Washington desk

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

Entertainment · 16 October 2026

NBC’s ‘Newlyweds’ Fires Showrunner Gail Lerner, Hires Veteran Bruce Helford

Candy Voss, Washington desk

NBC announced that co‑creator and showrunner Gail Lerner has been let go after creative differences, with veteran writer‑producer Bruce Helford stepping in to run the sitcom.

World · 15 October 2026

Zelensky Signals End to Oil‑Refinery Truce, Russia Blames Kyiv for New Smog

June Harrow, Washington desk

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine will resume strikes on Russian oil refineries, ending a pause that had been imposed at the request of the United States. Russia immediately accused Kyiv of attacking an…

World · 15 October 2026

Ukraine Fires Up Russian Refineries Again; Truce Turns Into a Refueling Party

Helen Pell, Washington desk

After a brief pause, Ukrainian drones once again target Russian oil refineries, igniting fresh tensions as the energy ceasefire lapses.

Entertainment · 15 October 2026

Crystal Lake Prequel Honors Snake Killed on Original ‘Friday the 13th’ Set

Candy Voss, Washington desk

Peacock’s new ‘Crystal Lake’ prequel pays a direct nod to a snake that died during filming of the 1980 ‘Friday the 13th’, with creator Brad Caleb Kane acknowledging the odd tribute ahead of the series premiere.

Finance · 15 October 2026

Gas Prices Up 34% as Iran War Fuels Inflation

Helen Pell, Washington desk

U.S. gasoline prices have surged 34% year-over-year following the start of a war with Iran, adding to inflation pressures.

World · 15 October 2026

Musk Blames US for Starlink Bottleneck as Ukraine’s Missions Go on Hold

June Harrow, Washington desk

Elon Musk blames the U.S. government for limiting Ukraine’s Starlink access, while Ukrainian officials report speed caps that have forced mission cancellations and raised fears the Pentagon is throttling service to hel…

Finance · 15 October 2026

Robustly Unsettled: S&P 500 Slides 1.1% as Inflation and AI Worries Spike

Helen Pell, Washington desk

The S&P 500 fell 1.1% on Wednesday, its steepest drop in over two months, as investors grappled with lingering inflation concerns and a sudden chill toward AI‑driven growth.

Business · 15 October 2026

Starshield’s ‘Robust’ Signal Takes a Coffee Break as Ukraine’s Wi‑Fi Frontline Falters

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Recent policy restrictions have slowed SpaceX’s Starshield satellite internet, leaving Ukraine’s armed forces with reduced connectivity on the front lines.

Finance · 15 October 2026

Netflix Slashes 6% of Staff Amid Slow Growth; Investors Wonder About Content Quality

Helen Pell, Washington desk

Netflix announces a 6% reduction in staff amidst slowing growth, sparking concerns about content quality as the layoffs impact the creative pool. The tech giant is joining the trend of companies cutting jobs across the U…