Hello from London, where today marks the launch of the Bloomberg LSE European City Leadership Initiative — the region’s first-ever program dedicated to strengthening mayoral leadership.

Backed by a $50 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies and delivered in partnership with the London School of Economics and Political Science, the effort gathers 30 mayors and 60 senior officials from 17 countries, representing more than 21 million residents.
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From Madrid to Helsinki and Istanbul to Oslo, the inaugural class spans Europe’s capitals, industrial hubs, coastal cities, and growing regions — all united by a shared commitment to better serve their communities.

Over the next four days in London, participants will engage with Mike Bloomberg, Mayor Sadiq Khan, and experts from LSE and the Hertie School of Berlin to begin an intensive nine-month program designed to sharpen management skills, strengthen city halls, and drive innovation.

The Initiative builds on Bloomberg Philanthropies’ decade-long experience training mayors in the United States and around the world, including through the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative, which has already supported over 380 mayors and thousands of senior officials.

As Mike said in a statement, the reason for expanding to Europe is simple: “we’ve seen how well these programs work – and we want more cities to benefit.” By giving mayors and senior officials “the tools, training, and peer networks they need to take on their biggest challenges – and succeed,” this proven model can now help leaders across the continent rise to today’s most pressing challenges.

Read the press release from Bloomberg Philanthropies here. 

Climate of Hope

The Earthshot Prize, founded by the UK's Prince William in 2020, is a global initiative aimed at mobilizing a decade of action to repair the planet by 2030 through solutions that protect nature, clean the air, revive oceans, eliminate waste, and fix the climate.

The 2025 finalists have been announced, showcasing groundbreaking solutions to the planet’s biggest environmental challenges. From a breakthrough microplastics filter and the world’s first fully upcycled skyscraper to the boldest reforestation and ocean protection initiatives ever, each finalist will participate in a yearlong fellowship that provides access to investors and expert guidance to help scale their impact, with the five winners receiving £1 million each to further develop their initiatives.

Bloomberg Philanthropies, a Global Alliance Founding Partner, contributes to the prize by advancing and expanding innovative climate solutions around the world.

The finalists “show what’s possible when we tackle the climate crisis with creativity and optimism,” Mike Bloomberg said in response, adding that he’s glad to help them “accelerate and scale their innovative ideas.”

Winners will be announced at the Earthshot Prize Awards in Rio de Janeiro on Nov. 5.

Learn more about the prize and explore the finalists here. 
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Today in the USA

Judge Blocks Trump Oregon Plan as Guards Ordered to Illinois (Bloomberg)

US District Judge Karin Immergut, a Trump appointee, temporarily blocked President Trump from sending military forces to Portland, Oregon, to enforce his immigration agenda. The ruling came even as 300 National Guard troops were ordered to Illinois over the objection of state officials.
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Judge Immergut said in her order that the deployment to Portland did not appear justified given the limited nature of the protests and the ability of local law enforcement to handle the situation. She noted that while courts generally give great deference to the president in such decisions, Trump’s determination about Portland did not seem made in good faith.
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“This country has a longstanding and foundational tradition of resistance to government overreach, especially in the form of military intrusion into civil affairs,” Immergut wrote. “This historical tradition boils down to a simple proposition: this is a nation of constitutional law, not martial law. Defendants have made a range of arguments that, if accepted, risk blurring the line between civil and military federal power — to the detriment of this nation.”

In Illinois: Trump Authorizes National Guard in Chicago as ICE and Protestors Clash (Washington Post)

President Trump authorized 300 National Guard troops in Chicago against Governor Pritzker’s wishes following a federal immigration enforcement operation that sparked protests and a woman being shot, escalating tensions between local communities and federal authorities.

Job Swap: Trump Administration Taps Army Reserve and National Guard for Temporary Immigration Judges (Associated Press)

The Trump administration is deploying National Guard and Army Reserve lawyers as temporary immigration judges after firing dozens of existing judges, a move critics warn could strain both immigration courts and the military justice system.

Up to 600 military-trained attorneys may be assigned to help address the growing backlog of 3.4 million pending immigration cases, with training for the first group starting today.

What I'm Reading

Middle East Latest: Israel, Hamas Set for Talks Over Trump’s Gaza Peace Plan in Egypt (Bloomberg)

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Israel and Hamas are set to begin mediated talks in Egypt today, aimed at ending their two-year conflict. The negotiations will first focus on a swap of Israeli hostages for Palestinian prisoners, with Hamas’s disarmament planned for a later stage.

US officials, including Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, are participating in the negotiations, and Hamas has agreed in principle to discuss elements of President Trump’s 20-point plan, though it has not committed to disarmament or final decisions on Gaza’s governance.

While the hostage and prisoner exchange could happen quickly, long-term issues like Gaza’s reconstruction and political future are expected to take much longer to resolve.

Dutch React in the Streets: Hundreds of Thousands Protest in Amsterdam Against Gaza War (Reuters)

Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched through Amsterdam on Sunday, calling for the Dutch government to take a tougher stance against Israel's war in Gaza. Organizers estimated that around 250,000 people joined the demonstration — a figure supported by local police. 

France Latest: French Premier Resigns After Macron's Cabinet Gamble Backfires (Bloomberg)

French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu resigned unexpectedly today, citing political gridlock in a fragmented parliament, intensifying France’s ongoing political crisis.

His departure, coming just after President Macron unveiled a cabinet of centrist loyalists, triggered a market selloff, with French stocks and bonds slumping amid investor fears of instability.

Macron now faces a critical decision between appointing a new premier, calling new elections, or using emergency budget measures as the nation’s fiscal and political uncertainty deepens.

Advice to the US from UK: The UK’s Raucous Party Conferences Are Worth Emulating in the US (Bloomberg Opinion - Rosa Prince)

Since primaries took over as the means to select candidates, the Republican National Convention and the DNC have largely lacked the political consequence and potential jeopardy of a UK conference. There hasn’t been a brokered convention for decades; the quadrennial gatherings rarely move the dial.

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An annual UK-style conference in the US would give Democrats an opportunity to test out the options before deciding on a standard bearer, and Republicans a forum to consider what comes after Trump. Both feel imperative right now.

Japan's Glass Ceiling: Japan Braces for Shift to Right Under ‘Iron Lady’ Fan Takaichi (Bloomberg)

Sanae Takaichi, the pro-stimulus conservative poised to become Japan’s first female prime minister, is an energetic nationalist with a soft spot for the hard-nosed politics of Iron Lady Margaret Thatcher and the heavy metal music of Iron Maiden.

In choosing the former economic security minister as its leader, the Liberal Democratic Party is essentially betting on a swing back to the right to attract the younger voters who have flocked to smaller populist outfits, including the arch-conservative Sanseito party.

Tomorrow at the White House: Trump, Carney to Meet in Washington as Trade Fight Drags On (Bloomberg)

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit the White House tomorrow for his second meeting with President Trump, focusing on trade and security issues ahead of the 2026 review of the US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

Officials aim to negotiate a deal on sectoral tariffs, including steel, aluminum, autos, and lumber, to strengthen the economic and security relationship between the two countries.

Daily Read Podcast: Today’s news, powered by AI. Listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts and be sure to 'subscribe' to get alerted to each new episode. 

US Shutdown Check-in: Both Parties Are Resigned to Deadlock as Shutdown Takes Hold (New York Times)

Congress shows little urgency to resolve the government shutdown, as Republicans largely remain passive and Democrats dig in on their demands, with both sides confident in their political positions and federal workers left furloughed while some agency operations are paused or suspended.

Mark Your Calendars: Amazon's October Prime Day Sale is This Week: Oct. 7-8 (USA Today)

Amazon’s second major shopping event of the year, October Prime Day, runs Tuesday, Oct. 7, through Wednesday, Oct. 8. This 48-hour fall sale is exclusive to Prime members and features massive deals spanning all categories, from Apple devices to giftable travel sets.

Mic Drop: Bad Bunny Responds to Super Bowl Critics, Urges Them to Learn Spanish (Axios)

Bad Bunny addressed MAGA critics of his 2026 Super Bowl halftime performance during his Saturday Night Live monologue, speaking in Spanish to highlight Latino contributions to the US and telling detractors they have “four months to learn” what he said.

His response signals he intends to deliver a politically and culturally unapologetic performance, despite far-right backlash questioning his citizenship and criticizing his use of Spanish.

Watch his SNL monologue here. 

Swiftie Watch: Taylor Swift’s New ‘Showgirl’ Album Hits Streaming Charts (Bloomberg)

UK Best: This Historic London Restaurant Has Been Named One of the Top in the World (Time Out London)
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London’s Tower Tandoori has been named one of TripAdvisor’s ‘All-Time Best’ restaurants, earning a global top ten spot and a 4.8 rating from over 3,200 reviews for its vibrant Indian cuisine and attentive service.

The family-run restaurant, open since 1978, is one of only two UK restaurants to achieve this accolade, highlighting its long-standing reputation and popularity among diners worldwide.
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Explore the full "All-Time Best" list here, celebrating standout restaurants from the flavors of Japan to the kitchens of Brazil.

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The Best of SNL

From the Weekend Update:

"A Trump advisor said that ICE agents will attend the Super Bowl after Bad Bunny was announced as the halftime performer. You know, to catch all those farm workers who can afford Super Bowl tickets."
– Michael Che

"Well last week, the government finally represented the people, when it just completely shut down. Didn't it feel like the government needed a break? Just so we could all catch our breath?"
– Colin Jost 

"Can you believe we are only nine months into this presidency? That means we have three months and seven years remaining."
– Colin Jost 

"The largest zoo on Long Island announced that it is closing after being accused of animal abuse. But isn't all of Long Island really just a zoo for abused animals?"
– Colin Jost 

And from the SNL Cold Open: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) gives an address to a room full of military officials before getting interrupted by President Trump (James Austin Johnson). Click the photo below to watch.