Today’s Headlines: We’re now on day 16 of the government shutdown, and Republican leaders are hinting it could drag on until Thanksgiving — casually blaming holiday travel chaos while admitting they’re not even thinking about reopening the government. Meanwhile, OMB Director Russell Vought says the administration plans to fire 10,000 federal workers, though a federal judge just ruled they can’t do that during a shutdown. While public employees go unpaid, the administration is finding cash for others — promising a “clever and generous” $10 billion bailout for farmers hit by the trade war with China once the shutdown ends, and another $20 billion to prop up Argentina’s crumbling economy. Priorities! At the Pentagon, dozens of journalists turned in their press badges rather than sign Pete Hegseth’s “state media” pledge requiring them to only report what the Defense Department approves — a move even Fox wouldn’t touch. Over at the Supreme Court, justices heard a major case that could gut the Voting Rights Act by striking down race-based map protections — potentially flipping a dozen Democratic House seats in the South right before the 2026 midterms. Meanwhile, an Ohio GOP congressman’s office was found to have a flag featuring a swastika intertwined with the American flag visible on a Zoom call. He blamed it on “vandalism,” because apparently random Nazi décor just appears in people’s offices now. And finally, the yacht formerly known as the Lady Ghislaine — once owned by Robert Maxwell (yes, Ghislaine’s dad) and now Rupert Murdoch’s ex-wife’s — caught fire in D.C. yesterday. Officials say it was electrical. Okay then. 

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

Politico: Thanksgiving travel looms as shutdown risk, GOP leaders say - Live Updates

Axios:  Federal firings could reach 10,000 during shutdown, Vought says

AP News: Live updates: Judge blocks Trump administration from firing during shutdown

Axios: Exclusive: "Clever and generous" farm bailout coming, Hassett says

WaPo: Bessent says bailout for Argentina will double to boost U.S. influence in region

The Wrap: Pentagon Reporters Turn In Press Badges as Pete Hegseth Restrictions Take Effect – but 'the Work Continues'

NYT: Justices Seemed Open to Further Limiting the Voting Rights Act

NBC News: Republican congressman calls flag with swastika displayed in his office 'vile' and says it's under investigation

Telegraph: Yacht named after Ghislaine Maxwell catches fire in Washington DC

Morning Announcements is produced by Sami Sage and edited by Grace Hernandez-Johnson

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