US news | The Guardian

But talks between factions are under way as Democrats and Republicans try to bring standoff to a closeThe US federal government shutdown was poised to move into record-breaking territory on Tuesday after the Senate rejected for the 14th time a funding package already passed by the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.With the shutdown now in its record-equalling 35th day, frantic behind-the-scenes talks were under way to bring the standoff to a close amid expressions of alarm from Democrats and Republicans alike about its disruptive effects on millions of Americans. Continue reading...

Jamie Raskin in a letter questioned why justice department abruptly ended investigation into Epstein co-conspiratorsA top Democrat has demanded to know why the Trump administration inexplicably killed" a criminal investigation into the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's alleged co-conspirators as he accused the justice department of a shameful and gigantic cover-up".Jamie Raskin, a House judiciary committee ranking member and congressman from Maryland, claimed the decision to end the investigation in July had shielded an alleged network of powerful individuals accused of enabling and engaging in the massive billion-dollar sex trafficking operation" while ignoring the accounts of women exploited by Epstein. Continue reading...

Republicans ousted her after she dogged Trump for January 6, but the Cheneys' influence lingers in his administrationWeeks before one of America's best-known businessmen, Donald Trump, was sworn in as president on an overcast day in Washington DC, a different politician with a similarly familiar name took her oath of office elsewhere in the Capitol.Liz Cheney was then both a freshman congresswoman from Wyoming and a stalwart of the neoconservative philosophy espoused by her father Dick Cheney, the former vice-president under George W Bush who died on Monday. Trump had repudiated Bush's invasion of Iraq in his campaign for president, but the congresswoman nonetheless went on to become an ally in bending Republican lawmakers to his will. Continue reading...

Logan David Patterson and Dominick Frank Cardoza face charges of conspiracy to damage by fire or explosiveTwo Massachusetts men were arrested on Tuesday in connection with a weekend explosion at Harvard Medical School, authorities said.Logan David Patterson and Dominick Frank Cardoza face charges of conspiracy to damage by means of fire or an explosive, according to the charging document. Patterson, 18 and from Plymouth, and 20-year-old Cardoza from Bourne were arrested on Tuesday morning and due to be arraigned in federal court later in the day. Continue reading...

More than 500 people received letters from MaineHealth expressing condolences and providing estate instructionsMaine's largest healthcare system accidentally sent condolence letters to more than 500 living patients in effect informing them that they had died.MaineHealth attributed the blunder to a computer system error and apologized. Continue reading...

US vice-president who served under George W Bush and pushed hard for the invasion of IraqThe former US vice-president Dick Cheney, who has died aged 84, was one of the most influential holders of that office in American history. While many vice-presidents had to settle for marginal or ceremonial roles, Cheney held a huge sway during the presidency of George W Bush, to the point that he was often referred to as the real president".Bush resented such a characterisation and said the relationship was more complex. He noted that Cheney was respectful, always referring to him in public as Mr President, while he referred to him as Dick. Bush disputed even descriptions of their relationship as a partnership because it implied that they were equals. In spite of such protestations, Cheney found the laidback president pliable on a whole raft of policy decisions. Continue reading...

From redistricting in California to mayor of New York, voters in several US states cast ballots for elected officers and supreme court judges Continue reading...

Aryna Sabalenka dug deep to beat Jessica Pegula 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 while Coco Gauff cleaned up her service game to win 6-3, 6-2 against Jasmine PaoliniGauff 3-1 Paolini* (* denotes server): Gauff nets two backhands in a row as the Italian plays her first ball with a bit more power than in the first three games. But Guaff uses the court to make Paolini chase the ball at the baseline and gets to deuce after a weak second serve from the Italian. The two trade advantages for a while and at the fifth deuce, Gauff nets a backhand return. Paolini finally sees out the 8min 58sec game after Gauff sends one long.*Gauff 3-0 Paolini (* denotes server): A long rally ends with the Italian powerfully slicing a winner and following it up with another crosscourt forehand that Gauff strains to reach. But she sends three returns long in back-to-back break points, putting her arms up in the air in frustration. Gauff gets the advantage and turns the game around to take the set after another poor return from Paolini, this one going into the stands. Continue reading...

The Look, a new photo book, aims to offer insight into how the former first lady used fashion as a tool for visibility and representationOne of the most powerful images of the first lady of the United States is her first official portrait. Released by the White House and housed in the National Archives, it commemorates the start of their time in office but also carves out a sense of their identity and style.Now, 16 years since Michelle Obama appeared in hers wearing a black sleeveless shift dress from the American designer Michael Kors, the former first lady has spoken about the particular outrage caused by her bare arms. Continue reading...

Ballot measure would let legislature redraw congressional districts to carve out five more Democratic seatsCalifornians headed to the polls on Tuesday to decide on Proposition 50, a ballot measure of national significance that could play a major role in determining which party controls the US House of Representatives after the 2026 midterms.If voters approve the proposal, the state will halt the work of its independent redistricting commission and allow the legislature to redraw congressional districts to carve out five additional Democratic congressional seats. The effort is a direct attempt to neutralize Texas's partisan gerrymander, undertaken at the request of Donald Trump, to create several new safe Republican districts. Continue reading...

How scared should we be by Trump's heavily edited appearance on a US news programme this weekend, and Elon Musk's Grokipedia?You know how I'm going to be able to tell that I've really made it as a writer in America? When our very handsome (much better-looking than Zohran Mamdani!) and very high-IQ leader Donald Trump gives me a personal shoutout to commend me on what a wonderful job I'm doing. As we all know, a good journalist should always make the rich and powerful feel comfortable.While I wait for that day to come, I'm watching and learning from the head honchos at CBS. Trump appeared on CBS News's 60 Minutes on Sunday night for his first sit-down with the show in five years and commented on how much better the network has become after its owner, Paramount, was taken over by his billionaire allies, the father-and-son duo Larry and David Ellison. Continue reading...

Leaders from Bush to Barrasso paid tribute to the former vice-president, whose career drew praise and controversyUS political leaders offered their condolences in reaction to the news that Dick Cheney had died, with George W Bush describing his former vice-president as a calm and steady presence in the White House amid great national challenges".Bush wrote in a statement that he would remember Cheney for the decent honorable man that he was" and that history would remember him as among the finest public servants of his generation - a patriot who brought integrity, high intelligence and seriousness of purpose to every position he held". Continue reading...

Listeria found in pasta sold by Trader Joe's, Kroger and others as CDC urges people to check fridges and seek care if illSix people have died and several dozen have been hospitalized across the US after an outbreak of listeria in precooked pasta meals.The outbreak was first declared in June, leading to a wave of recalls of the pasta meals. It has now spread, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which recently said that six people have died and 25 have been hospitalized across 18 states.FreshRealm's Home Chef Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo 12.5-oz (sold at Kroger and Walmart)FreshRealm's Marketside Grilled Chicken Alfredo with Fettuccine 12.3-oz and 32.8-oz (sold at Kroger and Walmart)FreshRealm's Marketside Linguine with Beef Meatballs & Marinara Sauce 12-oz. (sold at Walmart)Albertsons Companies store-made deli pasta salads (sold under multiple brand names including Albertsons, Safeway and Vons)Trader Joe's Cajun Style Blackened Chicken Breast Fettuccine Alfredo 16-oz plastic tray packagesDemer Food Group's Scott & Jon's Shrimp Scampi with Linguini Bowls 9.6-ozKroger deli bowtie and penne pasta saladsGiant Eagle smoked mozzarella pasta saladSprouts Farmers Market smoked mozzarella pasta salad Continue reading...

City government declines to raise objection in court but state leaders and ACLU seek to block deployment of troopsA state court in Nashville on Monday heard a legal challenge by some Democratic elected officials to Donald Trump's deployment of the national guard into the streets of Memphis, notable in part because of who has not raised an objection: the city of Memphis itself.Shelby county's mayor, Lee Harris, led the lawsuit, along with state representatives Gabby Salinas and GA Hardaway, both Memphis Democrats. Other state and local leaders joined the suit, including one Memphis city council member. The ACLU later filed briefs in support of the suit seeking an injunction to block the deployment of troops. Continue reading...

The ballot measure win would be a significant political gain for the Golden state governor eyeing the White HouseGavin Newsom, the California governor, is on the verge of a political victory that, just a few months ago, didn't exist.In August, a group of Texas Democrats fled their state to block Republicans from approving a rare mid-decade gerrymander to redraw congressional districts at Donald Trump's urging. Altering the maps in the GOP's favor would make it even harder for Democrats to take back control of Congress in the midterm elections next year. The Texas Democrats hoped their standoff would be a national call to action. Continue reading...

Jake Haro and his wife had reported the baby kidnapped outside a store, drawing widespread attention and a public searchA southern California father who pleaded guilty to killing his missing seven-month-old son was sentenced Monday to more than 30 years in prison.Jake Haro, 32, was sentenced after he pleaded guilty in October to the second-degree murder of his son, Emmanuel, the Riverside county district attorney's office said in a statement. A months-long investigation has failed to locate the child's remains. Continue reading...

President's pressure on the department to prosecute his enemies is hurting US law and violating policies, say expertsDonald Trump's intense pressure on the US Department of Justice (DoJ) to charge key foes with crimes based on dubious evidence and his ongoing investigations of other political enemies is hurting the rule of law in the US and violating departmental policies which scholars and ex-prosecutors say may help scuttle some charges.They also voice dismay about charges filed against ex-FBI director James Comey and Letitia James, the New York attorney general, by Lindsey Halligan, the ex-White House lawyer and novice prosecutor, who Trump installed in a key US attorney post after forcing out a veteran prosecutor who deemed the cases weak. Continue reading...

Department of Agriculture using contingency funds to keep benefits going amid government shutdown. Plus, economists warn $70tn in inherited wealth over next decade will widen inequality

Angel City's Elizabeth Eddy was rebuked by her own teammates for an op-ed on trans players. It's easy to understand their objectionsOn 26 October, Angel City FC's Elizabeth Eddy made her first post on X in nearly two years. In it, Eddy in essence responded to the Guardian's report that the NWSL had quietly dropped its inclusion policy for trans and intersex athletes, leaving the league's future stance on the matter undecided.The New York Post gave Eddy's writing a signal boost the next day, republishing it in full.Lesley Ryder is a writer and host covering women's soccer in Chicagoland. Continue reading...

Race has gained national attention with Trump threatening to pull federal funds from the city if Zohran Mamdani winsNew York City voters are heading to the polls on Tuesday in one of the most closely watched mayoral elections in the city's history.Vying for the city's top office are Zohran Mamdani, the 34-year-old democratic socialist and state assemblymember from Queens who is the Democratic nominee; Andrew Cuomo, the former Democratic governor running as an independent after losing to Mamdani in June's primary; and Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate and founder of the Guardian Angels, a non-profit organization dedicated to unarmed crime prevention". Continue reading...

Off-year elections, including Zohran Mamdani's high-profile New York race, could reshape the political mapVoters in several states are heading to the polls on Tuesday for elections that will provide a crucial window into nationwide support for Donald Trump's Republican allies, and potentially signal new momentum for the beleaguered Democratic party.The off-year elections could see Democratic insurgent Zohran Mamdanibecome the next mayor of New York City, while voters in deep-blue California could tear up their congressional maps in favor of a Democratic gerrymander meant to counter gains the GOP is expected to make elsewhere. And Virginia and New Jersey will hold high-stakes gubernatorial and legislative elections that may serve as a proxy for voters' views on the president. Continue reading...

Veterans groups say recent Washington Post stories on VA disability payments paint a misleading picture. The paper stands by its reportingIn October, the Washington Post reported that it had uncovered rampant exaggeration and fraud" in the US Department of Veterans Affairs' disability benefits system.Military veterans are swamping the US government with dubious disability claims ... exploiting the country's sacred commitment to compensate those harmed in the line of duty," the newspaper reported. Continue reading...

In an extract from his new book on the rise of Canadian basketball, Oren Weisfeld examines the pressures of being a teenage star in the modern gameAndrew Wiggins was among the first superstar prospects of the social media era. Born in Thornhill, Ontario just north of Toronto, Wiggins was known internationally by the time he was 13. It wasn't always easy for the shy, small-town kid to embrace the spotlight.After just one full season at Vaughan, Wiggins needed better competition than Canada could provide and moved on to Huntington Prep in Huntington, West Virginia - a relatively new prep school set in a small, blue-collar, sports-oriented college town near Kansas.This is an edited extract from The Golden Generation: How Canada Became a Basketball Powerhouse by Oren Weisfeld. It's published by ECW Press for $19.95 (USD) wherever you get your books. Continue reading...

Randall Alberto Gamboa Esquivel's family alleges negligence and inhumane treatmentThe recent death of a Costa Rican man who was jailed by US immigration authorities in February before being deported in a vegetative state in September has prompted his family and supporters to speak out with allegations of negligence and inhumane treatment.Nonetheless, a spokesperson for Donald Trump's administration - which has aimed to deport as many people as possible from the US since his second presidency started in January - maintained in a statement that the medical treatment Randall Alberto Gamboa Esquivel received before his death is better than many immigrants have received in their entire lives". Continue reading...

When Donald Trump set about dismantling USAID, many around the world were shocked. But on the ground in Sierra Leone, the latest betrayal was not unexpectedEarlier this year, Donald Trump appointed a 28-year-old Doge alumnus, Jeremy Lewin, to oversee his administration's approach to global aid. Lewin's primary task has been to gut the US's aid funding. In an interview with the New York Times, Lewin argued that the traditional approach, which he termed the global humanitarian complex", didn't help poor countries progress beyond aid", instead keeping them dependent. The system, he continued, has demonstrably failed".This isn't just the Trump administration's view. For decades, there has been a robust debate in academic and policy circles, discussed over drinks by development practitioners, written about by critical economists and postcolonial independence leaders, and percolating into the broader consciousness, that aid isn't working, or at least not as promised. When the news of Trump's USAID cuts broke this year, President Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia told the Financial Times that cuts in aid were long overdue" and would force countries such as his to take care of our own affairs". Continue reading...

Democratic leaders decry unbelievably cruel' move, saying Trump is using food as a weapon' during shutdownSenate Republicans shot down a Democratic-led attempt to fully fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) benefits on Monday during the government shutdown - a move that heightens uncertainty for the 42 million Americans participating in the country's biggest anti-hunger program.Jeff Merkley, a Democratic senator, and Chuck Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, attempted to pass a resolution via unanimous consent that would have forced the Department of Agriculture to fund Snap benefits for the month of November. Continue reading...

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Trump backs Cuomo on Truth Social post on election eve as Mamdani hits back - key US politics stories from 3 NovemberDonald Trump has no qualms weighing in on local elections - especially in his native New York City.And on the eve of the mayoral election between Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani, longtime Democrat-turned-independent Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, the US president had a message for Republican New Yorkers. Continue reading...

President backs Cuomo in election eve Truth Social post as Mamdani hits back at Trump's threat - it is not the law'On the eve of New York's well-watched mayoral election, President Donald Trump issued a threat to its voters: stop Zohran Mamdani or pay.If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home," Trump said in a post on Truth Social. I don't want to send, as President, good money after bad." Continue reading...

Throngs of people took to the streets, and Dodger Stadium, to mark team's nail-biting win against Toronto Blue JaysThe City of Angels erupted in celebration following the Los Angeles Dodgers' nail-biting, seven game World Series win. Angelenos joined fans around the world in jubilation as the Dodgers became the first team in 25 years to secure back-to-back championships.Los Angeles area celebrations included a downtown parade on Monday morning, a ticketed rally at Dodger Stadium and a smattering of spontaneous parties across the city. Continue reading...

Banks was convicted of killing 13 people, including his own children, in 1982 shooting in Wilkes-Barre, PennsylvaniaGeorge Banks, one of the most notorious mass murderers in the US, has died.Banks, 83, died on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix state prison in Pennsylvania, the state department of corrections said. Banks died of complications from renal neoplasm, or kidney cancer, said Montgomery county coroner Dr Janine Darby. Continue reading...

Those among the 42 million enrolled in the program worry that cutoff of the benefit will send their lives into a tailspinAcross the country, Americans who depend on government help to buy groceries are preparing for the worst.As a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown, Donald Trump has threatened to, for the first time in the program's more than 60-year history, cut off benefits provided by the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance program (Snap). A federal judge last week prevented the US Department of Agriculture from suspending Snap altogether, but the Trump administration now says enrollees will receive only half of their usual benefits. Continue reading...

A video that went viral captured Sean Charles Dunn hurling his sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent outside a nightclubThrowing a sandwich at a federal agent turned Sean Charles Dunn into a symbol of resistance against Donald Trump's law-enforcement surge in the nation's capital. This week, federal prosecutors are trying to persuade a jury of fellow Washington DC residents that Dunn simply broke the law.That could be a tough sell for the government in a city that has chafed against Trump's federal takeover, which is entering its third month. A grand jury refused to indict Dunn on a felony assault count before the office of Jeanine Pirro, a US attorney, opted to charge him instead with a misdemeanor. Continue reading...

Jessica Bond Ferguson said her 16-year-old told her about animal in the yard and she shot it to protect her children'One of the monkeys that escaped after a truck overturned on a Mississippi roadway on 28 October was shot and killed early on Sunday by a homeowner who said she feared for the safety of her children.Jessica Bond Ferguson said she was alerted early on Sunday by her 16-year-old son who said he thought he had seen a monkey running in the yard outside their home near Heidelberg, Mississippi. She got out of bed, grabbed her firearm and her cellphone, and stepped outside where she saw the monkey about 60ft (18 meters) away. Continue reading...

New CNN/SSRS survey shows decline in president's popularity as 68% of respondents say things going badlyDonald Trump's approval rating has fallen to one of its lowest points, with only 37% of Americans expressing approval of his performance as president.The new CNN/SSRS survey released on Monday shows a sharp decline in Trump's approval ratings compared with the early days after he began his second term in January, when his approval stood at 47% by mid-February. Continue reading...

Zohran Mamdani walked across Brooklyn Bridge while Andrew Cuomo headed to the BronxThe candidates for New York City mayor spent a frantic final day campaigning across the city, as voters prepare to head to the polls on Tuesday in one of the most closely watched races in the city's history.Zohran Mamdani, the race's frontrunner, whose campaign has been centered on affordability, has maintained a commanding lead, with most polls showing him leading by double digits. Continue reading...

The US president has said he feels 'very badly' for the British royal family after King Charles stripped his brother Andrew of his titles over the former Duke of York's relationship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, the former prince will also have to move out of his long-term residence at Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, Buckingham Palace announced last week

Contingency funds will keep benefits going for nearly 42 million people in the food assistance program, says Trump

Authorities allege two men planned a Halloween-inspired attack motivated by Islamic State extremismTwo men have been charged with terrorism-related crimes in the Detroit area after federal authorities recently made arrests and seized a cache of weapons in a storage unit and elsewhere, officials said on Monday.The men had scouted LGBTQ+ bars in Ferndale, a Detroit suburb, according to a 72-page criminal complaint unsealed in federal court. Continue reading...

King Charles stripped his brother of his titles over relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, a former friend of Trump'sDonald Trump has said he feels very badly" for the British royal family after King Charles stripped his brother, Andrew, of his titles over the former prince's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the late, convicted sex offender.The ex-Duke of York, now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, will also have to move out of his long-term residence at the Royal Lodge on the Windsor estate, Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday. Continue reading...

Judge found no credible evidence' that protests grew out of control but final ruling to come FridayA federal judge in Oregon on Sunday barred Donald Trump's administration from deploying the national guard to Portland, Oregon, until at least Friday, saying she found no credible evidence" that protests in the city grew out of control before the president federalized the troops earlier this fall.The city and state sued in September to block the deployment. Continue reading...

The college basketball season tips off on Monday across the United States. Can the Florida men do a rare repeat? Who can fill Paige Bueckers' star void? Our writers weigh inI'll go with the St Thomas-Minnesota men's team, eligible for the NCAA Tournament for the first time after making an unprecedented jump from Division III to Division I. They enter as Summit League favorites and now boast a $175m arena that's given them a major recruiting pull. A March run could cement the Tommies as the Gonzaga of the midwest. Bryan Armen Graham Continue reading...

Platner's populist campaign faces backlash over past comments and a contentious tattooOn a recent Monday night, Graham Platner - oysterman, army veteran and Democratic hopeful for US Senate - took the stage in a small Maine town known for its oyster farming to assure voters that he was still in the game to win the Democratic primary, and ultimately unseat five-term Republican incumbent Susan Collins.He addressed a crowd of 700, the most that could fit into the school gymnasium in Damariscotta, Maine before organizers had to start turning people away. As is typical for his campaign events, the gruff, plain-talking, flannel-clad, local business owner and former marine dissected the establishment political system that serves the interests of the ultra wealthy" in front of a captivated audience. Continue reading...

Trump said Paramount's sale to David and Larry Ellison was greatest thing that's happened in a long time' for free pressThe CBS News program 60 Minutes heavily edited down an interview with Donald Trump that aired on Sunday night, his first sit-down with the show in five years.Trump sat down with correspondent Norah O'Donnell for 90 minutes, but only about 28 minutes were broadcast. A full transcript of the interview was later published, along with a 73-minute-long extended version online. Continue reading...

Kleenex maker's deal for troubled Johnson & Johnson spinoff comes amid lawsuits and regulatory scrutinyKleenex and Huggies maker Kimberly-Clark unveiled plans to buy Kenvue, the embattled consumer health conglomerate behind Tylenol, in a landmark deal for more than $40bn.The blockbuster takeover comes weeks after Donald Trump claimed Tylenol heightens the risk of autism in children when it is used by pregnant women, an assertion hotly contested by scientists and contradicted by studies. Continue reading...

Billionaire Changpeng Zhao pleaded guilty to enabling money laundering before president freed him last monthDonald Trump has said that he doesn't know who Changpeng Zhao is despite pardoning the billionaire founder of cryptocurrency exchange Binance in October.The US president was asked in a 60 Minutes interview that aired on Sunday why he pardoned Zhao, who is also known as CZ", for enabling money laundering despite him causing significant harm to ... national security" according to federal prosecutors. Continue reading...

Lawsuit claims George Tidmarsh, head of FDA drug center, waged personal vendetta against pharmaceutical executiveThe head of the US Food and Drug Administration's drug center abruptly resigned on Sunday after federal officials began reviewing serious concerns about his personal conduct", according to a government spokesperson.Dr George Tidmarsh, who was named to the FDA post in July, was placed on leave on Friday after officials in the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) office of general counsel were notified of the issues, the HHS press secretary, Emily Hilliard, said in an email. Tidmarsh then resigned on Sunday morning. Continue reading...