Good morning, good afternoon, good evening.
It’s Saturday, October 18th, my name is Marlena and this is The Record🗞️.Today’s show is about resistance — at home and abroad.Millions are taking to the streets for “No Kings Day.” Trump’s using the military to flex power. A convicted congressman walks free. And Zelenskyy leaves Washington without the answers he hoped for.Democracy is hanging by threads that used to be laws.Let’s get into it.
đź“° headline rundown
🗞️ 1: No Kings Day protests sweep the U.S. and abroad What’s happening:Millions of Americans are expected to join “No Kings” protests across all 50 states today, with events in over 2,700 locations denouncing President Trump’s authoritarianism and militarization of U.S. cities.What to know:Organizers say protest participation doubled this week after Republican lawmakers attacked the movement. Demonstrations have already begun overseas — hundreds gathered outside the U.S. embassy in London, with more expected in Ireland later today.My take:When the people unite faster than politicians can divide them, that’s real democracy — not the kind written into constitutions, but the kind fought for in the streets.
🗞️ 2: Marines to fire live artillery over Interstate 5What’s happening:The U.S. Marines plan to fire 155mm artillery shells over Interstate 5 at Camp Pendleton on Saturday to mark the Marine Corps’ 250th anniversary.What to know:Governor Gavin Newsom condemned the move as a dangerous “show of force,” while federal officials — including Vice President JD Vance — defended it as routine training. The New York Times confirmed my exclusive report from earlier this week but, of course, didn’t credit the source.My take:When live artillery becomes a PR stunt, we’re not celebrating the military — we’re normalizing militarization.
🗞️ 3: Trump commutes George Santos’ sentence What’s happening:President Trump has commuted former Rep. George Santos’ seven-year prison sentence, ordering his immediate release after citing alleged mistreatment.What to know:Allies like Marjorie Taylor Greene praised the move. Lawmakers and victims — including several former donors — called it “an insult to justice.” Santos had been convicted of fraud and theft.My take:This isn’t mercy — it’s messaging. Trump is rewarding loyalty and rewriting what criminality looks like in his America.
🗞️ 4: Zelenskyy leaves Washington without missile deal What’s happening:Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Trump neither approved nor rejected Ukraine’s request for Tomahawk missiles during their White House meeting.What to know:Trump’s team says talks will continue as the U.S. president prepares another meeting with Putin, even as Russian strikes escalate against Ukraine’s power grid.My take:“Undecided” in diplomacy often means “already decided.” Ukraine’s survival is being negotiated between two men who both see power as performance.
🧠gut check Every act of protest today — every body in the street — is a refusal to be ruled.Power only works when we believe we don’t have any.That belief is breaking.Substack | Podcast | Daily News📲 IG: @marlenabeautydotcom | @redefiningtherecord✍️ Substack: Redefining the Record
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