9-14-25
From the desk of Rich Stephens
News for the week ending October 5, 2025
Below find the expanded text from tonight’s broadcast. For corrections or additions, contact Rich directly.
World News
Peace in Gaza, maybe.
Monday President Trump met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss an end to the war in Gaza. They announced that Israel has agreed to a framework to end the war. The 20 point plan proposed by President Trump includes a cease fire, return of hostages and disarming of Gaza. Saturday Trump indicated that Hamas had responded, that Israel has ceased offensive military operations and that Hamas must move quickly to prevent a resumption of aggression.
Trump Netanyahu Joint Press Conference
Current Events
Des Moines School District
In US immigration news, we have a pair of ongoing stories. The Des Moines Iowa school board met Tuesday to discuss district superintendent Ian Roberts. They stated that Roberts had provided a driver license and social security card at the time of his hiring. DHS published additional details Friday saying that Roberts was charged in 1996 for possession of narcotics with intent to sell, possession of a forgery instrument and of a forged instrument in New York. He also had a 2012 reckless driving, unsafe operation and speeding conviction in Maryland and weapons charges in 2020 and 2022. He was issued a final order of removal in May of 2024. Detained by Ice last week, Iowa revoked his educators license and DHS informed the school district that he is not authorized to work in the US. The school board voted 7-0 to accept his resignation.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia
Kilmar Abrego Garcia received a pair of rulings this week as well. One court denied his request to reopen his asylum request, upholding his deportation. Another court ruled that there is a likelihood that his federal prosecution is vindictive in nature. We will bring you updates to this case as they are available.
Court Ruling on Federal Prosecution
Michigan Church Shooting and Burning
Last Sunday morning a man drove his truck through the doors of an LDS church in Grand Blanc Michigan and began shooting before setting the building on fire. Four people lost their lives and eight more were wounded. Local law enforcement neutralized the shooter within minutes but the ATF and FBI are both continuing to investigate this crime.
Bronx Building Collapse
Monday morning a gas explosion at a residential high rise in the Bronx caused a partial collapse of the building. The ventilation shaft for the boiler in the building was destroyed along the full height of the building, but no injuries have been reported.
Politics
Eric Adams Drops out of Mayoral Race
In Politics, incumbent New York City Mayor Eric Adams announced that he will not remain in the race to remain Mayor. The field is now narrowed to Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa, Democratic candidate Zohran Mandani and former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
TrumpRx Pfizer Deal
Tuesday President trump announced an agreement with Pfizer to bring American drug prices into alignment with the lowest amount paid by other developed countries. Pfizer has also agreed to participate in a direct-to-consumer website where patients can purchase medication at steep discounts. The website trump rx dot com will launch in early 2026.
White House Fact Sheet on Pfizer deal
Hegseth on Military Standards
War Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke Tuesday morning to a group of generals and staff in Quantico Virginia. The military leadership was gathered from around the world over the last week for this meeting and Secretary Hegseth spoke about ending DEI and improving standards, saying they must be “uniform, gender neutral and high”. He spoke about fitness standards and grooming standards saying that all soldiers will be required to pass PT tests twice a year and to shave every day. His overall goal is to form a “cohesive, formidable and lethal department of war” saying that is his duty, consistent with his constitutional oath.
Federal Government Shutdown
Legislators in Washington failed to pass a spending bill Tuesday, triggering a shutdown of the federal government, effective at midnight. Wednesday both Republican and Democratic representatives held press conferences throughout the day to blame the other side. By Wednesday afternoon they were swapping AI videos of each other. House Speaker Mike Johnson indicated that the house will not hold additional votes next week, instead waiting on the Senate to pass the House funding bill.
I get that my sources for this story are thin, but there are hours of press conferences where Mike Johnson, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer and others are standing up, asserting that their story is fact, their side is right and the other side is to blame. Attempting to unpack that will wade much too far into my opinions, so I’m stopping with the jokes they’re telling.
Trump One Dollar Coin
The treasury department announced this week that when the government reopens they intend to mint a 250th American Birthday, one dollar coin featuring President Donald Trump.
Markets
Markets rose this week, with the Dow closing up about 1% at 47059. Nasdaq had similar gains, ending the week at 22780 and the S&P closed at 6715. Gold continued to rise, gaining 127 dollars and closing at 3887. For context, The Dow is up about 3% from the first Friday in September while gold is up nearly 9%.
Sports
Formula 1
This week’s Formula 1 race is in Singapore and will feature the Mercedes of George Russel starting from pole, followed by Max Verstappen, Oscar Piastri, Kimi Antonelli and Lando Norris in fifth. The Williams pair who qualified 12th and 13th, were disqualified for a violation of technical regulations and will start in the rear. Spoiler Alert: Russel won, Verstappen finished second, followed by Norris, Piastri and Antonelli.
MLB Playoffs
The first round of the MLB postseason wrapped up earlier this week with LA sweeping Cincinnati, Detroit ousting Cleveland, the Cubs getting past the Padres and the New York Yankees defeating Boston after their bullpen collapsed in a game 1 loss. The Yankees traveled to Toronto and one again dropped game 1, giving up ten runs and only plating one. Similarly the Brewers recorded nine runs in their win over the cubs and the Dodgers managed a comeback win over the Phillies. The Tigers needed eleven innings to take their game 1 matchup against the Mariners.
NCAA Football
In college football, number 3 Miami beat in-state rival FSU twenty eight to twenty two. Alabama handed Vanderbilt their first loss of the year in a thirty to fourteen game. Number Seven Penn State fell to three and two in their thirty seven to fourth two loss to unranked UCLA, and the unranked Florida Gators head coach and play caller Billy Napier proved once again that he has no idea how the game clock works but his team managed to beat number nine Texas in a twenty nine to twenty one game.
Rich Stephens
The Cold Take