JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1155

The Wall Street Journal’s editorial board dismissed Donald Trump’s claim he wasn’t to blame for the GOP’s rout, citing double-digit defeats in New Jersey, Virginia and New York City and warning of “bigger problems in 2026.” Democrats exceeded polls as Governors-Elect Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill won, with Virginia’s “tsunami” delivering the governorship and a House supermajority and Sherrill taking New Jersey by 13 points. The editors blamed inflation at 3 percent, tariffs, and polarizing distractions, while insiders and conservative influencers said Trump’s focus on foreign affairs alienated voters during a shutdown.

Two Catholic bishops with ties to President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission publicly criticized the administration after immigrant detainees were denied access to sacraments central to their faith. Citing a Broadview, Illinois facility and a class-action lawsuit alleging mass constitutional violations, Bishops Kevin C. Rhoades and Robert Barron noted clergy were refused entry, including on All Saints’ Day. Barron said State and Homeland Security officials told him the matter is under review. Pope Leo XIV urged U.S. authorities to allow pastoral care. U.S. bishops will take up the issue next week.

Starbucks rolled out its 2025 holiday menu this week, but the buzz centers on a $30 “bearista” mug — a honey-bear-shaped glass for cold drinks topped with a green silicone beanie. The cup sold out fast at many stores, with social posts showing pre-dawn lines, one-per-customer limits in some locations, and eBay listings from $150 to $400. Starbucks hasn’t commented on purchase limits or restocks. The seasonal lineup, available Nov. 6, features peppermint mocha, caramel brulee latte, iced sugar cookie and gingerbread drinks, plus new holiday cold foams.

New research is challenging tech’s promises about AI learning. In a Wharton experiment, people using Google’s AI summaries produced generic health advice, while traditional search yielded more nuanced guidance. An MIT study of 54 students found ChatGPT users showed the lowest brain activity and 83 percent could not recall a sentence from their essays a minute later. Separately, a UCSF led JAMA study tied one to three or more hours of social media to lower reading, memory and vocabulary scores in children. Experts urge screen free zones at home as schools restrict phones and worries about brain rot grow.

Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell leaned on his favorite golf metaphor while assessing J.J. McCarthy after Sunday’s win over the Lions, praising touch throws to Jordan Addison, Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones. With nine games ahead, Minnesota views this stretch as a vital canvas for the 22-year-old’s development after a torn meniscus last season and a high ankle sprain this fall. Coaches emphasized mechanics during his five-game absence, from footwork to posture, seeking repeatable accuracy. Early metrics show a high bad-throw rate and low on-target numbers, yet McCarthy stresses growth through reps as the staff tests his consistency each week.

USMNT coach Mauricio Pochettino, coping with injuries to regulars including Christian Pulisic, Weston McKennie and Tim Weah, named a November roster headlined by the surprise recall of Gio Reyna — a camp that may be his last chance to impress before 2026. The injury-hit squad will meet in Philadelphia for friendlies against Paraguay on Nov. 15 and Uruguay on Nov. 18. Joe Scally also returns, while strikers Folarin Balogun, Ricardo Pepi and Haji Wright lead the line; Matt Freese appears Pochettino’s No. 1 in goal.

Supreme Court justices from both wings signaled deep skepticism toward the Trump administration’s defense of most tariffs, raising hopes for refunds on nearly $90 billion collected so far. Yet who would qualify and how remains murky. Justice Amy Coney Barrett pressed attorney Neal Katyal, who said his five client businesses should be repaid, while broader claims could be a difficult administrative slog. Importers may need protests or extensions as CBP finalizes entries; refunds could include interest. Meanwhile, banks have been buying claims at steep discounts, prompting some sellers’ remorse after Wednesday’s arguments.

New York City’s mayoral race thrust Zohran Mamdani and his platform into a fierce transatlantic debate. Critics at home called free buses, universal childcare, city-run groceries and rent freezes unaffordable, while European voices said such programs are routine. Examples ranged from Tallinn’s fare-free transit and Istanbul’s municipal groceries to Portugal and Berlin’s childcare systems and Finland’s baby box. In the U.S., New Mexico recently became the first state to offer free childcare to all residents. Mamdani’s rent-freeze pledge drew sharp attacks, yet Berlin’s short-lived freeze briefly boosted support for new housing, researchers found.

CEOs and billionaires spent more than $40 million to stop Zohran Mamdani from becoming New York City’s next mayor; he won anyway, and their reactions now range from exit threats to pragmatic outreach. Kathryn Wylde said her Partnership will work with him as he pushes a rent freeze, higher taxes, and a 100-day drive to confront the cost-of-living crisis and what he calls corporate greed. He can’t raise taxes without state approval. The race was shaped by tensions over Israel and Hamas; roughly a third of Jewish voters backed him. Billionaire Bill Ackman congratulated him.

Microsoft is pushing into “superintelligence,” a more powerful form of AI it hopes could spur advances in medicine and materials science. Mustafa Suleyman, chief of the Microsoft AI group, will lead the MAI Superintelligence Team, tasked with chasing hypothetical milestones that go beyond artificial general intelligence. AGI is an often ambiguous label for systems showing human-level performance, used by outfits like OpenAI. The effort comes after Microsoft had previously agreed not to pursue AGI as part of its partnership with OpenAI.