Midday open thread: Missing Skittles, laughter from Christie, and an upcoming Q&A

• Vivek Viswanathan, a policy advisor at Hillary for America who focuses on college affordability and student debt, will be hosting a live Q & A here on Daily Kos at 10 AM PT/1 PM ET on Monday, October 3. He graduated with a B.A. in history from Harvard, an M.Phil. in historical studies from the University of Cambridge, and J.D. and M.B.A. degrees from Stanford. In addition to all those degrees, he's had the opportunity to team up with Michelle Kwan to make a video explaining Hillary's college affordability plan. Please bring your questions Monday and join us!
• Today’s comic is Protest in peace, by Matt Bors: 

  

• Former Israeli prime minister (and just about every other possible title) Shimon Peres has died:

He led the creation of Israel’s defense industry, negotiated key arms deals with France and Germany and was the prime mover behind the development of Israel’s nuclear weapons. But he was consistent in his search for an accommodation with the Arab world, a search that in recent years left him orphaned as Israeli society lost interest, especially after the upheavals of the 2011 Arab Spring led to tumult on its borders.

• Chris Christie knew—and laughed—about the George Washington Bridge lane closings and resulting traffic jam:

But Mr. Christie made no effort to reopen the lanes and end the gridlock.

Instead, his former ally said, the governor was clearly delighted and seemed to savor the scheme. And after learning that the Fort Lee mayor’s persistent and urgent calls for help were being ignored, Mr. Christie said in a sarcastic tone, “I imagine he wouldn’t get his calls returned.”

• Donald Trump’s hugely successful business career means he knows how to only hire the very best people.
• President Obama has nominated the first ambassador to Cuba in 50 years.
• The image is gone from Donald Trump Jr.’s Skittles tweet and you'll love the reason:

David Kittos, the British-based photographer who took the photo and who also left Cyprus as a refugee when he was 6 years old, has filed a copyright claim over the tweet. That claim has prompted its removal.

• Trump camp sad that Howard Dean is being mean.
• On today’s Kagro in the Morning show, debate fallout continues. Greg Dworkin has polling & “bounce” news. Pepe the Frog is officially toxic. Joan McCarter hits debate highlights, updates the shutdown game & discusses what might be the first successful Obama veto override.

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