Keeping up with America

FAA says 11,000 staff will be furloughed if the shutdown hits at midnight
What keeps running (controllers, TSA) and what stalls (some certifications, training) — plus why a smaller, already-stretched FAA is a flight-delay risk if absences mount.

Senate funding vote fails; shutdown poised to begin after midnight
Democrats blocked a GOP seven-week patch, arguing over health care sweeteners; agencies roll out furlough plans and “excepted” roles.

Customs says tariff collections keep flowing even in a shutdown
CBP revenue stays live, FEMA disaster payments proceed — a reminder: “shutdown” isn’t “everything stops.”

Labor Dept: No weekly jobless claims (or other econ data) if funding lapses
Markets lose a key compass; employers and the Fed fly with fewer instruments.

Trump, Hegseth stoke controversy at military gathering; critics see politicization
The Defense Secretary’s barbs and Trump’s “cities as training grounds” line fire up the civil-military debate.

Around the World

Rare daytime drone strike hits Dnipro; at least one killed, 20 injured
Russia targets a busy city center as Kyiv urges tougher sanctions.

Trump gives Hamas ‘3–4 days’ to answer Gaza peace plan
Plan touts Arab and Israeli backing; acceptance — and details — remain the sticking point.

Kremlin claims people in Odesa/Mykolaiv ‘want to link with Russia’
Moscow’s narrative hardens as fighting and disinfo campaigns grind on.

Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant ‘critical,’ Ukraine warns
Safety fears flare again at Europe’s largest nuclear facility.

Lets Talk Business and Tech

Wall Street slips as shutdown risk rises; gold pops, dollar cools
Delay the data, raise the volatility — and watch defensives.

Global markets tread carefully into quarter-end as U.S. standoff drags
Oil dips, gold tests highs; Asia mixed, Europe softer.

OpenAI rolls out a standalone Sora video app
Text-to-video goes mainstream — creators cheer, studios eye copyright guardrails.

Amazon brings Alexa+ to Fire TV with smarter search and scene-finding
Your remote just got conversational (and a little uncanny).

DoorDash launches a creator program and dine-in rewards
Short-form videos meet takeout — a bid to turn eaters into influencers.

Richer, Wiser, Happier

What a shutdown actually means for your paycheck, flights, benefits, and markets
For travelers: TSA/controllers work without pay, but 11,000 FAA staff face furloughs; delays likely as it drags. For your wallet: with data paused, avoid knee-jerk trades; focus on allocation and cash buffers. Benefits: Social Security continues; some services slow. Tariff collections and FEMA payments continue.

How to fly smarter if staffing thins
Book morning nonstops, carry-on only, and build layover buffers; crew/controller shortages hit late-day flights first.

Investing when the data goes dark
No jobs report? Set decisions on a schedule; rebalance methodically once releases resume.

Sports and Showbiz Shenanigans

Ohtani belts two homers as Dodgers win Wild Card opener
Five L.A. homers light up October — and the reigning champs look like it.

Red Sox take Game 1 over Yankees behind Crochet
Old-school ace vibes, new-school gas — Boston grabs control in the Bronx.

Cubs edge Padres as Suzuki, Kelly go back-to-back
Wrigley roars; San Diego’s bats need a wake-up call.

Paris Fashion Week pop: Zendaya steals the Louis Vuitton show
Silver mini, big moment — and a paparazzi pile-on at the Louvre.

 Life Hacks to Hack Your Life

If a shutdown hits, make your 1-week cash buffer real
Set autopay on essentials; delay non-urgent buys until data returns.

Flying soon? Book morning nonstops and carry-on only
Early flights dodge ripple delays from thinner staffing.

Track what actually stays open
Not everything pauses; FEMA and tariff ops continue.

If you create content, test OpenAI’s new video app on small stakes
Pilot with short clips; check rights before publishing.

Fire TV got smarter — use Alexa+ to find scenes fast
Less scrolling, more watching.

DoorDash’s new dine-in rewards
Try “Going Out”; stack with credit card offers.

Traveling? Check CDC cruise-outbreak updates first
Real-time hygiene intel before you book.

Holiday shopping early? CR’s updated guide drops today
Spot deals now, skip the December scramble.

If you’re in a storm path, keep a go-bag by the door
This week’s floods abroad are a reminder: prep > panic.

Skim the playoffs with one link
Use AP’s gamers as your quick read to sound caught up.