The 7

Thursday briefing: The election deniers on your ballot; Hurricane Ian’s death toll; OPEC oil; Thailand day-care attack; and more

Updated October 6, 2022 at 9:54 a.m. EDT|Published October 6, 2022 at 6:30 a.m. EDT
(Jordan Robertson for The Washington Post)
3 min

1

Ian was probably Florida’s deadliest hurricane since 1935.

  • How deadly? There’s some disagreement over the numbers. State officials have confirmed 72 deaths, while county sheriffs have reported dozens more.
  • Why was it so dangerous? Ian’s storm surge — which reached 18 feet in some places — claimed the most lives, with over half of the victims drowning, according to officials.

2

A majority of Republican nominees deny the 2020 election results.

  • How we know: A new Post analysis of GOP candidates up for election next month for the House, Senate and statewide offices.
  • The numbers: There are 299 election-denying candidates, and most are likely to win. Search here for any on the ballot near you.
  • Why it matters: Their dominance in the party could threaten the integrity of future votes, experts said.

3

Gas prices will probably start going up in the U.S. and worldwide.

  • Why? A group of oil-producing nations, led by Russia and Saudi Arabia, announced yesterday that it’ll cut oil output next month.
  • What does this mean? Higher prices all around, which will help Russia fund its war in Ukraine and make inflation issues worse.
  • What else to know: Europe could face widespread blackouts this winter as it deals with an energy crisis also tied to Russia.

4

Dozens of people were killed at a day-care center in Thailand.

  • What we know: 23 of the victims were children, officials said. Ten other people were wounded.
  • The attacker, identified as a former police officer, used a pistol and a knife, officials said. He then killed his wife, child and himself. His motive isn’t clear, police said.

5

Life in Afghanistan has reached new lows.

  • What to know: There’s a growing economic and hunger crisis, with half of young children facing malnutrition, according to a new U.N. report.
  • Why this is happening: Afghanistan’s economy collapsed after the Taliban took over the country last year, in part because the government’s funds have been kept out of the Taliban’s reach.

6

Monkeypox cases are dropping in the U.S.

  • Why? It’s thanks to the vaccine rollout and changes in behavior, according to experts. Cases of the normally rare virus are way down from a mid-August peak.
  • But there are concerns: The method being used to administer shots — designed to stretch supply — can leave painful marks for weeks, and there’s limited data on its effectiveness.

7

Video captured orcas hunting and killing great white sharks.

  • The footage showed a more than hour-long pursuit off the coast of South Africa. At least two great whites, the stuff of “Jaws” legend, were killed.
  • Why this is significant: It’s the first direct proof that killer whales prey on one of the largest sea predators, according to a new study.

And now … are you team coffee or tea? This head-to-head matchup shows which is better for you. Plus, 10 ways to start running, even if you kind of hate it.

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