Good morning. Soak up a weekly forecast with some 60s on the map.
Congress has until the end of the work week to approve new federal spending or risk a partial government shutdown. Panic isn’t setting in yet with five days to go. House Republicans will attempt to pass what they’re calling a “laddered CR,” short for a continuing resolution and one that would push the problem out in stages. It’s unclear whether the GOP has the votes to approve the plan, which for now leaves out funding for Israel, Ukraine and additional southern border security measures. NPR has a sketch of the proposal that could take on new variations as the week progresses and a Nov. 17 deadline for action approaches.
Former Minneapolis city council and school board member Don Samuels is making another run at Minnesota's 5th Congressional District seat. Yep, that’s the one currently held by Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar, who beat Samuels in a close 2022 DFL primary. MPR’s Mark Zdechlik says Samuels is getting a far earlier start in this race than the last time in which he was able to raise money faster than prior Omar challengers. Samuels told Mark he’s gearing his message toward an “exhausted majority” looking for steady leadership. Omar responded by saying “same old, same old” and predicted voters would stick by her.
If that “exhausted majority” line sounded familiar, it’s because Dean Phillips is also using it in his run for president. The Minnesota Democratic congressman got more national media exposure over the weekend, from CNN to National Public Radio , which tagged along for a Phillips town hall in New Hampshire. The Star Tribune’s Hunter Woodall (who is moving on from his Washington assignment for the paper) wrote about the references Phillips is making to Minnesota political giant Hubert H. Humphrey. The story quotes Humphrey’s son and grandson, who both spoke highly of President Joe Biden.
The counting is done in St. Paul and the result of the city council election is historic: All seven seats will be held by women starting in January. The council is likely to be the youngest and most diverse ever in the Capital City. Returning council member Mitra Jalali intends to seek the council president position.
When the Legislature returns to the Capitol early next year, DFLers plan to introduce a bill that would allow physicians to dispense life-ending medication to certain terminally ill patients. The Star Tribune’s Briana Bierschbach and Reid Forgrave report that Minnesota would join 10 other states with laws to that effect. But the pair writes that the proposal has “united some religious conservatives and Democrats in opposition, as well as disability-rights advocates and some doctors who believe helping end life is antithetical to their mission.”
I jokingly wrote Friday that vegemite sandwiches were awaiting Gov. Tim Walz and his delegation on their now-in-progress Australia trade trip. In fortuitous timing, their visit comes in the centennial year of vegemite. The New York Times had a fascinating story Sunday on the cultural and culinary phenomenon that is vegemite, which is usually made of leftover yeast from local breweries and bakeries and some other ingredients added during fermentation. I’ve never had it, but like many was introduced to the word by the early 1980s Men At Work pop rock hit “Down Under.” The official music video is mesmerizing and goofy, but the unofficial music video is something to behold , too, with a prancing flute player, a front man singing into a golf club, a drummer lifting weights and a bass player fanning himself in one of those fold-up chaise lounges. I digress, but digressions can cleanse the mind. | 
