A federal judge temporarily stopped the Trump administration from stopping Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the government shutdown. Over 40 million low-income Americans rely on SNAP, which gives money for food. The judge ruled the plan to halt the program was likely against the law.
Key Facts
A Rhode Island federal judge issued a temporary order to block the administration's plan.
SNAP benefits help more than 40 million low-income Americans buy food.
The SNAP program gives people cards to buy groceries, with a typical family of four receiving about $715 a month.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture said they couldn't distribute funds in November due to the shutdown.
States use federal money to manage SNAP, but the government has been shut down since October 1st.
Some states plan to use their funds to cover shortages, but they might not get reimbursed.
Half of the U.S. states sued the administration, asking to use emergency funds for SNAP.
A Massachusetts judge told the administration to use a $6 billion emergency fund for the program.
A federal judge has stopped the Trump administration from making voters prove they are citizens. Several other news events include the rising death toll from Hurricane Melissa and redistricting plans in Ohio and Virginia. Additionally, the FBI stopped a possible terrorist attack in Michigan.
Key Facts
A judge halted a Trump administration order that required voters to prove their citizenship.
Hurricane Melissa has caused at least 50 deaths in Haiti and Jamaica.
Ohio and Virginia are working on new district maps for upcoming elections.
The FBI has prevented a potential terrorist attack in Michigan.
The Trump administration is sending election monitors to New Jersey and California to watch over ongoing elections. This decision has sparked debate, with some state leaders saying it could be seen as intimidation, but officials point out that sending monitors is a common practice.
Key Facts
The Justice Department is sending election monitors to California and New Jersey.
Monitors will be in Passaic County, New Jersey, and five counties in California.
The goal is to ensure transparency and secure voting procedures.
State leaders like California's Governor and Attorney General have criticized the move.
Sending election monitors is not new; past administrations have done it too.
Critics worry it may intimidate voters.
Experts say the monitors are there only to observe the election process.
President Donald Trump instructed government lawyers to seek court guidance on legally funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) during the government shutdown. The SNAP funding deadline is November 1, and nearly 42 million Americans rely on this assistance. President Trump blamed Democrats for the government closure and urged them to reopen it.
Key Facts
President Trump wants clarity from the court on how SNAP can be funded legally.
The decision is urgent because the SNAP funding deadline is November 1.
Approximately 42 million Americans use SNAP benefits.
There are conflicting court opinions about the legal use of available funds for SNAP.
President Trump criticized Democrats for not reopening the government, attributing delays to them.
He encourages Americans affected by SNAP to pressure Senate Democrats to end the shutdown.
President Trump expressed willingness to provide SNAP funding if legally possible.
President Trump has called for the Senate to remove the filibuster to help end the government shutdown. The filibuster requires 60 out of 100 senators to agree before most bills can move forward. Removing it, known as the "Nuclear Option," would allow Republicans to pass legislation more easily.
Key Facts
President Trump wants the Senate to get rid of the filibuster.
The filibuster stops most bills unless 60 senators agree to proceed.
The government shutdown has been ongoing for a month.
Trump believes ending the filibuster will help end the shutdown quickly.
The "Nuclear Option" refers to removing the filibuster rules.
Some Republicans oppose removing the filibuster as it may weaken their influence in the future.
The filibuster can promote compromise between parties.
An Afghan man applying for asylum in the United States has been detained by immigration authorities. This is happening amid new policies that reduce both illegal and legal immigration into the U.S., including setting a low limit on refugees allowed each year.
Key Facts
An Afghan man seeking asylum in the U.S. has been detained.
The U.S. government is reducing both illegal and legal immigration.
The current refugee entry limit is set at 7,500 per year, the lowest ever.
More than 2.2 million migrants are waiting for asylum hearings.
The report includes an interview with a family member of the detained asylum seeker.
David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart discussed the political events of the week. This includes the United States government shutdown approaching a critical deadline, President Trump's idea to deploy federal troops to more cities, and important elections happening next week.
Key Facts
The discussion is about political events in the United States.
The government shutdown is reaching a date when it could affect benefits.
President Trump is considering sending federal troops to more cities.
There are key elections happening next week in the United States.
Both David Brooks and Jonathan Capehart shared their views on these topics.
Representative Nancy Mace, a South Carolina Republican, addressed reports of her using inappropriate language at police and TSA staff at an airport. The incident happened at Charleston International Airport, and it is unclear if any disciplinary actions will follow. Mace, who is running for governor, links her actions to standard security procedures for Congress members.
Key Facts
Nancy Mace is a South Carolina congresswoman and is running for governor in 2026.
The incident took place at Charleston International Airport, where she reportedly used offensive language.
Mace said she used an entrance typically available to all Congress members.
It is currently unclear if TSA or airport police will take action against Mace.
Mace has gained attention for her political actions and support of President Donald Trump.
The incident adds to the scrutiny faced by airport security during a government shutdown.
Mace claimed the media misreported details of the incident and accused a rival candidate of spying on her at the airport.
A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump cannot add a requirement for U.S. citizenship proof to the federal voter registration form. The judge stated that the President does not have the authority to make such changes, which are managed by Congress and the states.
Key Facts
A federal judge decided that President Trump cannot enforce a citizenship proof requirement for voter registration.
The ruling sided with Democratic and civil rights groups that opposed Trump's executive order.
The judge said the proof-of-citizenship requirement is unconstitutional because it breaches separation of powers.
The President cannot change election rules, which are controlled by states and Congress.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission is banned from adding the citizenship proof requirement.
Attempts to pass similar citizenship requirements have faced many difficulties.
Such requirements have caused confusion and problems in states like New Hampshire and Kansas.
The lawsuit will continue to address other parts of Trump's election order.
President Trump wants to end the filibuster, a Senate rule, to speed up government decision-making. The filibuster requires 60 votes to pass most laws, but ending it could allow a simple majority to decide. Many Republicans do not support ending the filibuster because it could backfire if Democrats gain control.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump demands the end of the filibuster to reopen the government.
The filibuster requires 60 votes to pass most Senate legislation.
Ending the filibuster would let a simple majority of senators pass bills.
Republicans have 53 seats, which could allow them to pass bills without Democratic votes if the filibuster is removed.
The "nuclear option" is a way to end the filibuster by changing Senate rule interpretation.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune opposes ending the filibuster, saying it forces compromise.
Many Republicans worry ending the filibuster could harm them if Democrats control the Senate in the future.
A federal judge ruled against President Donald Trump's order to require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration. The judge decided that this requirement was not within the president's authority and stopped its enforcement.
Key Facts
President Trump's order was intended to add proof of citizenship to federal voter registration forms.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly made the ruling in Washington, D.C.
The judge said that Congress and individual states have the power to regulate elections, not the president.
The decision stops the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from enforcing the citizenship proof requirement.
The ruling is seen as a major obstacle to Trump's plans to change the election system.
Democratic and civil rights groups challenged Trump's directive, saying it exceeded his powers.
A proposed measure in California, called Proposition 50, seeks to change the congressional district map to favor Democrats, possibly gaining them more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. This initiative comes as a response to similar redistricting efforts by Republicans in Texas. The outcome of this vote could impact future elections, including the 2026 midterms.
Key Facts
Proposition 50 is a ballot measure in California.
It aims to give Democrats five more seats in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Republicans in Texas have also redrawn their congressional map to benefit their party.
The measure could influence the 2026 midterm elections.
President Trump has criticized Proposition 50, calling it "dishonest."
Former President Barack Obama supports the measure, highlighting its national significance.
California Governor Gavin Newsom supports Proposition 50 to counteract Republican redistricting efforts.
Republicans currently have a slight majority in the House with 219 seats.
In several U.S. locations, the trick-or-treating schedule for Halloween has changed due to weather and local events. Most places postponed the activity by a day to ensure safety. Kids in these areas will still celebrate, just on a different day.
Key Facts
Trick-or-treating was rescheduled in various U.S. cities mainly because of weather concerns.
Avon, Ohio, moved trick-or-treating to Thursday to avoid a conflict with football games.
In Pennsylvania, several towns shifted the event to November 1 due to weather.
Waukon, Iowa, changed its schedule to avoid sports events on Friday night.
Toms River, New Jersey, rescheduled to accommodate a Halloween parade and bad weather.
The changes aim to keep children safe and ensure they can enjoy the tradition.
Two immigrants in Chicago have filed a lawsuit against the US Department of Homeland Security. The lawsuit claims they faced harsh treatment and were denied legal help at a local immigration facility. The lawsuit highlights overcrowding and poor conditions, which have reportedly worsened under President Trump's immigration policies.
Key Facts
Two immigrants in Chicago, Pablo Moreno Gonzalez and Felipe Agustin Zamacona, filed the lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed against senior officials, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and ICE Director Todd Lyons.
The ACLU and the MacArthur Justice Center are involved in the case.
The immigration facility in question is located in Broadview, Chicago.
Since January, the facility has held around 5,202 people.
President Trump's immigration crackdown has reportedly increased the number of detainees.
The lawsuit claims overcrowding, inadequate food, and poor living conditions.
The Broadview facility was originally meant for short-term detention but is being used for longer stays due to policy changes.
Louisiana has set aside money to help people who rely on federal SNAP benefits, which provide food assistance. However, only certain residents in the state will receive this extra support.
Key Facts
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps people buy food.
About 1 in 5 people in Louisiana use SNAP to help them get food.
Louisiana has allocated extra funds to support people while they wait for their federal benefits.
Not all residents who qualify for SNAP in Louisiana will get this additional state help.
The announcement comes just before federal SNAP benefits are deposited into people's accounts.
A federal judge has told the Trump administration that they have until Monday to decide if they will pay some SNAP food benefits. Millions might lose this aid starting tomorrow.
Key Facts
A federal judge is involved in a case related to SNAP food benefits.
The Trump administration must make a decision by Monday.
SNAP stands for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps people buy food.
Millions of people might not get SNAP benefits starting tomorrow.
The judge's order is related to whether partial benefits will be paid.
Some U.S. troops are getting paid today after President Trump made a commitment. However, the National Guard is facing more challenges due to a government shutdown.
Key Facts
President Donald Trump ensured some U.S. troops received their pay today.
The ongoing government shutdown is causing problems for military payments.
The National Guard is experiencing extra issues beyond what regular troops face.
Payments to the military are currently under pressure due to budget constraints.
The situation may affect future payments if the shutdown continues.
Interns working for members of the U.S. House of Representatives have been furloughed. This means they are temporarily not working and will not be paid during this time.
Key Facts
Interns working for U.S. House members are affected by a furlough.
Furloughed means workers are temporarily laid off and do not receive a paycheck.
This situation affects federal workers, including interns.
These interns had hopes of gaining work experience in House offices.
The furlough is part of a larger situation impacting many federal employees.
Representative Jasmine Crockett from Texas is considering running for a Senate seat as polls show she might be popular in the Democratic primary. Democrats are focusing on states like Texas in the upcoming Senate elections to try to gain a majority. Crockett currently leads in a poll of the Democratic primary, but trails Republican candidates in general election polls.
Key Facts
Jasmine Crockett is a Democrat from Texas and a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
She is thinking about running for a Senate seat in the 2024 elections.
Crockett is known for opposing President Donald Trump and Republicans.
In a Democratic primary poll, Crockett leads with 31% of respondents supporting her.
Crockett trails Republican candidates like John Cornyn in general election polls.
The poll by Texas Public Opinion Research showed Crockett with 26% backing in the primary, while Beto O'Rourke led with 27%.
The poll surveyed 843 registered voters with a margin of error of 4.6 percentage points.
A legal disagreement between President Trump's administration and state and local governments has caused uncertainty for millions of Americans who depend on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for food assistance. Many people are unsure when they will receive their next SNAP payments due to this funding issue.
Key Facts
There is a legal dispute over funding for SNAP between the federal government and local governments.
The uncertainty affects millions of Americans who rely on SNAP benefits.
SNAP helps people buy food when they can't afford it.
Tina Gigioli, who lost her job, is affected by the delay in benefits.
Her job loss was due to budget cuts at an educational tech company.
She applied for SNAP benefits after her severance pay ended.
