A federal judge in San Francisco will decide whether to stop mass layoffs of federal employees initiated by the Trump administration during the ongoing government shutdown. The judge previously issued a temporary pause on these layoffs, affecting employees represented by unions who have sued the administration. The Trump administration argues that the court does not have the right to handle the case and that the unions have not proven they are being harmed.
Key Facts
A judge in San Francisco is reviewing whether to permanently stop federal employee layoffs during the government shutdown.
The temporary order paused layoffs affecting several federal employee unions.
The Trump administration argues the court can't handle the case and no harm has been shown.
Around 4,000 federal employees have received layoff notices since the shutdown began on October 1.
The judge expanded the temporary pause to include more unions.
President Trump is trying to reduce the federal workforce quickly.
Employees have reported stress and health problems due to the layoffs.
Some employees like Mayra Medrano have experienced multiple layoff notices.
Indiana lawmakers plan to start mid-decade redistricting next week. This move comes after President Trump pushed for it to help Republicans in the upcoming midterm elections.
Key Facts
Indiana is starting a mid-decade redistricting process.
Lawmakers in Indiana will meet next week to work on this.
President Trump encouraged this redistricting to assist Republicans.
The goal is to impact next year's midterm elections.
The term "redistricting" refers to redrawing the boundaries of electoral districts.
President Donald Trump stated he will not run for vice president in 2028 but mentioned he would like to serve a third term as president. The U.S. Constitution does not allow more than two presidential terms. He discussed these ideas while traveling on Air Force One and made remarks about potential future candidates.
Key Facts
President Trump said he will not run for vice president in 2028.
He mentioned wanting to serve a third presidential term, even though the U.S. Constitution forbids it.
Some allies have considered legal ways to allow Trump a third term.
Trump rejected the idea of running for vice president as a means to return to presidency.
Constitutional scholars say Trump cannot be vice president due to the 12th Amendment.
Trump spoke about his ideas on Air Force One while traveling from Malaysia to Japan.
Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio were mentioned as possible 2028 presidential candidates.
Trump attended the ASEAN summit in Kuala Lumpur and is traveling to the APEC forum in South Korea.
Senate Republicans are pushing Democrats to reopen the entire U.S. government during a shutdown, rather than addressing parts of it. Key issues include missed paychecks for federal workers and potential funding shortages for the SNAP food assistance program. Senate Democrats are somewhat open to partial reopenings, but the focus remains on broader solutions.
Key Facts
Senate Republicans want Democrats to reopen the entire government, not just parts.
A large federal workers union urged Congress to pass a temporary funding bill.
Some Democrats, including Senators from Georgia, previously joined a vote for military pay.
Many federal workers and U.S. troops are missing paychecks due to the shutdown.
The SNAP food assistance program, helping 42 million low-income people, faces a funding shortfall by November 1.
Senate Democrats express some willingness to support funding specific areas, such as SNAP and air traffic control.
GOP senators are planning a closed-door meeting to discuss their next steps.
Vice President Vance is confirmed to attend the GOP meeting to discuss the situation.
New polls in New England states show leading candidates for the 2028 Democratic presidential primary. California Governor Gavin Newsom, New York Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg are the top contenders in these early polls. These results indicate shifting dynamics in the Democratic field as the party prepares for future elections.
Key Facts
The University of New Hampshire conducted polls in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire.
In Maine, Newsom received 16%, Ocasio-Cortez 15%, and Buttigieg 14%.
In Vermont, Ocasio-Cortez and Newsom each got 17%, with Buttigieg at 16%.
In New Hampshire, Buttigieg led with 19%, followed by Newsom at 15%, and Ocasio-Cortez at 14%.
Kamala Harris is among the top five contenders in each state but has not declared a presidential run.
No candidate has a clear lead across all surveys, indicating an open race.
Gavin Newsom mentioned he may consider running for president after the 2026 midterms.
Vice President JD Vance is the leading Republican in these states' polls.
The largest federal workers union in the U.S. called for Democrats to pass a Republican bill to reopen the government. This request did not receive strong support from D.C.-area Democrats, who believe they have leverage in the ongoing shutdown and expect Republicans to negotiate.
Key Facts
The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) urged Democrats to pass a Republican bill to end the government shutdown.
AFGE President Everett Kelley called for a "clean" stopgap funding bill.
D.C.-area Democrats are not fully supporting this proposal despite the union's influence.
Some Democrats believe they have an advantage and expect Republicans to negotiate on healthcare and budget cuts.
Critics of the shutdown think it harms federal workers without effective outcomes due to ongoing workforce reductions.
Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin acknowledged the AFGE statement's influence but maintained his stance on the shutdown.
D.C.-area Democrats continue to hear mixed opinions but emphasize not using federal employees as political tools.
The union remains focused on ensuring timely pay for federal employees and advocates against using them as bargaining chips.
A U.S. judge has asked for guarantees that Kilmar Abrego Garcia will not be deported to Liberia while there is a court order stopping his deportation. Abrego Garcia, once deported to El Salvador against a previous court order, faces charges in the U.S. and is seeking asylum. The Trump administration plans to deport him to a third country, which his lawyer argues is unconstitutional.
Key Facts
A judge wants assurance that Abrego Garcia won't be deported to Liberia while a court order barring his deportation is active.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced plans to send Abrego Garcia to Liberia.
Abrego Garcia was previously deported to El Salvador despite a court order, but returned to the U.S. under another judicial order.
He is currently facing human smuggling charges in Tennessee and is seeking to have the case dismissed.
The U.S. administration has accused him of being an MS-13 gang member, but this has not been proven in court.
Abrego Garcia's lawyer claims the deportation plans are unconstitutional due to his lack of ties to Liberia.
Abrego Garcia has filed for asylum in the United States.
The Trump administration has been sending deportees to other countries when they cannot be sent to their home nations.
A judge in Utah decided that Tyler Robinson, who is accused of killing Charlie Kirk, can wear regular clothes during court hearings. This is to avoid influencing the jury. Despite this, Robinson will still wear restraints due to the serious nature of the charges against him.
Key Facts
Tyler Robinson is accused of killing right-wing activist Charlie Kirk.
A judge allows Robinson to wear civilian clothes in court to avoid biasing jurors.
Robinson must still wear restraints, but no photos or videos of this will be allowed.
He was arrested on aggravated murder charges on September 12.
The court recognizes high public interest and stresses Robinson's right to be presumed innocent.
Robinson is accused of several charges, including aggravated murder and obstruction of justice.
The prosecutors are seeking the death penalty in Robinson’s case.
His next in-person court appearance is scheduled for January 16.
President Donald Trump's administration is changing leadership in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) offices in five major U.S. cities to speed up deportation efforts. The Department of Homeland Security is moving ICE leaders out and replacing them with senior Border Patrol agents. This change is part of a new strategy to increase immigration enforcement inside the country.
Key Facts
The cities affected are Denver, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Phoenix, and San Diego.
Senior Border Patrol agents are taking over roles previously held by ICE leaders in these cities.
The Department of Homeland Security initiated these changes to focus on deporting more people quickly.
The personnel changes are part of a larger plan that may extend to more ICE offices.
The restructuring reflects internal disagreements about how to enforce immigration laws.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons intervened to move, rather than fire, the affected leaders to new posts.
Gregory Bovino, known for his aggressive enforcement style, is a key figure in this new approach.
The White House decided not to continue with Joel Rayburn's nomination for a top State Department position. This decision follows controversy about his previous actions related to U.S. troop numbers in Syria, as well as resistance from some senators during his confirmation process.
Key Facts
The White House withdrew Joel Rayburn's nomination for Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.
Rayburn was previously a special envoy for Syria under President Trump.
Controversy surrounded Rayburn due to claims he hid U.S. troop levels in Syria from President Trump.
President Trump nominated Rayburn in February 2024.
During his confirmation hearing in May, Senator Rand Paul opposed his nomination.
Despite some support, Paul's opposition made confirmation by the full Senate difficult.
Joel Rayburn is a former U.S. Army officer and has served on the National Security Council.
President Trump talked about taking a cognitive test at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He claimed to have scored perfectly on the test, which is used to check for cognitive issues. The White House has not commented on the specifics of Trump's test or score.
Key Facts
President Trump said he took another cognitive test during a visit to Walter Reed hospital.
He mentioned having a perfect score on a previous test, called the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
The MoCA test checks for cognitive impairment and is not an IQ or intelligence test.
The test includes tasks like drawing a clock and identifying animal images.
A normal score on the MoCA is 26 out of 30 points.
Trump criticized Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Jasmine Crockett, saying they would not do well on the test.
Ocasio-Cortez responded to Trump's comments on social media.
The White House has not provided details about the test or Trump's specific scores.
President Trump has hinted at the idea of a third term despite the U.S. Constitution's limit of two terms. There's merchandise related to a "Trump 2028" campaign, but real barriers exist, like the need for a constitutional change.
Key Facts
The U.S. Constitution's 22nd Amendment limits presidents to two terms.
President Trump has publicly suggested a third term despite these limitations.
A group called the Third Term Project is discussing strategies to change the Constitution.
Changing the Constitution requires 34 states to request a Constitutional convention, which is difficult.
Some Trump supporters have created "Trump 2028" merchandise to support the idea.
President Trump mentioned possible VP pairings like JD Vance and Marco Rubio.
There is little support in Congress for removing presidential term limits.
Steve Bannon mentioned a supposed "plan" for Trump to have a third term, shocking some political observers.
The governor of Indiana announced a special session to redraw the state's congressional districts. This decision follows pressure from President Trump to create more favorable electoral maps for Republicans. Similar efforts are happening in other states, such as Virginia.
Key Facts
Indiana's governor is holding a special session to change congressional maps.
The aim is to help Republicans gain more seats in the upcoming elections.
President Trump encouraged these redistricting efforts.
Redistricting is the process of changing the lines that define voting districts.
Democrats in several states are opposing these changes.
Virginia also began a special session for redistricting efforts.
The U.S. government shutdown has reached its 27th day, affecting many federal workers. Indiana is taking steps to address concerns about voting district boundaries before the next elections. The Navy is looking into two crashes involving planes from the USS Nimitz.
Key Facts
The U.S. government shutdown has left hundreds of thousands of federal workers without jobs for the 27th consecutive day.
The federal worker union is urging an end to the government shutdown.
Indiana is getting involved in discussions about how voting districts should be drawn for upcoming elections.
Former President Biden commented that the country is experiencing difficult times.
The Navy is investigating two crashes involving aircraft from the USS Nimitz that happened over the past weekend.
President Trump is hinting that he might want a third term, which is a significant political boundary. The government has been shut down for five weeks, and upcoming elections are a focus.
Key Facts
President Trump has suggested he might want a third term.
The idea of a third term challenges political norms in the United States.
The government shutdown has lasted for five weeks.
Discussions are ongoing about the impacts of the extended shutdown.
Elections are happening next week, drawing public attention.
The discussion involved NPR's Tamara Keith and Amy Walter.
The discussion focuses on whether Kamala Harris and President Donald Trump plan to run for the U.S. presidency again in 2028. Kamala Harris expressed her intention to continue in public service, while President Trump showed interest in a third term. The episode also explores the legality and funding of construction changes President Trump is making at the White House.
Key Facts
Kamala Harris has indicated she plans to continue serving in some public capacity.
President Trump expressed interest in running for a third term as President.
The U.S. Constitution currently limits Presidents to two terms in office.
President Trump is involved in construction at the White House, including building a new ballroom.
This construction has led to the demolition of the 103-year-old East Wing of the White House.
Questions have arisen about whether President Trump can legally demolish parts of the White House.
The episode also discusses who is paying for the changes to the White House.
The content is part of the BBC's Americast podcast series.
U.S. tariff revenue reached $195 billion in fiscal year 2025, a significant increase driven by new tariffs set by President Donald Trump's administration. The revenue increase faces a potential legal challenge as the Supreme Court is set to decide on the legality of these tariffs.
Key Facts
U.S. tariff revenue tripled to $195 billion in fiscal year 2025 due to new trade tariffs.
Monthly customs revenue rose from $7 billion in January to $30 billion by September.
President Trump's administration imposed global tariffs of 10% on all imports and higher tariffs on certain countries.
The U.S. Trade Court and a federal appeals court have both ruled these tariffs unlawful.
The Supreme Court will hear arguments in November on the legality of the tariffs.
If the court rules against the tariffs, up to $90 billion may need to be refunded.
President Trump argues the tariffs help restore manufacturing and fund the government without income taxes.
Tariffs have led to retaliatory tariffs from countries like China, impacting U.S. goods.
Food banks across the United States are preparing for increased demand as the federal government plans to halt the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on November 1st. This pause means that 42 million Americans might not receive the food aid they rely on, leading to a possible hunger crisis. Some states are trying to find temporary solutions, but long-term uncertainty remains.
Key Facts
The federal government plans to stop SNAP benefits for 42 million people starting November 1st due to a government shutdown.
SNAP benefits help low-income families to buy food.
Food banks expect a surge in demand that they cannot handle alone.
Recent changes in federal policies have increased the work requirements to receive SNAP benefits.
Some states have warned residents that they will not get their November SNAP benefits.
The USDA says it cannot use its reserve funds to cover November benefits.
The lack of SNAP support will disproportionately affect low-income families already struggling with other government aid cuts.
Companies like DoorDash are offering support by waiving fees for food banks to help address the shortfall.
A report from DeMayo Law shows Massachusetts has the highest child care costs in the U.S., while Mississippi has the lowest. The study highlights that many American families spend a much larger portion of their income on child care than the recommended 7%.
Key Facts
Massachusetts has the highest average annual child care cost at $18,380.
The cost of child care for infants in Massachusetts can reach $23,191 annually.
In Massachusetts, families spend 30.29% of their income on child care.
Mississippi is the most affordable state with families spending 12.36% of their income on child care.
The report suggests child care costs rise due to wages, rent, and inflation-related pressures.
Child care costs are higher in states with higher living costs and strict quality standards.
The DeMayo Law rankings used data from the National Database of Childcare Prices and Bureau of Labor Statistics.
British journalist Sami Hamdi was detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). His visa was revoked because U.S. authorities allege he supports terrorism, while a Muslim advocacy group claims his detention is a violation of free speech. Hamdi is being held in custody until he can be deported.
Key Facts
Sami Hamdi is a British journalist who was detained by ICE in the U.S.
Hamdi's visa was canceled, and he is awaiting deportation.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security alleges Hamdi supports terrorism and is a security threat.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) argues Hamdi is being targeted for his views.
Hamdi was detained at San Francisco International Airport during a U.S. speaking tour.
CAIR claims his detention is linked to his criticism of Israeli actions in Gaza.
The detention occurred after Laura Loomer accused Hamdi of supporting terrorism.
Similar actions have been taken by the Trump administration against other critics of Israel.
