Thursday, 22 October 2026

A federal judge ordered President Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11 in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC over an edited segment of one of his 2021 speeches. The judge threatened to dismiss the lawsuit if Trump fails to cooperate with the discovery process.

DOJ prosecutors are investigating allegations that Corey Lewandowski engaged in contract misconduct at the Department of Homeland Security during his role as an aide to former DHS Secretary Kristi Noem. A DHS watchdog referred the investigation to the Justice Department for potential prosecution.

Trump claimed that Elon Musk has restored Ukraine's internet access after reported Starlink speed throttling. Secretary of State Rubio suggested that Starlink access decisions were Musk's prerogative, not a White House responsibility, though Musk has consistently denied restricting access.

Congresswoman Ilhan Omar's home was subject to a pre-dawn federal raid in which agents seized over a dozen items including cell phones and notebooks as part of a federal investigation. Omar said the raid is forcing her to leave her Washington home due to safety concerns and threats.

A federal judge blocked DHS field operations seeking to identify non-citizen voters in nine states, citing concerns that the agency's tactics intimidate eligible voters ahead of the midterm elections. The ruling curtails a sprawling fraud investigation seen by critics as a voter intimidation campaign.

Trump publicly praised a supporter who punched a protester at a South Carolina rally for Republican Senate candidate Darline Graham. Trump's approval of the violence drew criticism from law enforcement investigating the incident.

Vice President JD Vance defended GOP gubernatorial nominee Vivek Ramaswamy's controversial attack ad featuring the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton, telling Republicans to 'stop whining.' Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and other Republican leaders called for the ad's removal, but Trump backed Ramaswamy.

Trump attacked NBA star LeBron James for disrespecting the U.S. national anthem, after James was observed practicing golf and basketball shots during the anthem. Trump demanded an apology from the basketball star.

The International Criminal Court won the European Union's top human rights award (Sakharov Prize) just weeks after the Trump administration announced sanctions against the court. The award is seen as a show of support for the ICC amid Trump's efforts to thwart its work.

Calley Means, a top adviser to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and a key leader in the 'Make America Healthy Again' (MAHA) movement, resigned from the Trump administration less than two weeks before the midterms. Means grew frustrated with stalled progress on MAHA food policy reforms.

Trump publicly called CNN anchor Kaitlan Collins "a dummy" and "a low-IQ person" outside the White House after she pressed him on whether his decision to waive Russia sanctions was connected to the release of detained American Stephen Hubbard. Trump insisted the sanctions waiver was necessary to secure Hubbard's return while simultaneously denying he gave anything in exchange - marking his second public confrontation with a member of the press in as many days.