Tuesday, November 4, 2025

Dick Cheney dies

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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Tue Nov 4 2025

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

It's Election Day!🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert . Can I get a coffee on the way to the polls?

Take a glance at Tuesday's news:

•	Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at 84.
•	Millions of Americans will head to the polls to vote in state and local elections on Tuesday.
•	America, meet 2025's Sexiest Man Alive.

Former Vice President Dick Cheney, a war hawk who served three GOP presidents, dies

Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful vice presidents in United States history, died at 84 on Monday night. Cheney is remembered as a chief architect of the war in Iraq after the 9/11 terrorist attacks and a member of an old Republican Party guard that is quickly fading away. Cheney was a one-time college dropout who rose the ranks in Washington, eventually serving eight years as vice president for the younger President George W. Bush. Cheney acted as no second-in-command had before.

President George W. Bush walks with Vice President Dick Cheney at the White House, in October 2003 in Washington, DC.

STEPHEN JAFFE, AFP via Getty Images

Trump isn't on the ballot. But he is in Americans' minds

President Donald Trump's second-term agenda that has swept across the nation will receive its first major referendum as millions of voters flock to the polls for a handful of critical off-year elections on Tuesday.

Trump is evoked in every race. The president has galvanized supporters or alarmed his opponents across the country.

•	The races to watch: Two elections for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, the theatrical sprint for New York City mayor; state Supreme Court retention elections in Pennsylvania, and California's bold entry into the redistricting arms race.
•	A MAGA upset would rock Dems 2026 hopes. Political forecasters and pollsters are mostly giving Democrats the edge in every race, and sweeping those contests would paint a more liberal portrait going into next year that Americans are increasingly dissatisfied with Trump's actions.
•	What time do polls open on Election Day? Most states open their polls at 7 a.m. local time. Others start voting as early as 5 a.m. or as late as 10 a.m. See when polling opens for your state.

More news to know now

•	Older Americans want to age at home. Their kids are suffering to help them.
•	Is AI coming for your job? Maybe.
•	A judge ended Justin Baldoni's defamation lawsuit against Blake Lively.
•	Diane Ladd, Oscar-nominated actress and Laura Dern's mom, has died at 89.

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

Video shows masked agents hauling woman from car

'I was in shock and terrified. Agents crashed into me. I was not involved in any protest or related activity and I intend to seek justice for how I was treated.'

~ Dayanne Figueroa, a U.S. citizen and paralegal, of the moment when she was dragged from her car and pinned to the asphalt. A video of masked men detaining Figueroa, a U.S. citizen after a traffic accident in Chicago is the latest to make the rounds in the city where federal agents have faced scrutiny over aggressive tactics.

What's the beef with beef?

Cattle prices are up, but an expert previously told USA TODAY it is a result of several events that have occurred over recent years. Also, meatpackers largely set the price consumers pay for beef, not ranchers. Part of President Trump's plan is to quadruple imports of beef from Argentina. Federal agencies also released a longer plan meant to strengthen the American beef industry, including speeding up deregulation. But the move has raised complaints from cattle ranchers around the country. Here's what they had to say.

Today's talkers

•	Rihanna, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen surprised at the CFDA Fashion Awards.
•	Why we're glued to David Harbour's comments and those Lily Allen claims.
•	Nearly half the country's population watched World Series Game 7.
•	Florida learned NCAA title defense won't be easy.

Meet 2025's Sexiest Man Alive

"Wicked" star Jonathan Bailey has been named People's Sexiest Man Alive, making him the first openly gay man to hold the title. After winning a Critics' Choice Award and being nominated for an Emmy last year, the "Bridgerton" heartthrob is now being honored for his undeniable charm. "It's the honor of a lifetime," the 37-year-old said.

Jonathan Bailey attends the "Jurassic World Rebirth" premiere in July 2025 in Seoul, South Korea.

Chung Sung-Jun, Getty Images

Photo of the day: 'Sesame Street' gets a renovation

Fifty-six years after "Sesame Street" debuted on TV screens, the beloved children's show will open its brownstone's doors on Netflix for the first time. See who joins Elmo on the "freshly reimagined" program.

Elmo, Abby Cadabby, Bubble Bug, Bunberry, Grover and Cookie Monster are seen in Netflix's "freshly reimagined" "Sesame Street," premiering Nov. 10, 2025.

Clint Spaulding/NETFLIX

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.