promoearn: The final debate: A combative, but more civilized affair

Friday, October 23

This combination of pictures created on October 22, 2020 shows US President Donald Trump and Democratic Presidential candidate and former US Vice President Joe Biden during the second and final presidential debate at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, on October 22, 2020.

The final debate: A combative, but more civilized affair

Trump and Biden hit campaign trail after debate, 'Borat 2' streams on Amazon Prime and more things to start your Friday.

Happy Friday, Daily Briefing readers! It's Jane, bringing you this morning's headlines.

Last night's final presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Joe Biden was a far more sedate affair than its predecessor. Borat, everyone's favorite Kazakh journalist, is back and on Amazon Prime. And, look what the cat dragged in ... scroll to the bottom of the page to find out.

Here's today's news:

Trump dials it back, Biden defends son Hunter: The final presidential debate

After a first debate that descended into chaos, the second and final debate between President Donald Trump and his Democratic rival Joe Biden was less confrontational and more civilized, in part because of a new rule – microphone muting – that dramatically cut down on interruptions. There were still plenty of flashes of anger and division during the 90-minute debate, especially in the second half, but the session included more substance and fewer insults. Trump, in particular, was far more restrained than in the first debate, when he repeatedly talked over both Biden and the moderator, FOX News' Chris Wallace. That performance led to a fresh dip in the polls for the president. This time, Trump dialed back his attacks – though he and Biden still tangled plenty – and the president even complimented the moderator, NBC News' Kristen Welker, despite attacking her before the debate. Read the takeaways here.

•	Trump dials it back, Biden defends son Hunter: Takeaways from the final presidential debate
•	Kristen Welker praised for 'masterclass' debate moderation, Chris Wallace is 'jealous'
•	President Trump claimed during the debate the GOP will take back the House on Election Day. That is unlikely
•	Muting and better behavior leads to less heat, more light in second Trump-Biden debate

Trump and Biden hit campaign trail

President Donald Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden will return to the campaign trail on Friday after their presidential debate . Nearing the end of an intense campaign that has once again divided the nation, Trump and Biden slammed each other's records during the 90-minute slugfest, with both repeatedly demanding time to respond to each other's accusations as they tussled over health care, the economy, racial tensions and the nation's response to the coronavirus pandemic. Trump is expected to visit Florida for two campaign rallies, while Biden will deliver a speech in Wilmington, Delaware, about COVID-19 and the economy.

•	'Learning to live' with COVID-19, Bidencare and other top moments from the final presidential debate
•	'They are so well taken care of': Trump defends separating migrant children from parents
•	'Abraham Lincoln here': Joe Biden jabs Donald Trump for comparing himself to 16th president during debate exchange
•	More than 45 million people have already voted. Here's how that compares with past elections

Snow could help tamp down wildfires in Colorado

Wildfires rage in Colorado, filling the sky with choking smoke, threatening water sources and creating apocalyptic scenes under orange skies, but officials say snow in Friday's forecast could help tamp down the devastation. The forecast called for winds of nearly 60 mph before cold and windy weather with the possibility of snow moves into the area. Gov. Jared Polis on Thursday expressed concern that some residents who may be sick with COVID-19 are attributing coughs, sore throats and other symptoms to the poor air quality. "We do worry that the impact on respiratory conditions from the fires could mask the spread of COVID," Polis said. Normally, snow helps tamp down the devastation by this time of year, but drought across Colorado and warming temperatures have dragged out the season.

•	Colorado wildfires: Rocky Mountain National Park closes, tourist town evacuates after fire erupts
•	COVID-19 or smoke? Colorado governor urges those suffering symptoms from wildfire smoke to get COVID-19 tests
•	Colorado wildfires have forced the closure of Rocky Mountain National Park. These photos show orange skies, towering smoke

World Series: Dodgers, Rays hope to take control

The 2020 World Series resumes with Game 3 on Friday night (8:08 p.m. ET on FOX) inside the "playoff bubble" in Arlington, Texas, and in front of a limited amount of fans at Globe Life Field. After the Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 1 in a rout, the Tampa Bay Rays rebounded in Game 2 to even up the series thanks to timely hitting and clutch pitching. In Game 3, Charlie Morton – who's become a dominant postseason pitcher– starts for the Rays against the Dodgers' Walker Buehler.

•	New World Series, same problem: Dodgers' convoluted pitching plans backfire in Game 2 loss
•	Nearing an end, MLB's postseason bubble 'made special by who you can share it with'

More news you need to know

•	Chicago curfew begins Friday night; Pfizer adds teens to vaccine trial; NBA Draft to go virtual; 223K US deaths
•	Unemployment benefits: Racial disparity in jobless aid grows as Congress stalls on COVID-19 stimulus
•	Russian hackers target US computer systems; feds say elections data not compromised
•	Senate committee OKs Amy Coney Barrett. Here's what happens next in her Supreme Court confirmation
•	'Mama, they just shot us for nothing': Illinois police officer fatally shoots Black teen, injures woman

Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Borat 2' to premiere on Amazon Prime

Borat is back with political stunts and a 15-year-old daughter. Sacha Baron Cohen reprised his infamous role as a foul-mouthed journalist in "Borat Subsequent Moviefilm: Delivery of Prodigious Bribe to American Regime for Make Benefit Once Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan," streaming Friday on Amazing Prime. The sequel to the 2006 film follows Borat's journey to America where he and his daughter navigate the COVID-19 pandemic and the upcoming election. Is the sequel just as outrageous and memorable as the original? Movie critics seemed to have mostly positive feedback for the mockumentary, which has an 85% fresh rating on Rotten Tomatoes.

•	'This is a hit job, I assure you': Rudy Giuliani responds to eyebrow-raising situation in 'Borat 2'
•	Critics praise Sacha Baron Cohen's 'Borat 2' as 'fitfully funny' and 'urgently satirical'

And finally:

Florida resident Kay Rogers says her cat brings in "presents" all the time from the outdoors. The feline's latest find was unlike any other: A rare two-headed snake. Rogers told WFTS-TV Tampa Bay the southern black racer was "very uncoordinated" when she tried to feed it, with one head going toward the food while the other pulled in the opposite direction. But she still enjoyed housing it. "He was really an easy pet," she said. The reptile was turned over to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC). Two-headed snakes are the product of an uncommon "phenomenon" called bicephaly, which happens when two monozygotic twins fail to separate during embryo development and leave the heads conjoined, the FWC said.