This cycle felt like the second half of a two-part episode, though I can’t claim the second verse was better than the first. We’re seeing a lot of continuations and recurrent themes; many things are stalled out or still careening off-course. I am hoping we’ll see at least some changes in the next cycle, but I’ll keep folks posted either way.
Several nouveau and some classic reminders still apply: we may be well into my ninth year of journalism, but I focus on national news within my areas of expertise–which, at this point, includes (1) health news, (2) queer news, (3) news about law and government, (4) news about descent into authoritarianism, and (5) connections between news stories. NNR summaries may still occasionally contain some detailed analysis that’s outside my expertise–I’m a lawyer, not an emolument!–but we are moving away from this model in general, as we pioneer a more focused and sustainable format. And, of course, for the law things you read here, I’m offering context that shouldn’t be considered legal advice. Okay, I think that’s about it for the disclaimers. Onward to the news!
Spills in Aisle 47
‘Toddler Supermarket Tantrum,’ taken with permission from Stockcake.com
- Shutdown Takedown. By now, it’s pretty apparent that this is not an ordinary shutdown. We’re on the 27th day as I type this–and fun fact, 45 broke a Presidential record in overall shutdown days during this news cycle. The administration has continued to use the cover of the shutdown to shutter programs through myriad reductions in force, despite a federal judge issuing a court order to prevent them. Meanwhile, the Senate has voted twelve times on resolutions with no, well, resolution; they also failed to pass a bill that would pay federal workers. The House isn’t even in session, which also means that Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva still has not been sworn in. Cheeto Hitler has made it clear that he will not meet with Congress until the shutdown is over. Federal workers largely have missed a full pay period at this point, with about 1.4 million people stuck trying to make ends meet (though the military is still getting paid). But this shutdown is starting to have real and lasting impacts on the whole country–more about that below.
- Illegal Targeting of ‘Enemies’ (Again, Still). It is maddening that I can summarize this cycle’s political targeting news as “more of the same,” but here we are. Our fast food Fuhrer has appealed to SCOTUS to pretty please let him invade Illinois, despite appeals courts saying he can’t. A 9th circuit panel initially gave him the green light to invade Portland, but that decision was promptly walked back by the full court. Separately, an Illinois judge ruled that ICE has to wear body cameras, which I’m sure they’ll follow scrupulously. Finally, prior Trump affiliate John Bolton became the next guy thrown on the indictment train, while Leticia James pled not guilty.
- Presidential Engriftment. We also learned this cycle that Trump’s tacky gilded ballroom plans have caused the full demolition of the East Wing of the White House. This feels like a metaphor for this administration on several levels–not least because he lied about it not happening, because it’s probably illegal, and because the East Wing is where the First Lady’s office traditionally sits. But the brazen act does legitimately have a lot of totalitarian implications, as Paul Krugman rightfully notes. It’s not made better by the fact that Trump publicly demanded that the Department of Justice pay $230M to him personally in the same week. It doesn’t take a very stable genius to know that this type of demand is patently illegal, especially when the “slight” in question was him being indicted 43 times–in fact, it is blatantly unconstitutional.
From the Department of Health and Human Sacrifice
Image unnamed and in the public domain
- Shutdown Spillover. As mentioned above, the shutdown is very tied to Americans’ health. First of all, the official Democrat reason for the shutdown in the first place is to force a vote to extend COVID-era protections, which in turn will allow the 24 million people on ACA marketplace insurance to avoid their insurance premiums skyrocketing. But that strategy hinges in part on getting a deal brokered before before open enrollment starts on November 1, and Republicans are refusing to negotiate at all until the government reopens. As a result, insurance costs are already rising. (Weirdly, Marjorie Taylor Greene remains pissed about that, presumably because it impacts her family.) We hit another extremely concerning benchmark on November 1 as well, because at least half the country will lose access to food benefits on that date–at a time when food prices are constantly rising. This is both particularly dangerous and particularly galling, because the White House could authorize emergency funding but instead they are just illegally blaming Democrats on government websites.
Chinga La Migra
Image unnamed and licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported License
- Cold as ICE. ICE was in the news a lot this cycle for being several different flavors of horrifying. In Chicago, they tear-gassed a school while CBP raided a children’s Halloween parade. In Florida, an overtly racist ICE agent threatened a police officer with a targeted immigration check because said officer was arresting him for DUI and child endangerment. In general, ICE has killed 20 people in custody so far this year, which is its highest mortality rate in twenty years. And just to cap it off, the administration made it very clear that they’re going to keep killing Venezuelans on both land and sea.
Ways to Weather This
Image unnamed and licensed to the public under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
- No Kings Debrief. This is admittedly a continuation from the previous roundup, but I believe it’s important to recognize the mark that No Kings made. The best estimate is that nearly seven million people attended, making it unquestionably one of the largest single-day protests in U.S. history. There were over 2,700 distinct events around the U.S. and in several other countries. At least here in Boston, I can also confirm that Operation Inflation was out in full force–in my time on the Commons, I saw four chickens, a pig, two cows, a unicorn, a T-rex, and two Lobsters Against Mobsters. It was a joyful rallying point, which I think many of us sorely needed–in times like these, joy itself is a radical act.
So that’s what I have for you this cycle, and though the format is improved, the news is not. F
or making it through, you deserve candied Cheez-its and a less corrupt government. I’m still figuring out sustainability, and I would love feedback in the National News Roundup ask box, which is there for your constructive comments. Send me questions! Send me feedback! Send me my biologic because not having it sucks!
National News Roundup 