FiveThirtyEight’s top stories this week

A [FiveThirtyEight]( email [Popular This Week] Sunday, October 29, 2017 [1. The Worst Tweeter In Politics Isn’t Trump]( Three things can happen to a tweet once you send it into the world: It can get retweeted, it can get liked, and it can get replied to. Any of these can be nice, like a little food pellet from the digital universe, proof that someone out there is paying attention. But sometimes instead of giving you food pellets, the universe is flinging pebbles at you. If the replies stack up, outpacing the retweets and the likes, you may have a problem. Your tweet may be a bad tweet. [Read more]( [2. The First FBI Crime Report Issued Under Trump Is Missing A Ton Of Info]( Every year, the FBI releases a report that is considered the gold standard for tracking crime statistics in the United States: the Crime in the United States report, a collection of crime statistics gathered from over 18,000 law-enforcement agencies in cities around the country. But according to an analysis by FiveThirtyEight, the 2016 Crime in the United States report — the first released under President Trump’s administration — contains close to 70 percent fewer data tables [Read more]( [3. This World Series Just Might Have The Two Best Teams]( When the World Series opens Tuesday between the Houston Astros and the Los Angeles Dodgers, it will be a fitting final act for one of the most stacked postseasons ever. Both LA and Houston posted triple-digit wins during the regular season — just the eighth time two such clubs have ever met in a Fall Classic, and the first since 1970 — and both looked historically dominant at various moments during the season. In a decade filled with World Series matchups that seemed mediocre on paper, this should be one of MLB’s most pedigreed championship clashes in recent memory. [Read more]( [4. How Does Jeff Flake’s Retirement Change The Arizona Senate Race?]( Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake, an ardent critic of President Trump, announced Tuesday that he will not run for re-election in 2018. Flake, a Republican, was arguably the most vulnerable senator of either party who was up for re-election next year because he was almost certain to face strong challenges from both the right (in the GOP primary) and the left (in the general election). [Read more]( [5. The ‘Last Hurrah Caucus’ Now Has The Power To Kill Trump’s Agenda In The Senate]( Republicans still have a majority of seats in the U.S. Senate. But they may no longer have a real governing majority on every issue. [Read more]( [6. Will The GOP Pass Anything Before Midterms?]( In this week’s politics chat, we discuss what major legislation, if any, Republicans in Washington can pass. The transcript below has been lightly edited. [Read more]( [7. Giannis Antetokounmpo Looks Like A Freaking MVP]( MILWAUKEE — All Marvin Williams could do was shake his head from the sideline. [Read more]( [8. Game 2 Was A Lesson In How Not To Manage A Bullpen]( Game 2 of the World Series was a wild roller-coaster ride that saw both the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers battle back from two-run deficits in the late innings, before the Astros finally won in the 11th. Along the way, it was also a showcase for the many different ways a manager can botch his bullpen management. [Read more]( [9. What Would Happen If There Were No Number 6?]( The questions that kids ask about science aren’t always easy to answer. Sometimes, their little brains can lead to big places that adults forget to explore. That is what inspired our series Science Question From A Toddler, which uses kids’ curiosity as a jumping-off point to investigate the scientific wonders that adults don’t even think to ask about. The answers are for adults, but they wouldn’t be possible without the wonder that only a child can bring. I want the toddlers in your life to be a part of it! Send me their science questions, and they may serve as the inspiration for a column. And now, our toddler … [Read more]( [10. Calm Down About Those Virginia Polls, Folks]( Welcome to Pollapalooza, our weekly polling roundup. Today’s theme song: “Sister, Sister” from the television show “Sister, Sister.” [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Weekly Listen [Play]( [Politics Podcast: Could A Democrat Actually Win In Alabama?]( Lastly, The Riddler Edited by Oliver Roeder From Harry Smythe, an equine job interview question from his days working at an investment bank: You, a very wealthy aristocrat, own 25 horses. You’re bored one day (you’re bored everyday) and decide to amuse yourself by identifying the three fastest horses in your stable. However, your personal racetrack is severely lacking in capacity, and you can only race five horses at a time. What is the minimum number of races you’ll need to organize to identify your three fastest horses? [Solve it!]( [FiveThirtyEight] [View in browser]( [ESPN]( [Unsubscribe]( Our mailing address: FiveThirtyEight, 147 Columbus Avenue, New York, NY 10023.