Chronological News (1165754-1165745)

AMERICANALMANAC (Lynn Jenkins) - Crooks sent coded 3D-printer texts before Butler rally attack, records show Sat Oct 3 19:38:28 2026

Thomas Matthew Crooks traded coded messages about 3D-printed parts and shot dozens of drone photos before the Butler rally attack, and Judicial Watch says the FBI is still slow-walking the full file. New FBI records obtained by Judicial Watch show the 20-year-old from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, exchanged odd one- and two-word texts for months and discussed 3D-printed parts with an “unknown contact” well before the July 13, 2024, shooting at President Donald Trump’s Butler, Pennsylvania, rally. Fox News reported the document release also includes a DHL notice for a package from Hong Kong and 40 drone photos Crooks took in February 2024, including images of PNC Park and Acrisure Stadium. Secret Service agents killed Crooks at the scene…Open

What strange text messages were recorded in the FBI files between May 21, 2023, and January 3, 2024?

During this period, Crooks sent a string of one- and two-word messages that appeared to be "gibberish" or "noise" rather than normal conversation. The traffic included messages such as "Hello red," "Yolo," "Hdudhdbdbbd," "7888ejdj," "Ddodjjf," "890," "Yup red," and long runs of repeated letters. The FBI has redacted the responses from the other party in these exchanges.

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Why is Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton criticizing the FBI's handling of the investigation into the Butler rally attack?

Tom Fitton is criticizing the FBI for "slow-walking" and "rationing" the release of information by providing heavily redacted, blacked-out pages rather than the full investigative record. Fitton demanded the full file be released immediately, arguing that the public deserves a complete accounting of what Crooks built, who he messaged, and what items arrived at his door, especially following the death of James Copenhaver from injuries sustained during the attack.

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Who were the primary victims of the shooting at the Butler, Pennsylvania, rally, and what were their fates?

During the rally, Secret Service agents killed Crooks after a bullet grazed President Trump. Corey Comperatore, a 50-year-old fire chief, was killed instantly while shielding his family. James Copenhaver, a 76-year-old veteran, was hit in the triceps and midsection, suffering kidney and colon injuries; while he left the hospital a week later, he eventually died on September 23, 2026, from complications related to those wounds.

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What did the 3D-printing communications between Thomas Matthew Crooks and an unknown contact reveal about his preparations?

On February 9, 2023, an unknown contact asked Crooks, "Did you 3D print the parts?" Crooks responded, "Yes, except for the fan blades," to which the contact replied, "Woah that looks cool." These records were significant because Crooks' father, Matthew Crooks, later informed investigators that his son had previously attempted to fabricate a Glock 19 at home using carbon fiber plastic, a dryer, and a toaster oven.

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AMERICANALMANAC (Lynn Jenkins) - Trump warns Cornell rape suspects face no fair shake with Letitia James in charge Sat Oct 3 19:38:25 2026

President Trump says the Cornell 7 will not get a fair shake with Letitia James running the rape probe, calling the New York attorney general a corrupt person. President Trump told reporters at the White House that the seven Cornell University fraternity brothers accused of raping a classmate will not get evenhanded treatment now that New York Attorney General Letitia James has been put on the case. Trump said James is “totally corrupt” and that anyone she investigates should expect bias, not justice. The remarks came after Gov. Kathy Hochul directed James to take over the criminal probe into the alleged October 2024 attack at Cornell’s Chi Phi fraternity house. The appointment puts a prosecutor with a long record of pursuing Trump…Open

How did Letitia James respond to the appointment and the allegations regarding the Cornell case?

Letitia James characterized the Cornell matter as an "active criminal investigation" and pledged to follow a standard process by reviewing facts, gathering evidence, and interviewing witnesses to determine if prosecutions are warranted. She also declined to comment on a Facebook post she had made affirming the young woman's allegations, stating, "I will not comment on a Facebook post."

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What is the history of the legal conflict between President Trump and New York Attorney General Letitia James?

Letitia James brought a civil case against Trump, the Trump Organization, and his two eldest sons over the alleged inflation of real estate values, resulting in a $454 million civil judgment that was later overturned by a state appeals court. Additionally, in 2025, James was charged by the Trump Justice Department with bank fraud and making false statements, but a federal judge dismissed the indictment due to a technicality regarding the appointment of the acting U.S. Attorney.

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What was the outcome of the Title IX investigation conducted by Cornell University regarding the Chi Phi fraternity incident?

Cornell University conducted a Title IX investigation involving 12 hearings. According to the civil lawsuit, the university's process resulted in only two of the seven brothers being expelled, an outcome the plaintiff characterized as a "slap on the wrist." University representatives stated they acted in line with police and banned the Chi Phi chapter from campus.

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What are the specific allegations made in the 101-page civil lawsuit filed by "Jane Doe" against the seven Cornell fraternity brothers?

The lawsuit, filed in Manhattan Supreme Court, accuses the seven brothers of plying the plaintiff with alcohol and ketamine and subjecting her to an hours-long sexual assault at the Phi Chi house in October 2024. It further alleges that while the assault was occurring, one of the men messaged a 50-person Snapchat group called "Chi Phi Actives" to announce "free p***y" in the house.

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AMERICANALMANAC (Alan Benson) - Job growth slows to 29,000 in September as unemployment rises to 4.2% Sat Oct 3 19:38:24 2026

U.S. employers added only 29,000 jobs in September while unemployment rose to 4.2 percent, missing forecasts and giving the Federal Reserve fresh reason to go slow on rates. The September employment report landed well below Wall Street expectations and painted a cooler picture of the American labor market. Economists had looked for a much stronger gain and a steady jobless rate. Instead, hiring slowed and the unemployment rate ticked higher. Just The News reported that the Labor Department figures showed payrolls up 29,000 and unemployment at 4.2 percent, against forecasts near 84,000 jobs and a 4.1 percent rate. The Bureau of Labor Statistics said the payroll number and the unemployment rate “changed little in September.” "changed…Open

How might the September employment report influence the Federal Reserve's upcoming decisions on interest rates?

The weaker-than-expected job growth provides the Federal Reserve with a reason to be patient on interest rates. Because the hiring was soft, some policymakers may see room to stay patient rather than feeling an urgency to raise rates, allowing them to weigh the costs of interest rates on mortgages, car loans, and credit cards more carefully.

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How has the "break-even" rate of job growth changed compared to the period of high immigration from 2021 through 2024?

During the high-immigration years of 2021 through 2024, the economy needed to add more than 100,000 jobs every month just to keep up with labor-force growth. Currently, many economists put the "break-even" rate—the pace needed simply to keep unemployment steady—as low as zero, or somewhere between 10,000 and 55,000 jobs a month.

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What downward revisions were made to the employment data for July and August?

The employment data for previous months were revised downward, making them look softer than originally reported. July employment was revised to a loss of 10,000 jobs (down from a reported gain of 21,000), and August's gain was cut from 162,000 to 133,000.

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How did the September employment report break down job growth between private employers, government payrolls, and specific industries?

The report showed a split in hiring: private employers added 46,000 jobs, while government payrolls shrank by 17,000. In terms of industries, goods-producing industries added 18,000 positions, while the services side of the economy added 28,000 positions.

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AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Harvard-Harris poll finds 77% back deporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes Sat Oct 3 19:38:24 2026

Seventy-seven percent of registered voters support deporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes, a Harvard-Harris poll shows, clear public backing for President Trump’s enforcement drive. The Harvard CAPS and Harris survey of 2,200 registered voters, conducted September 26-28, found overwhelming support for removing illegal immigrants who break the law. That result lands as the administration continues […] The post Harvard-Harris poll finds 77% back deporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes appeared first on American Almanac .

Seventy-seven percent of registered voters support deporting illegal immigrants who commit crimes, a Harvard-Harris poll shows, clear public backing for President Trump’s enforcement drive. The Harvard CAPS and Harris survey of 2,200 registered voters, conducted September 26-28, found overwhelming support for removing illegal immigrants who break the law. That result lands as the administration continues mass removals and tighter border controls after the 2024 election. Voters are not asking for open borders or blanket amnesty. They want people who entered illegally and then committed crimes sent home. The poll puts that preference in plain numbers. Support for Trump’s immigration actions overall stood at 48 percent, the highest of the…Open

What economic data from a USAFacts.org report was noted in relation to the voter mood regarding border disorder and enforcement?

A USAFacts.org report dated September 25 noted that from August 2025 to August 2026, wages grew 0.29 percentage points faster than inflation. During this period, nominal wages rose 3.7 percent while inflation stood at 3.4 percent. The article suggests that prior border disorder and loose enforcement resulted in taxpayers absorbing costs for shelter, health, and criminal justice while wage earners felt the economic squeeze.

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According to the Harvard-Harris poll, how did support for President Trump’s immigration actions overall compare to other issues surveyed?

Support for President Trump’s immigration actions overall stood at 48 percent. This figure was the highest of the 11 issue areas covered by the survey, tracking with the mandate delivered by voters to stop the flow of illegal migration, enforce the law, and reverse the chaos of the previous administration.

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How did the White House respond to a Politico online survey that suggested a more fractured opinion on President Trump's deportation campaign?

White House spokesperson Lauren Bis rejected the Politico findings, stating that the outlet was "skewing data to paint a false narrative." She emphasized that the American people sent President Trump back to the White House specifically to stop the "invasion" of the country and to deport the millions of illegal aliens allowed in by the Biden and Democratic administrations.

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What were the specific findings of the Harvard-Harris poll regarding federal immigration authorities' access to data and public benefits?

The poll showed that 51 percent of voters supported allowing federal immigration authorities to access information on low-income families, including personal data from Medicaid, SNAP recipients, and tax statements filed by immigrants. Additionally, 50 percent of respondents backed giving immigration officers the power to deny green cards to individuals who are using public benefits, based on the principle that illegal presence and public dependency should not lead to permanent legal status.

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AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Judge freezes Trump border barrier work across Texas Big Bend sector Sat Oct 3 19:38:23 2026

A federal judge has halted Trump administration border barrier construction across Texas’s Big Bend sector, handing activists a pause that puts scenery ahead of enforcement. On Friday in El Paso, U.S. District Judge Kathleen Cardone issued a two-page injunction that stops the federal government from building border barriers or related infrastructure throughout the Big Bend sector, including Big Bend National Park. Breitbart reported the order also bars any construction or ground-disturbing work in the sector while the lawsuit proceeds. Cardone’s written command is plain. The government “shall not build border barrier or related infrastructure, or engage in any construction or ground disturbing activities, in the Big Bend sector.”…Open

How did the plaintiffs, such as river guide Billy Miller, justify their opposition to the border barrier construction?

The plaintiffs framed their argument around keeping the remote stretch wild for visitors. Billy Miller stated that the construction plan was going to ruin the experience for people visiting the wilderness and that the ruling allowed them to continue introducing people to the wildness of the area.

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Why did the Trump administration want to build a barrier in the Big Bend sector despite it having fewer illegal crossings than other parts of the Texas-Mexico border?

Federal officials warned that barriers built elsewhere can push illegal crossings into sectors that remain open; the administration moved to close Big Bend because it was considered one of those pressure points.

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Who were some of the primary plaintiffs involved in the lawsuit that led to the freezing of the border barrier construction?

The lawsuit was filed by local residents and preservation advocates, including Billy Miller, a river guide from Terlingua, Texas, and a church preservation group.

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What restrictions did Judge Kathleen Cardone place on the federal government's use of legal waivers in the Big Bend sector?

The judge blocked the government from relying on the waivers of environmental and other laws that it had issued to speed up the project. She ruled that officials must comply with all applicable laws, effectively putting every applicable environmental and related statute back in force as a brake on the project.

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AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Abbott hails $7.5 billion DHS repayment for Texas border security costs Sat Oct 3 19:38:23 2026

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott celebrated a $7.5 billion federal reimbursement for border costs the state fronted under Biden, a long-overdue win for taxpayers who paid first. On Friday, Abbott took a giant check at the governor’s mansion during Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. The money came from the Department of Homeland Security to cover what Texas spent securing the southern border while Washington’s policy left the state holding the bill. The Washington Examiner reported the celebration and tied the repayment to costs Texas fronted through Operation Lone Star, the state border mission launched in 2021. Federal officials had announced the reimbursement in September. That mission was Texas’s answer to record illegal crossings, cartel…Open

What was the context of Governor Greg Abbott's celebration of the $7.5 billion reimbursement?

Governor Greg Abbott celebrated the reimbursement on a Friday at the governor's mansion during Law Enforcement Appreciation Month. He presented the payment as a victory for Texas taxpayers who had to absorb the costs of border security while the federal government failed to act.

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How much did Texas spend on border security during the Biden administration, and does the $7.5 billion reimbursement cover the entire amount?

Texas spent more than $11.6 billion on border security during the Biden years. The $7.5 billion check does not close the full gap, as the state's total outlay still exceeds what DHS has returned. Additionally, Governor Greg Abbott's office stated that Texas is seeking further reimbursement from the Justice Department for additional spending.

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Through which specific law and fund was the $7.5 billion payment approved by the Department of Homeland Security?

The DHS approved the payment through the State Border Security Reinforcement Fund. This fund was created in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which Senator John Cornyn helped secure. This payment marks the first federal repayment of its kind under that new law.

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What specific state initiative did the $7.5 billion federal reimbursement cover, and when did that mission begin?

The reimbursement is tied to costs fronted through Operation Lone Star, which was Texas's state border mission launched in March 2021. The mission was established as a response to record illegal crossings, cartel traffic, and a perceived failure of the federal government to protect the border.

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AMERICANALMANAC (Sadie Smith) - Alito says he weighed stepping down from the Supreme Court last term Sat Oct 3 19:38:22 2026

Justice Samuel Alito says he thought about leaving the Supreme Court at the end of last term, then stayed because he still believed he could do the job that brought him there. In a The Hill report on a CBS News interview, the 76-year-old justice told chief legal correspondent Jan Crawford he considered retirement when the prior term closed, and decided against it. Alito is the court’s second-oldest justice, behind Clarence Thomas at 78. He has served a little over two decades after President George W. Bush put him on the bench. He sits with the court’s conservative majority alongside Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Thomas, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch. Asked about the choice, he did not dodge it. He said…Open

Why did Justice Alito decline to provide a specific timetable for his retirement?

Alito stated it is too hard to predict what his situation will be in a year or two due to the fluidity of personal health, family reality, and national politics. He also noted the difficulty of predicting what the political situation will be and what any future president might do regarding a replacement.

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What events led to speculation regarding Justice Alito's retirement prior to his CBS News interview?

Speculation began when NPR wrongly reported on the final opinion day of the court's term that Alito had announced his retirement; the network later retracted the story and journalist Nina Totenberg apologized to him. Additionally, in August, Alito had to firmly deny the rumors to the Wall Street Journal, stating he was there for another term.

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Which other Supreme Court justices are part of the court's conservative majority alongside Justice Alito?

Justice Alito sits with a conservative majority that includes Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Clarence Thomas, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, and Neil Gorsuch.

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What is Justice Samuel Alito's current age and how does his age factor into his thoughts on retirement?

Justice Alito is 76 years old. He noted that age forces the question of retirement to be something that someone of his age has to think about every term.

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YOUTUBE (LiveNOW from FOX) - US-Iran conflict: Trump fires back at Iranian official Sat Oct 3 19:34:42 2026

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President Donald Trump has responded to an Iranian official calling him the "worst president in American history." Trump spoke at an event, where he said, "they lost one set of leaders. Then they lost another set of leaders. Then they lost half of a third set, and they had a little runoff for who wants to be president and there were no participants."

AXIOS (Barak Ravid) - Iranian diplomats "kicked out" of U.S. after ignoring order to leave Sat Oct 3 19:31:53 2026

Two members of Iran's delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York were "kicked out" of the country on Saturday, several days after they were asked to leave, a U.S. official said. - "Secretary Rubio means business. Two more members of the Iranian delegation were found still in New York long after the UN General Assembly had passed. They have now been kicked out of the country," the official said. Why it matters: It's the latest sign of tension between the two countries as diplomatic efforts to end the war falter and the prospect of renewed combat rises. State of play: The U.S. official said the two Iranian diplomats did not obey a State Department demand to the Iranian mission to the UN on Monday that its entire delegation leave the…

What is the diplomatic context surrounding the removal of the Iranian diplomats from New York?

The removal of the diplomats is cited as the latest sign of tension between the United States and Iran. This incident comes at a time when diplomatic efforts to end the war are faltering and there is a rising prospect of renewed combat between the two nations.

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Why were the Iranian diplomats required to leave the United States according to U.S. officials?

The diplomats were required to leave because they ignored a State Department demand issued on Monday for the Iranian mission to the UN to leave the country immediately. U.S. officials stated that Secretary Rubio "means business" and that the diplomats were found still in New York long after the UN General Assembly had passed, leading to their eventual removal.

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What action did the United States take regarding two members of the Iranian delegation to the UN General Assembly in New York?

Two members of the Iranian delegation were kicked out of the United States on Saturday. This occurred after they failed to comply with a State Department demand made on Monday for the entire Iranian mission to the UN to leave the country immediately. One diplomat departed on Friday night and the second left on Saturday morning.

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NEWSNATIONNOW (Don Davis) - Could AI fire you? California senator says it’s already happening Sat Oct 3 19:31:07 2026

Leader of the "No Robo Bosses Act," California state Sen. Jerry McNerney, says AI is already firing humans.

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