Good evening, everyone. This afternoon, I’m tracking major fractures emerging inside Capitol Hill’s Republican ranks over Speaker Mike Johnson’s handling of the government shutdown. According to multiple sources on the Hill, the divisions run deep, with Republicans increasingly frustrated by Johnson’s decision to keep the House out of session even as SNAP benefits expire and federal workers go unpaid.
When pressed by reporters, Johnson said he is “tired” because he has been working “overtime.”
Speaking of being tired, many of you have reached out saying I look exhausted or burnt out. Truthfully, I am. But I’ve been running on empty since January 20th, and I keep going because I love this work with all my heart. What we are building together is bigger than any one story or moment. It is about truth, accountability, and connection.
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Republicans are facing deep internal divisions over Speaker Mike Johnson’s strategy for handling the ongoing government shutdown. From what I’m hearing, frustration within the GOP is mounting, with many lawmakers increasingly unhappy with their own leadership.
Johnson is under growing pressure as prominent members like Rep. Dan Crenshaw question the decision to keep the House out of session, while Democrats, led by Hakeem Jeffries, slam him for repeatedly canceling votes. The tensions have spilled over into heated confrontations on Capitol Hill, underscoring the political turmoil and escalating pressure on Johnson to change course amid mounting economic fallout.
Mike Johnson says people keep telling him he looks tired. He says he is working overtime and isn’t sleeping. They’ve worked 20 days in the past 120 days.
Democratic leaders from 25 states have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture to compel it to continue providing Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits during the ongoing government shutdown. The lawsuit, to be filed in Massachusetts district court, argues that the USDA is legally required to use contingency funds appropriated by Congress to keep the food assistance program running.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz announced $4 million in emergency funding for state and Tribal food shelves as the federal government shutdown threatens to halt SNAP benefits for about 440,000 Minnesotans. The funds, part of the Federal Shutdown Emergency Food Support Grant, will help 300 food shelves statewide prepare for increased demand after the USDA confirmed that no SNAP benefits will be issued if the shutdown continues past November 1.
As the government shutdown stretches on, thousands of federal aviation workers, including air traffic controllers and TSA agents, have missed their first paycheck, forcing many to take side jobs to cover basic expenses while continuing to ensure flight safety as frustration and stress mount and employees urge Congress to end the shutdown and restore their pay.
With a week until California’s vote on Proposition 50, Governor Gavin Newsom told supporters to stop donating after raising $38 million to back the redistricting measure aimed at countering Texas’s gerrymander; the well-funded “Yes on 50” campaign, buoyed by high-profile Democratic support and strong polling, vastly outpaces the cash-strapped opposition as momentum builds ahead of Election Day.
U.S. Border Patrol chief Gregory Bovino, leading Trump’s “Operation Midway Blitz” immigration crackdown in Chicago, was ordered by a federal judge to report daily after allegations that agents violated court orders limiting use of force, including incidents of tear gas used on protesters and children; Judge Sara Ellis demanded new oversight measures, body cameras, and accountability to ensure lawful enforcement practices.
House Oversight Committee Republicans have asked the Justice Department to investigate former President Joe Biden’s use of an autopen to sign executive actions, claiming some were “illegitimate” due to his alleged cognitive decline. The report, led by Chair James Comer, argues that actions like Biden’s pardons may be void, though Democrats dismiss the probe as a partisan effort without legal basis.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that U.S. forces carried out strikes on four alleged drug-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific, killing 14 people and leaving one survivor. The operation marks the 11th such strike under the Trump administration amid growing bipartisan concern over the legality and transparency of these military actions.
Reuters reports that U.S. military officials involved in President Trump’s expanded operations targeting drug cartels and Venezuela’s Maduro regime in Latin America have been required to sign non-disclosure agreements.
Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Abigail Spanberger said she will not oppose her party’s legislature as it moves to amend the state constitution to allow redrawing of congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterms. The effort aims to counter Republican-led redistricting efforts backed by President Trump, while Republicans in Virginia accuse Democrats of undermining the state’s voter-approved independent redistricting commission.
House Speaker Mike Johnson said he does not see a path for President Trump to run again in 2028, noting that he discussed the constitutional restrictions with Trump during a recent conversation. Johnson added that Trump understands the limits imposed by the Constitution on seeking another term.
A Minnesota man, Tyler Maxon Avalos, has been arrested and charged federally after allegedly posting a TikTok video threatening U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, offering a $45,000 bounty for her death. The FBI traced the video to Avalos, who has prior convictions and was released under strict conditions including GPS monitoring, curfew, and restricted internet access while awaiting further proceedings.
MSNBC hosts Rachel Maddow and Lawrence O’Donnell publicly criticized parent company Comcast for donating to the Trump administration’s $300 million East Wing ballroom project, calling it a betrayal of democratic values and journalistic integrity. The backlash has highlighted tensions within the network as it prepares to spin off from Comcast and rebrand as MS NOW under a new media company, Versant.
Bill Gates published an essay arguing that global resources should shift focus from combating climate change toward addressing disease and hunger, saying climate change will not cause humanity’s extinction. He maintained that while climate investments should continue, cuts to U.S. foreign aid under President Trump have made fighting famine and preventable illness a more urgent priority.
A D.C. Catholic church near the White House has become a symbol of fear and solidarity as over 40 immigrant parishioners have been detained or deported since August, prompting clergy and volunteers to unite in support of their community amid an ongoing federal crackdown.
Donald Trump has formally appealed his New York conviction on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, calling the case a politically motivated prosecution. His legal team is seeking to have the conviction overturned, arguing that evidence related to his presidential duties was improperly used and that the trial judge was biased.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered immediate, powerful airstrikes on Gaza, threatening the fragile U.S.-brokered ceasefire with Hamas. Both sides are once again accusing each other of violating the ceasefire.
Microsoft and OpenAI have reached a new agreement valuing OpenAI at $500 billion, allowing it to restructure as a public benefit corporation and easing restrictions on raising capital. Microsoft retains a 27% stake worth about $135 billion and remains closely tied to OpenAI through cloud and AI product agreements lasting until at least 2032.
A newly discovered Dr. Seuss manuscript titled “Sing the 50 United States!” will be published on June 2, 2026, featuring the Cat in the Hat and his helpers teaching kids about all 50 states; completed by artist Tom Brannon in Seuss’s signature style, the book marks the first new Seuss work found since 2015 and will be released in celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
