Good Morning! Today’s edition is 1,117 words, a 4-minute read.

What’s on tap: 

• Ann Selzer is stepping away from polling

• Venezuela releases political prisoners

• Americans have $1.17T in credit card debt

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Big Story

Beirut Airstrikes

An Israeli airstrike on central Beirut killed Hezbollah spokesman Mohammed Afif.

• The strike targeted the office of the Arab Socialist Baath Party. Israeli planes pounded the area after the military told people to evacuate several buildings. An American photojournalist confirmed four deaths but there isn’t an official count.

• The ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted into full-scale conflict in September. Hezbollah has launched rockets and drones into Israel since October 2023, following the Hamas attack. In retaliation, Israel has conducted airstrikes and invaded Lebanon on October 1.

• Meanwhile, In Gaza, Israeli airstrikes hit refugee camps and killed 12 people on Sunday. The Health Ministry in Gaza says around 43,8000 Palestinians have been killed in the war.

• Tensions within Israel are also high. Domestic political critics of Prime Minister Netanyahu fired flares at his private residence. No injuries were reported.

Big Story

Pentagon Fails Audit…Again

The Pentagon failed its seventh audit in a row, unable to fully account for its $824 billion budget.

• This year’s review showed mixed results: nine Pentagon agencies received a clean audit, one had minor issues, 15 failed, and three are still being reviewed.

• Despite this, officials say the agency is improving and more of its funds are being tracked accurately. Since 2021, the Pentagon has gone from tracking just 7% of its funds accurately to over 82%.

• The Pentagon remains determined to meet its goal of a clean audit by 2028, as required by law. This effort involves updating financial systems, improving data management, and training staff.

Big Story

Ann Selzer quits polling

J. Ann Selzer, a well-known pollster, announced she is stepping away from election polling.

• Selzer’s has partnered with the Des Moines Register since 1997. However, her final poll before the 2024 election inaccurately showed Vice President Kamala Harris and Donald Trump in a close race in Iowa, which Trump won by a large margin.

• Selzer’s Iowa Poll became famous for its accurate predictions, such as Barack Obama’s 2008 caucus win and Rick Santorum’s last-minute surge in 2012. She also had notable success in general elections, like correctly forecasting Republican Joni Ernst’s 2014 Senate victory.

• Despite her strong track record, the challenges of modern polling have made accurate predictions harder. The Des Moines Register plans to re-evaluate its approach to polling to ensure accurate insights on Iowan opinions.

Quick Stories

US News

• President Joe Biden became the first sitting US president to visit the Amazon rainforest. He stopped at Manaus, Brazil to announce the first International Conservation Day. Afterward, he traveled to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit to discuss climate change, poverty, and global governance. (More)

• President-elect Donald Trump announced Brendan Carr as the new permanent Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chair. Carr, the top Republican at the FCC, has served on the commission since 2017 and was previously its general counsel. (More)

• Thirty-two US students have been chosen as Rhodes Scholars to study at the University of Oxford in 2025, joining an international class from over 70 nations. Nearly 3,000 students applied for the program, according to the Rhodes Trust. (More)

World

• Venezuelan authorities have freed over 100 political prisoners detained after July's disputed presidential election, according to rights group Foro Penal. More than 1,800 were arrested during protests opposing President Nicolás Maduro's contested victory. Many face charges like terrorism and incitement to hatred. (More)

• Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to cooperate with incoming President Donald Trump during his final meeting with President Joe Biden. Xi also said a stable US-China relationship “is critical for both nations and the world.” (More)

• Typhoon Man-yi battered the northern Philippines on Sunday, destroying homes, causing massive tidal surges, and forcing hundreds of thousands to evacuate. The storm hit Catanduanes province Saturday night with winds of 125 mph and gusts of 149 mph. (More)

Business & Economy

• Major US indexes closed lower on Friday (S&P -1.32%, Nasdaq -2.24%, Dow -0.70%). Declines in pharmaceutical and technology stocks drove the market lower. (More)

• Palantir shares continued their hot streak on Friday, jumping 11% to a record high after the company announced plans to transfer the listing to the Nasdaq. The shares are up more than 45% since last week. (More)

• Boeing has sent layoff notices to over 400 aerospace union workers. It plans to cut 10% of its workforce or 17,000 jobs. The move follows financial struggles, regulatory issues, and an eight-week machinists' union strike. (More)

Sports & Entertainment

• Rory McIlroy secured a two-shot victory at the World Tour Championship with a 3-under 69, breaking a tie with Rasmus Hojgaard by making a birdie on the 16th hole. The win also earned McIlroy his sixth title as Europe’s No. 1 player. (More)

• Victoria Kjær Theilvig, 21, from Denmark, was crowned Miss Universe 2024 on Saturday. She is the first Miss Denmark to win Miss Universe. Miss Nigeria Chidimma Adetshina was the first runner-up, and Miss Mexico María Fernanda Beltrán Figueroa took third place. (More)

• Oregon remained the unanimous No. 1 in the AP Top 25 college football poll after a narrow 16-13 win over Wisconsin. Ohio State, Texas, Penn State, and Indiana rounded out the top five. Notre Dame and Alabama climbed two spots each, and Georgia returned to the top 10. (More)

Science, Health, & Tech

• The boxing match between Jake Paul and Mike Tyson broke records, with 60 million households worldwide streaming the event on Netflix. It peaked at 65 million viewers. Fifty million households watched Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano, making it the most-watched professional women’s sports event in US history. (More)

• Scientists have uncovered a 35,000-year-old mummified saber-toothed cat kitten from Siberia's permafrost, with its whiskers and claws intact. The kitten was just 3 weeks old when it died. Workers found it in the Sakha Republic, along with some bones encased in ice. (More)

• The US reported its first case of a more aggressive mpox strain in California on Saturday, involving a traveler from eastern Africa. This marks the sixth country outside Africa to detect this strain. It is known for causing more severe illness than the version widely spread in 2022. (More)

Extra Credit

💳️ Americans owe $1.17T on their credit cards.

🌕️ Still shots of this month’s “beaver” supermoon.

🐨 An Australian Couple finds a Koala relaxing in their bed.

🛀 “Rub-a-dub-dub” nursery rhyme has a questionable origin.