★★ My Country, 'Tis of Thee mikepasini.com about
A S C R A P B O O K O F R E P O R T I N G O N T H E C O U N T R Y
Saturday
8 Nov 2025
UPDATED
Sat 8:37 am PST
My country, 'tis of thee,
sweet land of liberty,
of thee I sing:
land where my fathers died,
land of the pilgrims' pride,
from every mountainside
let freedom ring!
No more shall tyrants here
With haughty steps appear,
And soldier bands;
No more shall tyrants tread
Above the patriot dead—
No more our blood be shed
By alien hands.
Let music swell the breeze,
and ring from all the trees
sweet freedom's song:
let mortal tongues awake,
let all that breathe partake;
let rocks their silence break,
the sound prolong.
Samuel Smith
1831
Beyond the headlines, these interviews and reports detail with lucidity what's happening now in the United States. A brief intro follows the head that takes you directly to the story, video or audio recording. Dotted red lines are day breaks.
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October October N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 5
Biden Warns of a 'Very, Very Dark Moment' as He Hits Out at TrumpThe New York Times
REID J. EPSTEIN
ReportingFormer President Joseph R. Biden Jr. lashed out on Friday at his successor, delivering an impassioned address in which he warned that the country was in a "very, very dark moment" and said President Trump had acted "in a way that embarrasses us as a nation." Biden, speaking at a Nebraska Democratic Party fund-raising dinner in Omaha, condemned Trump for "deliberately making hunger worse for America" and accused him of taking a "wrecking ball" to the White House, the Constitution and the rule of law while enriching his own family. "The American people are sending a message, are sending the message -- message to Trump and to his crowd," Biden said, at times shouting or meandering as he often did during the later years of his presidency. "I just want you to know, you work for us, President. We don't work for you."
Judge Permanently Blocks National Guard Deployments to Portland for ICE ProtestsThe New York Times
ANNA GRIFFIN
ReportingPresident Trump overstepped his authority when he sought to deploy National Guard troops to Portland, Ore., to protect the Immigration and Customs Enforcement office there, a federal judge ruled on Friday, issuing a permanent block on troop deployments to the city in response to anti-ICE demonstrations. Judge Karin J. Immergut of U.S. District Court, who was nominated to the bench by Trump, had previously issued a preliminary injunction blocking the president's order federalizing National Guard soldiers in Oregon in a lawsuit that was brought by the States of Oregon and California and the City of Portland. In her final 106-page ruling, Judge Immergut rejected arguments from government lawyers that protests at the ICE building made it impossible for federal officers to carry out immigration enforcement, represented a rebellion or raised the threat of rebellion. She also found that the attempt to use National Guard soldiers in Oregon had violated the U.S. Constitution's 10th Amendment, which gives states any powers not expressly assigned to the federal government.
The Impact of Losing SNAP Benefits and a Head Start School Closure on This GrandmotherNPR Weekend Edition
SCOTT SIMON
ReportingNPR's Scott Simon speaks with Nicole Hines of Davenport, Iowa, about how the loss of SNAP benefits and the closure of a Head Start school that her granddaughter attended are affecting her life.
ICE Crackdown in Chicago Causes Many Immigrants to Alter Routines, Even Missing ChurchNPR Weekend Edition
ADORA NAMIGADDE
ALEJA HERTZLER-MCCAIN
ReportingSince increased immigration enforcement actions began in Chicago, some Latino migrants there say they've been avoiding church out of fear of ICE arrests. But others say they're willing to take the risk to practice their faith.
A Closer Look at Trump's Tariffs, the Impact and Who's Paying ThemNPR Weekend Edition
SCOTT SIMON
JULIANNA KING
ReportingThe Supreme Court is considering Trump's sweeping tariffs. Those tariffs are helping drive up prices, from coffee to furniture and voters say the economy played a major role in this week's elections.
Week in Politics: This Week's Elections; SCOTUS and Trump Tariffs; Shutdown UpdateNPR Weekend Edition
SCOTT SIMON
RON ELVING
ReportingWe look at what Tuesday's vote means to both parties and how the Supreme Court is looking at President Trump's tariffs. We also look ahead to what's next in the shutdown.
Supreme Court Issues Emergency Order to Block Full SNAP Food Aid PaymentsThe Associated Press
STAFF
ReportingThe Supreme Court on Friday granted the Trump administration's emergency appeal to temporarily block a court order to fully fund SNAP food aid payments amid the government shutdown, even though residents in some states already have received the funds. A judge had given the Republican administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But the administration asked an appeals court to suspend any court orders requiring it to spend more money than is available in a contingency fund and instead allow it to continue with planned partial SNAP payments for the month. After a Boston appeals court declined to immediately intervene, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued an order late Friday pausing the requirement to distribute full SNAP payments until the appeals court rules on whether to issue a more lasting pause. Jackson handles emergency matters from Massachusetts. Her order will remain in place until 48 hours after the appeals court rules, giving the administration time to return to the Supreme Court if the appeals court refuses to step in.
Previously on My Country, 'Tis of Thee...We've archived 290 items in October, 268 items in September, 293 items in August, 272 items in July, 253 items in June, 308 in May, 277 in April, 110 in March and 9 in February. Access them from the blue monthly title bar above.
In New Book, Michael McFaul Explores the Global Fight Between Autocracy and DemocracyPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingThe former U.S. ambassador to Russia, Michael McFaul, has been analyzing the rise of autocracies and the threats they pose to democracy for decades. Amna Nawaz sat down with McFaul to discuss his new book, Autocrats vs. Democrats: China, Russia, America and the New Global Disorder.
With Government Jobs Report Delayed, What Other Data Reveals About the EconomyPBS News Hour
PAUL SOLMAN
ReportingThe labor market may not be cratering, but it does not look very strong. This week, a private report found 42,000 new jobs were created last month. Then, a separate report found more than 150,000 jobs were cut in October -- the highest in over two decades. Paul Solman takes a look at the official numbers from the government and the questions over whether the measurements are outdated.
As Millions Struggle With SNAP Lapses, Food Banks Are Swamped With DemandAll Things Considered
TOVIA SMITH
ReportingNovember is peak season for food banks and pantries -- in a normal year. But this year, since SNAP food assistance has lapsed for 42 million Americans, the pressure on pantries is next-level. "Welcome to the madness," says Operations Manager Elaina Schreckenberger, at the ABCD Allston/Brighton Neighborhood Opportunity Center Food Pantry, where staff are scrambling to keep up with the steady flow of people at the front door. As anxiety and demand have been mounting, staff at the ABCD pantry are already having to tell some people it's a two-week wait to get food. "It's painful when someone comes in and we have to say, 'I just don't have anything for you today,'" says the pantry's client advocate, Juliet Smith. "We've never had to do that before. Never."
U.S. Airlines Cancel 1,000 Flights While Complying With Shutdown OrderThe Associated Press
JOSH FUNK
RIO YAMAT
ReportingAnxious travelers across the U.S. felt a bit of relief Friday as airlines mostly stayed on schedule while still cutting more than 1,000 flights largely because of the government shutdown. Plenty of nervousness remained, though, as more canceled flights are coming over the next week to comply with the Federal Aviation Administration's order to reduce service at the nation's busiest airports. The order is in response to air traffic controllers -- who haven't been paid in nearly a month as the shutdown drags on -- calling out of work in higher numbers as they deal with financial pressure. While it's left some passengers making backup plans and reserving rental cars, the flights canceled Friday represented just a small portion of overall flights nationwide. Passengers still faced last-minute cancellations and long security lines at the 40 airports targeted by the slowdown including major hubs in Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and Charlotte, North Carolina.
Trump Admin Asks Supreme Court to Halt Order Providing Full SNAP PaymentsThe Associated Press
STAFF
ReportingResidents in some U.S. states began to receive their full SNAP food aid Friday as an appeals court left in place, for now, an order requiring President Donald Trump's administration to fund such benefits amid a U.S. government shutdown. A judge had given the Republican administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But the administration asked the appeals court to suspend any court orders requiring it to spend more money than is available in a contingency fund and instead allow it to continue with planned partial SNAP payments for the month. After the appeals court declined to do so, the Trump administration quickly asked the U.S. Supreme Court to take up its request.
The Jobs Report Is Canceled. Here's What Private Data Shows.The New York Times
BEN CASSELMAN
ReportingJob growth has remained weak this fall, but despite a series of high-profile layoffs at major corporations, the labor market has not taken a sharp turn for the worse. Probably. With the federal government still shut down, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will not release its monthly jobs report on Friday, the second missed report in a row. Economists and policymakers haven't had an official read on the state of the labor market since August, the longest such data blackout on record. But state governments have continued to publish weekly data on applications for unemployment benefits and a variety of private companies release figures on job openings, hiring, wages and other topics based on surveys and data from their customers. "I don't know that I would characterize the labor market as stable," said Lisa Simon, chief economist at Revelio Labs. "I think we're standing on the edge of a cliff and we're slowly starting to slip down."
Hegseth Is Purging Military Leaders With Little ExplanationThe New York Times
GREG J.å SCHMITT
HELENE COOPER
ReportingDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired or sidelined at least two dozen generals and admirals over the past nine months in a series of ousters that could reshape the U.S. military for years to come. His actions, which are without precedent in recent decades, have come with little explanation. In many cases, they have run counter to the advice of top military leaders who fought alongside the officers in combat, senior military officials said. The utter unpredictability of Hegseth's moves, as described in interviews with 20 current and former military officials, has created an atmosphere of anxiety and mistrust that has forced senior officers to take sides and, at times, pitted them against one another. "The message being sent to those younger soldiers and sailors and airmen and Marines is that politics can and should be part of your military service," said Representative Jason Crow, Democrat of Colorado and a former Army Ranger. "It's a dangerous message."
Man Charged With Throwing His Sandwich at a Federal Officer in D.C. Found Not GuiltyNPR Morning Edition
CARRIE JOHNSON
ReportingA jury has acquitted the man charged with assault for throwing his hoagie at a federal officer.
Supreme Court Allows Trump to Prohibit Gender Election on PassportsNPR Morning Edition
NINA TOTENBERG
ALYSSA KAPASI
ReportingThe U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday allowed President Trump to proceed with his plan to require that passport applicants list their sex as what was designated on their birth certificate. The court's decision overturns a lower court order pausing Trump's policy and allowing applicants to choose for themselves whether they would like to identify with an M for male, F for female or an X for neither. The vote was 6-3 along ideological lines. Male and female sex markers began to be listed on passports in 1976. The government has allowed citizens for over 30 years to request a passport that reflects their gender identity instead of the sex listed on a birth certificate. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote the dissent, which was joined by the court's two other liberals. She called the order a "pointless but painful perversion of our equitable discretion." "This Court has once again paved the way for the immediate infliction of injury without adequate (or, really, any) justification," she wrote.
Trump Has Accused Boat Crews of Being Narco-Terrorists. The Truth, AP Found, Is More NuancedThe Associated Press
R. GARCIA CANO
ReportingOne was a fisherman struggling to eke out a living on $100 a month. Another was a career criminal. A third was a former military cadet. And a fourth was a down-on-his-luck bus driver. The men had little in common beyond their Venezuelan seaside hometowns and the fact all four were among the more than 60 people killed since early September when the U.S. military began attacking boats that the Trump administration alleges were smuggling drugs. President Trump and top U.S. officials have alleged the craft were being operated by narco-terrorists and cartel members bound with deadly drugs for American communities. The Associated Press learned the identities of four of the men -- and pieced together details about at least five others -- who were slain, providing the first comprehensive account of those who died in the strikes. Residents and relatives said the dead men had indeed been running drugs but were not narco-terrorists or leaders of a cartel or gang. Most of them were crewing such craft for the first or second time, making at least $500 per trip. They were laborers, a fisherman, a motorcycle taxi driver. Two were low-level career criminals. One was a well-known local crime boss who contracted out his smuggling services to traffickers.
These Are the Airports That Will Reduce Flights During the Government ShutdownThe Associated Press
STAFF
ReportingThe Federal Aviation Administration is forcing airlines to cut 10 percent of their flights at 40 of the busiest airports across the nation to reduce pressure on air traffic controllers during the ongoing government shutdown and ensure that flying remains safe. The cuts will start to take effect on Friday. Travelers should check with their airlines to see if their flight has been cut. [List follows.]
Trump Administration Seeks to Halt SNAP Food Aid Payments After a Court OrderThe Associated Press
DAVID A. LIEB
MICHAEL CASEY
SCOTT BAUER
ReportingThe Trump's administration asked a federal appeals court Friday to block a judge's order that it distribute November's full monthly SNAP benefits amid a U.S. government shutdown, even as at least some states said they were moving quickly to get the money to people. U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr. had given Trump's administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But the administration asked the appeals court to suspend any court orders requiring it to spend more money than is available in a contingency fund. The court filing came even as Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' spokesperson Britt Cudaback said on Friday that some SNAP recipients in the state already had received their full November payments overnight on Thursday. The court wrangling prolonged weeks of uncertainty for the food program that serves about 1 in 8 a.m.ericans, mostly with lower incomes.
Federal Judge Sharply Criticizes Immigration Crackdown Tactics in ChicagoPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingA federal judge in Chicago issued a sharp rebuke of the Trump administration's immigration enforcement tactics, saying federal officers used force against protesters and members of the media that "shocks the conscience." Amna Nawaz discussed the immigration crackdown in the city with Heather Cherone of WTTW, Chicago's PBS station.
Travelers Brace for Major Disruptions as FAA Cuts Air Traffic Amid ShutdownPBS News Hour
AMNA NAWAZ
ReportingThe FAA laid out a plan to cut as much as 10 percent percent of flights operating out of 40 major airports. Airlines already pre-emptively cancelled hundreds of flights in response. The Trump administration said the move was triggered by the government shutdown, as air traffic controllers working without pay have been calling in sick. Amna Nawaz discussed more with David Shepardson of Reuters News.
'She Was Fearless From the Start,' Says Nancy Pelosi BiographerAll Things Considered
SUSAN PAGE
AuthorNPR's Juana Summers talks with Susan Page, the author of Madam Speaker: Nancy Pelosi and the Lessons of Power about Pelosi's legacy, following the congresswoman's decision not to seek reelection.
How an Enduring Debate Over Health Care Sparked a Now Record-Long ShutdownAll Things Considered
SAM GRINGLAS
ReportingThe government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history. The ongoing 36-day closure has sparked disputes over a range of topics -- from the separation of powers and the federal workforce, to food assistance and air traffic control. But at the heart of the impasse is a debate about health care, specifically expiring subsidies for health insurance premiums purchased on the Affordable Care Act marketplace.
Federal Judge Orders Full Funding of SNAP BenefitsAll Things Considered
JENNIFER LUDDEN
ReportingA Rhode Island federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to find enough money to restore full funding for SNAP benefits by Friday.
Subway Sandwich Thrower Found Not Guilty in D.C. Jury RebukeAll Things Considered
CARRIE JOHNSON
ReportingNot guilty. That was the finding of a jury on Thursday in the case of a man charged with assault for throwing his hoagie at a federal officer in Washington, D.C. The jury's conclusion came after about seven hours of deliberations. The case of the Subway sandwich has come to symbolize how many in the nation's capital feel about the Trump administration's surge of federal law enforcement to the city.
Judges Hear Cases on Chicago ICE Detention Center and Agents' Use of Force This WeekNPR Morning Edition
JON SEIDEL
ReportingTwo cases involving ICE are in court in Chicago this week. In one, a judge ordered conditions at a detention facility be improved while a ruling is still expected in a case over agents' use of force.
With Social Safety Nets Cut, Americans in Rural Areas Look for Ways to CopeNPR Morning Edition
EMILY RUSSELL
ReportingMillions of Americans rely on federal subsidies and programs to make ends meet. But the shutdown and other cuts have them looking elsewhere for help. Here's how residents in rural New York are coping.
Rep. Jeff Hurd, R-Colo., Talks About a Bipartisan Proposal to End the ShutdownNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR's Leila Fadel speaks to Republican Congressman Jeff Hurd of Colorado about his work on a bipartisan "statement of principles" to extend subsidies for Obamacare and end the government shutdown.
Most Major U.S. Airports Are Among 40 Targeted by Shutdown-Related Flight CutsThe Associated Press
JOSH FUNK
RIO YAMAT
ReportingAirports in New York, Los Angeles and Chicago along with hubs across the U.S. are among the 40 that will see flights cut starting Friday due to the government shutdown, according to a list distributed to the airlines and obtained by The Associated Press. The Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday it would reduce air traffic by 10 percent across 40 "high-volume" markets to maintain travel safety as air traffic controllers exhibit signs of strain during the ongoing government shutdown. The FAA is imposing the flight reductions to relieve pressure on air traffic controllers who are working without pay during the government shutdown and have been increasingly calling off work.
Nancy Pelosi Retiring After 38 Years Representing San Francisco in CongressKQED News
SCOTT SHAFER
ReportingFormer House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who has represented San Francisco in Congress for 38 years, announced Thursday morning that she will not seek reelection. Pelosi delivered the news in a video message framed as a "Dear San Francisco" letter, reflecting on the city's progress and challenges. "San Francisco -- know your power," she said. "We have made history. We have always led the way. And now we must continue to do so. By remaining full participants in our democracy and fighting for the American ideals we hold dear."
Tariffs Aren't a Presidential Power, Says California Attorney GeneralAll Things Considered
JUANA SUMMERS
ReportingNPR's Juana Summers talks with California AG Rob Bonta about tariffs arguments at the Supreme Court, presidential power and the legal fights California is waging against the Trump administration.
A Deep Dive Into the Trump Administration's Firing of Immigration JudgesAll Things Considered
XIMENA BUSTILLO
ReportingThe Trump administration is firing scores of immigration judges and bringing on dozens of others, as it seeks to boost mass deportations. NPR analyzed patterns in hiring and firing.
NPR Fact Checks Kristi Noem on ICE Detaining U.S. CitizensAll Things Considered
ADRIAN FLORIDO
ReportingU.S. citizens were restrained, questioned and in some cases held for days in ways that conflict with the government's public assurances.
Judge in Comey Case Scolds Prosecutors as He Orders Them to Produce Records From ProbeThe Associated Press
ERIC TUCKER
ReportingA federal judge on Wednesday ordered prosecutors in the criminal case of former FBI Director James Comey to produce a trove of materials from the investigation, saying he was concerned that the Justice Department's position had been to "indict first and investigate later." Magistrate Judge William Fitzpatrick instructed prosecutors to produce by the end of the day on Thursday grand jury materials as well as other evidence that investigators seized during the investigation. The order followed arguments in which Comey's attorneys said they were at a disadvantage because they had not been able to review materials that were gathered years ago.
Tune in to the Supreme Court on Wednesday. The Justices Will Be Squirming.The New York Times
LINDA GREENHOUSE
Guest EssayFor those of us who turn to the Supreme Court these days with a sense of foreboding, Wednesday morning's argument on the legality of President Trump's tariffs may offer temporary relief. Listening to it might even be fun. Where does the fun come in? If it comes, it will be from watching the conservative justices struggle to reconcile their deference to the president -- abundantly apparent in recent months from their multiple unsigned and unexplained orders giving him nearly everything he wanted -- with the method they embrace in other contexts for interpreting statutes. Inconveniently for these justices, deference and law in this case are quite clearly pulling in opposite directions and the conservatives may have to twist themselves into knots in the effort to reconcile them.
SCOTUS to Hear Challenge on Trump Tariffs. The Case Could Redefine Presidential PowerNPR Morning Edition
NINA TOTENBERG
ReportingThe Supreme Court will hear arguments Wednesday in a case challenging President Trump's tariffs. The issue could have profound consequences for the country, as well as the presidency.
California Voters Approve Ballot Measure to Redraw the State's Congressional MapNPR Morning Edition
LAURA FITZGERALD
A MARTÍNEZ
ReportingCalifornia voters easily approved Proposition 50, a ballot measure to redraw the state's congressional map to favor Democrats and counter Trump-backed redistricting in Texas.
Analyst Larry Sabato Talks About Tuesday's Election Results and What They MeanNPR Morning Edition
LEILA FADEL
ReportingNPR's Leila Fadel discusses the issues and influences that defined Tuesday's election wins and losses with University of Virginia political analyst Larry Sabato.
Democrats Had a Big Night. Here Are Five Takeaways From the 2025 ElectionsNPR Morning Edition
DOMENICO MONTANARO
ReportingOne thing was clear -- it was a big night for Democrats. Up and down the ballot, Democrats did well. That was true whether it was the marquee governors' races in Virginia and New Jersey, where Democrats significantly outperformed 2024 presidential election margins or even less-closely-watched races like the Virginia House of Delegates, the state supreme court in Pennsylvania and even Georgia Public Service Commission. And the outcomes very well may have consequences in the near term, for things like the federal government shutdown, in the medium term for the 2026 midterm elections and in the longer term for 2028.
Democrats Sweep Key Races Across the CountryNPR Morning Edition
STAFF
ReportingDemocrats celebrated major victories in key races across the country Tuesday night, winning gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, as well as New York City's closely watched mayoral race.
The Tragedy of Dick CheneyThe New York Times
RON SUSKIND
Guest EssayDick Cheney is now gone, but we will be living with his legacy for a long time to come. He wrote a playbook of how to exercise executive authority beyond constitutional boundaries and the rule of law. Donald Trump has added pages and is working on a sequel. It was Vice President Cheney, guiding his under-experienced boss, George W. Bush, who brought unitary executive theory into view. Operating out of a parallel executive office, staffed with people loyal to Cheney directly, he unleashed the war on terror, justifying brutal new tactics, an ill-conceived invasion and a system of mass domestic surveillance. He declared his priorities to be national emergencies, obviating the need to work within the structures of democratic power. He went after those -- Colin Powell, Christine Todd Whitman, Paul O'Neill -- who stood in his path. And he prioritized the bank accounts of the wealthy by supporting tax cuts in wartime against the strongest of warnings. Disastrous as those all actions were, Trump has undertaken even more significant expansions of power and illegality, often under even more dubious claims of emergency. Basically, it's the war on terror model without the war. Cheney made it possible.
Republicans Reprise Unfounded Claims of Widespread Election InterferenceThe New York Times
STEVEN LEE MYERS
ReportingProminent conservatives, including the president, sounded familiar alarms about voter suppression and other efforts to manipulate the vote on Election Day, without presenting evidence.
As L.A. Counts Ballots in a Glass Room, Officials Invite Anyone to WatchThe New York Times
SHAWN HUBLER
ReportingAs California vote counts go, this year should be a snoozer. The ballot has only one question, on whether to authorize the legislature to redraw the state's congressional districts and polls have been forecasting an easy passage for months. In the sprawling facility where Los Angeles County processes its ballots, however, the floor was alive with watchful eyes on Tuesday -- the result of an announcement that the Trump administration had dispatched monitors from the Department of Justice to observe the vote count. The public has long been welcome to watch the ballot counting process. But the Justice Department's announcement spurred fresh interest in observing the count among political activists and public officials, as well as among Democrats hoping to monitor the Republican monitors.
New Book 'Injustice' Explores Trump's Decade-Long Effort to Politicize DOJPBS News Hour
GEOFF BENNETT
ReportingIn their new book, Pulitzer Prize -- winning journalists Carol Leonnig and Aaron Davis offer an investigation into the unraveling of the U.S. Justice Department. They reveal how, under Donald Trump, the nation's top law enforcement agency was transformed from an institution built to protect the rule of law into one pressured to protect the president. They joined Geoff Bennett to discuss "Injustice."
Trump Administration Says It Will Distribute Partial SNAP PaymentsNPR Morning Edition
JENNIFER LUDDEN
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingThe Trump administration says it will use a $4.5 billion in contingency funds to cover partial SNAP payments for November, but it might take weeks or months for some recipients to get their money.
Some Lawmakers Are Worried That Trump Is Dragging the U.S. Into War With VenezuelaAll Things Considered
MICHELE KELEMEN
ReportingPresident Trump is escalating boat strikes near Venezuela without ruling out hitting targets in the country. Lawmakers are warning the U.S. may be drifting toward war without a clear justification.
Lawsuit: Public Workers Could Be Denied Loan Forgiveness if Cities Defy TrumpAll Things Considered
CORY TURNER
ReportingThe cities of Albuquerque, N.M., Boston, Chicago and San Francisco are suing the Trump administration over changes it plans to make to the popular Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. Effective July 1, 2026, the Department of Education says the change will allow it to deny loan forgiveness to workers whose government or nonprofit employers engage in activities with a "substantial illegal purpose." The job of defining "substantial illegal purpose" will fall not to the courts but to the education secretary. The plaintiffs fear that a city or county government's resistance to the administration's immigration actions, for example, or anti-DEI policies, could lead the secretary to exclude that government's public workers from loan forgiveness. They worry that a local nurse or first responder could be denied loan forgiveness because their local leaders defied the Trump administration.
Republicans Still Don't Like Obamacare, but Some Want Its Subsidies ExtendedAll Things Considered
SAM GRINGLAS
ReportingAt the heart of the government shutdown is a debate about expiring subsidies for Affordable Care Act plans. Republicans in Congress detest the ACA, but some have now accepted that it's here to stay.
Jack Smith, Trump's Target, Shifts From Defense to CounterattackThe New York Times
GLENN THRUSH
ReportingPresident Trump's unrelenting fast-track drive to humiliate, investigate and prosecute the people he hates has gained momentum, in part, because his targets have not been in a position to inflict serious retributive pain on him. Jack Smith is different. Smith, the special counsel who twice indicted Trump, appears unintimidated by the president's demand that Republican lawmakers investigate him and that the Justice Department put him in prison for as-yet unproved and unspecified crimes. Quite the opposite, in fact. Smith, who spent more than two years aggressively collecting evidence to prove Trump mishandled classified documents and tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, appears eager to publicly challenge a foundational pillar of MAGA canon: that the president was a sinned-upon innocent who did nothing to deserve scrutiny, much less two prosecutions. Smith has told people in his orbit that he welcomes the opportunity to present the public case against Trump denied to him by the Supreme Court decision asserting broad presidential immunity from prosecution and adverse rulings from a Trump-appointed judge on the federal bench in Florida.
SNAP Recipients Share Their Fear and Confusion After Shutdown Cuts Off BenefitsNPR Morning Edition
STAFF
ReportingAs many states rush to fill the gaps left by the shutdown-related pause in food assistance benefits, SNAP recipients express anxiety and confusion.
A Judge Says the Trump Administration Has to Fund SNAP. What Happens NextNPR Morning Edition
STEVE INSKEEP
ReportingNPR's Steve Inskeep asks Cindy Long, a former administrator of the USDA's SNAP program, what recent court rulings mean for the millions of Americans waiting for funds to buy groceries.
yTimeline for Restoration of SNAP Benefits Unclear as Millions of Recipients ScrambleNPR Morning Edition
JOE HERNANDEZ
MICHEL MARTIN
ReportingThe national food aid program known as SNAP ran out of federal money Saturday due to the government shutdown, leaving the millions of Americans who rely on those benefits to buy food scrambling.
yICE Seizing Migrants From County Jails, Raising Due Process ConcernsNPR Morning Edition
MOSE BUCHELE
ReportingIn some parts of the U.S., ICE agents are seizing people directly from county jails to take into immigration custody. The tactic has raised concerns over due process.
Anger Over ICE Raids Is Driving Some Latino Voters to the PollsThe New York Times
STAFF
ReportingElections on Tuesday in California, New Jersey and other states are unfolding as the Trump administration's immigration raids have spread fear in Latino communities across the country. That fear of Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity has become an X factor in next week's elections. Democratic officials and Latino voting-rights activists worry that the ICE crackdown will dampen Latino turnout and that the presence of Justice Department election monitors at polling sites in California and New Jersey will intimidate voters. Voter data of the turnout so far in California, New Jersey and Virginia shows that Latino participation is roughly on pace with past elections. And for some Latino voters, the Trump administration's escalation of force appears to be not a deterrent to casting a ballot but a motivation.
California Voters Weigh in on Redrawing the State's Congressional MapNPR Weekend Edition
ASHLEY LOPEZ
ReportingVoters in California are weighing whether to allow Democratic state leaders to redraw the state's Congressional map to offset Republicans' redraw in Texas.
Obama Criticizes Trump and Republican Policy in Stump Speech for Abigail SpanbergerThe Guardian
ERIC BERGER
ReportingFormer President Barack Obama headlined a rally Saturday in Virginia to try to secure a victory for the state's Democratic gubernatorial candidate, who leads in polls days before the election. Obama moved between criticizing Donald Trump and Republican policy and rhetoric -- with a bit of humor -- while also explaining how Abigail Spanberger could help counter what Democrats see as the country's downward trajectory. "As for the president, he has been focused on critical issues like paving over the Rose Garden so folks don't get mud on their shoes and gold-plating the Oval Office and building a $300m ballroom," Obama said. "So Virginia, here's the good news. If you can't visit a doctor, don't worry, he will save you a dance."
Three Killed in U.S. Military Strike on Alleged Drug Vessel in the CaribbeanThe Guardian
ASSOCIATED PRESS
ReportingThe U.S. military has carried out another lethal strike on alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean Sea, U.S. defense secretary Pete Hegseth said. Hegseth said on Saturday the vessel was operated by a U.S.-designated terrorist organization but did not name which group was targeted. He said three people were killed in the strike. It's at least the 15th such strike carried out by the U.S. military in the Caribbean or eastern Pacific since early September. The U.S. military has now killed at least 64 people in the strikes.
Uncertainty Over Federal Food Aid Deepens as the Shutdown Fight Reaches a Crisis PointThe Associated Press
STEPHEN GROVES
ALI SWENSON
SUSAN HAIGH
ReportingThe crises at the heart of the government shutdown fight in Washington were coming to a head Saturday as the federal food assistance program faced delays and millions of Americans were set to see a dramatic rise in their health insurance bills. The impacts on basic needs -- food and medical care -- underscored how the impasse is hitting homes across the United States. Plans by the Trump administration to freeze payments to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program on Saturday were halted by federal judges, but the delay in payouts will still likely leave millions of people short on their grocery bills. It all added to the strain on the country, with a month of missed paychecks for federal workers and growing air travel delays. The shutdown is already the second longest in history and entered its second month on Saturday, yet there was little urgency in Washington to end it. Lawmakers are away from Capitol Hill and both parties are entrenched in their positions. The House has not met for legislative business in more than six weeks, while Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., closed his chamber for the weekend after bipartisan talks failed to achieve significant progress.