NTD Good Morning

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said SNAP food benefits could be back by Wednesday, after a court ordered the Trump administration to continue the payments and pointed to the “irreparable harm” that could result if the benefits were stopped. Bessent also called on Democratic senators to join Republicans in passing a continuing resolution and, thus, in reopening the government. All Republicans and eight Democrats would need to vote in favor for the resolution to pass.

Tuesday will see the first major elections of President Donald Trump's second term, testing voter sentiment regarding Republican control on Capitol Hill. A tight race is shaping up in New Jersey, with the Republican and Democratic candidates for governor currently neck and neck. In Virginia, the Republican gubernatorial candidate faces an uphill battle in a state that historically votes against the party of the sitting president. New York City's mayoral race will be one of the most closely watched, with former Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo running as an independent candidate. He's facing Republican Curtis Sliwa and Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani—a candidate many mainstream Democrats have been hesitant to support.

Trump says the United States will hold up to 50 percent of the global computer chip market within two years, helping maintain its lead in artificial intelligence. Trump also vowed that Nvidia will not sell advanced chips to China. He told CBS’s “60 Minutes” that the new China trade deal eliminates rare earth threats. Treasury Secretary Bessent says the United States plans to “de-risk” from China rather than decouple, calling Beijing an unreliable partner.

A JetBlue flight made an emergency landing in Tampa, Florida, on Thursday after suffering a flight control issue en route from Cancun, Mexico, to New Jersey. Jet Blue and the FAA said the plane experienced a sudden drop in altitude, resulting in injuries to some passengers. The airline did not disclose the number of injured parties or the severity of their injuries. Local media quoted Tampa Fire Rescue as saying that around 15 to 20 people were taken to hospitals with injuries that were not life-threatening.

To celebrate Halloween, the White House opened its gates on Thursday to younger guests. President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump greeted trick-or-treaters on the South Lawn. Children, parents, and families got to meet the first couple and collect full-sized candy bars. The guest list included military, law enforcement, foster, and adoptive families, as well as administration staffers with children.

Lawmakers in Washington are out of session amid the stalemate surrounding the month-long government shutdown. New York has declared a state of emergency to dip into local money to provide for $40 million in meals statewide for those who rely on SNAP benefits. Trump is also calling for Republicans to use the so-called "nuclear option" to slash the Senate's 60-vote threshold to a simple majority.

President Donald Trump ended his historic Asia trip with a high-stakes meeting with Chinese communist leader Xi Jinping, calling the talks “a twelve out of ten.” Trump said the two sides struck major deals, cutting tariffs on Chinese goods, resuming U.S. soybean sales, and pledging action on fentanyl. In another development, the president ordered the Pentagon to restart nuclear weapons testing after a 30-year pause, citing rival nations’ testing programs.

The government shutdown has stretched into day 30, with tensions rising on Capitol Hill over funding for food aid. Lawmakers clashed as SNAP benefits are just days away from expiring. Republicans rejected Democrats’ attempt to pass standalone funding, as Democrats demand continued support while health care talks stall.

Hurricane Melissa has been downgraded to a Category 1 storm and is now passing over the Bahamas, bringing heavy rain and damaging winds to the islands. Although winds have decreased, officials say dangerous storm surges and rainfall remain a threat. Meanwhile, Jamaica is starting recovery and restoration efforts. At least 36 deaths have been reported across Jamaica, Haiti, and the Dominican Republic. According to initial projections from AccuWeather experts, total damages and economic losses could reach as high as $22 billion.

Hurricane Melissa has now made landfall in southeastern Cuba, bringing destructive winds and heavy rain. Officials say more than 735,000 people have been evacuated across the country. Authorities are warning of flash flooding, mudslides, and up to twelve feet of storm surge from the now Category 3 storm. In Jamaica, at least 7 people are reported dead and more than half a million Jamaicans remain without power, with critical infrastructure across the country suffering significant damage.

President Donald Trump is in South Korea on Wednesday, where he received the nation’s highest honor and a symbolic gold crown from President Lee Jae Myung. The visit featured a red-carpet welcome set to the song ‘YMCA’ and talks focused on peace and trade in the region. Trump said he’s open to renewed dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, and will meet Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping at the APEC summit on Thursday.

The Senate failed in another vote to advance a stopgap funding bill, extending the government shutdown into day 29. The vote was 54-45—still 6 votes short of the 60 needed to end the debate. The Republican-backed bill passed the House with bipartisan support but fell short in the Senate, where Democrats are holding out for a deal on health care. The vote was held after the largest union of federal workers urged Democrats to pass the GOP resolution.

President Donald Trump is in Japan as part of his Asia tour, where he signed major deals on critical and rare earths minerals and economic security with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Trump also met with Japanese families whose loved ones were abducted by North Korea decades ago, and spoke to U.S. Navy personnel near Tokyo. Trump will head to South Korea next, where he’ll meet Chinese communist regime leader Xi Jinping for high-stakes talks on trade, rare-earth exports, fentanyl, Russian oil, and more.

Jamaica is bracing for what could be its most powerful storm on record. Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 system packing winds of up to 175 miles per hour, is due to make landfall on Tuesday. Officials have already blamed the storm for seven deaths across the Caribbean. Melissa is expected to hit Cuba next, where more than half a million people have been evacuated from coastal and mountain areas.

The U.S. government shutdown is now entering Day 28. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said Republicans have a plan to fix health care but need bipartisan cooperation to move forward. He’s also warning that contingency funds can’t be used to keep food assistance running past Nov. 1. In a major break, a top federal workers’ union is urging Democrats to back a GOP bill to reopen the government.

The Department of Agriculture said more than 41 million Americans could lose their SNAP food benefits on Nov. 1 if Congress doesn’t act soon. Meanwhile, flights were delayed nationwide on Sunday as a shortage of air traffic controllers slowed travel from Los Angeles to Newark. The shutdown is forcing controllers to work without pay, and officials warn more disruptions could follow.

The United States and China have agreed on a framework for a new trade deal as President Donald Trump continues his Asia trip. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said upcoming talks between Trump and China's Xi Jinping will also touch on global issues, from fentanyl to the Russia–Ukraine war. Meanwhile, Chinese bombers flew near Taiwan in what Beijing called “confrontation drills”—just days ahead of Trump’s scheduled meeting with the Chinese leader in Korea.

French police arrested two men on Saturday night in connection with the theft of royal jewels from the Louvre in Paris. Police identified the two suspects last week and followed them in hopes of finding the stolen jewels. The two were arrested when officers realized they were about to flee the country. Police are now searching for the two remaining suspects. The stolen collection includes a diamond tiara and a necklace once worn by Empress Eugénie, the wife of Napoleon III.

President Donald Trump has ended all trade negotiations with Canada, blaming a $75 million Ontario TV ad that used former President Ronald Reagan’s image and voice to criticize tariffs. Trump called the ad “fraudulent,” saying it was meant to sway an upcoming Supreme Court hearing on his tariffs. The Reagan Foundation said the ad “misrepresents” Reagan’s words, while Ontario Premier Doug Ford defended it as factual. The Supreme Court will hear arguments on the tariffs on Nov. 5.

More than 30 people, including current and former NBA stars, are being charged in a case involving illegal sports betting. Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier were among those arrested and charged on Thursday. Billups also faces charges in a separate mafia-backed poker-rigging operation involving members of the Italian American mafia. Both Billups and Rozier have been placed on leave by their teams, and the NBA said it's reviewing the indictments.

Alaska Airlines said flights are slowly returning to normal after a nationwide tech outage grounded planes on Thursday. The glitch also hit its regional carrier, Horizon Air, prompting a temporary ground stop. Alaska Airlines says delays will continue as it repositions planes and crews.

U.S. forces have carried out another lethal strike against a boat carrying alleged drug traffickers and their cargo—this time in the eastern Pacific Ocean. President Donald Trump said his administration may eventually go to Congress for authorization. Some lawmakers from both parties have expressed concern about the strikes. War Secretary Pete Hegseth said the vessel was known by U.S. intelligence to be involved in illicit narcotics smuggling.

The government shutdown is at day 23 with no end in sight. After a 12th failed vote on reopening, Senate Republicans are planning to hold a vote on Thursday to pay federal workers still on the job. The ballot is scheduled for noon, and some Democrats are already lining up to oppose it. Democrats will offer a counterproposal to pay all federal workers instead. The new approach is likely to yield yet another stand-off without an obvious solution.

Trump announced new sanctions on Russia on Wednesday targeting the country’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, after he put the summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin on hold. Trump is also calling on U.S. allies for help in enforcing the sanctions against Russia, and said that he hopes the measures will encourage Putin to “become more reasonable.” The European Union has also officially adopted its 19th sanctions package against Russia, which includes a ban on imports of Russian liquefied natural gas.

After over three weeks of a shutdown and 11 failed votes to reopen the government, federal workers are feeling the pinch of their missing paychecks. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has teed up a bill to pay those who are still on the job during the shutdown, but it's unclear if Democrats will support it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Tuesday asked for a second meeting with President Donald Trump. Trump said he's happy to meet with Democrats—but after they reopen the government.

Trump is preparing for a major trip to Asia, with stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea. A planned meeting with Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping might not happen as tensions over tariffs continue to rise. In Japan, Trump is expected to meet with newly elected conservative Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Trump is also putting on hold plans to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Vice President JD Vance met with Israeli officials after arriving in Israel on Tuesday, commenting that the Gaza peace plan is going better than he had expected. He announced the opening of the Civilian Military Coordination Center in southern Israel, where Americans and Israelis are working together on a plan to rebuild Gaza. Vance said no U.S. troops will be on the ground, but that an international security force will help keep the peace. The Hamas terror group handed over the bodies of two more deceased hostages on Tuesday, as protestors outside the U.S. embassy in Tel Aviv called for the return of all hostage remains.

Police in Atlanta say 49-year-old Billy Joe Cagle was arrested after threatening to shoot up Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. Officers found him at the airport and took him into custody without anyone being hurt. Investigators say they found an AR-15 rifle and 27 rounds of ammunition in his pickup truck, which was parked outside the airport. Cagle faces multiple charges, including making terrorist threats and possession of a firearm by a felon.

President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a rare earth minerals agreement on Monday, aimed at reducing their dependence on China. China currently dominates the global rare earth supply chain and has recently imposed stricter export rules. The deal includes plans to jointly invest over $3 billion in critical minerals projects within the next six months. Ahead of Trump’s anticipated meeting with Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping in South Korea, he has also threatened China with export restrictions and additional 100 percent tariffs, and has demanded increased purchases of U.S. soybeans.

The government shutdown is now the second-longest in history, with Democrats refusing to pass a clean resolution to fund the government for what was the 11th time on Monday. They are demanding extended Obamacare subsidies and that Medicaid cuts be walked back. Republicans are continuing to reject the $1.5 trillion demand. The GOP is now pivoting to another plan, paying troops and some federal workers during the shutdown. It's unclear if they will get enough support to continue doing so, however, with some Democrats already rejecting what they call the GOP's attempt to pick and choose who gets paid.