A recent CNN/SSRS survey reveals a significant drop in Donald Trump’s approval rating, with only 37% of Americans approving of his performance, while 63% disapprove. The survey, conducted in late October, also indicates that a majority of Americans, 68%, believe things are going badly in the US, with economic concerns and the state of American democracy being the most pressing issues. Furthermore, the poll shows that a majority of those surveyed believe Trump has gone too far in using his presidential powers, raising concerns amid his actions.
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Jury selection is set to begin Monday in the federal trial of a D.C. man accused of assaulting a federal agent with a Subway sandwich in August. The defendant, Sean Dunn, faces a misdemeanor assault charge after a grand jury declined to indict him on a felony count, prompting debate over jury instructions regarding the legal definition of assault. Key legal issues include the defendant’s claim of vindictive prosecution and a motion by prosecutors to prevent jury nullification by restricting the defense from introducing certain evidence or arguments about the case’s political context and penalties. Prosecutors are concerned about the potential for jury nullification due to the circumstances surrounding the arrest and the case’s political nature.
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The Trump administration is reportedly planning ground operations on Mexican soil against drug cartels, with personnel from the Pentagon’s Joint Special Operations Command and the CIA already in training. These covert missions, if authorized, would involve drone strikes and represent a significant escalation in the ongoing “armed conflict” with cartels, which the President has deemed “unlawful combatants”. This development follows the designation of cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and the declaration of an “armed conflict,” potentially further complicating relations with the Mexican government, who has stated they will not permit unilateral action by American military personnel. While discussions continue on the scope of the missions, the operations, if approved, would be conducted under Title 50, providing a legal framework for covert intelligence activities.
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Grocery prices are, in fact, not down, despite claims to the contrary. Recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that grocery prices are up 2.7 percent compared to the previous September, and 1.4 percent higher than when Trump returned to office. Overall, grocery prices have increased almost 30 percent in the last five years. These false statements are particularly egregious, as the president campaigned on lowering prices, and his policies have demonstrably impacted consumers.
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CBS omitted a section of Donald Trump’s “60 Minutes” interview where he boasted about receiving a multi-million dollar payout from Paramount, the network’s parent company, potentially to avoid embarrassment. This omission followed a settlement where CBS paid Trump $16 million to settle a suit alleging deceptive editing of a previous interview. The merger of Paramount-Skydance, now led by the son of a Trump ally, was approved shortly after the settlement, sparking criticism of CBS’s actions. The network has since undergone restructuring, including the appointment of conservative figures and an ombudsman, raising concerns about potential bias and a shift in editorial direction.
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President Trump suggested that New York City’s federal funding could be jeopardized if Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist, wins the mayoral election. Trump labeled Mamdani a “communist” during a 60 Minutes interview, implying he would be hesitant to provide funding to a city led by someone with those political views. Trump also stated he would prefer the disgraced former governor Andrew Cuomo over Mamdani and indicated he may deploy troops to the city, echoing previous actions in other Democrat-led cities. Federal grants are a major source of revenue for New York City, which supports a number of essential services.
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The Trump administration is reportedly planning a new mission involving U.S. troops and intelligence officers operating inside Mexico to target drug cartels. Early training for this potential operation, including ground operations, has commenced, although a deployment is not imminent. The mission would involve drone strikes and operate under the authority of the U.S. intelligence community, potentially circumventing direct coordination with the Mexican government. This shift represents a departure from previous administrations’ support roles and could escalate the military campaign against cartels in the Western Hemisphere.
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President Trump announced that the United States and Canada would not be restarting trade talks following an apology from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. The apology was made in response to an Ontario political advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Trump considered the advertisement to be inaccurate, and had previously paused negotiations and increased tariffs on Canada due to the ad. The advertisement used a quote from Reagan, a known supporter of free trade, to warn against tariffs.
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In August 2022, the FBI conducted a surprise raid on Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate, uncovering highly sensitive classified documents. Internal discussions revealed the gravity of the materials, including those detailing covert operations, and the potential risk to national security. The Justice Department, initially hesitant due to Trump’s position, faced the dilemma of how to proceed. Ultimately, a special counsel was appointed, leading to Trump’s indictment on felony counts related to the mishandling of these records.
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Donald Trump expressed sympathy for the royal family while aboard Air Force One, regarding the situation surrounding former Prince Andrew. Trump commented on the situation after Buckingham Palace announced Andrew would be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, marking a significant change. Trump’s remarks follow the increased scrutiny of Andrew’s association with Jeffrey Epstein and the stripping of his royal titles and military titles. The former president has a history with both Epstein and Andrew, having previously described both men in positive terms despite growing controversy.
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John Q. Hosedrinker