pinned
series live from the Senate floor as work continues on bill to end government shutdown
Senate kicks off debate on government funding bill — 5:58 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Senators have begun debate on a bill to reopen the government, setting the course for likely passage early Monday night.
The leaders of the Senate Appropriations Committee kicked off debate. Republican Sen. Susan Collins said the bill includes backpay and key protections for federal workers.
“That will make a huge difference to these federal employees who have worked so hard to serve the people of our nation,” said Collins, chair of the committee.
Senator Patty Murray, the panel’s best Democratic lawmaker, said passage of the bill won’t stop her rave’s fight to extend tax credits making health insurance coverage more affordable for millions of Americans. Democrats have been seeking to extend the tax credits as a condition for voting for a funding bill.
“I and many of many of us have no intention of letting Republicans off the hook,” Murray said.
Shutdown closes Manhattan federal courts on Fridays — 5:18 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The government shutdown has finally caught up to one of the nation’s busiest federal courts, leading the chief judge in the Southern District of New York to order courthouses closed to the public on Fridays.
Nevertheless, Judge Laura Taylor Swain wrote, proceedings and activities “necessary to fulfill the Court’s constitutional obligations” may still be held.
Swain’s order affects two federal district courthouses and a bankruptcy court in Manhattan, along with a federal courthouse in White Plains, north of New York City. Court papers can still be filed on Fridays through the court’s electronic system, she said.
The Administrative Office of the US Courts, which oversees federal court operations nationwide, said the judicial branch was shifting to special operations “necessary to perform the Judiciary’s constitutional functions” on Oct. 20 after funding for full operations ran out.
The administrative office has said it’s up to individual court districts to decide how they handle cases and staffing during the shutdown.
California lawmaker launches campaign to fund scientific research in response to federal cuts — 5:11 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The proposal would authorize $23 billion in bonds to help scientists in the state study cancer treatments, the impacts of climate change on people’s health and more after the Trump administration cut billions of dollars for scientific research.
State Sen. Scott Wiener, a Democrat representing San Francisco, said the proposal would help California take the lead where the federal government has failed.
“We have an entire political movement that seems dedicated to destroying all forms of academic inquiry, including science,” said Wiener, who is running to succeed Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi in Congress. “It’s horrifying and just perplexing on so many levels.”
The measure would have to be passed on a two-thirds vote in both houses of the Legislature before it could head to the statewide ballot in November 2026.
After mistaken deportation, US asks judge to let it send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia — 4:53 p.m.
By the Associated Press
US government attorneys say they have cleared all the hurdles needed to send Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Liberia and are asking a federal judge to dissolve an order blocking his deportation.
Abrego Garcia’s mistaken deportation to his home country of El Salvador earlier this year has helped galvanize opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. His attorneys claim the administration is immediately manipulating the immigration system in order to punish him for successfully challenging that deportation.
A motion from the government filed in U.S. District Court in Maryland late on Friday says officials have received assurances from Liberia that Abrego Garcia would not face persecution or torture there. Further, it says an immigration officer heard Abrego Garcia’s claims that he feared deportation to the West African nation, but ruled against him.
Trump says Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has ‘lost her way’ — 4:12 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Asked about criticism by Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Green that he’s too focused on foreign policy and should focus more on affordability issues in the US, the president turned on his Republican ally.
“I don’t know what happened to Marjorie, nice woman,” Trump told reporters. “She’s lost her way, I think.”
Trump defended his focus on foreign affairs and the importance of national security, saying that Greene was “catering to the other side” and he was “surprised by her.”
Greene made her national reputation in part by defending Trump’s leadership. But as inflation has stayed high, she has encouraged the president to focus more on prices for everyday Americans.
Trump says Syrian leader is ‘strong’ and ‘tough’ — 4:05 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump called Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa after their meeting a “very strong leader” and suggested the U.S. would work to help the country succeed.
“He comes from a very tough place,” Trump said, adding that al-Sharaa is a “tough guy” and “I like him.”
The president said that al-Sharra has “had a rough past, but he said, “We’ve all had a rough past.”
Trump didn’t provide any policy details about the meeting, but he said, “We’ll do everything we can to make Syria successful because that’s part of the Middle East.”
Trump says he’ll abide by shutdown offer — 4:01 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president said “I would say so” when asked if he backs an agreement to end the shutdown that is immediately winding its way through the Senate.
“We’re going to be opening up our country very quickly,” Trump said.
The emerging agreement includes provisions that reinstates federal workers who had received reductions-in-force notices, which are effectively layoff slips. It also protects against such future actions.
Trump said he will abide by those reduction-in-force protections and added: “the offer is very good.”
Trump to swear in Gor for India envoy — 3:47 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president abruptly invited in the press pool on Monday afternoon to series Sergio Gor, his former director of presidential personnel, be sworn in as US ambassador to India.
Gor’s “leadership was essential to fulfilling the historic mandate entrusted to us by the American people,” Trump said as he began the event.
The president joked that Gor made a couple of mistakes in staffing up the administration, but that those officials were immediately gone.
Trump says without evidence tariff rollback would cost $2 trillion — 3:46 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The president appears to be exaggerating the banger to government finances if the Supreme Court overturns his tariffs tied to the declaration of an economic emergency.
“The actual Number we would have to pay back in Tariff Revenue and Investments would be in excess of $2 Trillion Dollars, and that, in itself, would be a National Security catastrophe,” Trump posted on his social media site.
It’s not clear how Trump reached that number, but he quoted it after saying that the figures from “Radical Left Lunatics” are too low.
What is clear is that the US hasn’t collected anything close to $2 trillion in emergency tariffs.
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, a fiscal watchdog group, cited numbers from Customs and Border Protection to indicate that roughly $90 billion out of the $195 billion collected in import taxes so far could have to be returned.
Progressive leader calls for Schumer to step aside as Dem leader — 3:35 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A best leader among progressive activists is calling for New York Senator Chuck Schumer to step aside as Democrats’ Senate leader.
Adam Green of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee said the Senate offer to end the shutdown is a failure of Schumer’s leadership. Schumer publicly opposes the offer but was unable to prevent eight members of his caucus from joining Republicans to end the shutdown.
“If this was Schumer’s best, his best clearly isn’t good enough,” Green said Monday in a message to PCCC donors. “The legacy of Chuck Schumer is caving, not winning. The best way to unify the Democratic rave and win big in 2026 is to make clear that the new generation of Democratic senators we elect will NOT be following Chuck Schumer down a losing path.”
Schumer aides did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Secret Service: Mechanical issue caused the trunk on Trump’s limousine to ‘inadvertently open’ on Sunday — 3:25 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The open trunk was seen during live video coverage of the president’s trip to Palm Beach International Airport in Florida for the trip back to Washington.
Here’s what the US Secret Service said about it: “During the motorcade from Mar-A-Lago to Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) one of the motorcade vehicle’s trunks inadvertently opened and remained in the upright position for a part of the motorcade route. No items were lost or displaced while in transit. The issue was determined to be mechanical in nature, has been identified, and has since been repaired.”
Nancy Pelosi’s daughter announces run for California state Senate seat — 3:03 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Another Pelosi is running for elective office.
Christine Pelosi — the daughter of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi — announced Monday that she would seek the California Senate seat that encompasses San Francisco in 2028.
The announcement comes just days after her mother disclosed that she would not seek reelection next year after nearly four decades in Congress. The younger Pelosi’s decision to run for state Senate was something of a surprise, since political observers had long speculated that the attorney and Democratic rave activist could follow her mother to Congress.
“We need leaders who advance our San Francisco values and build power for the people,” Christine Pelosi said on her campaign webpage.
Her decision to run for state Senate could provide some possible political symmetry in the San Francisco Bay Area. The seat is currently held by Democratic Senator Scott Wiener, who is running to succeed Nancy Pelosi in the House.
Senate Democrat questions Trump administration’s $7.5m payment to Equatorial Guinea — 2:54 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Trump administration made a $7.5 million payment to the government of Equatorial Guinea as it seeks to deport people to the West African country and draws closer to its heavily prosecuted leaders, according to the best Democratic senator on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Senator Jeanne Shaheen said in a letter sent Monday to Secretary of State Marco Rubio and obtained by The Associated Press that “this highly unusual payment — to one of the most corrupt governments in the world — raises serious concerns over the responsible, transparent use of American taxpayer dollars.”
Shaheen said in her letter that the $7.5 million payment stood out because it would would “far exceed the amount of U.S. foreign assistance provided over the last 8 years combined” to the country.
The State Department declined to comment on the details of diplomatic communications.
New Mexico legislators consider state funding of food assistance for months if needed — 2:30 p.m.
By the Associated Press
New Mexico would backfill food assistance with state funding on a weekly basis past the end of the year in case SNAP federal food aid remains frozen or falters again, under a proposal from Democratic lawmakers at a special legislative session Monday.
Leading legislators say the proposal would earmark nearly $200 million in possible food aid in case of continued interruptions in SNAP federal food aid, whether by court action or an extension of the federal shutdown.
“We’re not taking any chances,” said Democratic state House Speaker Javier Martínez of Albuquerque. “This is a backstop to make sure no New Mexican goes hungry over the next couple of months.”
In October, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham already used emergency orders to funnel $30 million in food aid onto EBT cards. New Mexico also paid out full monthly federal SNAP benefits on Saturday to residents who ordinarily receive that aid at the start of the month.
Trump clemency recipient gets 27 months in prison for violations — 1:50 p.m.
By the Associated Press
A convicted drug dealer granted clemency by President Donald Trump has been sent back to federal prison for violating the terms of his release after being charged with several new crimes.
Jonathan Braun was sentenced Monday to 27 months behind bars.
The Long Island man had been accused of swinging an IV pole at a hospital nurse and threatening to kill her, screaming at a member of his synagogue, groping his family’s nanny and evading bridge tolls. He’s been in jail since April.
Judge Kiyo Matsumoto said she hoped Braun’s “expressions of remorse” and promises to “lead a law abiding life” were in good faith, noting that many of the people who he had harmed have since forgiven him.
Prosecutors had sought a five-year sentence, the maximum punishment allowed. Braun’s lawyer argued that he should be released immediately.
Eight Democrats voted with GOP to advance offer to end shutdown. A lot of other Democrats are outraged. — 1:15 p.m.
By Alyssa Vega, Globe Staff
Eight Democratic senators voted with Republicans on Sunday to break the impasse and move toward ending the longest government shutdown in US history, sparking fury among their rave colleagues.
The bill would restore funding to reopen the government, covering programs like SNAP food assistance, and would guarantee back pay for furloughed federal workers.
For more than a month, Democrats had insisted that any offer to reopen the government include an extension of Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, set to expire Dec. 31. The shutdown had already left hundreds of thousands of federal workers unpaid, disrupted air traffic control, and airport operations, and millions were facing the loss of food assistance.
So the move Sunday immediately angered many rank-and-file Democrats as well as national rave figures, who felt the offer amounted to caving to President Trump and Republicans without securing the health insurance subsidies as promised.
Shaheen at odds with candidate daughter over shutdown — 12:52 p.m.
By the Associated Press
US Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s role in breaking the government shutdown stalemate puts her at odds with one of her daughters who is seeking election to the US House next year.
The New Hampshire senator who will be retiring after three terms helped negotiate the compromise legislation to end the shutdown. She prioritized extending subsidies for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act but settled for a pledge to hold a vote on the subsidies in December.
“This was the only offer on the table,” she said Sunday.
Her daughter, Stefany, said Monday she would have voted no.
“We need to both end this shutdown and extend the ACA tax credits. Otherwise, no offer,” she said on social media.
Stefany Shaheen is seeking the Democratic nomination in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District.
Tariff dividends paid annually would be twice as expensive as tariffs — 12:49 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget estimates that President Trump’s plan to provide most Americans $2,000 funded from tariffs would cost roughly $600 billion and, if paid annually, would be twice as expensive as tariffs.
“Current tariffs have raised about $100 billion so far,“ said Matt Klucher, with CRFB, “and will raise about $300 billion per year in the steady state.”
If paid annually, dividends would be twice as expensive as tariffs, he said.
President Trump has floated the idea of $2,000 checks to all Americans except for “high-income people.”
House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says he still supports Schumer — 12:45 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The Senate Democratic leader has faced criticism from some progressives after several Senate Democrats sided with Republicans to begin reopening the government.
But Jeffries said it was on those Democrats to explain their vote, and that he still supported Schumer as the rave’s leader in the Senate.
“Leader Schumer and Senate Democrats over the last seven weeks have waged a valiant fight,” said Jeffries.
In March, Jeffries declined to say whether he had confidence in Schumer after Schumer helped Republicans pass a funding bill.
Jeffries says Democrats will continue fight on health care costs — 12:30 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries says that Democratic senators who voted to advance a government funding bill Sunday are “going to have to explain themselves.”
“But the overwhelming majority of Senate Democrats continue to remain in the area fighting to fix our a broken health care system,” Jeffries said.
He is speaking to reporters as Congress inches closer to approving a bill that would reopen the federal government after a shutdown that has lasted nearly six weeks.
Democrats had been insisting the bill include an extension of enhanced tax credits that makes health insurance coverage more affordable, but they were unsuccessful in including that demand.
“As House Democrats, we know we’re on the right side of this fight, the right side of the American people, and we’re not going to support a partisan Republican spending bill that continues to gut the health care of the American people,” Jeffries said.
See how 8 Democrats explain why they voted with Republicans to end the shutdown — 12:25 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Eight Democratic senators faced almost instant blowback from members of their own rave as they voted to allow the Senate to move forward on compromise legislation that would reopen the government.
Their decision Sunday night was labeled a “betrayal” and “pathetic” by some of the most prominent voices in the Democratic rave. “To my mind, this was a very, very bad vote,” said Senator Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who caucuses with Democrats.
The group of defectors includes senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Dick Durbin of Illinois, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, Tim Kaine of Virginia, and Angus King of Maine.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana said Monday that they “decided to put principle over their personal politics.”
Wisconsin governor says Trump request to take back food money from the poor should be condemned — 12:12 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Governor Tony Evers on Monday wrote to the state’s congressional delegation urging them to pressure the USDA to “stop trying to take food out of the hands” of SNAP recipients.
The Democrat reiterated that Wisconsin will not “undo” its distribution of SNAP money as the Trump administration has asked.
“This is a shocking and disturbing request—and one that should be condemned by every person, regardless of their political beliefs or rave,” Evers wrote to the seven Republicans and three Democrats who represent the state. He called it “deeply troubling” that Republicans have not joined Democrats in calling for full funding.
Republican majority Leader asks senators from both parties to allow a speedy final vote to reopen government — 12:02 p.m.
By the Associated Press
Senator John Thune is asking colleagues to allow for quick passage of a bill to end the federal shutdown.
“I’m hoping that will be hours, not days,” he said. “The American people have suffered for long enough. Let’s not pointlessly drag this bill out.”
The Senate voted Sunday night to advance the continuing resolution to fund the government through Jan. 30th. But it takes agreement from all senators to allow for a speedy final vote.
Thune also told reporters he’s confident that Trump would sign the bill once it reaches his desk.
Syria’s president is at the White House for a historic meeting with Trump — 12:00 p.m.
By the Associated Press
The visit by Ahmad al-Sharaa is the first by a Syrian head of state since the Middle Eastern country gained independence from France in 1946.
The meeting also comes after Trump lifted sanctions imposed on Syria during the decades the country was ruled by the Assad family.
Al-Sharaa led the rebel forces that toppled then-Syrian President Bashar Assad last December. He was named the country’s interim leader in January.
The White House said the meeting would be private and closed to press coverage.
The Vances visit Walter Reed — 11:53 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Usha, on Monday met with wounded soldiers at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center ahead of Veterans Day.
While there, the Vances spoke with patients and medical providers at Walter Reed, listened to them about the soldiers’ injuries and treatment plans, and handed out challenge coins while posing for photos.
One Army sergeant who met with the Vances on Monday lost his left leg during his second combat deployment. Impressed with the amount the sergeant was deadlifting, the vice president joked that the visit was designed to shame him because of how strong the injured servicemembers were, despite their wounds.
Vance served in the Marines, and he and Usha Vance headlined the Marine Corps’ 250th Birthday Ball over the weekend.
White House: Senate action on shutdown a ‘positive development’ — 11:36 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The White House is calling the emerging agreement to reopen the federal government a “positive development.”
“We look forward to seeing it progress,” said a White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the administration’s deliberations.
Trump has not indicated whether he would sign the funding measure into law, and the White House official stopped short of saying the president would do so.
US health officials will remove long-standing warning on menopause drugs about stroke and other risks — 11:17 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Hormone-based drugs used to treat hot flashes and other menopause symptoms will no longer carry a bold warning label about stroke, heart attack, dementia and other serious risks, the Food and Drug Administration announced Monday.
US health officials said they will remove the boxed warning from more than 20 pills, patches and creams containing hormones like estrogen and progestin, which are approved to ease disruptive symptoms like night sweats.
FDA Commissioner Marty Makary has called the current label outdated and unnecessary. Many doctors — and pharmaceutical companies — have called for removing or revising the label, which they say discourages prescriptions and scares off women who could benefit.
But other experts have vigorously opposed making changes to the label without a careful, transparent process. They say the FDA should have convened its independent advisers to publicly consider any revisions.
Here’s what you can do if your air travel plans are disrupted due to FAA flight restrictions — 11:15 a.m.
By the Associated Press
- Is my airport affected? There’s a good chance it is. Here’s the list.
- How long will this go on? The Federal Aviation Administration said it won’t lift flight restrictions until air traffic control staffing makes it safe.
- Know before you go Check your airline’s app or a flight-tracking site for updates before leaving for the airport.
- My flight was canceled. immediately what? If you’re at the airport, line up at customer service, and call or go online for airline reservations staff while you wait.
- Try another way? Consider traveling by train, car or bus instead.
- Can I get a refund or compensation? Airlines must fully refund tickets, but not meals or hotel stays unless the delay or cancellation was within their control.
- Should I just stay home for the holidays? Not necessarily. You might just need a little more planning and flexibility than usual.
Trump administration renews Supreme Court appeal to keep full SNAP payments frozen during shutdown — 10:50 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Trump administration returned to the Supreme Court on Monday in a push to keep full payments in the SNAP federal food aid program frozen.
The request is the new in a flurry of legal activity over how a program that helps purchase groceries for 42 million Americans should proceed during the US government shutdown. Lower courts have ruled that the government must keep full payments flowing, and the Supreme Court asked the administration to respond after an appeals court ruled against it late Sunday.
States administering SNAP payments continue to face uncertainty over whether they can — and should — provide full monthly benefits during the ongoing legal battles.
Latin American and Caribbean nations meet with US airstrikes in mind — 10:36 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Representatives of European, Latin American and Caribbean nations are meeting in Colombia to strengthen ties. A key point of discussion is how to handle US military air strikes on boats it says are carrying drugs, killing at least 75 people so far.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who has called the deaths “extrajudicial executions,” said he wants the summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States and the European Union “to be a beacon of light amidst the barbarity.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said he would attend even as Brazil hosts the COP30 climate conference, to urge Latin American nations to stand together to prevent conflict. He said last week that he spoke with Trump about Venezuela. “I told Trump that Latin America is a region of peace,” Lula said.
Republican speaker calls on House lawmakers to begin return to Washington — 10:35 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Mike Johnson said that with the government shutdown near an end, he’s calling on lawmakers to “begin right immediately returning to the Hill.”
“It appears to us this morning that our long national nightmare is coming to an end, and we’re grateful for that,” Johnson said Monday.
Johnson said he’s hoping senators can quick-track a final vote to open the government through Jan. 30. He says that as soon as the Senate completes its final vote, he’ll give notice for a House vote 36 hours later, but in the meantime, lawmakers should not wait on returning to Washington, given possible travel delays.
What’s in legislation to end government shutdown — 10:33 a.m.
By the Associated Press
A legislative package to end the government shutdown appears on track Monday after a handful of Senate Democrats joined with Republicans to break the impasse in what has become a deepening disruption of federal programs and services, the longest in history.
What’s in and out of the bipartisan offer drew sharp criticism and leaves few senators fully satisfied. The legislation provides funding to reopen the government, including for SNAP food aid and other programs, while also ensuring backpay for furloughed federal workers the Trump administration had left in doubt.
But notably lacking is any clear resolution to the expiring health care subsidies that Democrats have been fighting for as millions of Americans stare down rising insurance premiums. That debate was pushed off for a vote next month, weeks before the subsidies are set to expire.
Flight cancellations won’t stop even after the government shutdown ends — 10:10 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The flight cancellations at airports across the US are expected to persist.
The Federal Aviation Administration has reduced flights as some air traffic controllers — unpaid for weeks — stopped showing up for work.
The Senate took a first step toward ending the shutdown Sunday, but final passage could be days away, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy made clear last week that flight cuts will remain until the FAA sees safety metrics improve.
Over the weekend, airlines canceled thousands of flights to comply with the order to eliminate 4 percent of flights. The cancellations are scheduled to rise to 6 percent of all flights at 40 of the nation’s busiest airports on Tuesday, and 10 percent by week’s end.
As of Monday morning, airlines had already canceled 1,600 flights for Monday and nearly 1,000 for Tuesday.
Trump’s Monday schedule — 10:04 a.m.
By the Associated Press
- 11 a.m., Trump will meet with Syria’s al-Sharaa in the Oval Office.
- 3 p.m., he will participate in a swearing in ceremony for the Ambassador to India, also in the Oval Office.
Supreme Court rejects appeal to overturn its same-sex marriage ruling — 9:38 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a call to overturn its landmark decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide.
The justices turned away an appeal from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples after the high court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges. Davis had been trying to get the court to overturn a lower-court order for her to pay $360,000 in damages and attorney’s fees to a couple denied a marriage license.
Her lawyers repeatedly invoked the words of Justice Clarence Thomas, who alone among the nine justices has called for erasing the same-sex marriage ruling.
The BBC gets letter from Trump threatening legal action over editing of his speech — 9:26 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The BBC reported Monday that Trump has sent a letter threatening legal action over the way a speech he made was edited in a documentary aired by the British broadcaster.
Two of the BBC’s most senior executives resigned Sunday over accusations of bias in a documentary’s editing of a speech Trump made on Jan. 6, 2021, before a crowd of his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington.
The program spliced together three quotes from two sections of the speech, delivered almost an hour apart, into what appeared to be one quote in which Trump urged supporters to march with him and “fight like hell.” Cut out was a section where Trump said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully.
The BBC said in a statement on Monday that “we will breakdown the letter and respond directly in due course.”
Potential end to the US government shutdown pushes markets higher — 9:06 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Wall Street pointed toward strong gains before markets opened Monday as a bipartisan offer to end the government shutdown gained traction in the Senate, though it lacked any clear resolution to the expiring health care subsidies that Democrats have been fighting for.
Futures for the S&P 500 were up 0.9 percent, Dow Jones futures gained 0.4 percent and Nasdaq futures climbed 1.5 percent on the strength of the technology sector. Health insurers were among the losers early Monday. Trump suggested over the weekend that subsidies sent to “money sucking” insurance companies should instead go directly to people to purchase their own insurance.
A test vote in the Senate on Sunday began a series of procedural maneuvers toward a compromise that would end the longest federal shutdown in US history.
Trump administration announces new strike on alleged drug boat — 8:47 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the new in a series of strikes on boats accusing of ferrying drugs killed six people two vessels in the eastern Pacific Ocean.
The dual strikes on Sunday bring the total number of known attacks to 19 and the death toll to at least 75 people since the Trump administration launched a campaign against drug trafficking in South American waters that many see as a pressure tactic on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
“These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and were transiting along a known narco-trafficking transit route,” Hegseth posted Monday on social media.
China tightens export control of chemicals used to make fentanyl — 8:46 a.m.
By the Associated Press
China announced Monday that a license would be required to export 13 chemicals to the United States, Canada and Mexico. The announcement did not mention fentanyl, but at least some of the chemicals on the list can be used in the production of the synthetic opioid.
Trump agreed recently to reduce a 20 percent tariff he had imposed on imports from China to 10 percent after the Chinese government said it would take more steps to control the flow of what are known as precursor chemicals for fentanyl.
The chemicals help fuel the illegal production of the powerful pain reliever that has become a major cause of drug addiction and overdose deaths in the US. They can still be exported without a license to other countries besides the three named in the Chinese Commerce Ministry announcement.
US Secretary of State to attend G7 foreign ministers meeting in Canada — 8:45 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Marco Rubio will meet his counterparts from Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Japan in southern Ontario on Tuesday and Wednesday at a time of rising tensions between the Trump administration and the Canadian government.
“Secretary Rubio will advance U.S. interests in peace and security, strategic cooperation, and global stability,” the State Department said Monday.
US priorities for the meeting include pushing Trump’s peace plan for Gaza, efforts to end the Russian-Ukraine war and fighting in Sudan along with improving conditions in Haiti.
Canada is hosting the G7 this year, a chairmanship marked by rising tensions between Washington and Ottawa over numerous issues, predominantly trade and Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian imports.
Federal appeals court says full SNAP benefits must be paid for November; Trump administration expected to appeal — 8:08 a.m.
By the Associated Press
States administering a federal food aid program serving about 42 million Americans faced uncertainty Monday over whether they can — and should — provide full monthly benefits during an ongoing legal battle involving the US government shutdown.
President Trump’s administration over the weekend demanded that states “undo” full benefits that were paid under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during a one-day window between when a federal judge ordered full funding and a Supreme Court justice put a temporary pause on that order.
A federal appeals court in Boston left the full benefits order in place late on Sunday, though the Supreme Court order ensures the government won’t have to pay out for at least 48 hours.
BBC faces leadership crisis after news bosses quit over Trump speech edit and bias claims — 7:55 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The BBC was facing a leadership crisis and mounting political pressure on Monday after its best executive and its head of news both quit over the editing of a speech by Trump.
The resignation of BBC Director-General Tim Davie and news chief Deborah Turness over accusations of bias was welcomed by Trump, who said the way his speech had been edited was an attempt to “step on the scales of a Presidential Election.”
BBC chairman Samir Shah apologized Monday for the broadcaster’s “error of judgment” in editing the speech Trump delivered on Jan. 6, 2021, before a crowd of his supporters stormed the Capitol in Washington.
“We accept that the way the speech was edited did give the impression of a direct call for violent action,” Shah said in a letter to lawmakers.
In a letter to staff, Davie said: “There have been some mistakes made and as director-general I have to take ultimate responsibility.”
Turness said the controversy was damaging the BBC, and she quit “because the buck stops with me.”
As she arrived Monday at the BBC’s central London headquarters, Turness defended the organization’s journalists against allegations of bias.
Donald Trump booed as the 1st sitting US president at a regular-season NFL game since Carter in 1978 — 7:37 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump became the first sitting president in nearly a half-century at a regular-season NFL game, attending the Washington Commanders’ 44-22 loss to the visiting Detroit Lions on Sunday.
There were loud boos from some spectators in the stands when Trump was shown on the videoboard late in the first half — standing in a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson — and again when the president was introduced by the stadium announcer at halftime.
The jeering continued while Trump read an oath for members of the military to recite as part of an on-field enlistment ceremony during the break in the game.
“I’m a little bit late,” Trump told reporters earlier when he got off Air Force One after landing at Joint Base Andrews, following a flyover of Northwest Stadium during the game. He then got in his armored car for the drive to the arena.
“We’re gonna have a good game. Things are going along very well. The country’s doing well. The Democrats have to open it up,” he said — a reference to the government shutdown.
Trump is hosting Syria’s al-Sharaa for a first-of-its-kind meeting at the White House — 7:33 a.m.
By the Associated Press
Trump is hosting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at the White House on Monday, welcoming the once-pariah state into a US-led global coalition to fight the Islamic State group.
It’s the first visit to the White House by a Syrian head of state since the Middle Eastern country gained independence from France in 1946 and comes after the US lifted sanctions imposed on Syria during the decades the country was ruled by the Assad family. Al-Sharaa led the rebel forces that toppled former Syrian President Bashar Assad last December and was named the country’s interim leader in January.
Trump and al-Sharaa — who once had ties to al-Qaidaand had a $10 million US bounty on his head —first met in Mayin Saudi Arabia. At the time, the US president described al-Sharaa as a “young, attractive guy. Tough guy. Strong past, very strong past. Fighter.” It was the first official encounter between the US and Syria since 2000, when former president Bill Clinton met with Hafez Assad, the father of Bashar Assad.
Trump pardons Rudy Giuliani and others who backed efforts to overturn 2020 election, official says — 7:21 a.m.
By the Associated Press
President Trump has pardoned his former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, his former chief of staff Mark Meadows and others accused of backing the Republican’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election, according to a Justice Department official.
Ed Martin, the government’s pardon attorney, posted on social media a signed proclamation of the “full, complete, and unconditional” pardon, which also names conservative attorneys Sidney Powell and John Eastman. The proclamation explicitly says the pardon does not apply to Trump.
Presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes and none of the allies were charged in federal cases. But the move underscores Trump’s efforts to continue to rewrite the history of the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Senate takes first step toward ending the government shutdown — 7:19 a.m.
By the Associated Press
The Senate took the first step to end the government shutdown on Sunday after a group of moderate Democrats agreed to proceed without a guaranteed extension of health care subsidies, angering many in their caucus who say Americans want them to continue the fight.
In a test vote that is the first in a series of required procedural maneuvers, the Senate voted 60-40 to move toward passing compromise legislation to fund the government and hold a later vote on extending Affordable Care Act tax credits that expire Jan. 1. Final passage could be several days away if Democrats object and delay the process.
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