promoearn: 📞 Please hold forever

Thursday, October 15, 2026

📞 Please hold forever

Thursday, October 15

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The Daily Briefing

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Good morning! It’s Thursday, Oct. 15, and today you should know: Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, will be arraigned on U.S. torture charges. NOAA's winter outlook drops. And Trudy is gaining strength in the Pacific.

I’m Mallorie Sullivan, and I'm deeply invested in this Kelly Clarkson security footage analysis. Let's get into the news.

📢 From protests to the polls

No Kings is changing things up this weekend: Instead of just taking to the streets, organizers are turning their attention to the polls. More than 3,000 events focused on early voting and turnout are planned around the country on Saturday, a notable shift for a movement behind some of the country's largest protests. Here's why organizers are taking their movement to the ballot box.

•	Speaking of early voting: Your state may have already started.

📰 More news you need to know

•	Rep. Ilhan Omar's relatives were subpoenaed in an ongoing federal probe.
•	Ukraine says Elon Musk choked internet speeds ahead of a Russian attack.
•	The Supreme Court again sided with Trump in a campaign ad dispute.
•	White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia is facing scrutiny over claims she's a lawyer.

📞 Good customer service? Please hold

It's not just you: Customer service quality is getting worse. Whether it's long holds, dropped calls, or endless transfers, customers' patience is wearing thin. Three out of 4 Americans say they're willing to wait on hold for 15 minutes or less, while nearly 1 in 5 draw the line at five minutes or less. Sound familiar? Here's what's making customer service such a headache.

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The travel industry may have a solution. But you're not going to like it.

•	📧 Meanwhile, you'll always get a real human when you email me!

👀 What else I'm reading about today

•	How the amusement park industry tests and inspects rides to protect guests.
•	This man's divorce announcement, which was surprisingly refreshing.
•	How your shopping data could affect prices, and how to protect your wallet.
•	These superfans who take cheering for the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers seriously.

As always, 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.

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Jackie, the famous bald eagle of Big Bear Lake in Southern California, is pictured at the Ojai Raptor Center where she is being assessed. Ojai Raptor Center

The new report sheds light on what ultimately led to the death of the Big Bear Lake, California, bald eagle who was beloved by millions around the globe.