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Good morning, and welcome to The Morning Sixpack. Today, a school shooting that raises hard questions about how a gun reached a teenager’s hands, a war whose winners may not be who Washington expected, a bond market losing its nerve, two big fights over power and speech, and a golf course that somehow ended up in federal court. Let’s get into it.
Oregon School Shooter Used Shotgun His Mother Gave Him as Birthday Gift
The shotgun used in last week’s deadly shooting at Silver Rail Elementary School in Bend, Oregon, was a birthday gift from the 16-year-old attacker’s mother, according to sources who spoke with CBS News. The Maverick 88 pump-action 12-gauge was legally purchased in August 2026 by Shauntai Nickerson, the mother of Griffin J. John II. Investigators say he fired at a passing pickup truck, shot his way into the school, and entered the first classroom, where he killed three children and a teacher and wounded two others. The shooting ended when a bystander, Kaylub Giamanco, followed him inside and fatally shot him. Police have not identified a motive, and they are still combing through the teenager’s devices and online activity. Source: CBS News
Iran War Could Reshape Global Power—and Leave Tehran Stronger Than Before
The U.S.-Israeli war against Iran could reshape the Middle East and the global balance of power in ways that reach far beyond the battlefield. A Foreign Policy analysis points to four shifts: a Gulf Arab arms race, possible Chinese military expansion, Israel’s embrace of prolonged border warfare, and an Iran that could emerge with more leverage than before. Gulf states are building offensive capabilities because they no longer trust American protection alone, while China, which depends on the Gulf for as much as half its imported oil, may decide it needs to project power there. Iran lost its supreme leader and much of its missile and drone production, yet its new leadership is described as more aggressive. The warning is clear: military victories do not automatically become strategic success. Source: Foreign Policy
Wall Street Rattled as Treasury Borrowing Plans Threaten to Push Interest Rates Higher
Wall Street is growing anxious about how the Treasury will finance a national debt that has reached $40 trillion. The 10-year yield hit a 24-year high of 5.31% earlier this month and sat near 5.14% on Monday. Investors are watching Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent for signs that the government will scale back 20-year and 30-year bond auctions, with Citigroup expecting cuts of $3 billion each. Shifting toward short-term bills is cheaper today, but it means refinancing more often, which leaves the government exposed to future rate increases. Add hotter-than-expected inflation and strain among heavily leveraged AI infrastructure companies, and the November 4 refunding announcement carries real weight. Source: MarketWatch
Mahmoud Khalil Takes Deportation Fight to Supreme Court in Major Free-Speech Showdown
Pro-Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil has asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step into his deportation case, arguing that the government cannot use immigration enforcement to punish protected speech. A federal appeals court ruled that his detention should have been challenged through the immigration court system, not a federal district court. Khalil, a former Columbia University graduate student and lawful permanent resident, was arrested in March 2025 and held for more than three months before a judge ordered his release. The Board of Immigration Appeals has since issued a final removal order, and his habeas challenge remains active. The Trump administration says pro-Palestinian activism can threaten American foreign policy interests, while Khalil warns that any administration could punish anyone for any speech. Source: Al Jazeera
Trump Suspends Massive Russia Tariffs, Sparking Bipartisan Backlash Over Putin Sanctions
President Trump has suspended sweeping sanctions and tariffs on Russia just two days before they were set to take effect, drawing criticism from both parties. The law he signed in September authorized tariffs of up to 500% on Russian imports and 100% on the five largest buyers of Russian oil and natural gas. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump wants 60 days to study the economic fallout for the global economy and American consumers. Republicans including Sen. Darline Graham and outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis blasted the move, while Russia’s Kirill Dmitriev called it “an important and truly historic moment.” Oil markets barely flinched, with Brent crude holding near $110 a barrel. Source: CNN
Trump Attacks Federal Judge as Golf Course Overhaul Sparks Courtroom Chaos and Death Threats
A federal judge overseeing Trump’s plan to remake East Potomac Golf Links faced personal attacks from the president and reports of death threats on Monday. U.S. District Judge Ana C. Reyes questioned Justice Department and Interior officials for nearly seven hours, and they gave conflicting accounts of whether a plan even exists. One senior Interior official said he learned of the November 15 closing date from Trump’s social media post. More than 400 trees were cut on October 10, and Reyes openly doubted the administration’s claim that the removals were unrelated to the redevelopment. She did not issue a final ruling, but she appears focused on preventing more irreversible changes until the required environmental and historic reviews are complete. Source: The Washington Post
That’s your Morning Sixpack: a gun in the wrong hands, a war with unintended winners, a bond market on edge, free speech at the Supreme Court, a tariff pause that stunned Washington, and a golf course that needs a plan. We’ll see you tomorrow.
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