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Star Trek losses, Meta settles, Alaska probe, Poland court standoff
Patrick Stewart began playing Picard in nineteen eighty-seven, and Walter Koenig sat beside George Takei on the Enterprise bridge, leaving William Shatner and Takei as the last originals.
Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on this story, from BBN Tonight at 6:01 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Japan Today's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance
- First reported by Japan Today: “'Time is the fire in which we burn': 2 major cast losses rock the passionate 'Star Trek' universe”, with reporting from Newsmax, Associated Press via Washington Times, CTV News, Engadget, Traders Agency (citing CNBC and New York Post), France 24 (AFP), Associated Press via PBS NewsHour and CNBC.
- Covered on BBN on Friday, October 30, 2026, at 6:01 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman.
- Topics: Meta, Alaska.
- BBN covered this story before: Meta quietly launches an AI fashion app called Style Sketch (October 30).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- Japan Today'Time is the fire in which we burn': 2 major cast losses rock the passionate 'Star Trek' universe
- Japan TodayMeta settles, leaving Snap sole defendant in new social media trial
- NewsmaxAlaska US Attorney Confirms Senate Criminal Probe
- Associated Press via Washington Times‘Time is the fire in which we burn’: 2 major cast losses rock the passionate ‘Star Trek’ universe October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
- CTV News'Star Trek' actors Patrick Stewart, Walter Koenig die in same week October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
- EngadgetMeta settles another social media addiction case just before trial - Engadget October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
- Traders Agency (citing CNBC and New York Post)Meta Settles With Second Teen Plaintiff, Leaving Snap Alone to Face Social-Media-Addiction Trial October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
- France 24 (AFP)Meta settles, leaving Snap sole defendant in new social media trial October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
- Associated Press via PBS NewsHourTrump calls for prosecution of Alaska Senate candidate Peltola over Sullivan name controversy facts used on air
- CNBCCriminal investigation of Alaska Senate race is 'ongoing,' U.S. Attorney says October 30, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorTwo giants of Star Trek are gone: Patrick Stewart, who began playing Captain Picard in nineteen eighty-seven, and Walter Koenig, who sat on the Enterprise bridge beside George Takei.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAkiva Goldsman, co-creator of Picard, says the captain permanently expanded the universe of Star Trek without measure.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorWilliam Shatner and George Takei are the two original cast members still living.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorIn other news, Meta has settled with a second teen plaintiff, days after jury selection began in a Los Angeles social media trial, which leaves Snap as the only defendant.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe trial opens next week.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe plaintiff is an eighteen-year-old woman from Mississippi, in one of several closely watched cases against social media platforms.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorAlaska's top federal prosecutor, Michael Heyman, confirms there is a criminal investigation tied to a second Sullivan on the Senate ballot, listed as Daniel J.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorSullivan Junior. He won't say what crimes or who the targets are.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorTwo Sullivans, one ballot, four days out. Voters will need that IQ of one ninety.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorPoland's president, Karol Nawrocki, turned his plane around on the way to Senegal after police entered the Constitutional Tribunal and its president was suspended.
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- Star Trek losses, Meta settles, Alaska probe, Poland court standoff (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 30, 2026 · the Tech archive · all months


Photo: MostlyDross · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Ehécatl Cabrera · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Theo Von · CC0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN
Photo: Ka Kit Pang · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0
Photo: Phenoptix · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 3.0

