Warning · Middle East · 8–12 Oct 2026
Missiles hit Riyadh's airport, and the US says it "may" join the fight
Read the comic ↓This week // Issue 01 · Week of 13 Oct 2026 // checked Tue 13 Oct 2026
Politics.THE 808
Politics already plays like a video game, so we draw it like one. This week: one warning sign, two dispatches from the wider world, one from the United States, which would sulk if left out, and one from Canada, which would be too polite to mention it. Each gets an 8-bit comic, a short rundown and our take. The quotes are word for word, which is more than some of the people quoted can say, and every one links back to where we found it. Still hungry? The newsfeed has the rest.
The Ballot Box
A ballot is hidden in every comic. Find it to unlock your vote on that story's 808 take. How it works
The October feature
The Repo Men of the High Seas
- $47M to look after one seized tanker
- "Junior varsity" the blockade, according to a former Navy lawyer
- Moray, not Clyde the dossier, fact-checked
- Fast-rope to scrapyard where the Marinera ended up
The October feature
The Repo Men of the High Seas
Seizing a shadow tanker takes minutes. Paying for it takes months. We followed Washington's Venezuela oil seizures from the fast-rope to the scrapyard.
Missiles hit Riyadh's airport, and the US says it "may" join the fight
The Yemen war has jumped the border into Saudi Arabia's capital. One American is among the dead.
Riyadh, Saturday night. A missile hits King Khalid International Airport: 12 killed, 309 wounded. [1]
The dead came from eight countries: four Saudis, two Bangladeshis, and one each from the US, Jordan, Palestine, Syria, Sudan and Egypt. Flights are suspended. [5]
“…respond decisively to this terrorist attack in accordance with the Customary International Humanitarian Law.”
Turki al-Malki, Saudi-led coalition spokesman, 10 Oct [5]
The Houthis tell airliners to avoid Saudi airspace, calling it a zone of military operations. Any aircraft there is a target, they say, except over Mecca and Medina. [5]
An American is among the dead. [1]
“These reprehensible attacks demonstrate a blatant disregard for innocent civilian life. They must stop now.”
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State [1]
A Houthi official: if the US joins, "there will be a swift and painful response targeting the U.S. and all its interests in the region." [3]
“We may. We're going to look at it.”
Donald Trump, asked if the US will join Saudi strikes [1]
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Pakistan and Türkiye call the attacks a "blatant violation of international law" and "a dangerous escalation". [6]
“Ultimately, gains on the battlefield cannot substitute for the negotiations that will be required to settle the conflict.”
Hans Grundberg, UN envoy for Yemen, 9 Oct [4]
What happened
- Houthi attacks hit Saudi airports in Jizan, Najran, Abha and Riyadh this week. On Saturday 10 October a missile struck Riyadh's King Khalid International Airport, killing 12 people and wounding 309. [1]
- US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed an American was among the dead. Another strike on 11 October killed one person and injured 11. [2]
- The UN-brokered ceasefire that had largely held since 2022 has collapsed; Saudi-backed government forces launched their "Dawn of Yemen" offensive on 4 October. [1]
- Asked whether the US would join Saudi strikes, President Trump said "We may." A Houthi official warned that US involvement would bring retaliation against US interests across the region. [3]
What to watch
- Now Whether the US joins Saudi strikes; no decision announced as of 12 Oct. [3]
- 3 Nov US midterm elections. [3]
Sources: [1] Al Jazeera · [2] Fox News · [3] CBS News · [4] Al Jazeera (UN envoy) · [5] Al Jazeera · [6] Arab News (Saudi Press Agency)
8-bit drop · #01/18 · CommonSleepy BylineThis week · collect it for your portal and avatarTrump's Russian diesel deal, a shaky "energy ceasefire" and a call for Ukraine to replace Zelenskyy
A fuel deal with Moscow lands in the same week the White House says Kyiv needs a new leader.
The deal: 300,000 tonnes of Russian diesel for the world market now, a further 500,000 tonnes in November. [1]
“I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president.”
Donald Trump, 10 Oct [2]
“He has the support of the Ukrainian people, and they have the right to decide.”
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's foreign minister, on X [2]
The same day, a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia kills 20 people, including three children. [2]
“Today alone, the Russians have attacked 6 energy facilities in Ukraine. 33 people were wounded across the country.”
Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after the "energy ceasefire" [3]
Russia's Sergey Lavrov, on Zelenskyy: "I do not think he deserves a respite." [3]
“I have not noted, over the last 48 hours, any energy ceasefire coming from the Russian side.”
Emmanuel Macron, at a Paris auto show [4]
“I do believe there's a legitimate case for saying the president's not following the law.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), on Meet the Press [1]
The 2022 ban on Russian energy imports passed the House 414–17, and no senator opposed it. Most of its provisions take effect on 18 October. [5]
What happened
- President Trump announced an agreement for Russia to provide 300,000 tonnes of diesel to the global market, with a further 500,000 tonnes to be delivered in November. [1]
- After Volodymyr Zelenskyy objected, Trump said on 10 October: "I think it's time for Ukraine to get a new president." The same day a Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia killed 20 people, including three children. [2]
- Trump then announced an "energy ceasefire" between Russia and Ukraine. Zelenskyy said Russia hit six Ukrainian energy facilities in a single day afterwards, and France's Emmanuel Macron said he had seen no ceasefire from the Russian side. [3]
- Republican Senators Thom Tillis, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and John Curtis joined Democrats Jeanne Shaheen and Richard Blumenthal in a letter denouncing the sanctions relief; Tillis says it could break US law. The EU, meanwhile, added some 1,569 people and businesses to its Russia sanctions list. [1]
What to watch
Sources: [1] Al Jazeera · [2] Al Jazeera · [3] Al Jazeera · [4] Al Jazeera · [5] AP (via ClickOnDetroit)
8-bit drop · #02/18 · CommonBouncy NewsieThis week · collect it for your portal and avatarFederal agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar's home, three weeks before the midterms
No charges have been filed. Democrats call it intimidation; Republicans say nobody is above the law.
Washington, before dawn, 12 Oct. Homeland Security Investigations agents search Rep. Ilhan Omar's home. No charges have been filed. [1]
“I'm ok. Make no mistake: this is an attempt to target political enemies and weaponize federal law enforcement… I will not be silenced.”
Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), on X [1]
“I think she's a terrible person, but that's really up to the DOJ.”
Donald Trump, to reporters [3]
FOX 9, citing Fox News Digital: the probe reportedly concerns immigration paperwork her late father filled out when she was a child. [4]
“Nobody is above the law. … ACCOUNTABILITY IS COMING!”
Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), on X [4]
“The timing of this raid and reports that a White House official was involved raise serious questions that should concern all Americans, regardless of political party.”
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) [4]
“Minnesotans deserve answers, and they deserve a representative whose attention is on serving them.”
John Nagel, Republican candidate in Minnesota's 5th District [4]
AP: the DOJ has historically tried to "avoid public investigative actions involving a candidate within 60 days" of an election. This search came 22 days out. [2]
What happened
- Agents from Homeland Security Investigations searched Rep. Ilhan Omar's Washington, D.C. home early on 12 October under a federal search warrant. No charges have been filed. [1]
- The Justice Department called the search part of an ongoing federal criminal investigation. AP notes the department has historically tried to avoid public investigative actions involving a candidate within 60 days of an election. [2]
- Omar, a Minnesota Democrat on the 3 November ballot, called it an attempt to "weaponize federal law enforcement." President Trump said: "I think she's a terrible person, but that's really up to the DOJ." [3]
- Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer posted: "Nobody is above the law." House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries called the raid "deeply disturbing" in a statement co-signed by Katherine Clark and Pete Aguilar. [4]
- The Jeffries statement: the administration's "violent mass deportation machine has descended upon the home of a duly elected Member of Congress." [5]
What to watch
- 3 Nov Omar is on the ballot in Minnesota's 5th District. [1]
- Open Whether any charges are filed; no timeline disclosed. [3]
Sources: [1] Al Jazeera · [2] PBS NewsHour (AP) · [3] CBS News · [4] FOX 9 · [5] TIME
8-bit drop · #03/18 · CommonRusty ScoopThis week · collect it for your portal and avatarThe Parti Québécois wins Quebec, but no referendum while Trump is in office
Separatists form a minority government on the lowest winning vote share in Quebec history. The CAQ is wiped out.
Quebec City, 5 Oct. The Parti Québécois wins 59 seats: government, but five short of a majority. The CAQ is shut out. [4]
“Quebecers elected the Parti Québécois asking it to work with the other parties, and I heard that message.”
Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, election night [4]
She also lost her own seat, in Trois-Rivières. [9]
“I accept the responsibility for the results of last night.”
Christine Fréchette, resigning as CAQ leader [7]
“This is a crucial time for our country. It is a crucial time for Quebec … This is not a time to wait for something a few years down the road.”
Prime Minister Mark Carney, 6 Oct [5]
“It's not worth crossing the room to come see us, because for us, it's no.”
Quebec Liberal leader Charles Milliard, on a referendum [3]
Support for independence sits at about 30%, low by historical standards (AP). [5]
“People say it's symbolic, I would respond that it's still totally abnormal.”
St-Pierre Plamondon, on the oath to the King [8]
Next up: Albertans vote on 19 October, including on whether to start the legal process for a separation referendum. [6]
What happened
- The Parti Québécois won 59 of 127 seats on 5 October, five short of the 64 needed for a majority. The Liberals won 40 seats, the Conservatives 19 and Québec solidaire nine. [1]
- The Coalition Avenir Québec, in power for eight years, lost all 79 of its seats. [4]
- The PQ's 27.9% of the vote is the lowest share ever won by a winning party in Quebec. [2]
- Premier-designate Paul St-Pierre Plamondon says a sovereignty referendum won't happen while Donald Trump is in office; homelessness, government spending and the cost of living come first. Prime Minister Mark Carney urged Quebec to focus on the economy now. [3]
What to watch
Sources: [1] Global News · [2] Reuters (via The Irish Times) · [3] Global News · [4] AP · [5] AP (via WCAX) · [6] Global News (Alberta) · [7] CP24 · [8] CP24 · [9] CTV News
8-bit drop · #04/18 · CommonGrumpy DatelineThis week · collect it for your portal and avatarThe US sanctions the International Criminal Court itself, hours after a former ICC judge wins the Nobel Peace Prize
Navi Pillay takes the Peace Prize; Washington targets the court she once sat on. Eight allies push back.
Oslo, 9 Oct. Navi Pillay, a former ICC judge, wins the Nobel Peace Prize. The committee chair says international law is "under tremendous pressure." [1]
“…dedicate this award to all of the survivors of international crimes.”
Navi Pillay, on the prize [1]
Hours later: sanctions on the court itself. The US had already sanctioned 17 ICC judges and officials. [5]
“Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC.”
Marco Rubio, US Secretary of State [2]
Nine allies, Canada and Australia included, say they "regret and strongly disagree". [6]
“The Court cannot stand alone. Its fate now rests also in the hands of the states that created it.”
The International Criminal Court, in a statement [3]
“Today's decision marks a serious blow to our collective pursuit of international criminal justice.”
Stéphane Dujarric, UN spokesperson [3]
“We will stand firm in defence of the court.”
Tom Berendsen, Dutch foreign minister [3]
What happened
- On 9 October the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to South African jurist Navi Pillay, a former UN human rights chief who sat on the ICC's Appeals Chamber from 2003 to 2008. [1]
- Hours later Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced sanctions on the court itself, not just its officials: "Either the ICC will end its threats, or we will end the ICC." [2]
- The US Treasury set a six-month initial grace period and exemptions for telecommunications, software, pension payments and transactions related to detainees. [3]
- Nine countries, Australia, Britain, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and the Netherlands, signed a joint statement saying they "regret and strongly disagree" with the sanctions. [6]
- Belgium called for the EU to activate its Blocking Statute to protect the court, which has 125 member states. [3]
What to watch
- ~Apr 2027 The six-month grace period ends (our calculation from 9 Oct). [3]
- 10 Dec The Nobel ceremony in Oslo. [1]
Sources: [1] Al Jazeera · [2] Al Jazeera · [3] Al Jazeera · [4] Reuters (via Daily Maverick) · [5] Democracy Now! · [6] GOV.UK (joint statement)
8-bit drop · #05/18 · CommonCheeky NewsieThis week · collect it for your portal and avatarMore this week
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