In case you missed this story (I did) -

In Trump’s Russian Oil Deal, Middle East Funds Are the Biggest Owners

A majority of ownership in a proposed multibillion-dollar deal would go to a group of Middle Eastern investors, including some with business ties to U.S. negotiators.

The deal involves a worldwide portfolio of oil fields, refineries and gas stations now owned by the sanctioned Russian energy giant Lukoil.

https://bsky.app/profile/ericlipton.nytimes.com/post/3mxeqosdkec25
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/10/08/world/europe/trump-russia-oil-deal-lukoil-middle-east-investors.html?unlocked_article_code=1.HFE.SD5J.RvPzN6CwJm9Y&smid=url-share
#UsPol
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This looks unreal!

Red Sprites above the village of Montemaggiore on the French island of Corsica by photographer Florian Riou on September 28, 2026.

Red sprites are electrical discharges that flash high above massive thunderstorm clouds, at altitudes of 50 to 90 km and last but a few milliseconds.

More at https://www.instagram.com/florian.riou/?hl=en
https://florianriou.com/
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Campaign ad from James Talarico, with massive data center construction in the background.

https://bsky.app/profile/jamestalarico.bsky.social/post/3mxosem57oc2g
#UsPol
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So, he lied that Russia and Ukraine agreed to a ceasefire.

The MSM will not use the word lie, but we should.

Because he and his cronies will continue to lie day and night and the electorate needs to learn to recognize then.

https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3mxpgalle5r2v
#UsPol
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Mars rover Perseverance finally made a move today to set a new record for the distance traveled by a rover on a distant planet - 45.22 km.

It had stayed put in its previous location for 26 days in the “Lac de Charmes” area.

This breaks the records held by rover Opportunity, which took almost 3 times as long to cover that distance.

Congratulations Percy!
🏆
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The raid on Rep. Ilhan Omar's home by Homeland Security Investigations agents this morning seems to be an attempt to deport her on some trumped-up charge of immigration fraud.

https://www.rawstory.com/ilhan-omar-deportation/
#UsPol
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The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2026 goes to -

Robert E. Hall - Stanford Univ
Michael Woodford - Columbia Univ

“for microeconomic foundations of macroeconomic stabilisation”

"Instead of just looking at macroeconomic variables such as inflation, production and consumption, they showed how the combined effect of individual households and businesses affects the economy through their forward-looking decision-making."

https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/economic-sciences/2026/press-release/
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In case you have not been following this story -

MAGA influencers alleged James Talarico received psychiatric treatment during his week-long absence.

Elon Musk amplified the accusation.

Documented dates contradict their hospital-discharge claim.

The alleged recordings and calls face scrutiny over authenticity, privacy protections, deception, and potential legal consequences.

Lindner Center of HOPE denied James Talarico receiving treatment there.

https://meidasnews.com/news/maga-sleuths-talarico-bombshell-blows-up-in-their-faces
#UsPol
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In other political news -

Trump posts - "Effective immediately, there is an ENERGY CEASEFIRE in the War between Russia and Ukraine. Both parties have agreed."

Zelenskyy: “The announcement about the ceasefire was news to me."

Gaslighting? Market manipulation?

Let's keep working to stop this idiocracy this November. Vote early. GOTV.
#UsPol
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Flu season has started early this year.

The dominant strain so far is (H1N1)pdm09.

Health experts recommend not to wait to get the vaccine.

FYI - This season, the new U.S.-approved mRNA flu vaccine is available to adults 50 and older.

https://www.axios.com/2026/10/09/flu-cases-rise-shot
https://www.cdc.gov/fluview/surveillance/2026-week-39.html
https://ukhsa.blog.gov.uk/2026/10/08/are-we-seeing-an-early-flu-season-what-we-know-so-far-about-this-years-strains/
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"The U.S. pressed Israel to strike Iran during discussions between the two countries over the past two weeks, sources told Maariv.

American officials reportedly believed Israel would be interested in striking Iran before its own elections, while a US operation ahead of the midterms could have negative political consequences for Trump.

The US has since backed down from its demand.

Two US officials and one Israeli official denied the report."
😮
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-911224
https://www.maariv.co.il/news/military/article-1375498

A G3 geomagnetic storm is underway since the past few hours and is expected to continue until midnight UTC. Kp level of 7 have been reported.

A coronal mass ejection (CME) on Oct 8 is making a direct hit on Earth

We hope folks in northern latitudes can see some bright auroras.

https://www.spaceweather.gov/
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