Friday, October 16, 2026 - The Christian Science Monitor Daily

As U.S. leaders become increasingly open about patronage-style politics, Mexico is trying to shed its longtime system of clientelism. Its experience shows that transactional relationships evolve rather than fully disappear. Also: today’s stories, including how US intel and Starlink outages leave Ukraine vulnerable to Russian attack; why the US government is tightening the flow of highly skilled foreign workers in the tech industry; and how perseverance drives Angel Reese – and the WNBA – into the 2026 championship. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins for today's news.