Welcome! 213 are dead and at least 200 are still missing from Hurricane Helene.
PANIC: Democratic fears emerge on Wisconsin Senate race - Axios
QUOTE: “Joe Biden's visit to the storm-ravaged states in the South this week was an event that's become increasingly rare for the president: a public appearance.” - Alex Thompson at Axios.
REUNION: Donald Trump and Brian Kemp are meeting today for the first time since 2020.
DATA: 254,000 jobs were added to the economy in September dropping the unemployment rate to 4.1%. But there’s a problem.
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FEMA Prioritized Migrants?
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said that FEMA does not have enough funds to last through hurricane season following hefty costs in the aftermath of Helene.
BUT: FEMA dished out $104 million to cover the cost of services to illegal immigrants in New York City in June according to Politico.
Strike Averted
Ports across the country are reopening after the dockworkers union agreed to a labor agreement following a three-day strike.
Details: Union members will receive a 62% raise along with substantial benefit increases after supply chains were scrambled with ports shuttered from Maine to Texas.
Context: The deal comes one day after Ron DeSantis announced his willingness to utilize the Florida National Guard to operate Florida’s ports. You can read his full statement here but this is the line that matters:
Unlike the federal government, Florida is taking decisive action to ensure that our economy continues to function and that victims of Hurricane Helene will have access to what they need to rebuild.
DEAD: Hezbollah Leaders
After killing Hezbollah’s leader on September 27th, and their new leader on September 28th, Israel has now killed Hezbollah’s third leader last night.
Brutal: Hashem Safieddine appears to have been killed in an overnight Israeli airstrike on Beirut that also killed the entirety of the Shura Council which nominates future leaders.
Biden’s Spirit Failure
After the Biden Administration blocked the merger of Spirit and JetBlue Airlines earlier this year, Spirit announced today that it is exploring bankruptcy. The company’s stock price was down 30% in after-hours trading after The Wall Street Journal broke the story.
Context: Despite the profitability challenges that have historically plagued the airline industry, the Biden administration’s efforts to block a merger between Spirit and JetBlue were upheld by a court in March. “Today’s decision by JetBlue (to end merger talks) is yet another victory for the Justice Department’s work on behalf of American consumers,” said Attorney General Merrick B. Garland in March.
Now, thanks to the Biden administration, consumers will have fewer options and investors will lose millions.
CNN: “Bad Sign For Kamala’s Campaign”
MUST WATCH: Before and After
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Around Dallas, the Church Scandals Seem to Have No End - NYT (free)
U.S. won't extend legal status for Venezuelan migrants who arrived under Biden program - CBS
What Dictators, Corruption and Threesomes Have to Do With a Lawsuit That Could Kneecap Fox News - Politico
Democrats Should Focus on Education Issues that Matter to Voters - The Liberal Patriot
In Rare Sermon, Iran’s Supreme Leader Issues Warning to Israel - NYT (free)
House Races Across the Midwest Move in Democrats’ Favor - Cook Political (paywall)
Harris’s Brother-in-Law Forges Business Ties—but Makes Left Nervous - WSJ (paywall)
Market snapshot:
Wish DeSantis was our president …..
Re: "Port Strike Averted"
So where's MY 62% raise??