Oct 14, 2026 · 7 min listen · Last updated October 14, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. Jessica, October 14th. The day in ten — let's begin with the story drawing the most coverage. Let's get into it. First, from Abortion, Every Day. Trump’s New Press Secretary Supports Death Penalty for Abortion Patients.
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The Day's Top 10 Stories · October 14th
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Trump’s New Press Secretary Supports Death Penalty for Abortion Patients
The Trump administration has taken on its first open abortion “abolitionist.” Buckle up. Up until this year, new White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia sat on the advisory board of an organization that calls for women who have abortions to be executed “in the public square,” and for pro-choice Americans to lose their right to hold public office. The White Rose Resistance (WRR), where Zacharia sat on the board until February, is best known for its anti-abortion disinformation, harassment campaigns against providers, and for collecting the country’s worst extremists.
The Vatican says surgery to remove a nodule from Pope Leo’s lung was successful. The 71-year-old leader of the Catholic Church was found to have what is the most common form of lung cancer. NBC News’ Anne Thompson reports.
Trump’s New Press Secretary Flops During First Briefing
Scott Galloway and Jessica Tarlov start with a check in on the election map, just a few weeks out from the midterms. Can Democrats trust the polling leads they currently see in the Senate races in Maine, Michigan, and Texas? Trump is doubling down on his decision to temporarily lift sanctions on Russian diesel, despite pushback from Republicans and European allies. The plan has Russia supplying around 300,000 tons of diesel immediately, with increasingly larger amounts to follow — but the total proposed over six months would cover just about 9 days of U.S. diesel consumption.
Trump's new press secretary is unprepared for the public-speaking part of the job
Katie Zacharia appears to struggle as she tries to fill the brimstone-reeking shoes of her predecessor. Unable to even read a prepared statement clearly, Trump's new mouthpiece doesn't seem to have the spite, anger, or public-speaking ability the job requires. Her first briefi…
Ex-gang leader sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for Tupac Shakur murder
Duane “Keffe D” Davis, 63, found guilty of first-degree murder in August, received the sentence during a hearing in a Las Vegas courtroom. In tearful testimony before Judge Carli Kierny, Shakur’s younger sister Sekyiwa Shakur said their mother had raised him to be a human rights activist and treated him as if he had the potential to change the world. “He believed her,” said Sekyiwa Shakur, wearing a black shirt. “He went out in the world to do that.
Cornell suspends frat parties after gang rape case
Cornell University has decided to suspend all fraternity parties until the end of the academic year in response to a gang rape case that occurred in 2024 involving the Chi Phi fraternity. This move aims to address the backlash over how the university handled the allegations, which included claims of a woman being drugged and assaulted by multiple fraternity members.
University President Michael Kotlikoff announced a new "zero tolerance" policy for violations, which could lead to immediate suspensions of fraternity chapters. As part of these changes, Cornell plans to engage students and faculty in discussions about creating safer social alternatives to traditional Greek life and will invest in support initiatives for victims of sexual misconduct.
Additionally, a case manager will be added to the Office of Civil Rights to assist those reporting sexual misconduct. The university will also collaborate with New York State Police for an independent investigation into the allegations, which were previously handled by campus police but did not result in criminal charges. The case is now under review by New York Attorney General Letitia James, following widespread criticism of the initial decision not to prosecute.
Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery earlier this week, which led to a diagnosis of lung cancer on Tuesday. At a recent health checkup, doctors had discovered a small nodule in the 71-year-old pontiff’s lung, known as adenocarcinoma. It is a common form of non-small-cell lung cancer and was removed by cutting it out. The Vatican also released a statement saying the lower lobe of the pope’s right lung was removed, but that he experienced no complications from the procedure and returned to his room. It is the first significant medical procedure of the pope’s tenure.
Cornell suspends frat parties after alleged gang rape
The university said the suspension would allow a review of fraternity life, after protests demanded accountability and better protection for survivors. NEW YORK: Cornell University on Tuesday (Oct 13) suspended fraternities' parties and social events for the remaining academic year following outcry over an alleged gang rape at one of the elite college's all-male clubs. The 2024 incident, as alleged in a graphic lawsuit filed last month, has drawn accusations that the Ivy League institution in New York state failed to properly punish the men involved.
Character.AI Files for Bankruptcy as Disney Bids $20 Million—And Users Get Grief Resources
So, Character.AI, that place where folks spend hours chatting with AI versions of heroes and partners, has filed for bankruptcy. They're looking for a buyer to keep the service going, but if no one steps up, it'll be shut down. Disney's already made an opening bid of $20 million for a license to some of their tech, which is interesting since Disney just hired their CEO as their new CTO.
This whole situation comes after a rough patch for the company, dealing with lawsuits over AI companions and emotional attachments, and even a cease-and-desist from Disney itself over character imitation. They were also burning through cash pretty fast, losing about $8-9 million a month.
It’s a bit of a somber note, especially since they just launched new chat models and a cheaper subscription two weeks ago. They're pointing users towards mental health resources, acknowledging that for some, these AI companions are more than just entertainment. The app is still up for now, but the future is uncertain.
Ex-gang leader sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for Tupac Shakur murder
Duane "Keffe D" Davis, 63, found guilty of first-degree murder in August, received the penalty during a hearing in a Las Vegas courtroom. Until Davis' 2023 arrest, the killing of Shakur, shot dead in the passenger seat of an SUV driven by his record executive, Marion "Suge" Knight, had stood for nearly three decades as one of America's most notorious cold cases.