Today’s edition of quick hits:
* No part of the country has gone untouched: “Covid-19 infections are spreading across the United States at the fastest rate since the start of the pandemic, the latest NBC News figures showed Tuesday.”
* In the Gulf: “Tropical Storm Zeta emerged over the Gulf of Mexico as a slightly weaker system early Tuesday and is taking aim at the Louisiana coast.”
* Capitol Hill: “On Monday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell adjourned the Senate until Nov. 9, signaling that talks about a stimulus relief bill will resume after the election.”
* If you’re still planning to mail your ballot, be mindful: “Delivery by the U.S. Postal Service remains slow despite the intervention of federal judges and some voting advocates say ballots not in the mail now may not arrive in time to be counted and should instead be dropped off at voting facilities.”
* VOA needs to be rescued: “A senior U.S. official appointed by President Donald Trump has scrapped a federal regulation designed to protect the editorial independence of Voice of America and other U.S.-funded media outlets, amid accusations he is undermining the journalistic credibility of the broadcasters.”
* Philadelphia: “Police in Philadelphia shot and killed a Black man on Monday, triggering protests that saw at least 30 officers injured, officials said. Police said they shot Walter Wallace Jr., 27, after responding to a call about a man armed with a knife.”
* HHS: “At least 27 political appointees have exited the embattled Health and Human Services department since the start of the Covid-19 crisis in February, according to a POLITICO review, and senior leaders are bracing for dozens more officials to depart swiftly if President Donald Trump loses re-election.” * Interesting, but not surprising: “Republicans have turned alleged liberal bias in Silicon Valley into a major closing theme of the election cycle, hauling tech CEOs in for virtual grillings on Capitol Hill while President Donald Trump threatens legal punishment for companies that censor his supporters. But a POLITICO analysis of millions of social media posts shows that conservatives still rule online.” * It’s curious that he’s being secretive about this: “Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) declared his health is ‘just fine’ Tuesday as he declined to explain photographs last week showing his hands bruised and bandaged.” See you tomorrow.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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