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In today’s briefing:
Senate prepares for another funding vote
• Johnson declines Jeffries’ debate invitation
• Supreme Court won’t hear Maxwell’s appeal
• Illinois sues Trump regarding development
• Israel and Hamas discuss a potential peace agreement
⛔ Shutdown
If at first you don’t succeed, try again, right?
The Senate reconvenes today, facing yet another chance to address the looming government shutdown. Funding votes are set for this afternoon, but expectations remain low for a different outcome than last week’s.
Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) seems to anticipate the ongoing stalemate and has advised the House to take an extra week off. However, he assured House Republicans that he’d give them a 48-hour notice if they need to return early. “The House did its part,” he said after passing a government funding extension, shifting the onus to the Senate.
Meanwhile, President Trump has also been weighing in. Johnson noted that if the shutdown extends past October 15th, it might force Republicans to negotiate with Democrats. Trump’s influence appears to be ever-present in the discussions.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt is set to hold a press briefing at 1 PM, and there may be indications of mounting pressure coming from the Trump administration.
How might this wrap up?: The most straightforward resolution would be convincing five Senate Democrats to help reopen the government. Reports suggest Republicans have their eye on Senators Gary Peters (MI), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Maggie Hassan (NH), John Ossoff (GA), and Dick Durbin (IL).
When asked about discussions with Democrats, Johnson remarked, “They haven’t exactly called me to negotiate,” suggesting a lack of active dialogue.
Responsibility is being assigned early: Recent polling indicates that more Americans blame Republicans for handling the government shutdown poorly than Democrats.
Follow our live updates today.
➤ Latest – Debate Challenge:
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (NY) has issued a debate challenge to Speaker Johnson, proposing that Johnson have the opportunity to clarify his approach to the government shutdown directly on the House floor.
Johnson has dismissed this as a “desperate plea.” He claimed not to be interested in what he called “theatrics,” emphasizing that the Senate needs to take action now.
🪖 Statewatch
Challenges in Portland and Chicago:
President Trump faced significant setbacks last night regarding his desire to send National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon, against the local government’s wishes.
A US District Judge Karin Immergut, appointed by Trump, successfully blocked the efforts to deploy federal troops to the area.
The Trump administration had attempted to source troops from Texas, but Immergut halted those plans as well, criticizing the administration’s actions as a direct violation of her ruling.
What’s the rationale for the deployment? The aim seems to be addressing protests related to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Additionally, today in Chicago: Illinois and the city of Chicago have filed a lawsuit aimed at preventing Trump from deploying the National Guard to the city.
For context on the use of the National Guard: Typically, the Guard is under state control, usually mobilized for emergencies. Under certain circumstances, the President can assume control, but such actions are often contentious.
🏛️ Other news
The Supreme Court declines to hear Maxwell’s appeal.
The Supreme Court has opted not to review Ghislaine Maxwell’s appeal regarding her sex trafficking conviction.
Maxwell, a close associate of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was sentenced to 20 years in prison for conspiring to assist in the abuse of a minor.
Upcoming Supreme Court Term:
The Supreme Court’s new term has started, with 39 cases already lined up. Some significant cases to watch include:
Trump-related issues: The Court will decide if Trump’s emergency declarations for tariffs are justified and whether he has the authority to dismiss members of the Federal Trade Commission.
LGBTQ rights: Several cases regarding transgender issues, including bans on transgender student-athletes and policies regarding gender identification on passports, are on the docket.
Election matters: The Court will also review three cases related to election law.
Death penalty: There’s a case addressing the death penalty status of an individual claimed to be intellectually disabled, with implications on IQ assessments.
Other contentious matters: The Court will hear cases concerning abortion, discrimination, and religious freedoms.
Quick Updates:
Israel and Hamas are in Egypt discussing negotiations to conclude the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegses has reinforced restrictions on Pentagon press access, despite media complaints.
Trump announced that the highly anticipated UFC event he is hosting on the White House lawn will coincide with his 80th birthday.
➤ Other Reads:
Atlantic: The Democratic Party continues to grapple with internal conflicts, focusing on voter perceptions versus their platform.
Wall Street Journal: Elon Musk’s ambitious AI initiatives in Memphis are sparking significant interest.
Washington Post: Investigative reports on veterans exploiting VA programs raise concerns about oversight.
New York Times: A survey of legal experts shares insights into Trump’s judicial impacts.
Politico: Trump continues to influence John Roberts’ legacy.
Looking ahead:
The House is on break for a week; the Senate remains active. President Trump is in Washington, D.C. (All Times EST)
1 PM: White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt will address reporters.
5:30 PM: Senate votes are scheduled. 📆View Agenda
Thursday: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney will visit the White House.
Friday at 7 PM: C-SPAN will debut “Cerefire” featuring former Vice President Mike Pence and ex-Obama aide Rahm Emanuel.
October 14th: The anticipated return home.
🐝 Trending Online
🍷 Celebrate: Today is National Orange Wine Day and National Noodle Day!
✋ If you’re wary, raise that hand: OpenAI’s new app Sora 2 generates videos from user-uploaded photos. It’s truly uncanny how realistic some of these AI-generated videos seem.
👋 Lastly…
Keep smiling! Here’s a heartwarming moment between a dolphin and a service dog to brighten your day.
