New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy faced criticism for traveling to Europe during significant flooding in New Jersey. He went to attend a wedding of a family friend, just before a state of emergency was declared. He plans to return to New Jersey on October 14 and has stayed in communication with officials about the situation.
Key Facts
Phil Murphy is the Governor of New Jersey.
He traveled to Europe for a family friend's wedding.
The trip took place two days before New Jersey declared a state of emergency due to flooding.
The state of emergency was declared on October 11.
Murphy is scheduled to return to New Jersey on October 14.
He has maintained communication with his team and emergency officials about the storm.
The flooding was caused by a nor’easter storm affecting the East Coast.
President Donald Trump returned to the United States after visiting the Middle East. He was there to celebrate a ceasefire in Gaza. However, the ongoing government shutdown continues to impact the country.
Key Facts
President Trump traveled to the Middle East to mark a ceasefire in Gaza.
He returned to the United States on a Tuesday.
While he was overseas, there was a ceasefire agreement reached in Gaza.
A government shutdown is ongoing in the United States.
The shutdown is affecting various parts of the government and public services.
Trump’s visit to the Middle East was seen as a “victory lap.”
The U.S. federal government is currently shut down, starting from October 1, 2025, due to a disagreement in Congress over funding plans. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine stated that negotiations are stalled because Republicans are waiting for President Trump's approval. Both parties blame each other for the shutdown, which affects federal workers, particularly in Virginia.
Key Facts
The federal government shutdown began on October 1, 2025.
Virginia Senator Tim Kaine said Republicans aren't making any moves without President Trump's approval.
Republicans propose a temporary seven-week government funding resolution.
Democrats want to include continued Affordable Care Act subsidies and prevent Trump from withholding funds approved by Congress.
The shutdown is affecting federal workers, especially in Virginia, which has a high number of federal employees.
House Speaker Mike Johnson warned the shutdown could become one of the longest unless Democrats change their position.
President Trump directed using $8 billion from unused Pentagon funds to continue paying troops during the shutdown.
More than 4% of Virginia's non-farm workforce is employed by the federal government.
President Donald Trump's approval rating has fallen to 45%, matching a low point for his second term, according to a Morning Consult poll. The decline coincides with a government shutdown that began due to a funding dispute in Congress. Americans largely blame Republicans for the shutdown, while President Trump's approval ratings remain stable despite the situation.
Key Facts
President Trump's approval rating dropped from 46% to 45% recently.
His disapproval rating rose from 52% to 53%, marking a net approval of -8 points.
The federal government shutdown started because Congress didn't agree on a funding plan.
The shutdown centers around the debate on Affordable Care Act subsidy extensions.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson warned the shutdown might become one of the longest in history.
The Senate has failed multiple times to pass a temporary funding bill.
Polls indicate many Americans blame Republicans for the shutdown.
Trump's approval ratings have shown little change despite ongoing political issues.
At a rally in support of New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, comedian Gianmarco Soresi made jokes about President Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein before New York Attorney General Letitia James spoke. Letitia James, recently indicted on charges of bank fraud, talked about the misuse of the justice system for political purposes, without naming Trump. James’s indictment has led to claims that the actions were politically motivated by Trump's administration.
Key Facts
Comedian Gianmarco Soresi joked about President Trump and Jeffrey Epstein before Letitia James's speech at a rally.
The rally supported NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
Letitia James is indicted for allegedly misrepresenting a property's use in a 2020 mortgage application.
She denies any wrongdoing and suggests the indictment is politically motivated.
James has been a key adversary of President Trump, having tried him in a civil fraud case in 2023.
James’s first public appearance since the indictment included comments on justice being used for political gain.
The New York City mayoral election is scheduled for November 4.
James is set to appear in federal court in Virginia on October 24.
National Guard troops have been deployed to Memphis with state support and community input to avoid confrontations seen in cities like Chicago and Portland. The presence has been low-key, with troops interacting with the public and supported by local clergy and the Tennessee governor. Community leaders stress the need for dialogue and caution about the potential negative impact on community trust.
Key Facts
National Guard troops are present in Memphis, backed by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee.
The deployment is meant to curb violent crime without causing confrontation.
Troops are seen in standard uniforms, carrying holstered weapons, and walking with local police.
Community leaders like Pastor J. Lawrence Turner urge calm and emphasize dialogue.
There have been no violent incidents reported between the troops and the public.
Some residents are anxious about increased patrols and law enforcement's presence.
Local faith leaders stress the need for federal investment rather than military presence.
Other federal agencies, like the FBI and ICE, are also in Memphis currently.
Major U.S. media organizations are protesting new Pentagon rules that they believe limit journalistic freedom. These rules require reporters to acknowledge not publishing unauthorized information to maintain access to Pentagon press events. The media argue this policy conflicts with the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
Key Facts
The Pentagon issued new guidelines for reporters covering the U.S. military in a September memo.
The guidelines originally required reporters to sign a pledge not to publish unauthorized materials to access events.
Many media outlets, including NPR, CNN, and The New York Times, oppose these rules and refuse to sign them.
Media organizations claim the guidelines infringe on First Amendment rights, which protect freedom of speech and press.
A 1971 Supreme Court case, New York Times Co v United States, backed the media's right to publish classified documents.
Pentagon Press Association argues the rules could lead to legal action against reporters.
U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth supports the rules, citing negotiations with media representatives.
Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell emphasized that encouraging crimes is prohibited in their negotiating efforts.
New data shows that U.S. students in grades three to eight are still behind in reading and math due to the effects of the pandemic. Reading scores have not improved, while math scores have shown slight improvement, but still fall short of pre-pandemic levels. NWEA, a testing organization, released this data and introduced a new tool to help schools and policymakers understand student performance better.
Key Facts
The data comes from the NWEA's Spring 2025 MAP Growth assessment.
Reading scores for students in grades three through eight remain at pandemic-era levels.
Slight improvements in math scores have been recorded, but they are still below 2019 levels.
Performance issues in reading and math are consistent across different races and poverty levels.
The NWEA has launched a new dashboard to provide updated student performance data more frequently.
The dashboard will be updated three times a year, unlike the Nation's Report Card which updates every two years.
Experts see these data updates as crucial for monitoring student recovery post-pandemic.
NPR will lose its access to the Pentagon because it refuses to sign a new Department of Defense document. This document limits how journalists can gather information. Numerous prominent news organizations also oppose signing and will be affected by this change.
Key Facts
NPR will lose access to the Pentagon for not signing a new Defense Department document.
The document restricts journalists from asking for unapproved information from federal workers.
If reporters do not sign, they will lose press credentials needed to access the Pentagon.
Major news organizations like the Washington Post, CNN, and the New York Times also refused to sign.
About 100 reporters from the Pentagon press corps will be barred if not signed by a specific deadline.
NPR has covered military actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria by embedding reporters with troops.
The new policy is seen as limiting journalists' ability to report independently on the Defense Department.
A single mother and college student, Angela Kenzslowe, forgot to pick up her son from school due to her busy schedule. This experience led her to realize the need for balance in life, prompting her to organize her life better and prioritize her role as a mother. Over the years, she completed her education and now uses her experience to teach others about maintaining balance without feeling overwhelmed.
Key Facts
Angela Kenzslowe is a single mother, full-time college student, and runs a cleaning business.
She once forgot to pick up her 7-year-old son from school, realizing her mistake only after getting home.
Her son was found safe at the after-school program and was unaware that he was forgotten.
This experience had a strong emotional impact on Angela and motivated her to be more organized.
Angela completed both undergraduate and MBA degrees while managing her responsibilities.
She became a psychologist and now teaches others about maintaining a balanced life.
Angela emphasizes the importance of avoiding burnout and allowing space for self-compassion.
A group of demonstrators protested outside an ICE facility in Portland by staging a "die-in" where they lay naked in the street. The Department of Homeland Security criticized the protest, saying it disrupted law enforcement. The protests are part of larger tensions between local officials and the federal government over immigration enforcement.
Key Facts
Protesters demonstrated outside an ICE facility in Portland by lying naked in the street.
The protest aimed to highlight President Trump's efforts to use the National Guard for federal immigration enforcement.
The Department of Homeland Security called the protest "unsightly" and said it would not affect their operations.
The protest was related to the World Naked Bike Ride, a regular event in Portland since 2004.
DHS officials said three people were arrested during the protest.
President Trump is expanding National Guard deployments to support federal immigration actions.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the deployment of troops to Portland, but a higher court allowed some parts to proceed.
The protests are expected to continue as the legal situation unfolds.
UPS is destroying some packages bound for the U.S. due to new customs regulations. These changes mean that all imports, regardless of value, now need extra customs checks, and packages lacking required information may be destroyed if they can't clear customs.
Key Facts
UPS is dealing with issues related to changes in U.S. customs regulations.
All packages, no matter their value, are subject to additional customs clearance procedures.
The de minimis rule, which exempted low-value packages from tariffs, has been repealed.
The change in rules led to issues with shipments lacking complete information.
UPS attempts to contact customers three times to resolve information gaps.
If a package cannot be cleared or a customer does not respond, UPS may destroy the package.
The changes aim to prevent illegal imports and support domestic businesses.
President Trump supports the changes, citing concerns about tariffs evasion and safety.
California Governor Gavin Newsom rejected a bill that would have allowed universities to give special admission consideration to descendants of slaves, stating that colleges already have this ability. Newsom also vetoed other reparations-focused bills, citing legal or practical concerns.
Key Facts
Governor Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill related to college admissions for descendants of slaves in California.
The bill would have let universities give preference to these descendants, but Newsom said it was unnecessary.
Newsom stated colleges already have the authority to make such admissions decisions.
Newsom also vetoed other reparations-related bills focused on housing, property restitution, and business licenses.
Critics argued the bill violated California’s Proposition 209, which prohibits using ethnicity in public university admissions.
The veto comes amid President Trump's actions to limit diversity and inclusion efforts in public and private sectors.
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan, the bill's author, expressed disappointment at the veto.
Police in Wichita, Kansas, released a video showing a woman being forcibly taken by a man. They seek the public's help to identify the people involved in the incident, which occurred early Sunday morning on North Volutsia.
Key Facts
The incident was captured on a doorbell camera at 2 a.m. on Sunday.
The video shows a woman screaming and being dragged away by a man.
The location of the incident was the 1400 block of North Volutsia in Wichita, Kansas.
Police have not yet identified the man or the woman in the video.
The Wichita Police Department is asking for public assistance to identify those involved.
People can contact detectives at 316-268-4407 or leave tips anonymously with Crime Stoppers at 316-267-2111.
This situation is still developing, and updates will follow.
President Donald Trump expressed his disapproval of a front-page photo of him on TIME magazine. He posted on Truth Social, saying the picture did not represent him well and joked about how they altered his hair.
Key Facts
President Trump criticized a photo of himself on the cover of TIME magazine.
He described the picture as "super bad" and said it was possibly the "Worst of All Time."
Trump mentioned that his hair looked altered, with a tiny crown floating above his head.
The post was made on his social media platform, Truth Social.
Trump has expressed a dislike for photos taken from below.
The article mentions that TIME magazine wrote positively about Trump's Middle East peacemaking efforts but used a picture he disliked.
Many major news organizations are refusing to sign an agreement with the Pentagon that could limit journalists' rights to gather and report information. The Pentagon's new press rules require journalists to agree to restrictions to maintain their press credentials, but many media outlets argue that these rules infringe on press freedom protected by the First Amendment. Some restrictions have been relaxed after negotiations, but news outlets are still not satisfied.
Key Facts
The Pentagon introduced new rules requiring reporters to sign a pledge to maintain press credentials.
Several news organizations, including Newsmax and the Washington Times, have rejected the agreement.
Editors from major outlets like The Washington Post and The Atlantic have criticized the restrictions as being against First Amendment rights.
The new rules threaten to revoke press credentials if journalists do not sign the agreement.
The Pentagon has eased some measures after discussions with news organizations but still demands the pledge from journalists.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that Pentagon access is a privilege.
News outlets like NPR and Reuters have expressed strong opposition to any restrictions that limit press freedom.
The Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, has stated that the current government shutdown could become the longest ever. The shutdown, caused by a disagreement between Republicans and Democrats over healthcare policy, has led to a standoff with no resolution in sight.
Key Facts
The U.S. government is experiencing a shutdown due to disagreement over healthcare policy between Democrats and Republicans.
Speaker Mike Johnson, a Republican, says he won't talk with Democrats until their healthcare demands are dropped.
President Donald Trump has announced cuts affecting government services and layoffs during the shutdown.
Trump mentioned these cuts would focus on programs supported by Democrats.
Polls indicate U.S. voters blame both political parties and President Trump equally for the shutdown.
Democrats want to extend healthcare subsidies under the Affordable Care Act, impacting millions.
Republicans believe healthcare issues can be solved after reopening the government.
The shutdown has resulted in government employees working without pay and disruptions in services.
President Obama criticized companies, universities, and law firms for reaching settlements with President Trump's administration regarding hiring and diversity practices. He urged these organizations to stay true to their values, instead of giving in to pressures. Several major institutions have agreed to significant financial settlements and policy changes following the administration's demands.
Key Facts
President Obama criticized institutions for settling with President Trump's administration on hiring and diversity issues.
He spoke during an interview on Marc Maron's WTF podcast.
Obama urged organizations to stand by their principles despite facing challenges.
Columbia University agreed to pay $221 million as part of a settlement with the Trump administration.
Brown University committed $50 million to workforce programs and made policy changes.
Several law firms have pledged millions in free legal services to settle with the administration.
Media companies like Disney's ABC and Paramount also made financial settlements with President Trump's administration.
The Trump administration has targeted institutions like Columbia and Brown over alleged diversity and civil rights issues.
The sister-in-law of Mitt Romney was found dead near a parking garage in Santa Clarita, California. The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating her death, but they do not suspect foul play. The cause of her death is pending further test results.
Key Facts
Mitt Romney's sister-in-law, Carrie Romney, was found dead in Santa Clarita, California.
Her body was discovered next to a parking garage.
The Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department is investigating the death.
Carrie Romney was 64 years old and lived in Valencia.
The cause of death is listed as "deferred" until toxicology tests are completed.
Officials currently do not suspect foul play in her death.
Mitt Romney is a former U.S. Senator and twice ran for president.
The National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and The Trevor Project offer support for those in crisis.
Americans are worried about an increase in healthcare costs if premium subsidies from the Affordable Care Act (ACA) end. These subsidies are crucial in current discussions to reopen the U.S. government, with Democrats insisting on their renewal. If not extended, many people could face higher premiums, making health insurance unaffordable for some.
Key Facts
Shana Verstegen is concerned about losing ACA subsidies that save her family $800 a month.
The subsidies are essential in the negotiation to reopen the government; Democrats demand their renewal.
Without a deal, millions could lose their health insurance due to unaffordable costs.
ACA subsidies, expanded during the COVID-19 pandemic, keep premiums lower for many.
Approximately 24 million people use the ACA Marketplace, with most relying on these subsidies.
If the subsidies end, around 4 to 5 million might lose health coverage.
States that have not expanded Medicaid, often Republican-leaning, would be the hardest hit.
Some Republicans suggest discussing subsidies after the government reopens.
