National

Sneak Peek

Axios Sneak Peek

The Biden re-election campaign's decision to brand the economy under the president's name (Bidenomics) is looking like an early blunder that misread the public's deep pessimism about how things are going on that front.

Why it matters: Despite some encouraging economic trends — unemployment is low, inflation seems to be tamed — polling shows that Americans' overall perception of the economy is sour.

Driving the news: Some prominent Democrats are now openly criticizing the Biden campaign's strategy, arguing that it appears to be in denial of Americans' economic reality.

"We have to do a better job framing this not so much for one person — for the office of the presidency — but for the people," Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) told Politico.

"I've never understood why you would brand an economy in your name when the economy hasn't fully recovered yet," Michael LaRosa, a former spokesman for Jill Biden, told the publication.

"Whatever stories Americans are told about the strength of the economy under President Joe Biden, they are not going to be persuaded to look past the issue of their own living standards," liberal economist James Galbraith wrote.

Zoom in: One of the Biden campaign's first advertisements carried a Reaganesque "Morning in America" vibe, arguing the nation's economy is "leading the world" while crediting the president's agenda for bringing the U.S. back from the brink.

Biden's messaging has been geared toward working-class Americans. He joined the UAW picket line this week in Michigan, and spoke to blue-collar workers in Philadelphia on Labor Day.

Last month, Biden gave a speech on Bidenomics in Prince George's County, Maryland, in which he said: "For the first time in a long time, we've climbed out of our great economic crisis. It's beginning to work for working people."

His campaign ads laud the passage of COVID emergency funds, the bipartisan infrastructure law, the Inflation Reduction Act and funding for semiconductor manufacturing.

But so far, the message isn't resonating — especially among the working-class Americans he's trying to win over. Polling indicates that college-educated voters are generally satisfied with the state of the economy, but voters living paycheck to paycheck are disillusioned.

By the numbers: Only 28% of Americans said they were "very" or "somewhat" satisfied with the state of the economy in a new NBC poll — the lowest level of economic satisfaction in nearly a decade of the network's polling.

Biden's economic approval rating sits at 37%, with 59% of respondents expressing disapproval of his performance.

The NBC survey showed that Republicans hold a whopping 21-point advantage over Democrats on the economy (49%-28%), the largest lead Republicans have held in 32 years.

The poll also shows that Democrats only hold a 2-point edge (36%-34%) on looking out for the middle class, an area in which the party typically holds a significant advantage.

Between the lines: Look beyond the headlines and it's easy to see why so many middle- and working-class Americans are feeling economic pain.

Bloomberg reported this week that Americans outside the wealthiest 20% of the country "have run out of extra savings and now have less cash on hand than they did when the pandemic began," according to a Federal Reserve study on household finances.

Consumers buying new houses or cars are starting to feel the sting of higher interest rates, especially now that some of the savings stored up during the pandemic have been spent.

Gas prices, often the most noticeable economic pain point for consumers, are going up again. The average price of regular unleaded gas is now $3.82 — close to a yearlong high.

What they're saying: "Next year's election is going to be a choice. We're talking about a vision of Bidenomics and his accomplishments, versus the other side who are all united in the same kind of right-wing MAGAnomics agenda like the Trump tax cuts geared to the wealthiest corporations," a Biden campaign adviser told Axios.

Biden advisers also are skeptical of the quality of public polling and point to a pattern of Democrats performing well in lower-turnout, localized special elections this year as a reason not to be overly concerned.

"The economy is in substantially better shape than it was in 2011. Biden's policies are going to continue to make people feel that, and the campaign is doing everything right to make sure voters know that. It's exactly what we did with Obama," former Obama campaign manager Jim Messina told Axios.

Reality check: Democrats still hold a narrow 1-point edge on the congressional generic ballot in the NBC poll — a reminder that the economy isn't the only issue driving voter concerns.

Despite the sizable GOP advantage on the economy, deep antipathy toward former President Trump and broad opposition to GOP-backed abortion restrictions are still damaging to Republicans' prospects.

The bottom line: It's never easy for any incumbent to make the case for re-election when public opinion is so fickle, but it's especially risky to claim victory when the economic battle is still raging.

The Biden campaign's decision to confidently tout its successes over more cautiously acknowledging a long road to recovery is now looking like a tactical error.

Some Democrats fear Bidenomics branding is backfiring

Polling shows that Americans' overall perception of the economy is sour.

Economy

Politics & Policy

Pro Rata

Axios Pro Rata

All eyes will be on the eagerly awaited trial of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, indicted on a litany of fraud charges, which kicks off in New York City on Tuesday.

Why it matters: If convicted, Bankman-Fried could become the biggest venture backed-fraudster, surpassing former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes.

Flashback: Crypto exchange FTX quickly rose to prominence amid the pandemic, becoming one of the largest by trading volume. At the height of its dominance, the platform attracted top investors and grew its valuation to $32 billion by January 2022.

Then, by the first weekend of November 2022, it all quickly unraveled after a liquidity crunch revealed that customer funds were missing.

By December, the exchange had filed for bankruptcy protection, Bankman-Fried had been arrested in the Bahamas and extradited to the U.S., and some of his former lieutenants had agreed to plea deals with prosecutors.

Catch up quick: Bankman-Fried faces seven counts, including wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, conspiracy to commit commodities fraud, and conspiracy to commit money laundering.

Though prosecutors eventually dropped charges of election finance violations because of a mistake during extradition, they later re-added allegations that he had used stolen customer funds for illegal campaign contributions.

Former FTX and Alameda Research executives Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, Nishad Singh and Ryan Salame have pleaded guilty and are likely to testify against Bankman-Fried.

Between the lines: As was the case in Theranos' collapse, investors' due diligence is likely to come under scrutiny during the trial.

Over a few short years, venture firms invested a total of $1.9 billion into FTX, and the company amassed a capped table that included some of Silicon Valley's most respected names.

Yes, but: Even the most successful venture firm in Silicon Valley claims it was conned.

"What gets me is not that we made the investment, it's the year and a half of working relationship after the investment and I still didn't see it — and that's difficult," said Sequoia Capital partner Alfred Lin in January, adding that the firm was "misled" by FTX.

The intrigue: If Bankman-Fried is convicted of defrauding FTX customers, he will stand apart from Holmes' trial. She was found guilty only of duping venture capitalists (though president Sunny Balwani was convicted of patient-related charges).

FTX customers (and critics) have been understandably vocal since the company collapsed, leaving many of them unable to withdraw the assets they had.

The bottom line: Even if Bankman-Fried is convicted of defrauding them, whether they get their money back is a separate question (and literally another legal proceeding). And even then, the damage has long been done. 

A spokesperson for Bankman-Fried declined to comment. 

Sam Bankman-Fried faces his day in court

The former Wunderkind is at the center of the biggest venture-backed fraud case since Theranos.

Photo illustration: Gabriella Turrisi/Axios. Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call Inc. via Getty Images

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

After a record economic expansion, the coronavirus pandemic sent the U.S. economy into a recession as unemployment soared to staggering heights. The country now faces urgent questions about how much stimulus is needed for reeling consumers and businesses, and what a recovery might look like.

Economy & Business

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) wants to remove House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for working across the aisle to stop a government shutdown — but some Democrats are not on board.

Why it matters: As Axios has previously reported, Gaetz will likely need the vast majority of Democrats to vote with him, barring an unprecedented GOP uprising against McCarthy.

Driving the news: Gaetz said during an appearance on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that he planned to file a motion to vacate against McCarthy this week.

McCarthy responded in a CBS News interview that he will “survive,” calling Gaetz’s effort “personal.”

What they’re saying: "I'm not going to follow Matt Gaetz to Peter Luger's Steakhouse,” said Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.), a member of the Progressive Caucus.

Cohen said McCarthy “shouldn't be put out” for putting a bipartisan stopgap funding bill on the floor: “He did the right thing … and I'll definitely vote not to vacate. I expect a good number of Democrats will as well."

"Every time we work together, he loses his mind," Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio) said of Gaetz in a statement, adding: “This is all about TV appearances for him … just let us govern.”

"I see almost no way that Matt gets most of the Dems,” said one senior House Democrat, speaking on the condition of anonymity. “Many will vote present if they don't vote No on [House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’] recommendation.”

Yes, but: Jeffries has so far declined to weigh in on a motion to vacate, and some moderate Democrats who might be inclined to save McCarthy are keeping their powder dry for the moment.

"I'm withholding any comment or speculation until the hypothetical becomes the real," said Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.). "So far, we've seen a lot of hat but no cattle."

“I’m waiting,” said Rep. Jared Moskowitz (D-Fla.).

Many Democrats are expected to follow Jeffries’ lead: “Most will do whatever Hakeem tells us to do,” said the senior House Democrat.

What we're watching: House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.), in a letter to her caucus on Sunday, said if Gaetz introduces the motion "we will have a Caucus wide discussion on how to address the motion to best meet the needs of the American people."

"Please ensure that your schedule remains flexible so that you may be present for these important votes should they occur," she added.

At least one Democrat will likely vote with Gaetz to take down McCarthy: Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.), one of the most left-leaning members of Congress.

Ocasio-Cortez said on “State of the Union” that she would “absolutely” vote for the motion to vacate, calling McCarthy a “very weak speaker” who has “clearly lost control” of the GOP conference.

The other side: "The Speaker has the support of 200 [Republicans] and perhaps more," said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.), a McCarthy ally. "Gaetz has no plan or alternative, other than chaos."

Only one Republican, right-wing Rep. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.), had voiced support for Gaetz's plan.

Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), one of 20 Republicans who rebelled against McCarthy during the speaker election in January, said he has "no comment until I speak directly with Matt and our Republican caucus."

Between the lines: Some top Democrats have floated potentially trying to extract concessions from McCarthy as part of a deal to save him, as Axios previously reported.

But McCarthy has previously rejected the notion that he would seek out Democrats’ votes to save his speakership, and lawmakers in both parties think that a bipartisan win on a motion to vacate could doom him in the long run.

“Next week, if Kevin McCarthy is still the speaker of the House, he will be serving at the pleasure of the Democrats,” Gaetz said on Sunday.

Go deeper: McCarthy sets up GOP showdown after his Saturday surprise

McCarthy sets up GOP showdown after his Saturday surprise

Gaetz’s plan to oust McCarthy meets chilly Dem reception

“I'll definitely vote not to vacate. I expect a good number of Democrats will as well."

Rep. Matt Gaetz. Photo: Nathan Howard/Getty Images.

House Democrats

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) is stepping down from his role in House Democratic leadership after floating a primary challenge to President Biden.

What he’s saying: “My convictions relative to the 2024 presidential race are incongruent with the majority of my caucus, and I felt it appropriate to step aside from elected leadership,” Phillips, the co-chair of the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, told Axios in a statement.

"I celebrate Leader Jeffries for his remarkable and principled leadership, and extend gratitude to my outstanding friends and colleagues for having created space and place for my perspectives," Phillips continued.

"I'll continue to abide by my convictions, place people over politics, and support our shared mission to deliver security, opportunity, and prosperity for all Americans. Onward!"

The backdrop: Phillips, a three-term moderate from the Minneapolis suburbs, began publicly floating a primary challenge against Biden in July and refused to rule out the prospect as recently as last week.

Phillips has pointed to Biden’s age as a serious liability for the president and pointed to polling that suggests many Democrats don’t want him to be the party’s nominee in 2024.

But Phillips has also said he is not “well-positioned” for a run and called for Democrats with a higher national profile to jump into the race against Biden.

What we’re hearing: Phillips’ stance on Biden’s reelection puts him at odds with many in the Democratic caucus and has been the source of internal criticism. 

After House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) told his caucus to stay on message on the government spending fight during a closed-door meeting last week, Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.) stood up and took aim at Phillips.

“There is someone in leadership who is not on message about our president,” Kamlager-Dove said to a round of applause, according to a House Democrat who was present at the meeting.

What's next: Rep. Jake Auchincloss (D-Mass.), a second-term member, is considering a run to replace Phillips at the DPCC, according to a source familiar with his thinking.

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details throughout.

Scoop: Rep. Dean Phillips steps down from Dem leadership

Phillips had called for a primary challenger to President Biden.

Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) on Sept. 29. Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Communicators

Axios Communicators

Taylor Swift isn't just a pop icon anymore; she's the next great American dynasty, singlehandedly steering some of the country's most vaunted brands and institutions.

Why it matters: She already fueled the nation's economy for much of the summer and drove thousands to register to vote. Now, she's a beacon of opportunity — and cash — for both the NFL and Hollywood.

The NFL: Swift was spotted cheering on the Kansas City Chiefs alongside Donna Kelce, mother of Chiefs tight end, Travis Kelce, during last Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears. 

Throughout the broadcast, Fox panned over to Swift nine times throughout the game and social media was abuzz over her attendance.

The NFL flashed images of Swift in their game day graphics throughout the game, released 10 TikToks on the official NFL account — which changed its bio to read  "9/24/23. Taylor was here' — and NFL on Fox even ran an ad capitalizing on her romantic link to Kelce. 

Kelce is also a recipient of the halo effect. In the 24 hours following the game, he gained over 300,000 new social media followers, saw a 400% increase in merchandise sales and his podcast ranked #1 on the Apple charts. 

By the numbers: Her attendance did in fact drive ratings, particularly among young, female viewers

The Chiefs vs. Bears game drew 24.3 million viewers, making it the most-viewed telecast of the week, and female viewership in the key 18-49 demo saw a 63% increase.

What they're saying: "This buzz around Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift isn't just about speculation about their relationship, it's about the Halo Effect at work - where one person's influence boosts the appeal of others around them. Suddenly, football is more than a game; it's a stage for pop culture," said communication expert Molly McPherson.

"It isn't just an academic theory; it's a savvy marketing move. When an All-Pro tight end like Travis Kelce invites Taylor Swift to a game, he's essentially inviting her entire fan base to tune in as well. Swift, Kelce, the NFL, and the Kansas City Chiefs all come out ahead. There was only one loser in Sunday's game, and it was the Chicago Bears."

Box office: With Hollywood mired in the depths of dual labor disputes, this fall's movie slate was looking pretty bare for theaters — until Swift delivered an unexpected jolt with the surprise announcement of her "Eras Tour" film, set for release this month.

Swift and her family directly negotiated a distribution deal with theater chain AMC, leaving out the traditional studio middlemen via an agreement that could upend how concert films are released in the future, per Puck's Matthew Belloni.

The concert film is tracking toward a $100 million opening weekend domestically — and likely much higher, according to Deadline, with one analyst calling it a "unicorn."

Its announcement also forced a last-minute jolt of Hollywood's release calendar, as Blumhouse head Jason Blum moved up the release of the forthcoming "Exorcist" sequel by a week, declaring "#TaylorWins."

The big picture: Swift has so much influence, clout and engagement for a reason. 

She has won over the trust of her fandom — referred to as Swifties — through authentic and direct communication across social media and through fan experiences.

Her penchant for hiding clues and Easter eggs throughout her communiques is so well-known that she took over Google Search to reveal new song titles last month.

Music accolades aside, Swift gained even more respect from her fellow musicians by challenging the way artists were compensated across streaming platforms.

What's next: Swift is expected to attend this week's Chiefs vs Jets game, which could continue to bring more eyeballs, more chatter and more money to the NFL. 

The bottom line: When Taylor Swift gets involved, the only blank space that matters is on the checks that'll inevitably be cashed.

It's Taylor Swift's world and we're just living in it

She already fueled the nation's economy for much of the summer and drove thousands to register to vote. Now, she's a beacon of opportunity — and cash — for both the NFL and Hollywood.

Photo illustration of Taylor Swift holding the Earth.

Photo illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios. Photo: Dave J Hogan/Getty Images

Taylor Swift

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) said on Sunday that he plans to move forward this week with an attempt to oust Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) after the House on Saturday approved a "clean" stopgap funding bill to avert a government shutdown.

Driving the news: "I'll survive," McCarthy said on Sunday during an appearance on CBS' "Face the Nation." "This is personal with Matt." 

McCarthy and Gaetz got in a heated exchange during a Thursday morning conference meeting, with the Florida Republican accusing the speaker of paying influencers to attack him on social media, Axios' Juliegrace Brufke reported at the time.

For weeks, Gaetz has been threatening to introduce a motion to vacate — a mechanism to oust a speaker — if McCarthy were to back a bipartisan stopgap funding bill, which he did on Saturday.

"I do intend to file a motion to vacate against Speaker McCarthy this week," the Republican told CNN's "State of the Union" on Sunday. "I think we need to rip off the band aid. I think we need to move on with new leadership that can be trustworthy."

"Let's get over it, let's start governing," McCarthy said in a dueling appearance. 

The big picture: While Saturday offered a brief glimpse of coordination between the House and Senate, as Axios' Andrew Solender wrote, the two chambers remain far apart on spending levels and policy in the 12 appropriations bills.

What's next: The government is funded at current levels for 45 days, which tees up another showdown just before Thanksgiving.

"I'll survive," McCarthy says about Gaetz's intent to oust him

"This is personal with Matt," the House speaker said about his GOP colleague and chief antagonist.

Matt Gaetz

After entering the weekend without a clear path to avoid a government shutdown, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif) sided with his party's moderates and Democrats to keep the government open.

Why it matters: McCarthy openly dared his party's conservative flank to challenge his leadership. "If somebody wants to make a motion against me, bring it. There has to be an adult in the room," McCarthy said after the vote.

He wasn't mentioning Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) by name, but Gaetz had said he would attempt to oust the California Republican if McCarthy brought a clean stopgap funding bill to the floor.

After the bill passed the House despite 90 GOP "no" votes, Gaetz said McCarthy "violated conference rules." 

The House quickly went to recess until Monday, leaving conservative challengers stewing over any potential recriminations or attempts to remove McCarthy.

What's next: While McCarthy scored a win with moderates, multiple conservative members are angry over the lack of spending cuts and border funding in a stopgap. 

Conservative critics of McCarthy are also frustrated by the speaker’s side deal to bring a standalone bill to provide funding to Ukraine to the floor.  

The intrigue: Two senior Democrat sources said it's unlikely members across the aisle save McCarthy if Gaetz moves forward with a motion to vacate, which can remove the speaker with a majority vote. 

"If somebody wants to make a motion against me, bring it."

Kevin McCarthy

The Supreme Court's new term begins Monday, with major cases on gun rights, the First Amendment and federal regulatory power already on the docket.

Why it matters: After overturning Roe v. Wade, expanding gun rights and handing down a host of other sweeping but controversial decisions over the past few years, the conservative court has another slate of potential blockbuster cases on the docket.

The court will decide in U.S. v. Rahimi whether a law banning people who are subject to restraining orders because of domestic violence from owning firearms violates the Second Amendment.

Details: According to court documents, plaintiff Zackey Rahimi assaulted his girlfriend, then threatened to shoot her if she told anyone. 

A court granted her a restraining order, which meant that Rahimi was prohibited from possessing firearms. He was later suspected of multiple unrelated shootings, and a search of his home turned up two guns. He was arrested. He sued.

The intrigue: The 5th Circuit Court of Appeals — the most conservative appeals court in the country — initially ruled against Rahimi and upheld the firearms ban.

But then, last summer, the Supreme Court handed down a major Second Amendment decision, striking down New York's gun-control laws because, the court said, there was not a long enough tradition to support them.

After that ruling, the 5th Circuit withdrew its decision in Rahimi's case and wrote a new one. 

This time, Rahimi won on the grounds that there isn't a sufficiently long tradition of suspending Second Amendment rights due to domestic violence restraining orders.

What's next: Oral arguments are scheduled for Nov. 7.

The court is set to hear two related cases involving local officials who blocked some of their constituents on social media.

Details: Two members of a San Diego-area school board blocked parents who posted messages on Facebook and Twitter accusing the board of financial impropriety and racism.

According to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, the messages were "were often quite lengthy and were frequently repetitive of other comments." One of the parents posted 126 identical Twitter replies within 10 minutes. The board members eventually blocked the parents.

But those messages, however annoying, were related to the school board, didn't use profanity and didn't threaten violence. 

Therefore, the 9th Circuit ruled, they fell within the bounds of constituents communicating with elected officials — which meant that blocking them violated their First Amendment rights.

Between the lines: The main question here isn't whether government officials, in their official duties, can stop their constituents from speaking to them. That's a pretty straightforward First Amendment violation. Rather, the question is: When is your Facebook page official business, and when is it just your Facebook page?

The court will hear the San Diego case alongside a similar suit involving the city manager in Port Huron, Michigan. He did not have an "official" Facebook presence, but simply posted about city-managing on his personal page, alongside photos of his family and other updates.

That's where he blocked a constituent who objected to COVID restrictions. And in his case, a federal appeals court said that was OK.

The conservative court will quickly dive into a longstanding priority on the right: reining in the federal bureaucracy.

Driving the news: On Tuesday — just the second day of the term — the justices will hear a case that could gut the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

A group of payday lenders brought the case, which argues that the CFPB's funding mechanism is unconstitutional — and that everything it has done with that funding is therefore void.

A ruling in payday lenders' favor would grind much of the agency's work to a halt.

"All C.F.P.B. rules are now potentially vulnerable to constitutional attack," Boston College law professor Patricia McCoy told The New York Times last year.

Flashback: The court ruled in 2020 that the CFPB's leadership structure was unconstitutional, but allowed the agency to keep functioning under new rules.

Later in the term, they'll hear a separate case asking them to overturn the doctrine known as "Chevron deference."

Chevron states, in short, that when part of a particular statute isn't clear, the courts will generally defer to the interpretation of the agency tasked with implementing that statute, as long as its interpretation is reasonable.

But the court has been chipping away at Chevron for years, as part of a broader trend toward limiting the executive branch's power to act without clear congressional authorization.

State laws banning gender-affirming care are on an accelerating path toward the Supreme Court.

Twenty-one states now have bans on hormone therapy, surgery or other forms of care for minors. Some have been halted in the courts, while a pair of appeals court rulings this summer allowed others to go into effect, Axios' Adriel Bettelheim and Jason Millman report.

Divisions among lower courts make it far more likely that the Supreme Court will ultimately need to step in, though there's nothing in front of the justices right now.

Abortion also may be back on the docket relatively soon, via lawsuits over the drug mifepristone, which is used in almost half of abortions in the U.S.

An appeals court last month reinstated restrictions that the FDA had lifted on the pill. The Justice Department and the drug's manufacturer have asked the high court to reverse that decision, citing "destabilizing practical consequences" and "serious legal errors." 

The justices haven't yet said whether they'll hear the case on the merits.

handed down a major Second Amendment decision

pretty straightforward First Amendment violation

Cases to watch in the Supreme Court's new term

A slew of potential blockbusters are on the docket.

Illustration of five gavels with the numbers 1 through 5 

Supreme Court

Social Media

New Orleans

Axios New Orleans

Estimated timeline for saltwater intrusion into the New Orleans metro area

Salt water creeping up the Mississippi River is threatening the drinking water supply in New Orleans for the first time in more than 30 years.

Why it matters: The water supply for more than 1.2 million people is expected to become unsafe to drink by late October.

President Biden declared the situation a national emergency last week.

If contaminated, it could be weeks or months before freshwater returns, unless there is significant rainfall, leaders say.

Catch up quick: A drought across the Mississippi River Valley means salt water from the Gulf of Mexico is coming upriver, threatening drinking water supplies in New Orleans and two nearby parishes.

Many municipalities in southeast Louisiana, including New Orleans, pull their drinking water from the river.

Communities further south have had salt in their water since June.

The Army Corps of Engineers expects the saltwater intrusion to reach New Orleans by Oct. 22. Officials are working on plans to mitigate water disruption.

New Orleans bracing for major threat to drinking water supply

If contaminated, it could be weeks or months before freshwater returns.

Sunday's top stories