The Supreme Court has temporarily allowed the Trump administration to withhold approximately $4 billion needed to fully fund the food aid program, SNAP, for November. This action, a stay issued by Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, gives a lower court more time to consider the administration’s request for partial funding, which was initially prompted by a judge’s order to fully fund the program. The administration argued that fully funding SNAP would cause “shutdown chaos”, while the judge accused the administration of withholding benefits for “political reasons” after the administration previously stated they would only provide $4.65 billion in emergency funding. The legal battle stemmed from the administration’s decision to provide only partial funding for SNAP amid the federal government shutdown.
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Disgraced former Congressman George Santos announced his intention to leave New York City following Zohran Mamdani’s mayoral election victory. This statement came after Santos was pardoned and freed from jail by Donald Trump after a conviction for wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. His initial reaction to Mamdani’s win on social media was an expletive-laden rant against Republican candidate Curtis Sliwa. Santos’s abrupt departure from NYC was met with mixed reactions from his followers.
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A federal judge in Oregon has issued a permanent injunction preventing the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard in Portland to address protests against immigration policies. The judge, appointed during Trump’s term, ruled that the deployment was unjustified because there was no rebellion or inability to execute federal laws. Oregon officials and the California Attorney General celebrated the decision, calling Trump’s actions an abuse of power and a win for the rule of law. The Justice Department, however, immediately appealed the ruling, arguing the deployment was necessary to address violence and protect federal personnel and property, and the case remains ongoing.
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During a White House meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, President Trump reacted strongly to questions about affordability, dismissing concerns as a “con job” by Democrats. He insisted prices were “way down” and claimed the U.S. had more jobs and investment than any other country in history. Despite this, recent data showed rising consumer prices, including for gas, food, and energy. This response reflects the sensitivity surrounding the issue as Democrats capitalized on economic anxieties during recent elections.
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Responding to questions about a court ruling concerning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Trump emphasized the need for national “liquidity” to address potential crises, seemingly indicating his administration’s reluctance to fully fund the program. This stance appears to be a veiled criticism of “tax and spend” policies, attempting to deflect from the fact that his administration is defying court rulings. The national debt has been increasing at an alarming rate, especially with the current government shutdown costing the country billions weekly, despite Trump’s claim about spending. Trump’s claims are ironic since his presidency has also had a high cost to the country.
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House Speaker Mike Johnson stated he is prepared to “let this process play out” instead of negotiating with Democrats to end the government shutdown. Johnson refused to commit to a vote on extending Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, despite growing economic hardship for Americans, including rising healthcare premiums. Democrats criticized Johnson’s stance, with advocates like Leslie Dach condemning his lack of action as the shutdown continues. While the Senate plans a vote on a temporary funding plan that includes a promise of a future vote on the ACA tax credits, it’s unlikely to gain Democratic support.
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In a recent ruling, a federal judge found the Department of Education infringed upon the First Amendment rights of its employees. The judge, an appointee of former President Obama, determined that the department unconstitutionally compelled employees’ speech. The ruling stemmed from the Department’s use of out-of-office messages, which included partisan language blaming Democrats for the government shutdown. Consequently, the court barred the administration from altering these messages to include partisan speech for union members.
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A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to fully fund SNAP benefits for 42 million Americans by Friday. However, the Justice Department immediately appealed this decision. The judge ruled the USDA’s initial plan to provide partial payments violated his previous directive, emphasizing the harmful consequences of delaying benefits. The judge also criticized Trump’s intent to defy the court order, despite the White House’s attempts to clarify its position. Following the ruling, the administration’s actions were met with strong criticism from various groups who insisted the administration was playing politics with people’s lives.
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During a White House dinner with central Asian countries, President Trump deferred to JD Vance when facing questions from the media. Trump had previously displayed signs of fatigue during a press conference on the same day, where he appeared to nod off. Vance responded on the president’s behalf regarding the Abraham Accords and food stamp funding, providing answers to reporters. Trump later interjected, criticizing former President Biden’s handling of food stamp benefits. This behavior followed Trump’s earlier appearance where he appeared to doze off, prompting criticism and social media posts.
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In Kansas, Coldwater Mayor Joe Ceballos has been charged with multiple counts of illegal voting. The charges, filed by Attorney General Kris Kobach and Secretary of State Scott Schwab, stem from allegations that Ceballos, a lawful permanent resident from Mexico, voted in the 2022, 2023, and 2024 elections. These charges include voting without being qualified and perjury, as elected officials in Kansas are legally required to be U.S. citizens. Kobach emphasized that noncitizen voting occurs more frequently than perceived, and the legal system relies on the honesty of those registering and participating in elections.
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John Q. Hosedrinker
Trump, 79, Appears Sleepy, Has JD Vance Answer Questions
During a White House dinner with central Asian countries, President Trump deferred to JD Vance when facing questions from the media. Trump had previously displayed signs of fatigue during a press conference on the same day, where he appeared to nod off. Vance responded on the president’s behalf regarding the Abraham Accords and food stamp funding, providing answers to reporters. Trump later interjected, criticizing former President Biden’s handling of food stamp benefits. This behavior followed Trump’s earlier appearance where he appeared to doze off, prompting criticism and social media posts.
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