Morning, Kitties. Russia has nearly 200 people under observation after a laboratory worker died following a suspected plague infection, the Supreme Court is opening a term packed with cases that could reshape presidential power, immigration, climate litigation, and civil rights, and researchers are warning that AI does not need to become sentient or evil to help humans stumble into nuclear war. Meanwhile, a woman has filed a civil lawsuit accusing Trump of raping her in 1997 with Jeffrey Epstein allegedly present, Paolo Zampolli faces a separate rape allegation he denies, American bombers have left a British base, and Brazil is reportedly investigating warnings of possible foreign interference. Happy Monday. Apparently the Four Horsemen have switched to fucking shift work.
The Fascist Chaos Highlights
Nearly 200 People Under Observation After Russian Lab Worker Dies
A laboratory worker in Russia’s Irkutsk region died following a suspected plague infection, prompting authorities to place nearly 200 contacts under medical observation. Russian officials have offered conflicting descriptions of the illness, making transparency and independent verification particularly important.
Supreme Court Opens a Consequential New Term
The Supreme Court begins a new term with major disputes involving immigration, executive authority, climate litigation, and other questions that could significantly expand or restrain federal power. With the midterms approaching, the judicial branch is once again sitting directly in the middle of America’s political earthquake.
Trump’s TIME Interview Reveals an Unapologetic President
Anthony Davis examines Trump’s lengthy TIME interview, in which the president defended his approach to Iran, rejected stronger AI regulation, attacked political opponents, and discussed using government power against Democrats if they win the House. The interview offers voters a useful opportunity to evaluate Trump’s intentions in his own words.
Brazilian Officials Reportedly Warn of Possible U.S. Interference
PayDay Report republishes Brazilian reporting claiming Federal Police and intelligence officials are concerned about a possible psychological operation surrounding Brazil’s political environment after U.S. diplomatic facilities suspended in person services. These are extraordinary allegations that require substantial independent corroboration before conclusions about an actual coup operation can be drawn.
AI Does Not Need to Be Evil to Help Start a Nuclear War
The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists warns that today’s AI could increase nuclear risk by accelerating escalation, overwhelming decision makers with information, reinforcing mistaken assumptions, and amplifying human cognitive weaknesses. The terrifying part is that Skynet does not need to become conscious when ordinary humans already come equipped with panic, ego, confirmation bias, and nuclear weapons.
Twenty Five Years Later, We Still Have Not Fixed the Problem
Nightfire looks backward at decades of technological and security warnings and asks why familiar vulnerabilities continue resurfacing despite enormous advances in computing. Technology changes remarkably fast while institutional memory apparently continues operating on fucking dial up.
Woman Files Civil Lawsuit Accusing Trump of Rape With Epstein Present
A woman representing herself has filed a Palm Beach County civil complaint alleging that Donald Trump raped her in a Florida hotel in 1997 while Jeffrey Epstein was present and seeks $1.3 million in damages. The allegations have not been adjudicated, the case has encountered an administrative filing issue, and no response from Trump had been filed when the story was published.
Trump Associate Zampolli Faces New Sexual Assault Allegation
The PunchUp examines the allegations against Zampolli and his long standing connections to Trump, the modeling world, and the administration. The allegation remains contested and unresolved, but Zampolli’s government role and political connections make the litigation a significant public interest story.
U.S. Bombers Leave British Base
U.S. European Command confirmed that American bombers deployed to RAF Fairford have returned to their home bases in the United States following the latest deployment. Military movements should be interpreted cautiously because redeployment alone does not establish the reason or signal a particular change in broader strategy.
Senators Have a Very Bad Day Questioning Jack Smith
David Lat examines a Senate hearing in which Eric Schmitt attempted to challenge former special counsel Jack Smith but confused an Iowa Hawkeyes basketball game with the Atlanta Hawks, undermining the accusation he was trying to make. Katie Britt’s reaction sitting beside him quickly became the facial expression of everyone watching American politics before coffee.
New Mexico Candidate Changes His Tone on ICE Enforcement
Republican congressional candidate Greg Cunningham now says ICE enforcement should focus on criminals, cartels, and gangs rather than families following legal processes, after previously describing some people swept up in enforcement as collateral damage. Campaign season has once again discovered the extraordinary political technology known as voters remembering what you fucking said.
Russia May Be Hiding a New Drone Network Inside Ukraine
Reports and expert analysis are raising the possibility that Russia is using small hidden signal repeaters to create mesh networks that could help drones resist electronic jamming and navigate more effectively inside Ukraine. The concept is plausible and potentially significant, but the existence and scale of any deployed network still require careful verification.
Closing RK Thoughts
Today’s news reads like somebody asked an AI to generate every anxiety humanity has accumulated since 1945 and forgot to specify that it was supposed to be fiction.
Plague.
Nuclear weapons.
Artificial intelligence.
Russia.
Bombers.
Political interference.
Sexual assault allegations.
The Supreme Court.
And somewhere in the middle of all of it, a United States senator reportedly confused the Iowa Hawkeyes with the Atlanta Hawks while trying to establish where Jack Smith had been.
That last story might actually contain today’s lesson.
Powerful institutions make catastrophic mistakes when people become more committed to their preferred story than to checking whether the facts underneath it are actually true.
That applies to senators.
It applies to governments.
It applies to intelligence agencies.
And it absolutely applies to machines being invited into decisions involving nuclear fucking weapons.
Verify first. Slow down. Read primary documents. Protect survivors. Question extraordinary claims. Keep the receipts.
Claws out. Elbows up. Rage ready.
Featured Resisters and Resources
- Labor Notes is an organization focused on worker rights and economic justice. Its work includes labor reporting and organizing education for union activists.
- Jobs With Justice is an organization focused on worker rights and economic justice. Its work includes coalitions connecting labor, community, student, and faith organizers.
What We Are Watching Today
- 6:41 AM MDT
Secy. Rubio Remarks to Reporters as He Departs for Iceland - 7:26 AM MDT
NYC Mayor Mamdani Makes a Childcare Announcement - 8:08 AM MDT
Justices Hear Climate Lawsuit Case - 8:45 AM MDT
Secys. Kennedy and Sonderling, CMS Admin. Oz on Healthcare Price Transparency Live - 8:57 AM MDT
Vice Pres. JD Vance Delivers Remarks Amid Travels to Alaska - 9:56 AM MDT
Supreme Court Hears Case on Veterans’ Benefits & Judicial Review Live - 1:30 PM MDT
Gov. Candidate John James (R-MI) Campaigns with Gov. Tate Reeves (R-MS) - 2:00 PM MDT
U.S. Senate - 2:30 PM MDT
U.S. House of Representatives - 3:30 PM MDT
U.S. House Candidate Jamie Ager (D-NC) Attends Meet and Greet - 4:30 PM MDT
Gov. Candidate Vivek Ramaswamy (R-OH) & U.S. House Candidate Derek Merrin (R-OH) Attend Rally - 5:00 PM MDT
President Trump Holds Campaign Rally with GOP Candidates in Grand Island, NE - 8:00 PM MDT
Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) & Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) Hold Midterm Rally for California Democrats - 8:00 PM MDT
Vice President Vance Campaigns for GOP Candidates in Alaska
Today’s Call to Action
1. Read Today’s Resistance Survival Guides
2. Sign these Petitions and Send These Pre Written Letters
- Protect Voting Rights of US Citizens Living Abroad
- Tell Congress: Don’t let Trump hand AI oversight to Big Tech
- Tell DHS: Don’t Let ICE Interfere with Voting. Commit Today.
3. Verify your voter registration status and help at least one other person check theirs
4. Save contact information for local legal aid and voting support organizations
5. Attend a Virtual Event
- Tesla Takedown, October 10: Join a peaceful protest against billionaire influence. Events are listed in California, Massachusetts, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland. Check your location’s time. Action Network
- People’s Tribunal on Gaza, October 10: Attend in Seattle or watch the livestream examining alleged US government complicity in Gaza. WILPF US
- Global Day of Action for Palestine, October 10: Participate in the international mobilization. Check local organizers for confirmed locations and times. middleeastmonitor.com
- MoveOn Monthly Phone Bank
Monday, October 5, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m. Eastern, 4 to 6 p.m. Mountain. Join MoveOn members nationwide for a virtual advocacy phone bank. 50501 Missouri - What Activists Can Do to Fix Media Now
Monday, October 5, 2026, from 7 to 8 p.m. Eastern, 5 to 6 p.m. Mountain. Join the Media and Democracy Project to learn how media shapes public opinion and take action on a current information issue. 50501 Missouri - How to Have Successful Volunteer Recruitment Conversations
Tuesday, October 6, 2026, from 1 to 2 p.m. Eastern, 11 a.m. to noon Mountain. This free virtual training from the National Democratic Training Committee helps you turn conversations into volunteer commitments. mobilize.us
6. Contact Your Lawmakers Directly
- Protect workers: “I’m [NAME], a constituent in [ZIP]. Please protect union organizing, workplace safety and enforcement against wage theft. What action will your office take?”
- Defend civil rights: “I’m [NAME] from [ZIP]. Please defend equal opportunity and oppose efforts to weaken protections against discrimination. I want a written response.”
- Demand corporate accountability: “I’m [NAME] from [ZIP]. Please strengthen consumer protections and corporate political spending transparency. What specific action will you support?”
- Impeach Trump: “I’m [NAME], a constituent in [ZIP]. I urge the House to investigate grounds for impeaching Donald Trump and pursue articles of impeachment based on the evidence. Please provide a written response.”
- Impeach Pete Hegseth: “I’m [NAME], a constituent in [ZIP]. I urge the House to investigate grounds for impeaching Pete Hegseth and pursue articles of impeachment based on the evidence. Please provide a written response.”
7. Who Are We Boycotting This Week?
- Amazon: Skip Amazon purchases, Whole Foods shopping and paid subscriptions such as Prime and Audible.
- Target: Take your shopping dollars to independent retailers.
- Walmart: Buy essentials from locally owned stores when possible.
- Home Depot: Support independent hardware stores.
- Starbucks: Choose a neighborhood café.
- CBS: Avoid paid services that financially support CBS.
Keep your money in your community, kitties. Shop local, buy secondhand, borrow what you can and skip unnecessary purchases. These are ongoing boycotts, with no separate action confirmed specifically for this week.
