Federal Workers Brace for Missed Paycheck as Shutdown Enters 5th Week
As the government shutdown stretches into its fifth week, nearly 800,000 federal employees are bracing to miss yet another paycheck. Essential workers—including TSA officers, air traffic controllers, and Border Patrol agents—continue to work without pay, while non-essential staff remain furloughed.
The standoff between President Trump and Senate Democrats centers on border-security funding and broader spending caps. Economic analysts warn that continued delays could reduce Q4 GDP growth, while worker unions are organizing demonstrations nationwide to pressure Congress into reopening the government.
The Loyola University New Orleans student government voted to deny official recognition to a campus chapter of Turning Point USA (TPUSA), citing “potential harm to community values.”
Conservative students argue the decision reflects a bias against right-leaning viewpoints, pointing out that other political groups face no such restrictions.
TPUSA President Charlie Kirk condemned the move as “another example of ideological intolerance on Catholic campuses,” while Loyola’s administration has distanced itself, stating that the student government is independent in approving organizations.
A resurfaced video of New York State Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani has sparked outrage after he claimed that Muslims were “the primary victims” in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.
The clip, originally recorded during a 2019 panel, gained traction online after critics accused Mamdani of minimizing the suffering of 9/11 victims and “reversing the narrative of terrorism.”
Mamdani, who represents a heavily immigrant district in Queens, defended himself, saying his comments referred to the backlash and discrimination faced by Muslim Americans in the post-9/11 era. GOP leaders are calling for an official censure.
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning to Russia, claiming the United States has its “greatest nuclear submarine right off their shores.”
The remark came during a rally in Pensacola, Florida, amid rising tensions following Russia’s naval exercises in the Arctic and reported cyber incursions into U.S. infrastructure.
Pentagon officials neither confirmed nor denied the claim but emphasized that U.S. naval deployments remain in international waters. Critics accused Trump of saber-rattling, while supporters praised his “unapologetic show of strength.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom and Vice President Kamala Harris are quietly positioning themselves as potential Democratic contenders for 2028, signaling an early internal rivalry.
Newsom’s recent foreign visits and high-profile debates with Republican governors have elevated his national profile, while Harris has ramped up travel to key battleground states and faith-based community events.
Democratic strategists view both as frontrunners, though party insiders warn that a Harris–Newsom split could fracture the party’s post-Biden coalition, especially among progressives and minority voters.
