A swath of the nation could see air and highway traffic slowed by rain and snow during this holiday week. A transgender lawyer will make Supreme Court history. What new balloons to watch for in Thursday’s Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
🙋🏼♀️ I’m Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Turkeys Peach and Blossom will receive their presidential pardon today.
Foul forecast looms over Thanksgiving travel
Travel could prove challenging as storms threaten to bring chaos to much of the nation during the long holiday weekend.
And getting there is just the half of it: A fast-tracking system could open the door for drier weather by the weekend after Thanksgiving − but if the storm crawls, it could linger several days along the Northeast coast, snarling air and highway traffic again as holiday travelers make their way home.
- Travel records are also in the forecast. The Transportation Security Administration said it expects to see its busiest Thanksgiving travel period on record, estimating its agents will screen 18.3 million people from Tuesday through Dec. 2. That would represent a 6% increase from 2023.
- Gas is cheap. Flights are expensive. Low gas prices are expected to fuel record travel, with the national average possibly dropping below $3.00 for the first time since 2021. But sorry, there aren’t many great deals on flights this time of year.
- Not all the holiday weather news is bad. The Pacific Northwest, which has played host to a series of surly atmospheric rivers and a bomb cyclone in recent days, should finally quiet down.
❄ Will you have snow? Track your Thanksgiving week weather forecast by region.
Transgender lawyer makes history
“I certainly couldn’t have the life that allows me to stand up in courtrooms, enter spaces, tackle fears if I didn’t feel at home in my body and in my mind. And that’s what this care has done for me.”
~ Chase Strangio, 42, who will make history as the first openly transgender lawyer to argue before the Supreme Court on why the justices should strike down Tennessee’s ban on puberty blockers and hormone therapy for transgender minors.
More news to know now
What’s the weather today? Check your local forecast here.
Trump Cabinet recap
Donald Trump rounded out his Cabinet picks over the weekend, closing out a process that has been defined so far by loyalty to the president-elect, right-wing ideology and a swirl of sexual assault allegations.
What comes next? The Cabinet picks are likely to face bruising confirmation hearings despite Republican control of the Senate. In response, Trump has floated the demand that GOP leadership allow for recess appointments as an end-around of the confirmation process.
Should you invest in cryptocurrency?
It’s certainly the popular thing to do. The digital currency has been hitting record highs and neared $100,000 this past week, having doubled in value throughout 2024. Bitcoin’s surge – up about 130% this year – is one of the “Trump trades,” market moves that have kicked in since former President Donald Trump’s victory in the election. Investors have wagered Trump’s support for bitcoin and other digital assets will lead to fewer restrictions on the industry. So is it the right time to dive in?
Today’s talkers
Minnie Mouse, Spider-man will go large in the sky
The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade makes its way through the streets of New York City this Thursday with its signature fare of marching bands, Radio City Rockettes, ornate floats, pop stars and, of course, Santa Claus. But one attraction dating back to the fourth Macy’s parade in 1927 soars over them all — the giant character balloons. Designed and built in-house by artists and engineers with Macy’s Studio, each year’s balloon lineup captures a mix of classic and new characters in pop culture and entertainment. USA TODAY asked the experts how Macy’s parade balloons are made and controlled.
Photo of the day: Swelling with Pride
The Orlando Pride won its first National Women’s Soccer League championship over the weekend with a 1-0 victory over the Washington Spirit.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.
