- Government shutdown reaches record-breaking lengths as Trump Administration defies court order to fund SNAP. The shutdown passed the 35 day-mark this week, breaking the record previously also held by Trump. Trump recently doubled down on threats not to pay backpay, though they have found “workarounds” to continue to pay the military, ICE, and for White House demolition.
SNAP funding, which should have been released November 1st, was not paid, leaving many families without the means to buy food. Historically, SNAP funding has been protected and continued without delay under all other government shutdowns. The USDA has an emergency fund to cover some of the gap, but initially declined to use it. After a class-action lawsuit by several states, a federal judge compelled the administration to fund SNAP last week.
At first they said they would comply and fund 50%, but Trump then backtracked on social media, saying they would not provide funding. With conflicting accounts from the President, USDA, and others inside the White House, the actual status of the delayed funds remains unclear.
SNAP, also known as EBT or food stamps, primarily provides monetary support to the disabled, elderly, or working poor with children in purchasing food. About 42 million Americans receive some benefits, calculated based on family size, location, and income levels. SNAP has strict work requirements, and often benefits are temporary for people experiencing new unemployment or a natural disaster.
SNAP reduces food insecurity, medical costs, and is good for the economy, providing a 150% return on investment for every $1 spent. It can only be used to purchase food and produce–it cannot buy hot meals, household cleaners, diapers, toilet paper or hygiene products, or any nonfood items or services. - New SNAP restrictions under the Big Beautiful Bill also take affect. Even if and when SNAP benefits return, many will find their eligibility restricted due to the implementation of Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill. The changes include even stricter work requirements, upping the required age for work from 54 to 64, and lowering the child age of parent exemption from 18 to 14. Eligibility has also been taken away from lawful immigrant recipients–previously some refugee groups were eligible for SNAP, but now must wait five years.
- RFK Jr walks back claims that Tylenol causes autism after pressed for evidence. RFK Jr. admitted in a press conference last week that there isn’t actually good evidence linking Tylenol to autism.
Unfortunately, given that the origins of the modern-day antivaxxer movement stems from a widely debunked paper by a grifter who lost his medical license, retractions seldom help after the misinformation has already spread, unless robust counter-education initiatives are launched. - Health insurance premiums set to spike as Republicans threaten Affordable Care Act subsidies. Democrats have said the reason for the government shutdown is because Republicans have refused to contend with renewing the ACA premiums, which are set to expire. Without them, families purchasing health insurance will see their premiums go up at an average of about 114%.
American healthcare is already one of the most expensive among peer nations, both per capita and as a share of the economy. On average, other large and wealthy countries pay about half as much. - Blind man dragged into ICE facility and detained after crossing a line agents painted on the ground to denote a “trespassing zone” during ongoing protests. Video shows the man sitting on the curb in a neon vest near the painted line before agents surrounded him and dragged him violently into the South Portland facility.
- Department of HHS adds new metric to measure employee performance: loyalty to Trump. Annual performance reviews will now include whether the workers “clearly and demonstrably support the implementation” of Trump’s agenda.
This (probably illegal) litmus test stands to further gut the already decimated department, where the administration has already fired thousands of scientists and cut grants for life-saving research.
Action Items:
Get your vaccinations up to date as soon as possible. Due to widespread antivax sentiment, the US is poised to lose its measles-free designation. Ask your state to join a state-level public health collaborative (a body that issues governing advice from medical professionals instead of a partisan CDC) if they haven’t yet.
Protect your neighbors. Warn and record in the presence of ICE. Push your local officials not to collaborate.
Donate to your money, time, food, or skills to a local food pantry or shelter. Often food pantries can purchase more food wholesale than we can provide, so cash donations are best, but many organizations also have specific lists available online for needed items. You can also donate time to pack and deliver food, or computer skills in helping spread the word about needed items or pick up locations.
Also consider libraries, clinics, cash bail funds, or other mutual aid if you can.
Hit the streets if you are able. March, attend a town hall, school board meeting, or other local action. Go, (but don’t RSVP, wtf) to a protest! Consider purchasing a reusable respirator (gas mask) if attending a mass protest, due to recent escalations in use of tear gas and other “less lethal” force at actions.
Call your representatives and especially your local officials to ensure special education gaps are being filled in your district.
Move to (more) secure communications when possible. Consider encrypted messaging apps like Signal, or communicate in-person when possible about sensitive issues, particularly ICE-related. Think about ways to spread information offline and locally. Make flyers and stickers. Make art.