Good morning, everyone. We are just one day away from a possible government shutdown. The White House has delivered a blunt message to Democrats pushing to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies: “Go fuck yourself.”
At the end of today’s update, I’ll break down what a shutdown would mean for you — from air travel to Social Security to mass federal layoffs. Meanwhile, MAGA corners of the internet are in meltdown after Bad Bunny was announced as the Super Bowl halftime performer, furious over his anti-ICE and pro-Trans positions.
We are at a historic inflection point. This isn’t just another news cycle. This is the fight over whether the First Amendment, and the free press itself, survives.
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With that, here’s what you missed:
With just over 24 hours until a possible government shutdown, President Trump and GOP leaders are demanding Democrats drop their push to restore Obamacare subsidies in exchange for funding, while Senate Leader Chuck Schumer and House Leader Hakeem Jeffries insist on health care protections before backing any bill.
Both sides are digging in ahead of a White House meeting Monday, with Republicans framing Democrats as risking a shutdown and Democrats blaming Trump for slashing Medicaid, cutting subsidies, and threatening mass federal firings — setting the stage for what aides warn could be a prolonged, high-stakes shutdown fight.
A report claimed the White House responded to Democrats’ push to restore Obamacare subsidies with the phrase “Go fuck yourself,” underscoring the deep hostility and breakdown in negotiations over health care funding and the looming government shutdown.
The NFL announced that Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny (Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio), a three-time Grammy winner, will headline the 2026 Super Bowl halftime show on February 8 at Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California; while Bad Bunny celebrated the news as a tribute to his people, culture, and history, the decision triggered outrage from MAGA commentators who criticized the choice because of his past political stances, including mocking Donald Trump in his music, opposing U.S. deportation policies, and previously refusing to tour in the U.S. during Trump’s presidency.
A deadly attack at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Michigan left 4 dead and 8 injured when 40-year-old suspect Thomas Jacob Sanford drove into the building, opened fire with an assault rifle, and set the church ablaze; authorities found possible improvised devices at the scene and are investigating the tragedy as an act of targeted violence, while praising worshippers who shielded children and noting Sanford was killed within minutes by police—prompting shock and grief from local leaders, Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, and federal officials.
Donald Trump announced 100% tariffs on all movies made outside of the United States of America:
At the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation’s Phoenix Awards, Kamala Harris denounced Donald Trump as an “unchecked, incompetent, unhinged president,” urging Democrats to “fight fire with fire” ahead of the 2026 midterms; she criticized his administration for cutting healthcare and vaccine funding, deploying troops domestically, and pressuring institutions like universities, law firms, and media companies into compliance, while highlighting Jimmy Kimmel’s reinstatement after ABC suspended him under government threat as a rare example of public resistance.
Oregon filed a federal lawsuit to block President Trump’s order deploying 200 National Guard troops to Portland, with Gov. Tina Kotek and the state attorney general denouncing the move as “illegal” and based on “social media gossip”; Trump had seized control of the state’s reservists by invoking authority to suppress “rebellion,” while Oregon officials insisted Portland is peaceful and accused him of fabricating a “war ravaged” narrative to justify federal intervention.
Last night, a protestor was dragged away by military service members.
In an exclusive NBC News interview, President Donald Trump accused former FBI Director Christopher Wray of “inappropriate” conduct and suggested the DOJ is investigating him, echoing unfounded claims that the FBI placed 274 agents in the January 6th crowd.
The Supreme Court convened its annual “long conference” to review hundreds of appeals accumulated over the summer, including Ghislaine Maxwell’s bid to overturn part of her conviction for recruiting and grooming teenage girls for Jeffrey Epstein; her lawyers argue a 2007 Florida nonprosecution deal with Epstein should shield her, but the DOJ counters it applied only locally, while justices also weighed cases on gun rights, social media immunity, and Covid-19 vaccine disputes ahead of the new term beginning Oct. 6.
Missouri Gov. Mike Kehoe signed a Trump-backed congressional redistricting plan into law aiming to give Republicans an additional U.S. House seat by redrawing Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver’s Kansas City district into GOP-heavy rural areas, reducing Black and minority representation.
Stephen Miller, Trump’s deputy chief of staff and homeland security adviser, has emerged as the key architect of U.S. strikes on suspected Venezuelan drug boats, with his Homeland Security Council taking unusual precedence over the National Security Council; Miller framed Venezuela’s Tren de Aragua cartel as a terrorist group tied to Nicolás Maduro to justify both deportations and military action under Article II powers, though courts and legal experts have challenged the administration’s claims as lacking evidence, raising controversy over the legality of the strikes, which involved U.S. Marines, Navy ships, and the use of Hellfire missiles in international waters.
Country music icon Dolly Parton announced she is postponing her December 2025 Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace due to unspecified “health challenges” requiring medical procedures, saying she cannot rehearse or deliver the show at the standard fans deserve; maintaining humor in her update, she assured fans she isn’t retiring, just slowing down, and confirmed the concerts are rescheduled for September 2026, with tickets honored for the new dates or refundable.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed creating a joint aerial defense shield with Poland and other allies to counter Russian drone and missile threats, arguing Ukraine’s expertise could bolster regional security; the call came after Russian incursions rattled NATO’s eastern flank and disrupted Danish airports, prompting France, Germany, and Sweden to send anti-drone systems and troops to Denmark ahead of key EU and European Political Community summits.
Moldova’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by President Maia Sandu, won a clear parliamentary majority with just over 50% of the vote, defeating the pro-Russian Patriotic Electoral Bloc amid allegations of massive Russian interference, disinformation, and bomb scares at polling stations.
Government shutdown impacts:
Federal Employees Will Be Furloughed: First, hundreds of thousands of federal employees will be furloughed without pay. The moment the government runs out of funding, all government employees will officially lose their paycheck, with only essential employees being required to work. Essential employees include those relating to our nation’s security and public safety. Because of this, TSA agents, Border Patrol, most federal prosecutors and other essential employees will remain working. However, they will not be paid during the shutdown. Meanwhile, all employees not deemed “essential” will be furloughed without pay for the duration of the shutdown. Once the government shutdown is lifted, all federal employees will receive backpay.
National Parks Will Close: Second, national parks will either close or run understaffed. In several past government shutdowns, national parks closed completely, however during the most recent shutdown in 2019, many parks remained open with minimal staff. These parks, if they remain open this time around, will likely function without restroom, trash collection, facilities, or road maintenance.
Social Security Benefits Will Be Impacted: Third, Social Security and Medicare will be severely affected. Although payments will continue as scheduled, it is likely that both federal programs will cease accepting new applicants and will not issue new cards to applicants. During the 1995-96 shutdown, over 10,000 applicants were turned away.
EPA Inspections Could Stop: Fourth, it is likely that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will stop all site inspection for areas that contain hazardous waste, drinking water, and chemical facilities, while the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could halt or delay inspections of facilities and/ or products. Both have previously occurred, once during the 2012 shutdown and again in 2019.
Air Travel Could Be Impacted: Fifth, air travel will be impacted. Although TSA agents and air traffic control will continue to operate, consumers will face longer lines and longer wait times at the airports as fewer agents will be staffed during this time.
