Good morning, everyone. Today’s update may be shorter, but it’s packed with major stories you need to know. From a mass shooting in Mississippi to a sweeping purge of senior CDC scientists, and U.S. service members being told to rely on local food banks, these headlines speak volumes about the moment we’re living in.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
In a Friday night massacre, the Trump administration abruptly laid off dozens of CDC employees, including top scientists, epidemic experts, and the agency’s entire Washington office, in a late-night purge that eliminated 70 “disease detectives” and staff from key health divisions such as global health and the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.
Worsening measles outbreaks in South Carolina, Minnesota, and Utah have forced at least 270 unvaccinated students into quarantine as U.S. vaccination rates continue to decline, with over 1,500 cases reported nationwide in 2025 and health experts warning that the country risks losing its measles elimination status.
Military service members have been told to start going to local food pantries as the government shutdown enters day 11. They will not be receiving a paycheck during the next pay period on October 15th.
Ongoing staffing shortages at 12 FAA air traffic control facilities amid the prolonged government shutdown are causing nationwide flight delays, as unpaid controllers struggle to maintain operations; officials warn of worsening disruptions while the transportation secretary threatens disciplinary action against workers protesting the shutdown.
Former Trump national security adviser and outspoken critic John Bolton is expected to face federal charges soon over alleged mishandling of classified materials, following FBI searches of his home and office—making him the third prominent Trump critic indicted in recent weeks after Letitia James and James Comey.
A mass shooting at a post–homecoming celebration in Leland, Mississippi left four people dead and 16 injured, including four in critical condition, with no suspects identified as state investigators continue their probe.
Donald Trump received his COVID-19 booster shoot during his second “annual” physical at the Walter Reed Medical Center despite discouraging Americans from receiving that same shot.
Amid an ongoing government shutdown, the Trump administration began laying off over 4,000 federal workers across multiple agencies — including Treasury, HHS, DHS, and Education — sparking union lawsuits and bipartisan criticism that the mass firings are punitive and potentially illegal.
Chicago TV journalist Debbie Brockman was violently arrested and later released by masked federal agents during an ICE raid, with witnesses calling the incident “horrifying” as officials claimed she assaulted officers—amid rising tensions over immigration crackdowns and press freedom protections.
A massive explosion at the Accurate Energetic Systems explosives plant in Centerville, Tennessee destroyed a building, left at least 18 people dead or missing, and injured several others; officials are investigating the cause while the tight-knit community mourns amid reports of past safety violations at the facility.
Former President Joe Biden, 82, is undergoing a five-week course of radiation and hormone therapy for an aggressive form of prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, following his May diagnosis and earlier hormone treatment.
Outgoing New Orleans Archbishop Gregory Aymond gave his first sworn testimony in the Catholic Church’s $230 million clergy abuse bankruptcy case, as the archdiocese nears settlement with survivors, while his personal lawyer confirmed representation unrelated to a separate state sex-trafficking probe.
Joshua Wayne Cole of Texas agreed to plead guilty to federal charges after threatening online to shoot attendees at an Abilene Pride parade in revenge for activist Charlie Kirk’s killing, facing up to five years in prison.
