Trump Breaks Silence on Michael Bloomberg 2020 (Washington Post)
President Trump said Tuesday that he thinks it’s “good” that Michael Bloomberg may run for president in 2020 and predicted that the billionaire former mayor of New York, who was formerly a Republican and independent, would not make it through the Democratic primary. “He’d be so easy,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business. “You know, you have a lot of people running. I’m hearing names that are shockingly bad, but they’re nasty.”

Flashback:
-Trump’s Former Campaign Manager: Bloomberg Would Give Trump a Run for His Money in 2020 (New York Post)
-Trump’s 2020 Dreams (Axios)
He’s “mused in private about Mike Bloomberg” running in 2020. At the end of an August interview with Bloomberg News, Trump told the journalists: “Say hello to Michael.”

Michael Bloomberg for President? Experts Weigh in on How He Could Succeed in 2020 (New York Observer)
Political consultants agree Mike Bloomberg would need to bring on a running mate early in the primary process, suggesting candidates like Caroline Kennedy and Cecile Richards.

Hot on the Bloomberg: Mueller Said Ready to Deliver Key Findings in His Trump Probe (Bloomberg)

Economy Watch: Trump Economy Needs California: Subtract the State’s Corporate and Job Growth, and the Nation’s Boom Becomes a Beep (Bloomberg Opinion – Matt Winkler)

Brexit is kind of like Climate Change: There’s a huge and obvious catastrophe looming, but nobody seems adequately freaked out about it (Bloomberg Opinion – Therese Raphael)
The U.K.’s mood these days is a lot like the one ahead of the original Brexit referendum. Brexiteers lied about the benefits of leaving the EU, and Remainers never really dreamed the electorate would be so dumb as to go through with it.

Climate of Hope: Message from Hurricanes Michael and Maria – Renewable Energy Makes More Sense Than Ever (USA Today – Adam Freed/Bloomberg Associates)
To face the growing threat of severe weather patterns, we can no longer rely on old energy systems — we must develop infrastructure that can withstand increasingly frequent climate hazards. This gives us an opportunity to build in a smarter, more sustainable way.

Sideshows Today: Trump calls Stormy Daniels ‘Horseface’; She Fires Back with ‘Tiny’ and Notes ‘Shortcomings’ (NBC News)
Remember, she’s not alone: The New York Times compiled this list of women who have been publicly insulted by Trump since he became presidential candidate.

Jesus! ‘There is no God,’ Says Stephen Hawking in Final Book (CNN)

Today in Good News: Bloomberg Media Named Employer of the Year by Digiday’s Worklife Awards (Digiday)
The awards honor the top employers in media and marketing and the values and cultural initiatives that make them unique.

Headlines from around the world.

Bloomberg: Saudis Know to Act Fast on Khashoggi Probe, Pompeo Says

Bloomberg: Brazil’s Bolsonaro Rejects Supremacists After David Duke Praise

Japan Times: U.S. Eyes January Trade Talks with Japan that Will Target ‘Tariff and Nontariff Barriers’

South China Morning Post: Hurun Report: Four Out of Top Five Most Successful Women Globally are Chinese

Best of late night.

“In environmental news, according to new research, heatwaves and drought, brought about by climate change, could damage the barley crop supply, leading to a dramatic shortage of beer. Just when things have started looking up for Brett Kavanaugh.”
— James Corden

“If you tell Americans in 10 years the Marshall Islands will be underwater, no one cares. But tell them Corona will cost more, now they’re marching in the streets! ‘C’mon!’”
— Trevor Noah

“If this isn’t a wake up call, I don’t know what is. We need to stop climate change, and stop it now. Because I am telling you: I am for sure not watching the next World Cup with a pint of Dr. Pepper!”
— James Corden

For more best of late night from the New York Times, click here.