October 19th, 2026: Europe Erupts in Riots & Trump Delays Russia Sanctions

Mike Baker (0:12)

It's Monday, the 19th of October. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief. I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. Alright, let's get briefed. First up, a weekend of widespread chaos and protests erupts into some of the worst violence France has seen in years, with nearly 1,800 arrests, hundreds of injured police officers, and an historic town hall set on fire. I'll have the details. Later in the show, President Trump puts a hold on sweeping new bipartisan sanctions against Russia, waiving most of the penalties just before they were set to take effect. Plus, the latest from the war between Saudi Arabia and the Iran-backed Houthis, where Egypt is signaling it may be prepared to take up the fight on behalf of the Saudis. And in today's Back of the Brief, a Russian satellite has been spotted maneuvering unusually close to a US satellite that provides support to Ukraine's military, raising concerns about Moscow's intentions in space. But first, today's PDB Spotlight.

We've been tracking the growing unrest in France, but this weekend, the situation took a dramatic turn when demonstrations erupted into some of the worst street violence that the country has seen in years. Rioters torched an historic town hall, looted businesses and battled police in cities across the country because nothing says peaceful protests and legitimate grievance like looting luxury stores and burning down town halls. Nearly 1,800 people were arrested and hundreds of police and emergency personnel were injured. And France wasn't alone. Violent clashes also broke out in Brussels and Milan, while Albania faced another wave of anti-government unrest.

But let's start in France, where the scale of violence has reached new levels. According to French authorities, roughly 550,000 people participated in demonstrations nationwide. Labor organizers put the figure closer to 800,000. Now the majority marched peacefully, but as you might expect, masked groups with their own agenda took advantage of the situation, breaking away from the crowds, attacking police, smashing storefronts and setting fires in cities across the country. In Paris alone, police arrested 855 people. Shops were looted, barricades burned and the streets around the famous Place de la Republic were left covered in broken glass and debris. In Bordeaux, businesses were ransacked. In Lyon, rioters set fire to the city's tourism office. And in Marseille, black-clad demonstrators forced their way into city hall, vandalizing the building before police drove them out. But some of the most disturbing scenes came from Limoges, a city in central France where rioters set fire to the historic 19th century city hall. Flames consumed much of the building, causing its roof to collapse. Officials say the fire was deliberately set and the building was nearly destroyed. Some employees and members of the public were reportedly inside when the attack began. By Sunday morning, authorities reported more than 500 injured police officers, security forces and firefighters. Business groups estimated that roughly 1,500 commercial properties have been damaged with losses potentially reaching hundreds of millions of euros.

As we've reported, the unrest began last month with demonstrations involving high school students protesting deteriorating classroom conditions, teacher shortages, and inadequate education funding. But those demonstrations quickly attracted a much broader coalition, including labor unions, public sector workers, and activists associated with France's Yellow Vest Movement, not to mention, of course, anarchists and others looking to hijack legitimate demonstrations for their own purposes.

Demonstrators complained about rising living costs, stagnant wages, and government plans to reduce public spending. France is struggling with serious budget problems, and President Emmanuel Macron's government has been attempting to rein in spending while facing growing resistance from voters who believe public services are already stretched too thin. Well, that's what happens when folks get used to free stuff. They don't like it when it's taken away. For many French citizens, the demonstrations are an expression of legitimate economic frustration. But Saturday also demonstrated how easily large protests can be overtaken by groups interested less in political reform than confrontation and destruction. Prime Minister Sebastien LeCronu has blamed radical far-left groups and opportunistic criminals for much of the violence. Macron condemned those responsible and promised they would face prosecution while also defending the right of peaceful demonstrators to make their voices heard. Well, perhaps it would help if the French authorities would publicize the identities of those that have been arrested for arson and for looting and assault. That might do the trick, perhaps. The timing is especially difficult for Macron. France faces a presidential election next spring, and his government is already under pressure from political opponents on both the left and right. The violence is now fueling another bitter argument over public order, economic policy, and whether the country's political leadership can restore confidence. While France experienced the worst of the weekend's destruction, similar scenes unfolded elsewhere in Europe. In neighboring Belgium, several hundred demonstrators, many of them young people, clashed with police in Brussels. The protests were partly inspired by events in France, with Belgian students raising their own complaints about education costs and proposed reforms. Masked protesters threw objects at officers and overturned vehicles prompting police to deploy tear gas and water cannons. In Italy, violent demonstrations erupted in the heart of Milan. What began as a protest against rising living costs and ongoing wars descended into clashes with police, looting and fires near the city's famous Piazza del Duomo. Prime Minister Giorgia Maloney condemned the destruction, well, that's good, accusing violent groups of exploiting legitimate demonstrations to create chaos.