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Today’s top stories
President Trump has shown little interest in negotiating with Democrats to end the government shutdown. He spent the weekend in Florida, one of five trips he’s taken since the shutdown began. On Air Force One last night, he told reporters it is up to the Democrats to end it. Check the latest news on the shutdown from our coverage here.
President Trump salutes a Marine as he arrives at the White House on Nov. 2 in Washington, D.C. Trump spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida.
Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images
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Aaron Schwartz/Getty Images
- 🎧 Since the shutdown started on Oct. 1, Trump has traveled for 15 days, double what he did during the longest shutdown in history, NPR’s Tamara Keith tells Up First. Unlike past presidents who stayed in Washington to negotiate a deal, Trump hasn’t changed his schedule. The GOP-led House of Representatives passed a short-term funding bill in September. The GOP’s goal is to apply pressure on Senate Democrats to vote for the House bill.
Two federal judges on Friday ordered the Trump administration to use emergency money to keep the national food aid program SNAP going. The program ran out of money on Saturday, and it is unclear how quickly the administration could restart the program. The administration has argued that using contingency funds for regular SNAP benefits is illegal because they are intended for situations such as natural disasters.
- 🎧 NPR’s Joe Hernandez reports the lapse – affecting 42 million people – is unprecedented for the program. Democratic state officials behind one of the lawsuits argue that stopping benefits will lead to worse food insecurity.
- 📷 Food banks and pantries in the U.S. are scrambling to feed families amid the government shutdown. Here’s how they are stepping up to help.
Tomorrow is Election Day, with voters in Virginia and New Jersey choosing new governors. Several cities across the country will also choose new leaders, including New York City, America’s largest city. In the final stretch of the race, the face off between Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani and former governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an Independent, could heavily influence the Democratic Party. Early voting has surged compared to previous elections.
- 🎧 The excitement that Mamdani has garnered in this race has been exciting for a lot of Democrats, not just in the city he is campaigning in, but across the country, says NPR’s Brian Mann. However, Mamdani embracing the “socialist” label has made many Democratic leaders nervous. Some top Democrats have withheld endorsements, and his support skews heavily toward younger voters.
