On today's episode:

• Dick Cheney, one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in US history, dies at 84.
• It’s election day in multiple states including California, New York, New Jersey and Virginia.
• Government shutdown could become longest ever as Trump says he 'won't be extorted' by Democrats.
• Rescuers in Nepal search for climbers' bodies after deadly avalanche.
• Some Head Start preschools shutter as government shutdown continues.
• Two men accused of plotting terror attacks at LGBTQ+ bars in the Detroit area.
• Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded after judges’ rulings.
• AI darlings prop up Wall Street as most other stocks fall.
• OpenAI and Amazon sign $38 billion deal for AI computing power.
• Tylenol, Kleenex, Band-Aid and more put under one roof in $48.7 billion consumer brands deal.
• A backup QB takes down America’s Team on Monday Night Football, the “Greek Freak” caps his big night with a buzzer-beater for Milwaukee in the NBA, a pair of top 10 upsets to open the college basketball season and Atlanta tabs its new skipper in baseball.
• Victor Conte, who sold undetectable steroids to elite athletes in baseball and track, has died at 75.
• Hopes dashed as man extracted from partially collapsed medieval tower in Rome dies soon after.
• Ukraine gets more Patriot air defense systems to counter deadly Russian attacks.
• A powerful earthquake kills at least 20 people and injures hundreds in northern Afghanistan.
• Rescuers work to reach worker trapped in medieval tower that partially collapsed in Rome.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Theme music

The News Tonight, used under license from Soundstripe. YouTube clearance: ZR2MOTROGI4XAHRX