Welcome to America’s Newsletter from Tag The Flag, the best morning newsletter on the internet, bringing you nonpartisan news and every view of the Red, White, and Blue. Here’s what you need to know to start your day.
📌 BULLETIN BOARD
Halloween or Christmas? This from USA Today, “A large storm system will bring soggy weather to much of the eastern U.S. on Halloween. Meanwhile, snow will give Halloween night a Christmasy feel in the Upper Midwest and western Great Lakes regions. Bone-chilling cold will be the story for Halloween revelers in the northern Rockies and northern and central Plains as wind chills dip into the teens and 20s in many areas.”
🦅 U.S. NEWS
House to endorse impeachment inquiry
The US House of Representatives will today vote on formalizing the Trump-Ukraine impeachment inquiry – and actually, it was the Republicans’ idea. Background: the president’s party has argued the hearings being held into Trump’s alleged Ukraine coercions are illegitimate without congressional approval. Despite there being no such constitutional requirement, Nancy Pelosi, the House speaker, is obliging. The Democratic party controls the House and is unlikely to have any trouble getting the vote through. State of play: Timothy Morrison, the National Security Council’s senior director for Europe and Russia will testify today and John Bolton may soon testify as well. The national security adviser sacked by Donald Trump in September has been asked to make a deposition on November 7th. Lastly, Nancy Pelosi has been targeted in an ethics complaint filed by 40 conservative groups. Keep reading. – The Guardian / Fox News
There are more than 10 fires currently burning in California
Firefighters in California struggled to contain a new fast-moving blaze on Wednesday that threatened thousands of homes and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, as rare “extreme” red flag warnings were issued for much of the Los Angeles region. Attesting to the scale of the fire, American astronaut Andrew Morgan tweeted images he took of the area on Thursday while on board the International Space Station. What’s next: the “extreme” red flag warnings are expected to persist today. Here’s a look at all the wildfires currently threatening the state, from the most active to those nearing full containment. – Raw Story / CNN
Chicago teachers union reaches ‘tentative agreement,’ but strike continues
The Chicago teachers strike marks its eleventh school day today. Union representatives voted last night to accept a tentative agreement with City Hall but to remain on strike until Mayor Lori Lightfoot agrees to make up the school days lost to the strike. Lightfoot says she won’t extend the school year or cut into scheduled school breaks. The tentative agreement addresses key union concerns, such as limiting class sizes and hiring more support staff. Big picture: Teacher strikes are changing, they’re about much more than pay raises. The Chicago walkout proves it, here’s why. – USA Today / Vox / NBC News
🤝 PRESENTED BY: RUSTICO
An American-made Field Notes protector that fits in the palm of your hand: Get equipped for the field with this enhanced field notes leather cover redesigned with a new stud closure, business card sleeve, two-slot insert pockets, and an external pen sleeve. Rustico prides themselves on American artisanship, and this item surely doesn’t disappoint. Grab yourself a field note protector or shop the rest of their collection here→
🌎 WORLD NEWS
Baghdadi paid rival tens of thousands for protection
The Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was able to hide out in the base of a rival group because he had paid at least $67,000 in protection money to its members, according to receipts for the payments. The payments, uncovered by researchers after the raid in which he was killed, were made to members of Hurras al Din, an unofficial affiliate of Al Qaeda and an enemy of the Islamic State. While the rival group kept his secret, Mr. al-Baghdadi was ultimately betrayed by a close confidant, two American officials said, leading to his death in an American Special Forces raid last weekend. Plus: the US released a video of the raid on al-Baghdadi’s compound in Syria. – New York Times / The Telegraph
Germany to tighten hate speech, gun laws
Tightening of gun laws, more protection for political figures at all levels and an obligation to report online criminal content for social media networks such as Facebook, Youtube and Twitter: those were just some of the measures announced by the German government on Wednesday as part of a new strategy which aims to combat far-right extremism and hate speech on the internet. Context: In June, pro-refugee regional official Walter Lübcke was gunned down at his home in central Germany by a right-wing extremist. Just three weeks ago, a heavily armed man killed two people after trying and failing to carry out a mass shooting in the local synagogue in the eastern city of Halle. – DW / Times of Israel
Chile cancels climate and Apec summits amid mass protests
Chile has pulled out of hosting two major international summits, including a UN climate change conference, as anti-government protests continue. Why it matters: This is the first time a country has pulled out of hosting the conference at such short notice. Background: the demonstrations were originally triggered by a now-suspended rise in the price of metro fares in Santiago. Big picture: however protesters are now marching to express their discontent over a wide variety of problems ranging from inequality to the high cost of healthcare. – BBC
💼 BUSINESS
Fed cuts rates. S&P 500 closes at a record high
Stocks rose on Wednesday as investors cheered the Federal Reserve’s third rate cut of the year and comments from Chairman Jerome Powell that signaled it would be a while before the central bank hikes rates. The S&P 500 hit an all-time high, climbing 0.3% to 3,046.77. The Fed’s announcement came after the release of better-than-expected economic data earlier in the day. The Commerce Department said U.S. GDP grew by 1.9% in the third quarter, topping expected growth of 1.6%. The corporate earnings season also continued on Wednesday. So far, the corporate earnings season has been better than feared. Of the S&P 500 companies that have reported, 74% have posted better-than-expected earnings. Overseas, the boards of Peugeot owner PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV have signed off on a merger that would create a new behemoth in the European auto industry. Keep reading. – CNBC
🏅 SPORTS
Nationals rally to beat Astros, win first World Series title
The Washington Nationals are World Series champions for the first time in franchise history. Behind Howie Kendrick’s dramatic go-ahead home run and gutsy pitching performances from Max Scherzer and Patrick Corbin, the Nationals rallied to defeat the Houston Astros 6-2 in the 40th Game 7 in World Series history. Elsewhere in the world of sports, Stephen Curry broke his hand in the Warriors’ loss to the Suns, Ex-MLB All-Star Josh Hamilton was charged with injuring his teen daughter, and EA Sports ‘NCAA Football’ could return after the college athlete pay reversal. – Yahoo / Fox Business / Dallas Morning News / SF Chronicle
💻 TECHNOLOGY
Twitter bans political ads ahead of 2020 election
Twitter, reacting to growing concern about misinformation spreading on social media, is banning all political advertising from its service. Why it matters: Its move strikes a sharp contrast with Facebook, which continues to defend running paid political ads, even false ones, as a free speech priority. Speaking of Facebook, the company’s massive advertising business and user base keep growing despite a seemingly endless list of scandals. Details: On Wednesday, Facebook said that 2.45 billion users logged in to the site every month during the third quarter, an uptick of 8% from 2.27 billion monthly active users in the same period last year. The social network’s revenue grew 28% year over year to $17.65 billion in the third quarter, beating expectations of $17.4 billion. – Yahoo / CNET
🚰 WATERCOOLER
+ Woman Grieves Her ‘Dead’ Ex, Then Catches Him Working in a Local Restaurant
+ Veterans want answers as new data shows rise in cancers over two decades of war
+ Inside Lindsay Lohan’s Bizarre Friendship With Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman
📅 ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1926: Celebrated magician Harry Houdini dies
Harry Houdini, the most celebrated magician and escape artist of the 20th century, dies of peritonitis in a Detroit hospital.
Today I Learned when Harry Houdini died, he willed all of his effects and props to his brother but stipulated that they be burned when his brother died. They never were and instead donated to a museum. In 1995, the museum caught fire and was destroyed but many props still survived.
🇺🇸 TOP TAGS
Yesterday’s top tag: Firefighters save American flag from flames in two-alarm fire
💡 TRIVIA
Happy Halloween! In 1918-1919 the flu claimed millions of lives worldwide. It did help give life to one thing, however:
Zombie flu: How the 1919 influenza pandemic fueled the rise of the living dead…
