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COVID Cases Surging By 50% In Nearly One-Third Of States. 
NBC Nightly NewsVi (10/19, story 5, 2:00, Holt, 5.28M) reported, "COVID cases aren't just 
climbing in 38 states; in nearly a third, new infections are surging by at least 50%. Some big 
cities, small towns, and entire states are overwhelmed by the crushing wave of new patients. ... 
For the first time since July, our nation recording nearly 70,000 daily infections, a grim 
benchmark experts say certain to be shattered." The "surge in new cases doesn't appear to be 
coming from businesses and schools that have reopened, but instead smaller gatherings with 
people you don't live with, often inside a private home where not everyone is wearing a mask." 
On ABC World News TonightVi (10/19, story 3, 3:00, 7.31M), David Muir reported there 
are new warnings "about the dangerous spread of the coronavirus," with "mayors and 
governors urging people to take the virus seriously." El Paso Director of Public Health Angela 
Mora said that the 500% increase in cases this month alone in the city is "out of control" and 
encouraged residents to wear masks. Meanwhile, University of Minnesota CIDRAP Director 
Michael Osterholm said, "The next six to 12 weeks are going to be the darkest of the entire 
pandemic." 
The CBS Evening NewsVi (10/19, story 3, 2:35, O'Donnell, 4.4M) reported, "Health 
experts are warning tonight the months ahead will be some of the hardest of the pandemic, and 
it comes as the US climbs towards a third peak, and nowhere is it more true than Wisconsin, 
the country's hot spot. The state is setting records for new cases, hospital admissions, and 
deaths." On NBC Nightly NewsVI (10/19, story 4, 2:10, Holt, 5.28M), Gabe Gutierrez reported, 
"Hospitalizations in Wisconsin have tripled over the last month, about 85% of the state's beds 
are full. ... COVID hospitalizations are at their peaks in at least 16 states, including North 
Dakota and New Mexico, where they have spiked more than 100% in two weeks. Healthcare 
workers have noticed a dramatic difference." He added, "There's also growing evidence that 
damage from COVID can be long-term." 
State Public Health Officials Finalizing Vaccine Distribution Plans. 
USA Today (10/19, Weise, 10.31M) reports, "State public health departments say they're ready 
to leap into action as soon as a COVID-19 vaccine is approved but caution so many things are 
still unknown that exactly what that leap looks like is hard to say right now." On Friday, state 
officials "submitted vaccination distribution plans" to the CDC; the plans "were as detailed as 
they could be given the many things that are still unknown," including when a vaccine will be 
available and what storage requirements it will have. In "a call with reporters Monday, public 
health officials talked about how they're preparing and what they still need." USA Today 
paraphrases Maine CDC Director Nirav Shah as saying that preparation is "like planning an 
outdoor picnic for 1.3 million...without knowing how much food he has, who's coming, how he's 
going to invite them and what they can and can't eat." 
Newsom: California Will "Independently Review" FDA-Approved COVID Vaccines 
Before Releasing. The Los Angeles Times (10/19, Luna, 4.64M) reports California Gov. Gavin 
Newsom (D) said Monday that the state "will review the safety of all COVID-19 vaccines that 
receive federal approval before distributing them to the public, adding an extra safeguard amid 
concerns that the White House could rush the process." Newsom, at a news conference, 
"announced the creation of a new work group of physicians and scientists working with the 
California Department of Public Health that will 'independently review' all federal Food and Drug 
Administration-approved vaccines, he said." The Times says Newsom is "insisting on a state 
review at a time when polls show declining confidence in future COVID-19 vaccines," and his 
announcement "also raised new uncertainty about COVID-19 vaccines just days after Dr. 
Anthony Fauci said he felt 'strong confidence' in the safety of those approved by the Food and 
Drug Administration." 
The San Francisco Chronicle (10/19, Koseff, Ho, 2.67M) reports Newsom "announced the 
creation of an 11-member scientific review committee to check the process for any vaccine 
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approved" by the FDA; members "include San Francisco's health officer, Tomas Aragon, as well 
epidemiology experts from UC Berkeley, Stanford University and Kaiser Permanente." 
Cuomo May Lift Restrictions On Some COVID Red Zones. 
The Wall Street Journal (10/19, Yang, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) reports that in a 
conference call on Monday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) said that on Wednesday he will 
announce changes to New York City's red zones, which he said could mean adjusting the rules 
around reopening so that they are contingent on local community response and infection rates. 
The New York Daily News (10/19, Sommerfeldt, 2.52M) reports Cuomo "said the changes 
will be unveiled...roughly two weeks after the color-coded shutdowns of schools and non-
essential businesses were first implemented in parts of southern Brooklyn, central Queens, 
Rockland County, Orange County and some areas of upstate." Cuomo "did not divulge the exact 
nature of the tweaks, but said they could be made on a 'block by block' basis within the zones. 
For example, Cuomo said a bar tied to a specific outbreak could remain shuttered while schools 
and other businesses return to normal." 
Catholic Leaders Voice Disapproval Of Cuomo's COVID Measures. The New York 
Times (10/19, McKinley, 18.61M) reports that in the last two weeks, "Catholic leaders in New 
York have voiced their deep disapproval" with Gov. Cuomo "over his decision to sharply limit 
attendance at houses of worship in areas that are seeing a surge of new coronavirus cases." 
The governor's decision "was largely aimed at trying to rein in congregants in Orthodox Jewish 
synagogues in New York City and in Orange and Rockland Counties, where some members have 
flouted social distancing and mask regulations." However, "it also affected other houses of 
worship, including about two dozen parishes in the diocese covering Queens and Brooklyn, 
where Catholic officials have sued Mr. Cuomo in federal court, insisting that they have been 
abiding by the rules and should not be punished." 
New Jersey COVID Cases Spike. 
The New York Times (10/19, Tully, Gold, 18.61M) reports, "Coronavirus cases in New Jersey, an 
early epicenter of the pandemic, are on the rise again, doubling over the last month to an 
average of more than 900 new positive tests a day, a worrisome reversal of fortune for a state 
that had driven transmission rates to some of the nation's lowest levels." Gov. Phil Murphy (D) 
"said Monday that residents should refrain from all but necessary out-of-state travel." Murphy, 
"who has been conservative in allowing the state to reopen, said he would consider targeted 
shutdowns to curb the spread, as Connecticut and New York have done, but he suggested that 
would not cure the problem." The "new cases, he said, do not appear linked to reopened 
schools or businesses, and are instead believed to be connected with private indoor gatherings 
that are harder to regulate." 
Politico (10/19, Sutton, 4.29M) reports that during his regular briefing on Monday, Murphy 
said the "numbers are sobering." He added, "While these numbers are a far cry from where we 
were during our springtime peaks, they are also significantly higher than where we were 
throughout the summer and until just a few weeks ago. ... Especially as the cooler weather 
pulls more of us back inside, we have to remain extra vigilant." 
Wisconsin Judge Reimposes Governor's Capacity Limit Order. 
The AP (10/19, Bauer) reports Barron County, Wisconsin, Circuit Court Judge James Babler on 
Monday reimposed an order from Gov. Tony Evers (D) "limiting the number of people who can 
gather in bars, restaurants and other indoor venues to 25% of capacity." The limits order "was 
issued Oct. 6 by Andrea Palm, secretary of the state Department of Health Services, in the face 
of surging coronavirus cases in Wisconsin." On October 14, a different judge blocked the order 
"after it was challenged by the Tavern League of Wisconsin, which argued it amounted to a 'de 
facto closure' order for the bars and restaurants it represents." Babler "declined a request from 
the Tavern League to keep the capacity limit order on hold while the lawsuit is pending and 
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declined to stay his ruling while the Tavern League and others appeal his decision." The Wall 
Street Journal (10/19, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) reports Babler said there was nothing in 
the case filings indicating bars and restaurants were complying with the limits, so it is unclear 
whether they were negatively affected by the rule. 
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (10/19, 632K) reports Babler "also said the May state 
Supreme Court ruling that knocked down Evers' stay-at-home order did not make clear what 
authority the administration has in placing such limits, despite the plaintiffs arguing the 
decision prevents Evers from issuing the latest order." Babler said, "I beg the Supreme Court for 
clarity because should this issue be decided by them, trial judges need to know how they need 
to rule." 
Reuters (10/19, McKay, Shumaker) reports Wisconsin, "one of several battleground states 
in the Nov. 3 US presidential election, is scrambling to contain a resurgence that officials fear 
could overwhelm the state's hospitals." 
Racism Blamed For High Rates Of Asian American COVID Deaths In San Francisco. 
In a 3,800-word analysis, USA Today (10/19, della Cava, 10.31M) details how "many Asian 
American immigrants" in San Francisco County "lead a fragile existence rendered even more 
precarious with the arrival of COVID-19." Of the county's 123 COVID deaths, 38% "are Asian 
American residents, the most of any ethnicity." Experts "also are concerned that positivity rates 
among Asian Americans in San Francisco could be far higher than the 12% reported, a by-
product of the decades-in-the-making model minority myth, which characterizes this ethnic 
group as financially successful, physically healthy and upwardly mobile." According to USA 
Today, "This belief has caused segments of the Asian American community to long be 
overlooked when it comes to social services for housing, employment and health." In many 
cases, Asian Americans in San Francisco "have received imprecise or no information in their 
native language about testing, safety tips, housing and other critical care services during the 
pandemic." 
Large School Districts Are Reopening Campuses. 
The Washington Post (10/19, Al, Meckler, Strauss, 14.2M) reports, "Large school districts 
across the country are reopening campuses to students, a slow-moving reversal driven by fear 
that students are falling behind and early evidence that schools have not become the 
coronavirus superspreaders as feared." Of "the 50 largest school districts, 24 have resumed in-
person classes for large groups of students, and nine others plan to in the coming weeks, 
according to a Washington Post survey." Another four "have opened, or plan to open, for small 
groups of students who need extra attention." Many of these schools "are in Florida and Texas, 
where Republican governors are requiring in-person classes, but schools are also open in New 
York City, Greenville, S.C., and Alpine, Utah, the state's largest district. Returns are planned in 
Charlotte, Baltimore and Denver." 
The Wall Street Journal (10/19, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) reports that determining 
how and when to bring students back into classrooms has been a difficult process as district 
officials and families weigh the risk of infection with parents' need to work, student loneliness, 
and fear that children will lose important academic skills. 
David Zweig, in The Intelligencer (10/19, 1.1M), describes the schools in Chappaqua and 
Bronxville, New York, that have reopened to students, asking, "It's become a platitude that 'we 
all want children to be in school.' Yet considering the case rate for hybrid and remote learning is 
two-hundredths of a percent higher than it is for [full time in-person] learning (which a number 
of experts months ago had warned could happen), in Westchester, and the regional positivity 
rate has been hovering around 1% for months, why have so many districts been unable to 
achieve this aim?" 
Doctors With Long-Haul COVID Symptoms Pushing For Better Care. 
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The Wall Street Journal (10/19, Reddy, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) reports that doctors 
and other healthcare professionals are overly represented among COVID patients who are 
experiencing persistent symptoms, and some are turning to one another to advocate for better 
treatments and greater awareness. 
DO) Says Trump Denied Rape Accusation In Official Presidential Capacity. 
The New York Times (10/19, Weiser, Feuer, 18.61M) reports the Justice Department "said on 
Monday that President Trump should not be sued personally for having denied a rape allegation 
because he made the statement while acting in his official capacity as president." The 
government's lawyers made the argument as they defended Attorney General Barr's "decision 
to intervene in a defamation lawsuit filed in a New York court against...Trump by E. Jean 
Carroll." The Times adds Carroll "has said that Mr. Trump raped her in a department store two 
decades ago and then falsely denied the attack while in office, branding her a liar and harming 
her reputation." The Washington Post (10/19, Barrett, 14.2M) reports Carroll's lawyers "have 
argued that the Justice Department's legal argument is 'inconceivable' because no American, 
not even the president, has a job description that 'includes slandering women who they 
sexually assaulted." 
Supreme Court Controls Fate Of Subpoena For Trump Tax Returns. 
CNN (10/19, Orden, 83.16M) says on its website that with "two weeks until the presidential 
election, a decision on whether to further delay handing over" President Trump's financial 
records "to New York prosecutors now rests with the Supreme Court after Trump's attorneys 
argued for a stay of the 'unprecedented' document request." CNN describes the new brief as 
"the final filing by the two sides before the court can decide whether to again push off 
enforcement of a subpoena by the Manhattan district attorney's office for years of Trump's 
financial records, including tax returns, from his longtime accountant, Mazars USA." 
Administration Facilitates Ability To Discipline Federal Workers. 
The Washington Post (10/19, Yoder, 14.2M) reports the Administration "has told federal 
agencies to make the fullest use of their discretion allowed by law to order disciplinary actions 
against their employees for reasons such as poor performance or misconduct." The final rules 
"published Friday and effective Nov. 15 either strongly discourage or ban practices that many 
agencies have adopted, repeatedly stressing management's 'sole and exclusive' authority to 
choose a penalty." 
Republican Voters Embracing QAnon. 
In a 2,600-word article, the New York Times (10/19, Rosenberg, 18.61M) reports Republicans 
nationwide "are embracing QAnon." With the encouragement of President Trump, "whose 
espousal of conspiracy theories has only intensified in the waning weeks of his campaign, 
QAnon adherents are pushing such ideas into the conservative mainstream alongside more 
traditional issues like low taxes and limited government." According to the Times, "Many of the 
Republican Party's leaders and powerful donors are similarly concerned, as are a great many 
voters. Yet few high-profile Republicans have spoken out, demonstrating the thin line they are 
trying to walk between the moderate voters they need to win over and the members of their 
base who adore Mr. Trump." 
California State Senator Highlights Dangers Posed By QAnon. In a New York 
Times (10/19, 18.61M) op-ed, California state Sen. Scott Wiener (D) writes that "before I 
became the center of a QAnon conspiracy theory, I followed the news about this internet cult 
with alarm, but also from afar. I saw it as a scary thing happening to people I didn't know. Then 
QAnon followers sent me over a thousand death threats." According to Wiener, "What happened 
to me was a perfect QAnon storm: I'm a progressive, gay, Jewish Democrat working to end 
discrimination against L.G.B.T.Q. people. I'm just the right target for an internet cult obsessed 
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with pinning pedophilia and child trafficking on progressives, gays, Jews and Democrats." He 
concludes, "If we want QAnon to go away, yes, we must increase people's media literacy and 
hold social media platforms accountable. But we also need to make people's lives better. That's 
the hard truth of 2020." 
Devastating Wildfires Continue In Colorado. 
Lester Holt reported on NBC Nightly NewsVi (10/19, story 6, 1:20, 5.28M), "In Colorado, 
explosive wildfires including the largest in state history have forced thousands to evacuate their 
homes." NBC's Steve Patterson: "In Boulder County, the fast-moving fire sparked over the 
weekend exploding to nearly 9,000 acres, leaving whole neighborhoods in ruins, destroying at 
least 20 homes." ABC World News TonightVI (10/19, story 8, 0:15, Muir, 7.01M) and the CBS 
Evening NewsVi (10/19, story 9, 0:20, O'Donnell, 4.4M) had brief updates on the fires. 
Tsunami Warning Issued After 7.5 Magnitude Quake Off Alaska Coast. 
The AP (10/19, Bohrer) reports that the National Tsunami Warning Center on Monday issued 
tsunami warnings "for a vast swath of communities, leading some schools to evacuate and send 
students to higher ground," after a 7.5 magnitude earthquake off the coast of Sand Point, 
Alaska. 
New Yorker Suspends Toobin Following Report Of Improper Behavior. 
The AP (10/19, Italie) reports Jeffrey Toobin "has been suspended by the New Yorker and is 
stepping away from his job as CNN's senior legal analyst pending what the cable network is 
calling a 'personal matter." According to the AP, Vice "reported earlier Monday that Toobin had 
exposed himself during a Zoom meeting with staffers of the New Yorker and WNYC radio." 
SCOTUS Allows Pennsylvania To Count Ballots Received By November 6. 
The AP (10/19, Sherman) reports the Supreme Court "will allow Pennsylvania to count ballots 
received up to three days after the election, rejecting a Republican plea. The justices divided 4-
4 Monday, an outcome that upholds a state Supreme Court ruling that allowed election officials 
to receive and count ballots until Nov. 6, even if they don't have a clear postmark." The New 
York Times (10/19, Liptak, 18.61M) reports, "It takes five votes to grant a stay," and Chief 
Justice Roberts sided with "the court's three-member liberal wing. ...Neither side gave reasons." 
The Washington Post (10/19, Barnes, 14.2M) says the order "was the latest is a string of 
election procedure battles waged in the states between Democrats and Republicans." 
The Philadelphia Inquirer (10/19) reports that as of Monday, Pennsylvania voters "had 
requested 2.8 million mail-in and absentee ballots - 1.79 million by Democrats and nearly 
694,000 by Republicans, according to Pennsylvania Department of State data. Already, nearly 
900,000 had been returned." Reuters (10/19, Hurley), Bloomberg (10/19, Stohr, 4.73M), the 
Wall Street Journal (10/19, Bravin, Kendall, Subscription Publication, 7.57M), Politico (10/19, 
Gerstein, Montellaro, 4.29M), The Hill (10/19, Kruzel, 2.98M), and Axios (10/19, 521K) also 
cover the decision. 
In related stories, the Washington Post (10/19, 14.2M) reports Pennsylvania elections 
officials were "inundated with complaints from first-time and absentee voters having difficulty 
registering to vote or requesting a mail ballot, fueling anxiety in the critical swing state just as 
the 5 p.m. Monday deadline approaches to join the voting rolls in time for the November 
election." And the Philadelphia Inquirer (10/19, Goodin-Smith, Lai) reports that "people are 
volunteering to be poll workers in record numbers" in the Philadelphia area. In an editorial, the 
Washington Post (10/19, 14.2M) praises volunteer poll workers, writing that "even with an 
unprecedented number of ballots being cast absentee, millions will vote in-person, and poll 
workers are critical to that running smoothly. ... Younger Americans have been particularly 
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responsive to the call to relieve traditionally older poll workers. ... Hopefully, this influx will 
mean a more sustainable workforce for decades to come." 
Early Voting Begins In Florida. David Muir reported on ABC World News TonightVI 
(10/19, story 2, 2:30, 7.01M) that "nearly 30 million Americans have voted already," and early 
voting got underway in Florida on Monday. ABC's Victor Oquendo said, "Torrential downpours 
didn't dampen enthusiasm on the first day of early voting in Florida. Lines starting at dawn 
stretched for more than an hour in the battleground state." The Washington Post (10/19, 
Gardner, Majchrowicz, Rosza, 14.2M) reports, "In Miami, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Sarasota, 
St. Petersburg and many other Florida communities, voters lined up before polls opened 
Monday to cast their ballots in person at the first available moment." The Miami Herald (10/19, 
1.09M) reports, "More than 2.5 million Floridians have already voted by mail. But with 
[President] Trump casting aspersions about the legitimacy of mail voting, Monday morning 
offered the first opportunity to vote in person for those voters who don't want to cast a mail 
ballot." Politico (10/19, Dixon, 4.29M) also covers the start of early voting in Florida. 
More Than 4M Texans Have Already Voted. The Houston Chronicle (10/19, 
Rosenthal) reports, "With more than 4 million votes counted as of Sunday, Texas is leading the 
pack when it comes to early voting. ... California has counted 3 million ballots, and Florida has 
seen 2.5 million people vote." 
Official Says Problems With Georgia Voting Systems Have Been Resolved. The 
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (10/19, 895K) reports Georgia Secretary of State Brad 
Raffensperger (R) "said Monday that problems with a sluggish voter check-in system have been 
resolved and wait times have fallen as early voting turnout surges." He said voters "should 
expect a smooth early voting process after technical changes were made last week to the state 
computer system that looks up voter registration and check-in information at polling places." 
Absentee Ballot Delivery Delayed In Parts Of Ohio. The Cleveland Plain Dealer 
(10/19, 895K) reports, "Nearly two weeks after absentee ballots were to be sent to Ohio voters, 
thousands are still waiting for their ballots due to delays with a Cleveland-based printing 
company serving 16 counties, including Cuyahoga, Lorain and Summit." Midwest Direct "is 
keeping mum on exactly how many ballots are still delayed." 
Fire Inside Los Angeles County Ballot Dropbox May Have Been Intentional. The 
Los Angeles Times (10/19, 4.64M) reports that "a fire inside an official ballot drop box" at a Los 
Angeles County library Sunday night "may have been set intentionally, authorities said." The 
county "did not immediately respond to requests for information about the burned ballots, but 
voters who suspect their ballot may have been damaged in the Baldwin Park blaze can check 
the county's official ballot tracker for status updates." 
In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal (10/19, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) says 
California Democrats who used ballot harvesting during the 2018 election are being hypocritical 
by criticizing state Republicans for setting up private ballot dropboxes. 
GOP Hopeful About Latest Voter Registration Data In Three Key States. The New 
York Times (10/19, Saul, 18.61M) reports that with Trump "trailing in public polls in nearly 
every major battleground state, Republicans are pointing to what they see as more promising 
data: Updated voter registration tallies show that Republicans have narrowed the gap with 
Democrats" in Florida, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. The Times says Republicans "hope 
that gains in voter registration in the three states...and heavy turnout by those new party 
members might just be enough to propel Mr. Trump to a second term." 
The New York Times (10/19, Corasaniti, Epstein, 18.61M) looks at election preparations in 
seven key states: Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and 
Wisconsin. 
Chicago Police Save Man Hanging From Trump Tower. 
The Chicago Tribune (10/19, Fry, Rosenberg-Douglas, 2.65M) reports Chicago police "said 
Monday morning they had 'resolved peacefully' a standoff at Trump Tower more than 13 hours 
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after a man suspended himself with a rope and harness from the 16th-floor landing of the 
downtown high-rise." A police SWAT unit "and the Chicago Fire Department had responded to a 
call of a man threatening to kill himself at the Trump International Hotel & Tower, 401 N. 
Wabash Ave. in the Near North neighborhood, about 5:30 p.m. Sunday, according to police." 
The Chicago Sun-Times (10/19, Camarillo, 875K) reports the man had been demanding to 
speak to President Trump. 
INTERNATIONAL NEWS 
US Borders With Mexico And Canada To Remain Closed Until November 21. 
Reuters (10/19, Shepardson, Scherer) reports that the Homeland Security Department 
announced on Monday that the US land borders with Canada and Mexico "will remain closed to 
all non-essential travel until Nov. 21." Acting DHS Secretary Wolf tweeted, "To continue to limit 
the spread of COVID, the U.S., Mexico, and Canada will extend the restrictions on non-essential 
travel through Nov. 21. We are working closely with Mexico and Canada to identify safe criteria 
to ease the restrictions in the future and support our border communities." 
Countries, Cities Impose Targeted Restrictions On COVID Hot Spots. 
The AP (10/19, Peitz) reports that some US states and other countries are "trying more 
targeted measures" to battle the coronavirus as COVID-19 cases "rise again around the world, 
especially in Europe and the Americas." Countries are imposing restrictions on travel in certain 
cities or closing schools and businesses in individual neighborhoods that are identified as COVID 
hot spots. While "the concept of containing hot spots isn't new," the AP says, it is "being tested 
under new pressures as authorities try to avoid a dreaded resurgence of illness and deaths, this 
time with economies weakened from earlier lockdowns, populations chafing at the idea of 
renewed restrictions and some communities complaining of unequal treatment." Worldwide 
coronavirus infections "surpassed 40 million, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally early 
Monday." 
UNICEF To Stockpile More Than 500M Single-Dose Syringes For COVID Vaccine. 
The New York Times (10/19, Gladstone, 18.61M) reports that "UNICEF, the world's largest 
single buyer of vaccines...said Monday that it was purchasing and distributing more than half a 
billion single-dose syringes and other critical equipment in countries where it operates, to be 
ready" for a coronavirus vaccine "when the time comes." In a statement, UNICEF "said the 
advance stockpiling - a collaboration with GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance - was part of a larger plan 
to amass one billion syringes by 2021 to guarantee a supply 'and help ensure that syringes 
arrive in countries before the Covid-19 vaccines:" 
Issues With Storage May Leave 38 Without Access To COVID Vaccine. The AP 
(10/19, Hinnant, Mednick) reports that "the world's most promising coronavirus vaccine 
candidates need non-stop sterile refrigeration to stay potent and safe," but "despite enormous 
strides in equipping developing countries to maintain the vaccine 'cold chain,' nearly 3 billion of 
the world's 7.8 billion people live where temperature-controlled storage is insufficient for an 
immunization campaign to bring COVID-19 under control." As a result, "poor people around the 
world who were among the hardest hit by the virus pandemic are also likely to be the last to 
recover from it." 
COVID Cases Hitting Record Highs In Europe. 
ABC World News TonightVI (10/19, story 4, 1:25, Muir, 7.31M) foreign correspondent James 
Longman said Europe is "battling through COVID's second wave. France hitting record cases, 
over 32,000 on Saturday alone. ... In France, the positivity rate is up, now at 13.4%, and so 
are the deaths. Hospitals are starting to fill up, too." He added, "Like the USA, the majority of 
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France's COVID cases affect the young. But now, the elderly are getting it again." Moreover, "In 
Belgium, a 79% increase in cases over last week. Bars, restaurants, and cafes closed. And in 
the UK, Wales ordered to go into total lockdown from Friday. We seem to be at the beginning of 
a trajectory, and if it continues in this fashion, hospitals like these will be overwhelmed. It's a 
fear many across Europe share." Moreover, "Ireland has announced it is going to go into a full 
six-week lockdown from Wednesday, among the harshest in Europe, and other countries are 
considering doing the same." 
Manchester, London Grievances Flare Up As Britain Moves Toward Lockdowns. 
The New York Times (10/19, Landler, 18.61M) reports that, for days, Greater Manchester Mayor 
Andy Burnham "has been engaged in a war of words" with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson 
"and his ministers over the government's plan to elevate hard-hit Manchester to the highest 
level of restrictions," which "would shut down pubs, bars and gyms and forbid all socializing by 
people from different households." Burnham "says that the restrictions would devastate the 
city's economy, and that the central government has not offered adequate financial aid to the 
people who would lose their jobs during the lockdown." He "has been a nearly ubiquitous 
presence on television, waging a fierce rebellion on behalf of his 2.8 million constituents." 
Iran Sets New Record For Daily Deaths. 
The AP (10/19, Vandat) reports, "Iran's single-day death toll from the coronavirus smashed a 
record set less than a week ago, with 337 dead confirmed Monday as a resurgence of infections 
is overwhelming hospitals." The AP says Monday's total "represented a significant increase over 
Iran's previous one-day record of 279 set Wednesday." According to the AP, "The Islamic 
Republic emerged early in the pandemic as a global epicenter of the virus and has since seen 
the worst outbreak in the Middle East, with deaths topping 30,000, as fatalities have soared in 
recent weeks." 
Top Palestinian Diplomat On Ventilator In Israeli Hospital. 
The Washington Post (10/19, Hendrix, 14.2M) reports that Saeb Erekat, "a top Palestinian 
leader who tested positive for the novel coronavirus earlier this month, was placed on a 
ventilator Monday and is in critical condition at an Israeli hospital, the facility said in a 
statement." The Post says Erekat, "well known to diplomats as the Palestinians' chief negotiator 
and the leader most frequently quoted by Western media, was rushed his from West Bank 
home to a hospital in Tel Aviv on Sunday, then transferred to Jerusalem's Hadassah Ein Karem 
Medical Center." According to the Post, "The 65-year-old has a history of respiratory illness and 
underwent a lung transplant in 2017." 
Kenya Health Minister Warns Of Second Coronavirus Wave. 
The New York Times (10/19, Dahir, 18.61M) reports that on Sunday, Kenyan Health Minister 
Mutahi Kagwe said the recent relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions could lead to another wave of 
the virus. During a press briefing on Sunday, he "said the percentage of positive test results 
had increased this month, after restrictions were lifted, and admissions to intensive care units 
had increased in recent days." Kagwe said, "We can confidently point to a potential crisis unless 
we take some immediate action to avert this. ... We can choose to sink or swim." The Times 
says Kagwe "blamed the rise in cases on the resumption of large public events including 
political rallies, weddings and burials" and "said club owners weren't enforcing social distancing 
and were not asking their patrons to wear masks." Kagwe "also accused health workers -
hundreds of whom have tested positive and have protested lack of adequate protective gear -
of getting lax about protection." 
Abrams: US To Enact Preemptive Sanctions On Iran. 
US Special Envoy for Iran Elliott Abrams told the Washington Free Beacon (10/19, Kredo, 78K) 
in an interview that the Administration "will preemptively sanction any country that tries to 
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deliver arms to Iran, effectively blocking new arms deals well before they develop." Abrams 
"said that in the aftermath of restoring all international sanctions on Iran in late September, the 
administration would not wait for new weapons to be transferred to Iran - in violation of 
sanctions - but would act preemptively to obstruct new deals as they advance." Abrams said, 
"We don't have to wait until a transaction is completed and someone has physically sent arms 
to Iran or imported arms from Iran." Abrams added, "We can go after people engaged in 
exploratory visits or negotiations as well." 
In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal (10/19, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) says the 
expiration of the international arms embargo on Iran illustrates the flaws within the 2015 
nuclear deal and raises questions for how Joe Biden would respond given he supports returning 
to the terms of the agreement. 
Turkey Abandoning Outpost Surrounded By Syrian Army. 
Reuters (10/19, Al-Khalidi, Coskun) reports that Turkey is "withdrawing troops from a military 
post in northwest Syria that was surrounded by Syrian government forces last year, but is 
consolidating its presence elsewhere in the region." According to Reuters, "The observation post 
at Morek was one of a dozen set up by Turkish soldiers in 2018 under an ill-fated deal to calm 
fighting between Syrian government troops and Turkey-backed rebels controlling the 
northwestern Idlib region." Reuters says Morek, as well as "several other Turkish posts," were 
"surrounded last year by advancing Syrian government forces," but the Turkish military "has 
kept them manned and re-supplied since then." 
Pakistan Lifts Ban On TikTok. 
The New York Times (10/19, Masood, 18.61M) reports Pakistani authorities said Monday they 
were reversing their decision to ban TikTok "after receiving assurance from the Chinese-owned 
social media platform that it would moderate content according to local laws." Just 10 days 
after introducing the ban, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority said in a statement, 
"TikTok is being unlocked after assurance from management that they will block all accounts 
repeatedly involved in spreading obscenity and immorality." 
US Rescue Mission In Yemen Helped Pave Way For Israel-UAE Peace Deal. 
The Wall Street Journal (10/19, Nissenbaum, Subscription Publication, 7.57M) reports an 
August 2017 mission conducted by US special forces to rescue Emirati soldiers, including a 
member of the royal family, whose helicopter crashed in Yemen during an offensive against al 
Qaeda militants played a key role in making the Israel-UAE peace deal possible three years 
later. 
Navalny Calls On Trump To Condemn His Attempted Assassination. 
ABC World News TonightVI (10/19, story 6, 1:25, Muir, 7.31M) reported Russian opposition 
leader Alexei Navalny delivered "a defiant warning tonight and a message for President Trump." 
ABC's Ian Pannell said Navalny was critical of Trump "for not joining world leaders in 
condemning the attack" on him. On NBC Nightly NewsVi (10/19, story 9, 1:30, 5.28M), Keir 
Simmons reported Navalny is demanding Trump "condemn his attempted assassination by, he 
claims, Russian President Vladimir Putin's people." Navalny: "I think it's extremely important 
that everyone, of course, including and maybe in the first of all, the President of United States, 
to be very against using chemical weapons in the 21st century." 
Retirees Demonstrate Against Lukashenko In Belarus. 
The AP (10/19) reports that for the third straight Monday, "about 3,000 retirees rallied in the 
Belarusian capital of Minsk...to demand the resignation of authoritarian President Alexander 
Lukashenko as mass protests of a disputed election continue to roil the country." In the wake of 
Aug. 9 voting that was "widely seen as rigged," retirees "marched through the streets of Minsk 
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carrying flowers and chanting for Lukashenko to 'Go away!" The AP Adds that some 2,000 "pro-
Lukashenko pensioners also rallied in the capital." A Wall Street Journal (10/19, Subscription 
Publication, 7.57M) editorial cites the unrest in Belarus as evidence of Russian President 
Vladimir Putin's declining influence in the former Soviet Republics. 
Armenian, Azeri Leaders Both Say They Would Meet In Moscow For Peace Talks. 
Reuters (10/19, Bagirova, Hovhannisyan) reports that on Monday, "a new ceasefire in the 
mountain territory of Nagorno-Karabakh was in jeopardy...with Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian 
forces reporting shelling and heavy fighting." According to Reuters, "The ceasefire was agreed 
on Saturday after an earlier deal brokered by Russia failed to halt the deadliest clashes in the 
South Caucasus since the 1990s." Reuters says that "so far, the main driver of diplomacy 
between the ex-Soviet enemies has been Russia." Reuters adds that Armenia's Prime Minister 
Nikol Pashinyan and Azerbaijan's President ilham Aliyev "both told Russia's TASS news agency 
in separate interviews on Monday that they were ready to come to Moscow for talks." 
Morales Ally Triumphs In Bolivian Presidential Election. 
The AP (10/19, Valdez) reports that former Bolivian President Evo Morales' party "has claimed 
victory in a presidential election that appears to sharply shift Bolivia away from the 
conservative policies of the U.S.-backed interim government that took power after the leftist 
leader resigned and fled the country a year ago." According to the AP, "The leading rival of 
Morales's handpicked successor, Luis Arce, conceded defeat on Monday, as did interim President 
Jeanine Aliez, a bitter foe of Morales." The AP says Bolivian officials "released no formal, 
comprehensive quick count of results from Sunday's vote, but two independent surveys of 
selected polling places showed Arce with a lead of roughly 20 percentage points over his closest 
rival - far more than needed to avoid a runoff." The New York Times (10/19, Turkewitz, 
18.61M) says Bolivia's "voters appear to have spoken clearly: They want [Morales'] socialist 
project to go on." The Washington Post (10/19, Machicao, Faiola, 14.2M) and Reuters (10/19, 
Rochabrun, Ramos) provide similar coverage. 
Thai Authorities Move To Censor Coverage Of Student Demonstrations. 
The AP (10/19, Peck, Blake) reports Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha's government on 
Monday sought to quell growing protests "calling for the prime minister to resign by threatening 
to censor news coverage, raiding a publishing house and attempting to block the Telegram 
messaging app used by demonstrators." The Washington Post (10/19, Mahtani, Wangkiat, 
14.2M) says "young, digitally savvy Thai protesters...are at the forefront of a swelling anti-
government movement that has broken the mold in Thailand - both by shattering the long-held 
taboo against criticizing the powerful monarchy, and by revolutionizing mass protests and 
dissent in the country." Demonstrators "have borrowed from their Hong Kong counterparts, 
subscribing to the 'be water' strategy of fluid gatherings. ... The result so far has been harder 
for police to control, even in the context of Thailand's long history of crackdowns on political 
movements." 
A Washington Post (10/19, 14.2M) editorial says the student movement offers "a ray of 
hope that democracy in Thailand could be revived after years of repression. ... But, as in so 
many other nations where opponents of autocracy struggle to gain traction, the Trump 
administration has been silent. No doubt Mr. Prayuth sees that as a vote of confidence, and a 
green light for more repression." 
Indian Army Detains Chinese Soldier Who Strayed Over Border. 
The AP (10/19, Hussain) reports that on Monday, the Indian army "said it apprehended a 
Chinese soldier...in the remote Ladakh region, where the two countries are locked in a 
monthslong military standoff along their disputed mountain border." The AP adds, "The soldier, 
Cpl. Wang Ya Long from China's People's Liberation Army, was apprehended inside Indian-
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controlled Ladakh's Demchok area and was to be released soon, the army said in a statement. 
It said the soldier 'had strayed' across the de facto border along the eastern section of what's 
known as the Line of Actual Control, a loose demarcation separating Indian- and Chinese-
controlled areas." According to the New York Times (10/19, Gettleman, 18.61M), "The Indian 
troops fed the captured Chinese soldier a meal. They gave him oxygen and some warm clothes. 
They treated him respectfully, both sides indicated." 
Chinese, Taiwanese Envoys Engaged In Fistfight During Fiji Event. 
The New York Times (10/19, Hernandez, 18.61M) reports that "a reception hosted this month 
by Taiwan officials in Suva, the capital of Fiji, gave way to a fistfight between officials 
representing China and Taiwan, in the latest example of rising tensions between the two 
governments." The Times adds, "Officials in Taipei and Beijing on Monday offered competing 
accounts of the altercation after reports about the clash spread widely on social media. They 
accused each other of initiating the feud and causing injuries." According to the Times, while 
Taiwan "said the Chinese government was trying to surveil its staff and guests," the Chinese 
government "said its officials were carrying out normal duties, and complained that a cake at 
the event was decorated to look like Taiwan's flag." 
Beijing Blasts Trump's Climate Policies. 
The Washington Post (10/19, Mufson, 14.2M) reports Beijing's Foreign Affairs Ministry 
"delivered a diatribe against U.S. climate policies on Monday, saying that under President 
Trump," the US "is widely viewed as a consensus-breaker and a troublemaker." The Ministry 
"blamed Trump's 'negative stance' and 'retrogression on climate change' for undermining 
progress on an international climate accord." A fact sheet from the Ministry said Trump had 
"seriously undermined the fairness, efficiency and effectiveness of global environmental 
governance." The Post says the comments "resembled the tit-for-tat criticism that China and 
the United States have traded on subjects such as human rights, trade and the expulsion of 
reporters and diplomats, but climate policies have been largely the exception." 
Differing Administration Response To Diplomats' Symptoms In China, Cuba Draw 
Scrutiny. 
The New York Times (10/19, Swanson, Wong, Barnes, 18.61M) reports, "What began as 
strange sounds and symptoms among more than a dozen American officials and their family 
members in China in 2018 has turned into a diplomatic mystery spanning multiple countries 
and involving speculation about secret high-tech weapons and foreign attacks." One of the 
major questions involves "whether Trump administration officials believe...diplomats in China 
experienced the same mysterious affliction as dozens of diplomats and spies at the American 
Embassy in Cuba in 2016 and 2017, which came to be known as Havana Syndrome." The 
government's "treatment of the episodes has been radically different." The State Department 
"has produced inconsistent assessments of patients and events, ignored outside medical 
diagnoses and withheld basic information from Congress, a New York Times investigation 
found." While the Administration "withdrew most of its staff members from the embassy" in 
Cuba, it "took a softer approach with China." 
THE BIG PICTURE 
Headlines From Today's Front Pages. 
Wall Street Journal: 
Intel Enters Deal To Sell NAND Memory Unit To 5K Hynix
U.S. Charges Six Russian Intelligence Officers With Hacking 
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Auto Makers Grapple With Battery-Fire Risks In Electric Vehicles 
One Man Vs. The Fax Machine: A Battle To Defeat Old Tech In Japan 
Farmers Stick With Trump, Despite Trade-War Pain 
Washington Post: 
Big School Districts Start To Open Their Doors, Slowly 
Distrust, Lethargy Worsening Within Virus Task Force 
Trump: People Tired Of 'Fauci And All These Idiots' 
Turkey Farmers Fear Disastrous Drop In Demand 
6 Russian Officers Charged In Hacks 
Justices Allow Extended Deadline For Pa. Ballots 
Financial Times: 
Bolivia's Socialists Proclaim Election Victory 
Eurozone Budget Deficits Rise Almost Tenfold To Counter Pandemic 
UK And Brussels Fight Over European Mergers Ahead Of Brexit Deadline 
Taiwan Accuses Chinese Officials Of Beating Up Diplomat In Fiji 
Story Lineup From Last Night's Network News: 
ABC: Trump-Fauci; Early Voting; COVID-Cases; COVID-Europe; US Park Police Officers Charged 
with Manslaughter; Russia-Alexei Navalny; Alaska-Earthquake; Wildfires; New York-Elderly 
Couple Rescued From Canal; Utah-Stranded Hiker Found After Two Weeks; Family Refurbishes 
Desks For Kids In Need. 
CBS: Trump-Fauci; Campaign Trail; COVID-Cases; DOJ-Russian Cyberattack; Unemployment; 
Utah-Stranded Hiker Found After Two Weeks; Iowa-Snow Storm; Tropical Storm Epsilon; 
Wildfires; Honoring Women Judges. 
NBC: Trump-Fauci; Campaign Trail; Trump-Rallies; COVID-Cases; COVID-Surge; Wildfires; 
Iowa-Snow Storm; DOJ-Russian Cyberattack; Russia-Alexei Navalny; Misinformation 
Campaigns; Boeing 737 MAX; Holiday Shopping; Third Graders Write Postcards Reminding 
Adults To Vote. 
Network TV At A Glance: 
Trump-Fauci - 9 minutes, 0 seconds 
COVID-Cases - 7 minutes, 45 seconds 
Wildfires - 1 minute, 55 seconds 
Story Lineup From This Morning's Radio News Broadcasts: 
ABC: Early Voting; Pennsylvania-Mail In Ballots; Final Presidential Debate-New Rules; 
California-Gov.'s Comments on Vaccine; Jeff Bridges-Lymphoma. 
CBS: Final Presidential Debate-New Rules; Pennsylvania-Mail In Ballots; Pelosi/Mnuchin 
Stimulus Talks; COVID-Cases; DOJ-Russian Cyberattack. 
FOX: Final Presidential Debate-New Rules; Trump-Arizona Rally; Sen. Harris-Florida Visit; 
SCOTUS Nominee. 
NPR: Pennsylvania-Mail In Ballots; Pelosi/Mnuchin Stimulus Talks; COVID-Cases; Wisconsin-
COVID Restrictions. 
WASHINGTON'S SCHEDULE 
Today's Events In Washington. 
White House: 
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• President Trump — Participates in a Sinclair Town Hall event; delivers remarks at a Make 
America Great Again Rally in Erie, PA. 
• Vice President Pence — No public schedule released. 
US Senate: 
• No schedule  published. 
US House: 
• House meets in  pro forma session — House of Representatives meets in pro forma session * 
Chamber on recess from 2 Oct - 16 Nov 
Location: U.S. Capitol, Washington, DC; 9:00 AM 
• House Ways and Means subcommittee hearing on 'Maximizing Health Coverage Enrollment 
Amidst Administration Sabotage' - Oversight Subcommittee hearing on 'Maximizing Health 
Coverage Enrollment Amidst Administration Sabotage', with testimony from New Jersey 
Department of Banking and Insurance Commissioner Marlene Caride; Connect for Health 
Colorado CEO Kevin Patterson; United States of Care Board Chair Andy Slavitt; and 
Manhattan Institute Senior Fellow Chris Pope; 12:00 PM 
• Dem Rep. Raul Grijalva unveils his Ocean-Based Climate Solutions Act - House Committee 
on Natural Resources Chair Raul Grijalva leads press conference unveiling his Ocean-Based 
Climate Solutions Act, to address the ocean impacts of climate change and reform federal 
ocean management to better account for climate mitigation. Other speakers include House 
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Chair Kathy Castor and fellow Democratic Reps. Deb 
Haaland, Jared Huffman, and Suzanne Bonamici, former President's Counselor John 
Podesta, former National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Administrator Jane 
Lubchenco, National Geographic explorer-in-residence Enric Sala, and Gullah/Geechee 
Nation head Queen Quet; 1:30 PM 
Cabinet Officers: 
• Secretary of State Mike Pompeo holds U.S.-United Arab Emirates Strategic Dialogue 
Location: Washington, DC 
• OAS General Assembly - Organization of American States General Assembly - annual 
meeting of the supreme political institution within the OAS, attended by the foreign 
ministers of the 35 member states of the Americas, with decisions made guiding the 
activities and priorities of the hemispheric organization for the forthcoming year ahead -
held online * Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leads U.S. delegation 
• Treasury Secretary Mnuchin concludes Israel / Bahrain / United Arab Emirates trip at head 
of U.S. delegation - Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin concludes three-day trip at 
the head of a U.S. delegation to Israel, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates to support 
expanded economic cooperation under the Abraham Accords, with agenda today including 
concluding stop in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, before joining Israeli officials in 
returning to Israel on the first-ever direct commercial flight from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv. 
Other delegation members include International Development Finance Corporation CEO 
Adam Boehler, U.S. Ambassador to Israel Amb. David Friedman, and National Security 
Council officials 
• Heritage Foundation virtual event on immigration, including recorded interview with Acting 
DHS Secretary Wolf - 'The State of the Wall and Immigration' Heritage Foundation virtual 
event, including recorded interview with Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, 
followed by a panel discussion featuring The Remembrance Project Director Maria Espinoza, 
Jackson County, TX, Sheriff AJ Louderback, former Immigration and Customs Enforcement 
Director Thomas Homan, and Heritage Foundation Election Law Reform Initiative Manager 
Hans von Spakovsky; 1:00 PM 
• Defense Secretary Esper discusses U.S. alliances on Atlantic Council online event -
Secretary of Defense Mark Esper speaks on Atlantic Council #ACFrontPage online event on 
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'strengthening U.S. alliances and partnerships in an era of great-power competition'; 1:00 
PM 
• Labor Secretary Scalia marks 75th NDEAM and 30th anniversary of ADA - 'Building a Future 
that Works': Department of Labor virtual celebration of the 75th annual National Disability 
Employment Awareness Month and the 30th anniversary of the passage of the Americans 
with Disabilities Act (ADA), with featured guests including Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia, 
futurist Cathy Hackl, Google Vice President and Chief Internet Evangelist Vint Cerf, disability 
policy expert Bobby Silverstein, Microsoft Research postdoctoral researcher Dr Martez Mott, 
University of Pittsburgh Distinguished Professor Dr Rory Cooper, and attorney Haley Moss; 
2:00 PM 
Visitors: 
• No visitors scheduled. 
This Town: 
• U.S.-Brazil Connect Summit continues - U.S.-Brazil Connect Summit continues, virtual 
conference hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Brazil-U.S. Business Council, to 
promote effective engagement and collaboration to deepen bilateral economic cooperation in 
a post-coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic world. Day two speakers include Republican Sen. 
Marco Rubio, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil Todd Chapman, Brazilian Ambassador to the U.S. 
Nestor Forster, and The Boeing Company Brazil Managing Director and Vice President for 
Global Policy Landon Loomis; 8:30 AM 
• Deputy Treasury Secretary Justin Muzinich addresses Operation HOPE Virtual Forum; 9:00 
AM 
• Environmental groups discuss opposition to release of  genetically engineered trees into 
forests - Environmental groups discuss the closing of the Department of Agriculture's public 
comment period on a petition requesting approval for a genetically engineered (GE or 
genetically modified) American chestnut tree, designed for release into the wild, via virtual 
press conference. Speakers include representatives of the STOP GE Trees Campaign; 
Indigenous Environmental Network; Canadian Biotechnology Action Network; Dogwood 
Alliance; and Friends of the Earth; 12:00 PM 
• Federal Depository Library Conference - Federal Depository Library Conference, held 
virtually, including keynote from Archivist of the United States David Ferriero 
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