President Joe Biden is set to pardon two Thanksgiving turkeys at the White House today, an interesting tradition that dates back to President John F. Kennedy in 1963. This year’s birds — “Peach” and “Blossom” — will be spared a fowl fate and live out their days at an agricultural center in Minnesota.
Here’s what else you need to know to Get Up to Speed and On with Your Day.
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1. Holiday travel
This Thanksgiving travel period is expected to be the busiest on record with more than 31 million passengers in the skies, AAA estimates. The busiest days to fly will be Wednesday, November 27, and Sunday, December 1 — with more than 3 million passengers expected on each day. The FAA said it might need to slow down air traffic due to air traffic controller staffing shortages, particularly in the Northeast. The weather may also cause more delays as the FAA monitors two storms in the US this week. The first is located across the greater Upper Midwest area and could bring showers across parts of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. A second storm in the central US is expected to move into the Eastern region by Thanksgiving Day and may even put a damper on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
2. Trump transition
Republicans are bracing for how they’ll navigate the confirmation process with some of President-elect Donald Trump’s most controversial Cabinet selections. Picks like Pete Hegseth for defense secretary and Tulsi Gabbard for spy chief present a test for GOP lawmakers in the narrowly controlled Senate. With most of Trump’s top picks complete, attention is turning to what impact a planned policy blitz could have inside the US and around the world. Trump’s incoming national security adviser said Sunday the president-elect’s transition team is working closely with President Joe Biden’s outgoing administration on the war in Ukraine and other major national security issues. Trump has vowed to end the war quickly, but there are fears in Ukraine that he’ll let Russia keep vast swathes of territory seized during its illegal invasion.
3. Middle East
A ceasefire deal between Israel and the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah is “very close,” a regional source told CNN, even as an uptick in Israeli attacks saw the death toll in Lebanon since September pass a grim milestone. “We are moving in this direction, but there are still some issues to address,” a spokesperson for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. Though ceasefire talks are underway, Israeli strikes have escalated in recent days as reports describe heavy fighting near the town of Khiam, a strategically important location for Hezbollah. More than 3,000 people have been killed and over 13,000 injured since Israel stepped up its campaign against Hezbollah on September 16, according to Lebanese health ministry figures.
4. Storm Bert
Storm Bert is wreaking havoc across the United Kingdom as floods inundate parts of the country. At least five people have died in multiple locations across Britain, authorities said. Dramatic footage that emerged over the weekend showed rivers in Wales, one of the hardest hit areas, bursting their banks to submerge low-lying streets and vehicles parked outside. Residents are dealing with widespread power outages and some 300 flights in and out of London’s Heathrow Airport were also cancelled over the weekend, with nearly 1,200 flights delayed. The storm is expected to clear from the far northeast early Tuesday, though risks of further downpours and strong winds remain across the south of the UK until Wednesday.
5. Egg prices
Egg prices are rising again, but a spike in avian flu and high demand due to holiday cooking are making the problem worse. “If you think about your holidays, your baking, your cooking, you’re entertaining, all of those require extra eggs,” said Emily Metz, president and CEO of the American Egg Board. Egg prices at the grocery store were up about 30% in October from the year prior, according to the Consumer Price Index. At the same time, avian flu has been plaguing farmers and egg supplies since January 2022. But cases started to spike again last month in the key egg-producing states of Oregon, Utah and Washington — resulting in a projected loss of about 60 million eggs, according to a report by the US Department of Agriculture.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
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UCLA ends South Carolina’s 43-game win streak
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‘Like climbing Mount Everest:’ Inside the grueling world of the Chess World Championship
The Chess World Championship begins in Singapore today, with China’s Ding Liren seeking to defend his title.
TODAY’S NUMBER
2,000
That’s around how many families in the Philippines were displaced from their homes Sunday following a massive fire that destroyed thousands of shanties in Manila’s biggest slum area.
TODAY’S QUOTE
The cause of the accident is still unknown, and an investigation is underway.
— Logistics company DHL, issuing a statement today after a cargo plane crashed near Vilnius Airport in Lithuania and skidded into a house. One crew member was killed, according to local authorities. Three others on board the flight, including the pilot, survived the crash and 12 people in the home were safely evacuated.
TODAY’S WEATHER
Check your local forecast here>>>
AND FINALLY …
How to stop election politics from ruining your holiday dinner
After a divisive election, many Americans are worried about keeping the peace during holiday gatherings. In this short video, psychologist Dr. Sunita Sah gives some good pointers about discussing politics with compassion.