As part of a government initiative to combat violence against women and girls, online pornography depicting strangulation or suffocation will be outlawed. This decision follows a review highlighting the normalization of choking in mainstream porn and its potential impact on young people. Amendments to the Crime and Policing Bill will criminalize both possessing and publishing such content, with online platforms mandated to detect and remove it. The Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) emphasized that this move elevates choking in pornography to a “priority offence” under the Online Safety Act, akin to child sexual abuse material and terrorism content.
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President Trump declared that November food stamps will be withheld until the government reopens, as stated in a Truth Social post. This decision contradicts previous court rulings from federal judges in Rhode Island and Massachusetts, which mandated the administration to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). The USDA has authorized states to begin dispersing benefits, using contingency funds to cover only 50% of eligible households’ current food stamp allotments. However, Democracy Forward has filed a motion to compel the administration to disperse benefits immediately, and legal action remains pending regarding the legality of Trump’s decision.
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In an online address, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized the necessity of robust support from both the European Union and the United States to halt Russia’s aggression. Zelenskyy acknowledged the EU’s assistance with gas imports, equipment, and energy restoration, but stressed the need for combined efforts with the US to deter Putin. He specifically highlighted the importance of US support, including long-range weapons and further sanctions, and expressed hope for engagement from US leadership in this endeavor.
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Flight operations at Reagan National Airport were temporarily halted Tuesday following a security threat targeting United Airlines flight 512, which was arriving from Houston. The plane landed away from the terminal, and passengers were safely deplaned and transported to the terminal while authorities investigated. The FAA confirmed the incident, stating that the aircraft was isolated while law enforcement investigated the reported threat. After a runway closure, operations resumed at 12:50 p.m. with the FBI confirming that no hazards were found and the investigation is ongoing with the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority police.
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As gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey approach, the contests are poised to be the first significant electoral assessment of Trump’s policies. Concurrently, a recent NBC poll indicates a decline in Trump’s approval ratings since the commencement of his second term. Former Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe and former Congresswoman Barbara Comstock are expected to provide insights and analysis on the situation. The upcoming elections and polling data are set to shape the political landscape.
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Amidst the ongoing government shutdown, Senate Republicans have blocked a Democratic effort to fully fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), leaving millions of Americans facing food insecurity. The Democratic resolution, backed by 44 senators, sought to immediately restore SNAP benefits, which had run out of resources. However, the measure was blocked by Republicans, with Senator John Barrasso calling it a “political stunt.” The Trump administration has since announced the use of a USDA contingency fund to partially restore SNAP benefits, though it is only providing approximately half of the needed funding.
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Overnight on November 4, a Lukoil oil refinery in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod Oblast was targeted by Ukrainian drones in a joint operation involving multiple branches of the Ukrainian military. The attack, employing over 50 drones, reportedly struck the refinery during repairs to a critical processing component. Simultaneously, multiple other regions within Russia experienced drone attacks, including sites in Voronezh, Belgorod, Kursk, Lipetsk, Volgograd, Sverdlovsk, and the Republic of Bashkortostan. These attacks align with Ukraine’s strategy of targeting facilities that contribute to Russia’s war effort, including energy infrastructure.
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Department of Transportation might be forced to shut down some airspace next week: Duffy, and the implications are, frankly, unsettling. It’s a stark reality check when we consider that air traffic controllers, the very people responsible for the safety of our skies, are required to work without pay during a government shutdown. The thought of these individuals, burdened with the financial stress of not being compensated for their crucial work, is deeply concerning. How can anyone be expected to maintain the laser focus necessary for such a demanding job when they’re likely worried about their own bills and livelihoods? It’s a recipe for potential disaster, and the thought of it is definitely not reassuring.… Continue reading
On Election Day, authorities in New Jersey investigated multiple bomb threats at polling locations across the state, with threats reported in several counties. All threats were determined to be not credible and appeared to originate from abroad. Law enforcement, along with state and local partners, coordinated to ensure the safety and security of the electoral process, and some locations were reopened quickly or voters were redirected. Officials emphasized that they would not tolerate any attempts to interfere with the election.
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President Trump announced that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits will be withheld until Democrats agree to reopen the government, reversing the USDA’s prior commitment to distribute at least partial benefits. This decision, conveyed via a Truth Social post, contradicts a court order and potentially impacts over 22 million households that rely on SNAP. The USDA, which administers SNAP, had previously stated its ability to provide reduced benefits, but the president’s stance adds further uncertainty to the ongoing government shutdown. Trump attributed the higher SNAP spending to the previous administration.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood