Government Shutdown
The government shutdown, which began on Oct. 1, has now stretched over a month, making it the longest in US history. Beyond its unprecedented length, the shutdown’s effects are beginning to affect people across the country. From federal employees working without pay to delays in essential services, the impacts are rippling through countless communities.
On Nov. 1, Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits have been shrouded in uncertainty as funding dries up. In Illinois, partial food assistance is guaranteed after a legal battle with the Trump administration over funding of the food stamp program, according to Fox 32. Additionally, federal employees continue to go without a paycheck, resulting in a lack of provided services, most alarmingly being air travel. Due to the lack of Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) employees, over 8,700 flights have been canceled as of November 11, according to USA Today. As the shutdown drags on, its ripple effects continue to reveal just how deeply government operations are woven into Americans’ daily lives.
However, a reopening of the government may soon be in sight, as eight Senate Democrats have begun voting in favor of ending the shutdown, passing a budget and sending it to the House of Representatives, according to NBC. With this key hurdle out of the way, a return to normally funded and staffed government programs may be close.
New York City Mayoral Election
On Nov. 3, New York City held its highly anticipated Mayoral election, resulting in a win for Democratic candidate Zorhan Mamdani over Independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Mamdani’s campaign, featuring calls for affordability and prioritizing average New Yorkers, gained traction not only in the city but across the nation through social media and young voters.
This election had effects far beyond the New York city limits, as the attitudes that fueled Mamdani’s victory are felt across the nation by many young, liberal voters frustrated by the Trump administration and the Gaza war, according to Reuters. The election of a self-described Democratic Socialist to the top of the biggest city in the United States puts the nation at a crossroads as voters decide between more radical or moderate candidates.
Supreme Court Rejects Case Attempting to Overturn Same-Sex Marriage
The US Supreme Court on Nov. 10 decided against taking up a case challenging its prior decision to legalize same-sex marriage. The case was put forward by Kim Davis, a former Kentucky clerk who had refused to issue same-sex licenses on account of her First Amendment religious rights, according to NPR. Davis was later sued and ordered to pay $260,000 in legal fees—a ruling she appealed to the 6th Circuit Court, which ultimately upheld the decision. After the denial, Davis petitioned the Supreme Court, but the justices have given no indication they will revisit or overturn the precedent on same-sex marriage. This decision reaffirms the Court’s stance on the issue, leaving the 2015 “Obergefell v. Hodges” ruling firmly in place.
