The U.S. government shutdown has entered its third week, with both Democrats and Republicans claiming they have the upper hand. Americans face difficulties due to the shutdown, such as delayed flights and unpaid federal workers, leading to shared blame between both parties. President Trump and Democrats remain at odds, with Democrats focusing on healthcare subsidies and Republicans aiming to limit those efforts.
Key Facts
The shutdown has lasted three weeks, affecting many government services and workers.
800,000 federal workers are not receiving paychecks due to the shutdown.
An AP-NORC poll shows 60% of Americans blame President Trump and Republicans, while 54% blame Democrats.
Democrats want to protect health care subsidies, particularly for low-income Americans.
Food aid programs like SNAP are at risk of running out of funds soon.
This is the third government shutdown during President Trump's time in office.
Democrats criticize the shutdown as a strategy to disrupt programs they support.
No negotiations are currently scheduled to end the shutdown.
Karine Jean-Pierre, former White House press secretary, explained her reasons for leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent in her new book. She cited internal issues within the party and a need for accountability as key factors in her decision. Jean-Pierre also reflected on her experiences as a Black woman in politics and her time in the Biden administration.
Key Facts
Karine Jean-Pierre served as White House press secretary under President Joe Biden for nearly three years.
She released a book on October 21, 2025, titled "Independent: A Look Inside a Broken White House, Outside the Party Lines."
Jean-Pierre mentioned Democratic party dysfunction as a reason for Biden's 2024 defeat, leading to President Trump's return.
She noted that perceptions of disunity within the Democratic Party weakened its political position.
Jean-Pierre faced criticism during her time as press secretary, which she linked to bias and her identity as a Black woman.
She discussed how Black women are often loyal Democratic voters but feel overlooked by the party.
By becoming an independent, Jean-Pierre seeks to encourage dialogue about the changes in American political identity and accountability.
Over 500 volunteers, who have been affected by cancer, went to Washington, D.C., to ask Congress for more support for cancer research and patients. Despite their different political views, these volunteers found common ground in their shared experiences with cancer.
Key Facts
More than 500 volunteers went to Washington, D.C., to lobby Congress for cancer support.
Volunteers included people from various political backgrounds who shared common experiences with cancer.
The lobbying day occurred during an ongoing federal government shutdown.
Cancer is expected to cause over 600,000 deaths in the U.S. in 2025.
Volunteers decorated about 10,000 white paper bags with messages for cancer patients.
Many volunteers expressed concerns about the current political divisions in the U.S.
A recent survey shows high bipartisan support for federal funding of medical research, including cancer, with 7 in 10 voters considering it very important.
New Jersey is seeing a tight race for governor between Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli. Both candidates have exchanged personal criticisms and received notable endorsements, with Sherrill leading slightly in most polls.
Key Facts
New Jersey's gubernatorial election is drawing national attention due to its close race.
Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill is a former Navy pilot and Congresswoman.
Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli is supported by President Trump and is a former state Assembly member.
Former President Barack Obama endorsed Mikie Sherrill in a video.
While Sherrill leads in many polls, some show her only slightly ahead, and one showed a tie.
New Jersey usually votes Democrat in national elections but has a history of electing governors from either party.
Current New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, a Democrat, is leaving office due to term limits.
The campaign between Sherrill and Ciattarelli has involved personal attacks and criticisms.
Some communities in the United States are experiencing delays in emergency responses because there are not enough fire trucks. Rising costs and supply chain problems are causing long waits for new fire trucks.
Key Facts
Fire truck shortages are affecting emergency response times in certain communities.
The delays are not due to distance but lack of equipment.
Increased costs are making it harder for fire departments to buy new trucks.
Supply chain issues are leading to long waits for new fire trucks.
Some departments have to wait several years to receive new fire trucks.
President Donald Trump's approval ratings show a significant divide across the United States. He remains popular in conservative states, but his approval is lower in swing states and Democratic-leaning states. This divide could impact the upcoming 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump is nine months into his term, and his approval ratings are divided across the country.
Conservative states like Wyoming and West Virginia show high approval for Trump, with over 60% support.
In Democratic-leaning states like Hawaii and Vermont, his approval is low, with more than 70% disapproval.
Swing states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin show more people disapprove than approve of Trump.
For the first time since his second term began, Trump's approval is less than 50% in all swing states.
This approval rating divide may influence the 2026 midterm elections and control of Congress.
Historically, the president's party often loses seats during the midterm elections.
Cincinnati Police Chief Teresa Theetge has been placed on paid leave due to serious public safety issues in the city. Assistant Chief Adam Hennie has been appointed as the Interim Police Chief to maintain stability in the department.
Key Facts
Teresa Theetge is on paid administrative leave from her position as Cincinnati Police Chief.
The city cited "serious public safety challenges" as the reason for this decision.
Assistant Chief Adam Hennie has been named the Interim Police Chief.
Cincinnati City Manager Sheryl Long emphasized the need for stability in the police command.
Teresa Theetge became the first woman to lead the Cincinnati Police Department in December 2022.
President Trump's administration has set up a new group to look into people they see as enemies. This group involves various U.S. government agencies and has been working since May 2025. The group aims to end what they call the "weaponization" of federal law.
Key Facts
The new group is named the Interagency Weaponization Working Group.
It includes members from the White House, FBI, CIA, and other important federal departments.
The group has been operational since at least May 2025.
Attorney General Pam Bondi stated the group aims to correct past biases against President Trump and his associates.
Bondi criticized previous actions by the Department of Justice under President Joe Biden.
A senior official from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence stated there is no individual targeting for revenge.
News outlets have sought comments from several federal departments, but no responses have been reported yet.
Nicholas Rossi, a U.S. man who faked his death and moved to Scotland, has been sentenced to jail for at least five years for raping two women in Utah in 2008. He was arrested in Scotland after being recognized in a hospital and extradited back to the U.S. for trial. Rossi's claims of mistaken identity were disproven by DNA evidence and matching tattoos.
Key Facts
Nicholas Rossi faked his death and lived under an alias in Scotland.
He was convicted of raping two women in Utah in 2008.
A judge in Salt Lake City sentenced him to five years to life in prison for the first conviction.
Rossi is scheduled to be sentenced for the second conviction next month.
He was extradited from Scotland to the U.S. in January 2024.
DNA and tattoo evidence disproved Rossi's claims of mistaken identity.
A victim described Rossi as leaving a "trail of fear, pain and destruction."
The case was covered in a BBC podcast about unusual crimes.
President Trump wants to use the National Guard in different U.S. cities as part of a plan to reduce crime. Some cities, led by Democratic officials, are challenging this move in court. The legal decisions that follow may affect how much power presidents have compared to state authorities when it comes to public safety.
Key Facts
President Trump is pushing to deploy the National Guard to several U.S. cities to reduce crime.
Cities like Chicago, Portland, and Washington, D.C. are legally challenging these deployments.
The Supreme Court is being asked to decide if the deployment in Illinois can continue.
In Portland, a federal appeals court allowed the deployment after initially being blocked.
The length of the National Guard's stay in Washington, D.C. is uncertain, but could last until 2026.
San Francisco's legal stance is less clear, with mixed opinions from local leaders and businesses.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and several other Republican senators want the White House to withdraw Paul Ingrassia’s nomination due to leaked racist and antisemitic messages. Ingrassia is President Trump’s choice for the Office of Special Counsel, but his confirmation faces opposition. He is still scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Key Facts
Senate Majority Leader John Thune wants Paul Ingrassia’s nomination withdrawn after reports of offensive texts.
Ingrassia is nominated by President Trump to lead the Office of Special Counsel.
At least four Republican senators oppose the nomination: Rick Scott, Ron Johnson, James Lankford, and John Thune.
Ingrassia allegedly sent texts describing the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday negatively and mentioned having "a Nazi streak."
If more than three Republican senators oppose, Ingrassia’s confirmation could fail without VP JD Vance’s tiebreaking vote.
Politico also reported an earlier investigation into Ingrassia over a withdrawn sexual harassment complaint.
Ingrassia is still scheduled to appear before a Senate committee for his confirmation hearing.
Ingrassia's lawyer claims the texts might be manipulated and argues they are taken out of context.
The White House has put on hold the judicial nomination of John Guard due to his involvement with a charity linked to an ongoing criminal investigation. This situation has caused a pause in filling an open judicial position in Florida, as Guard is involved with a political committee linked to Governor Ron DeSantis. There are allegations that Medicaid funds were illegally redirected, leading to a grand jury investigation.
Key Facts
John Guard's judicial nomination is paused because of a criminal investigation.
The investigation is tied to a charity linked to Governor Ron DeSantis.
The pause is due to Guard being subpoenaed in connection with the investigation.
Allegations suggest illegal redirection of $10 million in Medicaid funds.
A grand jury in Tallahassee is investigating the matter.
Florida Sen. Rick Scott has not submitted a "blue slip," preventing Senate hearings.
There is tension between Sen. Rick Scott and Gov. Ron DeSantis.
Related political funds also targeted marijuana and abortion initiatives in Florida.
Senator Ted Cruz's phone records were subpoenaed during an investigation into President Donald Trump. The records were not analyzed because AT&T did not comply with the subpoena. Cruz's records were sought as part of a broader investigation that included other Republican lawmakers.
Key Facts
Senator Ted Cruz's phone records were subpoenaed during a special counsel investigation related to President Trump.
The phone company, AT&T, did not provide Cruz’s records, so they were not analyzed.
Cruz is one of nine Republican senators who had their phone records sought by the Justice Department.
The records requested were from January 4-7, 2021, around the time of the Capitol attack.
Cruz called the action "political spying" and compared it to a modern-day "Watergate."
The House Judiciary Committee requested Jack Smith to testify about the investigation.
Other Republican senators and one representative were also targeted in this investigation.
The Justice Department's investigation also included scrutiny over Trump's handling of classified documents.
A planned trip to Southeast Asia led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer has been canceled due to a government shutdown. The shutdown is affecting the normal operations of the government, including international diplomacy. Efforts to resolve funding issues in the Senate are not making progress.
Key Facts
The trip to Southeast Asia was canceled because of the U.S. government shutdown.
Chuck Schumer, Senate Minority Leader, was supposed to lead the trip.
The shutdown is causing disruptions as many government workers are not working.
There is little progress in discussions to reopen the government.
Senate Democrats recently turned down a funding bill proposed by Republicans.
A previous long shutdown in 2018-2019 also led to canceled congressional trips.
The lack of communication among Senate leaders is impacting diplomacy and government activities.
President Trump announced the start of demolition work at the White House's East Wing to build a privately funded ballroom. The $200 million project is paid for by private donors, with no cost to taxpayers. The new ballroom will serve for events like parties and state visits.
Key Facts
Demolition work has started at the White House East Wing.
The project involves building a new ballroom funded by private donations.
The cost of the ballroom is over $200 million.
President Trump stated the ballroom will have no taxpayer cost.
The East Wing has traditionally been used by the First Lady's office.
The planned ballroom aims to host large events and state visits.
President Trump shared updates about the project on Truth Social.
Critics voice concerns about private funding influencing the government.
A U.S. appeals court has allowed President Trump's administration to send 200 National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon. The court ruled that the President has the legal authority to deploy the National Guard, despite objections from state and local officials and claims that there is no serious emergency in the area.
Key Facts
A U.S. appeals court decided that President Trump can deploy troops to Portland, Oregon.
The court ruling comes from the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
President Trump plans to send 200 National Guard members to the city.
Local and state officials in Portland do not agree with the deployment.
The federal government argues there is a need for troops due to protests.
Critics claim the deployment of soldiers is an overreaction to peaceful protests.
The ACLU and other groups argue that sending troops in non-emergency times undermines freedoms.
There have been claims of racial profiling and excessive force by federal agents in similar situations.
President Donald Trump expressed support for Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor's race against Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill. Trump criticized Sherrill's energy policies and promoted Ciattarelli's potential to lower energy costs. The governor's race is considered important for understanding political trends ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Key Facts
President Trump supported Jack Ciattarelli in the New Jersey governor's race.
Trump criticized Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill's energy policies.
The New Jersey governor's race is one of only two gubernatorial elections in the U.S. in 2025.
The race is seen as a predictor of political trends for future midterm elections.
Trump used Truth Social to voice his opinions on the candidates.
A Quinnipiac University poll showed Sherrill leading Ciattarelli by 6 percentage points.
Betting site Polymarket gave Ciattarelli a 17% chance of winning compared to Sherrill's 84%.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries opposes a Senate Republican bill that aims to pay troops and certain federal workers during a government shutdown. The bill faces challenges because it only provides pay for workers who have not been furloughed. Senate Majority Leader John Thune plans to push the bill for a vote in the Senate.
Key Facts
Hakeem Jeffries, a Democratic leader in the House, does not support the Senate Republican bill.
The bill seeks to pay the military and essential federal workers during a government shutdown.
The bill excludes workers who are furloughed due to the shutdown.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune has put the bill on the Senate calendar for a vote.
Jeffries believes the bill does not address reopening the government properly.
Democrats claim President Trump is illegally paying the military using funds meant for other purposes.
The Trump administration has also been laying off federal workers during the shutdown, angering Democrats.
Demolition work has started on the East Wing of the White House to build a new ballroom for President Donald Trump. The construction is privately funded and intended to provide space for events and gatherings. The president stated that the new addition will not alter the existing building's structure.
Key Facts
Demolition is underway on part of the White House's East Wing to make room for a new ballroom.
President Donald Trump announced that the ballroom will not change the existing building and will respect its historical importance.
The project is privately funded by various donors.
The White House has been the residence of U.S. presidents for over 200 years, with the East Wing added in 1902 and last modified in 1942.
Construction equipment is visible near the East Wing, and onlookers have gathered to watch the demolition.
The president shared on social media that past presidents have wanted a ballroom for events and state occasions.
The Interior Department plans to cut over 2,000 jobs, which is nearly 3% of its workforce, despite ongoing legal challenges. A court temporarily blocked these layoffs after several unions sued, but the department aims to continue with planned reductions once the order is lifted. Various departments within the Interior face significant job cuts, affecting areas like communications, research centers, and regional offices.
Key Facts
The Interior Department plans to cut over 2,000 jobs, nearly 3% of its 70,000 employees.
The planned job cuts were already in progress before being linked to government shutdown reasons.
Legal challenges have temporarily stopped these layoffs; a judge extended a block to protect affected workers.
The job layoffs impact multiple areas, including communications and technology, with 770 positions at risk.
The U.S. Geological Survey faces job cuts affecting over 330 roles at important research centers.
The National Park Service and Bureau of Land Management also face significant job reductions.
The intended layoffs are part of broader cuts announced by President Trump's administration for federal workers.
A discrepancy exists in layoff numbers presented by the Interior Department in different court documents.
