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CBS News Taps Steven Baker, Former ‘Nightline’ Producer, to Boost ‘Mornings,’ ‘Evening News’

CBS News is tapping another ABC News veteran to lend a hand with the ambitious task of trying to move its morning- and evening-news programs out of third place.

Steven Baker, a former executive producer at ABC News’ “Nightline,” joined CBS News as a consultant earlier this week, according to two people familiar with the matter. During his tenure at ABC News, Baker gained a reputation as someone willing to experiment and try new things. Baker supervised an effort, for example, to try and put “Nightline” programming in places other than the post-Jimmy Kimmel slot at ABC. Under his aegis, for example, “Nightline” developed an hour-long special program for the Freeform cable network that aimed for younger viewers. In 2020, he helped orchestrate a “takeover” of the “Nightline” timeslot by “Turning Point,” a monthlong look at the state of race relations in the U.S.

“’Nightline’ is more than just a time slot,” Baker told Variety in 2018. “This is a brand that tells stories, no matter where it is seen.” CBS News declined to make executives available for comment.

“Steve’s going to be working with me directly as a consultant and advisor on our daily news programs,” CBS News President Tom Cibrowski said to a group of staffers, according to a person who was present at a recent meeting. “Steve’s going to bring a lot of energy and ideas, and he’s going be a great partner to the show leaders,” Cibrowski added, nodding to Jon Tower and Kim Harvey, who oversee “CBS Mornings” and “CBS Evening News,” respectively. Cibrowski said he hoped Baker would be “injecting some new energy and ideas into the programs.”

Baker had until recently been working with James Goldston, a former ABC News president who joined Candle Media, the production company led by former Disney executives Tom Staggs and Kevin Mayer, to lead a nonfiction division.

The move shows CBS News relying more heavily, perhaps, on an executive with a more traditional TV-news pedigree than some of the senior executives who have been lured recently to the Paramount Skydance news division by Bari Weiss, the editor in chief of CBS News. Weiss has hired a number of veteran journalists from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times whose main expertise is in managing traditional print-news processes. She is not the only one. NBC News in 2023 named Rebecca Blumenstein, a veteran of the The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, as its president of editorial.

Still, CBS News’ main challenge in the current era is in generating more TV ratings, not in the quality of its newsgathering. “CBS Mornings” lured an average of just 1.6 million viewers in the third quarter, according to Nielsen, and 256,000 among viewers between 25 and 54, the demographic coveted most by advertisers in news programming. “CBS Evening News” has seen a slight uptick in viewers compared to the year-earlier period, but its overall audience is significantly below that left by former anchor Norah O’Donnell in early 2025.

Both programs remain well behind their time-slot competitors at ABC and NBC.

Baker is the latest ABC News mainstay to join CBS. Cibrowski was a former senior executive at ABC News who played a significant role in boosting “Good Morning America” past “Today” for the first time in years. Matt Guttman, a former ABC News journalist, has enjoyed significant screen time at CBS News since joining in 2026. And Wendy Fisher, once a senior ABC News executive, oversees broader newsgathering and weather coverage across CBS News and CBS’ owned stations.

CBS News has tested other innovations in recent weeks. On “CBS Evening News,” for example, new segments like “The Big Question” and “The Good Stuff” are viewed as distinctive pieces of the program that not only serve as regular features, but can be detached from the show and featured as pieces of short-form content suitable for viewers of digital platforms.

October 2, 2026
‘God of War Laufey’ Sets Release Date, Preorders Open (Gaming News Roundup)

“God of War Laufey” will release Feb. 16, 2027 from PlayStation’s Santa Monica Studios. Pre-orders go live on Sept. 29.

The prequel game in the action-adventure franchise centers on Laufey, also known as Faye. “God of War Laufey” follows the legendary warrior beyond death through the Everywhen, the afterlife of the gods.

Fans who pre-order the game will receive a special armor set, cosmetic appearance and in-game resource pack.

The game also features a new weapon for Faye in the Everywhen. The enchanted bow with a shifting serpent form gives players a powerful weapon in close and ranged combat.

See more gaming news from the week in the roundup below.

TECH

Discord is launching Discord Ads Manager and Video Quests, allowing advertisers to expand their outreach.

Available now, Discord Ads Manager is the platform’s first campaign management platform, and its self-serve access enables Discord advertising to reach smaller studios and marketers. It will also offer an auction-based delivery and a dynamic cost model where advertisers can adjust their bids in real time. Full self-serve access is set for early 2027.

Video Quests is available through Discord Ads Manager and serves as a rewarded video ad format where players can watch and earn Orbs, receiving their award in roughly 15 seconds. Designed to drive player engagement, Video Quests shows advertisers how long the player chose to watch.

RELEASE DATES

“Limerence” will launch for PC on Oct. 29.

Suffering from personal loss, Claire seeks comfort from an AI relationship app, LiAIson, where she creates a customized partner tailored to her individual needs. But her online relationship soon starts to carry over into her real life, posing the question of where AI should draw the line.

Players will determine Claire’s journey, re-evaluating past conversations and shaping her self-perception. “Limerence” is co-developed by Salix Games and Gameinaframe.

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Wizards of the Coast announced on Wednesday “Secret Lair: Corn Maze Superdrop,” a new collection of special, limited “Magic: The Gathering” cards arriving on Oct. 12.

This superdrop highlights artists, films and more including Jim Henson’s “Labyrinth,” and Netflix’s “KPop Demon Hunters.”

There are eight drops: “Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Should You Need Us,” “Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Fear Me, Love Me,” Secret Lair x Jim Henson’s Labyrinth: Through the Labyrinth,” “Secret Lair x KPop Demon Hunters: How It’s Done,” “Secret Lair x Marvel: Zombies,” “Artist Series: Veronique Meignaud,” “Manufactured Grounds by See Machine” and “Peace, Love, & Treefolk.”

All “Secret Lair: Corn Maze Superdrop” drops will be available at 9 a.m. on Oct. 12 in traditional foil edition for $39.99 and non-foil edition for $29.99.

PARTNERSHIPS

Media company Critical Role and game studio Lichtund announced a publishing partnership for “Rockbeasts,” an upcoming RPG game where players lead a 90s rock-and-roll band to fame.

Set to launch in 2027, “Rockbeasts” allows gamers to “book gigs, manage money and fragile egos, keep equipment running, schedule rehearsals and navigate the music industry’s moral minefield, from predatory record labels and jaded venue owners to hard-nosed executives. Every decision shapes the band’s relationships, reputation and future.”

Critical Role will serve as the co-publisher, also offering voice actors for the game.

NEW VENTURES

Entertainment studio Stone Kite launched from “Halo” and “Destiny” creator Jason Jones in collaboration with best-selling author Margaret Stohl.

The studio’s first original universe is a near-future story of a global war between humanity and rogue AI-driven robots, “One Zero One.” The first chapter, written by “Arrival’ screenwriter Eric Heisserer, is available now as a free digital comic.

Rather than starting with a game, comic or film and then adapting the concept, Stone Kite will bring creators into the process to build the world together.

“I’ve spent my career creating books, games, comics, film and television, and I’ve seen how often the medium that tells the first story ends up defining everything that comes after it,” Stohl said in a statement. “Stone Kite is about breaking down those old media silos. Instead of starting in one medium and adapting outward, we bring the best global creators from different disciplines into the room from day one to shape the world together.”

Stone Kite’s founding team includes Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Stephen Wacker and veterans of Activision Blizzard, Marvel and DC. The slate boasts more than 250 creators, including Jay Roach (“Austin Powers,” “Meet the Parents), Akela Cooper (“M3GAN”), Stephen Graham Jones, Christian Ward and Kyle Lambert.

NEW RELEASES

“The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered” has launched on Battle.net.

The new version of Geralt’s adventure will feature updated visuals, improved quest tracking and revamped combat, which includes more reactive enemies and smoother movements. Weapon and armor transmogrification as well as new accessibility features are also included.

Available on Battle.net, “The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt — Remastered” is in partnership with CD Projekt Red.

TRAILERS

“Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4” releases Oct. 23, with the PC trailer now available.

As announced earlier this year, “Modern Warfare 4” is “Set against a rapidly escalating global conflict centered on the Korean Peninsula, ‘Modern Warfare 4’ pushes the series into darker and more dangerous territory as a full-scale invasion of South Korea threatens to destabilize the world.”

Players who digitally pre-order “Modern Warfare 4” can begin preloading on Oct. 15. Campaign Early Access begins Oct. 16.

The Infinity Ward-developed game launches Oct. 23 on Xbox Series X and S, PlayStation 5 and PC via Battle.net, Xbox on PC, Steam and Nintendo Switch 2.

Watch the PC trailer below.

IN-GAME EVENTS

“Fortnite” is celebrating this spooky season with Fortnitemares presenting a cursed cast and new characters coming all month from” Five Nights at Freddy’s,” “Hazbin Hotel,” “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Beetlejuice,” “Obsession” and more.

Players can drop into Freaky Fields or the new Nightmare Neighborhood POI, where Freddy Krueger is waiting. Defeat him to claim Freddy’s Nightmare claws, which let you teleport into range and slash opponents.

Reveal enemies with the new Bonerattler SMG and take aim with returning weapons like the Wood Stake Shotgun and Pumpkin Launcher.

They can also activate cursed cartridge overrides that grant invisibility while sprinting, boost damage at low health or conceal your squad as Halloween props. Take on “Five Nights at Freddy’s” animatronic bosses to possess one and terrorize the map.

The Horde Rush LTM is back, and on Oct. 8 an updated Nitemare Island arrives in reload alongside the “Stranger Things” and Squid Grounds maps.

Outfits from “Five Nights at Freddy’s” show battle damage and are live in the shop now, with “A Nightmare on Elm Street,” “Black Clover,” “Obsession” and many more outfits and accessories to follow throughout October.

October 2, 2026
IDF Slams ‘NAZA,’ Saying It Presents a ‘Distorted, Misleading and Disingenuous Picture’

The Israeli Defense Forces has slammed the documentary “NAZA,” calling it “manipulative,” “misleading” and “based on substantial factual errors.”

The film premiered at Venice Film Festival last month, where it received a 24.5-minute standing ovation. It has since screened at the San Sebastián and New York film festivals, and will open in U.S. theaters next week before streaming for free on The Guardian website in late November. The British newspaper are co-producers of the movie, which is directed by Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor.

In its statement, the IDF said that it did not have a chance to view the documentary prior to its premiere and claimed the directors did not put forward the allegations in the film to the IDF before publishing. The IDF has now responded to the numerous claims in the film, which takes its title from the phrase “collateral damage” in Hebrew (“Nezek Agavi”).

Among other points, the IDF said that it operates under binding directives that “explicitly” distinguish between military operatives and uninvolved citizens; it has never planned or carried out a strike in Gaza in which 500 civilians were killed, as one anonymous contributor claims in the film; and it has never used AI to select targets to strike, saying these are only ever planned by “relevant professionals.”

All 24 contributors in “NAZA” are anonymous, filmed against a nighttime skyline in Tel Aviv. In its statement, the IDF said “it is apparent that in various cases interviewees raise speculation and assumptions without a factual basis.”

They added that the filmmakers also left out crucial context such as showing the full chain of command, which they said includes roles dedicated to “mitigating civilian harm,” and played down the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, in which over 1,000 people were killed and over 250 hostages were taken.

“The film ‘NAZA’ presents a distorted, misleading and disingenuous picture of the IDF’s target planning and striking process,” the statement reads. “The film’s narrative is based on substantial factual errors stemming from manipulative misrepresentations of reality.”

Contacted by Variety for comment, a spokesperson for Guardian News & Media said on behalf of the filmmakers: “The IDF’s attempt to portray the 24 participants in ‘NAZA’ as junior-ranking officers involved only in the early stages of the targeting process is false. They include officers and soldiers who were involved in multiple stages of the targeting process in Gaza, including intelligence, operations and the final authorization process.”

The Guardian added that “the process of assessing the credibility of the testimonies was rigorous. It included leaked classified documents, detailed verification of specific strikes and corroboration via a wider pool of confidential journalistic sources who did not appear on camera in the film. Over the past three years we have together interviewed more than 100 sources familiar with IDF systems used in the war in Gaza, including senior-ranking commanders directly involved in the authorization of strikes.”

The statement concluded: “The Guardian stands fully behind the film, which builds on three years of detailed reporting by the Guardian and our partners. Several highly respected news organizations have subsequently confirmed the IDF’s use of AI-driven systems in the Gaza offensive and the loosening of safeguards to protect civilians, including the New York Times, Washington Post and Associated Press.”

October 2, 2026
U.S. added just 29,000 jobs in September, with unemployment rate rising to 4.2%

The U.S. labor market showed weakness in September, potentially giving the Federal Reserve room to hold interest rates even as inflation remains elevated.

The U.S. added 29,000 jobs in September, according to the government’s Nonfarm Payrolls Report released Friday morning. That was below the consensus forecast of 90,000 and compared with August’s gain of 133,000 (revised down from an originally reported 162,000).

The unemployment rate rose to 4.2%, versus expectations of 4.1% and August’s reading of 4.1%.

In addition to August’s downward revision, July’s 21,000 jobs gain was revised to a jobs loss of 10,000.

Already higher on the session, bitcoin continued just under $87,000 in the minutes following the release. U.S. stock index futures were adding to gains, the Nasdaq rising 1.2%.

The 10-year Treasury yield slumped by 7 basis points to 5.17%, and the 2-year yield fell by a similar margin to 4.71%. Gold gained more than 1%, and the greenback fell versus major currencies.

Checking other report numbers, average hourly earnings rose just 0.1% last month, well shy of forecasts for 0.3% and August’s 0.3%. On a year-over-year basis, average hourly earnings were higher by 3% against forecasts for 3.2% and August’s 3.1%.

October 2, 2026
BREAKING: US Non-Farm Payrolls and Unemployment Data Released! Here’s Bitcoin’s (BTC) Initial Reaction!

The leading cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, got off to a strong start in October. After being stuck in the $82,000–$85,000 range at the end of September, $BTC broke above this consolidation zone and rose to levels around $86,900.

While the continuation of the upward trend for $BTC is being closely watched, global and cryptocurrency markets are focused today on critical employment data from the US. The main reason for this is the impact of the employment market on the Fed’s monetary policy.

Whether the announced figure comes in significantly above or below expectations could increase volatility in risky assets, including the Fed’s interest rate policy, US bond yields, the dollar, gold, and Bitcoin. Conversely, a lower-than-expected employment figure could signal a weakening US labor market, strengthening expectations of Fed interest rate cuts; in this scenario, a potential decline in the dollar and bond yields could support demand for risky assets like Bitcoin.

October 2, 2026
America at a crossroads: Commissioner Peirce’s parting challenge

Today is Hester Peirce’s last day as an SEC Commissioner. The digital asset industry, and every American who believes regulation should mitigate risk and foster innovation, owes her an enormous debt of gratitude.

For more than eight years, Commissioner Peirce served as a principled voice at the Commission. Under the previous SEC Chairman, she frequently dissented when the Commission chose to bring enforcement actions rather than write rules the industry could comply with. She proposed a token safe harbor years before regulators were ready to listen. She led the Crypto Task Force and insisted that the agency’s duty to protect investors meant it must use its authority to provide regulatory guardrails for the rapidly expanding industry.

Commissioner Peirce brought humility, conviction, and a sense of humor to work every day. Washington could use more like her. Although she will no longer be at the SEC, her presence and the ideals she stood for will live on.

Will Schwartz is a Policy Associate at Blockchain Association, where he conducts research and analysis on digital asset legislation, regulation, and emerging policy developments.

Commissioner Peirce’s work is not done yet

October 2, 2026
I Crashed, Burned, and Loved Every Second of Star Wars: Galactic Racer

Burnout 3: Takedown is one of my favorite games of all time, and if you told me that one day its spiritual successor would arrive as a Star Wars podracing game, I’d think you were high on death sticks. But that’s the best way to describe Star Wars: Galactic Racer, a brand new Star Wars game that explores the high-speed thrills—and risks—of podracing. I had a blast trying out the demo at the Summer Game Fest, and now that the full game is here, I’m convinced that this could be one of the best racing games of the year.

Now This Is Podracing

You might be surprised to learn that the world of podracing has remained largely unexplored since the fictional sport debuted in 1999’s Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace, with only a handful of games centered around it. Star Wars: Galactic Racer wants to make podracing its whole deal—that means no Force, no Jedis, no Skywalkers (as of right now, anyway). But it’s full of familiar Star Wars locations, including planets like Jakku.

(Credit: Secret Mode)

Instead, we get the drama of the race track. The game features a full single-player campaign set in the Outer Rim. I played as Shade, a mysterious gig worker who gets recruited by Darius Pax, the founder of the Galactic League. He’s being harassed by a villain named Kester Bool, who is attempting a coup to take control of the League from Pax.

This all makes great set dressing for the races, which are white-knuckle intense. I didn’t know what to expect going in, but from the moment I accelerated, I could feel a smile stretch across my face. There’s an incredible sense of speed here, immediately bringing to mind games like F-Zero GX and Wipeout—as well as a feeling of fragility that comes with driving so fast. Galactic Racer captures the satisfaction of rounding a corner at high speed and the crushing impact of colliding head-on with a wall.

(Credit: Secret Mode)

Despite being a fairly new developer, Fuse Games has a lot of experience with racing titles. The studio was founded by ex-Criterion developers, who were responsible for beloved racing games like Burnout and Need for Speed. You can feel that DNA in Galactic Racer—from the excellent handling to the brutal crash cam that accompanies every wreck, it was like running into an old friend I hadn’t seen in a long time.

Star Wars: Galactic Racer Is Out of This World Fun

I especially like how open each track feels. There isn’t exactly one racing line to follow, and although there may be a moment of panic as you figure out where to go, it gives you more freedom to carve your own path. In that way, it reminds me of Mario Kart World’s approach to track design, though the races are still lap-based rather than a single continuous track.

Before each race, you’re free to wander around a small hub area, where you can take in the Star Wars ambiance, as well as talk to various NPCs, and spend your hard-earned credits. Players can take control of land speeders, speeder bikes, and skim speeders, a new vehicle class introduced in Galactic Racer. Each class handles differently, and there are plenty of options to tweak your car to your liking, as you unlock credits and advance in the career mode.

Recommended by Our Editors

(Credit: Secret Mode)

The career mode is another departure from your standard racing game. Each playthrough is run-based, just like a roguelite. You can choose which race you want to partake in, in much the same way that you choose the path to go down in Hades II. Each race might have different win requirements. Some might be traditional races where you have to come qualify to advance, while others play out elimination style, where you have to stay ahead of the pack to make it to the next lap. You continue across different planets, zig-zagging from race to race until you run out of League Entry Tokens. Once you’re out, you’ll be sent back to the beginning of your adventure.

Before I was done, I got to sample an honest-to-goodness podrace with the one and only Sebulba. With the speed cranked to 11, this arcade mode exhibition was so blisteringly fast that I could almost feel the wind whipping against my face. In addition to the adventure and arcade modes, it will include online play for up to 12 players.

(Credit: Secret Mode)

Star Wars: Galactic Racer Final Thoughts and Release Date

Star Wars: Galactic Racer captures exactly what I remember from playing the Burnout racing games, and I left the demo booth feeling exhilarated. Along with Hela: Of Mice & Magic and Onimusha: Way of the Sword, it was one of the best games I played at the Summer Game Fest, and I can’t wait to play more now that the full game is here. Star Wars: Galactic Racer launches on October 6 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series.

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October 2, 2026
US Supreme Court agrees to take up Trump’s ICE detention policy

The case is the latest dispute over US President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown.

Published On 1 Oct 2026

The United States Supreme Court has agreed to hear a case focused on the Trump administration’s policy requiring millions of undocumented immigrants to remain in detention while they fight deportation.

The case, accepted on Thursday by the justices, is the latest dispute over US President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration crackdown to reach the nation’s highest court.

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At issue is whether migrants already living in the US have a legal right to a hearing where a judge can decide whether they should be released on bond from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention while their deportation cases are pending.

In July 2025, the administration introduced new guidance directing federal immigration authorities to detain undocumented immigrants without a bond hearing for the duration of their deportation proceedings, which can last for years.

The new policy, which has divided lower courts, reverses a decades-old interpretation that allowed some immigrants in the US to be released while their cases were pending in immigration court, according to Reuters news agency.

Most US federal appeals courts have ruled that immigrants cannot be detained without a bond hearing. But the 5th and 8th US Circuit Courts of Appeals have found that immigrants accused of illegally entering and remaining in the country must remain detained while their deportation cases proceed.

Trump administration attorneys told the Associated Press the split is “disrupting the orderly administration of immigration law”.

“The result is an unworkable patchwork of inconsistent immigration enforcement, where aliens present without admission are subject to mandatory detention in some circuits but are entitled to bond hearings and often released in others,” the lawyers wrote.

Millions could be affected

The Supreme Court case stems from a 2nd US Circuit Court of Appeals ruling involving Ricardo Aparecido Barbosa da Cunha, a Brazilian national who entered the US around 2004 or 2005.

Immigration officers arrested him in September 2025 while he was driving to work in the US state of Massachusetts. He was initially denied a bond hearing under the administration’s policy but was later released on bond, according to court documents cited by Reuters.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), which is representing the plaintiffs, told the Associated Press the Trump administration is trying to deny bond hearings for immigrants apprehended within the US rather than limiting the restriction to noncitizens stopped at the border.

“Millions of noncitizens could be affected by the government’s new interpretation,” ACLU attorneys wrote.

The Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments on Monday, when its new term starts.

October 2, 2026
Canada to fast track oil pipeline meant to diversify economy away from US

Carney declared the pipeline a project of national interest, smoothening its way to a single federal regulatory review process.

Published On 1 Oct 2026

Canada will fast track the approval process for a new proposed crude oil export pipeline to its west coast that could generate billions in revenue and boost economic growth, Prime Minister Mark Carney has said.

Carney made the announcement on Thursday to fast-track the pipeline, which is a crucial part of his bid to diversify the economy away from the United States and help lessen the effect of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

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Carney said Ottawa is officially listing the Pacific Link pipeline, which had been announced in July, as a project of national interest. That will ensure it proceeds through a single federal regulatory review process. He said Ottawa aimed to complete the process by September 1, 2027.

“A pipeline to the west coast is part of our mission to transform our economy, to double our non-US exports over the next decade … [and] to unlock our full potential as a global energy superpower,” he told reporters in Fort McMurray, hub of Alberta’s tar sands industry.

Ottawa says the 1 million barrel a day project would create 140,000 jobs and generate more than 20 billion Canadian dollars ($14bn) in gross domestic product (GDP) per year and 100 billion Canadian dollars ($70bn) in government revenue by 2060.

Canada currently has just one east-west oil export pipeline in Canada, the 890,000-barrel-per-day Trans Mountain pipeline. An expansion of that pipeline was completed in 2024, but it is already running at capacity.

For years, Canada has sent more than 90 percent of its crude oil exports to the US via pipeline. A new oil export pipeline could make Canada a major global energy supplier, as Asia’s top importers seek oil from outside the Middle East in the wake of the Iran conflict.

Filling the pipeline, however, would require new tar sands expansions of the type no company has undertaken in more than a decade.

The pipeline will be built by government-owned Trans Mountain Corp in coordination with Pembina Pipeline Corp. Alberta estimates it could cost between 35.2 billion Canadian dollars and 43.7 billion Canadian dollars ($24.7bn – $30.7bn).

The majority owners will be the federal government and the government of Alberta. Indigenous communities will be offered a minimum of 10 percent ownership interest.

Previous oil pipeline projects in Canada have faced strong opposition from environmentalists and Indigenous groups, resulting in the cancellation of some projects and leading to cost overruns and construction delays with others.

Alberta separatism

Carney made the announcement alongside Alberta Premier Danielle Smith in Fort McMurray in the heart of Canada’s tar sands, a move meant to mend relations with oil-rich Alberta as separatists push for a referendum on leaving Canada.

Alberta is holding a public vote on October 19 on whether to hold a referendum on leaving Canada. Smith has long complained that Carney’s predecessor, Justin Trudeau, hindered Alberta’s energy industry and fuelled separatist sentiment.

Smith said she would vote to keep Alberta in Canada and called the roughly 22 percent support for separation in a recent poll “still too high for my liking”.

“I don’t like the fact that many of our fellow citizens have given up on Canada,” Smith said, adding that the pipeline was an example of how “cooperative federalism can work in action”.

Asked what message Albertans considering separation should take from the announcement, Carney said it demonstrated that “Canada is working” and showed what the country could achieve by acting together.

October 2, 2026
Nithya Raman Reaches Out To David Ellison To Make Sure L.A Production & Jobs Return Now That ParaBros Deal Is Done

Leading in polls in the Los Angeles mayor’s race, Nithya Raman went on a charm offensive Thursday with the film and TV industry, and Paramount‘s CEO David Ellison in particular.

“To David Ellison, to his co-CEO, I don’t just want those dollars that you’ve committed to productions to be spent in America — I want them to be spent in Los Angeles,” the two-term councilmember said today at the Bloomberg Screentime conference, which is taking place in her Hollywood district. Raman said that though she was opposed to $111 billion merger of Paramount and Warner Bros Discovery, now that the deal has been approved she has no interest in “relitigating this into eternity.”

As has been the case many times in the past, the home of Hollywood has some unlikely bedfellows when it comes to the bottom line. It is unknown whether Raman has directly reached out to Paramount brass since U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín signed off Tuesday on the antitrust settlement between the Ellison-run company and a dozen state attorneys general. Paramount reps did not respond to Deadline’s request for comment on any communication between the councilmember and the CEO.

Paramount CEO David Ellison

Getty

In full campaign mode, Raman emphasized during today’s panel interview that she will be a “relentless advocate” for uncapping the state’s current $750 million a year film and TV tax incentive program as a further move to get production back to California and L.A. With a room full of execs before her, the spouse of TV comedy scribe Vali Chandrasekaran also reiterated she would “ensure that we had a film office in the mayor’s office that was liaising with other jurisdictions, that was making it as simple to shoot here as possible, as low cost to shoot here as possible, and that work would be established almost immediately.”

To that, with production significantly on the decline over the past six years and more than 50,000 jobs lost, Raman followed the headlines as Ellison and his newly minted co-CEO Ynon Kreiz prepare to meld the two iconic Hollywood companies.

“If I get to be mayor, I want to work with you and ensure and fight as hard as I possibly can to make sure that every single one of those shoots are happening here in Los Angeles,” the candidate said, addressing Ellison and Kreiz directly in absentia. “And I will do everything in my power to make sure that happens.”

Although Raman leads incumbent Mayor Karen Bass by double digits in many polls, the fact is one-third of voters in the City of Angels remain undecided just more than a month before the election. To that, the candidate has to win over a portion of those who voted for ex-The Hills regular Spencer Pratt in the three-way primary earlier this year — and she had a pitch.

“To every voter who voted for Spencer Pratt in the primary who is disappointed that he’s not in this general election, I want to speak directly to you,” Raman said of the Donald Trump ally. “I want to speak directly to them, and to say that I share your frustration with City Hall, and I will work with every molecule of my being to ensure that this city is working for you.”

Among his various post-primary endeavors, former Palisades resident Pratt has been instrumental, by all bipartisan accounts, in the crafting of federal film and TV tax incentive legislation — a bill Raman has said she also supports.

Leaning into her own outsider status, even with years on the L.A. City Council, Raman added, again addressing Pratt voters: “The frustrations that Angelinos have with the direction of our city is warranted. We have, under this mayor’s leadership, we have moved in the wrong direction and and away from actually delivering the kinds of services that we were able to deliver just a few years ago because of fiscal mismanagement under her leadership.”

“So, to those Pratt voters, I just want to say to you, I will do better for you,” she said.

October 2, 2026