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Today's Brief: Plots, Ballots, and Plywood

The Homebrew · · Posted · AI-drafted daily brief, synthesized from Left, Center, and Right coverage. Facts may be inaccurate — verify with the cited sources below.

Iran has "substantially increased efforts to target U.S. personnel" abroad, with plots to kill Americans reaching "advanced stages," Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton warned in a memo to Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday, CBS News reported. Brent crude closed at $116.72 a barrel the same day, its highest settlement since April 29, as investors increasingly expect the U.S. to resume strikes on Iran, CNBC reported. At home, the Justice Department sued to block certification of Alaska's Senate race if Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan loses, and President Trump told reporters, "Well, I'm the one that said, 'do it,'" according to CBS News. The White House is also lifting some 50% tariffs on Canadian goods after Maine Sen. Susan Collins said she had lobbied for the change, the BBC reported.

Iran: a memo and a rally line. The memo "does not identify specific targets or countries where the alleged plots are underway, or indicate whether attacks may be imminent," CBS reported. A U.S. official confirmed its authenticity, and Axios first reported it, according to NBC News. "The threat of Houthi attacks and of Iranian terror plots targeting U.S. officials are informing our decisions on staffing adjustments for embassies on RO [Restricted Operations] Status in the region," a U.S. official told CBS News on Friday. The State Department ordered a further reduction in staff at posts including Lebanon, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan, according to a State Department official cited by NBC, and the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia is under "ordered departure," according to NBC.

"We may do another little Epic Fury," Trump told a rally in Florida on Friday, referring to the U.S. name for the initial wave of strikes, NBC reported. Options presented to him include strikes on the tunnels or entrances of Iran's nuclear facilities and on strategic islands, including Kharg Island and Qeshm, according to a U.S. official and a former U.S. official cited by NBC. "We don't care about U.S. midterm elections," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, according to NBC.

From the right, Fox News, which also obtained the memo, quoted it: "The lethal plotting efforts by the Iranians against U.S. citizens have reached advanced stages in both the Middle East and certain other countries." Fox reported that the State Department clarified the departure order applies only to Saudi Arabia, and that State Department spokesperson Tommy Pigott said claims of a potential broader regional shutdown were "inaccurate."

Markets: oil up, yields under 5%. U.S. West Texas Intermediate added 3.8% to settle at $103.27, and Brent gained 6.2% for the week, its third straight weekly gain, CNBC reported. The 10-year Treasury yield rose 5 basis points Friday to 4.999%, after falling below 5% on Thursday for the first time in a month, according to CNBC. The Fed meets next week and markets expect no change from 3.75% to 4.00%, but are pricing in a roughly 71% chance of a quarter-point hike in December, according to the CME Group FedWatch tool cited by CNBC.

American Express is cutting 5% of its global workforce and taking a $336 million restructuring charge, CEO Stephen Squeri said Friday, CNBC reported. CFO Christophe Le Caillec told CNBC the aim was to make the company "leaner, more agile, and also to prepare for AI." Adjusted earnings were $4.68 a share against a $4.48 estimate, according to LSEG via CNBC.

Elections: Alaska and California. The suit targets a loss to Democrat Mary Peltola. The government alleges another candidate on the ballot, teacher Daniel J. Sullivan, deliberately sought to confuse voters by running with the same ballot name and party affiliation, CBS reported. His lawyers argued that the state had no power to look into his "private motivations," according to CBS. The Alaska Supreme Court ruled in June that he could stay on the ballot, according to CBS. Peltola campaign spokesperson Harry Child called the suit "a despicable political threat to overturn an election," and Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski said the department "should never have filed this lawsuit," CBS reported. "The legal claim is so absurdly thin, there's essentially no likelihood of success," Notre Dame law professor Derek Mueller wrote, the Guardian reported.

In California, federal prosecutors sent letters Friday demanding that counties set aside and verify ballots the Justice Department says may belong to noncitizens, according to the Los Angeles County registrar and a letter obtained by the Associated Press, the AP reported in a story published by the Guardian. NBC News reported the department sent letters Friday to 57 of the state's 58 counties; at least 18 counties have received similar letters, according to the LA County registrar's office, the AP reported. The San Bernardino County letter lists 1,133 names and asks for a commitment within 48 hours, NBC reported. "Trump's DOJ has not provided any evidence for their claims of massive voter fraud," Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said, according to NBC.

From the right, Fox News reported the Ninth Circuit ordered California to respond by noon Saturday to the Justice Department's emergency request on roughly 20,000 mail-in ballots. "This is an emergency," the department's filing said, according to Fox.

Trade: Canada relief, with new tariffs. From Oct. 30, tariffs will ease on products including "plywood sheets, some paper products, certain machinery and refrigeration equipment," the White House said, according to the BBC; new tariffs will apply to items such as carpets and "waste products." Collins said the exemptions cover products "crucial to Maine's agricultural industries, including blueberry, potato, apple, and seaweed producers," NBC News reported. Her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, said Collins "now wants credit for bringing a cup of water to put out the fire," according to NBC. The White House announcement made no mention of Collins, NBC reported.

World. Gunmen opened fire during a funeral at a Greek Orthodox church in Karak, Jordan, on Friday, killing seven people and wounding 40, authorities said, the Associated Press reported in a story published by NPR. A government statement said the attack was "carried out by unknown assailants," and Jordan declared three days of national mourning, according to the kingdom's Petra News Agency, the AP reported.

A gunman shooting from his car killed one person and wounded five, including a 12-year-old girl, in the Paris suburb of Trappes on Friday, CBS News reported, citing Trappes Mayor Ali Rabeh for the number wounded. President Emmanuel Macron called it "a racist terror attack," according to CBS. Prosecutors opened an investigation for "murder in connection with a terrorist enterprise," and the suspect was arrested in nearby Coignieres, CBS reported.

First lady Melania Trump's office said she secured a temporary ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine for the Russian-occupied city of Oleshky, to begin Oct. 29, CBS News reported. Russia and Ukraine have not commented on the announcement, according to CBS.

Kenya recorded its second Ebola death, a 65-year-old woman who was a close family member of the first victim, the health ministry said, the BBC reported. The ministry said all cases are within "one cluster, with no evidence of community spread," according to the BBC.

A fire engulfed Hitler's Eagle's Nest retreat in Bavaria on Friday night and one person was taken into custody, German police said, CBS News reported. No injuries were reported, and the cause is under criminal investigation, according to CBS.

Typhoon Champi killed one person and injured 527 in Taiwan, Taiwan's fire department said, as the storm headed north toward the Chinese coast, Reuters reported in a story published by the Guardian.

Health and culture. The CDC found the U.S. general fertility rate fell 1% to a new record low in 2025, NPR reported. The birth rate for women 20 to 24 fell 6%, CDC demographer Brady Hamilton said, while it rose for women 30 to 45, according to NPR.

Moderna and Merck's personalized vaccine, given with Keytruda, cut the risk of melanoma recurrence or death by 42% versus Keytruda alone in a phase 3 trial of roughly 1,100 patients, CNBC reported. Moderna CEO Stéphane Bancel said the company aims for full approval next year, according to CNBC.

Irish traditional musician Dónal Lunny, who played in Planxty, has died at 79, the Press Association reported in a story published by the Guardian.

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