It’s a new week!🙋🏼♀️ I’m Nicole Fallert. Katy Perry and Justin Trudeau just broke the internet.
A quick look at Monday’s news:
Two moderate gubernatorial candidates may be the future for Democrats
Virginia’s Abigail Spanberger and New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill, the moderate candidates for governor this November, are seen by some observers as examples of how Democrats can build broad electoral appeal.
New Blue: Democrats are hoping that two moderate gubernatorial candidates with backgrounds in national security can give the party a winning formula.
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Another Democrat: Spanberger and Sherrill oppose the party’s Socialist New York mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani, who has been the target of President Donald Trump’s attacks.
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Another Democratic hope: From 2024 election Hope Walz, daughter of Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, has amassed half a million TikTok followers by appealing to Gen Z women with her political views.
Democratic gubernatorial candidate, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger last month in Henrico, Virginia.
What you need to know about Trump’s actions against Venezuela
The Trump administration is poised to massively escalate its dispute with the regime of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, who it accuses of supporting drug trafficking and colluding with drug cartels. Trump has announced he may soon launch airstrikes against Venezuela and has deployed an aircraft carrier to South America amid rising tensions.
Now you need to know more news
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Hurricane Melissa has strengthened to a Category 5 storm as it approaches Jamaica.
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Here’s what the Fed’s next rate cut could mean for your mortgage.
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Meet the man building Ford’s new world headquarters.
what’s the weather like today Check your local forecast here.
Track your flight status
As the government shutdown continued Monday, many of the people who could solve the funding crisis that is looming larger by the day for millions of Americans were nowhere to be seen in the nation’s capital. President Donald Trump embarks on a six-day international trip as the weekend begins with many lawmakers already out of town. Members of Congress are entrenched in disagreements over health care policy, and there isn’t much bipartisanship on the horizon.
Pastors in protest?
“We cannot be ministers at the moment and ignore what is happening. If you cannot stand up now when you are talking about the death of democracy, the death of people and the denial of the least of them, then you make yourself and your religion, your faith, terribly suspect.”
~ Bishop William J. Barber, II, is one of several faith leaders who told USA TODAY that civic action by religious voices will become more visible in the coming weeks.
Today’s interviewees
The Blue Jays and Dodgers are back at the table tonight
The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays split the first two picks in 2025. game of the World Series and face off in a pivotal Game 3 on Monday at Dodger Stadium. Toronto won the opener in Canada, but Los Angeles bounced back to take Game 2 behind ace Yoshinobu Yamamoto. In Game 3, three-time Cy Young winner Max Scherzer will start for the Blue Jays and Tyler Glasnow will take the mound for the Dodgers. Here’s how to watch.
Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) and catcher Will Smith (16) celebrate after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 2.
Photo of the Day: Need Halloween inspo?
Halloween is on Friday, and if you’re looking for the perfect costume, look no further than Hollywood’s best looks. Feeling stressed? Channel Busy Phillipps and just have fun.
Busy Phillips
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer for USA TODAY, sign up for email. letter here. Want to send Nicole a note? Email her email to NFallert@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Spanberger, Sherrill, Democrats, shutdown, Venezuela, Hurricane Melissa, World Series, Halloween: Daily coverage