Video Editions
Every video edition of The Monochrome Chronicles, newest first, by week. Each has a page with its transcript and sources.
Week of
A Grand Jury Said No to Indicting Cassidy Hutchinson. What Happens Now?
Meta Wants to Raise $95 Billion in Stock. Who Pays for the AI Race?
Meta says it will sell up to $95 billion in stock to pay for its AI buildout, the largest raise in its history. Here is how the plan works, who is buying, and the question it leaves for ordinary shareholders.
Trump Offers $1 Million for Voter Fraud Tips. Who Pays?
One Week to the Midterms: What 30 Million Early Votes Really Mean
More than 30 million people have already voted. Here is what early votes can and cannot tell you, the two numbers that decide control of Congress, and the races to watch before November 3.
Israel Votes: Record Turnout, and What Happens After the Polls Close
4.3 Million Tubes of Toothpaste Recalled, Including Kids’ Brands
A Blood Test Could Flag Prostate Cancer 15 Years Early
Why Trump Keeps Talking About People’s Bodies, in His Own Words
“I examined his ass.” “He’s all man.” “He’s a fat guy, wow.” A month of the president’s own words about people’s bodies, quoted and dated, what experts say it is for, and what it has cost.
189,000 Health Subsidies Cut. Are the Computer Matches Right?
Federal health officials ended 2026 ACA subsidies for about 189,000 people flagged as having duplicate coverage or listed as deceased. Here is what the data match means and what critics say.
Can a County Sue Oil Companies Over Climate Change?
Can a Colorado county collect damages from oil companies for climate harm? The Supreme Court heard the case on October 5. Here is what is at stake.
Can a Committee Decide Who Sits at the Fed?
The President set up a three-person committee to decide whether Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can be removed. Here is how the process works, and what happens on November 5.
The White House Barred Three Newsrooms. Can It Pick Its Reporters?
The White House removed CNN, MS NOW and Politico from its grounds. Now press groups are in court, and a judge will decide whether the ban stands.
The Town That Said No to Amazon’s Data Center
Neighbors in Ashburn, Virginia pushed back on a $427 million Amazon data center plan, and Amazon walked away. What was planned, why people objected, and what the deal gives the county instead.
A Judge Says the Justice Department Unlawfully Fired Maurene Comey
Measles Cases Have Doubled From Last Year. Is the Spread Slowing?
The CDC counts 4,588 measles cases in the United States this year, about double all of 2025. Here is what the numbers show and what is still uncertain.
The Justice Department Wants 20,000 California Ballots on Hold. Why?
The Justice Department asked a federal judge to block more than 20,000 California mail ballots over a list of alleged noncitizen voters. Here is what is in dispute and what each side says.
The Supreme Court Said the Tariffs Were Illegal. Who Gets the Money Back?
The Supreme Court struck down the president’s emergency tariffs in February, and the United States government now has to return about 166 billion dollars. Why refunds go to importers first, why some companies had to sue, and what the government says.
From Vice to the Proud Boys to January 6th
From Vice to the Proud Boys to January 6th
How the co-founder of Vice Magazine started the Proud Boys, what the group did on January 6th, and what happened in court and after the pardons.
Week of
María Corina Machado Is Back in Venezuela. What Happens Now?
What Are the Midterms? Explained Simply
Midterm elections happen halfway through a president’s term. Here is what is on the ballot on November 3 and why it matters to you.
Forecasters Are Moving House Races Toward Democrats. What It Means.
The Cook Political Report moved dozens of House races toward Democrats this month. Here is what a race rating is, and what it is not.
What Is Gerrymandering? Explained Simply
Gerrymandering is drawing voting districts to help one side. Here is how it works, why courts rarely stop it, and how Mississippi fits in.
What the Generic Ballot Poll Really Tells You
A recent New York Times and Siena poll had Democrats up eight points on the generic ballot. Here is what that number means, and what it does not.
Why Finland Wants One Million Landmines
Finland’s military plans to buy up to one million anti-personnel mines after leaving a treaty that banned them. Here is why.
Who Controls the Senate? The Math Behind the Midterms
The Supreme Court Just Banned Student IDs for Voting in New Hampshire
What Are the Midterms? Explained Simply
What Is Gerrymandering? Explained Simply
What the Generic Ballot Poll Really Tells You
Why Hundreds of Thousands Are Protesting in France
Why Finland Wants One Million Landmines
Early Voting Is Open. Here’s What to Know Before November 3.
Early voting is underway for the midterms, and turnout in some places is running ahead of 2024. Here is what to know.
The Most Popular Halloween Costumes This Year
K-pop Demon Hunters, Toy Story 5 and Off Campus lead Halloween costume trends, according to retailer and search reports.
NASA’s Next Crew Won’t Land on the Moon. Here’s Why.
NASA named four astronauts for Artemis III. It is now a test flight around Earth in 2027. The landing moves to Artemis IV in 2028.
Early Voting Is Open. Here’s What to Know Before November 3.
The Most Popular Halloween Costumes This Year
NASA’s Next Crew Won’t Land on the Moon. Here’s Why.
British Columbia’s Snap Election Backfired. Conservatives Win a Majority.
The Fed Decides on Wednesday. What to Expect.
The Federal Reserve announces its rate decision on October 28. Most forecasts expect a pause, with a hike more likely in December.
Israel Votes Tuesday. Here’s Where the Race Stands.
Israel holds an election on October 27. Polls show a tight race, and Trump’s endorsement hasn’t clearly helped.
The Orionid Meteor Shower Is Still Going. Here’s How to Watch.
The Orionid meteor shower, made of dust from Halley’s Comet, peaked October 21-22 and stays active until about November 7.
Melania Trump Brokered a Ceasefire for One Ukrainian City. What It Covers.
France Bans Protests in Its Biggest Cities
After days of unrest over the cost of living, France banned protests in major cities and added curfews this weekend.
Netflix Stock Slides After Earnings
Netflix cut its advertising forecast after third-quarter earnings, and the stock slid even as profits rose.
Tesla’s Profit Fell 56% While It Spends Big on AI
Tesla’s operating income fell 56% to about $718 million as it spends more on AI and robots, even as margins improved.
Typhoon Champi Brings Heavy Rain to Jeju
Typhoon Champi is bringing heavy rain and high waves to South Korea’s Jeju Island and southern regions this weekend.
Trump Says Iran Is Faking Attacks to Raise Oil Prices
President Trump says Iran is faking Strait of Hormuz attacks to raise oil prices before the midterms. The claim is disputed.
Fish Oil Didn’t Help Memory in a Two-Year Trial
A two-year trial found that fish oil reached the brain but did not improve memory or slow brain shrinkage in older adults.
Musk Says SpaceX and Tesla Could Merge
Elon Musk says SpaceX and Tesla are considering a merger. Here’s what’s known, and what isn’t.
Taylor Swift Tops the Album Chart Again
The 2026 Halloween Costumes Everyone Is Searching For
Street Fighter Wins the Box Office. A Documentary Surprised Everyone.
Trump Ordered to Sit for a Deposition in BBC Case
Nvidia’s New Plug-In AI Factory Takes 14 Days
OpenAI Nears a $30 Billion Funding Round
A Hidden Bug Could Break 70% of Websites
Southwest Cuts Profit Forecast on Fuel Costs
Iguazú Falls Hit Ten Times Its Normal Flow. What Happened?
Iguazú Falls swelled to about ten times its usual flow after heavy rain, and officials closed the walkways.
Europe’s Summer Heat Cost 50,000 Lives. What Did Scientists Find?
Two new studies estimate more than fifty thousand people in European cities died from summer heat, and two-thirds of that is tied to climate change.
He Left Chile on Foot in 1998. Is He Finally Home?
Karl Bushby set out to walk home in 1998 and swore he would not ride. Almost three decades later, he is close.
The FCC Chair Warned TV Stations About ‘Fake Polls.’ Which Ones?
Italy Sends 500 Troops to Milan After Protests
Meta Plans a Stock Class With No Votes
Musk Says SpaceX and Tesla May Merge
Nearly 3,000 Rallies in All 50 States. Here’s Why.
The Press Secretary Lasted Five Days
Trump’s Envoy Called Putin ‘a Humanitarian.’ Republicans Pushed Back.
Is OpenAI Now on Google’s Cloud Too?
Why Is Japan Sending a Probe to Mars’s Moon?
Did a Space Telescope Just Find a Comet?
Why Did Braze Stock Jump 52% in One Day?
One Phone Call Split Washington and Kyiv
One phone call, a sanctions break on Russian diesel, and an angry ally. What happened and why it matters.
A Chatbot Company Went Bankrupt. Disney Is Bidding.
A chatbot company that let millions talk to fictional characters filed for bankruptcy, and Disney is the opening bidder.
Prices Are Up 3.7%. Here’s What It Means for You
September inflation hit 3.7%. What that means for the Fed, home loan rates and your wallet.
The 2026 Midterms, Explained Fast
Two weeks until voters decide who runs Congress. Who’s favored, why the maps matter, and what to watch.
A Smart Assistant Reportedly Gave Out a Home Address
A tech YouTuber says Meta’s Muse assistant gave a stranger his address. Here’s what’s reported so far.
