On the Docket

A High-Stakes Climate Case

What’s going on: On Monday, the Supreme Court opened its new term with a case that could define climate change policy for years to come (no pressure, justices). Earlier this year, SCOTUS agreed to hear Suncor v. Boulder, a lawsuit the Colorado city filed against oil titans Suncor and ExxonMobil. Lawyers representing Boulder argue these companies should be held responsible for knowingly exacerbating climate change by marketing and producing their oil and allegedly covering up knowledge of its harms. They say the fossil fuel companies have worsened Colorado’s heat waves and forest fires — and one report found climate change could cost the state $37 billion in damages over the next 25 years. Instead of making residents pay the price, Boulder wants Big Oil to be liable. Suncor and ExxonMobil argue that this isn’t a state issue, but a federal one.

The stakes: If the justices rule that the suit can move forward, it could open the door to dozens of similar lawsuits and cost energy companies billions. That’s ultimately what happened in the 1990s with Big Tobacco, which paid a $206 billion nationwide settlement. Meanwhile, the fossil fuel industry hopes the justices deliver a “death blow” so “there will never, ever be climate change litigation again,” as one law professor told The Guardian. The Supreme Court could also allow parts of the case to move forward or kick it back down to state courts. Big Oil has a powerful ally in the Trump administration, with Justice Department lawyers arguing for the fossil fuel companies in court. But Boulder only needs four justices to side with the city after Justice Samuel Alito recused himself last week because he owns stock in oil companies. Don’t hold your breath on a verdict: Hearings will continue through April, and a decision is expected by July. 

Related: Meet the Mountain Pine Beetle, Another Climate-Fueled Strain on Colorado Forests (ABC News) 

Money

Tired: The Economy, Wired: Also the Economy?

What’s going on: When it comes to the economy, author Brené Brown’s sentiment that whatever you go looking for, you’re certain to find, absolutely applies. On one hand, the news is grim: Friday’s jobs report revealed just 29,000 positions added in September. Unemployment increased to 4.2%, and wage growth is the lowest it’s been since May 2021. Inflation rose to 3.4%, and more Americans are struggling to pay their bills. Other data shows that US household spending rose 6.1% in the 12 months through August, and 401(k) retirement accounts are setting records. Not to mention the poverty rate in 2025 was the lowest it’s been since the Census Bureau began collecting the data. As for the state of the economy, to quote our Facebook relationship status from 2010, “it’s complicated.” 

Vibe check: With less than a month to go before the midterm elections, both political parties are seizing on the conflicting data to make their case. Which is also tough when even a verifiable data point doesn’t tell the whole story: Consumer spending is up, but partially because so are prices. Economists say the disappointing job numbers aren’t atypical for September and indicative of a “low fire, low hire” situation. The stock market keeps breaking records, but President Donald Trump’s polling numbers on the economy are the lowest they’ve ever been. If all these contradictions are making you feel crazy, you’re not alone: welcome to the “boomcession.” Despite the evidence that the economy is booming, the average American just isn’t feeling it, and nobody seems to get the messaging right. As one researcher told The Wall Street Journal, feelings don’t really care about the facts: “The macro numbers look good… spending looks good. And no one is happy.”

Related: Karoline Leavitt Announces New Job at Fox News (USA TODAY)

Alpaca Bag

Llama Llama on Vacation 

What's going on: What are your vacation must-haves? A sunny beach, an exciting new restaurant, a scenic hiking route? For some people, it’s just one thing: llamas. Yes, the fuzzy, long-necked animals that will spit at you if you cross them. According to The New York Times, llamas and alpacas are “increasingly” becoming “a feature of agritourism,” a type of travel that involves visiting working farms and spending time outdoors. Along with booking an Airbnb with alpacas in the backyard or touring a llama farm, animal-loving travelers can hike, practice yoga, go golfing, and attend wine tastings with their new fuzzy friends — or even invite them to their wedding (for a fee, of course). 

Nothing to spit at: This is one effect of the growing agritourism sector, which is set to reach $14.5 billion by 2029. Travelers are driven by a desire to disconnect from their devices, spend time in nature, and of course, pet some adorable animals. For working farms, offering tourism experiences can become a much-needed new income stream. Travel publications are leaning into the “llamacation” trend; one Travel + Leisure guide lists a rural hotel’s attractions as “an on-site spa, two award-winning restaurants, and a pack of resident llamas and alpacas.” As for the spit attacks, they’ll only happen if provoked. 

Related: The US Is Becoming a Nation of Cat People (The Washington Post gift link)

Together with Rula

Match Made

A recent Instagram poll revealed that 15% of you say finding a therapist takes forever, and 11% worry you won’t vibe with whoever you land on. 

Thankfully, Rula gets it — searching for the right fit shouldn’t feel like online dating with worse odds. On Rula, you can match with a licensed therapist or psychiatric provider from a network of 22,000+ providers across 170+ specialties, and if the first match isn’t it, switching is easy. 

Plus, when you book your first session, you’ll get a $50 Taskrabbit credit^† so you can cross something off your to-do list, just in time for World Mental Health Day on October 10.

Quick Hits

✏️ A woman proposed to her partner by creating a customized New York Times crossword puzzle. OK, but what if you’re really bad at crosswords?

🍁 Three chefs agreed on the best maple syrup, which also doubles as one of the best finds at Costco. That membership really does pay for itself.

♥️ Skimm’rs — including Snooki — showed that their love for Josh Hartnett still continues, 25 years after Pearl Harbor sparked a WWII obsession in a generation of teenage girls.

💇 Gigi Hadid went to Paris Fashion Week wearing a zigzag headband that looks like it came straight from the early ‘00s. We didn’t know how chic we were back then.

👻 Haunted car washes are now a thing, and honestly, this is the kind of festive and efficient multitasking we’re looking for in life. 

🪣 Finally, we know what was in Nickelodeon’s original slime recipe. If you like vanilla pudding, you might like this.

🏈 This game-changing hack makes it easier to bounce back after fall football tailgates and cozy wine nights.*

Amazon Prime Big Deal Days

Amazon’s Prime Big Deal Days are here, and we all know what that means. (Stocking up on basics and things you’ve been meaning to buy.) Check out:

• A restock on vitamins, like this one that supports muscle relaxation

• A plant-based protein powder that’s been tested for heavy metals 

• What to mix into your water to make hydration a habit and a gut-friendly prebiotic soda

• Our favorite sunscreen of all time, no exaggeration

• Deep-pocket sheets that’ll stay put

• A waterproof, portable speaker you can gift come the holidays