Billions hidden beyond reach  —  (Washington Post illustration; with photographs by, from top, Sebastián Vivallo Oñate/Agencia Makro/Getty Images), Tolga Akmen/WPA Pool via Getty Images, Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post, Wojtek Radwanski/AFP/Getty Images

Why Kyrsten Sinema's tactics may backfire  —  (CNN)Democratic hopes for passing big legislation through the Senate rely on Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona.  Both have made things difficult for Senate Democrats because they are moderates who have been hesitant to pass big spending packages.

‘Major’ Oil Spill Off California Coast Threatens Wetlands and Wildlife  —  A pipeline failure sent at least 126,000 gallons of oil into the Pacific off the coast of Orange County, creating a 13-square-mile slick.  Dead fish and birds washed ashore in some areas.

In Alaska's Covid Crisis, Doctors Must Decide Who Lives and Who Dies  —  Amid the nation's worst Covid-19 outbreak, patients are trapped in remote communities and doctors are prioritizing treatment based on who is most likely to survive.  —  ANCHORAGE — There was one bed coming available …

Democrat Tammy Duckworth hasn't paid property tax on her Illinois home since 2015, report says  —  The U.S. senator takes advantage of a county tax break for disabled veterans that applies regardless of income, a report says  —  Fox News Flash top headlines for October 2

ABC Panel Ignites When Chris Christie Accuses Biden of Folding to Progressives After 'He Couldn't Stand Up to the Taliban'  —  Donna Brazile and Chris Christie had a rousing tete-a-tete after the latter accused President Joe Biden of giving in first to the Taliban, then to progressive Democrats.

When I Ran for President, It Messed With My Head  —  It's your birthday.  Imagine going into a room and finding dozens of people have gathered together to see you.  They toast your arrival.  There is much excitement.  They ask you to give a speech.  You are very flattered.

Housing Boss Earns $1 Million to Run Shelters Despite a Troubled Past  —  Some executives at nonprofit groups that operate New York City homeless shelters are benefiting from the plight of the people they serve.  —  Soon after Jack A. Brown III quit his job at a private prison company, his former employer accused him of fraud.

A Whiff of Civil War in the Air  —  Malice and misinformation are driving national division.  —  On Thursday the University of Virginia released polling results that should shock exactly no one who closely follows American politics and culture.  A majority of Trump voters (52 percent) …

Why Republicans Are Still Recounting Votes  —  The point of the so-called audits is not so much to delegitimize the past election as it is to normalize unnecessary reviews of future ones—including, perhaps, a 2024 race in which Trump's name may be on the ballot.

Fauci: I don't know if we'll be able to gather for Christmas this year  —  Lay aside the fact that any official recommendation to avoid holiday gatherings will be widely ignored, just as it was widely ignored last year.  —  It's hard to imagine anything more helpful to anti-vax propagandists …