Veteran, David Rothkopf says, “As it turns out, America lost the Cold War”

+ The Daily Beast via MSN, by David Rothkopf: Opinion: As it turns out, America lost the Cold War

Click here [start at 21.33] for the audio interview of David Rothkopf by Lawrence O’Donnell on MS.Now.

Click here to read Rothkopf’s opinion in The Daily Beast, “How Trump is Turning U.S. History Upside Down—for the Worse – Everything you learned in high school about American strength is being made wrong.”

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+ The Lincoln Project’s video: Home Office Moscow. Why Trump puts Putin first! Click here for the video.

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+ Comedy Central’s The Daily Show: David Corn – Trump’s Man Crush on Putin & “How Russia Won” 

Best-selling author and Washington bureau chief for Mother Jones, David Corn, sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss his latest book, “How Russia Won: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the Fight for America.” They talk about Trump’s fixation on teaming up with Vladimir Putin, how Trump’s “man crush” on Putin drove him to sign a diesel fuel deal with Russia in spite of the war in Ukraine, Putin embodying Trump’s dream of wealth with full authority, and how Trump employs the theory of “big f**ks small.”

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+ Truthout: Poll: 7 in 10 Americans Doubt Trump Will Accept Midterm Results – The president has said that he will only accept the results of the midterms if he deems them to be “honest.”

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+ MS.Now: Elon Musk is trying to make himself more powerful than the government – From the war in Ukraine to elections in the U.S., never before in human history has a single private individual exercised such power.

+ The Washington Post via RSN.org: As Republicans brace for election losses, Musk prepares for war

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+ The Daily Beast: Leak Exposes Trump Team’s Plans for Post-Election Shock

The president is desperate to get out of the quagmire that has plagued his second term. The U.S. and Israeli militaries are drawing up plans to dramatically escalate the fighting in the Middle East in November, targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, nuclear facilities and weapons arsenal, sources told The New York Times.

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+ Truthout: Todd Blanche Won’t Rule Out Justice Department Disruption of Midterm Elections Certification – Seven in 10 Americans don’t believe President Donald Trump will accept the midterm results

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+ The Washington Post via RSN.org: As Republicans brace for election losses, Musk prepares for war

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Trump’s Epstein scandal is building momentum to be revealed

+ Mother Jones: Trump’s Most Devoted Fans Forgave Him Everything. Then Came Epstein.

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+ AlterNet: Trump’s Epstein scandal comes roaring back to haunt his GOP allies

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+ UPolitics: Jeffrey Epstein Survivors Star In New Ads Targeting GOP Sens. Roger Marshall & Cindy Hyde-Smith For Voting To Block Release Of Files 

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+ The Guardian: Epstein’s attorney and accountant accused of ‘facilitating and concealing’ his crimes in lawsuit – New Mexico lawsuit claims ‘in exchange for furthering Epstein’s criminal project, his associates received generous salaries’

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+ The Independent: Epstein lawyer and accountant ‘knowingly participated’ in his sex trafficking, New Mexico AG claims in suit – Attorney General Raúl Torrez targets Darren Indyke and Richard Kahn in first state enforcement action against Epstein associates

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+ OK!Magazine: FBI Whistleblower Warned DOJ That Releasing Epstein Records Would ‘Destroy People’s Lives’ — Documents Reveal

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+ Tampa Bay Times: Hanging death of Jeffrey Epstein whistleblower is latest connected to his circle

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+ Blast: Jeffrey Epstein’s Alleged Donald Trump Story Reveals A Bizarre Self-Description

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+ TMZ: Jeffrey Epstein Claimed Donald Trump Called Himself White Trash Adjacent

+ TMZ: Jeffrey Epstein’s Devil’s Rolodex Revealed in New TMZ Documentary, Inside His Powerful Web of Connections, Watch Now

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+ OK!Magazine: ‘None of This Could Be Done by Just One Man,’ New Mexico AG Says in Lawsuit Accusing Jeffrey Epstein’s Lawyer and Accountant of Trafficking Cover-Up

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+ The Guardian: Epstein files take back seat in midterms but experts say issue has not gone away – Other voter concerns have prevailed but return of Congress likely to see renewed focus on late sex offender’s activities

Thurston County’s 2026 Waste Reduction Series comes to Yelm Oct. 28th!

From Thurston County Solid Waste:

 
Wednesday, Oct. 28
2026 Waste Reduction Series
Thurston County Solid Waste and the City of Yelm will collaborate from 6 p.m. to 7 on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at the Yelm Community Center, for its 2026 Waste Reduction Series with an event called “Can This Be Recycled?” You can register for the event online at https://fs23.formsite.com/wg80xb/ece5uk6tjx/index.

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7 Stops for Fall Farm Fun all over Thurston County 

Excerpt from Experience Olympia and Beyond:

Fall is here and farms all over Thurston County are ready for visitors to pick their perfect pumpkins, get lost in corn mazes, enjoy kids activities, and bite into fresh corn on the cob.

Find an abundance of family friendly activities at these six farms just beyond Olympia.

Find more information and a schedule of pumpkin patches and corn mazes at ThurstonTalk.com.

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Dancing Goats and Singing Chickens Organic Farm

Rutledge Family Farm

Tahoma Vista Fiber Mill and LaVida Alpaca Farm

Lost Peacock Creamery

Schilter Family Farm

Hunter Family Farm

Lattin’s Country Cider Mill

* Editor’s note: I applaud Auditor Mary Hall’s acceptance of state National Guard resources to support election security during the General Election. Enough of Trump Administration threats and bluster about election intimidation!

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Thurston County Auditor’s Statement on State National Guard Resources

From the Office of the Thurston County Auditor:

The Thurston County Auditor’s Office has accepted Governor Ferguson’s offer of state National Guard resources to support election security during the General Election.

National Guard personnel will serve in a purely supportive role to enhance our election infrastructure security. Members will be unarmed, out of uniform, and will operate directly under the Thurston County Auditor in coordination with local law enforcement. They will not serve as law enforcement, nor will they touch, handle, or participate in the processing of ballots in any capacity.

More from: Pumpkin Patch at Crossroads Yelm

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15th annual Crossroads Pumpkin Patch returns through Oct. 31

Excerpt from the NVN: 

The annual Crossroads Pumpkin Patch has returned for its 15th year, inviting families to enjoy fall activities, pick out seasonal decorations and support local students pursuing higher education.

The Crossroads Community Covenant Church is located near Four Corners at 11520 Bald Hill Road SE. The annual pumpkin patch will remain open through Saturday, Oct. 31. Proceeds benefit Yelm Dollars for Scholars (YDFS) and the Rainier Education Foundation (REF), helping provide scholarships for local graduates.

The pumpkins, gourds and decorative corn stalks are grown locally at Nisqually Springs Farm in McKenna, keeping the fundraiser rooted in the community.

Last year, 97 Yelm High School graduates received a combined $179,000 in scholarships, according to Yelm Dollars for Scholars. More than $8,000 was raised through the pumpkin patch, demonstrating how a local fall tradition can make a meaningful difference for students.

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Families are encouraged to make the Crossroads Pumpkin Patch part of their fall plans before it closes on Saturday, Oct. 31. Bring the kids, find the perfect pumpkin, enjoy the activities and help local graduates take the next step in their education. Every visit supports a community effort to make higher education more accessible for local students.

The pumpkin patch is open from 3 to 6 p.m. on Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturdays; and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

LAST CHANCE
Little Shop of Horrors!
FINAL WEEKEND OCTOBER 23-25
At the beautiful Performing Arts Center at Yelm High School in Yelm.

Click here to buy tickets for Friday and Saturday (7pm) plus Sunday (2pm) performances.

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Review: Standing Room Only Theater’s ‘Little Shop of Horrors’

By The JOLT News:

An iconic show like this demands incredible attention to detail, love, care, a splash of crazy, and a team of delightfully quirky and eccentric people working behind the scenes. With all these ingredients and a good dose of community spirit, Yelm’s Standing Room Only (SRO) Theater created an outstanding, high-quality adaptation of this beloved musical.

The review 

Skid Row has so many shining stars, but one that deserves an extra round of applause is the set design.

Community theater often works on a limited budget, but the team at SRO proved creativity can go a long way. Their work was so impressive that I could easily imagine myself sitting in the audience of a high-end professional production. Director Charles Phillips and his team have a lot to be proud of.  

Speaking of things I’d expect in a high-end production, the cast’s overall vocal quality was outstanding, and Music Director Heather Matthews deserves plenty of credit for it!

Every cast member maintained a consistent accent throughout the show, which matters more than you might think. And those belts? Absolutely incredible! I’m especially glad Matthews allowed the music to soar naturally rather than trying to rein it in. The result gave me semi-permanent goosebumps.  

Everyone in the cast deserves applause, but today I would like to celebrate my personal favorites from the cast.  

Understudy James Dover took the stage as Seymour in the performance I attended, and I’m so grateful I got to see him in a leading role! Remember when I chatted with Dover earlier this year? You can read our conversation here.

As he demonstrated in this production, Dover is a talented singer, an emotionally dynamic performer, and a wonderfully responsive actor. He’s often found working behind the scenes, but I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw him on stage more often. Production companies and audiences alike would be lucky to have him.

Haley Paine’s vocal chops are straight out of Broadway! I’ve seen her in other shows, but I was especially delighted to see her take on a leading role that truly lets her talents shine.

Paine’s Audrey could bring you to tears in the best possible ways, whether through laughter, pure sweetness, or sheer vocal power! Local directors, take note: Paine is a rising star, and I sincerely hope we’ll have the pleasure of seeing her on stage more often.

Luke Foster Kosbab’s Dentist role made me laugh so much that he almost made the slimy, masochistic medical provider likable! Was I still satisfied when Audrey II ate him? Absolutely, but I thoroughly enjoyed every moment he spent on stage. 

 Speaking of Audrey II, Gregory Conn’s voice is truly rare yet delightful — and exactly what a show like this needs. His voice has the perfect mix of grit, irony, and power, and his evil cackle is out of this world! The sparkly suit he wore at the end of the show has officially earned my award for the best costume of the year. Bravo costume designer Meg Long! 

 My final round of applause goes to Brooke Upton, who played Crystal, one of Skid Row’s fabulous gal pals. Upton has a Broadway-quality voice that knows exactly when to stand out and when to blend seamlessly with the ensemble.

Her joy on stage was contagious, which is saying something, given how evident everyone’s passion for their craft was throughout the production. Upton was a delight to watch, adding another layer of talent and energy to an already outstanding cast! 

Hurry and get your tickets for the last showings happening this weekend!  

Commissioners eye transfer of Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners is proposing to transfer ownership of a section of the 14.5-mile Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail to the City of Yelm.

A public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 20, when the board will unveil plans to have the City of Yelm act as a secondary sponsor, allowing it to operate, upgrade and maintain a 1.6-mile portion of the paved, multi-use rail trail, which consists of five parcels of land.

The plots up for transfer are located along State Route 507 and situated within Yelm’s Urban Growth Area.

The plots were originally bought using a recreation and conservation grant, as well as funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The remaining portion of the trail not subject to transfer will remain under the supervision of the county.

Under the interlocal agreement that the two parties have hammered out, the City of Yelm will continue to preserve the properties for public use as an interim trail for nonmotorized travel and recreational purposes. The city may not sell or transfer the properties without authorization from the county.

Completed in 2005, the Yelm-Rainier-Tenino Trail traced the old railroad track that was last functional in the mid-1980s.

The agreement also stipulates that the county will be entitled to compensation should any of the properties be used for the establishment of a new rail service.

Delta Claims No Battle With Alaska Over Seattle

Excerpt from Travelbinger:

Seattle-Tacoma International Airport has long hosted two major carriers that once maintained a closer partnership. Delta Air Lines now shares the facility with Alaska Airlines, the larger operator there by flight volume. Chief Executive Ed Bastian addressed the dynamic directly during the airline’s recent earnings call, stating that the market can accommodate both carriers without conflict. ([1])

Public Tone Differs From Past Rivalry

Bastian described Alaska’s expansion moves as smart and emphasized that Seattle represents a large enough market for both airlines to coexist. He noted that Delta does not need to dominate every city it serves. The measured language contrasts with the carrier’s more assertive positioning at Los Angeles International Airport, where it has highlighted its leading status.

Former partnership ties between the two carriers have given way to direct competition on routes, amenities, and passenger loyalty. Both airlines see growth potential in Pacific routes to Asia, with Delta citing its West Coast hubs as strong launch points and Alaska viewing the region as its primary international opportunity.

Travelers Stand to Gain From Added Options

The parallel investments in new routes and upgraded facilities are expanding choices for passengers flying through Seattle. Additional international service and improved lounges represent tangible benefits that arise when carriers vie for the same customer base. Industry observers note that sustained competition often leads to better schedules and service levels over time.

Whether the relationship remains cooperative or grows more intense, the outcome for travelers appears positive in the near term. Seattle residents and visitors now have two established airlines actively courting their business on both domestic and international itineraries.

Click here to read the full story.