Judge to Appoint Special Master in CA Voting Case

The federal district judge overseeing the Justice Department's lawsuit asking California to segregate roughly 20,000 ballot belonging to individuals it claims are "likely" noncitizens appeared skeptical of the DOJ's efforts to seek emergency action just a week from the state's election.

U.S. District Judge David O. Carter said in court Tuesday he intends to appoint a special master to probe DOJ's process that led it to compile the list of alleged 20,000 likely non-citizens, dealing a setback to the Trump (R) administration's attempt to quickly intervene in the election.

Judge Carter did not rule by the conclusion of the hearing on the DOJ request for a temporary restraining order against the state, though he appeared skeptical of the department's late-stage attempt to force what he described as a "monumental change" in California's ongoing administration of its election.

Carter told the parties he intends to issue some kind of ruling governing proceedings on the case moving forward by tomorrow.

Bill Essayli, a controversial Trump-installed leader of the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Central District of California, argued in the hearing that the administration was simply pushing for the state to be in compliance with federal law barring non-citizens from casting votes.

But state officials and other legal advocates opposing the DOJ lawsuit countered that the litigation violated longstanding Constitutional principles mandating that states have control over their elections, and could have chaotic consequences for the state in tabulating final vote counts in the weeks ahead.

Notably in closing out the hearing, Judge Carter appeared to admonish the administration over its recent letters to state officials around California suggesting it could prosecute them if they are involved in tabulating ballots that could be from the list of alleged likely noncitizens.

"This court believes it would be wise that any threats to state and county elected employees cease immediately," Carter said. "Good night."

'High percentage' of DOJ's California noncitizen voters list born in US, preliminary LA County analysis shows. On Monday, a federal appeals court rejected a request from the DOJ to issue an order requiring California to set aside the 20,000 ballots from its list, that has not been updated for a long time, kicking it back to the District Court.

Earlier this month, the DOJ filed suit against California, accusing the state of failing to review the list of alleged noncitizens that the Trump administration claimed were sent mail-in ballots for next week's midterm election.

In court papers filed earlier last week, Los Angeles officials said a preliminary analysis of 200 of the names on the 20,000-person list, included a "high percentage" of individuals who say they were born in the U.S. and many more who have no voting history at all.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukrainian Operation Veles

Ukrain President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has Commented on Operation Veles on the Kupiansk Front, during which Ukraine's Defence Forces, under the Command of the Khartiia Corps, Advanced more than 15 km Underground into the Russian Rear.

Quote: "Our important operation in the Kupiansk sector. Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief] Mykhailo Drapatyi, Commander of the 2nd Khartiia Corps Ihor Obolenskyi, and Deputy Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Pavlo Palisa reported on the initial results and progress of Operation Veles, carried out by the Khartiia 2nd Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. More than 100 Russian occupiers have already been eliminated, and more than 30 have been taken prisoner. The underground advance has exceeded 15 km."

Zelenskyy added that Russian forces had previously attempted to use underground gas pipelines to advance through Ukrainian positions and launch assaults.

Quote: "Ukrainian warriors have successfully transformed this tactic, modernised it, and made it much more sophisticated and technologically advanced. We are protecting the lives of our people, inflicting losses on the occupiers, and achieving our objectives in the Kupiansk sector."

Background: Earlier, the Khartiia Corps reported that during Operation Veles on the Kupiansk front, Ukrainian forces advanced more than 15 km through underground tunnels behind Russian lines and captured more than 30 Russian soldiers.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Russia Handed War Crimes Finding

The Independent International Commission of Inquiry is a UN‑Mandated Investigative body established by the Human Rights Council on 5/27/2021 to Examine Violations of International Humanitarian and Human Rights Law in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, including East Jerusalem.

A UN Probe says Russia Attacks on Ukraine’s Energy Grid amount to Crimes against Humanity. The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine found that Russia had launched a Deliberate Attack on Ukraine's Civilian Energy Infrastructure, leaving Millions of People to Freeze, in what amounts to War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity.

"As the cold season approaches, the attacks have intensified once again, raising serious concerns about the threats to civilians' lives and health,” Commission Chairman Erik Møse said. The findings are based on an Investigation, rather than a Legal Rruling. Russia does Not Recognize the Commission's Authority. Investigators found that Russian Commanders were Aware that the Heating Infrastructure they were Ordering Attacks on was Crucial for Civilian Survival.

The Commission found that while there were Deliberate Attacks on Civilian Infrastructure (War Crimes), there was also a Wider Pattern of Attacking Civilians to Cut off Electricity and Vital Services to Ukrainians, a Crimes against Humanity. The Investigation included Testimony from 255 Iindividuals across Nine Regions, as well as Evidence from Doctors, Officials, and Humanitarian Groups. Russia's Defense Ministry announced in 8/2026 that it was Preparing "mass attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities", according to the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission.

In an Update on 10/16,2026, Officials wrote that on 10/i3/14 Russia launched an Attack on Three Large Power Stations in Kyiv, Cutting off Electricity to some 600,000 People. The Commission found that during the 2025/26 Wwinter, Families were left without Heating, Electricity, Water, or Gas, with Temperatures dropping to Minus 21 degrees Celsius (-5.8 degrees Fahrenheit).

One 53-year-old Kyiv Resident said He was Terrified to go to Sleep in His Cold Home, Explaining: “The scariest thing was to fall asleep and not to wake up, it was like torture to be scared of dying from cold." Elderly Residents couldn't reach Air Raid Shelters because Elevators Failed during Power outages. The Commission Warned back in 10/1016 that "we are concerned that the coming winter will be more difficult to endure."

Another UN Report in 6/2026 found that Russia Launched at least 423 Aattacks on Electricity Infrastructure, and 74 on Heating Infrastructure between 10/2025 and 3/2026. Volker Türk, UN Human Rights Chief, Warned on 10/8/2026 that "many parts of Ukraine are plunged into darkness." This Threat Remains, with Ukrainian Energy Company DTEK saying that One of its Thermal Power Plants was Severely Damaged by a Russian Attack on 10/22/2026 and was Forced to Shut Down.

Since 2/2022, TEK’s Thermal Power Plants have been Attacked over 230 times. On 10/26/2026, Grid Operator Ukrenergo said New Outages hit Six Regions, including Kharkiv, Sumy, and Zaporizhzhia, and Urged Consumers to Save Electricity. Ukraine is also Struggling to get Interceptors from Washington. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on 10/26/2026 that Kyiv had been Wwaiting for almost a Month for U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (R) to Approve the use of Patriot and NASAMS Missiles, according to Reuters.

However, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said He was Pleased to see that the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had a Plan to send Missions to 19 Substations Crucial to Nuclear Safety. He said this is the Largest Deployment of its Kind ever. The Commission's Report on 10/26/2026 also found Evidence that the Russian Authorities had Trafficked Soldiers from 29 Different Countries. They were often Promised Jobs in the Civilian Sector but were then Forced to Sign Contracts in Russian. Some Lost their Lives, went Missing, or were taken as Prisoners-of-War.

The Commission wants these Soldiers Discharged and Attacks on Ccivilians to Stop. However, Moscow has Denied the Investigation’s Ffindings. The Russian Mission to the UN told the Associated Press that the Commission used "Falsified Data" and that it does Not Recognize its Authority.

Russia claims it Only Attacks Military and Military-Linked Sites. The Investigators also Examined Reports of Ukrainian Attacks on Energy Facilities in Russia and Russian-Occupied Territory in Ukraine. However, they said they could Not Investigate further because Moscow Denied them Access.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump DOJ Creating a New Way of Charging People

Trump's (R) Justice Department (DOJ) was in Court on 10/27/2026 for a Preliminary Hearing after the Department Alleged that former FBI Agents Nikki Floris and Bradley Benavides Obstructed Justice. When Court began, things were expected to get "Spicy," One Lawyer Hypothesized. The Hearing began with a Quick Eexplanation that the DOJ Accidentally Filed a Superseding Indictment Overnight. Floris' Lawyer had already Filed a Mmotion to Ddismiss.

Lawfare's Anna Bower Transcribed the Details of the Hearing in which Magistrate Judge Zia M. Faruqui told the DOJ Lawyers that it was "Unusual" to Charge a Case with Conduct like this byCcomplaint. Bower Paraphrased the Judge saying, "usually it's when there's some danger of release/threat that you would do complaint first." Faruqui told the DOJ that He has Never had a Situation like this in His Career as a Magistrate. "We've never had complaints filed on the record unsigned while waiting for judge to make probable cause finding," He said.

Floris' Lawyer Mary Dohrmann came out Swinging, Calling the Whole Case a "political football" and Alleging that it had Nothing to do with the Facts or the Llaw. Dohrmann is the Principal of the Washington Litigation Group, which has Rrepresented many of the former DOJ Lawyers and Fired FBI Agents in Suits against the Agencies or Defended them against Retaliation from the Administration.

"Whether incompetence or simply cruelty, it's inexcusable to comply with the most basic requirement that complaint be sworn ... Raises serious concerns about credibility of the government's case," said Dohrmann. "The second complaint is even more inaccurate than the first," She said. "There are changes in the facts, suggesting that there's Brady material that came to government's attention. Clerk's office has struck the complaint. But we ask that court take this conduct into consideration for probable cause determination," She added.

The DOJ explained that it was trying to File a Superseding Ccomplaint, and Confessed, "I had not done this before." The Judge asked whether any other Cases in the District had sought a Superseding Complaint without a Probable Cause Tinding, and the DOJ Lawyer said they were Not aware of any. "So, to be clear, your view is that a superseding indictment could be filed adding new charges, and there's no requirement for probable cause, unless an arrest warrant is being sought?" the Judge asked, the DOJ Agreed.

However, the DOJ Contends that the Preliminary Filing would Require a Grand Jury's Approval or a Probable Cause Hearing. The Judge didn't appear to be Happy: "So DOJ is now essentially Creating a New Way of Ccharging People? This is very Concerning." The Judge called it an Example of "throwing gasoline on what defendants are saying about this being unusual."

"Why would you not just want a magistrate judge to make a probable cause finding as you would in every other case?" the Judge asked. "Why today on this one case are you, the United States, changing the way it has done things in its entire history?" The DOJ said it was Rready for a Probable Cause Hearing and had the Witness Available, but the Judge took Issue with the Comment. "But what do you suggest the PC hearing is on today? The Defense is saying there are Ffacts that were Changed from First to Second," Judge Faruqui said, According to Bower's accounting.

"There likely are some things like that, your honor. There's a delta between the two because there are facts that go to the obstruction count," said the DOJ. "We think that here today we can swear out the complaint and proceed to preliminary hearing." The Judge made it Clear they were "reluctant to do" that given "what you've said your view is of what my signing that complaint would mean ... the idea that the magistrate judge just rubber stamps it without a probable cause determination."










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Trump Rolls Back Methane Rules

Trump (R) will use a Campaign Swing through Texas on 10/17/2026 to announce a Plan to ease Methane Rules for Oil and Gas Producers, seeking to show Voters He is working to bring Down Gasoline Prices a Week before the Midterm Elections.

The move is the latest in a string of Pre-Election Steps by Trump to address Fuel Prices, which have become a Political Liability for Republicans amid the War with Iran. By pairing the Methane Rollback with Rallies for His hand-picked Senate Candidate Ken Paxton (R), Trump is trying to turn Energy Policy into Votes in a Longtime Republican Stronghold.

The Trip marks Trump's Third visit to Texas in 10/2026 to Mobilize Support for Paxton, with Rallies planned in Corpus Christi and Lubbock. Paxton is Locked in a Close Race with James Talarico (D), and a Loss next Tuesday, would Complicate the Republican Party's path to Retaining its Slim Senate Majority.

Trump Plans to Announce an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Proposal to Roll Back Biden (D) Era Rules that required Companies to Fix Leaky Equipment and Regularly Check Wells for Escaping Methane, a Potent Greenhouse Gas, a White House Official said. The Administration is casting it as a way to produce more Energy and Lower Costs.

The Plan would give Relief to Small, Low-Output Wells and End a Program that used Outside Groups to Rreport Large Methane Leaks, the Official said. It would also Ease Rules aimed at Phasing Out the Routine Burning Off of Gas at Oil Wells.

Trump's repeated Trips to Texas are part of a Broader Ppush in Republican-Leaning States, which were expected to be Safely in hand but have instead become Midterm Battlegrounds. His 10/2026 Campaign Blitz has also taken Him to: Alabama, South Carolina, Iowa, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, and Oklahoma.

Trump has Publicly Criticized His Longtime Ally, calling Paxton (R) "a pain in the ass sometimes," while making it Clear He prefers Him to Talarico. Tech Billionaire Elon Musk (Independent Republican) and other Donors are pouring Hundreds of Millions into a Late effort to Rescue Paxton's Campaign.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Ukraine Hits Russian Su-34 Bomber Jets

An Overnight Attack on the Borisoglebsk Military Airfield in Russia's Voronezh Region hit Six Su-34M bomber jets, Ukraine's Naval Forces said on 10/15/2026.

The Attack was carried out with the Neptune Coastal Missile system, the Naval Forces said on Telegram. Ukraine's General Staff confirmed that all Six Su-34M jets were Damaged to varying degrees in the Attack, and that Explosions and a Fire were Recorded on the Airfield Territory.

Voronezh Oblast Governor Alexander Gusev warned several times of a Drone attack. Online footage of the Attack filmed by local Residents showed Explosions and a Large Fire at the Airfield. The Borisoglebsk Military Airfield is about 370 kilometers (about 230 miles) from the Front Line.

Neptune is Ukraine's Ground-Launched, Domestically produced Anti-Ship Cruise Missile with a Maximum Range of Several Hundred kilometers which it used in 4/2022 to Sink Russia's Black Sea Flagship, the Moskva.

In 2025, Ukraine unveiled an Upgraded version of the Missile, which had already Demonstrated a Rrange of 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). In 3/2025, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the System had Successfully completed Testing and would be Deployed for Combat use.

The Su-34M is a Heavily Modernized, upgraded variant of the Baseline Su-34 Fighter-Bomber. The Russian Su-34 is a Russian Medium-Range Fighter-Bbomber. Ukrainian Forces have Targeted the Warplanes in Attacks on Russian Military Airfields and have Reported Downing the Jets on several occasions.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker

Russian Chemical Plant in Flames

Far-flung industrial hubs in Russia suddenly found themselves in the crosshairs on October 24. Ukrainian long-range drones flew more than 2,500 kilometers across the continent to strike key commercial and manufacturing sites in Omsk, according to Ukrainian drone maker Fire Point.

The aircraft targeted two separate facilities in the Siberian city. One strike slammed into the Omsky Kauchuk chemical plant, while another hit a massive sorting hub run by the Russian online retail giant Ozon.

Local leaders quickly confirmed the incoming hits. Regional governor Vitaly Khotsenko stated that emergency teams rushed to the northern industrial district after the impacts, adding that staff had to evacuate the retail depot as emergency crews battled the situation.

The chemical complex is no ordinary factory. Operated by the Titan Group, the plant produces roughly a quarter of Russia’s butadiene-methylstyrene rubber, a specialized material used in everything from everyday transport to solid rocket propellants.

Beyond rubber, the Omsk facility churns out fuel additives like MTBE alongside basic industrial solvents such as acetone and phenol. Videos shared by research group Exilenova+ showed thick flames rising into the dark sky, though independent observers have not yet verified the full extent of the wreckage.

The explosions in Omsk were not an isolated event that morning. Hours earlier, another Ukrainian aerial raid hit the Tolyattikauchuk plant in Russia’s Samara region, targeting yet another major supplier of fuel components and chemical goods.

Striking locations thousands of kilometers out shows how dramatically long-distance capabilities have changed. Hubs that sort consumer parcels and refineries that supply fuel ingredients are now operating within reach of hostile skies.

For managers and workers deep in the Russian interior, the reality has set in. Distance alone is no longer an effective shield.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker