Wednesday morning news: October 8, 2025

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Israel October 7 remembrance » This week marks two years since the horrific October 7th attacks against Israel. Hamas terrorists murdered some 1,200 people, wounded thousands, and took about 250 hostages, some of whom have died in Hamas captivity.

Last night in Israel, thousands gathered for a special ceremony to remember those killed and those still being held hostage. WORLD's Travis Kircher reports from Israel.

SOUND: [Concert]

TRAVIS KIRCHER: The Bereaved Families October 7th Memorial Ceremony kicked off late last night as the first day of Sukkot--a Jewish holy day--came to an end.

Those gathered in a Tel Aviv park heard performances from Israeli artists, as well as words from family members of those killed in the October 7th attacks.

Yonatan Shamriz, who founded the event, said it was broadcast live on well over 100 media channels and to Jewish communities around the world.

SHAMRIZ: I'm here to say the state of Israel and the people of Israel will stay strong and we want our hostages back and we'll do whatever it takes in order to bring them home.

KIRCHER: 18-year-old Shahar Sarfaty said she was there because she didn't want to forget what happened on that fateful day two years ago.

SAFARTY: It's a very important day for me. October 7 was a very heartbreaking day and since then we're hoping for all of the hostages come back and to finally have peace in the world.

Reporting for WORLD, I'm Travis Kircher in Tel Aviv.

Carney at White House: Middle East » At the White House Tuesday:

TRUMP:  Well, thank you very much everybody. It's an honor to have the Prime Minister of Canada, Mark Carney.

The president said the two leaders were set to talk trade once again, working to iron out differences between the U.S. and Canada.

But he also had plenty to say about peace talks in the Middle East:

TRUMP:  It's been raging for a long time, and I think there's a possibility that we could have peace in the Middle East. It's something, uh, even beyond the Gaza situation, we want a release of the hostages immediately.

The president urged negotiators holding peace talks in Egypt to move quickly on a deal to end the war in Gaza.

Talks so far this week have focused on the exchange of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners rather than the more complicated elements of the peace proposal.

Carney at White House: Trade talks » On the topic of U.S.-Canada trade, Prime Minister Carney told reporters:

CARNEY:  There are areas where we compete and it's in those areas where we have to come to, uh, an agreement that works, but there are more areas where we are stronger together, and that's what we're focused on, and we're gonna get the right deal.

Trade talks between the U.S. and Canada are focused on several sticking points — including tariffs on trucks, steel, and aluminum, and disputes over softwood lumber and Canada’s dairy protections.

Washington is also pushing back on Canada’s new digital services tax, while both sides debate whether to tweak or replace the USMCA trade deal.

Government shutdown » The federal government shutdown now in its second week.

And  GOP leaders are warning that if a deal isn't reached soon, military members will miss their next payday, one week from today.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune accused Democrats of caving to political pressure.

THUNE:  I think there are a lot of Democrats who are being bludgeoned by their political left.

Democrats are holding firm on demanding healthcare policy add-ons. Party leaders say they will not agree to pass temporary funding without that.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries says millions of Americans could see their healthcare costs rise:

JEFFRIES:  Because of the Republicans continued refusal to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits.

President Trump and GOP leaders say they’re willing to negotiate on healthcare, but only if and when Democrats agree to reopen the government.

SCOTUS conversion therapy case » The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Tuesday in a case testing the constitutionality of a Colorado ban on what the state calls conversion therapy.

Therapist Kaley Chiles says the state law violates her free-speech rights by barring her from helping young patients who want to affirm their biological sex.

Her attorney, Jim Campbell with Alliance Defending Freedom, told the justices:

CAMPBELL: Colorado insists that its law is subject to only rational basis review, yet that would allow states to silence all kinds of speech in the counseling room.

The law state does allow counseling that affirms homosexuality or so-called transgender interventions.

Colorado Solicitor General Shannon Stevenson argued the state can regulate licensed healthcare. But some justices questioned whether the law favors one viewpoint. Justice Elena Kagan said:

KAGAN: That seems like viewpoint discrimination in the way we would normally understand viewpoint discrimination.

Twenty-three states have similar bans.

Jack Smith investigation » Former special counsel Jack Smith is under fire after new reports that the FBI monitored phone metadata of multiple Republican senators during his Jan. 6 investigation.

The move, revealed in documents unearthed this week, drew the ire of GOP lawmakers. Sen. Eric Schmitt said the moment has come for criminal charges.

SCHMITT: Whether it's Comey, Clapper, Brennan, whoever else we know or don't know right now is a part of this. I think indictments should be coming here. We can't tolerate this.

Senator Tommy Tuberville claimed FBI agents tied to the probe were fired recently and called for legal action against Smith. Meanwhile, internal reviews at DOJ and the FBI are reportedly underway into how the surveillance was authorized—and whether it crossed constitutional lines.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Hunter Baker joins us for Washington Wednesday. And later,  a World Tour special report on Nigeria

This is The World and Everything in It.

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