It’s official: Day two of the government shutdown brings chaos. The White House now says mass firings of federal workers could start as soon as tomorrow. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker is openly calling for Donald Trump’s removal under the 25th Amendment—the highest-ranking official yet to do so. And in heartbreaking news, Dr. Jane Goodall, the legendary champion of wildlife and science, has passed away.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
On the first day of the government shutdown, Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought told House Republicans that the Trump administration will begin firing federal workers within “one to two days.” Vought had previously issued a memo warning of mass layoffs in agencies whose funding expired on Oct. 1 and were deemed “not consistent with the President’s priorities.”
Vice President JD Vance confirmed at a White House briefing that layoffs are imminent unless the shutdown ends, stressing they aren’t targeting agencies based on politics but are intended to preserve essential services. No numbers were given on how many employees may lose their jobs, but Vought also warned that the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) nutrition program could run out of money within a week, military and federal employee pay is on hold, and national parks will remain only partially open.
A Department of Veterans Affairs newsletter sparked controversy after it used partisan language blaming Democrats for the government shutdown, while outlining which veteran services would continue, such as health care and burials, and which would be paused, including career counseling and the GI Bill hotline.
The federal court system announced it will remain open until Oct. 17 despite the government shutdown, using court fee balances and other non-appropriated funds to stay operational.
Several U.S. Department Inspector General websites — including Agriculture, Education, Interior, Justice, and Veterans Affairs — have gone offline during the government shutdown, displaying notices that they are unavailable due to lack of funding.
The Trump administration has frozen $18 billion in New York City infrastructure funding, halting major projects like the Hudson Tunnel and the Second Avenue Subway just hours into the government shutdown. Budget director Russell Vought said the pause was to review contracts allegedly awarded under “unconstitutional DEI principles,” though Democrats blasted the move as political retaliation against New York leaders Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker called for the 25th Amendment to be invoked against President Donald Trump after Trump suggested that cities like Chicago could serve as “training grounds” for U.S. military forces. Pritzker compared Trump to Vladimir Putin, accused him of showing signs of dementia, and warned that deploying troops into American cities was both dangerous and unconstitutional. The White House pushed back, saying Trump was acting to protect Americans where Pritzker had failed.
Pope Leo XIV made rare remarks on U.S. politics, criticizing President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s rhetoric at a military gathering in Virginia as “concerning” and challenging self-described “pro-life” advocates who oppose abortion but fail to reject the death penalty and the mistreatment of migrants. His comments, delivered amid debate in the Chicago diocese, marked his strongest public criticism yet of Trump administration policies.
Jane Goodall, the pioneering chimpanzee researcher and global animal advocate, has died at 91 of natural causes while on a speaking tour in California, her institute announced. Goodall revolutionized science in the 1960s with groundbreaking fieldwork in Tanzania, documenting that chimpanzees use tools, display complex social behaviors, and communicate—findings that challenged the notion that such traits were uniquely human.
The Supreme Court has ruled that Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook can remain in office for now while it considers President Trump’s attempt to fire her, agreeing to hear arguments in January 2026. Trump claims he removed Cook “for cause” over disputed mortgage fraud allegations, though Cook denies wrongdoing and documents reportedly contradict the charge. Lower courts sided with Cook, prompting Trump’s emergency appeal, but the justices declined to allow her immediate removal.
Twenty state attorneys general, led by New York’s Letitia James, are suing the Trump administration over a new DOJ rule that would block federal aid for some sexual assault and domestic violence survivors who can’t immediately prove their immigration status, arguing it endangers victims and violates the law.
An apartment building in the Bronx partially collapsed Wednesday morning after an incinerator shaft gave way, ripping a large hole in the high-rise and prompting evacuations. Officials said the collapse, reported just after 8 a.m., may have been triggered by an explosion in the boiler room, though no injuries or fatalities have been reported. Residents from nearby units were evacuated as a precaution, Con Edison shut off gas service, and city inspectors are investigating. The building has several open violations, including on its boilers, raising concerns from local leaders who are demanding accountability.
Jane Fonda has relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, a free speech initiative first created by her father Henry Fonda in 1947 during the McCarthy era, saying the federal government is once again trying to silence critics in politics, media, academia, and entertainment. The new effort is backed by nearly 600 prominent figures including Whoopi Goldberg, Spike Lee, Barbra Streisand, and Ben Stiller, and follows recent controversies like ABC’s temporary suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s show over his comments on a political assassination.
Russia has been accused of deliberately sabotaging the last power line into Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, forcing it to rely on backup generators for eight days; satellite images showed no signs of shelling, undermining Moscow’s claim, and experts warn the situation risks a meltdown as Russia moves to connect the facility to its own power grid.
More than 150 American doctors, nurses, and medical workers who volunteered in Gaza have sent a letter to President Trump urging him to end U.S. military, economic, and diplomatic support for Israel’s offensive, saying they have witnessed catastrophic conditions caused largely by American weapons. The group, which includes veterans of war zones and aid missions with groups like Doctors Without Borders, described mass casualties, famine, and widespread injuries among civilians, including children, and said Gaza’s health system has been devastated, with most hospitals no longer fully functioning.
Israeli naval forces intercepted and boarded a pro-Palestinian flotilla of more than 40 boats carrying aid and activists, including Greta Thunberg and Susan Sarandon, about 75 miles off Gaza, cutting communications and ordering the vessels to Ashdod, while activists insisted they were on a humanitarian mission in defiance of Israel’s blockade.
A Royal Caribbean cruise ship, Enchantment of the Seas, rescued about 10 people stranded on a raft “falling apart” in international waters between Mexico and Cuba on Sunday night. Crew members spotted the distressed group, launched drones and lifeboats, and brought them aboard, providing medical care before coordinating with the Mexican Coast Guard. Passengers described the rescue as both surreal and urgent, noting the raft was rapidly breaking apart and the ship had only altered course due to Hurricane Imelda, meaning its presence in the area was a matter of chance. Everyone rescued was reported to be in good health.
See you in the morning with an interview, and in the evening with an update.
— Aaron
