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Today’s top stories
– The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website now states a link between vaccines and autism cannot be ruled out, reversing the agency’s long-held position that there is no link. The change aligns with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s views that vaccines are dangerous. NPR reports there is no new scientific evidence supporting a vaccine-autism connection. CDC scientists say they did not change the website wording, and the Department of Health and Human Services declined to say who ordered the revision. A headline on the CDC page still asserts vaccines don’t cause autism but includes an asterisk noting the agency will not remove that statement because of an agreement with Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy, who provided a key confirmation vote for Kennedy.
– President Trump’s chief negotiator presented a new 28-point peace plan to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Observers note the plan keeps hope for ending the war but would demand major territorial concessions from Ukraine—concessions Kyiv has repeatedly rejected. The administration appears focused on securing a yes to the plan; analysts say Trump prioritizes ending the fighting over detailed terms. Russia seeks strategic territory, while Ukraine wants firm security guarantees from the U.S. and allies.
– Trump will meet New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office today, the first in-person meeting between them. Mamdani, 34, a Democratic socialist who rose to national attention after his primary win, has been labeled a “communist” by the president on social media. The meeting will test Mamdani’s transition from activist to elected leader and his ability to balance policy priorities with political diplomacy. The interaction has stakes: the president previously vowed to cut federal funding to New York if Mamdani won.
– State and local election officials of both parties are preparing for possible administration interference ahead of next year’s midterms. Trump has pushed false claims about U.S. voting and issued an executive order proposing major changes to election systems; courts have largely blocked that order. Officials are watching for other potential executive actions that could affect election administration.
Deep dive: Climate tipping points
The planet has warmed roughly 1.3°C, the World Meteorological Organization says. Communities already face stronger storms, flooding and heatwaves. Scientists warn that surpassing 1.5°C could trigger large, self-reinforcing changes—climate tipping points—that unfold over decades or centuries and have lasting global impacts. Key risks include:
– Coral reef die-offs from heat stress, threatening fisheries, livelihoods and biodiversity.
– Rapid melting of Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets, driving long-term sea-level rise.
– Arctic permafrost thaw, causing ground subsidence that damages infrastructure and releases greenhouse gases.
Follow NPR coverage from COP30, the U.N. climate meeting in Brazil, for updates.
Weekend picks
– Movies: Wicked: For Good, starring Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo — more songs and spectacle in the sequel; NPR’s review examines whether it lives up to the original.
– TV: The Beast In Me follows a writer who suspects her new neighbor, a real estate tycoon, may have murdered his first wife.
– Books: Three new poetry collections explore identity, suffering and hope.
– Music: Cabin In The Sky, De La Soul’s first full-length since 2023, features 20 tracks with guests including Black Thought and Nas.
– Gaming: Kirby Air Riders, a racing game with simple controls and deep customization—competes with Mario Kart World.
– Food: With Thanksgiving approaching, NPR links to a roast turkey guide and a viral mac-and-cheese recipe.
3 things to know
1. ByHeart Whole Nutrition infant formula has been recalled after being linked to a botulism outbreak affecting infants in more than a dozen states; some product may still be on shelves.
2. An overdue Labor Department report showed U.S. employers added 119,000 jobs in September and the unemployment rate rose to 4.4%.
3. A new PNAS study quantifies how little plastic can be lethal to marine animals: for an Atlantic puffin, ingesting less than three sugar-cube-sized amounts of plastic can be deadly.
This newsletter was edited by Suzanne Nuyen.