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Today’s best stories
President Trump urges Ukrainians to hold wartime elections and replace President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who criticizes him for not having ended the war. He accuses Zelensky of being behind the rise in global fuel prices due to Ukraine’s long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries. Trump temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian diesel on Friday and said the two sides had agreed to an “energy ceasefire.”
President Trump speaks to members of the press after landing October 10, 2026 at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. Trump returns to the White House after attending a political rally in Clarksville, Tennessee.
Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
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Roberto Schmidt/Getty Images
- 🎧 Trump urged Ukrainians to elect a new leader beforebut every time he does that, Zelensky’s popularity increases, says NPR’s Joanna Kakissis First. She adds that in conversations with Ukrainians in kyiv, a common sentiment emerges: while they view Zelensky as flawed, they believe foreigners should not dictate their electoral process or leadership changes. Most Ukrainians recognize that holding elections now would be risky, given the ongoing conflict, with Russia bombing their cities daily. Separately, Zelensky said yesterday that he was not aware of any plans for a ceasefire, which would force both sides to stop attacking energy facilities.
The Justice Department has opened a formal antitrust investigation in five major US television networks – ABC, CBS, CNN, NBC and Fox News – for their actions during a legal battle for access to the White House. Press rights groups denounced the move, which comes after Trump barred CNN, MSNOW and Politico from the White House, citing unfair negative coverage. The administration has revoked White House press passes for more than 70 journalists. The affected news organizations took legal action to restore their access. The Justice Department cites national security reasons to justify its actions, while a federal judge temporarily ordered the restoration of their passes, with the final decision expected Tuesday evening.
NPR confirms at least four people have died from storm-related incidents after Hurricane Isaias hit the Gulf Coast as a Category 2 storm Friday evening. Emergency crews in Florida and Alabama are assessing damage and power outages caused by the storm. Isaias brought winds of 105 mph, snapping trees and knocking out power, while authorities warn of threats of flash flooding further inland.
Houthi forces in Yemen attack Saudi airportsincluding a deadly strike against a passenger terminal in the capital, Riyadh. Saudi Arabia says at least 20 people died in recent attacks last week.
- 🎧 Global condemnations followed these attacksbut the spotlight is on Trump, says NPR’s Aya Batrawy. The Saudis have asked the United States for resupply support for their warplane strikes against the Houthis in Yemen, but Trump has yet to agree. While the United States provides information on the Houthis, Trump remains hesitant to get involved in another Gulf War, especially with ongoing Iranian attacks on oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz. Since 2015, Saudi Arabia has been fighting the Iran-backed Houthis in an unsuccessful attempt to restore the Yemeni government. These latest attacks call into question Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s efforts to secure the country and implement reforms aimed at attracting foreign investors and tourists, Batrawy says.
Listening of the day
Suicide is a growing public health crisis in the United States, particularly among the Black community, where rates have increased by more than 50% over the past decade, according to CDC data. Gun suicides among black youth exceeded those of white youth in 2022. As public health initiatives increasingly move away from issues affecting different communities, Morning editionMichel Martin of Michel Martin wanted to address this question with care and honesty. Martin led a live event called Going There: A Matter of Life or Death, bringing together clinicians, legislators and individuals affected by this epidemic to try to uncover why this crisis is happening, how it affects us and how we can take action. Speakers included influential voices such as BET CEO Emerita Debra Lee, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-NJ, psychiatrist Dr. Paul Nestadt, retired NFL champion Vernon Davis, WWE superstar Ettore “Big E” Ewen and Rev. Johnny Parker, who serves as both pastor and counselor. Watch and listen to the event here.
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis lifeline. You can reach someone 24 hours a day, just to talk or to help them access care.
Image exhibition
BTS’ RM performs at the 2026 iHeartRadio music festival in Las Vegas in September.
Ethan Miller/Getty Images
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Ethan Miller/Getty Images
BTS frontman RM presents works from his personal collection for the first time in collaboration with the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. K-pop idol Kim Nam-joon’s real name prompted fans of the group, known as ARMY, to coin the term “Namjooning” to describe the star’s interests. RM collaborated with two of the museum’s curators for the exhibition RM x SFMOMA: Between you and me. The works on display primarily feature RM’s own art collection alongside works from SFMOMA, such as a painting by Mark Rothko, displayed side-by-side with Yun’s. Museum Retail Director Shane Salvata said, “This is hands down the largest inventory we have ever loaded in advance for an exhibition. » If you can’t visit the exhibit in person, look at some photos of what’s on display.
3 things to know before you leave
Pope Leo XIV delivers the Angelus prayer in St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, Sunday, October 11, 2026.
Gregorio Borgia/AP
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Gregorio Borgia/AP
- Pope Leo XIV announced Sunday that he will undergo surgery this week to remove a “localized nodule” in his lung, which doctors discovered “at a very early stage.”
- The Kennedy Center has named Rick Canny, a talent manager known for working with artists like ZZ Top and Tommy Lee, as its new artistic director.
- In today’s economy, many job seekers are facing longer periods of unemployment, with nearly 40% having exhausted their benefits before finding a new job.
This newsletter was edited by Christina Romano. Suzanne Nuyen contributed.
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