“The economic effect of past government shutdowns has been straightforward. The economy loses some activity for a few weeks, then gains it back after the government reopens. The net cost is basically zero,” the New York Times reports.
“This time, the math may not be so benign.”
Paul Krugman: “Trump’s disconnect from reality is uniquely destructive. No previous president has tried to overturn an election, sought to use the military against U.S. citizens, or sought to use the Justice Department as his own personal vendetta machine. The difference is that he’s the first president to live in an autocratic bubble, surrounded by a cult of personality within which nobody dares to criticize him, tell him uncomfortable truths or refuse to engage in blatantly illegal acts.”
“Furthermore, Trump is clearly getting worse, growing even more out of touch with each passing week. Regardless of whether it’s advancing age or growing frustration, even Trump, I think, realizes that his efforts to suppress all opposition are running into serious resistance. Putting out an AI video of himself dumping shit on protestors suggests panic, not strength. But his claims about what’s happening in America and the world keep getting stranger and wilder.”
“And Trump’s denial of reality is already having devastating consequences for America, with more to come.”
“The era of A.I. propaganda is here — and President Trump is an enthusiastic participant,” the New York Times reports.
“After nationwide protests this weekend against Mr. Trump’s administration, the president posted an A.I.-generated video to his Truth Social account depicting himself as a fighter pilot, careening through major cities and dropping excrement on protesters.”
“It was the latest example in a yearslong shift by Mr. Trump to deploy fake imagery, generated by artificial intelligence, as part of his social media commentary.”
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“With trade hostilities between the world’s two economic superpowers back on, China has sent the unmistakable message that it is ready to fight. A week ago, it invoked its grip over virtually the entire global supply of critical materials, breaking a delicate trade détente between the two countries,” the New York Times reports.
“Beijing feels it has another ace card: its booming factories. Even in the face of sky-high tariffs by President Trump, China’s manufacturing sector is helping to maintain growth and give the country’s top leader, Xi Jinping, a stronger hand to face down the United States.”
Graham Platner, the embattled Maine Democratic Senate candidate, said he doesn’t expect more damaging stories to come out about his social media history, even as he invited opponents to “go find more stuff” if they can, Politico reports.
Said Platner: “There is nothing that I can remotely think of that is out there that is any worse, or really any different, than what has come out. I mean, if that is their concern, then they can go find more stuff.”
A new Alaska Survey Research poll finds Mary Peltola (D) just ahead of Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), 48% to 46%, if she runs against him.
“A group of dozens of officials from across the federal government, including U.S. intelligence officers, has been helping to steer President Donald Trump’s drive for retribution against his perceived enemies,” Reuters reports.
“The existence of the interagency group indicates the administration’s push to deploy government power against Trump’s perceived foes is broader and more systematic than previously reported. Interagency working groups in government typically forge administration policies, share information and agree on joint actions.”
“A power struggle has emerged over who will run the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, adding fresh uncertainty about the agency’s leadership,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who is NASA’s acting administrator, has told people that he wants to lead the space agency, according to people familiar with the conversations. So does Jared Isaacman—the billionaire entrepreneur who was the nominee earlier this year before President Trump withdrew his support.”
“Isaacman has re-emerged as a candidate as a push to have a permanent NASA chief intensified in recent weeks. Duffy interviewed Isaacman on Oct. 13 for the job.”
President Trump’s hopes for a quick meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin may be stalled after sources familiar with the matter told CNN that an expected pre-meeting between the world leaders’ key foreign affairs aides this week had been tabled, at least for now.
Donald Trump is considering commuting Diddy’s sentence as early as this week, TMZ reports.
The president is reportedly “vacillating” on the decision.
“The Treasury Department instructed employees not to share photos of the demolition of parts of the White House’s East Wing after images of construction equipment dismantling the facade of the building went viral online,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Treasury’s headquarters is located next door to the East Wing, giving employees there a front-row seat to the construction of President Trump’s $250 million ballroom. The new project is set to replace parts of the East Wing.”
“Three weeks into shutdown gridlock, some Senate Republicans are expressing openness to a controversial solution: nuking the filibuster,” NOTUS reports.
“For more than a decade in the Senate, Marco Rubio sought the ouster of Venezuela’s autocratic leader, Nicolás Maduro. Now as President Trump’s national security adviser, Rubio is finally getting his chance to squeeze the strongman,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Rubio has been the top official executing an aggressive Trump administration campaign that began as a counternarcotics operation but has expanded into a broad effort to use sanctions and the threat of military force to pressure Maduro… While Trump’s primary aim is to stop the flow of drugs into the U.S., the hope is that the pressure campaign will also convince Maduro he can no longer remain in power.”
“The White House worked to hold together the Gaza peace deal on Monday as American officials said they were increasingly concerned that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, could dismantle the U.S.-brokered agreement,” the New York Times reports.
“The White House paused the judicial nomination of former Florida Deputy Attorney General John Guard due to his involvement with a charity linked to Gov. Ron DeSantis that’s under criminal investigation,” Axios reports.
“When House Republicans first passed a stopgap spending bill last month, it was written to give Congress a seven-week window to come to a long-term deal on government funding,” Politico reports.
“With the government shutdown now running into a fourth week, that original Nov. 21 deadline is looming fast — and numerous Republicans acknowledged Monday a new, longer stopgap bill will be needed.”
Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he hopes the White House withdraws Paul Ingrassia’s Office of Special Counsel nomination, after reports on texts that showed him making racist remarks to fellow Republicans, Politico reports.
Said Thune: “He’s not gonna pass.”
NOTUS: GOP senators ready to dump Trump nominee with self-proclaimed “Nazi streak.”
Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-TX) “allegedly had an affair with a senior aide who later died after dousing herself with gasoline and setting herself on fire,” the Daily Mail reports.
“Regina Aviles, 35, poured gasoline over herself before becoming engulfed in flames at her home on September 13 in Uvalde, Texas – about two hours west of San Antonio.”
Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites. He also runs Political Job Hunt, Electoral Vote Map and the Political Dictionary.
Goddard spent more than a decade as managing director and chief operating officer of a prominent investment firm in New York City. Previously, he was a policy adviser to a U.S. Senator and Governor.
Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country.
Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.
Goddard is the owner of Goddard Media LLC.
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