What's Happening

Economy

Is a Handshake Enough?

What's going on: Hear that? It’s economists everywhere breathing a sigh of relief (for now). President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping struck a yearlong truce in their trade war, flashing smiles after a tense few months. Trump said he’ll cut the tariffs on China in half, cutting the average rate to 47%. In return, China agreed to loosen its grip on rare earth minerals (the stuff inside your phone, your car, and US fighter jets), buy American soybeans, and crack down on fentanyl production. But TikTok and Taiwan? Still hanging in the air.

What it means: We’ve seen this movie before. Trump and Xi have struck versions of this deal several times over — and they’ve all unraveled. This truce might calm markets and give businesses a breather, but it’s short on details and long on déjà vu. Tariffs remain high, squeezing US companies and raising prices for consumers. Farmers might get relief from renewed soybean sales, but for most Americans, cheaper groceries or gadgets aren’t guaranteed. The handshake might pause the trade war, but it doesn’t end it.

Related: This Chef Bet on Gold Brownies and Thousand Island to Woo Trump (NYT Gift Link)

Politics

One Week To Prove It

What's going on: To put it bluntly, 2024 was a banner year of disappointment for Democrats (to say the least). Now the party’s trying to claw its way back, with next week’s elections in New Jersey and Virginia seen as early litmus tests. In New Jersey, Rep. Mikie Sherrill faces a nail-biter against Republican Jack Ciattarelli. In Virginia, former Rep. Abigail Spanberger holds a narrow lead. Both are running on affordability — promising to cut health care, housing, energy, and utility costs. The message is clear: Democrats want voters to see them as the party of practical economics again.

What it means: Two races won’t rewrite the party’s story, but they could reset its tone. Wins for Spanberger and Sherrill would show Democrats can compete on bread-and-butter issues — and that voters still want real answers on the economy. The bigger question? Whether this focus on everyday economics can hold both moderates and progressives under one tent. Either way, as Gov. Josh Shapiro (D-PA) put it: “The direction our party needs to go in — it’s winning again.”

Related: Ohio Reached An Unexpected Congressional Map Deal (NBC News)

Culture

The Nightmare on Your Neighbor's Lawn

What's going on: Your nosy neighbor has a bone to pick with that “festive” Halloween display down the block. And while they don’t wield a pitchfork or a Michael Myers-style butcher knife, they have the scariest tool of all: The homeowner’s association. Across the country, people are complaining that seasonal décor has crossed into full-blown horror — think motion-triggered ghouls leaping out from behind picket fences, fake corpses in trees, and yards that look more like movie sets than suburban lawns. Some parents, neighbors, and yes, even HOAs are wondering if it’s possible to be too scary. Police say residents can’t be penalized for graphic displays (yes, someone asked), but the question lingers: When does Halloween fun start feeling a little too real?

What it means: So, why do all our blocks suddenly look like Hogwarts? The haunted-house arms race isn’t random — it’s powered by spine-chilling levels of capitalism and tech. Bigger, cheaper, eerily lifelike decorations are easier to buy than ever, and Americans are expected to spend $4.2 billion on them this year, up from $1.6 billion in 2019. The result: a blurring line between neighborhood fun and psychological warfare for passing toddlers. For horror fans, it’s harmless free expression. The debate also shows how Halloween’s glow-up — and America’s obsession with spectacle — is reshaping the holiday. Either way, Skelly isn’t going anywhere — he’s just getting taller.

Related: Haunted Tourism Is Having a Moment (CNN)