Thursday, September 25 | By Cate Martel |
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Happy Thursday. Wake me up when September ends, amirite? |
White House directs mass firings in shutdown Democrats reject Trump layoffs threat Shutdown chances become near certainty NJ polling draws Trump's attention President hosts Erdoğan Inside the White House's Epstein strategy
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The White House wants mass firings if the government shuts down: |
The White House budget office is preparing for mass firings in the event of a government shutdown. There has been a memo circulating that has been getting a lot of traction today. Why now?: The memo advises federal departments and agencies to use a potential shutdown as an opportunity to reduce their workforce. How this would work: "The memo essentially directs agencies to permanently fire some federal employees that otherwise would be furloughed during a shutdown but then return to work once Congress reopens the government." The Hill's Alex Gangitano reviewed the memo. Read her reporting on it Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) described the memo as "an attempt at intimidation," predicting federal courts would overturn any attempt to use a shutdown as a justification to permanently fire thousands of federal workers. More from Schumer's reaction And House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) echoed that message. "Listen Russ, you are a malignant political hack," Jeffries posted, referring to Trump's budget director, Russell Vought. "We will not be intimidated by your threat to engage in mass firings. Get lost." JUST NOW — Trump blames Democrats: "This is all caused by the Democrats," Trump said when asked about the administration's potential mass layoffs in the Oval Office. "They asked us to do something that's totally unreasonable. They never change. They want to give money away to … people who entered our country illegally." 💬 Follow today's live blog |
So, is a shutdown inevitable at this point?: |
Unless something major changes over the next few days … yes, it appears the government will shut down. President Trump had a meeting with Democratic leaders scheduled for today, but canceled it earlier this week. Republicans and Democrats are at a standstill in negotiations. Senators are expected to return early next week, just before the deadline, while the House is not scheduled to return until after Oct. 1, when a shutdown would begin. Where negotiations stand: "Senate Democrats have said they cannot vote for any House-passed government funding bill if GOP leaders refuse to sit down and talk with them, but Republicans say there's nothing to negotiate, framing next week's vote on a 'clean' continuing resolution to keep the government open as a take-it-or-leave-it proposition." Trump wants to make this as painful as possible for Democrats: "Trump has made it clear he's not ready to offer any concessions to Schumer and Jeffries. He's also prepared to make the shutdown as painful as possible for Democrats by prioritizing funding for Republican requests and shifting money from Democratic-leaning states to GOP strongholds." Read Alexander Bolton's reporting on where things stand |
Playing 'the hostess with the mostest' today: |
President Trump is hosting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at the White House. Trump spoke with reporters at the start of the meeting. It's been newsy. Here are the highlights: • On the Dallas ICE shooting: "The radical left is causing the problem, not the right, the radical left," Trump argued. "It's going to get worse and ultimately it's going to go back on them. I mean, bad things happen when they play these games." 📹 Watch the clip • Trump is frustrated with Putin: "It's such a waste of human life. And so he ought to stop. Putin ought to stop," Trump said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin's war with Ukraine. • Trump brought up 'rigged elections': "He knows about rigged elections better than anybody," Trump says, pointing to Erdoğan. "But when I was in exile, we were still friends. That's always a good way to … test a friendship." 📹 Watch the clip • On whether to send fighter jets to Turkey: Trump said that he will decide by the end of today whether to include Turkey in the F-35 fighter jet program. • On tariffs: "We're going to take some of that tariff money that we've made and we're going to give it to our farmers who for a little while are going to be hurt until the [tariffs] kick in to their benefit," Trump said. 📹 Watch the clip 📹 Watch Erdoğan's arrival 📹 Watch Trump welcome Erdoğan Plus — happening later today: Trump will host the prime minister of Pakistan for a White House meeting. |
➤ TIDBIT — NEW MOCKUP OF TRUMP'S WHITE HOUSE CONSTRUCTION PLANS: |
CBS News published a new rendering of Trump's ballroom that is currently under construction. 📸 New photos For scale: "The new ballroom will be significantly larger than the main White House building, which comprises about 55,000 square feet over the ground floor, state floor and residence. That does not include the East and West Wings." |
Poll finds New Jersey governor's race tied: |
A new Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey released today shows that Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-N.J.) and former state Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli (R) are tied in the race to be New Jersey governor. Sherrill and Ciattarelli both received 43 percent in the new polling, with 11 percent undecided. 📊 The full poll Why it's getting attention: Sherrill has been leading in most polls, and this one shows a tightening race. She has a 6.5-point advantage, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average. President reacts: Trump posted a screenshot, writing, "Wow!!! A just out poll has Jack Ciattarelli essentially beating close to incompetent Mike Sherrill in the race for Governor of New Jersey." |
Internal polling from Nancy Pelosi's challenger: |
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is facing a primary challenge from several Democrats. Beacon Research conducted an internal poll for one of those challengers, progressive candidate Saikat Chakrabarti, and found that 51 percent of respondents said they have supported Pelosi "in the past" now think "it's time for a change." Thirty-one percent still want her to represent her district, and 14 percent said they have never supported her. Read more on the poll, via The Hill's Caroline Vakil. |
'Inside the White House Struggle to Tame the Epstein Crisis': |
The Wall Street Journal published reporting that "finger-pointing, disorganization and unforced errors by Trump advisers made the [Jeffrey Epstein scandal] problem worse." What we've learned: • Trump reportedly dismissed his past friendship with Epstein as from 'a different time' — excerpt: "Trump, who had socialized with Epstein in New York and Florida and has said he fell out with him before his first arrest in 2006, told aides he couldn't understand why people were so obsessed with the deceased financier and sex offender, according to people familiar with his comments. People don't understand that Palm Beach in the 90s was a different time, he groused." • The birthday book: The Wall Street Journal reported that when Trump aides told him that the newspaper was preparing a report about the infamous Epstein "birthday book," Trump indicated to them "he would try to kill the story himself." • Internal White House meetings: White House chief of staff Susie Wiles reportedly convened several meetings in the White House Situation Room to "chart an Epstein strategy," the Journal reported. • Bondi was reportedly angry about leaks: "Attorney General Pam Bondi complained to other officials that FBI leadership was 'trying to destroy her' by leaking information about internal discord, according to people familiar with the disputes." Read the full reporting: 'Inside the White House Struggle to Tame the Epstein Crisis' |
➤ SPEAKING OF THE EPSTEIN FILES: |
The House may soon be forced to vote on whether to release the Epstein files. Democrats have been short one vote to force the discharge petition. However, a Democrat won the special House election in Arizona on Tuesday, likely giving them the additional vote. |
• White House deputy chief of staff Dan Scavino announced that he's engaged. Trump gave him a shoutout on Truth Social, posting, "what a great couple." • The Trump administration is rehiring hundreds of federal employees who were laid off from DOGE. • Jimmy Kimmel's return to late night on Tuesday drew the highest number of viewers for him in more than a decade. More than 6 million viewers watched it on broadcast — and that doesn't include the more than 20 million views his opening monologue racked up on YouTube. (Kimmel averaged 1.6 million viewers in the 2024-2025 season.) |
The Atlantic: Trump Dares the United Nations to Mock Him Now Politico: Some Biden Aides are Shifting Their Tune on Israel Semafor: Tough primaries complicate Democrats' bid to retake US Senate |
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The House and Senate are out. President Trump is at the White House. (All times EST) |
Today: Leaders speak at the U.N. General Assembly. 💻 Livestream 3:30 p.m. Trump signs executive orders. 4:30 p.m. Trump meets with the prime minister of Pakistan. |
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🦞 Celebrate: Today is National Lobster Day and National Quesadilla Day! 🌸 Have you heard about the Trump-Epstein statue put up in DC?: A 12-foot statue of President Trump and Jeffrey Epstein holding hands was taken down from in front of the U.S. Capitol. 📸 Photos 📙 Why you keep seeing Rapture references online: Some social media users claimed that the Rapture — when Jesus would return to Earth and take believers to heaven — would happen Sept. 23. Now, I'm seeing a lot of references to people saying they didn't get "raptured." 🍌 Humiliation is trendy online: Vox's Kyndall Cunningham writes, "The biggest internet trend of 2025 is embarrassing yourself." |
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