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What Happened Today – October 31, 2025

The United Nations condemned the U.S. today for 14 separate boat attacks that have killed 61 people.

The High Commissioner for Human Rights made that announcement before SNAP’s food aid benefits for one of every 8 Americans were set to go unfunded by the federal government. Two federal judges ordered Trump to restart the funds because the Agriculture Secretary said “that well has run dry.”

Trump might as well have said, “Let them eat cake.” He raced to his Mar-a-Lago resort mid-afternoon to attend a Halloween party themed “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody” with a band and some guests in 1920s costumes. On the way there, he posted pictures of the Lincoln Bathroom renovated to his specifications in marble and gold trim.

Let’s get our communities bread and substantial food instead of cake. Find your local food pantry and donate if you can. Volunteer if you can’t. Check on neighbors who depend on SNAP. And when someone tries to normalize any of this, tell them about how Trump spent the hours leading up to Americans going hungry.

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Today's Quote
She repeatedly stated we were ‘Fucking incompetent,’ and ‘this is no way to treat a fucking US Representative."
An incident report filed on October 30, 2025, at Charleston Airport about a diatribe by Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC).
Yesterday's Most Read

Casey Means misses surgeon general confirmation hearing due to labor, brother Calley departed White House month ago after special employee term expired without announcement.

Today’s GovBrief News


Extremism 1 of 24

FBI arrests Alabama man with weapons cache and list of religious leaders' addresses after threatening calls to multiple rabbis and imam saying "I want you to die."

Targets threatened in 4 states

Source: CBS News

October 31, 2025

Extremism 2 of 24

FBI arrests multiple people in Dearborn raids after Director Kash Patel says agents thwarted Halloween terrorist attack planned in Michigan.

Pre-dawn raids at 6:15

Source: MLive

October 31, 2025

Foreign Relations 3 of 24

Rubio calls Miami Herald and Wall Street Journal reports on imminent Venezuela attack "fake story" as USS Gerald R. Ford carrier group deploys to Caribbean.

Trump also denied attack

Source: The Hill

October 31, 2025

Health 4 of 24

FDA restricts fluoride supplements for children under 3 and low-risk older children, citing gut microbiome concerns after MAHA Commission directive.

2 states ban water flouridation

Source: CNN

October 31, 2025

Health 5 of 24

Maine Family Planning closes primary care practices in three rural towns after Trump administration bars Medicaid funding to nonprofits that provide abortion, cutting $1.9 million annually.

Healthcare shortage 13 of 16 counties

Source: The Maine Morning Star

October 31, 2025

Human Rights 6 of 24

Ossoff investigation documents 80+ cases of medical neglect at ICE detention centers, with DHS employee reporting "ambulances have to come almost every day" at one site.

500+ reports since January 20th

Source: CBS Atlanta

October 31, 2025

Human Rights 7 of 24

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk condemns Trump boat strikes killing 61 people as "unacceptable" extrajudicial killings; White House responds with "Escalator-gate" joke.

UN: "Law enforcement matter," not military

Source: Axios

October 31, 2025

Human Rights 8 of 24

Vice President Vance tells Turning Point USA he hopes Hindu wife Usha converts to Christianity, saying he wants her "somehow moved by the church" away from her faith.

2 oldest Vance children attend Christian school

Source: The Hill

October 31, 2025

Voting Rights 9 of 24

Judge blocks Trump order requiring proof of citizenship to vote, ruling President "lacks the authority" to direct election changes under Constitution's separation of powers.

19 states sued Trump

Source: The Guardian

October 31, 2025

Voting Rights 10 of 24

Ohio Redistricting Commission unanimously passes congressional map giving Republicans 12-3 advantage as Democrats vote yes to avoid "disaster," blocking voter referendum on gerrymandering.

GOP co-chair called citizens "paid actors"

Source: The Ohio Capital Journal

October 31, 2025

Censorship 11 of 24

NC GOP communications director threatens ProPublica reporter investigating state Supreme Court judge, saying "I would strongly suggest dropping this story" and invoking "connections with the Trump Administration."

ProPublica ran story Thursday anyway

Source: Raw Story

October 31, 2025

Censorship 12 of 24

White House restricts reporters' West Wing access, requiring appointments to speak with communications staff while claiming "sensitive material" security concerns as part of broader press restrictions.

Trump floated moving press off grounds

Source: Politico

October 31, 2025

Military 13 of 24

Pentagon clears Tomahawk missiles for Ukraine after stockpile assessment shows no impact on U.S. military readiness, leaving decision entirely to Trump.

1,000 mile range

Source: CNN

October 31, 2025

Military 14 of 24

Pentagon memo from Oct. 8 allows commanders to override separation boards that vote to keep trans troops, ending boards' longstanding independence.

Memo hidden for 3 weeks

Source: The Associated Press

October 31, 2025

Military 15 of 24

Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One "you'll find out very soon" when asked for details on resuming nuclear weapons testing after 33-year pause.

U.S. last tested nuclear weapons 1992

Source: Newsweek

October 31, 2025

Courts 16 of 24

Judges order Trump to continue food aid for 40 million Americans during shutdown after USDA said 'well has run dry' despite $6 billion emergency reserve.

25 states sued

Source: BBC

October 31, 2025

Courts 17 of 24

New York judge dismisses Texas Attorney General Paxton's attempt to enforce $113,000 judgment against Ulster County doctor who prescribed abortion medication to Texas patient.

County clerk refused 2x to file judgment

Source: The Albany Times-Union

October 31, 2025

Criminal Justice 18 of 24

Interior Department calls furloughed employees back during shutdown to process Park Police hires as agency seeks to double D.C. force to 600 officers "regardless of inaction" by local officials.

3 weeks: 10 car chases, 6 crashes

Source: The Washington Post

October 31, 2025

Immigration 19 of 24

Federal agents push Chicago Alderwoman Rossana Rodriguez-Sanchez and deploy pepper bullets during Halloween immigration arrests after DHS Secretary Noem refused governor's pause request.

Alderwoman: "They came with a vengeance"

Source: ABC Chicago

October 31, 2025

Congress 20 of 24

Senate Republican leaders reject Trump's call to eliminate 60-vote filibuster and end shutdown without Democrats, with Thune spokesman saying position "unchanged."

60 vote threshold since 1975

Source: NBC News

October 31, 2025

Federal Personnel 21 of 24

FDIC Acting Chair Hill faces bipartisan opposition at confirmation hearing as Sen. Kennedy threatens "no" vote over workplace culture inaction and Warren slams undisclosed 20% workforce cuts.

1,250 jobs eliminated, 200 examiner offers rescinded

Source: Banking Dive

October 31, 2025

Propaganda 22 of 24

Trump posts Lincoln Bathroom renovation photos with gold fixtures and marble aboard Air Force One to Mar-a-Lago as judges order him to fund SNAP for 40 million Americans.

Fired Commission of Fine Arts members this week

Source: The Hill

October 31, 2025

Arts 23 of 24

Kennedy Center ticket sales collapse to 43% unsold after Trump takeover as board chair promising to "make it hot again" and eliminate "woke" programming.

Only 7% unsold same period 2024

Source: Playbill

October 31, 2025

Fighting Back 24 of 24

Senate Armed Services leaders Wicker and Reed publicly release letters demanding Pentagon provide legal justification for Caribbean boat strikes that killed at least 61 people after documents not provided.

14 attacks since early September

Source: Roll Call

October 31, 2025