Above the Fold

**RIP:** Powerful Democrat congressman Elijah Cummings has died of complications from longstanding health problems ([Associated Press](https://apnews.com/472ab99bda374c3ba906366d2f0a6d00))

POLITICAL THEATER: Democrats storm out of Syria meeting with Trump: “We have to pray for his health” (Fox News)

Government & Politics

**FRAUD, PART I:** Estimated cost of Sanders-Warren healthcare plan rises to an inevitably still conservative estimate of $34 trillion ([Washington Examiner](https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/estimated-cost-of-sanders-warren-healthcare-plan-rises-to-34-trillion))

FRAUD, PART II: Elizabeth Warren scrubs DNA test video from Twitter (The Washington Free Beacon)

FRAUD, PART III: Ilhan Omar continues to divert campaign funds to alleged boyfriend’s company (The Daily Caller)

National Security

**AID RESTORED:** Trump administration to reinstate aid to Central American countries that signed asylum deals ([The Daily Caller](https://dailycaller.com/2019/10/16/trump-aid-central-america-asylum/))

GAME OF CHESS: Turkey’s NATO status complicates U.S. response to Erdogan’s Syria incursion (The Washington Times)

Culture & Heartland

**SANITY PICK-SIX:** Youth football coach faces possible $500 fine for team’s blowout win ([NBC Philadelphia](https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Local-Youth-Football-League-Coach-Possible-Fine-Blow-Out-Eagles-Torrey-Smith-563079911.html))

PLOT TWIST: Cop who fatally shot black woman wasn’t sent on welfare check (New York Post)

Other Notables

**BREXIT DEAL DOA?** “Negotiators from the U.K. and EU reached a draft Brexit deal in 11th-hour talks Thursday, although there are serious doubts that the agreement will be approved by U.K. lawmakers back in Westminster.” ([CNBC](https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/17/uk-and-eu-agree-on-new-brexit-deal-boris-johnson-says.html))

Closing Arguments

**POLICY:** U.S. must prevent rise of new ISIS caliphate in Syria following our troop withdrawal ([The Daily Signal](https://www.dailysignal.com/2019/10/17/us-must-prevent-rise-of-new-isis-caliphate-in-syria-following-our-troop-withdrawal/))

POLICY: House Democrats’ new bill would drive up college costs even further (The Daily Signal)

HUMOR: In response to question about raising taxes, Elizabeth Warren comes out as a gay man (The Babylon Bee)

For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit In Our Sights.

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