World News: ❄️ Winter is coming

Monday, October 12

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The Daily Briefing

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Welcome to Monday! It’s Oct. 12, and over the weekend: Hurricane Isaias made landfall. A judge halted Trump's taxpayer-funded ads. The DOJ launched a probe of TV networks. A Saudi airport faced multiple attacks. And mass shootings unfolded in Georgia and Pennsylvania.

I’m Mallorie Sullivan, and I'm so excited the leaves around my neighborhood are finally beginning to change! See your region's foliage forecast , and read on for what's going on this week.

📅 What's today called again?

It depends on where you live. The second Monday in October has historically been celebrated as Columbus Day and is still federally recognized as such. But many cities and states, the day is now observed as Indigenous Peoples' Day. Whatever you call it, here's what's open and closed today. And here's how some communities are recognizing Indigenous history, culture and traditions:

•	In New Jersey, there's a movement to restore Indigenous foods to tables.
•	In Delaware, Indigenous communities are getting a more formal role in state government.
•	And in Arizona, the Tohono O'odham Nation is trying to stop the removal of saguaro cacti.

🏛️ Here's what's happening in Washington

•	Katie Zacharia, the new White House press secretary, will hold a news conference Tuesday.
•	Supreme Court orders will also be issued on Tuesday.
•	And Trump's diesel deal with Russia will likely be a hot topic this week as it faces bipartisan criticism.

🗳️ It's also a big week for midterms

•	There are three Senate debates: Tuesday sees debates in Maine and Iowa, with another in Alaska on Thursday.
•	And more states start early voting: Georgia and Idaho (Tuesday); Iowa, Kansas, Rhode Island and Tennessee (Wednesday); North Carolina (Thursday); Washington (Friday); and Massachusetts and Nevada (Saturday).

❄️ We'll get our first glimpse of winter

If you've been wondering what kind of winter we're in for, Thursday could bring some answers. That's when NOAA releases its Winter Outlook, giving us our first official look at a season that's expected to be shaped by a historic El Niño. And if you're impatient, the polar vortex may already be dropping clues.

•	The 'first widespread snowfall' began over the weekend — and under rare circumstances.
•	See when the Farmers' Almanac expects the first snowfall in your region.

💬 And everyone will be talking about ...

•	⚾️ The MLB semifinals, which began yesterday. See our team's predictions!
•	📖 This memoir by Collin Gosselin, who starred on "Jon and Kate Plus 8."
•	📺 "Love is Blind" begins its next season in Boston on Wednesday.
•	🍿 "You Can See Everything," the highly anticipated Elizabeth Holmes doc, which comes out Thursday.

Now that you know what's going on this week, keep scrolling for the latest. Here’s your crossword and — back by popular request — play our News Quiz! See you tomorrow 👋

Have feedback for me? Send 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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