NPR News

Major defense companies said this week they will not send out layoff notices to warn of big job cuts in January, taking away the prospect of embarrassing layoff notices right before the November elections.

That's led to charges that the White House overstepped when it told the industry the notices are not needed.

Before you do anything else, read this: writer Eric Ducker and New York Times pop music critic Jon Caramanica in conversation about the music journalism industry. A few takeaways: There are not enough hours in the day. We all must rage against the dying of curiosity, and stay woke — "One should have a healthy skepticism about what's in your mailbox, and why it's there," says Caramanica.

Nov. 6 is 32 days away, but for millions of Americans, there is no longer an Election Day.

Thirty-two states and the District of Columbia now have early voting, which is under way even now in eight states. Hundreds of thousands of votes have already been cast, most before this week's presidential debates or Friday's jobs report, and all ahead of the three future debates and any unforeseen October event that might test the mettle of a candidate.

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