Daily Briefing: It won't be Boris
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has dropped out of the race to lead the Conservative Party and replace Liz Truss, who quit the nation's highest seat last week. Also in the news: Why activists are performing stunts in Europe with mashed potatoes and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros are headed to the 2022 MLB World Series.
🙋🏼♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. New job alert: NASA announced 16 people who will study UFOs.
Now let's get started with Monday's news.
Rishi Sunak is strong favorite to be Britain's next prime minister
Boris Johnson's withdrawal from the contest to lead the Conservative Party leaves former Treasury chief Rishi Sunak the strong favorite to become Britain's next prime minister — the third this year — at a time of political turmoil and severe economic challenges. Sunak could win the contest as soon as Monday. Johnson, who was ousted in July amid ethics scandals, had been widely expected to run to replace Liz Truss, who quit last week after her tax-cutting economic package caused turmoil in financial markets and obliterated her authority inside the governing party. Read more
Russian military leadership in the occupied city of Kherson have fled, leaving behind new Russian recruits to try and stall Ukraine's military push.
Why are activists throwing mashed potatoes on a Monet?
Climate activists in Europe again splattered food at fine art in protest of fossil fuels. This time two activists splashed mashed potatoes on glass protecting a painting by 19th century French impressionist painter Oscar-Claude Monet at the Museum Barberini in Potsdam, Germany. Members of Last Generation, a German climate activist group, took credit Sunday for the stunt, which did not damage the painting. The incident comes a little over a week after two activists protesting fossil fuels in Britain went viral for splashing tomato soup on glass covering a Vincent Van Gogh painting at a museum. The activists then glued themselves to a wall. Read more
More news to know now
🔔 Can't make it to the polls on Election Day? Here's how to vote absentee in the midterm elections.
🌐 A Peace Corps worker killed a woman in Africa. The U.S. helped him escape prosecution.
📃 The DOJ has disputed Trump's claims that some of the records seized from Mar-a-Lago were personal or privileged.
❓ What's the value of decades lost in prison? Adnan Syed could get millions, but exonerated people often face a legal maze in the U.S.
📰 The DOJ has sued South Dakota over alleged discrimination against Native Americans.
📣 Sen. Lindsey Graham is asking the Supreme Court to intervene regarding his order to testify in Georgia's 2020 election investigation.
🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, national correspondent Elizabeth Weise looks at the role of climate change in the midterm elections. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
🌤 Do I need a jacket with my Halloween costume? Check your local forecast here.
There are new omicron variants — here's what you need to stay safe
While the COVID-19 omicron BA.5 subvariant comprised the overwhelming majority of cases in the summer, new variants are beginning to take hold as we move through autumn. BA.4.6, BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and BF.7 are newer mutations that are beginning to take hold in the country as BA.5 transmissions continue to fall. Some mutations found in newer strains include a higher rate of transmission and immunity evasion. But for now, there are no known differing symptoms associated with the omicron variant and thus, its subvariants. Read more
Move aside, BA.5: These new COVID variants are gaining ground in the U.S.
Reading and math test scores fell across U.S. during the pandemic. How did your state fare?
How PACS are funding parents running for local school board positions
New right-leaning political action committees are pouring money into school board races across the country, aiming to flip control of who governs schools in favor of self-proclaimed parents rights advocates in a way that rivals the role that teachers unions have historically had in these contests. For much less than what it would cost them to influence a seat in the House or Senate, these PACs are putting thousands of dollars at a time into races for local school boards and as a result, changing education on a national scale. Read more
2024 presidential race preview? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis debates challenger Charlie Crist.
Just for subscribers:
👁 Iowa Poll shows Mike Franken within striking distance of Sen. Chuck Grassley. Could he really win?
🩺 Nurses are stressed out and burned out – putting your health at risk.
🟧 Point of view: Republicans who say ''Chicago'' when asked about gun violence ignore their own local tragedies.
🗨 Will Georgia's "election integrity" law hurt midterm turnout? Data from primary offer clues.
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Phillies, Astros off to World Series 2022
The Houston Astros defeated the New York Yankees 6-5 in the American Championship Series Sunday night, qualifying for their fourth World Series in the past six seasons. The Philadelphia Phillies are also in the World Series, winning 4-3 over the San Diego Padres Sunday to take the best-of-seven National League Championship Series in five games. It will forever be known as The Bryce Harper Game, after the Phillies player hit a dramatic game-winning, eighth-inning homer, earning a No.6 seed a playing spot in the World Series for the first time in Major League Baseball history. Read more
Astros sweep aside Yankees to reach World Series for fourth time in six years.
''Pure chaos'': Bryce Harper becomes legend, lifting Philadelphia Phillies back to World Series.
Photo gallery: Best photos from MLB playoffs' League Championship Series.
📷 Photo of the day: Best photos from Week 8 of the 2022 college football season 📷
No. 9 Oregon is now in the thick of the College Football Playoff race after a 45-30 win against No. 10 UCLA that paints the Ducks as the class of the Pac-12. The rejuvenated Ducks are suddenly looking the part. They top Saturday's list of winners and losers.
Click here to see more photos from college football Week 8.
A little less heavy
🐲 ''House of the Dragon'' finale: Queen Rhaenyra's fury over the cruelest death as dragons go rogue.
💘 For the disability community, dating comes with unique challenges.
🎬 ''Fate does not make mistakes'': Dwayne Johnson finally brings ''Black Adam'' to the big screen.
💋 The artists behind Doja's Cat cutting-edge makeup explain how she's changing the craft.
🧀 Our favorite Halloween charcuterie boards are almost too spectacular to eat.
🏈 32 things we learned from Week 7 of 2022 NFL season: What's wrong with Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and NFC?
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note, shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.
Associated Press contributed reporting.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Boris Johnson, Phillies, Astros, omicron variants, Monet: Daily Briefing
