Washington fires 1,350 State Department employees in overhaul | JQJO

At a Wichita rally, President Donald Trump played footage of violent protests in France, warning that similar unrest could occur in the United States if Democrats win the November midterms. Trump described the French demonstrations as a result of migrants, jihadists and communists, and linked them to liberal immigration policies. He echoed Marine Le Pen’s criticism of President Emmanuel Macron, suggesting that France’s instability was due to uncontrolled migration. Trump’s remarks were intended to rally Republican voters ahead of the midterm elections.

Microsoft is set to transform Xbox Game Pass from a single‑price subscription into an à la carte model, allowing players to select add‑ons such as cloud gaming, multiplayer, and console‑only titles. CEO Asha Sharma announced the shift to reduce costs and attract more subscribers. The overhaul will also remove day‑one access for first‑party games, a move that has been hinted at for years. Microsoft’s plan follows a plateau in Game Pass growth at thirty‑five million subscribers and aims to launch before the 2027 Fable release.

Reliable Robotics is opening a 11,000‑square‑foot office in Bothell, Washington. The new location will house 25 employees and has capacity for more than 100 staff members.

Hunter Schafer, 27, revealed she had gender‑affirming bottom surgery in December last year during an Elle interview. She described the operation as amazing and expressed love for the outcome. Schafer, known for playing Jules Vaughn in HBO’s "Euphoria," has spoken publicly about her transition since age fourteen. In 2026 she finished the third season of "Euphoria," starred in "Mother Mary," and is promoting the Prime Video series "Blade Runner 2099."

Two men from Sacramento and a woman from Vacaville are among 28 residents of California charged in a federal investigation that alleges illegal voting and fraudulent voter registration. The charges were announced by federal officials.

The Republican Party of Florida has filed a lawsuit seeking a temporary injunction to prevent television stations from airing a Democratic campaign ad that criticizes the Hope Florida scandal and a grand jury’s findings. The GOP threatens criminal prosecution for stations that run or report on the ad. Judge Lance E. Neff of the Florida First District Court of Appeal previously ordered the expungement of the grand jury report, citing overreach. The lawsuit comes amid the final stretch of the Nov. three election, as the scandal continues to affect Senate candidate Angie Nixon’s campaign.

Netflix shares dropped in after‑hours trading on Tuesday after the company lowered its fourth‑quarter revenue guidance to thirteen point four billion dollars and full‑year advertising sales to two point seven billion dollars. The decline followed a solid third‑quarter performance, with earnings per share of eighty‑seven cents beating expectations and revenue of twelve point eight seven billion dollars matching forecasts. The guidance cut was attributed to timing of expenses, including a recent layoff of about one thousand workers, or six percent of total staff. Executives noted slower rollout of ad product capabilities and ongoing viewership growth challenges.

Val Chmerkovskiy, a "Dancing With the Stars" pro, joked about judge Carrie Ann Inaba’s car on September twenty‑nine, sparking controversy. Two weeks later, after an October thirteenth episode, he posted a TikTok story referencing Will Smith’s 2022 Oscars incident, prompting ABC to suspend him for one week. He apologized on Instagram and will be replaced by Alan Bernsten during the upcoming Dedication Night.

The 2026‑27 NBA season has begun, and the Spurs are ranked first in the new power rankings. The Spurs pulled a little rabbit out of the hat against OKC in the conference finals, and the Thunder are ranked second. The Knicks are third. The rankings reflect the Spurs’ recent playoff performance and the roster of young talent, including Victor Wembanyama, Stephon Castle, and Dylan Harper. The Thunder’s roster changes and Chet Holmgren’s development are noted as key factors for their second‑place position. The Knicks are highlighted as the team to beat in the East, though their regular‑season prospects are uncertain.

Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin will miss the remainder of the 2026 season after a torn patellar tendon sustained Monday night against the San Francisco 49ers. Head coach Dan Quinn confirmed the injury after Tuesday scans. McLaurin, 31, will undergo surgery and is sidelined for his eighth NFL year. He had missed one game this season with a hamstring injury and seven games in 2025 due to various ailments. The Commanders, 1‑4‑1, now face a weakened receiving corps as Stefon Diggs becomes the primary target.