Tonight at one minute to midnight is the deadline to avert a government shutdown. But there doesn’t appear to be much hope that a last-minute deal to prevent that will occur.
So it’s come down to this. A tiny band of right-wing extremists is about to bring the government to its knees.
Millions of public sector employees will be adversely affected. The international image of the U.S. will take a hit. Damage to the economy seems inevitable. Air travel will almost surely be disrupted. Those dependent on many types of public support payments will go without. There will be human suffering on many levels.
Eventually, some sort of deal will have to be reached in order to restart operations, and it is virtually certain that will have to be a bipartisan agreement in Congress. This, at a time the only thing Congress can seem to agree on is to not agree on anything at all.
I’ve never been more discouraged by the state of our democracy. The system is broken. The fringe has taken over — nut cases like Matt Gaetz are in control. A would-be dictator the extremists worship leads in the polls. And as a result, America is about to close up shop.
HEADLINES:
New York City in state of emergency as torrential rain floods subways, roads and basements (CNN)
New York City: State of emergency declared over flash flooding (BBC)
Vulnerable Republicans Try to Head Off Blame for Shutdown (NYT)
Gaetz’s takedown mission: ‘He wants Kevin’ (Politico)
Gaetz war against McCarthy could leave Dems playing kingmaker (CNN)
Hard-liners plot to replace McCarthy with one of his deputies as shutdown looms (WP)
Dianne Feinstein: Death of a ‘political giant’ (SFC)
The Legacy of Dianne Feinstein (New Yorker)
Whom will Newsom pick to replace Dianne Feinstein? Here are some possibilities (LAT)
Court rejects Donald Trump’s bid to delay trial in wake of fraud ruling that threatens his business (AP)
UAW announces new strikes at GM and Ford plants, spares Stellantis citing ‘momentum’ in talks (CNBC)
With UAW strikes set to expand, Trump says fight won't matter because automakers will be 'out of business' (Yahoo)
Biden Announces New Student Loan Forgiveness Plan: Who Qualifies (Newsweek)
Supreme Court takes on social media: First Amendment fight over 'censorship' is on the docket (USA Today)
Homes "unaffordable" in 99% of nation for average American (CBS)
The dairy industry is trying to outlaw plant-based “milk” labels—again (ArsTechnica)
Inflation in the euro zone fell to its lowest level in two years in September, suggesting the European Central Bank's steady diet of interest rate hikes was succeeding in curbing runaway prices albeit at a growing cost for economic growth. (Reuters)
In Texas, guns are everywhere, whether concealed or in the open (WP)
‘Mind-boggling’ sea creature spotted off Japan has finally been identified (Science)
Brad Gerstner says AI will be bigger than the internet, bigger than mobile (CNBC)
The A.I. Wars Have Three Factions, and They All Crave Power (NYT)
Could ‘The Terminator’ really happen? Experts assess Hollywood’s visions of AI. (WP)
Trader Joe’s Adds New Fitting Rooms Where Customers Can See How Food Will Look In Their Mouth (The Onion)
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