We had giant jugs of water and garden hoses,� Falanga said. “We were hopping up on people’s roofs and getting smoldering shingles off with crowbars. If you could give a shout out to Jesus Christ, I’d appreciate it. God really used me.�

San Clemente Mayor Rick Loeffler advised residents to heed evacuations, but stay off local roads unless absolutely necessary, so first responders could move quickly to fight the fire.

“The firefighters have done a great job,� Loeffler said in a statement Friday. “The way the wind’s blowing, it looks like San Clemente right now is doing well. But that can change in a minute.�

Over the past several days, several fires had ignited across Southern California after high temperatures returned and strong Santa Ana winds blustered through the region.

In northern San Diego County, the Henderson fire destroyed at least one building as it swept across more than 3,100 acres near Camp Pendleton, the Marine Corps base in Oceanside. The fire, 50% contained, prompted evacuations and road closures.

In the Santa Monica Mountains, the Bryson fire burned nearly 150 acres near the Malibu Country Club, a private golf course. The fire was more than 50% contained.

Gov. Gavin Newsom lauded the work of firefighters for minimizing damage in Malibu.

“Thanks to quick, around the clock work by local and state first responders, the #BrysonFire stayed within its current footprint with no structures damaged or destroyed.�

By Saturday evening, Los Angeles County Sheriff Department officials said in a statement all evacuation warnings and orders for the fire were lifted. Firefighters had contained 61% of the fire by 6 p.m. Saturday.

All roads that had been closed because of the fire, including Topanga Canyon Boulevard, were also reopened.

No homes or structures were lost or damaged in the fire, sheriff officials said.

The South Coast Air Quality Management District issued smoke advisories for several areas across the region, including portions of Newport Beach to San Clemente due to the Norte fire.

Tens of thousands of residents were still without power Saturday due to the blustery conditions, ongoing fires and precautionary power shutoffs intended to prevent new blazes, according to utility providers. As firefighters made progress on the Bryson fire, Southern California Edison crews were expected to restore power to several communities in Malibu after inspecting power lines and equipment for safety.

Read more: As Bryson fire reignites trauma in Malibu, neighbors lean on one another

Firefighters, however, remained on high alert as strong, easterly winds were expected to persist. A red flag warning, indicating potentially hazardous fire weather, will remain in place through Saturday evening for many parts of Southern California. But forecasters say the most dangerous conditions are likely behind us.

“Luckily, we’re on the backside of the winds right now, so things are going to be trending down for the most part,� said Sam Zuber, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service office in San Diego.

On Saturday morning, temperatures in the fire area were in the mid-80s and winds blew at about 15 mph. But those winds were forecast to continue to die down through the afternoon and into the evening, Zuber said.

Beyond the fire zones, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass’s office announced that the Los Angeles Fire Department was “predeploying resources� across the San Fernando Valley, Santa Monica Mountains, Hollywood Hills and West L.A. due to the fire risk.

Newsom also announced California had secured emergency disaster assistance from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help provide more resources to suppress the Norte fire.

“California is taking decisive action to support our firefighters and protect communities as dangerous winds and dry conditions fuel wildfire threats,� Newsom said in a statement. “By securing this federal assistance, we are ensuring our local and state partners have the critical resources they need to aggressively fight the Norte Fire, protect lives and property, and keep Californians safe.�

Ryan Zimmerly, 34, lives with his father on Bonanza in San Clemente, just a half-mile from where the fire was raging. On Friday, a friend called Zimmerly at the frame shop where he works to tell him the neighborhood was on fire.

As Zimmerly tried to get home, he found lookie-loos were filming the fire from their cars and slowing traffic to a crawl. “A lot of people were there for the spectacle and not trying to get out of the way, while a bunch of people’s homes were potentially in danger,� Zimmerly said. “You could tell they didn’t live there... It’s maddening.�

He got to the house and grabbed his dog, a flat coat retriever named Missy, his 37-year-old box turtle, named Turds, and some family keepsakes.

“Fortunately our home is OK,� Zimmerly said. “But homes on the other side of the hill got obliterated. Our home is on the lucky side.�

Times staff writer Salvador Hernandez contributed to this story.

Updates:
6:44 p.m. Oct. 17, 2026: Updated with the latest information about the fires in Los Angeles and Orange counties and northern San Diego County.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

Dad crawled through broken window to stop gunman at daughters' school, family says

The bystander who stepped in to stop a gunman at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, has come forward and identified himself as Kaylub Giamanco, a lifelong Bend resident who has two daughters at the school. At a news conference Friday, police also praised a teacher who threw a cellphone at the gunman, tackled him and fought to take his weapon.

Police said Giamanco pursued and fatally shot the 16-year-old attacker, ending a rampage that took the lives of three children and a teacher and wounded two others. 

A statement released by Giamanco's family on Friday said, "He is not seeking recognition, but instead wishes to express his gratitude to the first responders, school personnel, and community for the outpouring of love and support." 

"The tragedy at Silver Rail Elementary has devastated the Bend community," they wrote.

Giamanco and his family asked for privacy and said they will not be giving interviews. 

Bend Police Chief Mike Krantz credited him and a teacher at the school for actions that saved other lives.

"In addition to the 36-year-old man who bravely stepped in to stop the suspect, I want to highlight another person whose heroic action we need to recognize: a teacher in the classroom threw her cellphone at the suspect and then tackled him and fought to take the firearm from him. She was not injured in that incident, but she almost certainly helped prevent more bloodshed," he said.

President Trump on Friday called the Giamanco a "great hero" who "took care of business."

"Thank God we had him; otherwise, it would have been much worse," Mr. Trump said, adding: "It's a terrible thing, but thank goodness for a man that had a gun and knew how to use it."

Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek also praised the bystander who "heroically intervened to stop further loss of life," saying the person's actions carry "a heavy emotional burden."

Giamanco's mother, Kenda Freeman, who lives in Sacramento, says he called her shortly after it happened.

"Kaylub knew something was not right, so he pulled up onto the grass, grabbed his gun and basically stalked the gunman back into the school," she said in an exclusive interview with CBS News Sacramento. "He crawled through a window that the gunman had shot out. He army-crawled through the window."

She says he told her: "'A man went into my daughter's school and shot kids,' and he said, 'and I looked at him point-blank, and I shot and killed him, Mom.'"

"I told him he was a hero, he did what he had to do, and that he did the right thing, and that I was proud of him and that he was a hero and he saved a lot of lives," she said. "And he said, 'Mom, I couldn't save them all.' "

Freeman said, "Kaylub has a genuine heart and he loves his community and his family and his children," adding, "He's just a good person, in general."

When police arrived minutes later, Krantz says they found the deceased shooter and four victims — three children, ages 5, 8 and 11, and a 25-year-old teacher — inside the school. Two other victims, a student and a teacher, were hospitalized with critical injuries. 

At Friday's briefing, Krantz said the gunman has been identified as Griffin J. John II. He used a shotgun purchased by his mother, law enforcement sources told CBS News. The suspect was from Bend and had previously attended the school, police said.

Survivors attacked by sharks after boat capsizes off Baja California coast

Multiple survivors were treated for suspected shark bites after a boat, departing from Mexico, capsized off the coast of Baja California, according to the U.S. Coast Guard. 16 Mexican nationals had already been rescued on Friday, and authorities continue the search for 11 people believed to be missing.

“Several of the individuals rescued were suffering from severe injuries consistent with shark bites, and the Coast Guard provided life-saving first aid while en route (to) San Diego,� said the agency in a statement on Saturday.

The U.S. Coast Guard and Navy are searching the waters using multiple aircraft and boats, along with assistance from the Mexican Navy. An additional helicopter will be deployed later today, according to the Coast Guard.

The boat capsized in an area frequented by smugglers and did not happen in U.S. waters, according to the Coast Guard. Survivors told officials there were 27 people on board.

“We were able to help, and that’s why we launched our assets," said Petty Officer Charlie Valor on Saturday.

The region is popular with fishing and leisure boats, but fatal attempts to transport migrants from Mexico to the U.S. have occurred in the past.

The Mexican consulate in San Diego said all those rescued were Mexican nationals. The Coast Guard said Customs and Border Protection was investigating and interviewing the survivors, but the agency did not immediately respond to requests for updates.

If survivors were witnesses to a crime, they may be eligible for humanitarian parole and permitted to remain in the country for a limited period.

Rescuers were searching the area with helicopters, a fixed-wing plane, a cutter and a Navy combat ship on Saturday. The efforts remain ongoing.

Mayday call around 1 a.m.

A mayday call was transmitted from someone on the boat around 1 a.m. Friday, said Coast Guard Lt. Santiago Tamburini. A rescue helicopter reached the site about two hours later. It took about 90 minutes for the crew, which included a rescue swimmer, to pull the 16 people from the water, Tamburini said.

The boat went down about 140 miles (225 kilometers) west of Ensenada, Mexico. There have been several episodes where migrant vessels capsized en route to California in recent years.

In May of 2025, at least three people died when a boat flipped off the coast about 35 miles (56 km) north of the U.S.-Mexico border. In 2023, eight people were killed in one of the deadliest maritime smuggling accidents off the U.S. coast, when two boats approached a San Diego beach in heavy fog and one capsized in the surf.

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Associated Press writers Julie Watson, Matt Brown, Gabriela Aoun Angueira, Amy Taxin, Fabiola Sanchez and Laura Turbay contributed to this story.