Monday, Nov. 10
Trump administration demands states undo full SNAP payouts
The Trump administration demanded states that previously paid out Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits under prior judicial orders to undo their payments after the U.S. Supreme Court stayed those rulings, according to the Associated Press.
The AP reported Nonprofits and Democratic attorneys general sued and won legal battles to force SNAP payouts during the government shutdown. Following the Supreme Court decision to pause rulings for SNAP disbursements, the Department of Agriculture stated full payouts were “unauthorized.”
Governors and lawmakers across the country pushed back against this decision, indicating potential legal battles due to the "catastrophic impact” that could be seen if SNAP benefits are not given to their residents, according to the AP.
Tuesday, Nov. 11
Legal battles continue over future of wrongfully deported man
Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident, was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration earlier this year to his home country of El Salvador, where he was placed in prison.
According to the AP, Abrego Garcia illegally immigrated to the U.S. in his teens, but has since obtained citizenship. An immigration judge previously ruled he would be protected from deportation due to the danger he would face in El Salvador.
The U.S. government is now in legal battles with Abrego Garcia’s lawyers on where he will be deported to, the AP reported. The U.S argued to deport him to Liberia, while his lawyers are moving for Costa Rica.
Wednesday, Nov. 12
Trump plans to provide $2,000 tariff dividend to Americans
Following continued concerns regarding the high cost of living and the state of the economy, President Donald Trump announced a $2,000 dividend would be given to every American, not including high-income people, the AP reported.
Trump argued his aggressive tariff policies have greatly supported the economy and brought in enough money to make this decision. The announcement was made on Truth Social and has caused a flurry of concerns from economists who argue the revenue gained from Trump’s tariffs cannot fully support the cost of the dividend.
The Trump tariffs are also under legal fire, with the U.S. Supreme Court set to rule on Trump’s use of a “national emergency” to justify setting tariffs, according to the AP.
Thursday, Nov. 13
Funding bill signed, ending record government shutdown
According to the AP, Trump signed a government funding bill Wednesday night that ended the record 43-day shutdown.
The funding bill was passed due to eight Democratic Senators who broke party ranks after realizing the Republicans would not comply with using the funding bill to extend health care tax credits like the Democrats wished.
The bill reverses the job terminations the Trump administration made during the government shutdown. It also increases the funding given to security for Supreme Court justices and lawmakers, the AP reported.
Friday, Nov. 14
Shutdown ends, government works to fully reopen
Although the government officially ended the 43-day shutdown on Wednesday, the government will take longer to fully reopen and solve the issues that arose, according to the AP.
All federal workers who were unpaid during the shutdown are expected to receive the money owed to them by Nov. 19, in four separate portions, the AP reported. State officials claim full monthly SNAP benefits should be issued to recipients beginning Thursday, but the process could take a week.
All furloughed and terminated federal employees have been reinstated. According to the AP, once safety metrics improve, the Federal Aviation Administration will remove its order to limit flights. This will resume normal operations quickly after the safety metrics improve.
Sunday, Nov. 16
South Carolina abortion bill would be most restrictive in the country
A South Carolina abortion bill is being considered and contains the most restrictive measures on pregnant women ever seen in the country, according to the AP. The legislation would ban all abortions unless the mother's life is at risk, and get rid of rape and incest exceptions for up to 12 weeks.
The AP also reported under the legislation, any woman who receives an abortion, and anyone who assists them, could face up to 30 years in prison. It would make providing information about abortions illegal, as well as ban IUDs and limit IVF.
Although a similar bill last year did not progress due to Republicans being happy with the current legislation, many are concerned because nine Republican lawmakers were elected after the current law was passed.
The measure is up for a second hearing Tuesday, Nov. 18.
