Since President Trump first returned to the White House, he has predictably taken significant steps to clean up the entire episode in 2021, culminating in the violent storming of the US Capitol by a mob of his supporters in an attempt to stop the Electoral College from confirming President Biden's 2020 victory.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Shortly after, they were both suspended, WaPo reported.
—Nicole Lafond
Maryland Democratic Party Shuts Down Redistricting Move
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Taranto is expected to be sentenced Thursday after he was convicted earlier this year of illegal possession of a firearm and making false threats. In the sentencing memo, Valdivia and White reportedly described the Jan. 6 attack as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.”
Shortly after, they were both suspended, WaPo reported.
—Nicole Lafond
Maryland Democratic Party Shuts Down Redistricting Move
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Taranto is expected to be sentenced Thursday after he was convicted earlier this year of illegal possession of a firearm and making false threats. In the sentencing memo, Valdivia and White reportedly described the Jan. 6 attack as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.”
Shortly after, they were both suspended, WaPo reported.
—Nicole Lafond
Maryland Democratic Party Shuts Down Redistricting Move
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Washington Post On Wednesday, it was reported that the Justice Department placed two federal prosecutors on leave immediately after they filed a document in a separate case against the Washington man I mentioned above, Taylor Taranto. Although Taranto's Jan. 6 case was dismissed following Trump's sweeping pardon action, Taranto was later accused of threatening several politicians, including in June 2023 when he recorded himself driving through Washington, D.C., saying he was looking for tunnels to get to former President Obama's home. For WaPo:
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos Valdivia and Samuel White were told they were being removed just hours after they submitted sentencing recommendations in the case against Taylor Taranto, a Washington state man accused of participating in the attack on the Capitol who now faces sentencing on unrelated weapons charges, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Taranto is expected to be sentenced Thursday after he was convicted earlier this year of illegal possession of a firearm and making false threats. In the sentencing memo, Valdivia and White reportedly described the Jan. 6 attack as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.”
Shortly after, they were both suspended, WaPo reported.
—Nicole Lafond
Maryland Democratic Party Shuts Down Redistricting Move
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Now it appears that Justice Department officials who even use language to accurately describe the events that occurred on January 6 (but language that certainly does not fit Trump's embellished narrative of the attack) are being punished.
Washington Post On Wednesday, it was reported that the Justice Department placed two federal prosecutors on leave immediately after they filed a document in a separate case against the Washington man I mentioned above, Taylor Taranto. Although Taranto's Jan. 6 case was dismissed following Trump's sweeping pardon action, Taranto was later accused of threatening several politicians, including in June 2023 when he recorded himself driving through Washington, D.C., saying he was looking for tunnels to get to former President Obama's home. For WaPo:
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos Valdivia and Samuel White were told they were being removed just hours after they submitted sentencing recommendations in the case against Taylor Taranto, a Washington state man accused of participating in the attack on the Capitol who now faces sentencing on unrelated weapons charges, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Taranto is expected to be sentenced Thursday after he was convicted earlier this year of illegal possession of a firearm and making false threats. In the sentencing memo, Valdivia and White reportedly described the Jan. 6 attack as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.”
Shortly after, they were both suspended, WaPo reported.
—Nicole Lafond
Maryland Democratic Party Shuts Down Redistricting Move
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
Special Counsel Jack Smith, of course, filed a motion to dismiss the case against Trump for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection after Trump won the 2024 election and before he returned to power, pointing to a longstanding Justice Department policy that prevents prosecution of a sitting president. In turn, Trump's Justice Department not only fired several federal prosecutors who worked on Smith's Jan. 6 Trump case, but also fired or reassigned several prosecutors who worked on cases against those accused of participating in the attack.
Now it appears that Justice Department officials who even use language to accurately describe the events that occurred on January 6 (but language that certainly does not fit Trump's embellished narrative of the attack) are being punished.
Washington Post On Wednesday, it was reported that the Justice Department placed two federal prosecutors on leave immediately after they filed a document in a separate case against the Washington man I mentioned above, Taylor Taranto. Although Taranto's Jan. 6 case was dismissed following Trump's sweeping pardon action, Taranto was later accused of threatening several politicians, including in June 2023 when he recorded himself driving through Washington, D.C., saying he was looking for tunnels to get to former President Obama's home. For WaPo:
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos Valdivia and Samuel White were told they were being removed just hours after they submitted sentencing recommendations in the case against Taylor Taranto, a Washington state man accused of participating in the attack on the Capitol who now faces sentencing on unrelated weapons charges, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Taranto is expected to be sentenced Thursday after he was convicted earlier this year of illegal possession of a firearm and making false threats. In the sentencing memo, Valdivia and White reportedly described the Jan. 6 attack as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.”
Shortly after, they were both suspended, WaPo reported.
—Nicole Lafond
Maryland Democratic Party Shuts Down Redistricting Move
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
In one of Trump's first executive actions since returning to power, Trump pardoned hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who were convicted of various crimes for their roles in the storming of the Capitol. He also dropped all charges against those whose cases are still pending, including a case against a Washington state man named Taylor Taranto, which I will discuss in more detail below.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, of course, filed a motion to dismiss the case against Trump for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection after Trump won the 2024 election and before he returned to power, pointing to a longstanding Justice Department policy that prevents prosecution of a sitting president. In turn, Trump's Justice Department not only fired several federal prosecutors who worked on Smith's Jan. 6 Trump case, but also fired or reassigned several prosecutors who worked on cases against those accused of participating in the attack.
Now it appears that Justice Department officials who even use language to accurately describe the events that occurred on January 6 (but language that certainly does not fit Trump's embellished narrative of the attack) are being punished.
Washington Post On Wednesday, it was reported that the Justice Department placed two federal prosecutors on leave immediately after they filed a document in a separate case against the Washington man I mentioned above, Taylor Taranto. Although Taranto's Jan. 6 case was dismissed following Trump's sweeping pardon action, Taranto was later accused of threatening several politicians, including in June 2023 when he recorded himself driving through Washington, D.C., saying he was looking for tunnels to get to former President Obama's home. For WaPo:
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos Valdivia and Samuel White were told they were being removed just hours after they submitted sentencing recommendations in the case against Taylor Taranto, a Washington state man accused of participating in the attack on the Capitol who now faces sentencing on unrelated weapons charges, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Taranto is expected to be sentenced Thursday after he was convicted earlier this year of illegal possession of a firearm and making false threats. In the sentencing memo, Valdivia and White reportedly described the Jan. 6 attack as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.”
Shortly after, they were both suspended, WaPo reported.
—Nicole Lafond
Maryland Democratic Party Shuts Down Redistricting Move
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
In one of Trump's first executive actions since returning to power, Trump pardoned hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who were convicted of various crimes for their roles in the storming of the Capitol. He also dropped all charges against those whose cases are still pending, including a case against a Washington state man named Taylor Taranto, which I will discuss in more detail below.
Special Counsel Jack Smith, of course, filed a motion to dismiss the case against Trump for his role in inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection after Trump won the 2024 election and before he returned to power, pointing to a longstanding Justice Department policy that prevents prosecution of a sitting president. In turn, Trump's Justice Department not only fired several federal prosecutors who worked on Smith's Jan. 6 Trump case, but also fired or reassigned several prosecutors who worked on cases against those accused of participating in the attack.
Now it appears that Justice Department officials who even use language to accurately describe the events that occurred on January 6 (but language that certainly does not fit Trump's embellished narrative of the attack) are being punished.
Washington Post On Wednesday, it was reported that the Justice Department placed two federal prosecutors on leave immediately after they filed a document in a separate case against the Washington man I mentioned above, Taylor Taranto. Although Taranto's Jan. 6 case was dismissed following Trump's sweeping pardon action, Taranto was later accused of threatening several politicians, including in June 2023 when he recorded himself driving through Washington, D.C., saying he was looking for tunnels to get to former President Obama's home. For WaPo:
Assistant U.S. Attorneys Carlos Valdivia and Samuel White were told they were being removed just hours after they submitted sentencing recommendations in the case against Taylor Taranto, a Washington state man accused of participating in the attack on the Capitol who now faces sentencing on unrelated weapons charges, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of retaliation.
Taranto is expected to be sentenced Thursday after he was convicted earlier this year of illegal possession of a firearm and making false threats. In the sentencing memo, Valdivia and White reportedly described the Jan. 6 attack as a “riot” carried out by a “mob.”
Shortly after, they were both suspended, WaPo reported.
—Nicole Lafond
Maryland Democratic Party Shuts Down Redistricting Move
IN letter on TuesdayDemocratic Maryland Senate President Bill Ferguson stopped the state's mid-cycle redistricting efforts, saying the efforts could impact the “stability and trust in democracy.”
Over the past few months, the Trump administration has pressured red states across the country to approve new congressional maps as a way to determine the outcome of the midterm elections and ensure Republicans retain control of the U.S. House of Representatives. So far, Missouri, North Carolina and Texas have bowed to pressure from the Trump White House and approved gerrymandered maps that are projected to flip seats currently held by Democrats to Republicans in 2026. Louisiana, Ohio and Indiana are also in the process of approving redrawn maps.
In response to these efforts, some Democratic-led states, including California, Virginia and Illinois, have advanced redistricting proposals to try to offset the impact of Trump's relentless gerrymandering.
Maryland Democrats engaged in this counter-campaign until Ferguson announced he would not move forward with mid-cycle redistricting. While he acknowledged that the redistricting battle was started and continued by Trump as a way to rig the midterm elections, he stressed that the effort is simply too “risky” and that it “jeopardizes Maryland's ability to fight the radical Trump administration.”
“Despite deeply shared disappointment about the state of our country, Maryland's mid-cycle redistricting represents a reality in which the legal risks are too high, the timing of action is dangerous, the risk of a worsening situation for Democrats is catastrophic, and confidence in our existing map will be undermined,” he wrote.
— Chaya Himmelman
SNAP benefits will end due to ongoing shutdown
Funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the nation's largest food assistance program, will end for the first time in modern history on November 1st.
Majority Leader John Thune (R-N.M.) on Wednesday killed a Democratic measure proposed by Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) that would have allowed SNAP benefits to continue beyond the November deadline. Thune called the effort a “cynical attempt at political cover,” shouting back at Luján in the Senate, adding that Democrats should simply support the CR GOP and reopen the government instead. Senator Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) has also introduced a similar bill to protect SNAP benefits. Hawley's measure will likely go nowhere.
The move to protect SNAP comes after the Trump administration said last week it would not use reserve funds to keep the program running during the government shutdown. Since the lockdown first began earlier this month, the administration I choose and I choose which programs to fund based on Trump's own political interests.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer pointed the finger at Thune, saying Thune refuses to bring the measure to the floor because “he knows it has broad Republican support.”
“He's afraid of Trump. That's all. He knows better,” Schumer said, according to Politico.
Some Democrats describe the situation as a ploy by the GOP to continue blaming the shutdown on Democrats.
“This is a hoax perpetrated by the current administration for political reasons to point the finger at Democrats,” said Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, according to Punchbowl. “They have $5 [billion] $6 billion to the reserve fund, which says that it is for such purposes… They are breaking the law.”
