November 3, 2021 Briefing
Politics:
“There were 557 Southwest border deaths during the fiscal year, which ended September 30. That's up from 254 deaths in fiscal year 2020 and 300 deaths in 2019, marking a significant increase amid a 30-record year for border crossings. The agency data on deaths dates to 1998.”
“A U.S. government watchdog on Friday accused the State Department and Pentagon of suppressing information that lawmakers and the public need to understand the collapse of Afghanistan's former government and military and the chaotic U.S. troop pullout.”
“However, the Frost report highlights a more gnarly problem: the forthcoming lack of highly productive workers. Put another way, there’s been a dearth of baby making in China for decades now and that means there’s a demographic bulge.”
“After almost three hours of lively arguments, a majority of the justices seemed inclined to allow abortion providers — but perhaps not the Biden administration — to pursue a challenge to a Texas law that has sharply curtailed abortions in the state.”
Business:
American Airlines cancels 250 more flights - CNN Business
“American Airlines has canceled another 250 flights on Monday, continuing a days-long chain reaction of cancellations that started last week. American says it canceled 1,058 flights on Sunday, or roughly one in every five of its originally scheduled flights. That was on top of the 548 flights it canceled on Saturday and 343 flights on Friday. Overall about 10% of its mainline flights have been canceled over the four-day period. The canceled flights have stranded tens of thousands of passengers.”
“Opposition to the mandate could potentially lead to thousands of U.S. workers losing their jobs and imperil an already sluggish economic recovery, union leaders, workers and company executives said.”
Biden administration to publish details on Covid vaccine mandate for businesses in coming days - CNBC
“The Biden administration will publish in the coming days a rule requiring private businesses to ensure their employees are vaccinated against Covid-19, the Department of Labor said Monday. The rule applies to businesses with 100 or more employees. It’s estimated to cover about two-thirds of the private sector workforce.”
“Just 35% of Americans now call the national economy good, while 65% call it poor, according to a poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. That’s a dip since September, when 45% of Americans called the economy good, and a return to about where views of the nation’s economy stood in January and February, when the pandemic was raging across the nation.”
Culture:
“Sharon Cockayne told Fox 13 this has been the biggest challenge she has faced in her two decades running a Subway restaurant near Salt Lake City International Airport.”
“The Atlanta Braves fought through injuries, a tough National League East, a stacked playoff bracket and the best team in the American League and on Tuesday night they can call themselves World Series champions.”
“The amendment’s failure showed that even in a liberal city where skepticism of the police runs deep, many Americans are not prepared to get rid of the police.”
Health:
“The number of abortions performed in Texas plummeted by half in September, which is the month the state’s new abortion law restricting the procedure went into effect, according to a new study from the University of Texas at Austin.”
“The head of the New York City Fire Department has been fighting more the fires this weekend as attention falls on the agency with one of the lowest vaccination rates in the city.”
“U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on Tuesday gave the final OK for children ages 5-11 to receive Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.”