Google This: The Justice Department has filed an anti-trust lawsuit against Google, accusing the tech giant of having a monopoly over internet search engines and advertising. It’s the biggest tech lawsuits since the government sued Microsoft in 1998.

  Google, for instance, has paid billions of dollars to Apple to make Google the default search engine for iPhones, quashing competition. Steve Lohr writes for The NY Times, “Under existing antitrust laws, a company is a violator if it has used restrictive contracts to protect its dominant position, undermining competition and thus harming consumers.” 

  Predictably, Google says there’s no danger to the public. “This lawsuit would do nothing to help consumers,” the company said in a statement on its website. “To the contrary, it would artificially prop up lower-quality search alternatives, raise phone prices, and make it harder for people to get the search services they want to use.”

  Alphabet, the international company that owns Google, has fought similar lawsuits in Europe.

Not Stimulating: Senate Majority leader Mitch McConnell has advised the White House not to make a deal on an economic stimulus bill before the election. President Trump has been pushing for a deal, in part to rescue his flailing re-election campaign.

  Lack of a deal before the election increases the possibility that there will be no stimulus bill until after the new Congress is installed and the presidential inauguration, January 20^th.  

  Some Republicans tell The NY Times  that McConnell fears dealing with a stimulus bill will stall the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court.

  While being vague on the timing, McConnell told reporter, “If a presidentially supported bill clears the House, at some point we’ll bring it to the floor.” 

  Paul Krugman writes for The NY Times, “So here’s what everyone should understand: Given the current and likely future state of the U.S. economy, it’s time to (a) spend a lot of money on the future and (b) not worry about where the money is coming from. For now, and for at least the next few years, large-scale deficit spending isn’t just OK, it’s the only responsible thing to do.”

Viral News: Another 949 Americans died of the coronavirus in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 221,083. New cases are up 36 percent as President Trump tells campaign crowds, “We’re rounding the corner.”

  It’s hitting hard in the West and Midwest right now. States with the most cases per capita are the Dakotas, Montana, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Iowa.

The Day the Music Died: Tony Lewis, English singer for the group Outfield who sang lead on the bouncy 1986 hit, “Your Love,” has died at 62. “I just want to use your love tonight. I don’t want to lose your love tonight.” No cause of death was given — Spencer Davis, lead guitarist for the British Spencer Davis Group known for the hits “Gimme Some Lovin” and “I’m A Man,” has died at age 81 of pneumonia. “I’m a man, yes I am and I can’t help but love you so.”

The Vote: The US has hit 70 percent of 2016 pre-election voting with nearly 38 million votes already cast.  The vote so far is 2-1 Democrat in states that take note, but Republicans also tell pollsters they are more likely to vote in person.

  Trump is losing big right now in the money poll. With two weeks to go, his campaign has $63 million;  Joe Biden, $177 million.

Tick, Tick, Tick: After cutting off an interview session early, President Trump attacked “60 Minutes” correspondent Lesley Stahl on Twitter for not wearing a mask in the White House minutes later. Let’s remember that Trump has had the virus. He tweeted along with a six-second video, “Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes not wearing a mask in the White House after her interview with me. Much more to come.” 

 He later tweeted, “For the sake of accuracy in reporting, I am considering posting my interview with Lesley Stahl of 60 Minutes, PRIOR TO AIRTIME! This will be done so that everybody can get a glimpse of what a FAKE and BIASED interview is all about…”

 Can it be fake if it actually happened?

The Boys of October: The World Series began last night with the Los Angeles Dodgers beating  Tampa Bay 8-3 in Arlington, Texas. Dodger pitcher Clayton Kershaw struck out eight batters, allowing just one run over six innings. Game two is tonight, also in Texas.

The Bulletin Board: Former National Republican chairman Michael Steele has endorsed Democrat Joe Biden for president. — Melania Trump cancelled what would have been her first campaign rally appearance in a year saying she has a lingering cough from the coronavirus. — Conservative radio host Rush Limbaugh says his lung cancer is terminal. — Stock for the maker of the spray lubricant WD-40 jumped 10 percent yesterday on increased sales because people are staying home and making the door hinges stop squeaking. 

The Coming of the Lord: Televangelist Pat Robertson has said that, “According to what I believe the Lord told me, the President is going to be re-elected … but it’s going to lead to civil unrest of great proportion, then a war against Israel and so forth and so on.”

  That’s not what Nate Silver’s 538 website says.

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