• Now that Microsoft has separated itself from MSNBC.com (save for a content-sharing arrangement), one of its first orders of business is to launch a new news operation, according to Mashable. “Staffers in Redmond, Wash. and New York will be responsible for 24/7 news coverage, largely made up of short, 300 to 500-word ‘news bites,’ and supplemented by content from Reuters and AP. ‘We’re going to look to take on other content partners as well,’ he added.”

• Over the weekend we noted that CNN is launching a swing state series courtesy of contributor John Avlon. Turns out that FNC’s Bret Baier has had a regular segment since July of this year called ‘Counties that Count,’ and it sounds an awful lot like the one CNN is launching. As it happens, Baier is also in Colorado this week anchoring his program, where he will be doing his segment.

• Tomorrow morning is the day that Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert serves as a guest co-ahost on ABC’s “Good Morning America.” Says “GMA” EP Tom Cibrowski:

Can’t wait—@stephenathome taking over @gma tomorrow as co-host! Its going to get wild and crazy, some real surprises planned!

— Tom Cibrowski (@Cibski) October 1, 2012