theSkimm - Daily Skimm: Halloween is cool

What’s got people talking about its origin story…

COVID-19. Last week, an interim report commissioned by Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) says the pandemic was most likely the result of a “research-related incident” in Wuhan, China. Reminder: There are two leading theories that could explain the emergence of the virus in 2019. The first is that it was a zoonotic spread. Aka the transmission of pathogens from animals to humans. The second theory is that the virus infected humans as a result of a research-related incident. But now, after 15 months of research, the report found it “highly problematic” that there was no “critical corroborating evidence” of a natural zoonotic spillover. And says that theory “no longer deserves the benefit of the doubt,” but that more evidence is needed to reach a definitive conclusion.

• Questions remain: COVID’s origins have been widely politicized. And Republicans are vowing hearings and probes on the issue in a potential GOP-controlled Senate.

What people are concerned about in the US...

Political violence. Over the weekend, Paul Pelosi — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s (D-CA) husband — began the road to recovery following what she called a "life-threatening attack." Last week, a man broke into their home in San Francisco demanding “where is Nancy?” before attacking the 82-year-old with a hammer. Pelosi is expected to make a full recovery and lawmakers from both sides of the aisle have condemned the assault. It comes after recent threats against figures like Justice Brett Kavanaugh and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) — as well as the 2017 attack on House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-LA). And amid an uptick in threats against lawmakers. Last year alone, US Capitol Police said it investigated nearly 10,000 threats — up more than 100% since 2018.

Where people are mourning…

South Korea. Over the weekend, a stampede in the nation's capital left at least 154 people dead and more than 100 injured. The cause is under investigation, but eyewitnesses and officials say that about 100,00 people — mostly in their 20s — were at a Halloween festival when a large crowd surged into a narrow alley. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, who called the tragedy “devastating,” has declared a one-week period of national mourning.

While people were bringing out the Viserys mask...

Liam Hemsworth is going for a witchier theme.

While Gisele Bündchen and Tom Brady made things final…

So did Elon Musk and Twitter.