Good morning, Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.
But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)
Trump ‘Not Satisfied’ With Saudi Response to Khashoggi’s Death
President Donald Trump said he is “not satisfied” with Saudi Arabia’s response to Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, days after the country admitted that Khashoggi died at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul during what the country claims was an interrogation.
“I am not satisfied with what I’ve heard,” Trump told reporters at the White House Monday, adding that the Saudis must speed up their investigation after the country said it needed a month to complete the investigation.
“That’s a long time,” Trump said. “There’s no reason for that much. Be faster.”
More than two weeks after the journalist and Saudi royal insider went missing after entering the Saudi consulate, Saudi Arabia admitted to Khashoggi’s death on Friday, ABC News reports. The country said it was a part of an intelligence operation to convince the journalist to return to Saudi Arabia, although the operation was not authorized by senior Saudi leadership. The operation reportedly went wrong when Khashoggi tried to leave the consulate, and the journalist was place in a choke-hold and died.
via Middle East Monitor / Handout via Reuters
That claim has been dismissed as not credible by several U.S. officials and members of Congress, but Trump did not immediately dismiss the Saudi’s response Monday, saying he would withhold judgment until top U.S. intelligence officials could return from a trip to the region.
“We have people over in Saudi Arabia now. We have top intelligence people in Turkey, and we’re going to see what we have. I’ll know a lot tomorrow,” he said.
Trump did, however, continue his defense of U.S.-Saudi economic relations, and expressed his desire to not disturb that relationship, ABC News reports.
“I don’t want to lose all of that investment that’s being made in our country. I don’t want to lose a million jobs. I don’t want to lose a $110 billion in terms of investment,” he said.
Turkey ramped up its investigation on Monday, searching a car that belongs to the Saudi consulate that was found in an Istanbul parking lot. CNN had also aired video footage of what Turkish authorities said showed one of the suspects leaving the consulate dressed in Khashoggi’s clothes. That suspect has now been arrested.
While Turkish authorities have leaked information regarding the investigation to the press, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan will officially go on the record about the investigation before parliament on Tuesday.
In the first official remarks from the Turkish government, Erdogan said he will reveal the details of Turkey’s investigation into Khashoggi’s death, saying, “It will be revealed in full nakedness.”
Michael Avenatti Ordered to Pay $4.85 Million to His Former Coworker
Michael Avenatti, attorney to adult film star Stormy Daniels and critic of President Donald Trump, has been ordered to pay $4.85 million to settle a dispute with a former colleague.
A California judge ordered Monday that Avenatti to shell out the payment to attorney Jason Frank, who accused Avenatti of owing him millions for prior work at law firm Eagan Avenatti LLC, The Associated Press reported.
In May, a bankruptcy court had already ordered the law firm to pay Frank $10 million.
According to the AP, Avenatti did not file opposing arguments and did not attend the hearing, but said Monday that Frank owes the firm $12 million “for his fraud.”
The Daily Beast reported Sunday that Avenatti personally owed at least $1.2 million in federal taxes and corporate debts while leading an extravagant lifestyle in the last few years.
In a statement to The Huffington Post on Monday, Avenatti called the report “completely false.”
Avenatti, who has criticized Trump for refusing to release his tax records, recently declared that he is “seriously considering” a run for the presidency.
On Sunday, the attorney reiterated his pledge to release his tax returns if he runs for office, which would provide more detail about his financial history.
Trump Ditches Lyin’ Ted Name, Calls Cruz “Beautiful Ted”
President Donald Trump let his past feud with Sen. Ted Cruz be just that: in the past. Having formerly called the senator “Lyin’ Ted” and frequently criticized him on social media, Trump instead praised his former presidential rival before heading to Houston to rally for him.
When the two men were running against each other for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, Trump hurled insults at Cruz, leading to his famous moniker for the Texas Republican: “Lyin’ Ted.” Trump also insulted Cruz’s family, including Cruz’s wife’s appearance.
Trump, instead, began to compliment Cruz as he prepared for his highly anticipated rally in support of the Cruz’s Senate reelection campaign, Politico reports.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 23, 2018
“He’s not Lyin’ Ted anymore. He’s Beautiful Ted,” Trump said. “I call him Texas Ted.”
When asked if he regretted his comments about Cruz’s family, Trump played the comments off as part of a “very, very nasty and tough campaign.”
“I don’t regret anything, honestly,” Trump said. “It all worked out very nicely.”
Cruz is currently being challenged by Rep. Beto O’Rourke for his senatorial seat. O’Rourke has captured national attention, and last quarter, O’Rourke raised more money than any Senate candidate in a single quarter in American history, Politico reports.
But when speaking to reporters on Monday, Trump dismissed O’Rourke while still voicing his support for Cruz.
“I think Beto O’Rourke is highly overrated,” Trump told reporters. “When I heard about him, I thought he must be something special, he’s not.”
What to look out for…
Chrissy Teigen’s new collab with Becca Cosmetics, #BECCAxChrissy Cravings Collection, is fresh out of the oven, and I am addicted.