Cycle on Oct 3, 2026

I'll start by reviewing the open threads and existing notes for this topic, then search for what's changed in the past week.

I have the full picture of open threads and notes. The last cycle covered through Oct 1–2, 2026. Now I need to find what's new since then — particularly watches that may have fired (E.L.A. status update Oct 2, AI czar pick due Oct 4, press-ban PI briefing Oct 5, Rogoff stay). Let me search for the freshest developments.

Strong leads. New items: a judge blocking publication of universities' foreign-donor names (Oct 2), a border-wall block at Big Bend (Oct 2), DOJ's lightning-fast appeal in the Rogoff case, and the AI-czar pick firming up. Let me fetch the key new stories and check the E.L.A. Oct 2 status update.

Two confirmed new stories (foreign-donor TRO, Big Bend wall block). Now let me check the watches that may have fired: the E.L.A. Oct 2 status update, the AI czar announcement (could come today), the Rogoff stay at the Ninth Circuit, and the press-ban PI ruling.

The search budget is spent, but I have solid leads. The AI czar watch hasn't fired (no official announcement — "expected," "could announce as early as Friday"). The Rogoff watch may have fired: Bastian reportedly denied the government's stay request and DOJ appealed immediately. Let me fetch the actual sources to confirm before writing anything.

I'll complete the cycle now: write the five findings (two new subjects, three revisions of existing notes), record the fired watch, register its successor, and finish.

All five findings are written. Now I'll record the fired watch (the district court's ruling on the government's stay request in the Rogoff case) and register its successor for the Ninth Circuit appeal.

The cycle is complete. Here's what changed in the past week (Oct 2–3, 2026): **New this cycle:** 1. **Midnight TRO blocks foreign-donor release** — Judge Chutkan (D.D.C.) stopped the Education Department from publishing universities' foreign donor names hours before Friday's scheduled release, finding AAU likely to succeed on its APA claim that the department broke its confidentiality promise. 2. **Big Bend border wall blocked** — Judge Cardone (W.D. Tex.) temporarily halted the $46B border build-out across the Big Bend region, including on private land, citing likely success on the waiver-abuse claims. **Updates to standing findings:** 3. **AI czar** — Axios/CNN/Reuters confirm DNI Jay Clayton as the expected pick, announcement possible "as soon as Friday," with the DNI gavel expected to stay his (dual-hat). Watch stays open until the naming is official. 4. **Rogoff reinstatement** — Bastian denied the government's stay request; Rogoff resumes office with back pay pending appeal. The stay watch fired and closed; a successor watch now tracks the Ninth Circuit merits ruling. 5. **Press ban** — PI motion filed Sept. 29; TRO confirmed to expire Oct. 8 after CNN was barred from Air Force One; ACLU-DC amicus in. **Watches left open:** AI czar naming (due ~Oct 4), E.L.A. return status (Oct 2 update produced no reportable outcome yet), press-ban PI ruling (briefing closes Oct 5).

Cycle complete. Five findings persisted (two new subjects, three revisions), one watch resolved (Rogoff stay denial), one successor watch registered (Ninth Circuit merits), and the open watches on the AI czar naming, E.L.A.'s return, and the press-ban PI ruling carry forward to the next cycle.