Today’s Headlines: The government shutdown drags on, and Trump’s threatening to dock pay for absent air traffic controllers while offering $10K bonuses to the ones still working. Meanwhile, over 3,000 flights were delayed, and courts once again ruled that the administration has to pay full SNAP benefits (even after Trump told states to undo them). In his downtime, Trump pardoned Rudy Giuliani and 76 other allies tied to the 2020 election plot, and a whistleblower claims Ghislaine Maxwell is getting “concierge treatment” in prison while seeking a commutation. Elsewhere, Trump met with Syria’s new president—once labeled a terrorist—and lifted sanctions, all while his defense secretary bragged about more U.S. strikes. The Supreme Court shut down Kim Davis’s attempt to overturn marriage equality, a judge blocked Trump’s National Guard deployments to Portland protests, and a grand jury subpoenaed former intel officials from the Mueller era. Trump also ordered the DOJ to investigate meatpacking monopolies as beef prices spike 13%, Italy’s pasta exporters are ditching the U.S. over 107% tariffs (justice for spaghetti), and TikTok Shop just hit $19 billion in sales—matching eBay.

Resources/Articles mentioned in this episode:

WSJ: Trump Threatens to Dock Pay of Absent Air-Traffic Controllers

Axios: Democrats fold on biggest government shutdown demand

Axios: Trump pardons Giuliani, 76 others accused of bid to overturn 2020 election

NBC News: Jeffrey Epstein co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell plans to seek commutation from Trump, whistleblower says

NYT: Syria’s President Meets Trump at White House for First Time

NYT: U.S. Military Kills 6 in Strikes on Suspected Drug Boats, Hegseth Says

AP News: Supreme Court rejects call to overturn its decision legalizing same-sex marriage nationwide

NYT: Judge Permanently Blocks National Guard Deployments to Portland for ICE Protests

CBS News: Grand jury subpoenas former CIA chief Brennan and 2 ex-FBI officials linked to Trump-Russia probe, source says

Axios: Trump orders Justice Department probe of meatpackers over prices

WSJ: Italian Pasta Is Poised to Disappear From American Grocery Shelves

Wired: TikTok Shop Is Now the Size of eBay

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

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