(1) Trump names a new press secretary, Katie Zacharia:

Zacharia, a former Department of Homeland Security spokesperson and mom-of-four who left the agency in March, was appointed Friday to take over the high-profile role.

“It is my Great Honor to have just appointed, as Press Secretary, Katie Zacharia. Katie currently serves as Senior Communications Advisor to Truth Social (Trump Media & Technology Group), where she has been outstanding!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Zacharia, 41, currently serves as the Senior Communications Advisor for Trump Media & Technology Group, Trump’s Truth Social platform, a role she’s had since June, according to her LinkedIn profile.

(2) After many months free of the “too many requests” bug, this blog succumbed yesterday for a short while. I don’t know why it happened. But for a day or two prior I had noticed an increased number of attacks on the blog. I have all sorts of blocks in place that prevent successful attacks, but sheer numbers can sometimes close the site down for a little while, I guess. Who knows? Hope it doesn’t happen again.

(3) Trump makes a deal:

President Trump announced Russia has agreed to provide the world with millions of tons of diesel fuel over the next several months in a bid to decrease skyrocketing global prices.

In a Truth Social post, the president said he had just gotten off the phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who had agreed to release 300,000 tons of diesel immediately. He said another 500,000 tons of diesel would be released in November, followed by 1 million tons in December. …

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy blasted the deal in a social media post, saying any easing of sanctions against Russia is a “weakness.”

(4) On refineries:

Why are we importing ANY petroleum products?

BUILD MORE DIESEL REFINERIES AND ?? SHIPS TO MOVE IT

This is a military priority. If Cali and Mass refuse then build DoW refineries on federal land.

If Delta Airlines can own and run a refinery then the USAF can too. https://t.co/d7PkeWbRiF

— John ? Konrad V (@johnkonrad) October 10, 2026

Makes sense to me.

(5) A major earthquake struck Panama, but fortunately the epicenter was in a mostly umpopulated area, although the quake was definitely felt in Panama City.

(6) I freely admit I don’t understand the backlash against Republicans predicted for the midterms. It’s not that the GOP is perfect, nor is Trump, but their accomplishments compared to the Democrats are stark and obvious.