Thursday, October 30th, 2025 - Hurricane Melissa devastates; Gaza “ceasefire” update; Trump in S.Korea; Bezos’ ex gives big, Amazon lays off thousands

Today’s Headlines: Hurricane Melissa tore through the Caribbean just as feared, leaving dozens dead and catastrophic damage across Jamaica, Cuba, and Haiti before weakening to a Category 1 on its way to the Bahamas. Nearly 80% of Jamaica is still without power, and hundreds remain missing across the islands. In Gaza, Israel resumed airstrikes that killed around 100 people after a soldier was shot in Rafah — but quickly announced the ceasefire was back on. Hamas says it’s delaying the return of hostage remains in response to the strikes. Trump, meanwhile, is still globe-trotting — now in South Korea, where he announced the U.S. will share sensitive nuclear submarine technology, one of the country’s most tightly guarded military secrets. This comes months after North Korea bragged about its own nuclear-powered sub. Back home, a new Pentagon memo ordered all 50 states, D.C., and U.S. territories to form “quick reaction forces” — over 23,000 National Guard troops trained for riot control — to respond to potential unrest. The administration also indicted its first Gen Z political figure: 26-year-old Illinois Democrat Kat Abughazaleh, charged with assaulting an ICE officer during a protest — charges that could carry up to 14 years in prison. On the money front, the Senate symbolically voted against Trump’s 50% tariffs on Brazil (which won’t actually change anything), the Fed cut interest rates another 0.25%, and the shutdown continues as millions risk losing food aid. The Dow hit a record 48,000 — mostly thanks to AI stocks — even as layoffs surge at UPS, Nestlé, and Amazon. And in some good news for once, philanthropist Mackenzie Scott donated $60 million to the Center for Disaster Philanthropy and another $38 million to Alabama State University — the largest gift in the HBCU’s 158-year history.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

AP News: Hurricane Melissa impacts southeastern Bahamas, after dozens killed across Caribbean

AP News: Israel's military says ceasefire is back on as death toll from Gaza strikes reaches 104

AP News: Live updates: Donald Trump is meeting with China’s leader Xi Jinping

The Guardian: Revealed: Pentagon orders states’ national guards to form ‘quick reaction forces’ for ‘crowd control’ | US military

MSNBC: Kat Abughazaleh indicted over protests outside Chicago-area ICE facility

Politico: Senate votes against Trump’s 50 percent tariff on Brazil - Live Updates

Axios: Fed cuts rates again, but signals December cut uncertain

Yahoo Finance: Layoffs hit Amazon, UPS, Target, and more — what's fueling the cuts

NYT: MacKenzie Scott Backs Disaster Recovery in Marginalized Communities 

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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