World News: Pacific stuck on spin cycle

Wednesday, September 23

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The Daily Briefing

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Good morning! It's Wednesday, Sept. 23, and today you should know: Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives today for a state visit. Melania Trump rings the NYSE opening bell this morning. The last Social Security payments for September go out today. And "Survivor" returns tonight !

I'm Mallorie Sullivan, and fellow procrastinators, take note: USPS has released its holiday shipping deadlines. Let's dive in.

The press goes to court

A federal judge will hear arguments this afternoon in the lawsuit filed by CNN, MS NOW and Politico filed against President Donald Trump as the outlets seek to regain their access to the White House. The suit asks the court to issue a preliminary injunction to halt the ban, which they argue is a "direct assault on the First Amendment."

•	At the UN General Assembly, Trump taunted CNN for continuing to cover him.
•	In solidarity with the banned outlets, these TV networks suspended their White House pool coverage.
•	Not familiar with the White House press pool? Here's what it is and why it matters.

Trump threatens Iran at UN

At the United Nations on Tuesday, Trump threatened to annihilate Iran and predicted the fall of Cuba in an address that focused on America’s adversaries and largely spared its allies. The president spent much of his speech justifying the war in Iran and celebrating American dominance throughout the Western Hemisphere in places like Venezuela.

•	Meanwhile: Some GOP candidates are pushing Trump to end the war in Iran.
•	Also: Oil spills from the Iran War are threatening marine wildlife, scientists say.

Cyclones keep spinning up in the Pacific

There's a lot going on in the Pacific Ocean right now. Hurricane Polo, a dangerous Category 5 storm fueled by a powerful El Niño, was threatening the west coast of Mexico as of Tuesday afternoon. At the same time, a smaller developing system was being watched near Hawaii. And to top it all off, another tropical cyclone, Odalys, could be drawn into a rare Fujiwhara Effect with Polo.

•	Meanwhile, in the Atlantic: A historically quiet hurricane season continues.
•	And over the Arctic: A polar vortex is gaining strength. Here's what it means for winter.

Some stories my wallet would recommend

•	Flight delayed? In October, it may become harder to receive compensation.
•	Don't blame the Fed: Here's why homebuyers are facing higher borrowing costs.
•	Are travel guarantees worth it? The fine print may surprise you.

Keep scrolling for more news. And here's your daily reminder to do the crossword! I'll see you tomorrow 👋

Have feedback for me? Shoot me a message at msullivan@usatoday.com, I'd love to hear from you! Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up here to get it in your inbox daily.

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