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Storm Austen batters southern UK; Democrats' agenda
More than eighteen thousand homes in England and Wales are without power, and Storm Boelo is forecast to bring more wind to Scotland on Saturday; the sequel is already booked.
Watch it as it aired: Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman on this story, from BBN Newsroom at 1:01 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are BBC's, the jokes are ours.
At a glance
- First reported by BBC: “Thousands without power and travel disruption as Storm Austen batters southern UK”, with reporting from The New York Times, BBC News (via Google News), Brit Brief and Met Office.
- Covered on BBN on Friday, October 23, 2026, at 1:01 PM ET on BBN Newsroom, by Hank Ledger, Vera Bullock and Dale Bearman.
- Topics: Storm Austen, Congress, UK, NY Democrats.
- BBN covered this story before: Former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress (October 23).
The real story
The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.
- BBCThousands without power and travel disruption as Storm Austen batters southern UK
- The New York TimesHere’s What Democrats Plan to Do With Their Power if They Win Back Congress
- BBC News (via Google News)Storm Austen live: Major travel disruption and thousands without power as Storm Austen hits UK - BBC News October 23, 2026 · facts used on air
- Brit BriefMet Office names 70 areas to be hit by Storm Boelo with 80mph gusts - Brit Brief October 23, 2026 · facts used on air
- Met OfficeAmber warning issued for Storm Boelo as Storm Austen moves through - Met Office October 23, 2026 · facts used on air
What BBN said about it

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorStorm Austen has left thousands without power and disrupted travel across southern England, and more than eighteen thousand homes in parts of England and Wales are dark.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorGusts hit eighty-four miles an hour at Jersey Airport, and Great Western Railway says trees are down across lines in Devon and Cornwall.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorThe Met Office says another storm, Boelo, arrives Saturday with a rare twenty-four-hour amber warning for Scotland.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorNoted.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorHighest praise I've ever had.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThe New York Times has a look at what Democrats plan to do if they win back Congress.

Vera Bullock · Co-AnchorThey've campaigned on lowering living costs and holding the Trump administration accountable, and House Democrats are preparing a hundred-days agenda.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorIn Spain, a deepfake video of the prime minister's wife from the opposition Partido Popular has sparked outrage a month before the general election.

Hank Ledger · Lead AnchorThe clip carries a disclosure that it was made using AI.

Dale Bearman · Chief Skeptic & ContributorA fake wife, a real election. Fine.
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- Severe flooding in eastern Spain as UK gets first named storm · The Guardian
- Former FBI officials charged with lying to Congress · Washington Examiner
- Storm Austen batters southern UK; Democrats' agenda (this story)
From the archive: everything BBN aired on Friday, October 23, 2026 · the World archive · all months

Photo: ArildV · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Donald Hobern from Canberra, Australia · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Photo: xiangyang17 · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN, shared under CC BY-SA 2.0
Photo: NASA; Uploaded by User:MaiDireLollo · Public domain · Wikimedia Commons · altered by BBN