[Wednesday, October 29] US News Headlines from r/politics

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DAILY BRIEFING

By Dr. Headline, HeadlineSquare October 29, 2025

Executive Summary

• Gov’t shutdown enters day 29, risking SNAP benefits for 42M Americans and costing the economy $7B/month.
• Federal Reserve cuts interest rates, citing shutdown-related economic uncertainty.
• A federal judge blocks Trump’s shutdown layoffs as 25 states sue to preserve food aid.
• Pentagon orders National Guard “Quick Reaction Forces” for crowd control amid presidential threats to deploy the military domestically.
• DOJ faces backlash for suspending prosecutors over Jan. 6 “mob” comments and indicting a Democratic candidate for protesting ICE.
• Texas Supreme Court rules judges can refuse to marry same-sex couples.

1. The Government Shutdown Crisis (Day 29)

1.1. Economic Damage and Imminent Social Crisis

As the federal government shutdown enters its 29th day, its economic and human costs are escalating into a national emergency. A budget office report calculates the shutdown is costing the U.S. economy $7 billion per month, with other projections warning the total cost could reach $14 billion [1, 2]. The most acute impact is the imminent “shutdown pain” facing the nation’s most vulnerable. Federal funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is set to be exhausted by November 1, threatening food security for 42 million Americans [3]. This funding cliff has been described as a potential “‘Unprecedented Hunger and Health Crisis’” for states [4]. Compounding the hardship, billions of dollars in federal heating aid are also at risk as winter approaches [5]. In response, some states are scrambling to implement their own rescue plans, with Michigan Democrats proposing a $900 million measure to save their state’s SNAP benefits [6]. The financial strain is also being directly felt by federal workers, including air traffic controllers who are missing paychecks [7].

[1] Shutdown is costing U.S. economy $7 billion per month, budget office says, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/us-government-shutdown-cost-7-billion-month-cbo-rcna240562
[2] Federal shutdown could cost US economy up to $14 billion, https://www.reuters.com/sustainability/sustainable-finance-reporting/federal-shutdown-could-cost-us-economy-14-billion-2025-10-29/
[3] Why 42 million Americans are about to lose their Snap benefits, https://www.thetimes.com/us/news-today/article/what-is-happening-to-snap-benefits-bc279wcqq
[4] ‘An Unprecedented Hunger and Health Crisis’: How the Big Beautiful Bill Could Devastate Vermont, http://rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/big-beautiful-bill-medicaid-snap-crisis-vermont-1235455593
[5] Billions in heating aid for Americans at risk due shutdown, https://www.reuters.com/world/us/billions-heating-aid-americans-risk-due-shutdown-2025-10-29/
[6] Michigan Democrats propose $900M plan to save state’s SNAP benefits during shutdown, https://www.mlive.com/politics/2025/10/michigan-democrats-propose-900m-plan-to-save-snap-benefits-during-shutdown.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=redditsocial&utm_campaign=redditor
[7] Shutdown pain intensifies as air traffic controllers lose pay, and food assistance is drying up, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/government-shutdown-pain-air-traffic-control-snap-wic-benefits-tsa-rcna240244

1.2. Political Stalemate and Judicial Intervention

The path to reopening the government remains blocked by legislative paralysis and internal party fighting. The Senate once again failed to pass spending legislation amid reports of “fresh Republican shutdown divisions” erupting in private [1, 2]. House Speaker Mike Johnson attributed the impasse to the Senate’s 60-vote threshold, stating Republicans are therefore not fully ‘in charge’ of government [3]. President Trump has reportedly shown “little incentive to broker” a deal, with one analysis describing him as ‘MIA’ (Missing in Action) on the crisis [4, 5]. Meanwhile, the judicial branch has intervened directly in the administration’s shutdown-related actions. A federal judge issued a significant ruling that “indefinitely blocks Trump shutdown layoffs,” preventing the President from using the crisis as a pretext to fire federal workers at will [6]. This legal action runs parallel to a lawsuit filed by a coalition of 25 states, led by Massachusetts, against the Trump administration with the goal of preserving food assistance for 40 million Americans [7].

[1] Shutdown stretches into 28th day as Senate again fails to pass spending legislation, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/28/government-shutdown-senate-vote-fails
[2] Fresh Republican shutdown divisions erupt in private call, https://www.axios.com/2025/10/28/mike-johnson-republicans-government-shutdown?utm_source=firefox-newtab-en-us
[3] Mike Johnson says Republicans aren’t ‘in charge’ of the government, citing Senate’s 60-vote threshold, https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/mike-johnson-republicans-in-charge/
[4] Trump shows little incentive to broker end to shutdown, https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5577750-white-house-lacks-urgency-shutdown/
[5] The Government Is Closed. The President Is MIA., https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2025/10/trumps-absence-government-shutdown/684726/
[6] Federal judge indefinitely blocks Trump shutdown layoffs, https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5577373-federal-judge-halts-trump-shutdown-layoffs/amp/
[7] Massachusetts leads 25 states in suing Trump to preserve food assistance for 40M Americans, https://www.masslive.com/news/2025/10/mass-leads-25-states-in-suing-trump-to-preserve-food-assistance-for-40m-americans.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=redditsocial&utm_campaign=redditor

2. Executive Branch Power and Oversight

2.1. Expansion of Domestic Security Authority

The administration is taking concrete steps to prepare for an expanded domestic security role. The Pentagon has ordered state National Guards to form “Quick Reaction Forces” specifically for the purpose of “crowd control” and responding to civil unrest [1]. This directive follows public statements from President Trump threatening to deploy “More Than The National Guard” into U.S. cities and claiming he could send the “Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines” if he deemed it “necessary” [2, 3]. The legality of such deployments is under judicial review, with the Supreme Court requesting more information before ruling on the President’s use of the National Guard in Chicago [4]. The administration is also reportedly weighing the designation of “antifa a foreign terrorist group,” a move that experts warn is dangerous [5].

[1] Pentagon Orders National Guard to Establish Quick Reaction Forces for Civil Unrest, Riots, https://www.wsj.com/politics/national-security/pentagon-orders-national-guard-to-establish-quick-reaction-forces-for-civil-unrest-riots-f602b193?st=rBD4KY&mod=wsjreddit
[2] Trump Threatens To Send ‘More Than The National Guard’ Into U.S. Cities, https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-national-guard-troops-japan_n_6900f8ebe4b074fca2187bed?origin=home-whats-happening-unit
[3] Trump says he could send “Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines” into U.S. cities “if it was necessary”, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-says-he-could-send-army-navy-air-force-marines-to-us-cities/
[4] Supreme Court wants more info before ruling on Trump’s Chicago National Guard deployment, https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5579726-supreme-court-trump-national-guard-chicago-request/
[5] As Trump talks of designating antifa a foreign terrorist group, experts see danger, https://www.npr.org/2025/10/28/nx-s1-5587726/trump-antifa-terrorist-group

2.2. Polling, Pardons, and Presidential Scrutiny

President Trump’s public approval rating has reportedly fallen to a “second term low” and is “19-points underwater” in another poll, with one outlet attributing the decline to a perception that he has failed to improve the economy [1, 2]. On the question of his political future, the President has publicly acknowledged the constitutional barrier to a third term, stating “it’s pretty clear” he can’t run again [3]. In a significant use of executive power, the President has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao [4]. The pardon comes as a new Reuters investigation purports to expose the “Trump family’s global crypto cash machine” [5]. Separately, the administration has fired the independent boards that oversee both D.C. construction projects and the design of federal buildings, moves that precede planned changes to the White House [6].

[1] Trump’s net approval rating hits second term low, poll shows, https://www.newsweek.com/trumps-net-approval-rating-hits-second-term-low-poll-shows-10955247?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=reddit_influencers
[2] Trump’s approval rating hits a new low as poll shows him 19-points underwater, https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-low-approval-rating-october-b2854656.html
[3] Trump says ‘it’s pretty clear’ he can’t run for a third term, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/donald-trump/trump-rule-out-third-term-constitutional-amendment-rcna240438
[4] US President Trump pardons Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly1qrl9l1qo
[5] Inside the Trump family’s global crypto cash machine, https://www.reuters.com/investigations/inside-trump-familys-global-crypto-cash-machine-2025-10-28/
[6] Trump fires board that oversees D.C. construction projects, as he plans major changes to White House, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-fires-board-that-oversees-d-c-construction-projects-as-he-plans-major-changes-to-white-house/

3. Justice System and Legal Affairs

3.1. DOJ Faces Politicization Allegations

The Department of Justice is facing intense criticism and accusations of politicization following a series of controversial actions. The DOJ has suspended two federal prosecutors after they publicly described the January 6th attack on the Capitol as being carried out by a “mob” of “rioters” [1]. In a separate instance, two prosecutors were also placed on leave after they sought a prison sentence for a pardoned January 6 rioter [2]. These moves have prompted a broader challenge from Congress regarding the administration’s influence within the U.S. attorney system [3]. Adding to the controversy, the DOJ has indicted Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh for her role in protests against ICE in the Chicago area, for which she could face up to eight years in prison [4]. Abughazaleh called the indictment a politically motivated effort to “silence dissent” [5].

[1] DOJ places on leave 2 prosecutors who said ‘mob’ of ‘rioters’ carried out Jan. 6 attack, https://abcnews.go.com/US/doj-places-leave-prosecutors-mob-rioters-carried-jan/story?id=126974576
[2] DOJ puts 2 prosecutors on leave after they sought prison sentence for pardoned Jan 6. rioter, https://www.msnbc.com/ana-cabrera-reports/watch/doj-puts-2-prosecutors-on-leave-after-they-sought-sentence-for-pardoned-jan-6-rioter-250898501754
[3] Trump administration challenged on US attorney moves, https://rollcall.com/2025/10/27/trump-administration-challenged-on-us-attorney-moves/
[4] DOJ indicts Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh over ICE protests, https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/doj-indicts-democratic-congressional-candidate-kat-abughazaleh-ice-pro-rcna240584
[5] Trump DOJ Indicts Congressional Candidate for Protesting ICE | She and five other protesters face up to eight years in prison if convicted., https://newrepublic.com/post/202438/donald-trump-department-justice-indicts-congress-candidate-kat-abughazaleh-ice

3.2. Landmark Texas Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage Equality

In a landmark decision with national implications for civil rights, the Texas Supreme Court has ruled that “judges can refuse to marry same-sex couples” [1]. This ruling allows judicial officials in the state to decline to perform such ceremonies. In other legal news, President Trump is officially appealing his “Hush Money Felony Criminal Conviction” [2], and reports indicate a grand jury is investigating allegations of deepfake AI porn allegedly created inside the office of an Indiana official identified as Lt. Gov. Beckwith [3].

[1] Texas Supreme Court rules that judges can refuse to marry same-sex couples, https://www.advocate.com/news/texas-judges-same-sex-marriages
[2] Trump Appealing Hush Money Felony Criminal Conviction, https://apnews.com/article/trump-hush-money-new-york-conviction-788e1baac7fc56bc4f46278d4dfdb713
[3] Grand jury investigating allegations of deepfake AI porn of representative’s wife inside Lt. Gov. Beckwith’s office, https://fox59.com/indianapolitics/grand-jury-investigating-allegations-of-ghost-employment-deepfake-porn-inside-micah-beckwiths-office/

4. Economic, Trade, and Regulatory Policy

4.1. Federal Reserve Cuts Rates Amid Shutdown; Congress Rebukes Tariffs

The Federal Reserve has cut its key interest rate, a move directly attributed to the government shutdown, which has “cloud[ed] the economic outlook” and stalled the release of key economic data [1]. While the Fed acts, Congress is pushing back on the administration’s trade agenda. In a significant bipartisan rebuke, the Senate voted to block tariffs President Trump imposed on Brazil and, in a separate vote joined by four Republicans, moved to end tariffs on Canada [2, 3]. The pushback on Brazil tariffs comes as coffee prices are reportedly spiking [4]. Meanwhile, automaker Toyota has publicly refuted claims by President Trump, stating the company did not make a $10 billion deal he has been bragging about [5].

[1] Federal Reserve cuts key rate as government shutdown clouds economic outlook, https://apnews.com/article/federal-reserve-cut-inflation-jobs-e689e1397856aa24ffebdaaefa9762a2?utm_source=onesignal&utm_medium=push&utm_campaign=2025-10-29-Breaking+News
[2] Senate votes to block tariffs on Brazil. It shows some pushback to Trump trade policy, https://apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-brazil-cc3fa84842f08ccf51e52453ec61b764
[3] Four Senate Republicans vote with Democrats in effort to end Trump tariffs on Canada, https://www.cnn.com/2025/10/29/politics/canada-tariffs-senate-vote-trump?utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=missions&utm_source=reddit
[4] US Senate in bipartisan vote rejects Trump tariffs on Brazil as coffee prices spike, https://wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/10/28/repub/us-senate-in-bipartisan-vote-rejects-trump-tariffs-on-brazil-as-coffee-prices-spike/
[5] Toyota Says Trump Is Bragging About a Deal It Didn’t Make, https://newrepublic.com/post/202428/toyota-donald-trump-bragging-10-billion-deal

4.2. Regulatory Shifts on Climate, Healthcare, and Finance

The administration is moving forward with significant regulatory changes. The E.P.A. is advancing a plan to “kill a major climate rule” that is reportedly worrying even some business leaders [1]. In healthcare, a new VA rule citing a Trump order on “Biological Truth” has made it more difficult for male veterans with breast cancer to get coverage [2]. The administration is also reportedly taking aim at state laws that shield consumers’ credit scores from the impact of medical debt, which affects an estimated 100 million people [3]. In financial regulation, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has formally eliminated its “Registry of Nonbank Legal Proceedings” [4]. On the corporate front, General Motors has announced it will cut 1,200 jobs at its Detroit EV plant [5].

[1] An E.P.A. Plan to Kill a Major Climate Rule Is Worrying Business Leaders, https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/25/climate/endangerment-finding-auto-energy-lawsuits.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wE8.JsFL.TfittENppU_v
[2] Citing Trump Order on “Biological Truth,” VA Makes It Harder for Male Veterans With Breast Cancer to Get Coverage, https://www.propublica.org/article/veterans-affairs-male-breast-cancer-coverage-trump-executive-order
[3] Trump team takes aim at state laws shielding consumers’ credit scores from medical debt: Nationwide, about 100 million people have some form of health care debt, https://www.statnews.com/2025/10/29/trump-state-laws-medical-debt-credit-score
[4] CFPB Formally Eliminates Registry of Nonbank Legal Proceedings, https://news.bloomberglaw.com/banking-law/cfpb-formally-eliminates-registry-of-nonbank-legal-proceedings
[5] GM to cut 1,200 jobs at Detroit EV plant, hundreds more at Tennessee, Ohio battery sites, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/general-motors/2025/10/29/gm-cutting-hundreds-of-jobs-at-detroit-tennessee-ohio-ev-sites/86962834007/

5. Immigration and Foreign Affairs

5.1. Immigration Enforcement, Policy Changes, and Legal Battles

The administration’s aggressive immigration agenda is marked by new policies and legal confrontations. The Department of Homeland Security has ended the policy of automatically extending Employment Authorization Documents (EADs), a major shift that will impact thousands of immigrant workers awaiting renewals [1]. Concurrently, new federal rules are set to impose stricter work requirements that will cut thousands from food stamp programs [2]. In a high-profile case, Nigerian Nobel laureate and Trump critic Wole Soyinka stated that his U.S. visa has been revoked [3]. Enforcement tactics are also under fire, with lawmakers declaring ICE’s use of forced facial scans on public streets to be unconstitutional [4]. In Chicago, an appeals court blocked a lower court’s order that would have required a border chief to provide daily in-person briefings on local immigration sweeps [5].

[1] DHS Ends Automatic Extension of Employment Authorization, https://www.uscis.gov/newsroom/news-releases/dhs-ends-automatic-extension-of-employment-authorization
[2] New Federal Rules Ramp Up The Pressure On People Who Count On Food Stamps: Thousands of people in Hawaiʻi will be cut from the program entirely or face additional hurdles, including added work requirements., https://www.civilbeat.org/2025/10/new-federal-rules-ramp-up-pressure-people-who-rely-food-stamps/
[3] Wole Soyinka, Nigerian Nobel laureate and Trump critic, says US visa revoked, https://www.theguardian.com/books/2025/oct/28/wole-soyinka-nobel-us-visa-trump
[4] ICE’s forced face scans to verify citizens is unconstitutional, lawmakers say — Videos show ICE conducting random face scans on US streets., https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/10/ices-forced-face-scans-to-verify-citizens-is-unconstitutional-lawmakers-say/
[5] Appeals court blocks order requiring Bovino to brief judge on Chicago immigration sweeps, https://apnews.com/article/chicago-illinois-bovino-ice-immigration-506c9c661ee75f3e955f346daeed5555

5.2. Foreign Relations: Trump-Xi Meeting, and Friction with Allies

A high-stakes diplomatic meeting between President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping has been confirmed for Thursday in South Korea [1]. Ahead of the meeting, President Trump said he expects to lower fentanyl-related tariffs on Beijing and discuss issues concerning “farmers” [2]. Relations with key allies, however, are strained. Ontario Premier Doug Ford is demanding an apology from the U.S. ambassador for an alleged “expletive-laced tirade” and “unacceptable” comments directed at an Ontario trade representative over an anti-tariff ad [3]. In Europe, a group of Republican senators has issued a “strong rebuke” of President Trump’s decision to withdraw troops from NATO [4]. In the Middle East, a U.S. strike in Yemen authorized by President Trump reportedly killed 61 immigrants and no combatants, raising questions about intelligence and civilian casualties [5].

[1] Breaking ：China confirms Xi, Trump will meet in South Korea on Thursday, https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-confirms-xi-trump-will-meet-south-korea-thursday-2025-10-29/
[2] Trump says he expects to lower fentanyl-related tariffs on Beijing, discuss ‘farmers’ with China’s Xi, https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/29/trump-says-he-expects-to-lower-fentanyl-related-tariffs-on-beijing-discuss-farmers-with-chinaxi.html
[3] Ford wants U.S. envoy to apologize for ‘unacceptable’ comments to Ontario trade rep, https://globalnews.ca/news/11500129/doug-ford-pete-hoekstra-comments-apology/?utm_source=NewsletterNational&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=2025
[4] Republican senators strongly rebuke Trump’s NATO troop withdrawal, https://www.newsweek.com/trump-europe-us-troop-withdrawal-ukraine-wicker-rogers-10961230?utm_source=reddit&utm_campaign=reddit_main
[5] Trump’s Yemen Strike Killed 61 Immigrants and No Combatants, https://theintercept.com/2025/10/28/trump-yemen-strike-civilian-deaths-rough-rider/

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