Listen now and subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Stitcher | RSS Feed | SoundStack | All Of Our Podcasts Ellen Harrell is a student in the Master of Nursing program at the University of Pennsylvania. She plans to work as a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner upon graduating in June 2026. Catch the latest in Opinion Get opinion pieces, letters and editorials sent directly to your inbox weekly! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy.
https://dailyprogress.com/opinion/column/article_4eb7240d-2b3a-5374-8236-21b467b87554.html
Tag: pennsylvania
Supreme Court Issues Emergency Order to Block Full SNAP Food Aid Payments
BOSTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Friday granted the Trump administration’s emergency appeal to temporarily block a court order requiring full funding of SNAP food aid payments amid the government shutdown, even though residents in some states have already received the funds.
A judge had given the Republican administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). However, the administration appealed to an appeals court to suspend any court orders demanding spending beyond available funds in a contingency reserve, seeking to continue with planned partial SNAP payments for the month.
After a Boston appeals court declined to intervene immediately, Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson issued an order late Friday pausing the requirement to distribute full SNAP payments. This pause will remain until the appeals court rules on whether to issue a more lasting suspension.
Justice Jackson, who handles emergency matters from Massachusetts, said her order will stay in effect until 48 hours after the appeals court decision, allowing the administration time to return to the Supreme Court if the appeals court refuses to act.
The SNAP program serves about one in eight Americans, primarily those with lower incomes.
### States That Have Issued SNAP Payments
Officials in more than half a dozen states confirmed that some SNAP recipients had already received full November payments on Friday. However, Jackson’s order may prevent other states from initiating the payments.
– **Wisconsin:** More than $104 million in monthly food benefits became available at midnight on electronic benefit cards for about 337,000 households. A spokesperson for Democratic Gov. Tony Evers said the state quickly accessed federal funds by coordinating with its electronic benefit card vendor in response to Thursday’s court order.
– **Oregon:** Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, said state employees “worked through the night” to issue full November benefits, ensuring families relying on SNAP could buy groceries by Friday.
– **Hawaii:** The state had November’s payment information ready and submitted it quickly after Thursday’s court order but before any potential higher court pause, according to Joseph Campos II, deputy director of Hawaii’s Department of Human Services.
The Trump administration told the Supreme Court that these fast-moving states were “trying to seize what they could of the agency’s finite set of remaining funds” before any appeal could be filed, potentially to the detriment of other states’ allotments.
“Once those billions are out the door, there is no ready mechanism for the government to recover those funds,” Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in court documents.
Additional states including California, Kansas, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Washington also reported issuing full SNAP benefits on Friday, while others expected to distribute full benefits over the weekend or early next week. Some states are awaiting further federal guidance.
### Many SNAP Recipients Face Uncertainty
The ongoing court disputes have extended weeks of uncertainty for Americans with lower incomes. Individual SNAP recipients can receive up to nearly $300 monthly, while a family of four may qualify for up to nearly $1,000, though many receive less based on income.
For some SNAP participants, the timing of their benefits remained unclear. Jasmen Youngbey of Newark, New Jersey, for example, waited in line at a local food pantry Friday. As a single mother attending college, Youngbey relies on SNAP to feed her 7-month-old and 4-year-old sons. She said her account balance was at $0, explaining, “Not everybody has cash to pull out and say, ‘OK, I’m going to go and get this,’ especially with the cost of food right now.”
Later Friday, Youngbey reported receiving her monthly SNAP benefits.
### The Legal Battle Over SNAP Takes Another Twist
Due to the federal government shutdown, the Trump administration originally announced that SNAP benefits would not be available during November.
However, two judges ruled last week that the administration could not skip November’s payments entirely. One of those judges, U.S. District Judge John J. McConnell Jr., ordered full payments on Thursday.
In both rulings, judges required the government to tap an emergency reserve fund containing more than $4.6 billion to cover November SNAP benefits. They allowed some flexibility to use other funds to make full payments, which total between $8.5 billion and $9 billion monthly.
On Monday, the administration said it would not use additional funds beyond the emergency reserve, stating that it is Congress’s responsibility to appropriate funds for the program. The administration cited the need to reserve other funds to support child hunger assistance programs.
Thursday’s federal court order rejected the administration’s plan to cover only 65% of the maximum monthly benefit, a measure that could have resulted in some recipients receiving no benefits this month.
In court filings Friday, the administration argued that the judge overstepped legislative and executive authority by ordering full SNAP funding.
“This unprecedented injunction makes a mockery of the separation of powers,” Solicitor General Sauer told the Supreme Court.
### States Take Different Approaches to Food Aid
States are varying in their response to the federal uncertainty surrounding SNAP payments.
– **Colorado and Massachusetts:** SNAP participants may receive full November payments as early as Saturday.
– **New York:** Full benefits access is expected to start by Sunday.
– **New Hampshire:** Full benefits should be available by the weekend.
– **Arizona and Connecticut:** Full benefits are anticipated within the coming days.
– **North Carolina:** Officials distributed partial SNAP payments Friday, with full payments expected by the weekend.
– **Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, and North Dakota:** Partial November payments have been distributed.
Meanwhile, Delaware’s Democratic Gov. Matt Meyer announced the state used its own funds Friday to provide the first of what could be weekly relief payments to SNAP recipients amid federal uncertainty.
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The situation remains fluid as courts and states navigate the intersecting challenges of funding SNAP benefits during the government shutdown. Millions of Americans rely on this critical food aid program for their daily meals.
http://www.cbn.com/api/urlredirect.aspx?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.cbn.com%2Fcbnnews%2Fpolitics%2F2025%2Fnovember%2Fsupreme-court-issues-emergency-order-to-block-full-snap-food-aid-payments
These States Lose Most If Federal Food Aid Runs Out
Large states stand to lose the most federal funding, but a higher percentage of the population receives food assistance in some smaller states.
More than 41 million Americans won’t receive federal help buying groceries in November unless Congress reopens the government. “The well has run dry,” the Department of Agriculture wrote on its website on October 27. The department oversees the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which serves about 12 percent of the U.S. population.
The government shutdown began on October 1 after the Senate failed to advance a stopgap funding resolution introduced by Republicans. This resolution would have temporarily funded the government while Congress completed the 2026 spending legislation. Nearly all Democrats have rejected the measure until Republicans agree on proposals to extend health care funding expiring at the end of the year. Republicans contend that those negotiations should happen within the context of regular spending talks, not as a condition for reopening the government.
### States Receiving the Most SNAP Funding
SNAP funding totaled more than $7.8 billion in May 2025, the last month for which data is available. Nearly half of all SNAP funds went to seven large-population states that month.
– **California** received the largest share at more than $1 billion, about 13 percent of the total.
– **New York** received $647 million.
– **Texas** received $614 million.
– Other top recipients included Florida ($536 million), Illinois ($368 million), Pennsylvania ($368 million), and Ohio ($356 million).
Together, these seven states received 49 percent of the food assistance benefits in May 2025 and served approximately 49 percent of all SNAP recipients.
Total SNAP spending reached $99.8 billion in fiscal year 2024. Now, states are preparing for the possibility of no SNAP funding in November.
### Concerns and Warnings from States
A New York State Department of Social Services website carries this warning:
“Due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, November SNAP benefits may be delayed. SNAP benefits cannot be issued for November unless the federal government shutdown ends or other federal action provides necessary funding.” The site promised those receiving assistance an update by November 1.
California Governor Gavin Newsom warned residents on October 20 that food assistance funds would likely be delayed in November if the shutdown lasted beyond October 23.
The ongoing stalemate in Washington threatens millions of Americans who rely on SNAP benefits to put food on the table. As negotiations continue, the impact of the funding lapse is becoming increasingly urgent.
*By Lawrence Wilson*
https://www.thethinkingconservative.com/these-states-lose-most-if-federal-food-aid-runs-out/
BetMGM Bonus Code TOP150: Claim $150 Bonus for College Football, NBA, World Series
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Take advantage of the BetMGM bonus code **TOP150** today and make the most of the exciting sports action this weekend!
https://wtop.com/sports/2025/10/betmgm-bonus-code-top150-claim-150-bonus-for-college-football-nba-world-series/
![PA Democrats Plot to Oust John Fetterman in 2028 Primary [WATCH]](https://latremie.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/2025.01.09-09.58-rvmnews-678046977aafa.jpg)
PA Democrats Plot to Oust John Fetterman in 2028 Primary [WATCH]
Top Democrats in Pennsylvania are quietly organizing plans to challenge Senator John Fetterman in the 2028 Democratic primary, according to Axios.
While Fetterman remains a popular figure across the state, his moderate posture toward former President Trump is drawing ire from segments of his own party, as reported by The Gateway Pundit. Fetterman, who triumphed in 2022 against Republican Mehmet Oz, flipped what had been a GOP Senate seat. Despite that victory, some Democrats argue he has strayed too far from the party base.
According to party insiders, possible challengers include U.S. Representatives Brendan Boyle and Chris Deluzio, as well as former Representative Conor Lamb. Some officials have already begun criticizing Fetterman years ahead of the primary.
At the heart of the backlash is Fetterman’s insistence on restraint in political rhetoric toward Trump supporters. During a recent public event, he said:
“I know and I love people who voted for President Trump. They are NOT fascists, they’re NOT Nazis, they’re NOT trying to destroy the Constitution. I REFUSE to call people Nazis or fascists. I would never compare anybody to Hitler.”
“Like Charlie Kirk, all I could say is let people grieve, give people the space. I’m not going to use that terrible thing and that assassination to make my argument and try to put out my views.”
“It’s like, my God, he’s a father that had his neck blown out by a bullet. And now people have forgotten: President Trump was in my state was shot in the head. Could you imagine where our nation would be if he were hit in the same way as Kirk? We really got to turn the temperature down.”
These remarks underscore Fetterman’s approach: rejecting harsh labels for Trump voters and warning against escalating political hostility.
Internally, Democrats see risk in allowing Fetterman to run unchallenged. Some believe his centrist positions could weaken turnout among progressive voters or invite criticism from within the party. One Axios dispatch describes the looming primary field as a “maneuvering” among insiders aimed at forcing Fetterman off the ticket.
Fetterman, however, has pushed back on the speculation. As of now, none of the potential challengers has formally declared a Senate run in 2028. Some have left the door open to run if Fetterman declines to seek reelection.
The internal debates among Pennsylvania Democrats signal fissures that could influence the 2028 Senate landscape in one of the nation’s key battleground states.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/10/pa-democrats-plot-to-oust-john-fetterman-in-2028-primary-watch/
US Govt Shutdown: Republicans, Democrats trade barbs as tourist places close
The first day of the federal government shutdown saw Republicans and Democrats trading blame, as iconic sites across the United States (US) — from the Liberty Bell in Pennsylvania to Pearl Harbor in Hawaii — were temporarily closed, news agency AP reported.
Vice-President JD Vance appeared at the White House briefing room to assert that Democrats had refused to keep the government funded because they were seeking to extend health coverage to people in the country illegally. This claim was disputed by top leaders of the Opposition, who argued that their sole aim was to renew funding for health care subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to prevent insurance premiums from rising nationwide, AP reported.
Neither side showed signs of compromise, raising concerns that the economic impact of the shutdown could grow, putting hundreds of thousands of jobs and essential services at risk.
Callers to the White House comment line heard a recorded message from Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt blaming Democrats for shutting down the government to prioritise healthcare for illegal immigrants over American citizens, AP reported. Several federal agencies also posted messages on their websites echoing this claim.
In a controversial move, the White House additionally revived a deepfake video of House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries, edited with a moustache and sombrero, which Jeffries described as offensive. He responded with a meme mocking Vice-President Vance.
The Vice-President admitted that he could not predict the shutdown’s duration but hoped some moderate Senate Democrats would vote with Republicans to restore funding. “If this thing drags on for another few days, or God forbid weeks, we are going to have to lay people off,” said Vance.
Meanwhile, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer accused the Trump administration of using the American public as pawns. “Donald Trump says it loud and clear: He is threatening pain on the country as blackmail,” Schumer said.
An estimated 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, with some potentially facing permanent job losses. Many offices have been shuttered as the administration seeks to pressure Democrats, though key policy priorities — including deportation measures — continue with minimal disruption.
The Trump administration has also withheld funds for projects in Democratic states, including nearly USD 18 billion for New York City transport projects and almost USD 8 billion in green energy initiatives across 16 states.
The US shutdown has partially disrupted public services, with national parks and memorials closed to tourists. At Acadia National Park in Maine, visitors found trail maps missing and rangers absent, leaving them uncertain about hiking.
“It’s frustrating that they’re playing politics in D.C.,” said visitor Jim Feather, adding, “Their job is to pass a budget. If they’re not doing their job, what are they doing down there?”
Federal courts and essential services like weather forecasting remain operational, but the US shutdown is beginning to affect everyday life and tourism nationwide.