Wednesday, October 21, 2026

The Ohio attack ad raising eyebrows

Plus: The seafloor is up for auction ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌  ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ ͏‌ 
Wednesday, October 21

The Daily Briefing

 

PLAY             Shopping            eNewspaper

 

Good morning! It’s Wednesday, Oct. 21, and today you should know: President Trump will be in South Carolina. Michigan Senate debate No. 2 is tonight. The WNBA Finals continue with Game 3. And 1.5 million pounds of meat was recalled.

I’m Mallorie Sullivan, and if you're planning for the holidays, make sure to check out your Thanksgiving weather forecast! Let's jump in.

🌊 The seafloor is up for auction

Ever wonder what’s actually at the bottom of the ocean? We may be about to find out. The Trump administration plans to auction nearly 100 million acres of Pacific Ocean seafloor for mineral exploration by the end of the year, even as big questions remain about what it could do to the ocean and the islanders living closest to it. But who actually stands to benefit, and at what cost?

• The president also wants to rename an ocean. But can he?
• Speaking of the Pacific: Kelvin waves are about to batter the West Coast.

📰 More news to know now

• Ohio governor candidate Vivek Ramaswamy is facing criticism over an attack ad featuring rival Amy Acton’s estranged mother.
• Barbara Bush donated to a PAC backing Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico.
• President Trump said he is nearing a deal with Russia's Vladimir Putin to free a detained American.
• The parents of the 5-year-old killed in the Oregon school shooting have hired lawyers to investigate what happened.

🩸 Let's talk about blood clots

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts' season is likely over after he was recently diagnosed with blood clots in both lungs. That may have left you with some questions about how blood clots become serious and whether you could be at risk, too. (I know I had a million questions.) Here’s what you should know, especially if you have a long-distance trip coming up.

• The NFL won't investigate the Eagles for the treatment of Hurts' blood clots. Here's why.
• On the topic of health, here's what to know about the FDA's crackdown on copycat GLP-1 drugs.
• Also: She went to the ER for food poisoning. Instead, she was given six months to live.

👀 What else I'm reading today

• This story about why more millionaires are choosing to rent over buy.
• This list of popular baby names, some of which I did not expect!
• And this list of 15 words that might trip you up. How many can you say?
• 📲 After you test yourself, see how my colleagues did!

Keep scrolling for more news. Here’s your crossword! I’ll see you tomorrow 👋

Have feedback for me? Send me a message at msullivan@usatoday.com, I'd love to hear from you! Was this email forwarded to you?  Sign up here to get it in your inbox daily.

 

Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don’t miss out! See all newsletters

 
 

Exclusive newsletters are part of your subscription, don’t miss out! See all newsletters

 
 

DON'T MISS

Home Depot Foundation makes $1B push to help homeless veterans

Disabled veteran Yolanda Caldwell poses for an undated picture with one of her sons outside the California house she bought with help from the Home Depot Foundation, which has committed to assisting veterans facing homelessness.

Disabled veteran Yolanda Caldwell poses for an undated picture with one of her sons outside the California house she bought with help from the Home Depot Foundation, which has committed to assisting veterans facing homelessness. Courtesy/Yolanda Caldwell

"No one can solve this alone," the Home Depot Foundation said as it boosts funding to nonprofits helping homeless and at-risk veterans.

 

KEEP READING

What you need to know today

Justice Elena Kagan said the Supreme Court is not in Trump's pocket but is `deeply conservative.' A more balanced court has more legitimacy, she said.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena Kagan testifies before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2026.

In a rare move on Tuesday, Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey granted clemency to Toforest Johnson, who has been on death row for 28 years.

Toforest Johnson is pictured.

A truck barreled onto a soccer field in a deadly crash. Experts see clues about why police have said so little — and why the driver was set free.

Police attend the scene where a vehicle drove through a soccer game at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas on Oct. 17, 2026.

Prior to "Dancing with the Stars" Dedication Night on Oct. 20, pro Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended. Here's what happened on the show after the drama.

Val Chmerkovskiy (L) apologized to "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba (R) in a social media statement.

Christina Applegate has shared a major health revelation: She doesn't have multiple sclerosis after all.

Christina Applegate attends the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles.

Justice Elena Kagan said the Supreme Court is not in Trump's pocket but is `deeply conservative.' A more balanced court has more legitimacy, she said.

Supreme Court Associate Justice Elena Kagan testifies before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government in Washington, DC, on July 14, 2026.

In a rare move on Tuesday, Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey granted clemency to Toforest Johnson, who has been on death row for 28 years.

Toforest Johnson is pictured.

A truck barreled onto a soccer field in a deadly crash. Experts see clues about why police have said so little — and why the driver was set free.

Police attend the scene where a vehicle drove through a soccer game at the Stryker Sports Complex in Wichita, Kansas on Oct. 17, 2026.

Prior to "Dancing with the Stars" Dedication Night on Oct. 20, pro Val Chmerkovskiy was suspended. Here's what happened on the show after the drama.

Val Chmerkovskiy (L) apologized to "Dancing with the Stars" judge Carrie Ann Inaba (R) in a social media statement.

Christina Applegate has shared a major health revelation: She doesn't have multiple sclerosis after all.

Christina Applegate attends the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Jan. 19, 2020, in Los Angeles.
 

HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES?

Here's what to check out next

LeBron James starts new chapter in Philly

 

Tesla officially launches Cybercab robotaxi

 

Introducing MidGrid, PLAY’s new perfectly sized crossword challenge

 

HAVE A FEW MORE MINUTES?

Here's what to check out next

 
 

Follow Us

Problem viewing email? View in browser

LiveIntent Logo AdChoices Logo