Happy Thursday. Wake me up when September is over, right?
In today’s update:
- White House plans layoffs if a shutdown occurs
- Trump takes notice of New Jersey polling
- President meets with Erdogan
- White House addresses Epstein controversy
⏱⏱️ Shutdown Clock
The White House is preparing for significant layoffs amid a potential government shutdown.
The White House Budget Office has circulated a memo suggesting federal agencies view a shutdown as an opportunity to reduce their workforce.
Why now? The memo encourages departments to consider permanent layoffs during a shutdown, indicating they might not have the chance once Congress reconvenes.
Senate Democratic LeaderChuck Schumer (NY) criticized the memo, calling it intimidating and predicting legal challenges against any permanent layoffs stemming from a shutdown.
House Democrat leaderHakeem Jeffries (NY) supported Schumer’s view, asserting that the Democratic leaders wouldn’t be intimidated by the threats of mass layoffs.
Trump blames Democrats: “This is all caused by Democrats,” he stated in the Oval Office, attributing potential layoffs to their unreasonable demands.
Is a shutdown likely at this point?
Unless something changes in the next few days, it seems almost unavoidable.
President Trump had planned to meet with Democratic leaders, but that was canceled earlier this week as negotiations seem stalled. The Senate is expected to reconvene just before the shutdown deadline.
Where negotiations stand: Senate Democrats indicated they cannot support the House’s funding bill without discussions, while Republicans claim they see no need to negotiate.
Trump’s strategy: He aims to make the situation as difficult as possible for Democrats, pushing for Republican priorities in funding.
At the White House
Today, Trump hosts Turkish PresidentRecep Tayyip Erdoğan.
As the meeting began, Trump addressed reporters. Here are a few noteworthy points:
- Regarding a recent shooting in Dallas, Trump asserted, “The radical left is creating the problems, not us.”
- On Putin, he commented, “It’s a waste of human life. He should stop,” referring to the Ukraine conflict.
- Trump spoke about the need to decide on including Turkey in the F-35 Fighter Jet program by the day’s end.
- He also mentioned plans to return tariff money to farmers, suggesting they need the support.
Additionally, Trump will meet with Pakistan’s Prime Minister later today.
Campaign News
New Jersey Governor’s race shows a close contest.
An Emerson College Poll indicatesMikie Sherrill (DN.J.) and former legislatorJack Ciattarelli (R) are tied at 43%, with 11% undecided. This has garnered attention due to Sherrill’s previous lead in most polls — she was ahead by 6.5 points according to some averages.
Trump’s take: He shared his thoughts on social media, praising Ciattarelli’s performance in the polls.
Challenges for Nancy Pelosi.
Recent internal polling for one of her competitors shows that 51% of respondents prefer Pelosi, but many see a need for change. Only 31% want her to continue representing her district, highlighting growing discontent.
Epstein crisis within the White House.
The Wall Street Journal reports on internal confusion and concerns regarding the Epstein situation. Trump has dismissed his past association with Epstein as being from “another time.”
Trump also reportedly tried to prevent a story about Epstein’s “birthday book” from being published.
What’s next: The House may soon vote on releasing related files, while Democrats recently secured a crucial seat in Arizona, potentially aiding their efforts.
Lastly…
On a lighter note, it seems like there’s a cute dog who might just have a future in music! What do you think?
