FBI investigates letters with 'unknown substance' sent to US…

Election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma were evacuated after envelopes arrived with a powdery substance, and the FBI says similar letters reached officials in other states.

On air: Hank Ledger and Dale Bearman on The Five O'Clock
Published 4:32 PM ET, Thursday, October 15, 2026
Updated 1:43 AM ET · aired 2 times

Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

▶ As it aired · U.S.

Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger and Dale Bearman on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 4:32 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are The Guardian's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

Photo: FBI headquarters — Photo: ajay_suresh · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN

At a glance

First reported by The Guardian: “FBI investigates letters with ‘unknown substance’ sent to US election officials”, with reporting from CNBC.
Covered on BBN on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 4:32 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Hank Ledger and Dale Bearman; aired 2 times.
Topics: CEO Jensen Huang, U.S.-China, Nvidia, FBI, AI.
BBN covered this story before: Volvo's Nvidia deal reaches beyond its electric cars (October 15).

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe FBI and the Postal Inspection Service are investigating letters containing an unknown powdery substance, sent to election offices in Louisiana and Oklahoma.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe envelopes prompted evacuations, and investigators say similar letters went to state officials and election offices across the country, just weeks before the midterms.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorWhoever sent them wants election workers afraid of their own mail, and that is a problem no matter which party you vote for.
Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorOfficials have not said what the substance is or who sent it, and we will report that when they do.
Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorMeanwhile, the Nvidia boss says he is talking with researchers in China about AI he calls potentially dangerous. At least somebody is still talking.

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