Good evening, everyone. It’s been a whirlwind of a Saturday, with several major developments worth your attention.
First, concerns are mounting over Trump’s mental fitness after he falsely claimed that officials who weren’t even in government “rigged” the 2020 election. Meanwhile, his administration has refused to use emergency funds to protect SNAP benefits for struggling Americans—but will redirect money to ICE instead. And in a move that’s as petty as it is political, Trump has slapped new tariffs on Canada—apparently in retaliation for a Reagan-themed ad that bruised his ego.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
Questions of Trump’s mental acuity have been raised after he falsely claimed that Merrick Garland, Lisa Monaco, and Jack Smith rigged the 2020 election and taped lawmakers’ calls — even though none of them held government power at the time, and there’s no evidence any of that occurred.
Donald Trump is reportedly boasting about controlling House Speaker Mike Johnson as his “puppet,” with Johnson facing criticism for halting congressional proceedings, blocking a Democratic swearing-in related to the Epstein case, and fully aligning with Trump’s agenda during an ongoing government shutdown.
The Trump administration announced it will not use USDA emergency funds to cover November SNAP payments, putting food aid for 42 million Americans at risk amid the government shutdown; officials say contingency funds are reserved for disasters, while Democrats accuse Trump of unlawfully blocking money already approved by Congress, warning the move could halt food assistance for seniors, veterans, and families unless lawmakers quickly pass a standalone funding bill.
Thousands line up for a food bank in Maryland because of the government shutdown.
Thousands of furloughed federal workers are struggling to access unemployment benefits amid the ongoing government shutdown, with nearly 20,600 filing claims so far and many facing long delays, verification issues, and low payments; some fear they may not receive back pay as the Trump administration challenges the 2019 law guaranteeing it, leaving workers and contractors in financial distress as the impasse drags on.
Over 1 million workers are going unpaid while lawmakers and some appointees continue receiving salaries, as Trump directs limited funds to cover military and select law enforcement pay; roughly 730,000 federal employees are working without pay, 670,000 are furloughed, and contractors face layoffs without back pay guarantees amid uncertainty over whether furloughed staff will be compensated once the shutdown ends.
Billionaire railroad heir Timothy Mellon was revealed as the anonymous $130 million donor funding U.S. military pay during the shutdown, a move that may violate federal law since private money can’t replace congressional appropriations; Mellon, a longtime Trump ally and major political donor, has been praised by Trump but criticized by lawmakers who warn the arrangement raises ethical and national security concerns about private influence over military funding.
Trump’s favorability among Hispanic adults has dropped sharply since January, with only 25% viewing him favorably—down from 44% at the start of his second term—according to a new AP-NORC poll; approval among Hispanic Republicans has also declined, reflecting frustration over rising living costs and Trump’s harsh immigration policies, which many say are fueling fear and economic strain in Latino communities.
Trump imposed an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports after Ontario aired an anti-tariff ad quoting Ronald Reagan during the World Series, despite promising to pull it; Trump called the ad misleading and a “hostile act,” canceled trade talks with Canada, and said he would not meet Prime Minister Mark Carney at the upcoming ASEAN summit in Malaysia
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Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro accused the U.S. of “fabricating a war” as the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford nears Venezuela’s coast, claiming the Trump administration is inventing threats to justify aggression; Maduro also moved to revoke opposition leader Leopoldo López’s citizenship after López supported U.S. naval operations in the Caribbean, calling the move unconstitutional as tensions rise following U.S. strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats that killed at least 43 people.
A mass shooting at a large party in rural Maxton, North Carolina, left 13 people shot and two dead, with seven others critically injured; over 150 attendees fled before deputies arrived around 3 a.m., and authorities believe the incident was isolated as the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office seeks information from witnesses.
One person was injured and a suspect arrested after a shooting at Austin’s Central Library, prompting a temporary shelter-in-place alert; police said the victim is in serious but stable condition, the suspect was captured in South Austin about an hour later, and the incident appears isolated with no ongoing threat.
Hurricane Melissa is expected to become the most powerful storm in Jamaica’s history, with officials warning of catastrophic winds, flooding, and landslides; all airports are closing, evacuations are underway in parts of Cuba and the Dominican Republic, and the storm has already caused at least three deaths and severe flooding in Haiti.
New DNA analysis of Napoleon’s 1812 retreating army reveals that paratyphoid fever and louse-borne relapsing fever, not just typhus, were key diseases that decimated his troops; researchers from the Institut Pasteur found these pathogens in soldiers’ teeth, showing how exhaustion, cold, and poor sanitation fueled infections that helped wipe out roughly 300,000 men.
June Lockhart, beloved star of “Lassie” and “Lost in Space,” died at age 100 at her Santa Monica home surrounded by family; the Tony Award–winning actress was also a NASA advocate who inspired generations of astronauts and was celebrated for her long career spanning stage, film, and television.
A 24-year-old Honduran immigrant, Jose Castro Rivera, died while fleeing ICE agents in Virginia, becoming the third person killed while escaping immigration raids under Trump’s expanded deportation crackdown; his death follows similar incidents in California as ICE operations intensify nationwide, with critics noting that most detainees now have no criminal record and at least 20 immigrants have died in ICE custody this year.
Turkey is likely to be excluded from the planned 5,000-strong Gaza stabilization force after Israel objected to Turkish participation, despite Turkey being a guarantor of Trump’s 20-point ceasefire plan; the U.S. says Israel must approve all participants, with Egypt expected to lead the force, which will work alongside a U.S.-led coordination center in Israel to disarm Hamas and support a transitional Palestinian government amid disputes over aid access.
Over 50,000 people protested in Valencia on the first anniversary of Spain’s deadly 2024 floods, demanding regional leader Carlos Mazón’s resignation for his government’s delayed alerts and poor disaster response that left 229 dead; critics accuse authorities of negligence, especially toward elderly victims, while polls show 71% of residents want Mazón to step down as pressure mounts ahead of a state memorial attended by King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
See you in the morning.
— Aaron
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