Cookies, liquor and mocking Nazis fuel final stretch in fiery Texas House race

2026-10-16T19:25:31-04:00 / Fox News

Brandon Herrera’s campaign has turned the expenditures into a line of attack in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District race

By Jasmine Baehr Fox News

Published October 16, 2026 7:25pm EDT

Texas Democrat backtracks after bizarre Nazi remark during heated congressional debate

Democrat congressional candidate Katy Padilla Stout apologized for misspeaking after criticizing Republican opponent Brandon Herrera for ‘making fun of Nazis’ during a debate in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District (Credit: WOAI).

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A Texas Democratic congressional candidate’s campaign reported more than $4,300 in spending on cookies, Mexican restaurant purchases and beer and wine earlier this year, according to federal election records, drawing renewed attention after a heated debate in which she apologized for a remark about her Republican opponent “making fun of Nazis.”

Katy Padilla Stout, the Democrat nominee for Texas’ 23rd Congressional District, reported expenditures totaling $4,338.14 in five transactions in March and April, according to spending details cited in an August report by RedState and records attributed to the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

The reported purchases included $675 for cookies for a campaign event, $1,289.22 at Total Wine and $2,373.92 at Las Guitarras Cocina Mexicana.

SENATE REPUBLICAN SETTLES SIX-YEAR-OLD CAMPAIGN BILL AFTER BEING CALLED OUT ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Texas Democratic congressional candidate Katy Padilla Stout holds a Save Big Bend community update at a Denny’s restaurant in San Antonio, Texas, Sept. 11, 2026. She is running against Republican Brandon Herrera in Texas’ 23rd Congressional District.(CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The expenditures have also become a line of attack for Republican Brandon Herrera, whose campaign website showcases the cookie purchase and accuses Stout of using donor funds to pay for the treats.

According to the spending details, the campaign reported a $675 payment dated March 30 with the stated purpose “COOKIES FOR EVENT.” Herrera’s website identifies the payee as Denise Gamboa Zelle and categorizes the expense as a campaign event expenditure.

Additional transactions included $1,089.08 at Total Wine on April 21 and $200.14 the following day, both described as “BEER AND WINE.”

The campaign also reported payments of $2,027.52 and $346.40 to Las Guitarras Cocina Mexicana on April 27 and April 28, respectively, according to the transaction details.

In a statement to Fox News Digital, Stout said the disbursements “were for campaign and fundraising events which were attended by our supporters.”

“Sugar cookies, particularly Texas-shaped ones, hold a special place in Texan culture,” she said. “We bought ours at a local bakery because we believe in supporting small businesses.”

SENATE HOPEFUL’S ‘TREADING WATER’ NARRATIVE CRUMBLES UNDER $500K CAMPAIGN PAYOUTS TO FAMILY

Texas Democratic congressional candidate Katy Padilla Stout holds a Save Big Bend community update at a Denny’s restaurant in San Antonio, Texas Sept. 11, 2026.(CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The filings establish that the campaign reported the expenditures but do not establish whether the purchases were improper, whether any were for personal use or how many people attended the associated events.

The spending has attracted criticism from Herrera’s campaign, which maintains an opposition website, The Real Katy Stout.

Under a section labeled “Cookie gate,” the site highlights the $675 expenditure and displays the reported purpose, “COOKIES FOR EVENT.”

The website also criticizes Stout’s positions on immigration, taxes and other issues.

DEM SENATE NOMINEE APOLOGIZES TO JEWISH VOTERS AFTER ‘GENOCIDE’ REMARK SPARKED BACKLASH

Brandon Herrera, a Republican U.S. congressional candidate in Texas, arrives to speak during a campaign event at the Freeman Coliseum in San Antonio, Texas, Oct. 7, 2026.(Bloomberg via Getty Images)

The spending questions come as the two candidates compete for a congressional seat representing one of the country’s largest districts along the southern border. During Tuesday’s televised debate in San Antonio, Stout also drew attention for an unusual exchange involving Herrera’s online videos.

“He made millions of dollars after making jokes online, making fun of Nazis, making fun of all of these things that we know he does not need to be doing,” Stout said in a heated moment during the debate.

Herrera responded, “And here I thought making fun of Nazis was a good thing.”

Stout later apologized and clarified her criticism after closing remarks.

“I apologize, I did misspeak,” she said. “He chooses to goose-step on YouTube for clickbait and money so that he can promote that type of ideology. He chooses to shame women.”

The exchange was part of a debate hosted by WOAI/KABB, during which the congressional candidates also sparred over gun rights, immigration and the cost of living.

Stout told Fox News Digital “mocking Nazis is fine, and that is not what I objected to, nor is that what my opponent does.”

“I object to content that trivializes veteran suicide, rape, child murder, women’s bodies and the Holocaust, the type of content he churns out,” she added. “You can hear his disgusting commentary straight from his own mouth at HeReallySaidThat.com.

“Do I think he promotes Nazi imagery? Yes. In a video posted 5/24/22, he goose-steps to ‘Erika,’ and touts an MP-40 machine gun. In another video posted 6/23/20, he said ‘for the fatherland’ before firing a Nazi-made STG 44, calling it ‘like a religious experience.’

“Calling it a joke doesn’t change what it is: giving a platform to Nazi symbols and weaponry for clicks and money. In my view, the ‘I’m only joking’ defense is a familiar tactic among neo-Nazi and antisemitic content creators. His content has attracted bipartisan condemnation, including the Republican Jewish Coalition, which called my opponent ‘a goose-stepping extremist who pals around with online Nazis.’”

Republican congressional candidate Brandon Herrera speaks during a campaign rally at the Constantino S Pizza restaurant in Somerset, Texas, Feb. 26, 2026.(Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Stout, a former teacher and child welfare attorney, has emphasized affordability and corruption as central themes of her campaign.

Herrera, a firearms manufacturer and online personality who has adopted “Let’s Go Brandon” as his campaign slogan, has campaigned on border law enforcement, tax reductions and Second Amendment protections.

The two are vying to replace former Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales, who resigned earlier this year after acknowledging an affair with a staffer.

Texas’ 23rd Congressional District stretches from the San Antonio area toward El Paso and includes hundreds of miles of the U.S.-Mexico border. Early voting begins Oct. 19, with Election Day scheduled for Nov. 3.

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The campaign for Brandon Herrera did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.

Jasmine Baehr is a breaking news writer for Fox News Digital, where she covers politics, the military, legal debates surrounding life and family policy, as well as faith and culture.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406984756112

Obama’s star power gets a reality check from Black voters in crucial Senate race: ‘It’s a turnoff’

Several Black voters called the former president’s backing ‘a turn-off’ or irrelevant to their decision

2026-10-16T16:11:32-04:00 / Fox News

By Robert Schmad Fox News

Published October 16, 2026 4:11pm EDT

‘It’s a turnoff’: Obama’s El-Sayed endorsement flops with some Black voters

Undecided Black voters in Detroit told Fox News Digital that former President Barack Obama’s endorsement isn’t moving the needle for them.

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DETROIT —Former President Barack Obama’s endorsement of Michigan Democratic Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed is getting a mixed reception among Black voters in Detroit, with some undecided voters saying the former president’s backing isn’t enough to win them over.

Fox News Digital spoke with more than a dozen Black voters in Detroit, most of whom said they plan to back El-Sayed in November, but several undecided voters said Obama’s endorsement had not persuaded them to support the Democrat. The reactions come as Republican Senate nominee Mike Rogers seeks to win over disaffected Democrats, including Black voters in Detroit, a key constituency for the party in Michigan.

“Honestly, it’s a turn-off just because I’ve seen too many candidates use him just to manipulate the Democratic vote,” Mercedes, one undecided Black voter, told Fox News Digital of Obama’s endorsement.

BLACK VOTERS RIP DEMS OVER TAKING THEM FOR GRANTED IN EL-SAYED’S BACKYARD: ‘HUSH US UP’

Three Detroit voters(Robert Schmad/Fox News Digital)

“No, not at all,” Anthony, another undecided Black voter, told Fox News Digital when asked if Obama’s endorsement had swayed him toward El-Sayed. “What he’s been able to do is from an image standpoint, as far as ‘hope,’ he drove the point there. But as far as really giving back to the community, minority owned businesses, and everyone across the board, I don’t really think he really got there for me … he really hasn’t swayed me one way or another.”

Obama and El-Sayed are preparing to campaign together in Michigan despite the Democratic Senate nominee’s history of sharply criticizing the former president, a political reversal that also drew mixed reactions from Black Detroit voters interviewed by Fox News Digital.

Juanita, another Black voter who has yet to commit to El-Sayed, told Fox News Digital that, “I don’t want to be pushed to vote for him because somebody else is backing him.”

Rita, a Black voter who said she had recently been homeless, told Fox News Digital that she would prefer to do her own research rather than relying on Obama’s endorsement.

MICHIGAN SENATE CANDIDATE ABDUL EL-SAYED SAYS LEADERS MUST ADDRESS ‘UNPAID DEBTS’ TO BLACK COMMUNITIES

Abdul El-Sayed, a Democratic U.S. Senate candidate in Michigan, at a campaign event in Detroit Aug. 2, 2026(Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)

Even some voters who support El-Sayed stated that Obama’s endorsement didn’t do much for them.

“I think that a lot of people put more stock into who the person is than what he does … his yay or nay doesn’t sway me either way,” one such voter told Fox News Digital.

Detroit’s African American residents were not uniform in dismissing Obama’s endorsement, however. Roughly half of those who spoke with Fox News Digital said the former president’s backing improved their opinion of El-Sayed, though none of those voters claimed that they were undecided before the endorsement.

“For sure, I’m an Obama stan,” Jamel, a Black voter planning to support El-Sayed, told Fox News Digital when asked whether Obama’s endorsement made him more likely to back the Democrat.

“Somebody who is endorsed by Obama, I would want to vote for them, because I stand behind the things he endorsed at the time, and I think that Obama’s endorsement means a lot to our community,” Kenya, another Black voter, told Fox News Digital.

Detroit’s Black voters were also divided over El-Sayed’s past criticism of Obama, particularly now that the two are preparing to campaign together.

‘DESTROYING THE AMERICAN WAY OF LIFE’: EL-SAYED’S POLITICAL ORBIT COMPLICATES EFFORT TO MODERATE HIS IMAGE

Former President Barack Obama speaks during the dedication ceremony for the opening of the Barack Obama Presidential Center in John Lewis Plaza June 18, 2026, in Chicago.(Getty Images)

In a 2012 opinion column, El-Sayed accused then-President Obama of perpetuating war, violating civil liberties and deporting more people than any previous president. He described Obama’s reelection as “no victory,” writing, “it was the rock we chose over the hard place.”

El-Sayed has since walked back those criticisms, praising Obama’s handling of the circumstances he inherited and noting that it is possible to disagree with someone while still admiring them.

“Yeah, I don’t understand how you can endorse somebody that was kind of the opposition when you were in office,” Juanita told Fox News Digital. “I mean, that doesn’t make sense.”

“I think I see it as a flip flop, but I also see it as an opportunity to pretty much highlight those things and how he’s actually changed and why their objectives may align now,” Anthony said. “You know, people’s objectives change, their perspectives change.”

Nia, an African American voter who said she intends to support El-Sayed, said that pivots like El-Sayed’s are common in politics, pointing to Vice President JD Vance’s past criticism of President Donald Trump as an example.

Despite mixed reactions to Obama’s endorsement and El-Sayed’s past criticism, several Black voters interviewed by Fox News Digital acknowledged the former president’s continuing influence within the Democratic Party.

HARRIS JOINS FORCES WITH RADICAL SENATE NOMINEE IN KEY SWING STATE AS 2028 WHISPERS SWIRL

Abdul El-Sayed, a progressive candidate in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate in Michigan, speaks during a primary election night event Aug. 5, 2026, at the Majestic Theatre in Detroit.(Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP Photo)

“He is. I mean, you can’t deny that he has a gigantic following and a lot of people will follow him and will listen to what he has to say,” Vincent, a Black voter who voted early for El-Sayed, told Fox News Digital. “But we’re coming into a point in time now where we want to see results on both sides. We’re not seeing results from either party, so we have to see results. So he may still have a big sway in the party now, but I think party politics is coming to an end kind of quick.”

While Fox News Digital’s interviews were limited in number, they echo concerns about El-Sayed’s support among Black voters that have surfaced in other reporting and polling. Pre-primary polling showed stronger support for Rep. Haley Stevens among Black Democratic voters, and questions have persisted about whether El-Sayed can consolidate that support heading into November.

A recent focus group of Black voters held by MS NOW, for instance, found reluctance among Black Michigan voters to cast their lot with El-Sayed. A Fox News poll conducted in late September found that just 77% of African American voters were supportive of El-Sayed, significantly below the usual Democratic benchmark for the demographic.

“I think he’s taking advantage [of] we as Black people are Democratic, and he think we gonna vote for him anyway,” one middle-aged Black woman told the MS NOW panel. “And I’m like, ‘No sir, I’m gonna put uncommitted down on that little circle and move on.’ If you’re going to Congress to represent me, I need you to talk about what’s going on in this community.”

While the GOP sees an opportunity here, the party has long attempted to court minority support, with mixed results.

Kandia Milton, a government affairs professional with deep ties to Detroit’s African American community, pushed back against the narrative that El-Sayed would struggle with Black voters in November.

MICHIGAN DEMOCRAT HALEY STEVENS BACKS EL-SAYED AFTER NARROW PRIMARY DEFEAT, CALLS SOCIALISM ‘DANGEROUS’

Detroit, pictured above, moved up from No. 11 to enter the top 10 among most rodent-infested cities for the first time, according to Terminix.(iStock)

“The great thing about Abdul is that he’s not new to Detroiters. … And so Detroiters, once they understand his background, understand what he stands for and all the things that he’s done in the past, you see greater enthusiasm for his campaign and his candidacy for Senate,” Milton said of El-Sayed.

“He has been very active in getting out into the community. In fact, tomorrow we have a public meeting with Abdul at our church. Where he will be speaking to the community around, you know, the issues that he stands on and stands firm on.”

Milton characterized Obama’s endorsement of El-Sayed as a “great shot in the arm” for his campaign, citing the former president’s “credibility in our community” and arguing that the endorsement “puts to rest this notion that there’s some tension between him and former President Obama.” Milton wasn’t surprised, however, that some Black voters said Obama’s endorsement alone wasn’t enough to win their support.

“I think so often we take for granted the fact that many of the voters are informed voters, all of them are informed voters, and so it’s not just the fact that Obama supported him, thus I’m going to vote for Abdul. A lot of folks are doing their own research,” Milton told Fox News Digital. “They’re very curious about Abdul. They see a lot of him on social media, in the media, national media as well. And so it has raised eyebrows and a lot of curiosity around who this guy is.”

Obama’s endorsement comes as both sides are trying to eke out every possible advantage they can in what is likely to be a very tight race.

Fox News’ most recent Power Rankings has Michigan’s Senate race categorized as a “toss-up,” meaning that neither party has an edge.

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A representative for Obama and the El-Sayed campaign did not respond to requests for comment when reached by Fox News Digital on Friday.

https://www.foxnews.com/video/6406978443112

中使馆促公民谨慎前往泰缅边境等安全风险较高地区

2026年10月17日 07:42 / 联合早报

中国驻泰国大使馆星期五（10月16日）公布，泰国近期发生多起中国公民入境后失踪失联、遭非法拘禁并被诱骗转运至泰缅边境的案件，并提醒赴泰中国公民提高安全防范意识，谨慎前往泰缅边境等安全风险较高地区。

中国驻泰使馆当天晚间在官网上说，部分不法分子以高薪招聘、商务考察、投资合作、项目邀约等为幌子，诱骗中国公民赴泰并实施违法犯罪活动，严重威胁中国公民人身和财产安全。“近期还出现多起针对国内从事直播、演艺等人员的拍摄演出邀约骗局。”

使馆提醒赴泰中国公民提高安全防范意识，谨防上当受骗，切实保护自身安全；警惕高薪招聘，谨防求职陷阱；警惕高回报、高利润诱惑，切勿心存侥幸；提高出行警惕，谨慎搭乘他人安排的车辆。

使馆也提醒中国公民充分了解目的地安全形势，审慎评估前往泰缅边境及其他偏远地区的必要性，非必要不前往安全风险较高区域。对以旅游、考察、求职、投资等名义安排前往边境地区，或要求临时改变行程、经由非正规口岸转移的，应坚决拒绝。如发现自身人身自由受到限制、被要求前往不明地点或出现其他可疑情况，应尽快向当地警方求助，并联系中国驻泰国使领馆。

中国官媒本月较早前播出打击电诈纪录片，披露男演员王星经泰国被骗至缅甸后，在四天内被转卖三次，最终凭借与女友约定好的求救暗号得救。王星的女友去年1月通过微博发布男友失联的贴文。

所有ActiveSG户外体育设施周六恢复运作

2026-10-17 07:58 / 联合早报

随着各区的一小时PM2.5悬浮颗粒浓度回落，所有ActiveSG户外及没有冷气的体育设施星期六（10月17日）恢复运作。

新加坡体育理事会星期六在网站更新消息说，全国所有ActiveSG体育设施将根据个别的运作时间，星期六恢复运作。

由于五个地区的24小时空气污染指数（PSI）之前升至超过200点的非常不健康水平，而且一小时PM2.5浓度也升高，体理会早前暂时关闭所有ActiveSG户外及没有冷气的体育设施。

体理会建议访客注意现行的空气质量，并相应调整活动安排。年长者、儿童及患有疾病者，在参加户外活动时应格外谨慎。

当局将继续关注烟霾情况，必要时会调整运作。

国家环境局的数据显示，截至星期六早上7时，24小时PSI较前一天有所回落，介于144至191点，处于不健康水平；一小时PM2.5浓度则介于75至119微克的偏高水平。

Tish James confronted on camera over Trump’s accusation of bias in Cornell rape case

October 16, 2026 5:20pm EDT / Fox News

Trump and attorneys for defendants question the New York attorney general’s impartiality after a social media post

By Elaine Mallon

Letitia James vows ‘fair’ Cornell 7 probe after Trump questions her impartiality

James promises unbiased investigation as scrutiny mounts over comments she made before taking over case.

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New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday vowed to conduct a “fair” investigation into the seven defendants accused of sexually assaulting an unnamed woman at a fraternity party at Cornell University.

James’ investigation into the alleged college gang rape was launched after the filing of a recent lawsuit against Cornell University, the Chi Phi fraternity and several other defendants that has thrust the Ivy League university’s handling of campus sexual assault into the national spotlight.

The remarks to a reporter come as James has repeatedly pushed back on questions about her impartiality, insisting the investigation will be guided by the facts and evidence, not politics.

President Donald Trump, a longtime foe of the attorney general, has also questioned James’ ability to lead an impartial investigation. Trump made the remarks after Fox News’ Peter Doocy asked for his view on Hochul appointing James as special prosecutor in the case.

LETITIA JAMES FACES NEW PUSH TO BOOT HER FROM CORNELL RAPE PROBE OVER ALLEGED BIAS: COURT DOCUMENTS

New York Attorney General Letitia James leaves the Walter E. Hoffman United States Courthouse after an arraignment hearing Oct. 24, 2025, in Norfolk, Va.(Win McNamee/Getty Image)

“Letitia James is a corrupt person,” Trump said. “She’s totally corrupt, and I can’t imagine it. And I feel badly for whoever she’s looking at because they won’t get a fair shake. Letitia James is a corrupt person.”

Attorneys for two of the defendants have also sought James’ removal, including Andrew Miltenberg, who represents Gillio Lopes, and Teny Geragos, who represents Winston Lee. The defense attorneys point to a social media post by James that Geragos separately argued in a court filing shows she is “unquestionably biased.”

Just days before Hochul’s appointment, James posted on X in support of the alleged victim, identified in court filings as Jane Doe.

“What this young woman has been forced to endure is horrific and unacceptable. I’m holding her in my heart and in my prayers,” James posted on X Sept. 28. “To her, and to all survivors: you’re not alone. We stand with you.”

Hochul has stood by her appointment of James amid the criticism, saying she has “every confidence” the attorney general will “look at the facts, examine the record and draw the proper conclusions.”

James has rejected accusations that she prejudged the case, saying during an attorney general campaign debate that her comments supporting the alleged victim were intended to demonstrate “empathy” and insisting that “politics stops at the door” of her office.

CORNELL RAPE ALLEGATIONS PROMPT NY ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES TO OPEN ‘ACTIVE CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION’

The now-shuttered Chi Phi fraternity house at 107 Edgemoor Lane in Ithaca, N.Y., Oct. 6, 2026.(Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)

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The case centers on allegations from a Cornell student that she was gang raped at a Chi Phi fraternity house party in 2024. Her allegations were investigated by Cornell University Police, which submitted her six-page sworn statement to the Tompkins County District Attorney’s Office.

Prosecutors declined to pursue charges at the time, concluding that the conduct described in the statement did not provide sufficient evidence to sustain criminal charges under New York law.

Defense attorney Teny Geragos, seen at the Manhattan Federal Courthouse July 2, 2025, filed a motion on behalf of her client Oct. 8, 2026, arguing that New York Attorney General Letitia James should be removed as special prosecutor in the Cornell University rape probe.(Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images)

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Cornell separately conducted a Title IX investigation that resulted in disciplinary action against several of the seven defendants, including the expulsion of two students and suspension of two others.

Elaine Mallon is a writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business covering national politics.

乌克兰吁欧盟额外筹集700亿欧元援乌

2026年10月17日 07:08 / 联合早报

乌克兰总统泽连斯基星期五（10月16日）在布鲁塞尔恳请欧洲盟友落实对基辅额外筹资，帮助乌方遏制俄罗斯的攻势。 （法新社）

美乌关系因乌克兰“星盾”服务中断风波裂痕扩大，乌克兰总统泽连斯基呼吁欧洲盟友加大援乌力度，为基辅提供额外700亿欧元（约1009亿新元）援助。

泽连斯基星期五（10月16日）在布鲁塞尔参加欧盟峰会时，请求欧盟提供更多“爱国者”拦截导弹，帮助抵御俄罗斯导弹袭击；他也希望，明年能额外筹集700亿欧元的援助，助力基辅继续战斗。

他表明：“这个数额切合实际。我恳请各位落实这份支持，这有助于我们遏制俄罗斯的攻势。”

欧盟委员会主席冯德莱恩确认，这700亿欧元的资金缺口“必须得到填补”。她敦促各成员国挺身而出提供帮助。

欧盟各国领导人要求欧盟委员会就如何筹措这笔资金提出具体方案。

法国总统马克龙都说，基辅的支持者会评估这项诉求；德国总理默茨则称，欧盟将在今年年底前对此进行讨论。

马克龙还表明，欧洲正竭尽全力，通过提供卫星影像和预警系统，帮助乌方增强自卫能力。

欧盟目前正分批向基辅发放总额900亿欧元的贷款，此举旨在帮助乌克兰填补直至2027年底的资金缺口。

然而，乌克兰当局警告，由于俄罗斯的打击严重冲击国家经济，乌克兰仍会面临巨大的预算缺口。

围绕新一轮资金筹措的讨论，再次引发要求欧盟动用约2000亿欧元俄罗斯央行冻结资产来资助乌克兰的呼声。

不过，这个提议的落实进展缓慢，因为持有大部分相关资金的比利时仍持反对态度。

乌克兰近日因乌克兰“星盾”服务中断事件，与美国政府陷入争端。欧洲领导人在这次布鲁塞尔峰会上，向外界展示欧盟与泽连斯基团结一致的姿态。

欧洲理事会主席科斯塔表明：“现在绝不是撤回对乌克兰支持的时候，也不是减轻对俄制裁的时候，而是应该加大力度支持基辅、增强对俄施压的时候。”

荷兰首相耶滕也说：“乌克兰目前的局势确实非常严峻，俄罗斯频频发动袭击，而乌美关系也十分紧张。我们欧洲今天必须展现出对乌克兰无条件的支持，并探讨还能采取哪些进一步的行动，”

Democrats’ latest gun-control push runs into inconvenient fact about how school killer was stopped

Gun-rights groups say the Silver Rail Elementary attack proves restrictions leave schools vulnerable, not safer

2026-10-16T17:00:16-04:00 / Fox News

By Charles Creitz, Fox News

Published October 16, 2026 5:00pm EDT

A deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, left three students and a teacher dead before an armed bystander shot and killed the teenage gunman. Sarah Alegre provides updates from the scene.

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Democrats renewed calls for tougher gun laws after three children and a teacher were killed in an Oregon school shooting, but gun-rights advocates say the circumstances of the attack bolster their case against new restrictions.

The teenage shooter reportedly opened fire with a shotgun purchased by his mother before an armed father-of-two-students, Kaylub Giamanco, pursued him into Silver Rail Elementary School and fatally shot him. Second Amendment advocates argue additional gun restrictions would not have stopped the killer and could make it harder for armed civilians like Giamanco to intervene.

“Democrats are shamefully weaponizing this tragedy in Oregon to advance their political agenda on gun control,” Aidan Johnston, director of federal affairs for Gun Owners of America, told Fox News Digital.

“But more gun control isn’t the solution. The school was a gun-free zone, and the killer didn’t use a so-called ‘assault weapon.’ What did stop the mass murderer and save lives was an armed bystander with good aim.”

FEDERAL APPEALS COURT UPHOLDS CONTROVERSIAL ILLINOIS BAN ON SEMIAUTOMATIC GUNS

School buses are lined up outside Silver Rail Elementary School where there was a shooting Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 in Bend, Ore.(Joe Kline/AP Photo)

Gun-rights researcher John Lott, president of the Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC), separately argued that restrictions on carrying guns can leave potential victims defenseless.

“These gun-free zones actually serve as a magnet for these attacks rather than stopping them from occurring,” Lott told Fox News Digital.

Lott pointed to CPRC research examining active shootings from 2014 through 2024, which he said found that legally armed civilians stopped more attacks than police did.

The National Rifle Association similarly questioned whether new restrictions would have changed the outcome.

“Oregon already has nearly every gun-control measure on the anti-gun wish list — including an A- rating from groups that push them — yet that did not prevent this attack,” the NRA said in a statement to Fox News Digital.

“The armed bystander who pursued the shooter inside and ended the threat is the clearest reminder that, when seconds count, a prepared law-abiding citizen can stop a killer.”

Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., was among the lawmakers calling for action after the shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, where Bend-LaPine school policy bans firearms, including concealed guns.

“The best way to honor these victims is to at long last pass commonsense gun laws that reduce the risks of more children, parents, teachers and staff forced to live in fear of similar nightmares for their schools,” Wyden said in a statement.

JONATHAN TURLEY: JAMES TALARICO’S DEFENSE OF GUN CONTROL LEAVES OUT A KEY WORD

Police tape is placed outside Silver Rail Elementary School after a shooting Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026 in Bend, Ore.(Joe Kline/AP Photo)

Rep. Janelle Bynum, D-Ore., whose district includes Bend, also called for action while acknowledging the armed bystander’s intervention.

“When are we going to practice that same bravery that that bystander had?” Bynum asked during a vigil, after urging action to keep guns away from people who should not have them.

Senate Armed Services Committee ranking member Jack Reed, D-R.I., also cited the shooting in calling for additional gun laws and urging the Supreme Court to change course.

“It is far past time for the Roberts Court to make it clear their decision on guns does not endorse unfettered and unregulated access to weapons,” Reed said.

“In the absence of the Supreme Court ceasing its pro-gun rulings, Republicans need to join Democrats in enacting commonsense policies that could prevent these kinds of tragedies.”

The Roberts court has issued consequential gun-rights rulings, including District of Columbia v. Heller, which struck down the District of Columbia’s handgun ban in 2008, and New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. v. Bruen, which struck down New York’s requirement that applicants show a special need to obtain a license to carry a handgun in public.

LA GUN OWNERS STUCK WAITING YEARS FOR CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS SCORE MAJOR DOJ VICTORY

People leave a family meeting area after a shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School Oct. 15, 2026, in Bend, Ore.(AP Photo/Joe Kline)

The political fighting is unfolding as investigators examine how the teenage gunman gained access to his mother’s shotgun, a key question in determining whether existing or proposed gun laws could have made a difference.

Asked specifically about universal background checks and red-flag laws, the NRA argued that neither would likely have prevented the shooting, citing initial reports that the teenager obtained a family member’s firearm.

The organization noted that background checks generally apply to firearm transfers, not unauthorized access to a firearm already owned by someone else. It also argued that a red-flag order would likely have been ineffective, although the circumstances surrounding the teenager’s access to the shotgun remain unclear.

Lott also pointed to a 2021 change in Oregon law that allowed individual school districts to prohibit concealed carry permit holders from bringing guns onto school property, arguing that such restrictions can leave schools more vulnerable.

Before that change, Lott said, Oregon teachers with concealed carry permits generally could carry guns at schools, although some districts imposed employment-related restrictions. He estimated that roughly 25 of the state’s 197 school districts have adopted prohibitions since then.

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“All the school shootings where anybody has been wounded or killed have occurred in places where people, teachers and staff are banned from having guns,” Lott said, citing CPRC research.

Lott said his organization is updating the research through 2025. He also argued that uniformed school resource officers face tactical disadvantages because attackers can identify them, avoid them or target them first.

“Having somebody in uniform is like having a neon sign above them that says, shoot me first,” Lott said.

Lott also questioned whether penalties for violating gun-free zone restrictions would deter someone already facing multiple life sentences for murder.

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“They may be facing six or seven life sentences [on murder counts and the like]. Does taking five years away from their seventh or eighth life [sentence] going to matter? Is that a penalty for them? And the answer is no,” he said.

The NRA also cited research finding that 94% of mass shootings since 1950 occurred in gun-free zones, echoing Lott’s argument.

“Law-abiding Americans have the right to defend themselves and their communities rather than rely solely on a sign or sticker. The tragedy in Bend is a clear example of how an armed citizen who is prepared and willing to act can stop an attacker and save lives. Policies that keep responsible people disarmed near schools leave those locations more vulnerable, not safer,” an NRA spokesperson said.

Lott maintained that gun-free zone restrictions can therefore disadvantage lawful gun owners without meaningfully deterring someone planning a mass shooting.

Fox News Digital’s James Cirrone and the Associated Press contributed to this report.

Vance defends ICE but says there’s a responsibility to investigate when agents “screw up”

2026-10-16T16:55:00-0400 / CBS News

By

Updated on: October 16, 2026 / 5:22 PM EDT / CBS News

Washington — Vice President JD Vance acknowledged Thursday that there are some federal immigration officers “who really screw up” and said the Trump administration has a responsibility to take action against those who do.

Vance sat down with “CBS Evening News” anchor Tony Dokoupil for a one-hour town hall in Michigan, which will air Saturday. Michigan is home to one of the closely watched Senate races between Republican Mike Rogers and Democrat Abdul El-Sayed.

During an exchange about immigration, Vance drew comparisons between law enforcement officers and members of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

“Most of them are amazing people who are patriots and they wanna do a good job protecting their country. Sometimes you have some people who make mistakes. Sometimes you have some people who really screw up,” Vance said. “And obviously, we have a responsibility to prosecute, investigate when people do screw up.”

Dokoupil pressed the vice president on some of those instances, noting that in some cases, “people talk about them before they’re investigated,” and he asked Vance about the biggest mistakes involving ICE’s immigration actions. Vance declined to single out any incidents but said the Trump administration has responded when officers have been accused of misconduct.

“There are a number of cases where we’ve investigated and either provided further training, or sometimes even provided disciplinary situations within ICE,” the vice president said. “We don’t always advertise that stuff, as you know, Tony, because we believe that people have to be judged in a court of law and through a normal investigatory process.”

Since the Trump administration has ramped up immigration enforcement actions as part of President Trump’s immigration crackdown, officers with ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection have come under criticism for their use-of-force practices.

Two Americans, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were shot and killed by immigration authorities during protests in Minnesota earlier this year. The ICE officer who fatally shot Good, Jonathan Ross, was placed on administrative leave shortly after the shooting. In May, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul questioned whether Ross had been reassigned to her state. The Department of Homeland Security declined to say at the time where Ross was working.

No criminal charges have been filed in either case. The Justice Department opened an investigation into Pretti’s shooting earlier this year.

There have since been a series of incidents involving immigration officers during targeted enforcement operations.

An ICE officer in May fatally shot a 25-year-old Colombian man in his car in Maine in July, and in September, an immigration officer shot a Venezuelan man in the back in Austin, Texas.

Earlier this month, ICE agents shot a man in New York during a targeted enforcement operation, striking him in the neck. The agents were trying to arrest the man, Oscar Belgal, who is from the Dominican Republic, with a 5-year-old boy in the back seat.

Then, a vehicle driven by ICE agents hit and injured a man near Houston.

Watch CBS News’ “Things That Matter: A Town Hall With Vice President JD Vance” on Saturday, Oct. 17 at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network or stream it on Paramount+. The one-hour special will also be available to watch afterward on CBSNews.com, YouTube and CBS News 24/7.

朝鲜试射新型鱼雷 据报采用人工智能技术

2026-10-17 07:11 / 联合早报

朝鲜刚刚在星期三（10月14日）宣布测试了两种潜射战略巡航导弹，旨在验证海军的任务执行能力及战争威慑力量的可靠性。图为朝中社次日发布的试射现场照片。 （路透社）

朝鲜官媒报道，朝鲜试射一款新型超高速精确制导鱼雷武器系统，验证技术升级成果。这款鱼雷采用人工智能（AI）技术，用于目标探测与制导。

朝中社报道，朝鲜国防科学院、导弹总局和水雷武器研究局星期四（10月15日）进行新型超高速精确制导鱼雷武器系统“潜－2.0”水下实弹发射试验。

报道称，试验结果显示，鱼雷的推进效率和火箭推进系统性能均有所提升。朝中社称，这次试验是朝鲜海军发展进程中的重要一步。

报道还说，“潜－2.0”的目标搜索及制导功能采用人工智能技术。

在此次测试之前，朝鲜星期三（14日）刚刚宣布测试了两种潜射战略巡航导弹，旨在验证海军的任务执行能力及战争威慑力量的可靠性。

Ex-Trump lawyer Ty Cobb slams Press Secretary ouster, alleges White House ‘double standard’

7:56 PM EDT, Fri October 16, 2026 / CNN

Ex-Trump lawyer Ty Cobb slams Press Secretary ouster, alleges White House ‘double standard’

Erin Burnett Out Front

Ty Cobb, former Trump White House lawyer, points to a double standard in the sudden ouster of White House Press Secretary Katie Zachariah after just five days on the job. Cobb tells Erin Burnett that Zachariah was set up to fail, adding, “She hasn’t been treated unfairly by the media, she’s been treated unfairly by the president.”

4:19 • Source: CNN

https://www.cnn.com/2026/10/16/politics/video/ebof-ty-cobb-katie-zacharia-white-house-firing