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ICE paid $495M for Minnesota prison offered to state for $75M. Here's proof Claim: U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement purchased a vacant, privately-owned prison for approximately $495 million after it was previously offered to the state of Minnesota for $75 million. Rating: True Context Public records and an email first obtained by KARE 11, a Minnesota news station, indicate ICE purchased the vacant facility for $495.6 million roughly a year after private prison operator CoreCivic offered it to the Minnesota Department of Corrections for $75 million. The Department of Homeland Security and CoreCivic said the price was set through the standard federal appraisal process, which involves independent estimates of the property's value. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/ice-minnesota-prison-price/? Abdul El-Sayed didn't say it's OK if girls see male genitals in their locker rooms Claim: Michigan Senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed said that it’s OK for young girls to see male genitals in their locker rooms because they are going to see them on the internet anyway. Rating: False Context The claim referred to a segment from an extended interview with El-Sayed on "60 Minutes," available to view on YouTube. In it, El-Sayed was asked about parental control over education and the interviewer cited one example being the debate over transgender kids playing sports. In response, El-Sayed made the argument that rather than try to shield kids from things they may not understand, it is a parent’s job to guide them through it. There was no mention of locker rooms or male genitalia, nor was there evidence El-Sayed ever made such a statement. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/abdul-el-sayed-girls-locker-rooms/? ps:Once again I wonder who started that rumor?????

Did Virginia legalize abortion up to birth? Claim misrepresents Question 1 Claim: In the 2026 U.S. midterm elections, Virginia voters passed a measure allowing abortions to be performed until birth. Rating: False Context Voters approved Question 1, which places protections for first- and second-trimester abortions in the state constitution. However, it also gives the state Legislature the power to pass some restrictions on abortions in the third trimester. https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/virginia-legalize-abortion-birth/? ps:I wonder who started that lie????? Musk deleted 'Vote red today!' post after Democrats' midterm gains Claim: A screen-recorded video authentically shows an Election Day X post by Elon Musk reading "Vote red today!" that he, or someone managing his account, deleted after Republicans' 2026 midterm election losses. Rating: True The Nov. 3 U.S. midterm elections saw major gains for Democrats both in the House and Senate, including key Senate victories in Michigan, South Carolina and Texas. News media outlets reported the results as a sweeping rebuke of President Donald Trump's administration, with vote tallies exhibiting sizable differences from his second-term victory in 2024. In the hours after the election results began coming in, some people began claiming a screen-recorded video showed that tech entrepreneur Elon Musk — who reportedly contributed $474 million to support Republicans in the midterms — had deleted his post from Election Day that read, "Vote red today!" https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/musk-deleted-vote-red-today-tweet/? ps:He wasted a ton of money!!!!!

1 Corinthians 14:34-35 New International Version 34 Women[a] should remain silent in the churches. They are not allowed to speak, but must be in submission, as the law says. 35 If they want to inquire about something, they should ask their own husbands at home; for it is disgraceful for a woman to speak in the church.[b] In many christian churches, and many Jewish churches women are seated together and separate. I always wondered why. Now I know why.

An Abdication of Duty View in browser Outgoing Speaker of the House Mike Johnson made a statement earlier this year that captured his approach to the job: “I have no intention of getting in the way of President Trump and his administration.” He was answering a question about levying tariffs, a power the Constitution gives to Congress. Trump grabbed it. Johnson let him. That’s been the pattern for most of Johnson’s tenure. When the interests of the White House and the House diverged, Johnson proved loyal to Trump and a traitor to the institution he was supposed to lead. As his run ends, I wonder: Has he been the worst speaker of all time? His partisan affiliations and views are not the deciding factors in this evaluation. If a speaker is to be judged by the legislation he helped to pass or the worst parts of his ideology or conduct, then each one who entrenched slavery would clearly rank lower. But if a speaker is to be judged on how he performs the core job of protecting the House’s independence and authority over its enumerated powers, then no speaker has done more than Johnson to subvert the constitutional and civic purpose of that vital institution. In 2016, Johnson, who practiced constitutional law, was elected to the House of Representatives after one term in the Louisiana state legislature. When Trump lost the 2020 election, Johnson helped organize and signed an amicus brief in a lawsuit that sought to overturn Joe Biden’s victories in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. After the storming of the U.S. Capitol, Johnson joined Republicans who wanted to overturn Biden’s wins in Arizona and Pennsylvania. That readiness to subordinate the will of American voters to Trump’s ambitions may have helped Johnson become speaker in 2023, and it foreshadowed his sycophancy after Trump’s return to office. The power of the purse is a key function of the House, yet Johnson sided with Trump, and against horrified fiscal conservatives, to pass a spending bill that violated his own standard of how to wield that power responsibly. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act, the most significant legislation that he engineered into law, is expected to increase deficits by trillions of dollars—despite Johnson’s own promise to resolve what he rightly describes as “unprecedented debt and spending” that jeopardize the country’s stability and security. Power over tariffs, declarations of war, and oversight of the executive branch are other core responsibilities of Congress. On tariffs, Johnson did not merely acquiesce as Trump usurped an Article I power to impose duties on foreign nations (a congressional authority that Johnson had once sought to protect before he became speaker)—he took steps to stymie the ability of fellow House members to cast votes against the president’s tariffs. This speaker has repeatedly acted to stop the House from speaking. When Trump launched a war against Iran, without congressional approval or public support, Johnson tried to shut down floor action to prevent a war-powers vote that would rebuke him. When House members attempted to force the release of files associated with the Jeffrey Epstein investigation in 2025, Johnson adjourned the session early, sending lawmakers home to delay a vote. After the Democrat Adelita Grijalva won a House seat in an Arizona special election that September, Johnson delayed swearing her in for 50 days, a dereliction of his duty to ensure that his fellow Americans were represented. Democrats accused him of stalling because her signature on the Epstein petition would have forced a vote. (Johnson denied that the Epstein matter influenced his decision, and later voted to disclose the files, after Trump changed his position on the release.) All the while, amid allegations of presidential corruption related to foreign gifts and investment, pardons and clemency, stock profiteering and suspicious no-bid federal contracts, Johnson’s House has all but abdicated its oversight role. For almost two years, Trump has been mostly unchecked. Only future oversight can clarify the full costs of that inattention. Admittedly, there is no definite way to identify the worst speaker in history. Since the first Congress, 56 individuals have presided over the House. Americans constantly rank past presidents against one another. Vanishingly few could name 10 speakers, let alone compare them. Even experts had seemingly never bothered to rank House speakers until 1998, when an Iowa State University master’s student named Dennis Roy Still sent a survey to 60 congressional scholars. Although he soon realized that many of them were “unfamiliar with the speakership prior to the Civil War,” he found that the worst-ranked speaker was William Pennington, an inexperienced and ineffectual leader who was elected in 1859, shortly before the Civil War. Among modern speakers, Jim Wright is remembered for resigning amid a slew of ethics-violations allegations, and highly partisan speakers such as Newt Gingrich and Nancy Pelosi have been regarded as especially effective or especially divisive—depending on whom you ask. Then there’s Denny Hastert, the speaker from 1999 to 2007, who is a clear villain: Long after his tenure as speaker, he admitted to sexually abusing children. But even judging him on his official acts alone, the Nation writer John Nichols declared in 2007 that Hastert was “the most lamentable” speaker in history. Hastert allowed George W. Bush, a fellow Republican, to invade Iraq and Afghanistan without declaring war and “rubber-stamped the administration’s anti-Constitutional assaults on civil liberties,” Nichols argued, rendering “an essential legislative chamber as nothing more than an extension of the executive branch.” Although I believe that Bush-era Congresses often voted unwisely, at least they did vote on matters including the Authorization for Use of Military Force in Afghanistan, the Patriot Act, and the Iraq War (Hastert helped introduce the 2002 authorization for force in Iraq). Compare this with Johnson’s House, which never authorized the use of military force in Trump’s Venezuela war or his Iran war. Although a war-powers vote on Iran did eventually happen, it took place in spite of Johnson. And this undeclared war persists without House-imposed consequences for the president. Add in tariffs and oversight, and all told, the current House has abdicated its constitutional role far more than Hastert’s did. On Tuesday, voters gave their verdict on the House that Johnson led. In a historic rebuke, they ousted Republicans from power. Democrats, who currently hold four fewer House seats than Republicans, are projected to have at least a 50-seat majority in 2027. Beyond that decisive signal of disapproval from voters, Johnson’s legacy will be undermining the independence of the legislative branch. Tapped to lead the House, he repeatedly betrayed it, ceding its enumerated powers and impeding colleagues who tried to check the president. For the love of the House, good riddance to speaker Johnson. Related: Mike Johnson would prefer not to. Alexandra Petri: Mike Johnson is tuning out the news cycle to focus on self-care.

A woman divorced her husband because he spent his days lying on the sofa eating peanuts and watching television. "That's not what men do," she said. "They go to work. They may get drunk, fool around with other women, gamble" They don't spend their days on the couch eating peanuts and watching tv. Now some women would prefer her husband on the couch eating peanuts to him fooling with other women. That's a cultural issue with various viewpoints. Bottom line is the lady(?) didn't respect her husband so she divorced him. No adultery, physical abuse, just a lack of respect.

UN's peacekeeping mission in Western Sahara enters liquidation phase after mandate expires The U.N. peacekeeping mission in the disputed territory of Western Sahara will start repatriating personnel, closing a dozen facilities and disposing of equipment as part of a “liquidation phase” following a U.S.-Russia standoff at the Security Council last week. Read More.

Unemployment claims drop to 189,000, the fewest since mid-July Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week as layoffs remain scarce and most workers enjoy job security. Read More.

Anthropic is rapidly accelerating AI development amid slowdown calls, outside research group says Anthropic is developing its artificial intelligence systems around twice as quickly as it was a year ago amid the CEO’s calls to slow down the technology’s pace of improvement, according to an analysis released Thursday by an independent monitoring group. Read More.

British doctor who tested positive for Ebola in Congo is evacuated to London hospital A British doctor who was working on the Ebola epidemic in Congo was evacuated Thursday to a London hospital for treatment for the virus, the U.K. government said. Read More.

Gas deposits off Cyprus are an opportunity for the EU, president says Natural gas deposits off the southern coastline of Cyprus are an opportunity for the European Union to bolster its own energy security by diversifying its supply, the island nation's president said Thursday. Read More.

Proverbs 31 describes the "woman of virtue." According to Scripture, her life is defined by domestic activity. That includes doing business on behalf of her family (vs.16). She acts independently of her husband but always in the interest of her family. It is her husband, however, who sits in the gate with the elders of the land: "Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land" vs 23. The "gate" is the place where judgment took place, where important decisions were made (Deut 21:19 et al.) Discussions regarding the marriage of Ruth and Boaz were made at the gate (Ruth 4: 1,10,11). "Wisdom is too high for a fool, he openeth not his mouth in the gates" This woman of virtue is married to a man who is respected in his community (Ruth 4: 1，10,11).

⚽️ 1 sports thing: Ronaldo done with Portugal Cristiano Ronaldo after Portugal's 1-0 loss to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Photo: Ryan Pierse/FIFA via Getty Images Soccer legend Cristiano Ronaldo will no longer play for Portugal, ending an international career that spanned six World Cups, a European title and the men's all-time international scoring record. His departure follows a high-profile falling-out with Portugal coach Jorge Jesus. 🇵🇹 The 41-year-old Ronaldo said on Instagram: "To the Portuguese people, the day has come for me to hand back the No. 7 shirt of our national team." "It was not an easy decision, because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart." Go deeper.

⚡️ Catch me up Data: Financial Modeling Prep; Chart: George Moriarty/Axios 😱 Tech stocks plunged today in the most visible sign yet that investors are growing worried about a slowdown in the AI boom. The Nasdaq was down about 5% as of midafternoon. Get the latest.

Dems shatter GOP statehouse control Data: Axios research; Map: Andrew Pantazi/Axios Democrats are on track to control most state legislative chambers, ending 16 years of Republican dominance over America's statehouses, Axios' Andrew Pantazi reports. Tuesday's midterm results have dramatically expanded Democrats' power to increase minimum wages, protect abortion access and set voting rules ahead of 2028. 😳 Democrats are set to flip 12 legislative chambers, dismantle five Republican state trifectas (both statehouse chambers plus governorship), and shatter 11 GOP supermajorities, per AP. If current leads hold, 75% of Americans will live in a state with a Democratic governor, and 53% will live in Democratic trifectas. As it stands, Democrats will control the governor's office and both chambers in five of the seven 2024 presidential battlegrounds: Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. They have also broken Republican one-party rule in the sixth (Georgia) and flipped the House in the seventh (North Carolina). 🫏 Democrats flipped five GOP-held governorships (Georgia, Iowa, Nevada, Ohio and Texas) and lead in Alaska. Republicans haven't flipped any, despite targeting Arizona, Michigan, Oregon and Wisconsin. Kansas, where Democrat Cindy Holscher is leading by about half a point, remains uncalled. The bottom line: Republicans spent 16 years building a statehouse majority. Democrats erased it in one night — and they now have two years to show voters what they'll do with it. Go deeper.

AP Exclusive: Trump administration held talks with Iran on deporting Iranians during the war WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration held secret talks with Iran on deporting Iranians even as the war there dragged on, court documents obtained by The Associated Press show. https://apnews.com/article/iran-immigration-deportation-flights-emails-1f245367d432b2683a546936014a1f90? Trump: Sen. Sullivan should get other Sullivan's votes Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Photo: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call via Getty Images President Trump said today that Alaska Sen. Dan Sullivan (R) should get the votes for Dan J. Sullivan, a candidate in Alaska's tumultuous Senate race with the same name as the incumbent, Axios' Avery Lotz reports. 🤳 Trump wrote on Truth Social: "The vote totals for the Fake Dan Sullivan, plus the other 'slug' that the Dems put on the Ballot, should be immediately given to the REAL Dan Sullivan, and the Election is over." He added: "He easily wins. There is no other fair solution!" Democrat Mary Peltola leads but Sen. Sullivan is close behind, with 78% of the vote counted. The challenger Sullivan, who was listed on the ballot as "Sullivan, Daniel J. Jr.," is in last place with 3,600 votes. 📊 In Alaska's ranked-choice system, if no candidate gets more than half of voters' first-place votes, the last-place finisher is eliminated and their ballots are reallocated to voters' next choices until a candidate has a majority. Go deeper. ps:How ignorant does he think Republican voters are? Does he think they can't read??

Paraguayan president impeached after resigning following bank collapse ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay (AP) — Paraguayan President Santiago Peña announced his resignation Thursday after the collapse of a major digital bank tied to his government triggered widespread protests, froze millions of people’s savings and cost him the support of his own party. https://apnews.com/article/ueno-bank-collapse-paraguay-banking-crisis-santiago-pena-impeachment-eccea1c9a64808b5cd7e6e1d5542084f?

Apple MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display (16-Inch) Review: A Touch-Screen, Tandem OLED Triumph Starting his tech career as a PCMag intern 16 years ago, Joe has reviewed hundreds of computers and edited thousands of articles on PC hardware. https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-macbook-pro-with-proled-xdr-display-16-inch-m5-max? Apple MacBook Pro With PROLED XDR Display (14-Inch) Review: The Compact Creator Laptop to Beat https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/apple-macbook-pro-with-proled-xdr-display-14-inch-m5-pro?

Russell Brand is convicted of rape, and judge says he’ll get a prison term LONDON (AP) — Russell Brand, the risqué comic who bragged for years of his sexual exploits, was convicted Thursday of raping one woman and sexually assaulting three others on allegations dating back years. https://apnews.com/article/russell-brand-rape-sexual-assault-trial-f840ec56b2c8dd88941460d81de81fc7?

DeSantis wants special session to implement ‘taxpayer bill of rights’ One of the last actions Gov. Ron DeSantis wants done before leaving office in January is to implement a “taxpayer bill of rights” via a special legislative session, he said Wednesday. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/04/desantis-wants-special-session-to-implement-taxpayer-bill-of-rights/? ps:I give until the end of the year before people will be complaining as to where are the police, the fire department, etc.!! Once again, the Democratic blue wave misses Florida Tuesday night saw the near virtual destruction of the Republican Party power structure in this country. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/04/once-again-the-democratic-blue-wave-misses-florida/? Here are the messes the next Florida governor needs to clean up Sixteen years of Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis mistreating the environment left a lot of ugliness for Byron Donalds to tackle. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/05/here-are-the-messes-the-next-florida-governor-needs-to-clean-up/? ps:Nothing will change with this guy!! Florida Legislature gets its first DSA member in Ashley Herrmann During the just-concluded midterm elections, Republicans told Florida voters they were the only thing standing between keeping the “free state of Florida” free and having socialists and even communists take over the Sunshine State. https://floridaphoenix.com/2026/11/04/florida-legislature-gets-its-first-dsa-member-in-ashley-herrmann/?

Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international soccer Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international soccer after a record-breaking career with Portugal. The 41-year-old broke the news earlier today in a long Instagram video where he read a letter to his supporters. Ronaldo made 234 appearances for his country, scoring 146 international goals. + Read more: Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international soccer

Trump’s arch nears approval A rendering of the proposed triumphal arch in Washington, DC. (US Commission of Fine Arts) President Trump’s proposed 250-foot triumphal arch in Washington, DC, is expected to receive final approval today, potentially clearing the way for construction to begin the same day. The decision could spark fresh legal challenges as the White House races to move forward before the new Democratic-controlled Congress takes power in 2027. + Read more: Trump’s arch is poised for final approval two days after the president’s election drubbing + GOP anxiety: Democratic wave also raises concerns over Alito and Supreme Court’s future

Democratic hopefuls shift into gear A gathering of prominent Democrats in Denver next week could offer an early glimpse of the party’s potential presidential contenders for 2028. Analysts say some hopefuls could make their intentions known by the end of the year, but the coming weeks will likely bring more attention to some familiar names — from Pete Buttigieg and Gov. Josh Shapiro to former Vice President Kamala Harris and others. + Video: Presidential hopefuls are gathering in Denver next week

Trump enters his lame-duck era Amid the euphoria, Democrats are debating how to turn their midterm victories into lasting change rather than another round of elections where politicians’ promises fall short. President Donald Trump, meanwhile, faces a challenging political reality: a lame-duck presidency, with two years left in office and his ability to push through legislation diminished. A Democratic-controlled Congress will give him less room to maneuver, but his veto power remains intact — and sure enough, he recently dubbed himself “Mr. Veto.” Even Trump’s allies acknowledge that the final years of his presidency will be frustrating, and much will depend on whether either side is willing to compromise. Democrats are already setting priorities ahead of the new Congress convening in January, with affordability at the forefront — but accountability not far behind. California Rep. Robert Garcia, who is poised to lead the House Oversight Committee, insists that investigating the “corruption of Donald Trump and this administration” will be high on the agenda but won’t sidetrack efforts to bring down costs for Americans. + Read more: How Trump is expected to handle being a lame-duck president + What his setback could mean for Iran, Israel and Ukraine + Jake Tapper’s take: Is the MAGA/Trump era over? + For subscribers: Democrats debate what to do with their midterm mandate

November 5, 2026 Good morning. The midterms were a historic collapse for the Republicans, who were unable to overcome an unpopular president and an unpopular war. We have the inside story. And today, we explain what could come next. Alex Kent/The New York Times Blue whale by Adam B. Kushner and Evan Gorelick As President Obama liked to say, elections have consequences. Tuesday’s contest — in which Democrats routed Republicans by shocking margins in shocking parts of the country — is no exception. How will Democrats use their new power? The answer isn’t so simple. The result was more a rebuke of President Trump than an endorsement of specific policies, and Democrats disagree with one another on impeachment, the role of fossil fuels, Israel, health care and how much to tax the rich. Meanwhile, Trump still controls the executive branch — and the veto pen. But the blue wave still promises to reshape American politics. Today, a guide to what’s coming. The states Democrats flipped at least five governorships and won vaunted “trifectas” — unified control of the executive and both legislative chambers — in at least five new states, cutting deep into territory once deemed purple and red. Data as of 3.28 p.m. Eastern on Wednesday. Source: Ballotpedia (trifecta status). Malika Khurana/The New York Times A blue makeover. Their agendas, likely guided by the states that have been blue for a generation, will focus on how to steer funds and resist Trump’s policies. They could raise the minimum wage, lift taxes on top earners and add paid family leave. They may also pay to patch some of the cuts, particularly to food stamps and health programs, that the Republican Congress enacted as part of Trump’s domestic policy law. Some may try to restrict new A.I. data centers. Electoral advantage. State Democrats will be empowered, in some cases, to change election rules — say, by expanding mail-in voting — in hopes of unlocking new swing states in the next presidential election. They may contemplate redrawing their congressional maps to help Democrats. Washington Alex Kent/The New York Times Congress. Chuck Schumer, the likely Senate majority leader, says job No. 1 is to bring down the cost of living for Americans. Democrats want to reverse Medicaid cuts, restore Obamacare subsidies, limit Trump’s ability to impose tariffs and curtail a war that has raised fuel costs. Trump promises he can be “Mr. Veto” if necessary. Even so, Democrats can force his allies into votes they’ll regret when the next election comes around. Democrats also want to exercise their constitutional power to check the executive branch and conduct oversight. Now they promise to investigate crypto windfalls, well-timed stock trades and a wedding party for the president’s son bankrolled by a Kremlin-connected oligarch. One House Democrat said in a statement on Tuesday that White House officials should “lawyer up.” Sources: The American Presidency Project (1972-1974), M.I.T. Election Data and Science Lab (1976-2024), New York Times and A.P. race calls (2026). Rachel Buigas-Lopez/The New York Times. The White House. Administration officials are preparing for the onslaught of investigations and discussing what they can do by executive fiat. But Trump is a lame duck with a conciliatory tone. He says he could work with the new congressional leaders to raise the debt ceiling or change immigration enforcement. “I’ll get along probably with the Democrats, unless they want to be destructive,” he said yesterday. Two parties remade Democrats. Tuesday’s result will send both moderates (such as Adam Hamilton of Kansas) and progressives (such as Abdul El-Sayed of Michigan) to Washington. The two factions fought bitterly in many primaries this fall, but candidates from both sides won Election Day victories. Progressives want the party to push bold, transformative ideas like Medicare for All. But Democrats can’t maintain their momentum in 2028 if they can’t persuade Trump voters to back them again. Which way will the party go? The argument between the camps will define the next two years. Republicans. Trump pushes his allies to parrot his ideas — on war, government spending, the economy. He threatens apostates that he will back their opponents in primaries. But it hurt Republicans in this election to be seen as proxies for an unpopular president. Now that he’ll be a lame duck, Republicans may feel comfortable putting distance between themselves and Trump. It began yesterday, when Vice President JD Vance attributed the electoral drubbing to the war in Iran. After a defeat come the recriminations. THE VOTE Source: Times Voter Trends 2026. The New York Times Voters of every demographic group — across race, age, gender and education — swung back toward the Democratic Party. See each group broken down in these charts. There is no modern precedent for this Democratic tsunami, Nate Cohn writes. See a map of the blue wave. Watch the video below, which shows how Hispanic voters pushed the country to the left. The New York Times THE REACTIONS Read more about the vice president’s striking critique of his administration’s agenda. Moderate Democrats grew their ranks in Congress — and their clout. After the midterms, Trump talked about his ballroom and a new helipad. OPINIONS Elon Musk — whose SpaceX stock has tanked — had a tough election night, Michelle Goldberg writes. The bells are tolling for Trumpism, Ezra Klein argues. In “The Conversation,” Frank Bruni and Bret Stephens discussed the results. OTHER NEWS Politics The Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito told people close to him that he does not intend to retire immediately from the Supreme Court. As a result, Republicans may have missed the window for Trump to name another justice during his presidency. An appeals court ruled that Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s administration could proceed with efforts to collect a new tax on high-end second homes in New York City. Around the World France is bracing for a nationwide general strike over the rising cost of living. High voter turnout, especially among young people, is helping defeat authoritarian-leaning leaders in elections around the world. Joshua Wong, a Hong Kong democracy activist, was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Five survivors were rescued on a remote Pacific island after drifting for nearly 100 days and 3,000 miles. Other Big Stories Floods have poured water into critically low reservoirs in the parched American Southwest. Will it ease worries over the water crisis there? A crucial part of the private jet that crashed in Florida on Sunday was found in fragments far from where the aircraft slammed into the ground, federal investigators said. Ask The Morning: Do you have questions about the news? Ask us here and we’ll work with our colleagues to get you the answers. Morning readers, don’t miss The Midterms Sale on election coverage and more. What effect will the results have on the country? And on you? Stay informed with our best offer on The Times in full. Subscribe now. MORNING READS Chantz Rivera has been walking across the United States. Mark Abramson for The New York Times See ya: He felt stuck in New York, so he decided to walk to California. Dario Amodei: The Anthropic chief executive’s worldview was shaped by two interwoven philosophies: rationalism and effective altruism. Imposition: Is it rude to ask friends to stay with them? Your pick: The most clicked story in The Morning yesterday was about a cheap plastic pouch that is saving women’s lives in childbirth. TODAY’S NUMBER 100 — That’s the percentage of pork in a McRib sandwich that McDonald’s says is “sourced from farmers and suppliers across the U.S.” The fast-food company is a defendant in a class-action lawsuit that claims the McRib is not made from rib meat. When a federal judge allowed the lawsuit to proceed, she wrote, “The court is not persuaded by defendant’s many arguments that it would be unreasonable or fanciful to think the McRib contains rib meat.” SPORTS Cristiano Ronaldo Pedro Nunes/Reuters Cristiano Ronaldo announced his retirement from his national team. “Portugal will always be in my heart,” he said. Detroit Lions: Jack Campbell, a linebacker, made his first public comments since a serious neck injury, saying he has full movement in his lower body and continues to “make progress” with movement in his upper body. RECIPE OF THE DAY Armando Rafael for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Cyd Raftus McDowell. Chile crisp delivers spice, yes, but it can also be used strategically to fry foods. Try it on your next fried rice. This one comes with plenty of plant-based protein: The crumbled tofu offers the bouncy texture and hearty bite of egg, and the protein-rich edamame offer a hint of sweetness and nuttiness. LOATHE ENTIRELY The New York Times To honor the 60th anniversary of the “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” animated TV special, The Times ranked eight actors who’ve played the Grinch, on a scale of 1 to 5 mean Grinch faces. Which one was the meanest? More on culture Bob Dylan met with Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican. He wore a hoodie. Juan Atkins combined the futurism of Kraftwerk with the funk of George Clinton to help invent techno music. He died at 64. Why is everyone suddenly wearing purple? THE MORNING RECOMMENDS Matt Nelson, the creator of WeRateDogs. Mark Abramson for The New York Times Check out one of the most popular social media accounts, WeRateDogs. It’s a hit. Start your holiday shopping early with our 2026 Holiday Gift Guide. See the world’s 50 Best Restaurants list. One in New York made the cut. Take a quiz to see how well you know books that have been made into movies. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangram was atrophy. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. P.S. Sam is out sick and will be back soon. We sent him some soup. By the way, we told you yesterday that Idaho had picked a state gun in a ballot measure, but it was too early to say which firearm had won. It was “the gun that won the West,” the Winchester Model 1873. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren Deputy Editorial Director: Lauren Jackson