Dems Score SCOTUS Ballot Win | Debate to Mute Candidates

The Supreme Court’s 4-4 deadlock yesterday upheld a Pennsylvania high court ruling in a victory for Democrats. It extends the swing state’s unprecedented task of counting millions of extra mail-in ballots up to three days after Election Day if they were mailed beforehand or no postmark is discernible. But it also affirms Republicans’ urgency in seating conservative Judge Amy Coney Barrett on the court to potentially settle disputes in the GOP’s favor even before the Nov. 3 contest. She’s expected to be confirmed next week, and Republicans are likely to mount new legal challenges to late-arriving ballots.

Sources: NYT, The Hill, Fox News

2. Citing Acts Resembling Cyberwarfare, US Charges Russians

Accusing them of offenses including causing blackouts in Ukraine and infiltrating Britain’s probe of poisoned Russian exiles, the U.S. Justice Department charged six Russian intelligence officers in absentia Monday. The indictment concerns Sandworm, aka Unit 74455, which is also blamed for cyberespionage that damaged Hillary Clinton’s 2016 presidential campaign. Officials warn that these attacks, one of which cut heat to Ukrainians in winter, are the closest thing to cyberwarfare the world has seen. The indictment doesn’t mention Russia disrupting the ongoing U.S. election, but American intelligence officials have warned that it’s happening.

Sources: Washington Post, The Guardian

3. Sudan Sees Sign It’s Getting off Terror List

It may have not turned heads in chaotic Washington, but Khartoum was over the moon. The news came in a tweet from President Donald Trump saying Sudan has “agreed to pay $335 MILLION to U.S. terror victims.” He pledged to remove the country (after the check clears) from the State Department’s state sponsors of terrorism list. The northeastern African nation that once hosted Osama bin Laden welcomed the announcement, with Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok thanking the U.S. leader. The breakthrough, which removes roadblocks to economic assistance, could give the impoverished nation a financial lifeline.

Sources: Al Jazeera, AP

4. Trump ‘Tired’ of ‘Idiot’ Fauci, Stimulus on Life Support

America is “tired” of the coronavirus, along with White House pandemic expert Dr. Anthony Fauci “and all these idiots.” That’s what President Trump told campaign staffers yesterday while predicting his electoral victory. Meanwhile, Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin continues to negotiate with Democrats for a new coronavirus relief package — one that Republicans say may be too expensive to approve — and the Dow dropped yesterday on those flagging hopes. And state health authorities have warned they don’t have enough money to distribute a vaccine, though drugmaker Moderna says one could potentially be ready for approval in December.

Sources: CNN, USA Today, WSJ (sub), Fox News

5. Also Important …

Argentina has exceeded 1 million cases of the coronavirus as its new daily infections are among the world’s highest per capita. Militants have attacked a jail in the Democratic Republic of Congo and freed 900 prisoners. And Colorado is battling the biggest wildfire in its history.

Today on The Carlos Watson Show: Get the scoop on what's being said behind closed doors on Capitol Hill with former Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake. A key Republican opposing President Trump, Flake tells Carlos why he thinks it's "virtually impossible" for Trump to win reelection. He sheds light on his bold decision during the Kavanaugh hearing, discusses the hypocrisy of today's fight for the Supreme Court and answers an age-old question: Will he run in 2024? Watch The Carlos Watson Show today to find out.

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Wait your turn. That’s the new rule from the Commission on Presidential Debates for Thursday night’s second — and final — presidential face-off following President Trump’s Sept. 29 stream of interruptions of Democratic challenger Joe Biden. This time, candidates will have two minutes of opening remarks on each of the six topics with the other’s mic silenced. Trump’s campaign objected, but said he nonetheless plans to participate in the Nashville showdown moderated by NBC News’ Kristen Welker. It’s his last chance to go toe-to-toe with Biden after refusing a virtual debate last week following his COVID-19 diagnosis.

Sources: CNBC, Reuters

2. You’re Feeding Your Baby Plastic Particles

This could be … OK? Scientists in Ireland have found that plastic bottles are shedding millions of microparticles that babies consume along with formula. Researchers at Trinity College Dublin measured an average of 4 million particles per liter in new bottles made of polypropylene, which is used in 69 percent of bottles on the market. They said more particles were released at higher temperatures, so the good news is that parents can minimize exposure by mixing formula outside of bottles so they’re not heated or shaken. It’s still unclear if microplastics are harmful to babies’ health.

Sources: New Scientist, Phys.Org

3. Nazca Site Reveals Oldest Mega-Image: a Cat

Pre-Columbian civilizations have been credited with amazing advances in everything from astronomy to aspirin. Now we can add the world’s biggest and oldest cat meme. While sprucing up Peru’s Nazca Lines, an ancient UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring enormous images recognizable from above, workers discovered an eroding figure “about to disappear” of a 120-foot-long cat on a hillside. Peru’s Culture Ministry said it’s more than 2,000 years old, making it the most ancient of the geoglyphs — and suggesting it was made by the Paracas people centuries before the Nazca created their sprawling works of art.

Sources: Gizmodo, Vice

4. The House Race That Could Make or Break Trump

Maine’s 2nd Congressional District isn’t likely to flip Nov. 3, but President Trump has lavished attention on its Republican challenger, Dale Crafts, OZY reports. Because Maine splits electoral college votes, the skydiving paraplegic businessman could play a pivotal presidential role even if he doesn’t unseat Democratic Rep. Jared Golden. If Crafts can charm just a few of the rural district’s voters, he might swing the evenly divided district. And that one electoral vote could be the difference between a Trump defeat and a 269-269 tie that would allow House delegations to choose the next president.

Sources: OZY

5. Dodgers’ Bellinger Dislocated Shoulder Celebrating

And it’s — outta there! Cody Bellinger’s right shoulder, that is, after Sunday’s epic homer in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. His blast gave the Los Angeles Dodgers their winning run and a berth in the World Series, which begins tonight against the Tampa Bay Rays. But celebrating the four-bagger, Bellinger leapt into the air to bash forearms with teammate Kiké Hernández, coming down with a dislocated shoulder. He says he’s popped it back in and kept playing before — while Hernández joked, “Now he knows that he can get hurt celebrating with someone that’s much stronger than him.”

Sources: SI, Washington Post, ESPN