From the ongoing government shutdown and nationwide ‘No Kings’ protests to Trump’s Great-Gatsby-themed Halloween party amidst SNAP benefit disruption, here are the top political events that occurred during October.
The Ongoing Government Shutdown
- On October 1, the U.S. government entered a shutdown, halting several federal services and programs, while around 1.5 million workers were furloughed or working without pay nationwide. For the 14th time, the Senate failed to pass a bipartisan budget bill to end the shutdown, which is now on track to be the longest government shutdown in American history.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Disruption
- Beginning November 1, SNAP benefits were not received by the food assistance program’s 42 million recipients. During October, receivers have been getting notifications that their benefits will be disrupted.
- On October 31, a federal judge from Rhode Island ordered the Department of Agriculture to distribute money to SNAP recipients “as soon as possible,” using emergency funds.
Nationwide ‘No Kings’ Protests
- Across the nation, ‘No Kings’ protests took place in all 50 states on October 18. According to CNN, organizers said there were nearly 7 million people at more than 2,700 events. Police said the rallies were largely peaceful, with many large cities reporting no protest-related arrests were made.
- That evening, Trump responded to the ‘No Kings’ protests by posting AI videos of himself on Truth Social, wearing a crown, while flying a fighter jet. In the video, the airplane is seen dropping brown sludge on protestors, which many observers believe to be feces.
White House East Wing Demolition
- On October 23, satellite images of the entire White House East Wing being demolished surfaced online. In July, Trump announced his plans to build a $300 million donor-funded ballroom. Although a list of donors has been released, some have chosen to keep their identities concealed.
Trump Throws Great Gatsby-Themed Party
- On October 31, Trump hosted a Great Gatsby-themed Halloween celebration at Mar-A-Lago. According to USA Today, the party was labeled “A Little Party Never Killed Nobody,” per multiple media attendees. However, various critics noticed the pivotal moment in which the party was thrown: the next day, millions of Americans were about to lose access to their SNAP benefits.