Trump doubles down on shutdown; air travel delays worsen nationwide
President Donald Trump remains firm, stating the government stays shut until Democrats drop their health care demands — urging a few to cross the aisle and resolve the standoff.
Plus, flight delays are mounting as unpaid air traffic controllers reach a breaking point. The transportation secretary warns it’s only going to get worse.
And a federal court says there’s no rebellion in Portland, ruling that the president exceeded his authority by trying to send in the National Guard.
These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Nov. 3, 2025.
Trump says he won’t reopen government without health care deal
The government shutdown is on track to become the longest in U.S. history by Wednesday.
President Donald Trump told CBS’s 60 Minutes that he won’t reopen the government until Democrats drop their push to include health care funding in the spending bill.
“Obamacare is terrible. It’s bad health care at far too high a price. We should fix that. We should fix it. And we can fix it with the Democrats. All they have to do is let the country open, and we’ll fix it. We have to let the country reopen, and I’ll sit down with the Democrats and we’ll fix it,” Trump said. “All they have to do is raise five hands. We don’t need all of them.”
Democrats are refusing to move forward unless Republicans agree to extend subsidies for the more than 20 million Americans covered under the Affordable Care Act.
Without any extensions, premiums are expected to spike. In some instances, they could spike as much as 300%.
Trump acknowledged that he has helped end shutdowns before — including the record 35-day standoff during his first term — but says this time, he’s not giving in.
“I’m not gonna do it by being extorted by the Democrats who have lost their way. There’s something wrong with these people,” Trump said.
Trump is also calling for Republicans to use the so-called “nuclear option,” ending the Senate filibuster. It’s a move that GOP leader John Thune opposes.
“I think we should do the nuclear option. This is a totally different nuclear, by the way. It’s called ‘ending the filibuster,’” Trump said. “The Republicans have to get tougher. If we end the filibuster, we can do exactly what we want. We’re not gonna lose power.”
Even so, Trump says Democrats will eventually have to give in and vote to reopen the government without a health care deal.
Right now, thousands of federal workers are still on the job without pay. Plus, 42 million Americans relying on SNAP benefits, formerly known as food stamps, are caught in the middle.
A federal judge has ordered the Agriculture Department to keep distributing those food aid funds. The judge gave the administration until noon on Monday to explain how they plan to comply.
Transportation secretary warns air travel delays ‘only going to get worse’ amid shutdown
Long lines, packed terminals, and flight boards filled with delays. The ripple effects of the government shutdown are spreading through America’s airports.
With air traffic controllers now missing more than a month of pay, the system is straining under the pressure.
At major hubs from Los Angeles to Dallas, staffing shortages are forcing ground holds and slower departures. However, it’s likely just the beginning.
“I think the real consequence is what kind of rolling delays do you have throughout the system, right? We’ve seen problems at LAX, in Dallas, in DC, Boston, Atlanta. I think it’s only going to get worse. We have some controllers who are new controllers. We have trainee controllers who are very helpful in the tower. They don’t make a lot of money. And they’re now confronted,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. “They haven’t had a paycheck in over a month. They’re confronted with the decision: do I put food on my kids’ table, do I put gas in the car, do I pay my rent, or do I go to work and not get paid.”
Duffy says the government will halt traffic only if safety becomes an issue. Until then, travelers should expect more slowdowns and cancellations.
The shutdown is now in its fifth week with no sign of relief as the holiday travel season fast approaches.
Court halts Portland troop order as judge finds no evidence protests were out of control
A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration from deploying the National Guard in Portland. The judge ruled, stating that there’s no credible evidence to suggest the protests were out of control or more than sporadically violent.
National Guard troops had been staging at training bases after the administration activated units from both Oregon and California to protect the city’s U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, a focal point for protests since last summer.
Judge Karen Immergut ruled the move exceeded the president’s authority, violated state sovereignty and did not meet the constitutional definition of a rebellion.
Similar guard deployments to cities like Los Angeles and Chicago have also faced resistance from local officials and sparked court challenges.
The administration is expected to appeal while a related case continues in the Ninth Circuit.
Americans weigh in on Trump, 59% disapprove of president’s record
A recent Washington Post-ABC News-IPSOs poll indicated that most Americans disapprove of Trump’s performance, especially giving low ratings on the economy.
Fifty-nine percent say they disapprove of Trump’s job as president, the highest level since the start of his second term.
On the economy, 62% gave him poor marks, and 65% of those polled disapproved of his tariffs on imported goods.
The poll also found that 64% of Americans believe Trump is going too far in trying to expand the presidency’s power, reflecting unease with his use of executive orders and sweeping policy changes.
But Democrats aren’t gaining much from that dissatisfaction.
Sixty-eight percent of voters say the Democratic Party is “out of touch” with most Americans. This is slightly higher than the percentage who feel the same about Trump or the GOP.
With the 2026 midterms just a year away, the poll shows voters are frustrated with both parties and doubt that Washington is listening.
The survey was conducted from Oct. 24 through Oct. 28 among more than 2,700 adults.
Escaped monkey shot in Mississippi
Searchers have now located a monkey that escaped after last week’s highway crash in Mississippi, but not in the way anyone expected.
A Heidelberg woman said she shot and killed the animal early Sunday after spotting it in her yard.
She told the Associated Press she feared for her five children’s safety after hearing warnings that the monkeys might carry disease.
The Jasper County Sheriff’s Office confirmed one monkey was found dead on private property. Wildlife officials have taken it for testing.
The animals — rhesus macaques used in medical research — were being transported when a truck overturned on I-59 last week, killing most of the 21 on board. Three had escaped.
Tulane University said the monkeys were not infected and had recently tested pathogen-free, but officials described them as “aggressive” and said they still needed to be contained.
AI singer makes Billboard history, becomes first virtual artist to chart on radio
Meet Xania Monet, the first AI artist to reach Billboard’s radio chart rankings.
Her songs “Let Go, Let God” and “How Was I Supposed to Know?” have received enough airplay to earn her a multi-million-dollar record deal with Hallwood Media.
Monet was created by a Mississippi poet who wrote the lyrics and generated her performances using the AI music tool Suno.
And she’s not alone.
Billboard reported that at least six other AI-driven or AI-assisted artists have debuted on its charts in recent months.
More from Straight Arrow News:
As more patients turn to medical marijuana, doctors and lawmakers remain divided
ST. LOUIS — After trying 36 different medications with no relief, Josh Dunifon felt he was out of options. A cabinet once filled with prescriptions now symbolized years of failed treatments for the severe back pain he’d endured following a major truck accident seven years ago.
“I started getting really desperate,” Dunifon told Straight Arrow News. “When the traditional stuff from the pharmacies didn’t work, I had to figure something out.”
Dunifon, 48, had long opposed marijuana use. But he reconsidered after his doctor suggested medical cannabis.
“It never crossed my mind,” he told SAN. “I’d never done it as a teenager; I was against it. I really didn’t like the sound of it, but I was so desperate — I would’ve licked a toad if it would have helped me.”
Under the care of Dr. Patricia Hurford, a specialist in physical medicine and rehabilitation, Dunifon began taking low-dose cannabis gummies. The results were slow but were felt immediately.
“I was completely sober — only I just had about 50% less pain,” he said. Read the full story now>
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Ella Rae Greene, Editor In Chief
