What comes after the shutdown and Epstein fallout continues: Morning Rundown

The longest government shutdown in history is over. Jeffrey Epstein wrote about Trump, Clinton and Andrew in newly released emails. And, the president's political foes facing federal charges seek to oust their prosecutor.

Here's what to know today.

President Donald Trump signed into law legislation that reopens the federal government and ends the 43-day shutdown, the longest in American history.

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Trump's signature, which restores funding that has been frozen or halted for weeks, came shortly after the House voted 222-209 to send him the measure. Six Democrats joined nearly all Republicans in voting yes. Two Republicans joined most Democrats in voting no.

"So I just want to tell the American people, you should not forget this. When we come up to midterms and other things, don't forget what they've done to our country," Trump said.

The package includes three appropriations bills through next September and keeps the rest of the government open at current levels through Jan. 30. It includes full funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, also known as food stamps and reinstates federal workers affected by the shutdown.

But in a major concession from Democrats, the bill does not include an extension of enhanced subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare, after Republicans held firm against extending those funds beyond this year.

Although emotions are raw in the Democratic caucus over some of their senators caving, party leaders said the high-stakes showdown with Trump and the Republicans "crystallized" how Democrats are fighting for health care and affordability for millions of Americans. That economic message, they said, helped propel them to victory in last week's elections in Virginia and New Jersey and will help the party in 2026.

Shortly before yesterday's vote, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., filed a discharge petition in a bid to bypass Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and force a future floor vote on a three-year extension of the expiring Obamacare subsidies. But it lacked the necessary support of at least four House Republicans to force a vote.

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• The White House said it was unlikely that key federal inflation and labor reports impacted by the government shutdown would be released.

• More than seven weeks after her special election victory, Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva took the oath of office, marking the end of a bitter standoff with Speaker Johnson.

• Trump's directive to change the name of the Department of Defense to the Department of War could cost as much as $2 billion, according to six people with knowledge of the potential cost.

• A political consultant who formerly worked as chief of staff for California Gov. Gavin Newsom has been indicted on fraud and tax crime charges.

• As 2028 talk heats up, Vice President JD Vance, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and others are navigating the aftermath of Republican losses in last week's elections.

Jeffrey Epstein referenced Trump in emails to his associate Ghislaine Maxwell and a journalist, claiming in one that Trump "knew about the girls," according to emails released by House Democrats. Democrats on the House Oversight Committee released three email chains, sent between 2011 and 2019, saying the documents came from the late convicted sex offender's estate as part of the committee’s investigation into the Epstein case.

The emails also showed Epstein saying Clinton had "never" been to his private island, despite Trump's claims to the contrary. Trump and Clinton have both denied any wrongdoing and have never been charged with any criminal activity. Epstein did not accuse Trump of any wrongdoing with "the girls."

Asked during a press briefing about the emails, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said, "These emails prove absolutely nothing other than the fact that President Trump did nothing wrong."

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• Analysis: The latest Epstein twist comes at an inopportune time for Trump, with the president already in the midst of criticism from longtime supporters over his economic rhetoric and policy proposals.

Former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James, both frequent targets of Trump, filed separate motions in their respective cases, arguing acting U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia Lindsey Halligan is unlawfully serving in her role and therefore the indictments against them should be thrown out. In a rare joint hearing, attorneys for Comey and James will argue their case together.

Halligan, who was part of Trump's legal team in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case but has no prior prosecutorial experience, was sworn in to the job as interim U.S. attorney in one of the nation's busiest federal court districts on Sept. 22. That's three days after Erik Siebert, the U.S. attorney who had been serving in the role since Jan. 21, resigned after being pressured to indict Comey and James.

The indictments against Comey and James came after Trump publicly urged Attorney General Pam Bondi to take action against Comey, James and another of the president's adversaries, Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif.

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Global health experts are increasingly worried about a new strain of the flu virus that was first reported in June. The new strain, a version of H3N2, has caused outbreaks in Canada and the U.K., where health officials have warned of the early wave that’s sending people to the hospital.

Whether this strain has made it to the U.S. yet remains inconclusive. H3N2 is an A strain of influenza. While there are plenty of anecdotal reports of people testing positive for flu A across the country, the insights stop there.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn't provided a detailed, national report on flu activity since Sept. 26 because of the government shutdown.

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• The U.S. Mint struck the final 1-cent coin that will be used as legal tender, six months after the Trump administration announced that it would stop producing pennies.

• Artificial Christmas trees will cost an estimated 10% to 20% more this season than they did last year because of increased tariff costs, according to several major U.S. importers. And the cost of lights could jump as much as 63% for the same reason.

• A Florida judge granted bail to former NFL wide receiver Antonio Brown, who’ll have to wear a GPS monitor under house arrest while fighting an attempted murder charge.

• Israeli settlers torched and defaced a mosque in a Palestinian village in the occupied West Bank, scribbling hateful messages in a show of defiance a day after some Israeli leaders condemned a recent attack by settlers against Palestinians.

• Ukraine's justice minister was suspended in an investigation into a $100 million kickback scandal in the country's energy sector that has fueled public anger and reached the heart of the country's wartime leadership.

• The self-driving car company Waymo said it would begin offering rides on freeways for robotaxi customers in three major cities in a significant step forward for autonomous vehicles.

Long after the sunset faded on Oct. 11 in Kona, Hawaii, a figure approached the finish line of the famed Ironman World Championship triathlon. More than 1,500 women had finished before her — but no one else was quite like Natalie Grabow. Because Grabow was 80 when she completed the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike and 26.2-mile run, the oldest woman ever to finish the grueling, prestigious competition.

Grabow has made a life of testing her limits. From working as a software developer in the 1960s, to learning to swim at 59, Grabow is motivated by challenges. I wanted to understand how she prepared for this one. How she defied preconceived notions about what is possible as we age was part of our fascinating conversation. – Andrew Greif, sports reporter

The NBC Select team rounded up the best tech gifts of the year, including standout wireless earbuds. Plus, a smart membership deal at Sam's Club and the top photo scanners to bring analog memories into the digital age.

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