Democrats sweep key 2025 elections; Deadly UPS plane crash kills seven
Democrats swept major elections nationwide — flipping Virginia, holding onto New Jersey and making history in New York City where 34-year-old Zohran Mamdani became the city’s first Muslim mayor.
Plus, a UPS cargo jet burst into flames after crashing shortly after takeoff from a U.S. airport, killing several people on board and on the ground.
And, this morning, the Supreme Court is taking up one of the most consequential economic cases in years: whether President Donald Trump had the legal authority to impose sweeping tariffs on dozens of countries.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025.
Mamdani wins NYC mayoral race, becoming first muslim mayor in city history
Election Day 2025 is over, and Democrats created a wave of support nationwide.
From the nation’s largest city to key gubernatorial races in Virginia and New Jersey, progressives are celebrating big gains that could reshape the political landscape in 2026.
Democrat Zohran Mamdani defeated former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa in a three-way race that captivated the city. The 34-year-old Democratic Socialist will be the city’s first Muslim mayor — its first of South Asian heritage — and the youngest in more than a century.
Mamdani’s win is being touted as a victory for the party’s progressive wing and a direct rebuke to President Donald Trump, who warned he would “take over” New York if Mamdani won.
“New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants. And as of tonight, led by an immigrant,” Mamdani said. “So hear me, President Trump, when I say this. To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us.”
Turnout topped two million, the highest in a New York City mayoral race in more than 50 years.
Democrats also scored major wins in gubernatorial races.
In Virginia, Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears, turning the state blue and making history as Virginia’s first female governor.
In New Jersey, Mikie Sherrill beat Republican Jack Ciattarelli, extending Democratic control of the statehouse for a third straight term, which hasn’t happened since the 1960s.
And in California, a powerful statement from voters.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s Proposition 50 — a plan to redraw the state’s congressional map — is projected to pass with more than 65% support.
“It was not just a victory tonight for the Democratic party, it was a victory for the United States of America, for the people of this country and the principles that our founding fathers lived and died for. And so we’re proud,” Newsom said. “We’re proud here in California to be part of this narrative this evening. We’re proud of the work that the people of the state of California did tonight to send a powerful message to a historic president.”
The new map could add as many as five new Democratic House seats, giving the party a crucial edge heading into next year’s midterms. Republicans currently hold a slim 219-to-213 advantage in the House, with 3 vacancies.
7 killed, 11 injured in UPS plane crash
At least seven people are dead and nearly a dozen more are injured after a UPS cargo plane crashed during takeoff in Louisville, Kentucky.
The jet had just left the runway at UPS Worldport, Louisville’s main hub, heading for Honolulu around 5:15 p.m., when it erupted into a massive fireball.
Just seconds earlier, video shows the plane struggling to lift off. Flames are seen trailing from its left wing before slamming into a nearby petroleum recycling facility.
The impact triggered a chain of secondary explosions, sending a plume of black smoke into the sky. All three crew members on board were killed, along with four people on the ground.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear warned the death toll could rise, calling some of the injuries “very significant.”
Firefighters worked into the night to contain the fire, a daunting task with more than 38,000 gallons of fuel on board.
The NTSB is now leading the investigation into the cause of the crash.
UPS has halted operations at its Louisville hub, the company’s largest in the world, which sorts more than 400,000 packages an hour.
No word has been received yet on when it will reopen.
Government shutdown hits day 36, marking longest shutdown in history
The federal government shutdown is now the longest in U.S. history, reaching day 36 on Wednesday.
On Tuesday, the Senate failed for the 14th time to pass a short-term funding bill that would reopen the government, even temporarily.
Democrats are still insisting that any deal include funding to extend health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.
Republicans say those talks can only happen after the government opens.
Meanwhile, the impact is spreading fast. At the nation’s airports, staffing shortages are growing. Air traffic controllers and TSA workers continue to work without pay, and many are now calling out sick.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned of potential “mass chaos” ahead, saying parts of U.S. airspace could soon have to be closed.
Later on Wednesday, Senate Republicans are heading to the White House for a breakfast meeting with the president, as both sides seek to resolve a stalemate that has entered its sixth week.
Supreme Court takes up Trump tariffs case
The Supreme Court justices will hear arguments on whether Trump had the legal authority to unilaterally impose his global tariffs — taxes on imported goods that have affected everything from toys and textiles to cars and medical equipment. The case could rewrite the balance of power between the president and Congress and cost businesses tens of billions of dollars.
It centers on a 1977 law that lets a president act in a “national emergency.”
Trump used it to declare economic emergencies with more than 100 countries, levying tariffs of 100% or more.
Lower courts have ruled that he exceeded his authority, stating that the power to regulate is not equivalent to the power to tax.
Earlier this week, Trump told reporters he’ll be watching the case closely:
“I think it’s the most important decision, one of the most important decisions in the history of our country, because without tariffs, without our being able to use tariffs freely, openly, and in every way, we are really would suffer tremendously from a national security standpoint. The national security of our country is at stake, it’s the biggest, I think it’s one of the biggest decisions in the history of the Supreme Court.”
Trump argued that losing this case would deprive future presidents of a vital national security tool. White House officials said Tuesday they’re confident the Supreme Court will rule in their favor.
“This case is not just about President Trump. It’s about the use of this emergency authorization for tariffs for future presidents and administrations to come,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said. “And, we’re confident and hopeful that the Supreme Court will do the right thing.”
However, small businesses and several states argue that the emergency law was never intended to allow presidents to tax imports arbitrarily, warning that the move has already wiped out profits, increased prices and cost jobs. Tariff revenue reached a record of about $30 billion in both August and September.
Legal experts say the decision could reshape both the economy and the presidency, testing how much power a president can claim in the name of national security.
A ruling is expected sometime next year.
Trump threatens SNAP aid
The battle over food stamps is intensifying after Trump suggested he could stop SNAP payments completely until Democrats reopen the government.
The president posted on Truth Social that the benefits “will be given only when the radical left Democrats open up government.”
That message directly conflicted with a federal court order requiring the administration to resume SNAP payments for 42 million Americans.
Hours later, the White House walked it back, saying Trump wasn’t threatening to cut off aid, just expressing frustration about using emergency funds to cover it.
“The administration is fully complying with the court order. I just spoke to the president about it. The recipients of these snap benefits need to understand it’s going to take some time to receive this money, because the democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position. We are digging into a contingency fund that is supposed to be for emergencies, catastrophes, for war, and the president does not want to have to tap into this fund in the future. And that’s what he was referring to in his Truth Social post.”
— Karoline Leavitt, White House press secretary
The administration maintains that partial payments — roughly half of the usual amount — are still being received.
But it could take weeks for families to receive the funds, and Democrats accuse the president’s comments of being immoral, pledging to continue fighting for full funding in court.
Black hole flare produces light of 10 trillion suns
Scientists have observed the largest black hole flare ever documented, emitting light equivalent to 10 trillion suns. They said it originates from a supermassive black hole violently consuming a massive star, resulting in what they call a “cosmic outburst.”
This specific black hole flare, detected from 10 billion light-years away, is believed to be the largest and most distant ever observed.
Scientists said it was so intense because the two cosmic objects involved were massive.
They said the star that got too close to the black hole is estimated to have at least 30 times the mass of the sun, while the black hole itself and its surrounding disk of material are estimated to be 500 million times as massive as the sun.
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‘I never thought it would happen to me’: FEMA’s future and the bill to keep aid flowing
ST. LOUIS — For Rita Henderson, the shock of returning to her North St. Louis home after it was struck by an EF3 tornado on May 16 was overwhelming. In the midst of the destruction, her house was deemed uninhabitable.
“I couldn’t believe it,” said Henderson, 86. “I’ve been in the house 52 years, and it was just horrible. My roof was across the street, my clothes were scattered in the yard, and my whole front porch was gone.”
Henderson was not home when the storm hit. But like many in her neighborhood, she faces rebuilding without the security of homeowners’ insurance. The tornado left five dead, hundreds injured and thousands homeless. Up to 67% of homes in the three hardest-hit ZIP codes may be uninsured, according to the Missouri Department of Commerce and Insurance.
“I never thought it would happen to me,” Henderson told Straight Arrow News. “You see it on TV, you read about it, but you never think it’ll happen here, especially in your own house.
”For now, Henderson is living with her daughter while her home is slowly cleaned and repaired. She hopes that federal disaster aid can help, though housing advocates warn that assistance often falls short. Read the full story now>
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
