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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Wed Sep 20 2023

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

A UN battle cry

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addresses the 78th session of the United Nations General Assembly at United Nations headquarters, Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig) ORG XMIT: UNSW133

Biden and Zelenskyy blast Russia at the UN.

President Joe Biden told the United Nations General Assembly that Moscow believes the world will grow weary of the war in Ukraine, allowing it to brutalize its neighbor without consequence. Also in the news: The Federal Reserve is expected to hold still on interest rate hikes and rumblings about paying for X, formerly known as Twitter.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. The first snow!

Here are Wednesday's top stories.

Biden, Zelenskyy decry Russian aggression at UN

Presidents Joe Biden and Volodymyr Zelenskyy took their case for supporting Ukraine to the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, with Biden saying if Moscow is allowed to win in Ukraine, no country would be safe from "naked aggression."

Biden spoke hours before Zelenskyy made his case, accusing Russia of not only using the threat of nuclear war to get their way but also weaponizing food, energy and the forced deportation of children.

•	In his most memorable line, Zelenskyy said, "Evil cannot be trusted. Ask Prigozhin if one bets on Putin's promises.'' Two months after spearheading a failed insurrection, mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a suspicious plane crash.
•	Could Ukraine aid fuel a government shutdown? As the U.S. barrels towards a government shutdown and Zelenskyy is slated to pitch lawmakers on continuing aid to his embattled nation.
•	But is the U.N.'s mission of ending and preventing wars just talk? Experts cite the organization's role (or lack thereof) in staving off conflicts in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia and genocides in Rwanda, Darfur and Iraq.

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks during the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) at the United Nations headquarters on September 19, 2023 in New York City.

Michael M. Santiago, Getty Images

Attorney General Garland set to face his GOP critics

Attorney General Merrick Garland will strike a defiant tone Wednesday in defending the Justice Department as independent of the White House and Congress, while Republicans ratchet up criticism of high-profile investigations of Hunter Biden and Donald Trump. Garland's testimony on Capitol Hill comes against a backdrop of multiple investigations that are politically fraught. But Hunter Biden, the son of President Joe Biden, will likely headline the hearing. Republicans argued Garland should have replaced U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware leading the investigation, but instead he was elevated to special counsel. Read more

•	Hunter Biden will plead not guilty to federal gun charges, and wants court hearing by video.
•	Tommy Tuberville is looking to vote for a Marine Corps leader, despite his protest over the Pentagon's abortion policy.

More news to know now

•	As House GOP fights over spending, Dems and moderate Republicans are working to bypass McCarthy.
•	JoAnne Epps, Temple University's acting president, died after collapsing on stage.
•	Azerbaijan and Armenian forces reached a cease-fire deal to end the two days of fighting.
•	The end of the dress code? What it means that the Senate is relaxing clothing rules.
•	For subscribers: Auto suppliers say if UAW strikes expand to more plants, it could mean the end for many.
•	On today's 5 Things podcast, West Point has been sued for using ''race-based admissions.'' Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Federal Reserve is poised to leave interest rates unchanged

Since Federal Reserve officials last met in July, the economy has moved in the direction they hoped to see: Inflation continues to ease, if more slowly than most Americans would like, while growth remains solid and the job market cools. The Fed is set to meet again Wednesday and will likely decide they can afford to wait and see if the progress continues. As a result, they're almost sure to leave their key interest rate unchanged when their meeting ends Wednesday. Read more

•	Less hawkish Fed-speak: Chair Jerome Powell has touted the Fed's success in driving down inflation from 40-year highs.

What to know about the search for Sergio Brown

Former NFL player Sergio Brown is missing after his mother was found dead near her Illinois home over the weekend. Brown's mother was found in a creek near her home in Maywood, a village in suburban Chicago west of downtown, police shared with USA TODAY. Local authorities are investigating Myrtle Brown's death, but have declined to say whether Sergio Brown is a person of interest or suspect in connection with his mother's death. Maywood Police are currently investigating a video circulated on social media, seemingly of Brown, who was making incoherent claims about the FBI and police department. Read more

•	A fan's death at the New England Patriots-Miami Dolphins game has prompted an investigation.

An updated photo of Sergio Brown, 35, released by the Maywood Police Department.

Maywood Police Departmemt

Would you pay for X?

Elon Musk is debating bringing another big change to X, formerly Twitter: Charging all users a monthly fee. In an interview Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Musk, the owner of X, said he was considering charging "a small monthly payment" to all users in what he said was an effort to "combat vast armies of bots" proliferating on the website. Musk said X will come out with a "lower-tier pricing" but did not specify an amount. Read more

•	Apple's iOS 17 is changing the way you check your voicemail.

Quick hits

•	A California woman's limbs were amputated after a flesh-eating bacteria infection linked to fish.
•	Chick-fil-A plans its U.K. expansion after previously facing backlash from LGBTQ rights activists.
•	Rihanna and A$AP Rocky shared first photos of their newborn baby, Riot Rose.
•	Taylor Swift just dropped a "1989 (Taylor's Version)" Easter egg.
•	Nick Chubb injury: Here's the update on the Browns star who will miss rest of the NFL season.
•	He's dressed Lady Gaga and Oprah. Now, designer Prabal Gurung wants to redefine Americana.
•	Here's your visual guide to the autumnal equinox.

Photo of the day: 50 years since The Battle of the Sexes

On Sept. 20, 1973, in their so-called "battle of the sexes," tennis star Billie Jean King defeated Bobby Riggs in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, 6-3, at the Houston Astrodome. The victory marked a major win for women in sports, bolstering efforts for their representation at every level of competition. Read more

Billie Jean King raises her hands in triumph as her opponent, Bobby Riggs, prepares to hurdle the net following her straight-set victory over him in tennis match at the Houston Astrodome in Houston on Sept. 20, 1973.

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.