Oct 30, 2026 · 7 min listen · Last updated October 30, 2026
From storyflo. This is your daily audio brief. It's Jessica. October 30th. The news desk — ten stories, here's the one that opens it. Let's get into it. First, from Channel News Asia. Trump cancels weekend rallies, plans to phone in to other midterm campaign events.
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Trump cancels weekend rallies, plans to phone in to other midterm campaign events
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland: US President Donald Trump on Thursday (Oct 29) cancelled planned weekend campaign stops in Kansas and Iowa, and his allies said he would instead phone in to rallies nationwide after four weeks of travel to boost Republicans' election chances. Trump told reporters he did not "feel like I have to go to Kansas," a Midwestern state where Senator Roger Marshall, a fellow Republican, is in an unexpectedly competitive race with Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. "He is doing very well," Trump said of Marshall.
Trump cancels weekend rallies, plans to phone in to other midterm campaign events
US President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled planned weekend campaign stops in Kansas and Iowa, and his allies said he would instead phone in to rallies nationwide after four weeks of travel to boost Republicans' election chances. Trump told reporters he did not "feel like I have to go to Kansas," a Midwestern state where Senator Roger Marshall, a fellow Republican, is in an unexpectedly competitive race with Democratic challenger Adam Hamilton. "He is doing very well," Trump said of Marshall.
Trump cancels weekend rallies, plans to phone in to other midterm campaign events
JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Maryland, Oct 29 - US President Donald Trump on Thursday canceled planned weekend campaign stops in Kansas and Iowa, and his allies said he would instead phone in to rallies nationwide after four weeks of travel to boost Republicans' election chances.
‘Star Trek’ and ‘X-Men’ icon Patrick Stewart dies at 86: ‘We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today’
Patrick Stewart, the classically trained actor who added Shakespearean gravitas to the “Star Trek” and “X-Men” franchises, has died. He was 86. Stewart died Wednesday in Los Angeles, following “a brief and poignant journey” with Alzheimer’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia, spokesperson Kelly Bush Novak said. Stewart’s diagnoses had not been previously disclosed. “We lost one of the greats of stage and screen today,” Hugh Jackman, a frequent Stewart co-star in the “X-Men” universe, said on social media. “And, in my book, a tremendous friend and man. I learned so much from him.
Patrick Stewart, “Star Trek” and “X-Men” star, dies at 86
“He has been held in the warm embrace of family and friends, surrounded by live music, prayer, tears, laughter and the kind of profound emotion that only he could inspire after a lifetime of devotion to us all,” Bush Novak wrote. “We will forever cherish the peaceful ease and reflection on his face, an enduring reminder of his invincible grace.” Stewart’s distinctive baritone voice and striking bald head made him one of the most familiar actors to American audiences, but until the late 1980s, he was virtually unknown in the U.S. Before his casting as Capt.
Canada’s new national security plan is to “produce a plan”
Canada’s first national security strategy in more than 20 years promises plans across five policy areas while leaving unanswered questions about the threats Canadians face and the powers Ottawa intends to expand. The Plan for a Stronger Canada, released Thursday, repeatedly states that the government “will produce a plan” covering economic security, foreign policy, defence, public safety, and intelligence. The strategy establishes a broad set of priorities, but many of the operational details are missing.
The governor of Alaska has requested an investigation into Mary Peltola's Senate campaign, as The New York Times reports that people aligned with her campaign were involved in recruiting candidate Daniel J. Sullivan Jr., who shares a name with the Republican incumbent. James Brooks, a state reporter for the Alaska Beacon, joins CBS News, and CBS News' Weijia Jiang reports on the midterms.
Canada’s new national security strategy puts tech front and centre
So, Canada just dropped its first national security strategy in over twenty years, and get this – technology is basically the star of the show. They're talking about "true sovereignty," which sounds pretty big, and the Prime Minister himself is saying that Canada's tech strengths are going to be the foundation for everything.
They're actually putting emerging tech, like AI and quantum computing, at the very top of a list of eight critical sectors they want to build up. This is all about making sure Canada can stand on its own two feet, especially with all the global stuff going on, like rivalries and pandemics. They're also looking at things like critical minerals, defense, energy, and even food security.
The plan is to build these capabilities right here in Canada as much as possible, and when they can't, they'll team up with trusted allies. They've got a bunch of policy points coming, some of which are already out there, like buying Canadian and improving how they get defense stuff. The big goal is to make Canada a major player in advanced tech, especially AI and space.
They're also beefing up their intelligence agencies and want to do more with the Five Eyes intelligence partnership. This means updating their laws to deal with new threats, getting better at spotting foreign manipulation, and using tech like AI to process intelligence more effectively.
Now, some folks in the tech industry are saying it's great they're focusing on these areas, but they're a little worried about the details. Specifically, who's going to own the intellectual property for all this new tech. They're pointing out that if the IP is owned elsewhere, Canada might not actually be any more independent. It's a valid point, right? They also announced a pretty significant investment in a Canadian AI company called Cohere, with the PM saying they're choosing to grow Canada's tech future, not someone else's.
'Star Trek' and 'X-Men' star, Patrick Stewart, dies
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