Trump Stuns Advisors by Calling for Nuclear Testing and Urges Republicans to Abandon Filibuster in Late-Night Rant

Good morning, everyone. We’ve got a lot to cover today, and it’s a big news morning. Overnight, Donald Trump stunned even his own advisers by calling for renewed U.S. nuclear testing, the first since 1992, while also unleashing a late-night, all-caps tirade demanding that Republicans abolish the filibuster. In breaking overnight news, the FBI says it foiled a potential terrorist attack planned for Halloween weekend.

If you read that and had to do a double take, you’re not alone.

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Here’s what you missed:

President Trump stunned advisers by announcing on social media that the U.S. would resume nuclear testing after a 33-year hiatus, citing China and Russia’s capabilities; the abrupt declaration—made en route to a summit with Xi Jinping—lacked Pentagon coordination, drew skepticism from military officials, and sparked concerns it could violate treaties and reignite global nuclear tensions.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom criticized President Trump’s call to restart U.S. nuclear weapons testing as “weakness masquerading as strength,” accusing Trump of ignorance about which agency oversees testing and of embarrassing the U.S. in talks with China’s Xi Jinping; Newsom said the move was performative and politically motivated rather than a genuine show of strength.

Amid the month-long government shutdown, President Trump urged Senate Republicans to invoke the “nuclear option” and abolish the filibuster to pass funding without Democratic support, as the stalemate over health care tax credits continues to stall government operations and cost the U.S. billions.

At least one Republican Senator has already come out against Trump:

Trump urged Democrats to “do something” despite Republicans having majorities in all parts of government.

As the government shutdown enters its 30th day, major airports like Orlando International and Reagan National faced multi-hour ground delays due to severe air traffic controller shortages, with unpaid FAA staff stretched thin and airlines urging Congress to end the shutdown to protect aviation safety.

As enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expire amid the government shutdown, Americans face steep premium hikes averaging 114% — with increases exceeding 175% in some states — deepening political standoff as Democrats demand subsidy extensions before reopening the government and Republicans refuse to negotiate until the shutdown ends.

Amid the month-long government shutdown, the Trump administration announced it will pay U.S. military members Friday using $5.3 billion redirected from Defense Department funds, while Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over extending Affordable Care Act subsidies and broader government funding.

FBI Director Kash Patel announced that federal agents thwarted a potential terrorist attack in Michigan planned for Halloween weekend, arresting multiple suspects allegedly plotting a violent act. Patel praised law enforcement for their vigilance and commitment to protecting the homeland, noting that further details will be released as the investigation develops.

Trump-appointed Judge Carl Nichols praised two prosecutors suspended for calling the Jan. 6 attack a “riot” during the sentencing of Taylor Taranto, a pardoned Capitol rioter later convicted on weapons charges, while criticizing the Justice Department’s move to sideline them and suggesting their original memo could be unsealed.

The FBI fired veteran agent Aaron Tapp, who oversaw parts of Jack Smith’s Trump-related investigations, in what sources describe as part of the Trump administration’s political purge of the bureau; the move follows other senior officials’ lawsuits alleging FBI Director Kash Patel has politicized the agency to punish those tied to probes of Trump.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem refused Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s request to suspend immigration enforcement in Chicago over Halloween, despite public outrage after agents used tear gas during a neighborhood parade; Noem defended ongoing operations as necessary for safety, while residents and a federal judge condemned the use of chemical agents near children.

After Kim Kardashian questioned the authenticity of the 1969 moon landing, NASA’s acting chief Sean Duffy publicly rebuked her, affirming that the U.S. has landed on the moon six times and plans to return under Trump’s Artemis program, while also inviting her to attend a future launch amid renewed NASA–Trump administration tensions.

Stephen Miller has consolidated control over U.S. immigration policy by directing daily State Department calls and staffing key roles with ideological allies, effectively transforming the department into a hardline “anti-immigration machine” that prioritizes deportations, visa revocations, and refugee limits while sidelining career diplomats.

Actor Harrison Ford condemned Donald Trump’s rollback of climate protections, calling his fossil fuel expansion and attacks on science “criminal” and warning that the president’s policies endanger the planet, while urging global action to protect nature and accelerate clean energy transitions.

A new poll shows 56% of Americans disapprove of Donald Trump’s demolition of the White House’s East Wing to build a $300 million privately funded ballroom—nearly twice the size of the White House—despite his earlier promise not to alter existing structures.

Egypt’s long-delayed $1 billion Grand Egyptian Museum—billed as the world’s largest archaeological museum devoted to a single civilization—will officially open near the Giza pyramids on Saturday, showcasing over 50,000 ancient artefacts including colossal statues and Pharaohs’ treasures, and is expected to boost tourism and Egypt’s economy after years of delays and disruptions.

Good news:

Natalie Grabow, an 80-year-old grandmother from New Jersey who only learned to swim at 59, became the oldest woman ever to finish the Ironman World Championship in Hawaii — completing the 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike ride, and 26.2-mile marathon in 16 hours and 45 minutes. Her story of perseverance and late-blooming athleticism has inspired many, showing it’s never too late to chase new dreams.

Amid the month-long government shutdown and suspended SNAP benefits, Portland’s nonprofit Heretic Coffee Shop raised over $100,000 in donations to help feed affected families — a grassroots effort owner Josh White called proof that “when the system fails us, everyday people take care of each other.”

Archaeologists uncovered a massive 2,300-year-old stone-lined water basin in the ancient Roman town of Gabii, Italy — built centuries before concrete — revealing advanced pre-Roman engineering that used stacked stones and natural slopes for durability and drainage, suggesting both practical and possibly ceremonial purposes.

See you this evening.

— Aaron