Good morning. It's Monday, Sept. 27, and we're covering a change in Germany's ruling party, a deadly train wreck in Montana, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

Power Shift in Germany

German voters cast ballots yesterday in national elections, with early results indicating a shift in the power balance of the country's parliament. As of this writing, the opposition center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) had a 1.6% lead over outgoing Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right coalition, which has led the country for more than 15 years.

More than 40 parties were running; see an updated breakdown here. Despite the ongoing pandemic, climate change became a key issue in the race after July floods killed more than 180 people. It was the worst natural disaster in the country in 60 years. 

Merkel, who in 2018 said her current term would be her last, has led the country since 2005. Sometimes viewed as the de facto leader of the European Union, Germany's economy grew 34% during Merkel's time in office (though it has remained static in recent years). See a review of her tenure here.

Between public appearances, Merkel has been enjoying her final days in office—including one spent covered in parrots.

Amtrak Crash in Montana

At least three people were killed and more than 50 injured after an Amtrak train derailed Saturday outside the town of Joplin, Montana. Eight of the train's 10 cars flipped off the tracks, officials said, drawing rescue teams from six surrounding counties. Roughly 160 people were on board at the time of the wreck. 

The derailment occurred on the Empire Builder line, a route that connects Chicago with the Pacific Northwest (see map), reportedly along a section of straight tracks. Weather also did not appear to be a factor. The crash is the highest-profile Amtrak accident since a string of five deadly incidents that occurred between 2015 and 2018. 

The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating potential causes. See footage from the scene here.

Infrastructure Bill Delayed (Maybe)

The fate of a $1.2T bipartisan infrastructure deal may be on hold after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D, CA-13) said she may delay a vote on the bill planned for today. The vote has opened a rift within the Democratic Party, with its progressive caucus saying they would not vote on an infrastructure deal unless it was paired with a larger $3.5T social spending budget package. Pelosi said she still expects to try to pass the infrastructure bill this week.

Observers expect a tumultuous few weeks on Capitol Hill. In addition to the aforementioned packages, Congress must pass a funding bill to avoid a federal shutdown by midnight Thursday, while passing a debt ceiling increase by mid-October to avoid a government default.

The House last week passed a short-term funding bill linked with a raise of the debt ceiling. The legislation is unlikely to pass the evenly divided Senate, where 60 votes would be needed to break a filibuster.  

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

Brought to you by The Ascent

> "Moulin Rouge! The Musical" wins big prize of Best Musical and takes home 10 awards overall at 74th Annual Tony Awards (More)

> "Shang-Chi" brings in $186M so far at domestic box office, topping "Black Widow" for highest-grossing film of 2021 (More) | Pee Wee Ellis, influential jazz saxophonist who led bands for James Brown and Van Morrison, dies at 80 (More)

> The US wins back golf's Ryder Cup after defeating Europe 19-9, the largest margin of victory ever (More) | Baltimore Ravens' Justin Tucker kicks NFL-record 66-yard field goal, besting previous record of 64 yards (More)

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Science & Technology

> Scientists discover the three closest known relatives to the SARS-CoV-2 virus; found in bats in Laos, the new viruses share the same binding domain as the coronavirus, indicating they are likely able to infect humans (More)

> Drug-resistant malaria confirmed in Africa; mosquito-borne disease kills more than 400,000 people each year, with majority being children under 5 years old (More)

> New lava lake opens in the crater of the Democratic Republic of Congo's Nyiragongo volcano, where a May eruption killed 32 people; geologists say the lake is a positive development, providing an outlet for geothermal stress within the volcano (More)

Business & Markets

> Meng Wanzhou, chief financial officer of Chinese tech giant Huawei, will return to China after reaching agreement with US government; Wanzhou was arrested and detained in Canada in 2018 for fraud charges and services provided that violated US sanctions on Iran (More)

> Cryptocurrencies fall as China’s central bank makes transactions illegal, citing national security concerns (More) | Twitter enables tipping with Bitcoin; platform becomes first major social network to use Bitcoin as payment method (More)

> Pacific Gas and Electric was charged with manslaughter Friday following 2020 wildfire that killed four people and destroyed hundreds of homes; prosecutors allege neglected equipment caused the damage (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> Average COVID-19 cases fall to around 120,000 per day in the US, down roughly 25% since Sept. 1; current total hospitalizations fall to under 80,000, down about 20% over the same period (More)

> Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) to run for an eighth term; the 88-year-old is the oldest current Republican senator (More) | Former 12-term congressman Sherwood Boehlert (R, NY-24) passes away at age 84 from complications related to dementia (More) 

> Switzerland votes to legalize same-sex marriage, with roughly two-thirds of voters backing the measure; country becomes one of the last in Western Europe to recognize same-sex marriages (More)

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ETCETERA

Fat bear week returns!

Explaining America's school bus driver shortage.

America's best small towns for retirees.

Works of suspended relaxation.

Ranking China's ugliest buildings.

Squishy the chipmunk fills his cheeks.

... and Wally the walrus moves on to Iceland.

Nanobots give the laziest sperm a helping hand. (w/video)

Clickbait: A crypto-trading hamster takes on the market.

Historybook: Samuel Adams born (1722); Rosetta Stone is first deciphered (1822); First Black US senator Hiram Revels born (1827); Production of Ford Model T begins (1908); RIP legendary athlete Babe Didrikson Zaharias (1956). 

"The formula for success is simple: practice and concentration, then more practice and more concentration."

- Babe Didrikson Zaharias

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