☕ Why your flight is late today

Good morning,

Dolly Parton’s sister, Frieda Parton, has asked fans to pray for the country music star, who delayed a run of concerts in Las Vegas that were due to take place in early December.

The 79-year-old told fans in late September that “health challenges” meant she needed medical attention, but new dates would be scheduled for later in 2026.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

• The Trump administration has warned that furloughed workers may not receive back pay after the federal government shutdown ends, reversing a 2019 order signed by Trump that guarantees retroactive compensation. A memo from the Office of Management and Budget said the law only applies to essential employees required to work during shutdowns, not the roughly 750,000 workers currently furloughed without pay. Yesterday, Trump told reporters that back pay "depends on who we're talking about" and that some workers "don't deserve to be taken care of," while House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries stated that "the law is clear - every single furloughed federal employee is entitled to back pay, period." The shutdown, which began on October 1, remains in place as Republicans and Democrats remain deadlocked over budget legislation.

• At least 24 people have been killed, and 47 injured, after Myanmar’s military struck a crowd of protestors gathered for a national holiday in the Chaung U township. Around 100 people had assembled for a candlelight vigil against military conscription and upcoming elections when the attack occurred, lasting just seven minutes according to local officials. Myanmar has been engulfed in civil war since the military seized power in 2021, killing thousands and displacing millions as armed resistance groups battle the junta. The military has increasingly used paramotors and drones supplied by China and Russia to target civilians, according to Amnesty International, which called the attack "a gruesome wake-up call" and urged regional leaders to pressure Myanmar's rulers. The country is scheduled to hold elections in December, though critics say the vote will not be free or fair.

• The price of gold has surpassed $4,000 per ounce for the first time, in the metal’s strongest rally since 1979. There has been increased demand for gold as investors seek a safe-haven asset amid global economic uncertainty. The price of the metal has increased more than 50% this year, crossing $3,000 per ounce in March. The latest rally began when Fed Chair Jerome Powell signaled interest rate cuts would be strongly considered.

• Scientists have developed the world’s first ‘accurate’ test for chronic fatigue syndrome. Chronic fatigue is a disorder that causes extreme exhaustion for at least six months. Symptoms often worsen with physical and mental activity but don’t fully improve with rest. Studies suggest up to 1.3% of Americans are living with the disorder, and, until now, there has been no test available for it, meaning patients often go undiagnosed for years. Researchers from the University of East Anglia in the UK examined the blood of 47 patients with extreme chronic fatigue and compared it with that of 61 healthy adults. The team discovered a unique pattern in people with chronic fatigue, enabling them to create a blood test that can detect the disease.

I’ve got 1 minute

More than 3,500 flights have been delayed across the U.S. over the past three days as air traffic controllers call in sick during the government shutdown. Chicago O'Hare saw 570 delays while Nashville temporarily closed its airport due to staffing shortages.

There is already a shortage of nearly 4,000 air traffic controllers across the country, making the system vulnerable even to small staffing changes. Here's what you need to know.

What’s happening?

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has slowed flight operations nationwide due to widespread staffing shortages. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said the delays stem from increased sick leave among air traffic controllers since the government shutdown began seven days ago.

Chicago and Nashville have been hit hardest. Chicago's O'Hare warned it doesn't have enough controllers to operate normally, while Nashville International Airport was temporarily shut down. Boston, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Dallas, Houston, Newark, and Las Vegas have also reported delays.

Why is this happening?

The government shut down last Wednesday after a critical funding bill stalled in the Senate. While many federal workers were furloughed, hundreds of thousands of "essential workers" - including TSA officers and air traffic controllers - must continue working without pay.

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association (NATCA) said the timing isn't coincidental. "We have consistently warned that the controller staffing shortage leaves the system vulnerable, and today's events underscore the urgent need to accelerate training and hiring," a NATCA spokesperson said.

The U.S. is currently short nearly 4,000 air traffic controllers, meaning even small numbers of controllers taking sick leave can create major disruptions.

Critical staffing shortages

Secretary Duffy said the administration has been trying to "supercharge" hiring since taking office and has proposed modernizing the air traffic control system.

However, NATCA warned that shortages are likely to worsen the longer the shutdown continues.

Pilots can operate independently of air traffic controllers by communicating directly with each other via messaging systems, although this is typically only used at small airports.

"It's doable, but it adds a margin of danger," a CNN transportation analyst said.

I’ve got 2 minutes

The Supreme Court appeared largely sympathetic to arguments that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors violates free speech rights. While no ruling has been issued, justices directed most of their questions to the state's attorney general, who was defending the law.

The case centers on whether states can regulate talk therapy aimed at changing a person's sexual orientation or gender identity when provided to minors. Here's what you need to know.

What’s the law?

Colorado's Minor Conversion Therapy Law, passed in 2019, prohibits licensed therapists from providing conversion therapy to minors. The state legislature said the ban responded to "mounting evidence that conversion therapy is associated with increased depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, and suicide attempts."

Conversion therapy refers to practices designed to change a person's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Kaley Chiles, a Christian talk therapist, argues the law punishes her for views she expresses during therapy sessions. She brought her case to the Supreme Court after losing in state and federal appeals.

Arugments

Chiles' lawyers, supported by Trump administration attorneys, argued that the law differs from other medical regulations because it targets speech itself.

"This would allow states to silence all kinds of speech," Chiles' legal team said, warning the law could "transform counselors into mouthpieces for the government."

Colorado State Attorney General Shannon Stevenson defended the ban, arguing that conversion therapy causes proven harm. The harm, Stevenson said, comes "from telling someone there is something innate about yourself you can change."

What happened in court?

The 90-minute hearing saw most justices question Colorado's position. They asked why medical consensus should override free speech rights, particularly if that consensus had been wrong in the past.

Conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett pressed Stevenson for current evidence that conversion therapy causes harm to minors.

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson pushed back on Chiles' argument, asking: "If states are allowed to ban gender-affirming drugs, why can a state not ban talk therapy that has the opposite effect?"

What’s next?

The justices are expected to rule by next summer. The decision will likely focus on what legal standard lower courts should use when evaluating restrictions on speech in therapy settings.

The Trump administration argued that courts should apply "strict scrutiny" — the highest level of review — which would require Colorado to prove that the law advances an important government interest to justify restricting speech.

Colorado argues that this standard shouldn't apply, but said that even if it were applied, the law would still survive.

TDU asks