> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.readtangle.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Sunday — October 18 - URL: https://www.readtangle.com/the-sunday-october-18-2026/ - Published: 2026-10-18T11:52:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-10-18T11:52:04.000Z - Author: Tangle Staff - Tags: The Sunday, Fort Hood shooter, Ilhan Omar, Russia diesel deal, Forward party *This is the Tangle Sunday Edition, a brief roundup of our independent politics coverage plus some extra features for your Sunday morning reading.* A special note [![CTA Image](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/Screenshot-2026-10-17-at-9.06.56---PM.png)](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) ****Isaac here!** Today’s Sunday edition is free for all, thanks to [****Snopes**](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=10182026)****.** Our Sunday edition is normally reserved for Tangle members, but today ****Snopes** is picking up the tab — the [internet's most trusted fact-checking website](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf). With the midterms right around the corner, our feeds are flooded with attack ads and misleading soundbites. It's easy to feel overwhelmed and question what's real. We're partnering with Snopes because we share the same goal: ****delivering the unspun truth when partisan narratives take over.** Did Trump actually say ["let \[Iran\] take out Los Angeles and San Diego"](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) to end the war? And was Texas Senate candidate [James Talarico treated at an out-of-state mental health care facility](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) just weeks before the election? These are just a few of the rumors [Snopes recently investigated](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) to bring you the full story ****backed by evidence.** Don’t be duped by political spin, clickbait headlines and misinformation this election season. [Sign up for the free Snopes newsletter ](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource%3Dtangle%26utm%5Fcampaign%3D10182026&sa=D&source=docs&ust=1792286459393757&usg=AOvVaw20ADhQYqyTYe1LCnS4W1mf) ### What the right is doodling. ![Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-c9bae967-bbe7-45e6-822f-456e47699d6c.jpeg) Steve Kelley | Creators Syndicate ### What the left is doodling. ![Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-0418250f-77e2-4127-972d-306a7ea340b7.jpeg) Mike Luckovich | Creators Syndicate ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-eac07281-1602-44da-9aae-7c9c46303748.png) ### Suspension of the Rules. Following a few heavier episodes, Isaac, Ari, and Kmele have a bit of fun this week. Kimberly Guilfoyle’s resignation prompts Ari to quiz the guys on other U.S. ambassadors, then the three react to a viral video of a candidate in a local Indiana race. Plus, some discussion on James Talarico and Ilhan Omar. Check it out here: The latest Suspension of the Rules ### Monday, October 12. *Tangle did not release a newsletter in observance of Columbus Day.* ### Tuesday, October 13. [The Fort Hood shooter’s execution](https://www.readtangle.com/fort-hood-shooter-execution-livestream/). On Thursday, October 8, the Defense Department announced that it intends to livestream the execution of the former Army major who carried out the 2009 Fort Hood mass shooting. The convicted shooter is scheduled to be executed by an Army firing squad on December 3, which would be the first U.S. military execution since 1961 and the first known execution by firing squad since 1945\. Republican and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back on the plan to livestream the event. Update: On Thursday, October 15, President Donald Trump said the plan to livestream the execution will not go ahead. **Editor Audrey Moorehead’s take:** “I aspire to a consistent pro-life ethic, but I still grapple with the death penalty. The Fort Hood shooter committed heinous crimes and has shown no remorse; executing him is a valid form of justice. However, livestreaming the event would turn that act of justice into a spectacle.” *Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s concurrence:* “Audrey and I disagree about the utility of the death penalty, but I was relieved to see we landed in the same place on the value of a public execution. This administration has an HHS campaign bringing together researchers, tech companies, and advocates for a symposium on screen-related harms. Now, it’s guaranteeing a government-sponsored killing goes viral on the internet, inevitably making its way to devices across the world.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-b7f86eb6-d954-4071-8988-8da6832d4cae.png) ### Wednesday, October 14. [The Ilhan Omar investigation](https://www.readtangle.com/the-ilhan-omar-investigation/). On Monday, federal agents from Homeland Security Investigations searched Rep. Ilhan Omar’s (D-MN) Washington, D.C. residence as part of an immigration investigation. The Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security have shared minimal information about the cause and outcome of the search, but the probe is reportedly related to paperwork Omar’s father filled out when applying for legal status for their family in the United States. The congresswoman denied any wrongdoing and accused the Trump administration of targeting her for political reasons. **Senior Editor Will Kaback’s take:** “I grew up in the district Omar represents, so I’m familiar with her and the state’s Somali immigrant population. President Trump is clearly overstating the issues with that community as part of a broader anti-immigrant agenda. Omar has her own issues, but they don’t justify a politicized investigation, let alone deportation.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-5118adf5-1119-43ff-9876-5ee1fc2f5d17.png) ### Thursday, October 15. [The Russia diesel deal](https://www.readtangle.com/russia-diesel-deal/). On Friday, October 9, President Donald Trump announced an agreement to lift sanctions on Russian oil exports in return for Russia releasing roughly 800,000 tons of diesel by the end of November and millions more by an unspecified date. The president said the deal will bring down diesel prices impacted by supply disruptions linked to the Iran war but did not say it is tied to a larger ceasefire deal. Separately, on October 11, President Trump announced an “energy ceasefire” between Ukraine and Russia. However, Zelensky indicated that he was not aware of an agreement or the terms of the purported ceasefire, later accusing Russia of attacking Ukrainian energy infrastructure. **Executive Editor Isaac Saul’s take:** “From President Trump’s standpoint, a deal with Russia could offer a chance to alleviate fuel prices ahead of the midterms. From Putin’s standpoint, Trump is offering major economic relief during a war of attrition with Ukraine. This deal reeks of desperation; it hurts our allies, helps our enemies, won’t lower gas prices, and is probably illegal.” **Reader Survey:** ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-aa820438-3084-4044-95dc-90df510e22df.png) ### Friday, October 16. This election cycle seems to be the most ripe for disruption from a third party of any cycle in recent memory. Ironically, Executive Editor Isaac Saul says, there’s almost no chatter about it. The Forward Party’s Andrew Yang and Christine Todd Whitman say big things are in the works, just under the surface. Isaac shines a light on the third-party subplot in this year’s midterms in this week’s Friday edition. [You can read the piece here](https://www.readtangle.com/third-party-midterms-yang-whitman/). --- ### What just happened. Here’s a rundown of the major stories that have broken since our newsletter on Thursday. - On Thursday, a gunman killed three children and one adult at an elementary school in Bend, Oregon. One child and one adult were also critically wounded. A bystander shot and killed the shooter after witnessing him enter the school. ([The shooting](https://www.oregonlive.com/crime/2026/10/multiple-victims-in-shooting-near-bend-elementary-school-shooter-dead.html?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, Ukraine resumed strikes on Russian oil refineries, three days after President Trump declared a Ukraine–Russia energy ceasefire. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of repeated attacks on Ukraine’s energy grid despite the purported ceasefire. ([The strikes](https://www.nbcnews.com/world/ukraine/ukraine-resumes-strikes-russian-oil-refineries-trump-starlink-intel-rcna603648?ref=readtangle.com)) Separately, on Thursday, Reuters reported that the White House ordered SpaceX to throttle its Starshield communication service for the Ukrainian military last week. ([The report](https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/order-limit-starshield-ukraine-came-inside-white-house-sources-say-2026-10-15/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Thursday, the State Department said former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem is no longer serving as special envoy for the Shield of the Americas initiative following her six-month appointment. Noem is now a senior adviser to Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau. ([The update](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kristi-noem-no-longer-trump-envoy-shield-of-the-americas/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, the White House said that Katie Zacharia is leaving her position as press secretary, five days after she began the job. ([The departure](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6154278-donald-trump-katie-zacharia-press-secretary-role/?ref=readtangle.com)) - On Friday, President Trump signed an executive order waiving the implementation of most of a Russia sanctions bill passed with bipartisan support by Congress last month. ([The order](https://www.wsj.com/politics/policy/trump-waives-most-russia-sanctions-passed-by-congress-4c36bc93?ref=readtangle.com)) The Sunday SpOnSor Don’t get duped by lies online. Over ****1 million readers** rely on the [****free Snopes newsletter**](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=10182026) to cut through political spin and one-sided reporting. Get the unvarnished truth delivered straight to your inbox six days a week. [Sign up for the free Snopes newsletter ](https://www.snopes.com/subscribe/?utm%5Fsource=tangle&utm%5Fcampaign=10182026) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-7878fc2a-3e20-410e-ab57-c8ddb064634d.png) ### Reader essay. ![A house with an “Ultra MAGA” flag | Photo from Katrina VanHuss](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-409dd22f-f8cc-4d24-a87f-940924ebfdec.jpeg) A house with an “Ultra MAGA” flag | Photo from Katrina VanHuss Writing from rural Virginia, just outside Richmond, reader Katrina VanHuss tells the story of when she stepped on a social landmine on LinkedIn, making this argument to her professional network: Don’t challenge your relatives on politics. In an essay steeped in professional experience and saturated with regional flavor, Katrina describes the feeling of being dogpiled — “a social skinning like a trip down the asphalt on a bare ass.” You can read her essay [here](https://www.readtangle.com/otherposts/bless-our-hearts-we-just-cant-help-it/). *Have a personal story or local issue you want to write about? Pitch us! Fill out* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/aigkWGv5QQbwerCX8?ref=readtangle.com) *or reply to this email, and we’ll get back to you if we’re hooked.* --- ### Reader comments. In this section, we like to highlight reader comments that respond to our coverage from different perspectives. On this week’s [Friday edition about third parties](https://www.readtangle.com/third-party-midterms-yang-whitman/#ghost-comments-root), two commenters expressed different beliefs about the Forward Party. **Timothy P. said the Forward Party will get his vote if they support a few key positions.** > *If they lead with support for constitutional amendments to ban partisan gerrymandering, dark money, all the things that poll well but go nowhere because it requires the support of the people in power to surrender their power, I'd sign up tomorrow. Seems like the obvious answer to what they're actually for, no?* **Perry D Minor argued that any third party would benefit Republicans.** > *I have a feeling that any significant third party incursion into the voting population would actually benefit the Republican party in the four-year general presidential elections, which is why Democrats are not entertaining any third-party options right now. Any third-party candidate in the general elections would have to be so unbelievably popular in both Democrat and Republican Party constituencies to have any serious chance of winning. I don’t feel the country is there yet.* ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-7a84f94a-481c-4159-af09-3eadd60ee474.png) ### Recommended reading. ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/4a/93/4a939b47-6a19-4b38-a13c-89d5a0f0d6dd/content/images/2026/10/data-src-image-3c5c4b93-e273-4344-a108-e8762d1b584d.png) > *The Floridian peninsula melted steadily into the sea. In Clewiston, sugarcane crops seethed. The orange groves would soon be blighted. Still, what business did I have with bitterness?* Superlative sickly sensations send some seething sweet soliloquies. For their Autumn edition, Orion Magazine published Maria Pinto’s [meditation on bitterness](https://orionmagazine.org/article/heart-of-bitterness/?ref=readtangle.com). --- ### On the channels. This week, we also launched a brand new YouTube channel: the Isaac Saul channel, where Isaac will share commentaries directly from him about politics, media, and whatever else crosses his mind. The debut video from the Isaac Saul channel is an October special, political fearmongering. Check it out below! --- ### Tangle’s favorites. 🚗 ****DECAL:** The [best bumper stickers of all time](https://mossandfog.com/greatest-bumper-stickers-of-all-time/?ref=readtangle.com). 🍝 ****DE FREDDO:** It might not reheat the same, but pasta could actually be [better for you as leftovers](https://www.rd.com/article/food-healthier-as-leftover/?ref=readtangle.com). 🐈 ****DE CAT:** How hardware stores are [using cats to drive foot traffic](https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/hardware-stores-secret-weapon-cats-05fecb1e?ref=readtangle.com). --- ### Post of the week. Highlights from the annual Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta: [https://www.instagram.com/reels/DeZoE-TxUmW/](https://www.instagram.com/reels/DeZoE-TxUmW/?ref=readtangle.com) --- ### Ask the readers. Last week, Robin from Alhambra, CA, asked readers how they have made new friends as an adult. ****Philipp from Oklahoma City, OK:** I felt quite isolated when I moved to the U.S. from Germany about two years ago. So I signed up at bumble for friends, matched with only one person in my area, met him, became friends, both deinstalled the app again, and stayed close friends ever since. We went to the WWII museum in New Orleans together and exchanged views and stories from both sides of the war, which was fascinating! The most hilarious thing about us: Before we first met in person, both our wives basically texted each other through our BFF profiles because both of us struggled to get out of the comfort zone. Without them we probably would have never met! ****Skip from Gardnerville, NV:** By playing pickleball! I retired at 75 years old. Been an athlete all my life. My wife encouraged me to take up pickleball. I said it was a sissy game. Finally I did, and got hooked. I’m 80 now, and teach a beginners pickleball class, plus play 3–4 days a week. My pickleball friends number in the dozens. Some of us get together for breakfast, some of us watch football together. But we all play a lot of pickleball. Best social game ever. ****Autumn from Phoenix, AZ:** In 2016, Pokémon GO launched. I gave it a try and I still play to this day. I made more adult friends playing Pokemon Go than any other hobby. Not just acquaintances, but actual good friends! ****James from Houston, TX:** Adult friendships are born in the places you find community, for this millennial that's been work and church. This week’s reader question comes from Liz from Sioux Falls, SD, who asks: ****What do you do when you get bored?** *You can let us know your thoughts by replying through* [*this form*](https://forms.gle/SZ1uohkrkfvkq6NJ9?ref=readtangle.com). --- *Want even more Tangle? Follow us on our* [*X*](https://twitter.com/TangleNews?ref=readtangle.com)*,* [*Reddit*](https://www.reddit.com/r/tanglenews?ref=readtangle.com)*, or* [*Instagram*](https://www.instagram.com/tangle.news?ref=readtangle.com) *for up-to-the-minute updates.*