News N Things
The Virginia gubernatorial election is neck and neck; Biden pledges to regulate methane emissions; two Democrats stand in the way of Bidens $2 Trillion legislation.
Top 3 Stories:
1) Dead Heat in Virginia Leading into Today’s Election:
“Glenn Youngkin (R) and Terry McAuliffe (D) crisscrossed Virginia on Monday in a final appeal to voters, seeking to energize their bases as the neck-and-neck race for governor draws to a close. Virginians will go to the polls Tuesday to choose the commonwealth’s chief executive in a race that is drawing national attention for what it might reveal about party politics when former president Donald Trump is not on the ballot and in the first year of a Joe Biden presidency. Virginia is one of just two states that hold statewide elections the year after a presidential contest, and the race is often viewed as a referendum on the party in the White House — and how that party might fare in the midterm congressional elections the following year. Both campaigns have shattered fundraising records, drawing money through issues of national import — including the coronavirus pandemic and the abortion law in Texas. Those issues underscore the differences between McAuliffe, who supports some mask and vaccine mandates and favors abortion rights, and Youngkin, a former private equity executive, who is against virus-related mandates and opposes abortion.” (WASHINGTON POST)
2) Biden to Regulate Methane:
“The Biden administration said Tuesday that it would heavily regulate methane, a potent greenhouse gas that spews from oil and natural gas operations and can warm the atmosphere 80 times as fast as carbon dioxide in the short term. For the first time, the Environmental Protection Agency intends to limit the methane coming from roughly one million existing oil and gas rigs across the United States. The federal government previously had rules that aimed to prevent methane leaks from oil and gas wells built since 2015, but they were rescinded by the Trump administration. Mr. Biden intends to restore and strengthen them, aides said. Mr. Biden is in Glasgow this week for a United Nations climate summit, where he is trying to persuade other countries to reduce emissions from fossil fuels that are heating the planet to dangerous levels. The methane announcement comes as Mr. Biden faces intense pressure both internationally and at home to show that the United States, the nation that has pumped the most greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, is serious about mitigating climate change.” (NEW YORK TIMES)
3) Two Democrats v.s. a Two Trillion Dollar Bill:
“Prescription drug prices, state and local tax breaks and Medicare benefits are among the last sticking points in Democrats' $1.75 trillion Build Back Better bill that President Joe Biden announced new framework for last week. Party leaders are frantically seeking to ink a deal so they can pass Biden's social spending legislation and a separate infrastructure package through the House this week. House progressives, who have blocked a vote on the transportation measure, say they'll be ready to vote for both bills after the lingering issues have been resolved on the larger one. "We are now awaiting negotiations among senators on prescription drug pricing and child care and some details on immigration. But the progressive caucus, assuming good resolution of those issues from the Senate side...will be excited to vote for both bills," Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., the caucus chair, said Monday on MSNBC. Also on Monday, centrist Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, told reporters he wouldn't support the bill unless it satisfies his concerns about not adding to the deficit or fueling inflation.” (NBC NEWS)
Daily Verse:
Matthew 5:13-16 NIV "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men. You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."
The President’s Schedule:
10:30 a.m. EST - The President delivers remarks at the "Accelerating Clean Technology Innovation and Deployment" event.
3:30 p.m. EST - The President holds a press conference.
This Day in History
“The Hughes Flying Boat—at one time the largest aircraft ever built—is piloted by designer Howard Hughes on its first and only flight. Built with laminated birch and spruce (hence the nickname the Spruce Goose) the massive wooden aircraft had a wingspan longer than a football field and was designed to carry more than 700 men to battle.” (HISTORY)
Daily Quote:
“It's not what you pay a man, but what he costs you that counts." - Will Rogers
Daily Joke:
How many country singers does it take to change a light bulb? 2. One to change it and one to sing about how much they miss the old one.
Environment:
100 COUNTRIES PLEDGE TO END DEFORESTATION: “More than 100 countries pledged Tuesday to end deforestation in the coming decade — a promise that experts say would be critical to limiting climate change but one that has been made and broken before. Britain hailed the commitment as the first big achievement of the U.N. climate conference known as COP26 taking place this month in the Scottish city of Glasgow. But campaigners say they need to see the details to understand its full impact. The U.K. government said it has received commitments from leaders representing more than 85% of the world’s forests to halt and reverse deforestation by 2030. Among them are several countries with massive forests, including Brazil, China, Colombia, Congo, Indonesia, Russia and the United States. More than $19 billion in public and private funds have been pledged toward the plan.” (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Culture:
YAHOO PULLS OUT OF CHINA: “Yahoo Inc. said it pulled its services in China, citing an increasingly challenging business and legal environment. It is the second well-known U.S. technology firm to downsize China operations in less than a month following the closure of Microsoft Corp.’s LinkedIn social-networking site. “In recognition of the increasingly challenging business and legal environment in China, Yahoo’s suite of services will no longer be accessible from mainland China as of November 1,” a Yahoo spokesman said. “Yahoo remains committed to the rights of our users and a free and open internet. We thank our users for their support.” The China departure was largely symbolic, as Yahoo had already begun shutting down its main services such as email, news and community services in China starting 2013. Still, Yahoo’s exit is a reminder of the increasing challenges foreign companies face in operating in China, as the nation’s regulators have tightened the reins on data security, privacy and internet content this year.” (WALL STREET JOURNAL)
Sports:
THE CHIEFS WIN BUT ARE STILL STUCK: “The Chiefs won 20-17 and that's the most important thing, but we have to recalibrate our expectations for them. The Chiefs had to battle and scratch and barely pulled out a win over the Giants, who are not good. Even the game-winning drive wasn't pretty, with a defensive penalty negating what would have been a back-breaking interception by Patrick Mahomes. Maybe after the 4-4 Chiefs had troubles putting away a bad Giants team for a few hours on Monday night, people will realize they're not the same dominant team they've been with Mahomes at quarterback... The Chiefs' offense had nothing to rely on. Kelce was a non-factor. Mahomes couldn't complete anything downfield. The only thing keeping the chains moving was Tyreek Hill on short routes and Derrick Gore, who most people had never heard of before Monday night, running the ball. Nothing else worked. The Giants played very well, keeping safeties deep and doing well enough underneath so Mahomes didn't pick them apart. But this is the Chiefs. They're supposed to beat any defense, right? Not this season. Not yet anyway.” (YAHOO SPORTS)
Health:
PFIZER SHATTERS REVENUE EXPECTATIONS: “Pfizer Inc on Tuesday raised the full-year sales forecast for its COVID-19 vaccine by 7.5% to $36 billion, as it signs deals with countries for booster doses and receives clearances for using its shots in broader age groups. The company said it is also on track to deliver 2.3 billion doses of the vaccine, out of the roughly 3 billion it plans to make this year. Driven by an unprecedented vaccination drive against the COVID-19 pandemic globally, Pfizer's shot has quickly become one of the best-selling products in the company's roughly 172-year history. The company equally splits expenses and profit from the vaccine with its German partner BioNTech . Other rivals such as Moderna Inc and Johnson & Johnson have faced production snags, helping Pfizer extend its lead in signing supply deals with countries. Pfizer is also rolling out booster doses of the vaccine, while waiting for the outcome of a U.S. regulatory meeting later in the day on using its shots in children aged five to 11. The vaccine brought in sales of $13 billion in the third quarter. Analysts had expected $10.88 billion on average, according to seven analysts polled by Refinitiv.” (REUTERS)