Author: rb809rb

US Government Moved $103 Million Worth of BTC and BNB: Is a Sell-Off Coming?

Of the Bitcoins seized, 568.7 $BTC comes from assets confiscated in the Potapenko and Turogin case. The remaining approximately 264.9 $BTC is from seizures related to the Bitfinex attack.

40,285 $BNB were transferred from a separate government wallet. The tokens, worth approximately $31.63 million, were first moved to an unlabeled address and then to a second unknown wallet. The BNBs were reportedly among the assets seized from Alameda Research.

Sending cryptocurrencies to a Coinbase Prime address can, in some cases, indicate preparation for sale. However, exchange-linked addresses can also be used for custody, wallet management, or inter-institutional transfers. Blockchain data alone does not prove that the asset has ultimately been sold.

The US government reportedly holds approximately $27.5 billion in seized cryptocurrency assets. These assets originated from legal seizures, not from market purchases funded by tax revenue.

The Bitcoins transferred to the government under the decree dated March 2025 are intended to be held in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. However, the legal status and sales authorization of assets in specific cases may vary. It would be incorrect to interpret the transfer as a definitive sale before an official announcement.

*This is not investment advice.

October 8, 2026
Kalshi takes on CME with first-ever U.S. oil futures that never expire

Kalshi wants one oil trade to last almost forever

Typical oil futures have a calendar attached to them. The trader buys exposure, the contract moves closer to expiration, and any trader who wishes to remain in the trade needs to roll into another month. This rollover business becomes boring until funds start bleeding due to transaction costs, price spreads, and poor timing of trades.

In effect, Kalshi is saying: Why do this every few weeks or months?

The contract it proposes would make one position last for ten years, while employing a funding strategy that keeps the price tied to the WTI market. For those holding crude exposure over extended periods of time, this may mean simpler mechanics. There will be no need to constantly roll contracts, as well as reduced risks of mistakenly rolling into a physical delivery situation at Cushing, Oklahoma, where the trader had no intentions of taking possession of the barrel of oil.

The company also believes that a single large duration contract would help keep the trading activity in one place instead of spreading liquidity across a long series of expirations.

That idea is arriving at a pretty convenient moment.

The Iran war has turned crude into one of the most aggressively traded macro assets of the year. Hedge funds, institutions and individual traders have all been chasing energy swings as geopolitical headlines keep jerking prices around.

WTI futures have traveled through roughly a $60-per-barrel range since January, which is exactly the kind of environment where traders start caring a lot more about execution, rollover costs and whether their instrument is flexible enough.

The contract would be traded 24 hours a day, Monday through Friday. While the contract would not truly last forever, 10 years is close enough that the average person using it would likely not mind the difference in a regular trade.

There is one problem, however: regulators cannot treat this as an everyday exchange listing.

Derivatives that are perpetual in nature undergo closer scrutiny, so Kalshi cannot self-certify the contract as many exchanges can with other products. The CFTC must review the filing on its own merits.

The filing has come at an inopportune time for CME Group, which recently abandoned its attempt to change the rules of oil trading.

CME backed off, while Kalshi is pushing further

CME had been developing an early version of the contract that would allow for trading 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This proposal was met with stiff opposition from the oil sector and regulatory authorities.

The issue at stake was not just whether the traders wanted to trade oil futures on Saturdays. The physical oil market is priced using benchmark prices, and it was not clear if the non-stop trading could be kept grounded in reality.

The CFTC initially blocked the plan, kicking off months of debate. CME eventually shelved it.

Kalshi is taking a different route. Its market would stop for the weekend, but the contract itself would barely expire at all.

There is also history between these companies. CME executives have criticized perpetual futures, and CME sued the CFTC earlier this year over its decision allowing Kalshi to offer crypto-linked versions of the same broad derivative concept.

And oil is not the only regulatory battlefield surrounding Kalshi.

Ohio, 38 other states, and Washington, D.C. have petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court to take up another separate challenge involving Kalshi’s sports event contracts. In its October 7th filing, Ohio has supported New Jersey in Flaherty v. KalshiEX, LLC., Case No. 26-299.

The matter revolves around whether the sports event contracts qualify as swaps under the Commodity Exchange Act and, if they do, whether the application of federal commodities law preempts state gambling law.

In the Third Circuit, Kalshi prevailed and the sports event contracts were deemed swaps under federal jurisdiction. The Ninth Circuit ruled against Kalshi and held that the application of Nevada’s gaming law remained intact. The Sixth Circuit also disagreed with the proposition that federal commodities law preempted state gambling law.

Other similar challenges are still pending in the Second, Fourth, Seventh, Eighth and Tenth Circuits, as well as the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court.

October 8, 2026
James Gunn Responds to ‘Clayface’ Criticism: ‘The Public Voting on What IP They Want to See’ Isn’t ‘the Only Way to Make a Movie’

James Gunn has an answer to the question of “who tf asked for a Clayface movie,” posed by a user on the DC Studios head’s Threads account earlier this week.

“Who tf asked for Back to the Future? Casablanca? There’s Something About Mary? Pan’s Labyrinth? Fury Road? Weapons? The Matrix?” Gunn fired back on the platform. (The user’s original comment has since been deleted.) “Although it may seem like it, Hollywood isn’t a place where the only way to make a movie is the public voting on what IP they want to see that they’ve seen countless times before.”

He posted again: “Sometimes someone — in this case initially Mike Flanagan and then James Watkins and Hossein Amini — were inspired by a relatively little-known fictional character and crafted what I believe is a very special story around that character. I’d take that inspiration a thousand times over some writer trying to make a buck by writing a listless screenplay about a majorly popular character he or she has no passion or feel for.”

Despite the fact that Clayface is a considerably nicher choice for a feature film compared to past DC movies like “Supergirl” and “Superman,” most fans have been eagerly awaiting the premiere of “Clayface” since the gory trailer premiered months ago. And while versions of the character have appeared on screen in the years since the comic’s 1940 debut, the film, directed by James Watkins (“Speak No Evil”), marks the first time audiences will see the shape-shifting villain in a film all of his own.

Tom Rhys Harries plays the titular character, also known as Matt Hagen. “Matt Hagen’s meteoric rise from Gotham street kid to Hollywood leading man is tragically cut short when a local crime boss’s actions leave him horribly disfigured,” reads the film’s official description. “Abandoned by his team and with nothing left, Matt seeks out a cutting-edge treatment that miraculously returns him to his former self… but also unexpectedly affects his grip on reality, spiraling him down a destructive path of all-consuming revenge.” Naomi Ackie, David Dencik, Max Minghella and Eddie Marsan also star.

“Clayface” hits theaters on Oct. 23.

October 8, 2026
Vancouver Film Festival Prizes: Big Wins for Immigrant Tale ‘Nina Roza,’ the ‘Polished Cinematic’ ‘In the Heart of the South’ and Separated Sisters Story ‘How We Stand’

Geneviève Dulude-De Celles’ “Nina Roza,” Nyla Innuksuk’s “In the Heart of the South” and Marie Clements’ “How We Stand” are among the films taking top honors at the 45th Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF).

The festival announced its 2026 juried awards winners on Wednesday night, recognizing films across its Summit, Horizon, Tides, Arbutus, Vanguard and Short Forum competitions.

The Summit Award went to “Nina Roza,” directed by Dulude-De Celles, which the jury praised for its compassionate exploration of the immigrant experience, identity and belonging. The film follows a protagonist returning to his hometown for the first time in 28 years, drawn back by the mystery surrounding a young artistic prodigy. “We all know what it’s like to long for home,” said the jury, “We were all enamored by this film’s direction, authentic performances, stunning cinematography, and evocative music.”

Ian Bawa’s “Strong Son” snagged a special mention.

For the Horizon Award, the jury selected Nyla Innuksuk’s “In the Heart of the South,” describing the film as a “strong example of Canadian cinema.” The jury praised its performances by Anna Lambe and Zorga Qaunaq and “polished cinematic approach.”

Nathan Donovan’s “Clubfoot” received the Horizon jury’s special mention.

Banchi Hanuse’s “Ceremony” scooped the The Tides Award for a feature about the disappearance of ooligan fish from Bella Coola and the Nuxalk Nation’s efforts to protect and preserve its lands and waters. “Through beautiful cinematography and inventive storytelling, the film documents the strengths of community members consistently challenging the boundaries of imposed systems while drawing upon the resilience and generosity of their ancestors,” the jury said.

A special mention went to Carol Nguyen’s “Still Night, Burning House.”

The Arbutus Award, which recognizes British Columbia filmmaking, went to Marie Clements’ “How We Stand,” a story of sisters separated by tragedy. The film confronts “difficult and traumatic history by bringing it into vivid, real, human focus. Its surrealist style, deft storytelling, heart, and powerful heroines at once entertain, educate and demand self-reflection—as individuals, and as a society,” the jury noted.

Hayley Gray and Kaayla Whachell’s “Send the Rain” won a special mention.

“Hear the Yellow,” directed by Banu Sıvacı, took the Vanguard Award kudos, praised for its “remarkable depth,” “originality,” “singular cinematic language” and “emotional precision,” said the jury, stating that through “bold character work and intelligent use of metaphor, it transports us into a vividly specific landscape while creating a powerful dialogue between rural and urban, and a family separated by time.”

Samuel Urbina’s “That Shadow Fading” received the Vanguard special mention.

The Short Forum Award was adjudicated to “Pre-Parenting,” an animated film by Taiwan-based filmmaker Yu Yu, with a special mention scored by Kamal Aljafari’s “Going Home.”

The juried awards come as VIFF wraps its 45th edition on Oct. 11.

The Vancouver International Film Festival (VIFF) 2026 Juries

Summit Award: Rhia Aden, Nach Dudsdeemaytha, Caitlyn Sponheimer

Horizon Award: Arjun Ayillath, Madeleine Davis, Michael Mann

Tides Award: Selwyn Jacob, Lyana Patrick, Jeff Lee Petry

Arbitus Award Jury: Josephine Anderson, Brenda Lieberman, David Taylor

Vanguard Award Jury: Joaquin Cardoner, Caroline Monnet, Sarah Shamash

Short Film Award Jury: Tanvi Bhatia, Ariel Bond, Thanh Lieu

October 8, 2026
‘Don’t rush anything’: Vitalik Buterin warns against hasty wallet migrations amid growing AI threats

October 8, 2026
Josh Hartnett Leads Netflix’s Exhilarating Sea Monster Thriller ‘Below’: TV Review

The oceans’ vastness can feel ominous, and though scientists have studied what lurks beneath, so much remains unknown. In Netflix’s new limited series “Below,” creator Jesse McKeown introduces viewers to a tiny town in the Canadian province of Newfoundland, a man still haunted by his past and a family desperate to look ahead toward the future. Deeply intriguing and at times terrifying, “Below” is a perfectly paced thriller. The series masterfully blends genres, looking beyond the mythos of sea creatures to take a hard look at human nature, especially as we continue down the harrowing road of an irreparable climate crisis.

“Below” opens in 1986 in Newfoundland. Nine-year-old Calvin Penney (Azriel Dalman) and his family are relocating from Little Pot Rock to a slightly larger island, Snook’s Arm. Sitting in a boat, tugging their house behind them, the journey initially appears to be going smoothly. But, after a mysterious incident, Calvin is forced to cut the tow between the boat and the house, leaving his father to drown. Forty years later, adult Calvin (Josh Hartnett) is still haunted by the event.

Though his father’s death torments him, Calvin is an affable, hardworking widower. Fishing has long dried up in Snook’s Arm, so Calvin and his son Wade (Charlie Heaton) make a living by collecting ice for a local vodka brewery and running an Airbnb out of their home. Calvin is especially pleased to celebrate Come Home Year because his other children, Mary (Ruby Stokes) and Jay (Rohan Campbell), are back to the island for a week-long stay. Unfortunately, the visit doesn’t go as smoothly as Calvin expects. The brewery rejects his latest ice haul due to its stench, which leads him to Dr. Fonda Howander (Mackenzie Davis), who runs the local science center. Soon, after Wade, who loves to self-medicate his ADHD with alcohol and mushrooms, is involved in a horrific accident, and Snook’s Cove residents begin acting oddly, Calvin and Fonda realize something is amiss in the water.

Save for Hartnett’s hilarious attempt at a Newfoundland accent, “Below” is a gripping watch. McKeown offers audiences a beautiful snapshot of an eroding but close-knit community and a man determined to save it. Though Calvin’s children and sister Ruth (Willow Kean), who works as Snook’s Arms Harbor Master, realize there are very few resources left to hold on to, Calvin digs in his heels, determined to find a way forward. As the town and its residents descend into chaos after a massive iceberg emerges from the water, Calvin realizes it might all be connected to his father’s accident.

At just six episodes, each running 45 minutes or less, “Below” is engrossing because it’s more than it appears. Although a horrifying sea creature sits at the center of the show, this story is about a man desperate to cling to a decaying past, a grieving family and how greed can create monsters. Episode 4, “The Ocean Will Have Us All,” is particularly riveting. The episode centers around the creature, but it also showcases how far people are willing to go and who they will sacrifice — no matter the cost — for their own selfish gains. The final minutes of the episode show some gutting displays of inhumanity, which only begin to make sense in the penultimate episode, titled “Little Pot Rock.”

In the end, “Below” is a captivating ride blending horror and suspense while centering our very real climate crisis. As a result, McKeown delivers a truly unique story in a well-worn genre. By examining the Penney family and the place they call home, the show addresses the fragility of life, the impermanence of place and how small we are in the universe. Moreover, the series reminds audiences that change is inevitable, and the only way to deal with it is to shift and adjust when it comes.

“Below” is now streaming on Netflix.

October 8, 2026
Ripple is earning fees financing leveraged stock bets, a business long run by banks

That puts the annualized financing rate at roughly 8% at prevailing rates, charged on the swap exposure and separate from the ETF’s management fee.

The U.S. market now has 593 leveraged ETFs holding more than $256 billion, including 426 funds tracking individual stocks, according to Morningstar Direct data.

Banks have traditionally supplied much of this financing, but tighter capital and risk requirements have created openings for nonbank firms including Ripple Prime, Jane Street and Clear Street.

Ripple launched its Delta One business in August, offering total return swaps tied to U.S. stocks, market indexes and digital assets. It said at the time the operation had more than $1 billion in regulatory net capital, and it had completed a $275 million senior debt offering to help finance further growth.

Meanwhile, the company announced an expanded agreement on Tuesday with hedge fund manager Brevan Howard, under which Ripple Prime will provide brokerage, clearing and financing services across multiple asset classes.

Leveraged ETFs reset their exposure daily, and sharp moves in individual stocks can leave financing firms exposed if a fund’s assets are insufficient to cover losses.

The business gives Ripple fee income tied to stock trading and institutional financing. As such, the company has still not disclosed how much revenue its leveraged ETF financing generates or how much of that activity uses $XRP or the $XRP Ledger.

October 8, 2026
What to Snag (and Skip) During October Prime Day’s Final Hours

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission.

Nothing fails to roll off the tongue quite like Prime Big Deal Days. Regardless, Prime Day‘s clunkier sibling has a solid list of savings worth snapping up.

The 48-hour shopping holiday, concluding on Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT, is Amazon‘s second and final Prime member-exclusive savings event of the year — and for those not yet subscribed, the e-tailer offers a 30-day Prime free trial. (Students and young adults ages 18 to 24 can get a six-month free trial.)

Prime Big Deal Days 2026: What to Buy

As someone who’s been covering Prime Day since 2018, I have found a few key categories that consistently deliver the most significant savings. These include:

See below for 20 standouts across these key categories.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm, 3-in-1 Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Boasting its deepest discount to date, Elemis’ cult-favorite cleansing balm is available (and discounted) in all five varieties: Original, Rose, Black Cherry, Green Fig and Fragrance-Free.

Aesop Coriander Seed Body Cleanser, Gentle Body Wash

Nothing is more shocking than seeing Aesop on sale, especially a product as popular as the body wash.

Dyson Airwrap i.d. Multi-Styler

No better time to spring for the Dyson hair tool that’s been on your wish list.

Fendi Pre-loved Brown Zucca Canvas Shoulder Bag

One of our most-loved pieces from the What Goes Around Comes Around Amazon storefront.

Bluey: The Most Amazing Advent Calendar Book Bundle

Fully switching gears, this is currently the No. 1 best-seller in Children’s Christmas Books (and a great holiday gift).

Catan Board Game (6th Edition)

Another pick fit for holiday gifting.

Nutrafol Women Hair Growth Supplements, Ages 18-44

Put the almost-never-on-sale social media phenomenon to the test. Also available for age 45+.

Crest 3D Whitestrips Professional Effects

One of our readers’ most purchased items every Prime Day.

Spot & Tango PupGum Dog Breath & Clean Teeth Chews

Your furry friend deserves clean teeth too, after all.

Clinique Long Lasting Quickliner Lip Liner in Black Honey

Clinique Black Honey is famous for its universally flattering tint.

Pair this liner with the brand’s Almost Lipstick Tinted Lip Balm in Black Honey ($20 ~~$25~~). While it appears dark in the tube, the lightweight, hydrating formula glides on sheer and glossy.

Lancôme Lash Idôle Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara

When it comes to mascara, nothing beats Lancôme Lash Idôle — it achieves length, lift and volume, while remaining entirely clump-free.

Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max (Newest Model)

Check out the Fire TV Stick HD ($15.99 ~~$39.99~~) — also the newest model in its category — for an even more cost-conscious alternative.

Elemis Pro-Collagen Marine Cream SPF 30, Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer

Another multipurpose workhorse from Elemis, this serves as a daily moisturizer, sunblock and radiant base layer for daily makeup.

Havaianas Women’s Brazil Logo Sandals

One more from Shopbop. Best flip-flops ever.

It Cosmetics CC+ Cream with SPF 50+ Full Coverage Foundation

A full coverage formula that still maintains a natural finish.

Iconic London Underglow Blurring Primer

Iconic London’s Underglow primes and preps skin while minimizing the appearance of fine lines and pores.

Prime Big Deal Days 2026: What to Skip

As for the savings worth skipping, it really comes down to what’s going to see even further reductions during Black Friday and Cyber Monday. While it’s never a guarantee, we’d generally say to deprioritize TVs, laptops and other big-ticket electronics (not including Amazon-branded devices) along with major household appliances. In addition to the deeper discounts expected during the months ahead, competitor retailers (like The Home Depot and Best Buy) offer a wider selection of standout brands and models in said categories.

Related: 9 Sales Events Worth Shopping This Week Aside From Amazon’s October Prime Day

Amazon Prime Student Discount

Students and young adults ages 18 to 24 can get a six-month free trial to Amazon Prime. The plan will then auto-renew at $7.49 per month, half the price of a regular monthly Prime membership.

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days 2026 Dates

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days runs from Tuesday, Oct. 6 at 12:01 a.m. PT through Wednesday, Oct. 7 at 11:59 p.m. PT.

The Hollywood Reporter‘s shopping team is monitoring deals and updating this story as any new and noteworthy ones are added.

About the Author

Erin Lassner is THR’s E-Commerce Writer. She covers shopping content across beauty, fashion and lifestyle, and has nearly ten years of experience testing and reviewing the best of skin care, wellness, homeware and more.

October 8, 2026
In New Book, Joe Biden’s National Security Aide Brett McGurk Describes Jeffrey Katzenberg & Steven Spielberg Advising POTUS On Major Gaza Speech

Brett McGurk‘s new book Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages offers an insider account of the diplomatic rollercoaster to secure a ceasefire and hostage release in the war in Gaza.

The book, published this week, also offers a glimpse at White House messaging about the conflict, including two figures the president turned to in delivering a key speech: Jeffrey Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg.

McGurk, who served as deputy assistant for national security affairs to Biden, wrote of the scene as they prepared the president for his address on May 31, 2024. While Katzenberg and Spielberg’s role have been reported before, McGurk gave a first-hand account in the room, for a speech focused on a proposal to end the fighting and to secure a release of the hostages.

By that point, the Gaza conflict had created divisions within the Democratic coalition, protests at college campuses and presidential appearances and concerns over its impact on the November elections. There was pressure from the campaign for the president to make an address on the crisis, per McGurk.

McGurk wrote of the rehearsal, “In the Map Room, Biden peered at two screens behind me. ‘Jeffrey, Steven, welcome,’ he said. I turned around to see Jeffery Katzenberg and Steven Spielberg on Zoom. They greeted Biden warmly, Spielberg saying this was the speech they wanted to hear.

“It was a reminder that while I saw this speech as a policy address with a functional aim, it had a political purpose, too,” McGurk wrote.

He added, “The speech was timed for Friday night in Israel, when much of the country shuts down, allowing time for us to shape its reception there and around the world. Notably, we did not inform Netanyahu that we were making the speech until shortly before Biden delivered it, as we knew the address would lock Netanyahu into the terms of the deal now on the table.

“Biden said he was ready.

“Katzenberg advised, ‘Remember, slow Joe, let the audience hear every word.’

“Biden smiled, ‘Slow Joe? Don’t let Jill hear that.’

“He read through the draft, pausing at times to ask questions about the text, which we addressed with rewrites.”

McGurk wrote that he found Biden “fully engaged, leaning forward on the podium.”

He wrote, “The moguls told him he looked strong, and he did. There was no sign of the Biden we’d all see on a debate stage with Trump only four weeks later.”

The latter was a reference to Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Trump. What followed were weeks of calls on Biden to drop out, coming from some elected Democrats and prominent donors, until he exited the race on July 19. Katzenberg had played a prominent role as a top adviser to Biden’s re-election campaign.

While the Biden speech focused on a peace proposal, as it turned out, it would take until the next year, a week before Trump returned to office, for a ceasefire agreement to be reached.

October 8, 2026
Texas executes Jamaal Howard, America’s first death row inmate since the failed Christa Pike lethal injection attempt

Death row inmate Jamaal Howard has been executed in Texas.

Howard has become the 30th person to be executed in the US this year, and the first since Christa Pike’s failed attempt in Tennessee.

Howard, 46, was pronounced dead at 8.03pm local time after receiving a fatal dose of pentobarbital at the state prison in Huntsville.

He was sentenced to death for the 2000 murder of Vickie Swartout during an attempted robbery.

Howard was said to be ‘chatty’ during the 45-minute journey from death row to the Huntsville Unit where executions are carried out.

Amanda Hernandez, a spokesperson for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, said: “He made small talk with the officers through the whole trip.”

Once inside, he was taken to a holding cell inside the death chamber, with Hernandez saying: “He was asking questions and was very engaged in the process.”

Jamaal Howard was executed on 7 October (State of Texas 356th Judicial Court)

Earlier today, his legal team had unsuccessfully tried to block the execution, claiming that Howard was intellectually disabled and raising concerns about the use of pentobarbital – the same drug that had been used in Pike’s execution attempt on 30 September.

A One filing from his team read: “Ms. Pike survived two lethal doses of pentobarbital, the same drug used in executions in Texas, and she reportedly remains hospitalised in critical condition.

“When an execution goes wrong, one of the first questions anyone asks is whether the drug was what the State said it was.

“Tennessee’s own officials cannot yet answer that, and the answer lies in records: when the drug was bought, from whom, how it was stored, and what testing was done and when. Texas should not wait until after a failed execution to ask the same questions.

“We do not know why Ms. Pike’s execution failed, and we, specifically, do not know whether the failure was due to the pentobarbital’s being ineffective.”

Howard’s legal team had unsuccessfully tried to block the execution (Texas Department of Criminal Justice)

Jamaal Howard ‘did not understand’ how the execution would work

According to his spiritual advisor Reverend Jeff Hood, at trial, psychiatrists determined that Howard’s IQ is in the the 65-70 range, while they described him as functioning at the level of an 11 or 12-year-old.

Writing in the Texas Observer ahead of the execution, Hood claimed that Howard ‘didn’t understand how executions were carried out’ and that he had not heard of the Pike case or the media storm surrounding it.

He said that when he told Howard that at Pike’s execution the drugs didn’t work, he matter-of-factly replied: “I guess if the drugs don’t work, they’ll just shoot me in the head.”

He said that he told Howard that executions didn’t work like that but claimed he ‘literally had no understanding of the protocol by which he was going to be executed or what would happen if something went wrong’.

It was insisted that Howard didn’t understand how the execution would work (Mike Simons/Getty Images)

An update on Christa Pike following her botched lethal injection

Pike’s legal team have confirmed that she is now ‘conscious and speaking’ following her botched execution attempt last month.

READ MORE: All of the failed lethal injection executions in the last decade

In a new update earlier today, her team said that she could remember her name but when asked the date she still believed it was September.

Dr Joel Zivot, the anaesthesiologist advising her team, shared more details on her condition.

“She has some memories of being in the hospital but no memory, I believe, of the execution attempt,” he told the BBC.

(LADbible)

Tennessee has paused all upcoming executions

In the wake of her execution attempt, Tennessee has announced that all further planned executions be halted until an investigation into the matter is carried out.

A statement issued by the Tennessee Department of Correction said that they ‘followed every step of the State’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office.’

“The Tennessee Department of Correction followed every step of the state’s lawful, established execution protocol approved by the Attorney General’s Office,” the statement said.

“The lethal injection chemical in the protocol has consistently been effective, and the protocol does not allow for additional procedures beyond what was carried out this evening. Christa Pike has been transported to an off-site medical facility.”

The incident also led to the resignation of Tennessee Department of Correction Commissioner Frank Strada.

Strada will leave his role this month after being the residing commissioner of Tennessee’s Department of Correction for the past three years, and also in the role when the May execution of Tony Carruthers, was called off due to problems finding a vein for his lethal injection.

October 8, 2026