By Jamie Ross and Izin Akhabau

Listen to this briefing

Good morning. It’s Monday, Oct. 5, and flu is surging unusually early in some parts of the country. Experts say you should think about getting your vaccine as soon as possible. Let’s catch up.

	Republicans are feeling grim heading into the final month of the midterm campaign.

• Why? They fear they could lose control of both chambers of Congress. Democrats, meanwhile, have growing ambitions of pulling off upset victories deep inside Republican territory.

• What way will the results go? We broke down four potential scenarios here. The outcome will define the remainder of President Donald Trump’s term and set the stage for 2028.

The Supreme Court kicks off a new term today.

• In the coming months: Justices could shift the law on guns, religion, immigration and more. It’s a good bet that they’ll also weigh in on challenges in closely contested midterm races.

• Will we see a retirement? It can’t be ruled out. A big Republican defeat next month may put pressure on older conservative justices such as Samuel Alito or Clarence Thomas to step aside.

Trump’s opponents are making plans to undo his changes to the presidency.

• During his second term: Trump has pushed executive authority far beyond other modern presidents, critics say. They are working to ensure Trump’s changes will fade after he leaves.

• This weekend: Trump urged the Senate to pass legislation to enact year-round daylight saving time. He publicly shared the cellphone number of a Republican opponent of the bill.

• One more thing: SNL’s cold open ridiculed Trump’s GOP allies — watch here.

Voters set up a rematch (of sorts) in Brazil’s presidential election.

• Yesterday: Senator Flávio Bolsonaro and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva finished first and second in the opening round of the election. They’ll meet in an Oct. 25 runoff.

• Four years ago: Lula unseated Bolsonaro’s father, then-president Jair Bolsonaro, who refused to accept the result. From prison, he chose his oldest son to run in his place.

The Cornell rape case has reopened a national conversation about sexual assault.

• In particular: The case is raising questions about how authorities respond to allegations and the impact trauma has on victims’ memories. We asked experts to share their thoughts.

• The case also highlights how drugs are changing U.S. schools: Students increasingly have access to a range of potent and potentially deadly drugs such as ketamine, fentanyl and kratom.

Scientists uncovered a new clue about why we regain weight after dieting.

• What is it? A chemical mechanism may create a “memory” of obesity in fat cells, according to a study of mice. The finding suggests managing obesity isn’t just a matter of willpower.

• In related news: Researchers found a potential link between weight loss drugs and hair loss in men. Hair loss is one of the top reported concerns among people who take GLP-1s.

  
  

Can you guess which books are banned from schools? Try our quiz.

• This week is Banned Books Week: Since 1982, the American Library Association has used it to draw attention to books that have been challenged or removed from schools and libraries.

• Thousands of books were banned in the 2024-25 school year: Some are more surprising than others. See if you can identify from the plot alone which of these seven books were removed.