usatoday--2020-10-09--2020 election live updates: Trump says he may hold rallies this weekend; doctor said he's completed

2020 election live updates: Trump says he may hold rallies this weekend; doctor said he's completed COVID therapy

President Donald Trump said Thursday he may hold campaign rallies this weekend in Florida and Pennsylvania , an announcement that comes a week after he tested positive for COVID-19 as part of a larger White House coronavirus outbreak .
Hours before he told Fox News his plans , White House physician Sean Conley cleared the president to resume public events , saying he had completed his therapy of COVID-19 .
Trump and the administration have repeatedly declined to say to when the president last received a negative test .
That continued Thursday .
`` There 's no reason to test @ @ @ @ @ @ @ very little infection or virus , if any , '' Trump told Fox .
`` I do n't know that they found any , I did n't go into it greatly with the doctors . ''
Meanwhile , the next presidential debate appears up-in-the-air after Trump said he would n't participate because organizers changed the Miami event to a virtual platform over COVID-19 concerns .
The Commission on Presidential Debates said it would n't hold the debate Thursday with just Biden .
Trump 's team now wants each of the remaining debates moved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden campaign rejected .
• 25th Amendment : House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Jamie Raskin will speak Friday on a bill establishing a commission required under the 25th Amendment , which lays out presidential succession .
This comes after Pelosi has expressed concern about President Donald Trump 's mental state in recent days , including that steroids he 's taking to battle COVID-19 may be affecting his brain .
• Pence trip canceled : On Thursday , Vice President Mike Pence canceled a planned appearance the next day in Indianapolis .
His @ @ @ @ @ @ @ did say `` nobody 's sick .
There 's no positive tests . ''
• Mitch McConnell : Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he has n't been to the White House since August because of the executive office 's lax coronavirus precautions .
• Trump campaign : The Trump campaign is exploring the prospect of an event on Monday in Pittsburgh , an aide said .
The aide did not elaborate , saying only it would be an `` event '' and not a `` rally '' for the COVID-stricken president .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ six days until the second presidential debate , 103 days until Inauguration Day , 85 days left in 2020 .
🗳 Voting : See USA TODAY 's Voter Guide for information on registering to vote , when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues .
We will update this article throughout the day .
You can follow all of USA TODAY 's politics reporters on Twitter or subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter .
Trump says he ’ s considering rallies this weekend President Donald Trump said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Florida and Pennsylvania , hours after his physicians said he would be cleared to return to the campaign trail on Saturday .
“ I think I ’ m going to try doing a rally on Saturday night , probably in Florida on Saturday , ” the president told Fox News , breaking his answer at one point to clear his throat .
“ Pennsylvania the following night.
” White House physician Sean Conley said Thursday the president had completed his course of therapy for COVID-19 `` as prescribed by his team of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return to public life on Saturday , 10 days since his diagnosis .
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say patients are supposed to quarantine for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms – in Trump 's case , last Thursday .
Earlier on Thursday Trump said he would bow out of the second presidential debate , scheduled for Oct. 15 , after the Commission on Presidential Debates said they would hold a virtual debate out of coronavirus safety concerns .
A team of militia operatives is charged with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whitmer in a plot in which they considered storming the state Capitol in a commando raid that would use Molotov cocktails to keep police cars at bay , according to newly unsealed court records .
Members of the group bought weapons , conducted surveillance , held training and planning meetings , but they were foiled in part because the FBI infiltrated the group with informants , according to a criminal complaint .
Six were charged with federal kidnapping offenses and at least seven others face state charges .
The FBI became aware early @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that a militia group was `` discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law enforcement components '' and `` agreed to take violent action , '' according to a sworn affidavit .
McConnell says he has n't visited White House because of lax COVID rules Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday said he has n't visited the White House in two months because of what he saw as lax coronavirus practices .
`` My impression was their approach to how to handle this ( pandemic ) was different from mine and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Senate , which was to wear a mask and practice social distancing , '' McConnell said during an appearance in Northern Kentucky .
McConnell said he maintains regular phone contact with Trump and that the president `` seems perfectly fine . ''
But McConnell said he does n't have first-hand knowledge of the president 's health condition because he has n't visited the White House since Aug. 6 .
McConnell was not at the Sept. 26 event in the Rose Garden announcing Trump 's Supreme Court nominee - which may have become a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : :Senator says he has n't visited White House since August because of lax COVID rules Trump says he wo n't do next debate after it goes virtual President Donald Trump said Thursday he would not take part in the next presidential debate Oct. 15 with former Vice President Joe Biden after it was moved to a virtual format because of COVID-19 safety concerns .
`` I 'm not going to waste my time doing a virtual debate , '' he told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo , calling it a `` joke @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden . ''
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Thursday morning the next debate would be remote to `` protect the health and safety of all involved '' after Trump 's positive COVID-19 diagnosis and the subsequent White House outbreak .
Co-chairman Frank Fahrenkopf said the commission would not host a debate with Biden alone if Trump doesn ’ t budge .
He said the future of the debate rests with Trump : `` The ball 's in his court . ''
The Trump campaign later said they want to push the remaining @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an idea Biden 's team rejected .
Trump : Trump wo n't do next debate after it goes virtual ; Biden schedules solo town hall in its place

2020 election live updates: Trump planning campaign event at the White House
Show Caption Hide Caption Donald Trump declares himself ready for rallies on phone call with Fox News Donald Trump insisted on Thursday he was ready to resume campaign rallies and felt “perfect” only one week after his Covid-19 diagnosis. PA Media - News, PA Media - News
Sidelined from the trail because of his bout with coronavirus, President Donald Trump is planning to hold a campaign event at the White House this weekend, a person with knowledge of the event told USA TODAY.
Trump expects to speak from a balcony at the White House on Saturday, said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Details were not immediately clear.
Planning for the event comes as the White House has been criticized for hosting an official ceremony last weekend on the South Lawn from which many attendees later tested positive for the virus. Dr. Anthony Fauci described that event, to mark the nomination of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, as a “super spreader.”
Trump has also faced criticism for using the White House for political events. The president delivered his formal acceptance speech to the Republican National Convention this summer from the South Lawn.
Trump has recently floated several possible returns to the campaign trail, including the possibility of rallies this weekend in Florida and Pennsylvania that have not come to fruition. The White House has so far declined to say if Trump has tested negative for the virus since he returned to the White House on Monday after a three day stay at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.
An official said precautions would be taken to maintain the safety of the crowd but the details of those measures were not immediately clear.
-- David Jackson and John Fritze
☕ The latest:
Pence trip canceled: On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence canceled a planned appearance the next day in Indianapolis. His office did not explain why, but did say "nobody's sick. There's no positive tests."
On Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence canceled a planned appearance the next day in Indianapolis. His office did not explain why, but did say "nobody's sick. There's no positive tests." Mitch McConnell: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he hasn't been to the White House since August because of the executive office's lax coronavirus precautions.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said he hasn't been to the White House since August because of the executive office's lax coronavirus precautions. Trump campaign: The Trump campaign is exploring the prospect of an event on Monday in Pittsburgh, an aide said. The aide did not elaborate, saying only it would be an "event" and not a "rally" for the COVID-stricken president.
📆 25 days until Election Day, six days until the second presidential debate, 103 days until Inauguration Day, 85 days left in 2020.
🗳 Voting: See USA TODAY's Voter Guide for information on registering to vote, when your state begins voting and what the candidates think about the issues.
We will update this article throughout the day. You can follow all of USA TODAY's politics reporters on Twitter or subscribe to our daily On Politics newsletter.
Trump says he may hold rallies this weekend
President Donald Trump said Thursday he may hold campaign rallies this weekend in Florida and Pennsylvania, an announcement that comes a week after he tested positive for COVID-19 as part of a larger White House coronavirus outbreak.
Hours before he told Fox News his plans, White House physician Sean Conley cleared the president to resume public events, saying he had completed his therapy of COVID-19. Trump and the administration have repeatedly declined to say to when the president last received a negative test. That continued Thursday.
"There's no reason to test all the time, but they found very little infection or virus, if any," Trump told Fox. "I don't know that they found any, I didn't go into it greatly with the doctors."
Meanwhile, the next presidential debate appears up-in-the-air after Trump said he wouldn't participate because organizers changed the Miami event to a virtual platform over COVID-19 concerns. The Commission on Presidential Debates said it wouldn't hold the debate Thursday with just Biden. Trump's team now wants each of the remaining debates moved back a week, an idea the Biden campaign rejected.
Trump gets lowest rating yet on COVID response in poll
Americans' approval of President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic has reached its lowest point in a Reuters/Ipsos tracking poll since the outbreak first began to hit the U.S.
The poll was conducted from Oct. 6-8, after the president left the hospital where he had been treated for COVID-19 and returned to the White House, where a coronavirus outbreak has infected more than 20 people including first lady Melania Trump.
The poll found 38% approve and 59% disapprove of Trump's handling of the public health crisis. The negative 22-percentage point rating is the biggest deficit Trump has had on the issue in a Reuters/Ipsos survey since early March.
And it is 11 points worse than it was in a Reuters/Ipsos poll taken Sept. 30-Oct. 1, before Trump announced he had tested positive for the virus.
– William Cummings
COVID stimulus update: White House to offer $1.8 trillion relief plan, reports say
The White House is set to offer Democrats a $1.8 trillion COVID-19 stimulus package as President Donald Trump reversed course on stimulus negotiations and said he wanted to "Go Big," according to multiple reports.
The proposal, a $1.8 trillion offer according to the Wall Street Journal and CNBC, is about $200 billion more than the White House's $1.6 trillion proposal last week. It is still smaller than the $2.2 trillion Democrats most recently offered and which Trump rejected on Tuesday.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is set to talk Friday with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin.
Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow told reporters Friday that President Donald Trump had approved a “revised” stimulus package, though he declined to provide details. Kudlow has not been part of negotiations so far, which have largely involved Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and Mnuchin.
Shortly after, Trump tweeted, “Covid Relief Negotiations are moving along. Go Big!”
Stimulus latest: White House to offer $1.8 trillion COVID-19 stimulus plan as Pelosi and Mnuchin negotiate, reports say
Pelosi said on MSNBC Friday she would talk more with Mnuchin as they worked through differences on funding amounts and on policy in the bill. Negotiations have deadlocked over provisions like funding for state and local governments and the dollar amount for a federal unemployment benefit boost. “I do hope we will have an agreement soon,” she said.
The optimism comes three days after Trump abruptly rejected a recent Democratic proposal and saying he wanted to postpone any negotiations until after the November election. Since then, Trump has reversed course, saying he wanted standalone bills to send out stimulus checks and provide relief to airlines.
Any negotiated deal, however, will have to pass through the Republican-controlled Senate, where members have expressed hesitancy at spending trillions of dollars on COVID-19 relief.
At an event in Kentucky Friday, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said it was “unlikely” a stimulus deal would occur before the election.
– NIcholas Wu
House Democrats unveiled legislation Friday to establish rules for presidential succession, citing President Donald Trump's recent COVID-19 diagnosis and the outbreak among top administration officials.
The legislation would set up a 16-member bipartisan commission comprised of doctors and former administration officials to conduct a medical exam of the president and evaluate the fitness of the president for office.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters the process was not directed at Trump and was intended to clarify the procedure for future presidents.
The Democrats' legislation would address a provision of the 25th Amendment to determine that the president is "unable to discharge the powers and duties of his office." Congress has never acted on the provision.
The 25th Amendment, ratified in 1967, lays out a legal mechanism for designating a head of state if the president is disabled or dead and also formalized the line of succession for the vice president to take over if the president dies or resigns.
25th Amendment: Democrats pitch bill on commission on presidential succession, citing Trump's COVID test
– Nicholas Wu
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said Friday he thinks it's unlikely Congress will "rise above" and pass any kind of coronavirus stimulus legislation before the Nov. 3 election.
Congressional leaders in the Republican-controlled Senate and the Democrat-run House of Representatives both say another stimulus package is needed as Americans grapple with the health and economic fallout from the ongoing pandemic, but they've failed to reach a compromise.
But McConnell, while at an event in Kentucky, expressed doubt Congress could reach an agreement before the election.
"I just think the situation's kind of murky, and I think the murkiness is a result of the proximity to the election and everybody kind of trying to elbow for political advantage," he said. "I'd like to see us rise above that like we did back in March and April, but I think that's unlikely in the next three weeks."
– Morgan Watkins (Louisville Courier Journal)
Mitch McConnell: A COVID-19 relief deal is 'unlikely' before Election Day
President Donald Trump said Thursday he may hold rallies this weekend in Florida and Pennsylvania, hours after his physicians said he would be cleared to return to the campaign trail on Saturday.
“I think I’m going to try doing a rally on Saturday night, probably in Florida on Saturday,” the president told Fox News, breaking his answer at one point to clear his throat. “Pennsylvania the following night.”
White House physician Sean Conley said Thursday the president had completed his course of therapy for COVID-19 "as prescribed by his team of physicians" and cleared the president to return to public life on Saturday, 10 days since his diagnosis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines say patients are supposed to quarantine for at least 10 days after the onset of symptoms – in Trump's case, last Thursday.
Earlier on Thursday Trump said he would bow out of the second presidential debate, scheduled for Oct. 15, after the Commission on Presidential Debates said they would hold a virtual debate out of coronavirus safety concerns.
– John Fritze and Courtney Subramanian
A team of militia operatives is charged with conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in a plot in which they considered storming the state Capitol in a commando raid that would use Molotov cocktails to keep police cars at bay, according to newly unsealed court records.
Members of the group bought weapons, conducted surveillance, held training and planning meetings, but they were foiled in part because the FBI infiltrated the group with informants, according to a criminal complaint. Six were charged with federal kidnapping offenses and at least seven others face state charges.
The FBI became aware early in 2020, through social media, that a militia group was "discussing the violent overthrow of certain government and law enforcement components" and "agreed to take violent action," according to a sworn affidavit.
- Paul Egan and Tresa Baldas (Detroit Free Press)
'Deeply disturbing': Feds charge 6 militia members in domestic terror plot to kidnap Whitmer
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Thursday said he hasn't visited the White House in two months because of what he saw as lax coronavirus practices.
"My impression was their approach to how to handle this (pandemic) was different from mine and what I insisted we do in the Senate, which was to wear a mask and practice social distancing,'' McConnell said during an appearance in Northern Kentucky.
McConnell said he maintains regular phone contact with Trump and that the president "seems perfectly fine.''
But McConnell said he doesn't have first-hand knowledge of the president's health condition because he hasn't visited the White House since Aug. 6. McConnell was not at the Sept. 26 event in the Rose Garden announcing Trump's Supreme Court nominee - which may have become a "superspreader" event.
- Randy Tucker (Cincinnati Enquirer)
Mitch McConnell:: Senator says he hasn't visited White House since August because of lax COVID rules
President Donald Trump said Thursday he would not take part in the next presidential debate Oct. 15 with former Vice President Joe Biden after it was moved to a virtual format because of COVID-19 safety concerns.
"I'm not going to waste my time doing a virtual debate," he told Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo, calling it a "joke" and an effort "to protect Biden."
Trump says he won't 'waste my time' on virtual debate President Donald Trump told Fox Business that he won't "waste my time" on a virtual presidential debate. USA TODAY
The Commission on Presidential Debates announced Thursday morning the next debate would be remote to "protect the health and safety of all involved" after Trump's positive COVID-19 diagnosis and the subsequent White House outbreak.
Co-chairman Frank Fahrenkopf said the commission would not host a debate with Biden alone if Trump doesn’t budge. He said the future of the debate rests with Trump: "The ball's in his court."
The Trump campaign later said they want to push the remaining two debates back one week each, an idea Biden's team rejected.
- Nicholas Wu and Joey Garrison
Trump: Trump won't do next debate after it goes virtual; Biden schedules solo town hall in its place


usatoday--2020-10-09--Wichita State investigating men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall for alleged misconduct

Wichita State is conducting an internal investigation of men 's basketball coach Gregg Marshall amid claims of alleged misconduct toward players and other members of the athletic department .
Marshall confirmed the investigation 's existence to The Athletic late Thursday , writing to the outlet in a text message `` I 'm aware the university conducted interviews and I fully participated in the process .
`` I look forward to having it wrapped up as I continue to focus my energy on our team . ''
Less than a week after the Shockers ' season ended in March , a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Udeze , Jamarius Burton , Erik Stevenson , Grant Sherfield , Noah Fernandes and DeAntoni Gordon — announced their decisions to transfer , marking the largest turnover in Marshall 's 13-year tenure at the school .
Five of the players were granted immediate eligibility waivers at their new programs .
“ It wasn ’ t just players — the academic people , the marketing , everybody .
If you had to associate with Wichita State basketball , you got caught in the crossfire , ” one former player told The Athletic .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saw the way he treated my teammates and other people.
” Former Shockers forward Shaq Morris told Stadium that Marshall punched him twice at practice in the 2015-16 season .
The Athletic said that incident came after Marshall perceived a block attempt by Morris as `` dirty . ''
The Athletic also reported other allegations , including Marshall attempting to assault an athlete from a different sport who parked in his parking spot — blocking the athlete 's car and attempting to swipe at him through the driver 's side window — and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was working out the players .
Stadium also reported several instances of racism by Marshall , who made `` howling noises '' and told Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler , a Native American , `` to get back on his horse '' while telling Colombian center Jaime Echenique he would be `` a great coffee bean picker . ''
A different former player told The Athletic Marshall 's conduct has been known for a while , and that he wished somebody told him during his recruitment .
`` For me , it ’ s about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told The Athletic .
`` I wouldn ’ t be telling this if I didn ’ t think it was going to help somebody . ''
The Shockers have made the NCAA Tournament in seven of Marshall 's 13 seasons at the helm , including the 2013 Final Four .
Marshall , 57 , has been at Wichita State since 2007 followed a successful run at Winthrop , where he is the winningest coach in school history .
According to the USA TODAY Sports database , Marshall 's annual salary is $ 3.5 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ non-Power Five coach in the country behind Villanova Wildcats coach Jay Wright .

Wichita State investigating men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall for alleged misconduct
Wichita State is conducting an internal investigation of men's basketball coach Gregg Marshall amid claims of alleged misconduct toward players and other members of the athletic department.
Marshall confirmed the investigation's existence to The Athletic late Thursday, writing to the outlet in a text message "I'm aware the university conducted interviews and I fully participated in the process.
"I look forward to having it wrapped up as I continue to focus my energy on our team."
Less than a week after the Shockers' season ended in March, a walk-on and six scholarship players — Morris Udeze, Jamarius Burton, Erik Stevenson, Grant Sherfield, Noah Fernandes and DeAntoni Gordon — announced their decisions to transfer, marking the largest turnover in Marshall's 13-year tenure at the school. Five of the players were granted immediate eligibility waivers at their new programs.
“It wasn’t just players — the academic people, the marketing, everybody. If you had to associate with Wichita State basketball, you got caught in the crossfire,” one former player told The Athletic. “I lost respect for him because I saw the way he treated my teammates and other people.”
Former Shockers forward Shaq Morris told Stadium that Marshall punched him twice at practice in the 2015-16 season. The Athletic said that incident came after Marshall perceived a block attempt by Morris as "dirty."
The Athletic also reported other allegations, including Marshall attempting to assault an athlete from a different sport who parked in his parking spot — blocking the athlete's car and attempting to swipe at him through the driver's side window — and berating and choking a staff member who was working out the players.
“He’s a maniac, a bully,” a former unnamed assistant told Stadium. “He disrespects people, brings up personal stuff, family, girlfriends.”
Stadium also reported several instances of racism by Marshall, who made "howling noises" and told Isaiah Poor Bear-Chandler, a Native American, "to get back on his horse" while telling Colombian center Jaime Echenique he would be "a great coffee bean picker."
A different former player told The Athletic Marshall's conduct has been known for a while, and that he wished somebody told him during his recruitment.
"For me, it’s about helping the next kid," he told The Athletic. "I wouldn’t be telling this if I didn’t think it was going to help somebody."
The Shockers have made the NCAA tournament in seven of Marshall's 13 seasons at the helm, including the 2013 Final Four. Marshall, 57, has been at Wichita State since 2007 followed a successful run at Winthrop, where he is the winningest coach in school history.
According to the USA TODAY Sports database, Marshall's annual salary is $3.5 million, which makes him the second-highest-paid non-Power Five coach in the country behind Villanova Wildcats coach Jay Wright.
Follow Chris Bumbaca on Twitter @BOOMbaca.


usatoday--2020-10-08--Why are we having such an active hurricane season?

The 2020 hurricane season sent the National Hurricane Center to its backup list for storm names for only the second time in history .
Consider some of the eye-popping events from this year : • Tropical Storm Delta 's formation beat the old record for 25th named storm by more than a month .
• On Sept. 14 , the center ’ s forecasters tracked five storms at once .
• Forecasters named three storms in a single day on Sept. 18 .
The question is , what ’ s causing all this activity ?
Why are we seeing a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ came together this year to create ideal conditions for storm formation .
First , the Atlantic Ocean hurricane basin has been in an active cycle since 1995 .
Since then , 17 of the 25 seasons have been above normal .
Seasons have averaged 15 named storms , with three to four major hurricanes a year .
The cycle , known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation , varies based on sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic .
• a La Nina pattern along the equator off the Pacific coast of South America The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which churned up 27 named storms , including 15 hurricanes and a record seven major hurricanes , with winds of 111 mph or more .
With two months to go until the season 's end on Nov. 30 , this season is at 25 named storms .
If Hurricane Delta 's path leads to the northern Gulf Coast as forecast , it will be the 10th storm to make landfall in the continental U.S. this year .
That would set a new record high , breaking the old one from 1916 .
Hurricanes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ heat machines that make the most powerful storms .
Strong winds high up in the atmosphere - at 30,000 feet or higher — blowing eastward across the Atlantic can shear off the tops of systems and prevent hurricanes from stacking up those cloud formations .
La Nina , however , shifts those atmospheric winds away from the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic , giving hurricanes a more favorable environment to intensify once they get organized .
The African monsoon season is stronger than normal this year .
That means easterly trade winds in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ African easterly jet in the middle atmosphere shifts northward , with weaker easterly winds on its southern flank .
That creates increased spin of the cloud systems as they move off the coast .
The combined effects are more moisture , less stability in the atmosphere and weaker vertical wind shear .
Keep tabs on current storms with our storm tracker

Jennifer Borresen and Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY

The 2020 hurricane season sent the National Hurricane Center to its backup list for storm names for only the second time in history. Consider some of the eye-popping events from this year:
The season saw 30 named storms, 13 of which were hurricanes, 6 of those were major hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or more. 12 making landfall in the U.S. An average season has 12 named storms and six hurricanes, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
On Sept. 14, the center’s forecasters tracked five storms at once.
Forecasters named three storms in a single day on Sept. 18.
The question is, what’s causing all this activity? Why are we seeing a record number of storms?
Ideal conditions
Several factors came together this year to create ideal conditions for storm formation. First, the Atlantic Ocean hurricane basin has been in an active cycle since 1995. Since then, 17 of the 25 seasons have been above normal. Seasons have averaged 12 named storms, with three becoming major hurricanes a year. The cycle, known as the Atlantic Multidecadal Oscillation, varies based on sea surface temperatures in the Atlantic.
Combine the warmer-than-normal ocean temperatures with...
the African coast throwing storms like a pitching machine
a La Nina pattern along the equator off the Pacific coast of South America
The closest season in comparison is 2005, which churned up 28 named storms, the NHC identified an "unnamed" subtropical storm in its post-season analysis that year. 2005 included 15 hurricanes and a record seven major hurricanes, with winds of 111 mph or more.
Wind shear
Hurricanes need towering cloud tops to build the heat machines that make the most powerful storms. Strong winds high up in the atmosphere – at 30,000 feet or higher – blowing eastward across the Atlantic can shear off the tops of systems and prevent hurricanes from stacking up those cloud formations. La Nina, however, shifts those atmospheric winds away from the Caribbean Sea and tropical Atlantic, giving hurricanes a more favorable environment to intensify once they get organized.
African monsoons
The African monsoon season has been stronger than normal this year. That means easterly trade winds in the lower atmosphere become southwesterly and the African easterly jet in the middle atmosphere shifts northward, with weaker easterly winds on its southern flank. That creates increased spin of the cloud systems as they move off the coast. The combined effects are more moisture, less stability in the atmosphere and weaker vertical wind shear.
Keep tabs on current storms with our storm tracker


usatoday--2020-10-09--Is your airline voucher from a canceled trip about to expire? Here's what to do

When Liza Schejtman-Bach could n't use her flight credits , she thought she would lose them .
She 'd planned a family trip to Malaga , Spain , earlier this year .
Then the pandemic hit , and her airline offered flight vouchers instead of a refund .
`` I wo n't be traveling anytime soon , '' says Schejtman-Bach , a state employee who lives in Hackensack , New Jersey , and has an autoimmune disorder that puts her at higher risk if she contracts COVID-19 .
Her problem may soon become your problem .
At the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ travelers accepted ticket credits instead of refunds .
But those vouchers will expire before long , leaving them with worthless scrip .
And the airline gets to keep their money .
`` This is a tough one , '' says Jeff Klee , CEO of Qtrip.com .
Typically , passengers could get full refunds only if the airline canceled their flights , he says .
Travelers who canceled before the airline did had to accept a credit – an expiring credit .
After a two-month fight , Schejtman-Bach disputed the charges on her @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But not everyone is so lucky .
It turns out there are three flavors of ticket credits , each with its own rules and refund options .
Time is running out to use these vouchers , and that 's particularly true if your airline goes out of business .
Fortunately , there are ways to get your money back now .
How airlines are trying to keep your money If you canceled your flight , here are some of the options that airlines offered : An expiring one- or two-year credit .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ or 24 months to passengers who canceled their flights .
But some discount carriers offered credits that disappeared after just a few months .
Last February , Robert Johnson booked a flight on Spirit Airlines from Baltimore to Orlando , Florida , for spring break .
But his departure date in April fell into a gray area .
It was unsafe to travel , but airlines had n't started canceling their flights .
So Johnson , a computer security specialist who lives in the Washington , D.C. , suburbs , canceled the flight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ credits .
His Spirit credits expired in September , but because the pandemic lingered , he could n't use them .
He contacted the airline , which extended his credit through next May .
Johnson says he 'd prefer a refund and has seen online that some passengers have received refunds by texting the airline .
A ticket credit with an option for a refund .
Other airlines offered a credit that can be converted into a full refund after a year .
Ilse Dumont 's flight from Madrid to Brussels on Tui @ @ @ @ @ @ @ canceled during the pandemic .
The airline offered a one-year credit , which could be turned into a refund after 12 months .
`` We wo n't be able to use the credit within a year , '' says Dumont , a culinary blogger who was living in China at the time .
`` It 's a little bit annoying because we have to follow up and really don ’ t know what will happen then . ''
A credit that can be turned into points .
Southwest Airlines has offered its customers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ expire .
Sandra Tobolic wondered what to do with that offer .
She had $ 333 in Southwest credits after she canceled a recent flight .
The airline offered to convert it to 26,050 points , a rate of a little more than one cent per point .
`` Is that a good deal ? ''
asked Tobolic , who lives in Plainfield , Illinois .
Short answer : Yes .
Airlines value their points or miles at about one cent .
But it 's a qualified `` yes . ''
If she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's gone for good .
Is time running out for ticket credits ?
Travelers may fear they made a terrible mistake in accepting ticket credits when they could have taken a refund .
By taking miles or a voucher that expires , they 're committing to flying on an airline .
And what if they ca n't ?
Or , what if the airline ca n't fly them ?
As the pandemic drags on and the airline industry receives no more meaningful federal bailout money , one or two bankruptcies are a possibility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that happens , then the ticket credits will fly away , leaving tens of thousands of passengers holding worthless airline scrip .
Even if you get your credit , can you use it the way you want to ?
Dan Presser , the owner of FourWinds Travel in Carmel , California , says maybe not .
One of his clients tried to redeem his travel credits on Delta Air Lines for a flight from San Jose to Atlanta .
True to its promise , the airline did n't charge any change fees or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the cost of the new ticket , '' says Presser .
`` The base fare went up over a grand .
My client went ballistic . ''
For a variety of reasons , air travelers are fretting about their ticket credits now .
They should .
Airlines prodded their passengers into accepting vouchers after the pandemic , often making us think they were generous by offering the credit .
But they were actually helping themselves .
And now , with time running out on some of these vouchers , they 're about to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make your money disappear forever .
Give them back their money : DOT warns airlines – again – to issue refunds for canceled flights after receiving 25,000 complaints How to turn your ticket credit into a refund Reality check : Once you accept a credit from an airline , it 's almost impossible to get a full refund .
But it 's not entirely impossible .
Here are a few tricks : Ask for a refund .
Airlines understand that some passengers wo n't ever be able to use the credit .
If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ air travel , present it to the airline in a brief , polite email .
Include any necessary documentation .
Agents can waive rules on a case-by-case basis .
I snagged an airline refund amid the pandemic : Here 's how to get one if you 're eligible Cite the rules .
If you accepted a ticket credit after an airline canceled your flight , you might have some recourse .
The U.S. Department of Transportation ( DOT ) requires an airline to offer a refund when it cancels your flight .
Ask @ @ @ @ @ @ @ does n't , complain to the DOT .
Dispute your credit card charges .
Under the Fair Credit Billing Act , you have the right to file a chargeback for a product purchased but not delivered .
If an airline pushed you into accepting a ticket credit for a canceled flight , you might have a strong case .
Airline cancel your flight due to coronavirus crisis ?
You 're still due a refund , DOT says

Christopher Elliott, Special to USA TODAY

Is your airline voucher from a canceled trip about to expire? Here's what to do
Show Caption Hide Caption Guide to get flights refunded when airlines cancel on you The DOT warning comes as travelers have blasted United and other airlines skirting its policies on cash refunds for canceled flights. USA TODAY
When Liza Schejtman-Bach couldn't use her flight credits, she thought she would lose them. She'd planned a family trip to Malaga, Spain, earlier this year. Then the pandemic hit, and her airline offered flight vouchers instead of a refund.
"I won't be traveling anytime soon," says Schejtman-Bach, a state employee who lives in Hackensack, New Jersey, and has an autoimmune disorder that puts her at higher risk if she contracts COVID-19.
Her problem may soon become your problem. At the start of the pandemic, a lot of air travelers accepted ticket credits instead of refunds. But those vouchers will expire before long, leaving them with worthless scrip. And the airline gets to keep their money.
"This is a tough one," says Jeff Klee, CEO of Qtrip.com. Typically, passengers could get full refunds only if the airline canceled their flights, he says. Travelers who canceled before the airline did had to accept a credit – an expiring credit.
After a two-month fight, Schejtman-Bach disputed the charges on her credit card and received a full refund. But not everyone is so lucky. It turns out there are three flavors of ticket credits, each with its own rules and refund options.
Time is running out to use these vouchers, and that's particularly true if your airline goes out of business. Fortunately, there are ways to get your money back now.
How airlines are trying to keep your money
If you canceled your flight, here are some of the options that airlines offered:
An expiring one- or two-year credit. Many airlines are offering credits for 12 or 24 months to passengers who canceled their flights. But some discount carriers offered credits that disappeared after just a few months.
Last February, Robert Johnson booked a flight on Spirit Airlines from Baltimore to Orlando, Florida, for spring break. But his departure date in April fell into a gray area. It was unsafe to travel, but airlines hadn't started canceling their flights. So Johnson, a computer security specialist who lives in the Washington, D.C., suburbs, canceled the flight himself and accepted $743 in ticket credits.
His Spirit credits expired in September, but because the pandemic lingered, he couldn't use them. He contacted the airline, which extended his credit through next May.
Johnson says he'd prefer a refund and has seen online that some passengers have received refunds by texting the airline.
A ticket credit with an option for a refund. Other airlines offered a credit that can be converted into a full refund after a year.
Ilse Dumont's flight from Madrid to Brussels on Tui, a regional European carrier, was canceled during the pandemic. The airline offered a one-year credit, which could be turned into a refund after 12 months.
"We won't be able to use the credit within a year," says Dumont, a culinary blogger who was living in China at the time. "It's a little bit annoying because we have to follow up and really don’t know what will happen then."
A credit that can be turned into points. Southwest Airlines has offered its customers that choice. Its points do not expire.
Sandra Tobolic wondered what to do with that offer. She had $333 in Southwest credits after she canceled a recent flight. The airline offered to convert it to 26,050 points, a rate of a little more than one cent per point.
"Is that a good deal?" asked Tobolic, who lives in Plainfield, Illinois. Short answer: Yes. Airlines value their points or miles at about one cent. But it's a qualified "yes." If she never uses the points, the money's gone for good.
Is time running out for ticket credits?
Travelers may fear they made a terrible mistake in accepting ticket credits when they could have taken a refund. By taking miles or a voucher that expires, they're committing to flying on an airline. And what if they can't?
Or, what if the airline can't fly them? As the pandemic drags on and the airline industry receives no more meaningful federal bailout money, one or two bankruptcies are a possibility. So is airline insolvency. If that happens, then the ticket credits will fly away, leaving tens of thousands of passengers holding worthless airline scrip.
Even if you get your credit, can you use it the way you want to? Dan Presser, the owner of FourWinds Travel in Carmel, California, says maybe not. One of his clients tried to redeem his travel credits on Delta Air Lines for a flight from San Jose to Atlanta. True to its promise, the airline didn't charge any change fees or penalties.
"What did change was the cost of the new ticket," says Presser. "The base fare went up over a grand. My client went ballistic."
For a variety of reasons, air travelers are fretting about their ticket credits now. They should. Airlines prodded their passengers into accepting vouchers after the pandemic, often making us think they were generous by offering the credit. But they were actually helping themselves. And now, with time running out on some of these vouchers, they're about to pull the ultimate airline trick – and make your money disappear forever.
Give them back their money: DOT warns airlines – again – to issue refunds for canceled flights after receiving 25,000 complaints
How to turn your ticket credit into a refund
Reality check: Once you accept a credit from an airline, it's almost impossible to get a full refund. But it's not entirely impossible. Here are a few tricks:
Ask for a refund. Airlines understand that some passengers won't ever be able to use the credit. If you have a medical reason for avoiding air travel, present it to the airline in a brief, polite email. Include any necessary documentation. Agents can waive rules on a case-by-case basis.
I snagged an airline refund amid the pandemic: Here's how to get one if you're eligible
Cite the rules. If you accepted a ticket credit after an airline canceled your flight, you might have some recourse. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) requires an airline to offer a refund when it cancels your flight. Ask for your money back. If it doesn't, complain to the DOT.
Dispute your credit card charges. Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, you have the right to file a chargeback for a product purchased but not delivered. If an airline pushed you into accepting a ticket credit for a canceled flight, you might have a strong case.
Airline cancel your flight due to coronavirus crisis? You're still due a refund, DOT says


usatoday--2020-10-09--Sure, that fly landed on Mike Pence's head. That's nothing compared to what flying pests have done a

When a fly landed on Vice President Mike Pence 's head during the vice presidential debate on Wednesday night , the internet had a field day , as did Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden 's campaign , which sold out of `` Truth Over Flies '' fly swatters on Thursday .
But this certainly is n't the only instance when a flying pest has caused a distraction .
In the world of sports , it 's actually somewhat commonplace .
From Manu Ginobili to a swarm of bees to a parrot on the field ( !
?
! )
, @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many , often ridiculous , instances that flying pests stole the spotlight during sports events : Part animal interference , part fan ridiculousness , this feathered fowl was thrown onto the ice during a 1988 NHL game between the Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens .
The man who threw the bird apparently `` wasn ’ t happy with how the Kings were playing , '' and was promptly arrested , luckily .
Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain will want to forget how this night went .
Late in the eight inning in Game @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Yankees and Indians , bugs — specifically midge flies — swarmed the pitcher 's head and face .
It 's clear that the pesky pests affected his night — and ultimately the series — as Cleveland won 2-1 in extra innings that night , eventually winning the series 3-1 .
On Halloween 2009 , the San Antonio Spurs ' Argentine superstar Manu Ginoboli did the unthinkable and swatted a bat right out of the air and handled it bare-handed .
Maybe it was n't the best idea as he had to get a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arena have become something of a fixture at AT & T Center , with the Spurs mascot The Coyote donning a Batman costume and chasing down bats with a net .
Something about bees invading baseball games just feels so redundant now .
This double entry shows how the buzzy bugs swarmed the remote-controlled home plate camera during a Angels-Orioles game in 2013 .
Then , a year later bees invaded a game between the Red Sox and Yankees .
However , the fact that New York 's Mark Teixeira taunted the bees @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this invasion worth the delay the bees caused .
This 2015 Wimbledon match between Novak Djokovic and Philipp Kohlschreiber saw a tiny sparrow land the best seat in the house to witness the Serbian advance that day .
Djokovic joked that the bird `` came all the way from Belgrade to help me . ''
It worked .
This blue-and-yellow macaw landed on the head of Brazilian defender Bruna Benites during a national team practice match in September .
Benites used the opportunity to post on her Instagram about Brazil 's Pantanal wetland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for weeks , and how it 's destroying the animal 's habitat .
`` Let 's take care of our biggest heritage which is nature , '' Benites wrote .
This little owl brought its dinner to the match between Inter Miami and the New York Red Bulls , though it did n't seem to impact the game or cause any delays .
New York , however , adopted it as its `` Rally Owl '' on Twitter as the Red Bulls won 4-1 .
They , of course , found the perfect @ @ @ @ @ @

Sure, that fly landed on Mike Pence's head. That's nothing compared to what flying pests have done at sporting events
Show Caption Hide Caption VP debate: Fly lands on Vice President Pence's head Many viewers were quick to send tweets, with some joking that the fly should get time to respond to the questions. USA TODAY
When a fly landed on Vice President Mike Pence's head during the vice presidential debate on Wednesday night, the internet had a field day, as did Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden's campaign, which sold out of "Truth Over Flies" fly swatters on Thursday.
But this certainly isn't the only instance when a flying pest has caused a distraction. In the world of sports, it's actually somewhat commonplace.
From Manu Ginobili to a swarm of bees to a parrot on the field (!?!), here we take a look at the many, often ridiculous, instances that flying pests stole the spotlight during sports events:
Chicken on the Ice
Part animal interference, part fan ridiculousness, this feathered fowl was thrown onto the ice during a 1988 NHL game between the Los Angeles Kings and Montreal Canadiens.
The man who threw the bird apparently "wasn’t happy with how the Kings were playing," and was promptly arrested, luckily.
"Bug Game" ALDS 2007
Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain will want to forget how this night went. Late in the eight inning in Game 2 of the 2007 ALDS between the Yankees and Indians, bugs — specifically midge flies — swarmed the pitcher's head and face.
It's clear that the pesky pests affected his night — and ultimately the series — as Cleveland won 2-1 in extra innings that night, eventually winning the series 3-1.
Manu > bat
On Halloween 2009, the San Antonio Spurs' Argentine superstar Manu Ginoboli did the unthinkable and swatted a bat right out of the air and handled it bare-handed. Maybe it wasn't the best idea as he had to get a rabies shot afterward.
Bats invading the arena have become something of a fixture at AT&T Center, with the Spurs mascot The Coyote donning a Batman costume and chasing down bats with a net.
Beware the bees
Something about bees invading baseball games just feels so redundant now. This double entry shows how the buzzy bugs swarmed the remote-controlled home plate camera during a Angels-Orioles game in 2013.
Then, a year later bees invaded a game between the Red Sox and Yankees. However, the fact that New York's Mark Teixeira taunted the bees with two full bottles of honey makes this invasion worth the delay the bees caused.
Djokovic's lucky wings
This 2015 Wimbledon match between Novak Djokovic and Philipp Kohlschreiber saw a tiny sparrow land the best seat in the house to witness the Serbian advance that day.
Djokovic joked that the bird "came all the way from Belgrade to help me." It worked.
Soccer macaw-mania
This blue-and-yellow macaw landed on the head of Brazilian defender Bruna Benites during a national team practice match in September.
Benites used the opportunity to post on her Instagram about Brazil's Pantanal wetland, which has been engulfed in wildfire for weeks, and how it's destroying the animal's habitat.
"Let's take care of our biggest heritage which is nature," Benites wrote.
New York's "Rally Owl"
This little owl brought its dinner to the match between Inter Miami and the New York Red Bulls, though it didn't seem to impact the game or cause any delays.
New York, however, adopted it as its "Rally Owl" on Twitter as the Red Bulls won 4-1. They, of course, found the perfect use of the owl moment.


usatoday--2020-10-09--COVID-19 and health care have dominated the debates. But what about other key issues?

WASHINGTON – The coronavirus pandemic is at the top of mind for many voters , and it has been one of the main topics at both the first presidential debate and the only vice presidential debate this year .
But a slew of key issues have been left out of the conversation as absentee voting , COVID-19 , health care and the pending Supreme Court faceoff have dominated the news .
Here are some topics that haven ’ t been brought up or really discussed at the debates thus far : Trump ’ s hard-line immigration policies have been controversial @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Trump ’ s administration : used a family separation policy along the U.S.-Mexico border , which has since been halted but continues in isolated cases ; faced criticisms over conditions for migrants at the border ; enacted a travel ban for mostly Muslim-majority countries ; and most recently slashed the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S. Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden also has taken heat from immigration activists who have criticized the Obama administration ’ s deportation policies and history .
Both candidates , and their running mates Mike @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to discuss any of those issues on the debate stage .
Susan Page , USA TODAY 's Washington Bureau chief and moderator of Wednesday 's vice presidential debate , said she had to cut a planned segment on immigration due to time constraints .
The lack of discussion on the topic did n't go unnoticed by experts online .
Jacob Soboroff , an NBC News correspondent who covered immigration and border separations and author of `` Separated : Inside an American Tragedy , '' wrote on Twitter : `` The Trump administration systematically @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at the border knowing it would traumatize them for life , and there has n't been a single question about it – nor any question about immigration policy – at either of the first two debates . ''
Mass shootings have plagued the United States for years , and the country has seen several occur in the past few years .
That includes Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland , Florida , in 2018 that left 17 dead and the El Paso Walmart shooting in 2019 .
One of the Democratic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the El Paso shooting , where a white gunman drove to the border city in Texas with the intent to shoot Latinos .
Twenty three people died and another 23 were injured .
But gun control has not been discussed in the general election debates .
Neither have gun rights issues .
Last year , the United States saw more than 400 mass shootings in the U.S. , according to data from the group , Gun Violence Archive .
This year has also seen a high number of people who have died from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the deadliest year for gun related homicides .
Pence has been criticized by many on the left for his record on issues specific to the LGBTQ community .
But the vice president didn ’ t address any of those issues at Wednesday ’ s debate .
While governor of Indiana , Pence signed the into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act , which was modeled after the 1993 federal law .
Critics have said it could be used to discriminate against the gay and lesbian communities .
Pence during his dozen years in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banning gay marriage , opposed measures to protect gay men and lesbians from discrimination in the workplace and opposed expanding the definition of hate crimes to cover offenses based on a victim ’ s sexual orientation or gender identity .
Harris has previously introduced the `` Do No Harm '' legislation to amend the federal religious freedom act , saying it ’ s been used to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals , women and children in the guise of protecting freedom of religion .
Harris has also been previously criticized for legal briefs she @ @ @ @ @ @ @ denied gender reassignment surgery for transgender inmates .
She has since said she takes `` full responsibility '' for the legal briefs , according to the Washington Blade .
Sarah Kate Ellis , CEO and president of GLAAD , criticized the vice presidential debate for not bring up issues important to the LGBTQ community .
“ This is the fourth missed chance in a nationally-televised forum of the general election to address any LGBTQ issues , ” Ellis wrote in a tweet .
“ VP Pence should have been called to account for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ attacks against the LGBTQ community .
# VPDebate ” The two campaigns have yet to debate their stances on education , including their policies related to higher education , school voucher programs and student loan debt .
Throughout the Democratic primary , education was key policy area that each Democratic contender addressed , whether it was touting plans for free college or plans related to lessening the burden of student loan debt .
But voters have n't gotten to see any discussion of those issues on the debate stage with either Trump and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the conversation off the debate stage has shifted to reopening school safely amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Ahead of the fall semester , Trump pushed for schools to reopen , while Biden had criticized the president 's stance and advocated for science-based decisions .
While both Trump and Biden have talked about criminal justice reform on the campaign trail , where they stand on drug policy has n't been a large part of the conversation either on the debate stage or off .
Hundreds of people , particularly people of color and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and are still in jail for selling marijuana , while a growing number of states have legalized the drug at a recreational or medicinal level , or both .
Biden has previously said he supports decriminalizing marijuana but has not supported legalization .
Trump has n't been as clear about where he stands on legalizing marijuana .
Last year when asked whether his administration would legalize marijuana federally , Trump said right now , his team is letting state 's decide .
Trump over the past several weeks has said he 's saving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ comment , which is part of his campaign message touting himself as the president of `` law and order , '' has largely been seen as a dog-whistle related to race .
While suburbs in general are becoming more diverse , they for years have been largely white at least in part due to policies that have kept Black Americans out .
The coronavirus pandemic , which has caused a recession , has also created a housing crisis , where home prices are surging and many Americans are facing eviction after losing jobs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of affordable housing has not been discussed further on the debate stage .
Biden has released a comprehensive housing policy plan .
In the plan , Biden said $ 100 billion would be put into an `` Affordable Housing Fund , '' with $ 65 billion of that funding being put to `` new incentives for state housing authorities and the Indian Housing Block Grant program to construct or rehabilitate low-cost , efficient , resilient , and accessible housing in areas where affordable housing is in short supply . ''

COVID-19 and health care have dominated the debates. But what about other key issues?
WASHINGTON – The coronavirus pandemic is at the top of mind for many voters, and it has been one of the main topics at both the first presidential debate and the only vice presidential debate this year.
But a slew of key issues have been left out of the conversation as absentee voting, COVID-19, health care and the pending Supreme Court faceoff have dominated the news.
Here are some topics that haven’t been brought up or really discussed at the debates thus far:
Immigration and border policies
Trump’s hard-line immigration policies have been controversial throughout his presidency.
Throughout his tenure, Trump’s administration: used a family separation policy along the U.S.-Mexico border, which has since been halted but continues in isolated cases; faced criticisms over conditions for migrants at the border; enacted a travel ban for mostly Muslim-majority countries; and most recently slashed the number of refugees allowed to resettle in the U.S.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden also has taken heat from immigration activists who have criticized the Obama administration’s deportation policies and history.
Both candidates, and their running mates Mike Pence and Kamala Harris, have yet to discuss any of those issues on the debate stage.
Susan Page, USA TODAY's Washington Bureau chief and moderator of Wednesday's vice presidential debate, said she had to cut a planned segment on immigration due to time constraints.
The lack of discussion on the topic didn't go unnoticed by experts online.
Jacob Soboroff, an NBC News correspondent who covered immigration and border separations and author of "Separated: Inside an American Tragedy," wrote on Twitter: "The Trump administration systematically took over 5,500 kids from their parents at the border knowing it would traumatize them for life, and there hasn't been a single question about it – nor any question about immigration policy – at either of the first two debates."
US voters agree first debate not 'presidential' American voters on both sides of the isle agree the chaotic nature of the first 2020 presidential debate muddled the messages from President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden. (Sept. 30) AP
Guns violence and gun rights
Mass shootings have plagued the United States for years, and the country has seen several occur in the past few years. That includes Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, in 2018 that left 17 dead and the El Paso Walmart shooting in 2019.
One of the Democratic primary debates was held just weeks after the El Paso shooting, where a white gunman drove to the border city in Texas with the intent to shoot Latinos. Twenty three people died and another 23 were injured.
But gun control has not been discussed in the general election debates. Neither have gun rights issues.
Last year, the United States saw more than 400 mass shootings in the U.S., according to data from the group, Gun Violence Archive. This year has also seen a high number of people who have died from gun violence, and will likely be the deadliest year for gun related homicides.
Issues specific to LGBTQ community
Pence has been criticized by many on the left for his record on issues specific to the LGBTQ community.
But the vice president didn’t address any of those issues at Wednesday’s debate.
While governor of Indiana, Pence signed the into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was modeled after the 1993 federal law. Critics have said it could be used to discriminate against the gay and lesbian communities.
Pence during his dozen years in Congress also advocated for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, opposed measures to protect gay men and lesbians from discrimination in the workplace and opposed expanding the definition of hate crimes to cover offenses based on a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity.
Harris has previously introduced the "Do No Harm" legislation to amend the federal religious freedom act, saying it’s been used to discriminate against LGBTQ individuals, women and children in the guise of protecting freedom of religion.
Harris has also been previously criticized for legal briefs she wrote as California attorney general where she denied gender reassignment surgery for transgender inmates. She has since said she takes "full responsibility" for the legal briefs, according to the Washington Blade.
Sarah Kate Ellis, CEO and president of GLAAD, criticized the vice presidential debate for not bring up issues important to the LGBTQ community.
“This is the fourth missed chance in a nationally-televised forum of the general election to address any LGBTQ issues,” Ellis wrote in a tweet. “VP Pence should have been called to account for his role in the administration's 181 attacks against the LGBTQ community. #VPDebate”
This is the fourth missed chance in a nationally-televised forum of the general election to address any LGBTQ issues. VP Pence should have been called to account for his role in the administration's 181 attacks against the LGBTQ community. #VPDebate — Sarah Kate Ellis (@sarahkateellis) October 8, 2020
Education
The two campaigns have yet to debate their stances on education, including their policies related to higher education, school voucher programs and student loan debt.
Throughout the Democratic primary, education was key policy area that each Democratic contender addressed, whether it was touting plans for free college or plans related to lessening the burden of student loan debt.
But voters haven't gotten to see any discussion of those issues on the debate stage with either Trump and Biden or Harris and Pence.
Instead, the conversation off the debate stage has shifted to reopening school safely amid the coronavirus pandemic. Ahead of the fall semester, Trump pushed for schools to reopen, while Biden had criticized the president's stance and advocated for science-based decisions.
Marijuana legalization and drug policy
While both Trump and Biden have talked about criminal justice reform on the campaign trail, where they stand on drug policy hasn't been a large part of the conversation either on the debate stage or off.
Hundreds of people, particularly people of color and especially Black men, have been convicted and are still in jail for selling marijuana, while a growing number of states have legalized the drug at a recreational or medicinal level, or both.
Biden has previously said he supports decriminalizing marijuana but has not supported legalization. Trump hasn't been as clear about where he stands on legalizing marijuana. Last year when asked whether his administration would legalize marijuana federally, Trump said right now, his team is letting state's decide.
Affordable housing
Trump over the past several weeks has said he's saving the suburbs from low-income housing.
The comment, which is part of his campaign message touting himself as the president of "law and order," has largely been seen as a dog-whistle related to race. While suburbs in general are becoming more diverse, they for years have been largely white at least in part due to policies that have kept Black Americans out.
The coronavirus pandemic, which has caused a recession, has also created a housing crisis, where home prices are surging and many Americans are facing eviction after losing jobs amid the pandemic.
But the topic of affordable housing has not been discussed further on the debate stage.
Biden has released a comprehensive housing policy plan. In the plan, Biden said $100 billion would be put into an "Affordable Housing Fund," with $65 billion of that funding being put to "new incentives for state housing authorities and the Indian Housing Block Grant program to construct or rehabilitate low-cost, efficient, resilient, and accessible housing in areas where affordable housing is in short supply."
Contributing: Maureen Groppe


usatoday--2020-10-09--The Supreme Court is helping Republicans suppress voters. Time to add a few more justices.

While America has no history of significant voter fraud , unnecessary restrictions on voting have defined the limits of our democracy since the nation ’ s founding .
Today , the Supreme Court is the greatest force for voter suppression in America and the Republican Party ’ s best and possibly only hope , for remaining a national party .
Monday ’ s ruling requiring that absentee ballots in South Carolina be signed by a witness , even in the midst of the worst pandemic of the century , is just another reminder that Republican-appointed members of the court have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ all three branches of government , regardless of what voters want .
Oppressive requirements on voting are a solution in search of a problem — unless you consider Republicans not being able to compete in fair elections a problem .
George W. Bush ’ s Department of Justice spent five years looking for voting fraud and instead found “ virtually no evidence of any organized effort to skew federal elections , ” the New York Times reported in 2007 .
But all the proof the GOP really needed that voting is too easy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that propelled Barack Obama into the presidency .
On board with making it harder to vote In the last decade Republicans have shamelessly pursued an agenda to make it more difficult to vote , while making it far easier to buy elections with anonymous , unlimited donations .
And their greatest allies have been the members of the Supreme Court appointed by Republican presidents .
“ Our country has changed , ” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the 2013 decision that gutted the Voting Rights Act , ending the mere 48 years @ @ @ @ @ @ @ protected by the force of law .
“ While any racial discrimination in voting is too much , Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions.
” Since 2013 , the court has freed up states like Texas , which already has Jim Crow-era voting registration laws , to enact transparently suppressive voter ID laws that allow gun licenses as identification , but not but not student IDs .
But even these restrictions aren ’ t enough for Texas Republicans determined to keep picking their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
If you need proof that Lone Star State Republicans are shaking in their boots in fear of the long-dreaded prospect that their state will follow in California ’ s bright blue footsteps , don ’ t look at the tightening polls .
Look at Governor Greg Abbott ’ s order limiting Texas mail-in ballot collection locations to one per county .
As Rep. Lloyd Doggett , D-Texas , put it , `` This sabotage is not about election security ; it is about Republican political insecurity . ''
His county , including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Harris County , home of Houston , had 12 .
The burden of having to drive further and wait longer in line to turn in a ballot during a pandemic could be enough to save Republicans ’ state House majority or , possibly , keep Trump from losing the state that delivered him the most electoral votes in 2016 .
At least , that ’ s the plan .
Abbott ’ s desperate gambit is precisely the sort of suppressive electoral change the pre-clearance power of the Voting Rights Act was designed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ impossible to calculate the damage this one decision by the court has done to our democracy while handing the GOP power it could never have won in fair elections .
The year after the Supreme Court 's Shelby v. Holder decision crushed the Voting Rights Act saw the lowest turnout of any midterm election since World War II .
Coincidentally .
And the very next presidential election saw an Electoral College victory for Trump , a man whose career as a Republican politician began with him questioning the citizenship of the first black @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Republicans aren ’ t even hiding their disdain for democracy .
Sen. Lindsey Graham has openly called for Amy Coney Barrett to be confirmed to the Supreme Court before Election Day so the Supreme Court can “ decide ” the election .
Forget the unfairness of the Electoral College that will swipe the election from the candidate who got millions more votes .
The argument here is that the court should pick the president .
Nothing would obliterate the legitimacy of this court faster than another Bush v. Gore-style robbery in plain sight @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help of three justices picked by a president who has no hope of ever winning the popular vote .
4 former DHS secretaries : Our election systems are safe and our democracy is strong A new poll finds that 74 % of voters want the Senate to work on COVID-19 relief before confirming a justice Trump hopes will both deliver him the election and kill the Affordable Care Act .
So this confirmation alone may be enough to destroy any faith in a court and a party that has no faith in democracy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Constitution allows them to confirm a justice now , days before voters pick the next president .
But it also allows Congress to set the size of the court .
And the only way to defeat this small-minded obsession with suppressing democracy would be to expand that mind with a few more justices .
Jason Sattler , a writer based in Ann Arbor , Michigan , is a member of USA TODAY ’ s Board of Contributors and host of `` The GOTMFV Show '' podcast .
Follow him on Twitter : @ @

The Supreme Court is helping Republicans suppress voters. Make it bigger to fix democracy. Nothing would destroy the legitimacy of this court faster than another Bush v. Gore-style robbery perpetrated by Barrett and two other Trump justices.
Show Caption Hide Caption How a Supreme Court justice is nominated, confirmed, and opposed The Supreme Court is a vital component of our democracy. Here's how the process works to nominate, confirm, and oppose a potential justice. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
While America has no history of significant voter fraud, unnecessary restrictions on voting have defined the limits of our democracy since the nation’s founding. Today, the Supreme Court is the greatest force for voter suppression in America and the Republican Party’s best and possibly only hope, for remaining a national party.
Monday’s ruling requiring that absentee ballots in South Carolina be signed by a witness, even in the midst of the worst pandemic of the century, is just another reminder that Republican-appointed members of the court have long adopted the GOP goal of controlling all three branches of government, regardless of what voters want.
Oppressive requirements on voting are a solution in search of a problem — unless you consider Republicans not being able to compete in fair elections a problem. George W. Bush’s Department of Justice spent five years looking for voting fraud and instead found “virtually no evidence of any organized effort to skew federal elections,” the New York Times reported in 2007. But all the proof the GOP really needed that voting is too easy presented itself in the massive multi-racial coalition that propelled Barack Obama into the presidency.
On board with making it harder to vote
In the last decade Republicans have shamelessly pursued an agenda to make it more difficult to vote, while making it far easier to buy elections with anonymous, unlimited donations. And their greatest allies have been the members of the Supreme Court appointed by Republican presidents.
“Our country has changed,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote in the 2013 decision that gutted the Voting Rights Act, ending the mere 48 years when the right to vote was truly protected by the force of law. “While any racial discrimination in voting is too much, Congress must ensure that the legislation it passes to remedy that problem speaks to current conditions.”
Since 2013, the court has freed up states like Texas, which already has Jim Crow-era voting registration laws, to enact transparently suppressive voter ID laws that allow gun licenses as identification, but not but not student IDs.
But even these restrictions aren’t enough for Texas Republicans determined to keep picking their voters rather than letting voters pick them.
If you need proof that Lone Star State Republicans are shaking in their boots in fear of the long-dreaded prospect that their state will follow in California’s bright blue footsteps, don’t look at the tightening polls. Look at Governor Greg Abbott’s order limiting Texas mail-in ballot collection locations to one per county.
As Rep. Lloyd Doggett, D-Texas, put it, "This sabotage is not about election security; it is about Republican political insecurity." His county, including Austin, had four drop-off locations. Harris County, home of Houston, had 12.
The burden of having to drive further and wait longer in line to turn in a ballot during a pandemic could be enough to save Republicans’ state House majority or, possibly, keep Trump from losing the state that delivered him the most electoral votes in 2016.
At least, that’s the plan.
Minority rule: Will Democrats grow backbones amid Trump-Republican rush to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg?
Abbott’s desperate gambit is precisely the sort of suppressive electoral change the pre-clearance power of the Voting Rights Act was designed to prevent. And it’s almost impossible to calculate the damage this one decision by the court has done to our democracy while handing the GOP power it could never have won in fair elections.
The year after the Supreme Court's Shelby v. Holder decision crushed the Voting Rights Act saw the lowest turnout of any midterm election since World War II. Coincidentally. And the very next presidential election saw an Electoral College victory for Trump, a man whose career as a Republican politician began with him questioning the citizenship of the first black president. Coincidentally.
Bush v. Gore II would destroy court
In 2020, Republicans aren’t even hiding their disdain for democracy. Sen. Lindsey Graham has openly called for Amy Coney Barrett to be confirmed to the Supreme Court before Election Day so the Supreme Court can “decide” the election.
Forget the unfairness of the Electoral College that will swipe the election from the candidate who got millions more votes. The argument here is that the court should pick the president.
Nothing would obliterate the legitimacy of this court faster than another Bush v. Gore-style robbery in plain sight, this time carried out with the help of three justices picked by a president who has no hope of ever winning the popular vote.
4 former DHS secretaries: Our election systems are safe and our democracy is strong
A new poll finds that 74% of voters want the Senate to work on COVID-19 relief before confirming a justice Trump hopes will both deliver him the election and kill the Affordable Care Act. So this confirmation alone may be enough to destroy any faith in a court and a party that has no faith in democracy itself.
Republicans may argue that the Constitution allows them to confirm a justice now, days before voters pick the next president. But it also allows Congress to set the size of the court. And the only way to defeat this small-minded obsession with suppressing democracy would be to expand that mind with a few more justices.
Jason Sattler, a writer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a member of USA TODAY’s Board of Contributors and host of "The GOTMFV Show" podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @LOLGOP


usatoday--2020-10-09--15 amazing pet Halloween costumes you need to buy

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed ’ s editors .
Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission .
You really can ’ t go wrong when it comes to choosing a Halloween costume for your fur babies .
Whether you want your animal pal to look funny or scary , we can all agree that whatever you choose , it will be entertaining .
There are dozens of great costumes out there for dogs and cats , but don ’ t fret , pet parents who have other animals as pets such as Guinea pigs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ reptiles—we ’ ve found some cool costumes for you as well .
Need help finding products ?
Sign up for our weekly newsletter .
It ’ s free and you can unsubscribe at any time .
You might think it ’ s too early to even think about the rest of the winter holidays , but that doesn ’ t mean you need to miss an opportunity to dress your dog up as a reindeer .
At the very least you ’ ll get a lot of wear out of it , and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for your holiday cards .
Reviewers say the snood is comfortable , functional , and absolutely adorable on their little pups .
Get the ZooSnoods Reindeer Dog Snood from Etsy for $ 20 2 .
Fall in love with a Wonder Dog ( or Cat ) Unleash your pet ’ s inner Wonder Woman with this cute and festive costume .
It ’ s suitable for both cats and small dogs which makes this the perfect option for those who might have both for pets .
Your pets will be ready to show @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tested and loved this outfit , but recommend sizing down .
Get the Rubie 's Costume Company Wonder Woman from Chewy for $ 11.99 3 .
Dress up like Old Macdonald Picture your pup in these adorable jean overalls .
They come in both yellow and red options , and a range of sizes , perfect for pups of all shapes .
These overalls work perfectly for Halloween , but look just as great if you 're looking to outfit your pup in cute fall clothes for the autumn .
Get the Two-toned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pat for $ 7.99 Why should dog and cat lovers have all the fun during Halloween ?
Your reptile deserves some lovable costumes , too .
If you do n't mind expanding your search a bit , you 'll find that Etsy has plenty of options for your scaly pet .
The costumes are handmade so your pet can get the ideal fit .
This particular set of bunny ears secures around your reptile 's chin and features bendable ears .
And the best part ?
It comes with a fluffy matching tail @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Etsy for $ 16.49 Since we are in the season for our favorite seasonal lattes , it is only natural that we dress our pooch up as our annual anticipated espresso drink .
This incredible costume comes with a full-body outfit and an adorable whipped cream hat .
It 's got a 4-star rating at Walmart and will ship in time for Halloween .
Get the Puppy Latte Pet Halloween costume from Walmart for $ 18.20 No matter the weather , just like delivery workers , your furry pal is your reliable @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this outfit and take a walk to show them off .
This costume has nearly 2,000 reviews on Amazon and works on dogs of nearly any size .
Get the California Costumes Pet Ups Pal Dog Costume Costume from Amazon for $ 21.06 7 .
Let your furry pal be your sidekick You and your furry buddy can play superhero games for Halloween and chase each other around all day .
Have your dog save the day by catching all the toys you have for them .
This costume comes with a body @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an eye mask ( that honestly , they 'll probably want to take off immediately ) .
Get the DC Comics Teen Titans Robin Pet Costume from Amazon for $ 13.40 Watching your dog transform from their adorable self to an adorable doll monster will keep you laughing all day .
If you are looking for a costume that will be a conversational starter , this is the ideal costume for your medium-sized dog .
Reviewers give it a solid 5-star rating , which is n't surprising , since it 's as hilarious @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rubie ’ s Halloween Chucky Pet Costume from PetSmart for $ 19.99 9 .
Let your feline embrace their full jungle potential Let your cat unleash their inner feline majestic nature with this Lion Mane costume .
You don ’ t need to have a big cat to make them feel like they are the king of the jungle .
This simple costume has nearly 1,000 ratings and only features one headpiece , so you do n't have to worry about extra accessories or velcro straps .
Get the OMG Adorables Lion Mane @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 12.99 10 .
Kitty-Up your cat in this cowboy get up Let your cat experience the old days of the west with this awesome cowboy costume .
Kitty-up , cowboy as your cat prances around like a western movie .
This fits on cats of nearly all sizes , as well as smaller puppies and other furry friends .
Just do your best to keep a straight face when you pose for family photos .
Get the Bootique Cowboy Kitty-Up Cat Costume from Petco for $ 10.49 11 .
Dress up your Guinea @ @ @ @ @ @ @ dress up your pet guinea pig as a beautiful parrot ?
If the thought of that makes you laugh , then you should visit this Etsy shop .
This costume has over 1,000 reviews and Guinea pet owners all seem to love it .
It 's hand-stitched and as colorful as a real parrot , making it guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of anyone who sees it .
Get the Guinea Pig Parrot Costume and Parrot head Hat from Etsy for $ 21.95 If you have multiple pets , you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ different outfits every year .
Or better yet , you might want to switch up outfits for your pets .
This dinosaur costume has a long , scaly tail that can fit on both cats and dogs .
We tried it out and could not stop laughing after seeing it on our beloved dog friend , Addy .
Get the Frisco Stegosaurus Dinosaur Dog & Cat Costume from Chewy for $ 23.99 What do you get when you combine a video game fan with a pet turtle ?
A quirky , handmade costume @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , Bowser .
It ’ s the perfect costume choice for the pop culture pet owners .
Bonus : The costume is made to order , so you can provide your own specifications to ensure a perfect fit .
Get the Bowser Turtle/Tortoise Costume from Etsy for $ 12.99 Let ’ s not forget the guinea pigs .
You may have to look a little harder to find smaller costumes at major outlets but if you get lucky , it will be well worth it .
Instantly change your lovable guinea pig to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ love .
Seriously , can you imagine anything better than a very small hot dog running around the house during Halloween ?
Get the Bootique Shrunken Shark Small Animal Costume from Petsmart for $ 6.99 15 .
Style your cat in something sweet You can keep it cute and simple with this colorful Candy Corn costume from Target .
Your cat will look irresistible and delicious with this bright and lively costume .
It holds a solid 5-star rating at Target and does n't require too much effort to put on your cat @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cat lover 's ears .
Get the Candy Corn Ruff Halloween Cat Costume from Target for $ 5.99 The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered .
Follow Reviewed on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram for the latest deals , product reviews , and more .
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time .

15 amazing pet Halloween costumes you need to buy
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
You really can’t go wrong when it comes to choosing a Halloween costume for your fur babies. Whether you want your animal pal to look funny or scary, we can all agree that whatever you choose, it will be entertaining. There are dozens of great costumes out there for dogs and cats, but don’t fret, pet parents who have other animals as pets such as Guinea pigs, bunnies, turtles, and other reptiles—we’ve found some cool costumes for you as well.
Need help finding products? Sign up for our weekly newsletter. It’s free and you can unsubscribe at any time.
1. Turn your dog into a Reindeer
You might think it’s too early to even think about the rest of the winter holidays, but that doesn’t mean you need to miss an opportunity to dress your dog up as a reindeer. At the very least you’ll get a lot of wear out of it, and you’ll have some great pictures for your holiday cards.
Reviewers say the snood is comfortable, functional, and absolutely adorable on their little pups.
Get the ZooSnoods Reindeer Dog Snood from Etsy for $20
2. Fall in love with a Wonder Dog (or Cat)
Unleash your pet’s inner Wonder Woman with this cute and festive costume. It’s suitable for both cats and small dogs which makes this the perfect option for those who might have both for pets. Your pets will be ready to show their world their true identity. We tested and loved this outfit, but recommend sizing down.
Get the Rubie's Costume Company Wonder Woman from Chewy for $11.99
3. Dress up like Old Macdonald
Picture your pup in these adorable jean overalls. They come in both yellow and red options, and a range of sizes, perfect for pups of all shapes. These overalls work perfectly for Halloween, but look just as great if you're looking to outfit your pup in cute fall clothes for the autumn.
Get the Two-toned Striped Hoodie Pet Denim Overalls from Pat Pat for $7.99
4. Give your reptile some bunny ears
Why should dog and cat lovers have all the fun during Halloween? Your reptile deserves some lovable costumes, too. If you don't mind expanding your search a bit, you'll find that Etsy has plenty of options for your scaly pet. The costumes are handmade so your pet can get the ideal fit.
This particular set of bunny ears secures around your reptile's chin and features bendable ears. And the best part? It comes with a fluffy matching tail.
Get the Reptile Floppy Ear Bunny from Etsy for $16.49
5. Transform your pup into puppy latte
Since we are in the season for our favorite seasonal lattes, it is only natural that we dress our pooch up as our annual anticipated espresso drink. This incredible costume comes with a full-body outfit and an adorable whipped cream hat. It's got a 4-star rating at Walmart and will ship in time for Halloween.
Get the Puppy Latte Pet Halloween costume from Walmart for $18.20
6. Transform your large K-9 to a delivery worker
No matter the weather, just like delivery workers, your furry pal is your reliable friend. Dress your dog up with this outfit and take a walk to show them off. This costume has nearly 2,000 reviews on Amazon and works on dogs of nearly any size.
Get the California Costumes Pet Ups Pal Dog Costume Costume from Amazon for $21.06
7. Let your furry pal be your sidekick
You and your furry buddy can play superhero games for Halloween and chase each other around all day. Have your dog save the day by catching all the toys you have for them. This costume comes with a body suit, a cape, and even an eye mask (that honestly, they'll probably want to take off immediately).
Get the DC Comics Teen Titans Robin Pet Costume from Amazon for $13.40
8. Turn your pooch into a nightmare
Watching your dog transform from their adorable self to an adorable doll monster will keep you laughing all day. If you are looking for a costume that will be a conversational starter, this is the ideal costume for your medium-sized dog. Reviewers give it a solid 5-star rating, which isn't surprising, since it's as hilarious as it is scary.
Get the Rubie’s Halloween Chucky Pet Costume from PetSmart for $19.99
9. Let your feline embrace their full jungle potential
Let your cat unleash their inner feline majestic nature with this Lion Mane costume. You don’t need to have a big cat to make them feel like they are the king of the jungle. This simple costume has nearly 1,000 ratings and only features one headpiece, so you don't have to worry about extra accessories or velcro straps.
Get the OMG Adorables Lion Mane Costume for Cat from Amazon for $12.99
10. Kitty-Up your cat in this cowboy get up
Let your cat experience the old days of the west with this awesome cowboy costume. Kitty-up, cowboy as your cat prances around like a western movie. This fits on cats of nearly all sizes, as well as smaller puppies and other furry friends. Just do your best to keep a straight face when you pose for family photos.
Get the Bootique Cowboy Kitty-Up Cat Costume from Petco for $10.49
11. Dress up your Guinea pig as a parrot
How about you dress up your pet guinea pig as a beautiful parrot? If the thought of that makes you laugh, then you should visit this Etsy shop. This costume has over 1,000 reviews and Guinea pet owners all seem to love it. It's hand-stitched and as colorful as a real parrot, making it guaranteed to bring a smile to the face of anyone who sees it.
Get the Guinea Pig Parrot Costume and Parrot head Hat from Etsy for $21.95
12. Give your pets a prehistoric makeover
If you have multiple pets, you probably don’t want to buy different outfits every year. Or better yet, you might want to switch up outfits for your pets. This dinosaur costume has a long, scaly tail that can fit on both cats and dogs. We tried it out and could not stop laughing after seeing it on our beloved dog friend, Addy.
Get the Frisco Stegosaurus Dinosaur Dog & Cat Costume from Chewy for $23.99
13. Make your pet turtle a video game villain
What do you get when you combine a video game fan with a pet turtle? A quirky, handmade costume of Super Mario Bros.’ favorite villain, Bowser. It’s the perfect costume choice for the pop culture pet owners. Bonus: The costume is made to order, so you can provide your own specifications to ensure a perfect fit.
Get the Bowser Turtle/Tortoise Costume from Etsy for $12.99
14. Dress your Guinea pig as a hot dog
Let’s not forget the guinea pigs. You may have to look a little harder to find smaller costumes at major outlets but if you get lucky, it will be well worth it. Instantly change your lovable guinea pig to a lovable hot dog that everyone will love. Seriously, can you imagine anything better than a very small hot dog running around the house during Halloween?
Get the Bootique Shrunken Shark Small Animal Costume from Petsmart for $6.99
15. Style your cat in something sweet
You can keep it cute and simple with this colorful Candy Corn costume from Target. Your cat will look irresistible and delicious with this bright and lively costume. It holds a solid 5-star rating at Target and doesn't require too much effort to put on your cat, which will be music to any cat lover's ears.
Get the Candy Corn Ruff Halloween Cat Costume from Target for $5.99
The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, product reviews, and more.
Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.