Happy National Freethought Day! Kanye West apparently celebrated this a day early, but more on that later.
Here’s a rundown of news we’re watching.
Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince, Mohammed bin Salman, faces increasing criticism surrounding the disappearance of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who was last seen entering the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul on Oct. 2. Apart from the Khashoggi matter, Mohammed is under attack on multiple fronts, including his country’s involvement in Yemen’s civil war and the detention of Lebanon’s leader, among others. Further, Khashoggi’s possible murder is straining relations between Washington and Riyadh, and U.S. senators have called for global sanctions against Saudi Arabia.
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Paul White/AP
North Carolina pastor Andrew Brunson was released from a Turkish jail today. Brunson had been detained in Turkey for two years for his alleged ties to political groups involved in a failed 2016 coup attempt against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Tropical Storm Kanye made landfall at the West Wing yesterday and brought his brand of disruptive, surreal performance art to his meeting with a bemused President Trump. West spoke to reporters for nearly 10 minutes in the Oval Office. Wearing a red “Make America Great Again” hat, he repeatedly complimented Trump, who nodded in agreement.