Government shutdown could become longest ever as Trump says he ‘won’t be extorted’ by Democrats
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is indicating in court that it will only partially fund the federal food assistance program as the government shutdown reaches into a second month. The Department of Agriculture had planned to withhold $8 billion needed for the food program starting Saturday until two judges ordered the administration to fund it. Republican Senate Majority Leader John Thune said Monday that he was “optimistic” the Senate could vote to reopen the government by the end of the week if lawmakers make progress over the next couple days. That followed comments from President Donald Trump who said he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats to reopen. Democrats say they want to fix a health care crisis and extend subsidies.
Trump administration says SNAP will be partially funded in November
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration says it will partially fund the SNAP food aid program in November after two federal judges required the payments to continue. That means grocery aid will resume for 1 in 8 Americans, though it has been delayed for millions already and the amount beneficiaries receive will be reduced. The U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier said it would not continue the funding in November due to the government shutdown. Two federal judges ruled last week that the government was required to keep the program running. But both gave the administration leeway to pay for it entirely or partially. It can take up to two weeks to load beneficiaries’ debit cards.
G2 or not G2: Trump’s new favorite term for US-China relations carries a lot of history’s baggage
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has suggested his outlook to the U.S.-China relationship with a six-word post on Truth Social. He mentioned the “G2,” a term suggesting equal power between the U.S. and China, before a summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Oct. 30 in Busan, South Korea. This term, first proposed in 2005, has come to imply a power balance that Beijing desires. Experts say this could delight China but worry U.S. allies, especially those in the Indo-Pacific region. Chinese commentators noted the term’s use, suggesting a move toward a bipolar world. The concept was once explored but later discredited by Washington.
Republicans seek to tap into Trump energy on eve of Election Day in New Jersey, Virginia
TOTOWA, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey Republicans are trying to ride the coattails of President Donald Trump’s 2024 electoral momentum. Gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli and Virginia candidate Winsome Earle-Sears are crisscrossing their respective states, while Trump spoke at telephone rallies with voters Monday. This comes after their Democratic opponents Mikie Sherrill and Abigail Spanberger campaigned over the weekend alongside former President Barack Obama. Ciattarelli spent time Monday courting voters in a key traditionally Democratic stronghold that contributed to Trump’s gains in New Jersey. It’s a delicate balance for Republicans, who want to catch some of Trump’s electoral energy while not dismissing concerns about increasing costs.
NYC mayoral candidates make final push ahead of Election Day
New York City’s mayoral candidates are making a final push to get voters to the polls as the race to lead America’s biggest city nears its finale. Ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa have all spent the race’s final stretch frenetically campaigning across the city’s five boroughs as they make their case to succeed outgoing Mayor Eric Adams. In recent days, Mamdani went dancing with seniors in Manhattan’s Lower East Side, Cuomo dined in the Eastern European enclave of Brighton Beach in Brooklyn, and Sliwa went to a mosque in the Bronx.
What’s on the ballot in the first general election since Donald Trump became president
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump features prominently in state and local elections happening Tuesday, a year after he retook the White House. These elections are the first general contests of his second term. The results could either support or challenge his agenda. Key races include the governor’s seats in Virginia and New Jersey, the New York City mayoral race, and a California proposition on redistricting. More than half of the states have contests. The outcomes could indicate voter sentiment toward Trump’s presidency and influence future political strategies.
Anatomy of a news story: ’60 Minutes’ invites audience into the editing process with Trump interview
CBS News’ “60 Minutes” gave its audience a rare opportunity by releasing a full, unedited video and transcript of its interview with President Donald Trump. The edited interview ran for 28 minutes on the broadcast Sunday. When Norah O’Donnell sat down with the president last Friday for the taping, the full interview ran for 73 minutes. Viewers were able to see the choices “60 Minutes” made in editing for newsworthiness and clarity and to avoid repetition. While it’s a transparency that some welcomed, critics say it could also open up journalists to repeated arguments about the choices they make in crafting stories.
Israel hands over bodies of 45 Palestinians after Hamas returns the remains of 3 soldiers
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel has returned the bodies of 45 Palestinians, according to the Red Cross. It comes a day after militants returned the remains of three Israeli soldiers killed in a Hamas-led attack in October 2023. The exchange is part of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire aimed at ending the conflict between Israel and Hamas. Since the truce began in October, Palestinian militants have released the remains of 20 hostages, with eight still in Gaza. For each Israeli hostage returned, Israel has been releasing the remains of 15 Palestinians, totaling 270 since the ceasefire started.
Diane Ladd, 3-time Oscar nominee, dies at 89
OJAI, Calif. (AP) — Diane Ladd, the three-time Academy Award nominee known for roles in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and “Wild at Heart,” has died at 89. Her daughter, Laura Dern, announced Ladd’s death on Monday, saying she passed away at her home in Ojai, California, with Dern by her side. Dern described her mother as an “amazing hero” and “profound gift.” Ladd had a long career in television and stage before her film breakthrough in Martin Scorsese’s 1974 release. She earned an Oscar nomination for her role as Flo and appeared in dozens of movies over the decades.
North Korea’s longtime ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam has died
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says its longtime ceremonial head of state Kim Yong Nam has died at age 97. The Korean Central News Agency said Tuesday Kim Yong Nam, former president of the Presidium of North Korea’s rubber-stamp Supreme People’s Assembly, had died on Monday at the age of 97. KCNA says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un visited the bier of Kim Yong Nam on Tuesday to express deep condolences over his death. Kim Yong Nam served as head of the Supreme People’s Assembly from 1998 to April 2019. That post is North Korea’s nominal head of state, though the true power was held by the Kim family that has ruled the North since 1948.
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