What's Happening

Politics

The Supreme Court Kicks Off a New Term — Will the Presidential Election Take Over the Docket?

What's going on: The Supreme Court’s new nine-month term is officially underway. During this session, the justices will weigh in on cases relating to transgender rights, “ghost guns,” pornography, vaping, and the use of force in police shootings. Just yesterday, the high court rejected the Biden administration’s appeal in a dispute over emergency abortions in Texas. Among the many cases on this term’s docket (there are 40, according to Politico), there’s one issue that could take over: the 2024 election. At the state level, there are cases relating to ballot counting and voting access that could make their way to the Supreme Court. With polls showing a tight race in several swing states, there’s also the possibility that the justices could be asked to intervene in the election results — reminiscent of Bush v. Gore in 2000.

What it means: The conservative-majority court has already made some major election-related decisions, such as when it ruled that states couldn’t remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot and on presidential immunity. While some experts say this term lacks the blockbuster cases we’ve come to expect in recent years, others anticipate the court is front-loading its lighter cases in preparation for potential election-related challenges. If the justices weigh in on the election, they’ll be doing so amid increased scrutiny over the court’s impartiality (see: Justice Samuel Alito’s flag controversy and secret recordings). The court’s also dealing with low approval ratings. One survey recently found that only 44% of respondents trust in the Supreme Court — the lowest level since the survey began in 2005.

Related: Meanwhile, the Georgia Supreme Court Just Restored the State’s Six-Week Abortion Ban (NBC)

US NEWS

Monster Hurricane Milton Tests Florida's Resilience and FEMA's Limits

What's going on: Floridians are rushing to evacuate (look at this traffic) as Hurricane Milton, now a Category 4 storm, barrels toward the state. The storm has triggered what could be the biggest evacuation since 2017, with approximately 3.3 million Tampa Bay residents bracing for potential storm surges of 8 to 12 feet. Rainfall could reach up to 15 inches in some areas, putting parts of mainland Florida and the Keys in danger. Many residents are still reeling from Hurricane Helene, which hit less than two weeks ago, leaving parts of the coast flooded and devastated. Near Tampa, 12 people were killed in Helene’s powerful storm surge. Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) said Hurricane Milton’s winds could turn debris from Helene into deadly projectiles and urged residents to clean up as fast as possible.

What it means: The latest hurricane is straining already-limited federal resources. FEMA is facing a huge test with staff stretched thin and shortages of workers and money. In the last two weeks, FEMA has deployed personnel for Vermont flooding, Kansas tornadoes, and an Arizona fire, on top of responding to Hurricane Helene. The agency says less than 10% of its workforce is available for Milton. “There’s absolutely going to be a resource issue,” Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Florida Democrat and former state emergency management director, said. President Joe Biden has called on Congress to approve more disaster relief, warning that FEMA lacks the funds to get through hurricane season. But House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) declined to call the lower chamber back for an emergency session.

Related: FEMA Fights Helene Misinformation with Dedicated 'Rumor Response' Page (The Hill)

Health

Researchers Asked: Can Humans Live Any Longer? They've Got an Answer

What's going on: In 1990, one public health expert hypothesized the average life expectancy for humans would eventually plateau at around 85 years old. Fast forward to 2024 and that same expert now has the data to support his hypothesis. Researchers analyzed data from countries known for their high life expectancy, such as Australia, Japan, and Italy. They found that while people are living longer, the rate of growth in life expectancy is slowing. Spoiler: We aren’t all going to live to be 120 years old. Instead, the researcher who led the study predicts life expectancy will eventually peak at 90 for women and 84 for men — a limit some places are already approaching.

What it means: People’s average lifespan nearly doubled in the 1900s thanks to medical advancements...and hand soap. But barring any major new medical or technological advancements, this is probably as good as it’s going to get. That doesn’t necessarily mean you should throw caution to the wind and start throwing back three Dr. Pepper’s every day. The longer lifespans in many of the countries analyzed in the study are due to healthy lifestyles, according to researchers. However, some people might be taking that to an extreme in their quest for eternal youth, like the tech millionaire who is trying to reverse his “biological age.” Other scientists are working on a protein-blocking pill that extends life in mice by 25%.

Related: Adulting Is Hard Enough. Now We Need To Worry About “Inflammaging” Too? (WSJ Gift Link)