October 24—The Republican House delegation is meeting again this morning to attempt to find a viable Speaker candidate. The hardball tactics of the party's extreme right wing have rendered the chamber ungovernable since October 3.

October 24—The Biden administration has announced grants of up to $75 million each to 31 regional tech hubs chosen from 370 applicants. The measure is intended to grow such coming technologies as critical minerals, biotech, AI and quantum computing while distributing the nation's tech industry outward from Silicon Valley, Cambridge, Massachusetts and the few other regions with major tech centers, increasing U.S. competitiveness and growing well paying employment.

October 24—Kentuckians will go to the polls this November to decide whether to keep incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear in office or opt for the state's current attorney general, Republican Daniel Cameron. Beshear's local focus and family name (his father was a former Kentucky governor) have contributed to his survival in a red-leaning state; and the race, and a debate on October 16 featuring sharp exchanges on Kentucky's restrictive abortion law, have been closely watched for signs about where the electorate may be heading in 2024

October 24—The UAW's seven-week strike against the big automakers has expanded to 28% of the major manufacturers' workforce, with 6,800 members shutting down Stellantis's Ram pickup factory in Sterling Heights, Michigan. As talks make progress with Chevrolet and Ford, some informed observers question whether it's time for UAW chief Shawn Fane, whose blunt demands are wringing sizable concessions from management, to make a deal.

October 23—Israel has intensified airstrikes on Gaza in preparation for an impending ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave in response to Hamas' October 7 attacks on Israel.

October 20—The Social Democrat has long advocated for police review boards with independent investigatory powers, including the authority to subpoena witnesses, it being axiomatic, and proven in practice, that police forces cannot adequately investigate themselves ("Terry v. Ohio, Stop and Frisk, and the Making of the American Police State" on this site). Now a bill before Maryland's Prince George's County Council proposes to do just that.

October 20—One day after Trump lawyer Sidney Powell accepted a plea deal in Georgia's election racketeering case against former president Donald Trump a second Trump attorney, Kenneth Chesebro, has pleaded out. Both lawyers have received small fines, probation and community service in exchange for cooperation with Fulton County DA Fani Willis's prosecution of the Donald for his efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. 

Oct 20—After failing on a third ballot, House Republicans have withdrawn their nomination of far-right Trumpist and election denier Jim Jordan for Speaker of the House. Former speaker Kevin McCarthy says he and his fellow Republicans will "go back to the drawing board" while congressional business remains at a standstill. Twenty-five moderate Republicans joined all 212 House Democrats to block Jordan's election.

Oct 20—President Biden has proposed legislation to provide significant new funding for national security measures, chief among them military and humanitarian aid for Ukraine and Israel, increased staffing of border agents and asylum teams, and joint security initiatives with Indo-Pacific allies. Senate hearings on the measure are scheduled for October 31.

October 18—Jim Jordan has failed in a second attempt to win election as Speaker of the House, with 22 moderate Republicans joining all House democrats in defeating the far-right, election-denier and Trump supporter's leadership bid. With the House unable to transact business without a speaker, a bipartisan group is exploring giving further authority to current interim leader Patrick McHenry.

October 18—The Biden administration has for the first time delivered long-range missiles to Ukraine, and they are being deployed to good effect against Russia's invading forces. The Social Democrat strongly supports U.S. and EU efforts to aid Ukraine in defense of their sovereignty, international law and democracy.

October 16—The Biden administration has made awards totaling seven billions dollars for projects across the country designed to foster regional "hydrogen hubs," creating infrastructure to link hydrogen producers with consumers. The Biden administration sees hydrogen as one of several strategies for reducing the nation's reliance on planet-warming carbon fuels.

October 16—Workers at several Waffle House locations across the Southeast have walked out in support of a petition calling for a $25 minimum wage at the chain and the end to automatic meal deductions. Wages for many Waffle House workers are sub-minimum, supplemented by tips, while the net worth of Waffle House owners is in the billions.

October 16—In a major win for social democracy in Europe, a coalition headed by former EU president Donald Tusk has won Poland's parliamentary elections with an unprecedented 74% of voters participating, ending eight years of nationalist, right-wing rule by the Law and Justice Party. It is anticipated that Tusk's coalition, which along with Tusk's Civic Coalition Party includes the Third Way and New Left groups, will steer Poland back toward the mainstream of European social democracy and end recent backsliding in the realm of democratic governance.

October 16—Republican Jeff Landry gathered more than half of votes cast among a crowded field in the first round of Louisiana's two-stage governor's race on Saturday, avoiding a run-off to replace Democrat John Bel Edwards, who was term-limited out of office. A staunch defender of the fossil fuel industry and a 2020 election denier, Landry campaigned on a get-tough message on crime in a state with the second highest murder rate in the nation and against transition care for transgender minors.