The Day So Far–SNAP Ruling, White House Tours Return, Climate Diplomacy & More

It’s been a whirlwind day in U.S. politics, from court rulings that secure food aid for millions to signals of retreat from major international climate talks. Here’s a quick round-up of the day’s key developments:

Judges Order Trump Administration to Fund SNAP During Shutdown

In a rare near-simultaneous ruling, two federal judges have ordered the Trump administration to continue funding the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) using emergency contingency funds.
The rulings came just a day before the USDA was set to freeze payments, risking aid for 42 million Americans — roughly one in eight people in the U.S.

Read full story on the SNAP rulings

White House Won’t Send High-Level Delegation to Cop30 Climate Summit

The U.S. will not send senior officials to the Cop30 climate summit in Brazil, a White House official confirmed to Reuters.
The move may ease concerns among global leaders who feared the U.S. would attempt to disrupt the talks. Critics have raised alarms about the Trump administration’s retreat from global climate efforts.

White House Tours Returning in December

Public tours of the White House will resume in December, the Office of the First Lady announced.
Tours were suspended in August due to construction of President Trump’s $300 million ballroom project, which drew sharp criticism from both lawmakers and preservation groups.

Trump Denies Plans for Military Strikes Inside Venezuela

Despite reports that the administration may expand its counter-drug campaign in the Caribbean, President Donald Trump denied any plans to authorize military strikes inside Venezuela.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warned today that U.S. military activity targeting suspected drug boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific is “unacceptable” and must stop.

Trump Suggests U.S. Will Resume Nuclear Testing

While en route to Palm Beach, Florida, President Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that the U.S. would resume nuclear testing, declining to say whether this would include traditional underground tests.

“You’ll find out very soon… Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to do it, okay?” he said.

Ohio Republicans Approve New Congressional Map Favoring GOP

A Republican-led panel in Ohio approved a new U.S. House district map that could help the GOP gain at least two seats in next year’s elections.
Critics say the move is a form of gerrymandering aimed at shoring up Trump’s slim House majority.

View the new map here

Trump Pushes to End Senate Filibuster Amid Shutdown Battle

President Trump has renewed calls to scrap the filibuster, pressing Senate Republicans to change rules and bypass Democrats to end the ongoing government shutdown.
However, Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican who supports traditional Senate rules, has so far resisted efforts to eliminate the 60-vote threshold for most legislation.