Washington desk

Filed from the Washington desk — including multi-city pieces that also ran elsewhere.

Business · 18 October 2026

Cereal Giants Roll Out ‘Wellness’ Boxes—Is the Crunch Real or Just Hype?

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Big cereal makers are launching new lines marketed as healthier, tapping into America’s growing wellness obsession, but critics warn the health claims may be more about profit than nutrition.

Business · 18 October 2026

Treasury Says $70 B in Corporate Tax Revenue Vanishes as AI Write‑offs Soar

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Corporate tax collections fell by about $70 billion even as profits rose, a gap officials link to massive AI investment write‑offs made possible by tax cuts signed by President Trump.

Technology · 17 October 2026

San Francisco Tech Week: AI Hype Echoes With Mixed Feelings Over Soaring Rents

Rita Knox, Washington desk

Tech workers at San Francisco Tech Week voiced both excitement about AI’s potential and anxiety about its impact, all while lamenting the Bay Area’s sky‑high cost of living.

World · 17 October 2026

Trump pauses Russia sanctions, Zelensky warns it’s a thank‑you note to Putin

June Harrow, Washington desk

President Trump temporarily lifts several Congress‑passed sanctions on Russia, prompting Ukrainian President Zelensky to condemn the move as a reward for Putin.

Entertainment · 17 October 2026

Paramount Fires Up Red Rising: Hunger Games Director Takes the Helm

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Paramount has secured the rights to Pierce Brown’s Red Rising series and tapped Hunger Games director Francis Lawrence to helm a film of the first novel, with Justin Rhodes writing the screenplay.

Finance · 17 October 2026

$2 Trillion Deficit: America’s New Heavyweight Champion

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The U.S. budget deficit is edging toward $2 trillion, driven by higher interest rates that raise borrowing costs and by Trump‑era spending on the Iran conflict and tariff refunds.

Entertainment · 17 October 2026

Delta Flight Turns into Drama Stage as Selma Blair Arrested for ‘Slam Dunk’ on Flight Attendants

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Actress Selma Blair, whose multiple sclerosis is in remission and who has upcoming gigs, was charged with second-degree assault after allegedly assaulting two flight attendants on a Delta flight from L.A. to New York; sh…

Entertainment · 17 October 2026

Cage and Banderas Team Up for True Detective Season 5, Filming Starts 2027

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Antonio Banderas joins Nicolas Cage in HBO’s True Detective Season 5, with showrunner Issa López returning and filming slated for 2027.

Finance · 17 October 2026

Budget Bites Back: $2 Trillion Deficit Gives Trump’s Wallet a Sore Spot

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The U.S. deficit is edging toward $2 trillion as higher interest rates raise borrowing costs, while spending on the Iran war and tariff refunds undercut the Trump administration’s cost‑cutting claims.