Good morning. It's Thursday, Sept. 30, and we're covering a legislative crunch on Capitol Hill, a fuel crunch in the United Kingdom, and much more. Have feedback? Let us know at [email protected].

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NEED TO KNOW

Senate Aims to Avoid Shutdown

Senate Democrats are preparing to introduce a bill today providing short-term government funding through Dec. 3, the first step in averting a federal shutdown by tonight's midnight deadline.

The move comes after Democrats attempted to attach a debt ceiling raise to a funding bill, an effort that failed to garner sufficient Republican support. Senate Republicans have signaled they're likely to support the new funding measure.

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned the debt ceiling must be raised by Oct. 18 to avoid a potential US default. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has said Senate Republicans will not support a ceiling raise; observers say Democrats are likely to wrap the measure into a $3.5T social spending package, which avoids the 60-vote threshold to break a filibuster. However, centrist Democrats, including Sens. Joe Manchin (D-WV) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) appear to not support the proposal as currently written.

Finally, the House is readying a vote on a $1.2T bipartisan infrastructure deal today—though in this case, it's House progressives who say they won't support the package.

UK Gas Shortage

British soldiers will be deployed across the United Kingdom to help transport gasoline in an effort to ease an ongoing fuel shortage, officials said yesterday. The ongoing crisis reached a crescendo over the weekend, with the country's Petrol Retailers Association reporting roughly two-thirds of its stations were out of fuel Sunday.

Experts say the shortage is not necessarily a supply issue, but is primarily due to a shortage of truck drivers to ship goods and supplies. The issue has affected not only gas stations but restaurants, supermarkets, and other businesses. In the case of gasoline, panic buying from worried consumers exacerbated the shortage. The country is said to be short around 100,000 drivers, many of whom were foreign nationals who returned to their home countries after the UK left the European Union. 

Sales of jerry cans, used to store fuel, reportedly increased by more than 1,600% over the weekend. 

Britney Spears

A Los Angeles judge ruled yesterday pop star Britney Spears must be released from oversight by her father, Jamie Spears. The decision ends the elder Spears' long-running controversial conservatorship over his daughter's estate, valued at an estimated $60M. California accountant John Zabel will have temporary oversight; a Nov. 12 hearing will be held to determine whether the conservatorship should be ended overall. 

Spears, who has sold more than 100 million records worldwide, saw the elder Spears appointed as her conservator in 2008 (conservatorship 101), following high-profile struggles with her mental health. The arrangement allowed her father to manage the majority of Spears' financial affairs; the singer expressed concerns over her father as early as 2014, citing his drinking as a primary issue.

Public interest in the case was renewed following a number of documentaries, including the popular "Framing Britney Spears."

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IN THE KNOW

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture

> Philippine boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, the only eight-division champ in history, retires at 42 as he preps for a presidential run (More)

> Tommy Kirk, former child star of "Old Yeller," dies at 79 (More) | Broadway's "Aladdin" performance canceled due to breakthrough COVID-19 cases just one day after reopening (More)

> NCAA women's basketball tournament to incorporate "March Madness" branding for first time in 2022 (More) | NBA players who miss games due to being unvaccinated won't be paid (More)

Science & Technology

> US Fish and Wildlife Service reports 22 animal species and one plant species once native to the US are now extinct; list includes the ivory-billed woodpecker, Bachman's warbler, and eight species of freshwater mussels (More)

> Intermittent overnight fasting shown to extend the healthy life span of fruit flies; cellular cleaning processes appear to kick in during overnight hours under fasting conditions (More)

> Biologists demonstrate the ability to modify the behavior of worms by introducing neural circuits derived from freshwater organisms known as hydras (More)

Business & Markets

Brought to you by The Ascent

> General Motors CEO Mary Barra becomes first woman elected chair of the Business Roundtable, a nonprofit group of CEOs from some of America’s largest companies (More)

> Retailer Dollar Tree announces it will sell items above the $1 price point; stock soars 16%, seeing its highest single-day gain in 21 years (More)

> Shares of eyewear maker Warby Parker close 36% higher than reference price in direct listing initial public offering to over $6B valuation; unprofitable company projects over $500M in revenues this year (More) | Veteran journalist resigns from Ozy Media after New York Times report that a company cofounder impersonated a YouTube executive on an investor call; early investor SV Angel also surrenders shares in the company (More) 

From our partners: This new credit card is a reward-seeker's dream, offering 2% cash rewards on purchases (no more tracking categories) and a generous sign-up bonus. The Ascent's independent team of experts is calling it one of the best all-around cards. Learn more today.

Politics & World Affairs

> YouTube to ban content containing misinformation about vaccines approved by health regulators, expanding a policy governing content about COVID-19 vaccines (More) | See current US COVID-19 stats here (More)

> State Department says it's vetting roughly 100 US citizens and permanent residents evacuated from Afghanistan via a charter plane this week (More)

> Hurricane Sam likely to create life-threatening surf conditions as it travels northward parallel to the Atlantic coast, but not expected to make landfall (More)

IN-DEPTH

'Zoolander' at 20

Esquire | Ilana Kaplan. It was eviscerated by critics and earned just $15M during its opening weekend, yet somehow the Ben Stiller-led ode to male models evolved into a classic. (Read)

Notes in the Wall

NOLA.com | Doug MacCash. In one dorm room at New Orleans' Tulane University, tiny notes squirreled away in a brick wall become a conversation across years. (Read)

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN

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ETCETERA

Watch lava on La Palma reach the Atlantic Ocean.

Every new Michelin star awarded to US restaurants this year.

When a seal hides from orcas on your boat. (w/video and language)

Conservators are restoring Michelangelo's haunting Pieta.

Mice can vicariously experience defeat—and become depressed from the experience.

Browse the year's best astronomy photos.

The world's most remarkable trees.

Inebriated man wanders into forest, ends up joining his own search party.

Clickbait: American notches marathon win—after pair of leaders go the wrong direction.

Historybook: American novelist and screenwriter Truman Capote born (1924); Babe Ruth is first player to hit 60 home runs in a season (1927); Actor James Dean dies in a car crash (1955); President Kennedy authorizes federal troops to integrate University of Mississippi (1962); RIP Oscar-winning actress Simone Signoret (1985).

"Failure is the condiment that gives success its flavor."

- Truman Capote

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