Welcome to today’s daily update for Saturday, October 17, 2026. Here’s everything you need to know.
The Breakdown
Tesla’s new Roadster can fly. Yes, the long-awaited flying car has arrived – but it may not be what you were expecting. However, it has still raised concerns among citizens and major questions regarding regulations.
On Thursday night, Elon Musk livestreamed a promo video showing the prototype of the Tesla Roadster, which utilizes compressed air to increase speed and even fly. The car drove up a steep incline that went on to turn upside down, with the Roadster using some sort of advanced suction power to stick to the underside of the ramp. Then, to everyone’s surprise, it blasted off the edge of the ramp, completing a 180-degree barrel roll to right itself before making a perfect landing on the stage.
Another video showed the Roadster driving towards a variety of vehicles before activating vertical and horizontal thrusters, allowing it to blast itself into the air, complete a barrel roll, and land on the opposite side.
The thrusters on the rear of the car, which look like exhaust pipes from the outside, allow it to reach 0-60 mph in just one second. Meanwhile, the thrusters on the sides allow the car to lift off and complete barrel rolls and other maneuvers through the air.
Musk confirmed that the company is already accepting $50,000 deposits for the regular version of the Roadster, while the version with rear thrusters will require a $250,000 deposit. The flying version, though, is not road-legal and therefore will be available for purchase on an invite-only basis.
He also stated that production will begin in 2028, and it is set to become the only manually-driven car in Tesla’s lineup – Musk aims to equip all other models with the ability to self-drive within several years.
However, despite the fact that the flying Roadster is not available to the public, it raised questions over how regulations would adapt to such changes in the automobile industry in the future. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) confirmed that the vehicle does not meet their definition of an aircraft and therefore will not be regulated by the agency – such a car would require entirely new regulations from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Even without the side thrusters, the Roadster’s ability to reach a top speed of 230 mph while blasting compressed air at the car behind will likely violate various traffic laws, forcing the agency to take action before the vehicle hits the road.
The Global Snapshot
Just five days after being chosen as the White House’s new press secretary, Katie Zacharia is leaving her position. President Trump confirmed yesterday on the way to a rally in Georgia that he had asked Zacharia to “reconsider” taking on the role, particularly after her questionable qualifications as a lawyer came to light on national news across the last few days. Her first interview was also just 15 minutes long, with Zacharia reading off her script for a significant portion of the time, and she only took questions from three news organizations, all of which were right-wing.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula de Silva has won a major case against Meta, successfully proving that the company utilized algorithmic bias and AI restrictions to promote right-wing opponent Flávio Bolsonaro over him ahead of national elections. The discovery sparked outrage against the company, with some even suspecting that right-wing PACs or the Trump administration could be behind the bias. Brazil has confirmed that they will fine Meta $98,000 per day until they place Lula and Bolsonaro on equal footing, but Lula’s lawyers have demanded that they double his social media reach to compensate for the loss. The election, which took place several weeks ago, came down to the wire – the two are heading to a runoff on October 25 that could very well decide the future of the Amazon rainforest alongside the fate of the nation’s social welfare programs and the economy.
Yesterday, the latest spate of Israeli settler violence saw the beating of several Palestinians and an American journalist, inciting anger against growing tensions in the West Bank. The masked Israelis attacked various Palestinians as they were collecting olives on their land, beating locals and setting their trees on fire. The Washington Post photojournalist Heidi Levine, who was wearing a bright vest clearly marked as “press,” was also attacked. According to Levine, dozens of masked Israelis carrying slingshots ran down a nearby hill, pushing her to the ground and kicking her while others stole her cameras and her phone. She was later hospitalized but is now in stable condition. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attempted to downplay the situation by claiming that the facts are still “unclear,” prompting an angry response from The Washington Post’s executive editor. Unfortunately, the incident is just the latest in a series of intensifying settler attacks with little accountability for aggressors, and far-right politicians within the Israeli government have even attempted to empower settlers to violently harass Palestinians and journalists.
Fact of the Day (The Fact Site): If you keep a goldfish in a dark room, it will become pale. Goldfish get their bright gold and orange colors from specialized pigment cells in their skin called chromatophores, and these cells require exposure to natural or artificial light to actively produce and maintain their vibrant pigments.
Quote of the Day (Gracious Quotes): I dedicate myself and work hard in the weight room and treat every practice as if it were a game. (Adrian Peterson)
Word of the Day (Merriam-Webster): Zenith (noun, ZEE-nith) - Zenith refers to the strongest or most successful period of time for a person or thing.
In a Sentence: At its zenith in the 1980s, the company employed more than 300 people.
Image: Katie Zacharia / X
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