What's Happening

Legal

Could the Menendez Brothers Soon Walk Free?

What's going on: Erik and Lyle Menendez could be one step closer to freedom. Yesterday, the Los Angeles County district attorney said he’ll ask a judge to resentence the brothers, who are serving life without parole for the 1989 murder of their parents. Erik and Lyle — who were 18 and 21, respectively, at the time of the murder — claimed they killed their parents in self-defense following years of emotional, physical, and sexual abuse. But prosecutors argued that the brothers committed the crime out of greed (their parents were worth $14 million). They were tried twice, the first time resulting in a hung jury. Nearly 30 years later, new evidence has emerged: A letter Erik wrote in 1988 detailing the sexual abuse, and another person has alleged that the brothers' father abused him.

What it means: A judge will now decide whether to release them, reduce their sentence, or grant a new trial. In his announcement, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón (who is facing a tough re-election race) said he believes the brothers have “paid their debt to society.” Much has changed since their conviction in the 1990s, especially attitudes toward male victims of sexual abuse. For years, Erik and Lyle’s lawyer and several relatives have argued that the brothers wouldn't have been convicted of first-degree murder had evidence of their abuse been presented in the second trial. The release of a Netflix docudrama and documentary has renewed interest in the case, with a new generation taking to social media to advocate for the brothers' freedom. Meanwhile, the brothers' uncle opposes their release, saying he “has already endured the unimaginable loss of his sister.”

Related: Did Kim Kardashian Play a Role In the Menendez Brothers Case? (Variety)

Politics

The Biggest "October Surprise" May Be That It No Longer Exists

What's going on: Nov. 5 is almost here, yet we haven’t felt the full impact of the political punch that is the “October surprise” — or have we? Previous October surprises have included game-changing news moments that shifted the course of elections. Remember when then-FBI director James Comey reopened the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s private email server 11 days before the 2016 election? Or, Hunter Biden's laptop in 2020? That’s not to say this month hasn’t been full of surprises. See: misinformation around Hurricane Milton and Helene, a worsening crisis in the Middle East, and a port strike that threatened VP Kamala Harris. Then, there are the more recent reports of former President Donald Trump’s alleged comments about Hitler, and accusations from a former model alleging that Trump sexually groped her in 1993. Trump’s campaign has denied these new allegations. 

What it means: For many political analysts, any of these events could be enough to upend a campaign, yet the race remains virtually tied. So what’s going on? Are we all too jaded to be surprised anymore? When it comes to Trump, polls show that a portion of the electorate has either accepted or found ways to overlook his divisive rhetoric. Yes, even those comments that fall outside the “Overton window,” the ideological line that would spell political death for most politicians. Meanwhile, pundits say VP Kamala Harris is more vulnerable to a potential surprise, should another major event arise in the next 12 days. As Politico put it, while the margin of undecided voters is small, an October — or even November — surprise could be enough to tip the balance in such a close race.

Related: From Cleveland to Clinton — The History of the October Surprise (TIME)

Sports

‘Empire State of Mind’ Meets ‘La La Land’ on the Diamond

What’s going on: Tonight, the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers will renew their rivalry for who does it better: the East Coast or the West Coast. For the first time since 1981, the pair will face off in the World Series, with Game 1 at Dodger Stadium at 8 pm ET. The Yankees and Dodgers are the largest franchises in the MLB, and their rivalry is one of the biggest in the sport, though the Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants might like to have a word. This year’s championship is packed with star power, including the Yankees’ Aaron Judge and the Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani, who are front-runners to take home the MVP honor in their respective leagues. This year’s showdown also stands as the most diverse in its 121-year history. Now that’s a home run.

What it means: No two teams have faced off in the Fall Classic more often than the Pinstripers and the Boys in Blue, with this year’s championship marking their 12th matchup. Historically, the Yankees have come out on top with eight wins to the Dodgers’ three. New Yorkers are hungry for the title, which they haven’t scored since 2009, unlike the Angelinos, who got one in 2020. Even if the baseball scene in Twilight is the only version of our national pastime that hasn’t gone under your radar, the 2024 World Series will be hard to miss. Get ya hot dogs ready.

Related: Are This Year’s MLB Uniforms Too See-Through? (AP)