Employment strong: Total nonfarm payroll employment rose by 336,000 in September, and the unemployment rate was unchanged at 3.8%, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reported today. Job gains occurred in: leisure and hospitality; government; health care; professional, scientific, and technical services; and social assistance. There is speculation that the strong employment showing likely will encourage the Federal Reserve to again raise interest rates.
Trump revealed military secrets: Donald Trump disclosed U.S. military secrets to Australian businessman Anthony Pratt who in turn told them to business associates and foreign government officials, according to the New York Times, ABC News and others. Special Counsel Jack Smith has been investigating what happened between Trump and Pratt as part of his case against Trump for stealing government secrets. Pratt, who is a billionaire, bought access to Trump by buying membership in Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club. The reports say the secrets Trump disclosed to Pratt dealt with the U.S. nuclear submarine fleet.
Trump endorses Jordan: In a bid to exert his influence over Republican members of Congress, Donald Trump has endorsed Rep. Jim Jordan, a Trump loyalist, to become the next Speaker of the House. Trump says that he’ll go to Capitol Hill next Tuesday when Republicans meet to try to agree on a single candidate they can vote in as the new speaker when the House goes back into session on Wednesday. Trump had said that he’d consider stepping in as an interim Speaker of the House if Republicans in Congress wanted him to do that.
Peace Prize awarded: The Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to a jailed Iranian activist, Narges Mohmmadi. She has been held in jail for almost 20 years after having led the as yet unsuccessful fight to end the oppression of women in Iran. She also has been an advocate for an end to the death penalty in Iran and an end to the use of solitary confinement by Iran’s prison system. She currently is being held on a sentence of almost 11 years for having spoken out against government propaganda.
Tax lien on Giuliani’s condo: The Internal Revenue Service has filed a tax lien against the condominium in Palm Beach, Florida, owned by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. The IRS claims Giuliani owes $539,435.26 in back taxes. Property records show Giuliani and his then-wife Judith Nathan bought the condo in 2010 for $1.4 million. When they divorced, Giuliani became the sole owner. The Palm Beach assessor shows it as being worth just over $3 million.
Dick Butkus dies: Dick Butkus, the Hall of Fame linebacker who played for the Chicago Bears, has died at age 80. His family reported this morning that he died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Malibu, California. Dick Butkus was considered an NFL legend. The Dick Butkus Award is given annually to the top college linebacker in the U.S.
Cover photo via Wikimedia Commons
