Beltway Insider: Trump/Election, Dem Sweep, Prop 50, Gov Shutdown, SNAP, FAA, Biden Infrastructure Act
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- Category: Haute This Issue
- Published on Saturday, 08 November 2025 17:47
- Written by Janet Walker
The Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees all civilian aviation, has been ordered by President Donald Trump to reduce flights, at the nation's busiest airports, by 10%, as the government shutdown continues into its second month.
The President's job approval rating, according to Gallup featured in The New York Times for the period ending November 8, 2025, of those polled who approve of his effectiveness as President increased by 1% to 41% and those who disapprove of his effectiveness as president decreased by 2% to 54%. A slight 3% of the population polled have no opinion. Ratings are calculated weekly.
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Trump Election
In what could be the closest indicator to the upcoming 2026 midterm election, and clearly a barometer for the temperature of America's voters, Tuesday elections delivered a strong message to the current administration, rejecting Trump's efforts at autocracy and his administration policies.
There were no MAGA gains in Tuesday's election, as voter's across multiple states delivered democratic victories and sending a harsh message to the nations current leadership, rebuking the provoking MAGA rhetoric.
Democrats Sweep Elections
"In Pennsylvania's Bucks County, voters elected a Democratic district attorney for the first time since the 1800s, part of a Democratic sweep of every county office, including controller and recorder of deeds. In Georgia, Democrats ousted two Republicans on the Public Service Commission, the party's first capture of a nonfederal statewide office in Georgia since 2006. In Connecticut, Democrats took control of 28 towns from the GOP. In New Jersey, Democrats won their biggest majority in the General Assembly since the Watergate era," The Washington Post reported.
Zohran Mamdani Marks the Changing of the Guard
The outcome of the New York City mayoral election, which had been filled with surprises, accusations, and traditional mudslinging, although historic was not surprising. Zohran Mamdani, 34, a socialist democrat and former assemblyman, had been gaining momentum and recognition with many of New York City's traditionally disenfranchised and marginalized voters.
His immigrant background and understanding of the many immigrants that comprise the nations largest city, made him a favorite among those voters looking for a change. As voters were determined to reject Trump, and by extension anyone of the Trump era, which was also Mamdani's primary opponent former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo.
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Mamdani, created very big shoes for himself as he campaigned on the promise of a brighter day for New Yorker's, all New Yorker's not simply the few but the many. His promise of a minimum wage increase and an affordability platform, affordable housing, transportation, utilities, and groceries, all trigger points for the many who live in the most expensive city in the nation. With very little political experience, not to mention that traditional career or education path, Mamdani, was the common man appealing to a city where it is easy to feel invisible and lost.
With backing from Representative Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez (D) and Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders (I), Mamdani was seen as an alternative to the old guard, and the political road that was littered by their past scandals, corruptions, and special privileges.
In his victory speech Mamdani stated, "I wish Andrew Cuomo only the best in private life. But let tonight be the final time I utter his name, as we turn the page on a politics that abandons the many and answers only to the few. New York, tonight you have delivered. A mandate for change. A mandate for a new kind of politics. A mandate for a city we can afford. And a mandate for a government that delivers exactly that," The Guardian reported.
Mamdani energized the surprisingly blasé New Yorker's, and for the first time in decades more than 2 million of the cities 8 million residents voted in an off year election, which is still just short of 50%.
New Jersey
Former Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, 53, has been elected Governor of New Jersey defeating Jack Ciattarelli, an ally of President Trump. The widespread rejection of the Trump administration, figured prominently in the election, although by Wednesday morning Sherrill had won the night by a double digit margin. Sherrill, who also ran on an affordability platform, promised the voters she would freeze utility costs on her first day in office.
California Prop 50 Passes
California voters took to the polls to cast their vote on Governor's Newsom Proposition 50, which would override local redistricting commission and add five additional blue leaning seats.
Newsom, who has made his political intentions as a possible 2028 Presidential candidate known, generated the redistricting effort in an effort to combat Trump's effort to maintain control of the House on 2026 by using his political clout to encourage republican governors to redistrict their states adding additional republican house seats.
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Government Shut Down Continues
As the clock turns to day 39 of the government shutdown, members of congress have returned to Washington, in a rare Saturday session and announced they would stay in session until a deal was struck. There have been 14 attempts to create a bill that passes and
SNAP Benefits Held Hostage
SNAP Benefits, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which has become the first casualty of the government shutdown, which has now entered day 39, with no end in sight.
For the nations 42 million recipients of SNAP benefits, those with lower incomes and senior citizens, the benefits are a lifeline and the lingering shutdown, which is the longest in history, has their benefits being used as a pawn to pressure Congress to work through their differences and create a bi-partisan bill.
Lawmakers throughout the nation took to the courts to ensure SNAP benefit recipients, which are administered by the Department of Agriculture, did not lose their benefits. A federal judge on Thursday, ordered the Trump Administration to fully fund the program. However, in an emergency session of the Supreme Court granted the Trump Administrations request to pause the lower courts order.
And once again SNAP benefit distribution were put on hold.
"By its own admission, the Trump administration can access tens of billions in leftover funds to finance SNAP benefits this month, sparing the program from any interruption. But Mr. Trump has declined to use that money, and his aides have claimed they cannot help, despite the fact that they have reworked other parts of the federal budget to sustain their priorities during the shutdown — including to pay officers conducting mass deportations," The New York Times reported.
FAA Cancels Flights
The Federal Aviation Administration, which oversees all civilian aviation in the United States, has been ordered by President Donald Trump to reduce flights, at 40 of the nation's busiest airports by 10%, to ensure all flights, and passengers, arrive at their destinations safely.
As of this printing, Air Traffic Controllers have been working without pay for more than one month, two pay periods, and have been told they cannot use any paid time, holiday, vacation or sick days to alleviate any of the stress associated with the highly demanding and tense position.
The nation's most active airports, including New York's LaGuardia, JFK, and Newark Liberty, as well as Miami International, Chicago O'Hare, and the busiest airport in the country Atlanta's Hartfiel Jackson, will all reduce flights, across each carrier, until the requisite 10% has been met. American Airlines has already indicated they will be cancelling 220 flights per day, others like Southwest will reduce up to 160 flights.
"Air traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1, and most have been on duty six days a week while putting in mandatory overtime. With some calling out of work due to frustration, taking second jobs or not having money for child care or gas, staffing shortages during some shifts have led to flight delays at a number of U.S. airports," APnews.com reported.
As long as the government is shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration remains unable to pay air traffic controllers, even as the Trump Administration has the ability to access billions in leftover funding. The air traffic controllers are also a pawn in the government play to force congress to create a bi-partisan deal that benefits the constituents of both parties.
As Thanksgiving, traditionally the busiest airline travel day of the year, is less than twenty days away and even as congress has indicated they would stay in session until a deal is met, the two sides still remain far apart.
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Coronavirus Total
At the order of the President of the United States, the U.S. no longer recognizes the value of The World Health Organization. The CDC has recommended every person from age six months, including senior citizens should receive at least one shot of an updated COVID-19 vaccine, annually. The death toll from Covid-19 has dramatically decreased, as has transmission of the virus. Even as confirmed new cases continue each week, fewer are dying from the newer variants.
For the seven days ending November 9, 2025, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases reported by the World Health Organization increased by 114,502 to 778,856,342. The total worldwide death toll increased by 549 to 7,103,185 deaths. The United States has stopped providing Covid data to the World Health Organization. (Data updated October 19, 2025, from the World Health Organization).
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Former President Biden's American Infrastructure Act On Display
Former President Biden, on November 15, 2021 in a bipartisan effort, signed into law the American Infrastructure Act, authorizing a historic $1.2 trillion for infrastructure spending, with approximately $550 billion designated for new investments.
Over the past week, I drove from the heart of Manhattan to Las Vegas, Nevada, traveling along Interstate 70, one of the major interstate highways that cross the United States. I realized, by the amount of roadway construction, the Biden Infrastructure Act was alive and well and breathing new life into roads, bridges and infrastructure across America.
From Pennsylvania and especially through Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri, and around major metropolitan areas in Kansas and Colorado, the highway construction was thick, traffic heavy and frequently narrowed to single lanes. This was not the exception. Crossing the Mississippi River on the border between Missouri and Illinois, four new bridge lanes were being built to accommodate the increased traffic.
While I didn't use I-80 the top level interstate, or I-40 the lower level interstate, it can be safely assumed that the same type of infrastructure projects are revitalizing America's highways, byways, and bridges in these regions also. Even in Los Angeles, the subway system is expanding, creating greater accessibility for the millions of tourists who flock to the city, and creating greater opportunities for the residents who daily use public transportation.
Fortifying the interstate highway system, rejuvenating many of the crumbling roads and bridges that through everyday wear and increased traffic have deteriorated, provide more than a much needed makeover. The projects have stimulated local regional economies with long-term construction employment and further fueled the supply chain of manufacturers, from steel girders to cement, and more these jobs fuel the local economy as workers make large purchases, become first time home buyers, buy vehicles, and can count on these projects to remain active for multiple years.
At the signing of the bill, many American's believe the infrastructure programs would immediately materialize and as the election turned many sour to former President Biden, his legacy will soon be seen throughout America.
In a dedication speech for the Delaware Turnpike on November 14, 1963, President John F. Kennedy called the American Interstate system the "great ribbon of highway," as he dedicated the new highway connecting Maryland and Delaware, and the speech symbolized the importance of the modern interstate highway system.
Even as America remains the greatest nation in the world, maintenance and upkeep are vital. Fortunately, for generations in the future, Biden was the president with the wisdom and forward thinking to realize the critical importance of reinforcing and bolstering America by strengthening America's infrastructure.
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For more information on President Donald Trump: Whitehouse.gov.
Sources: Various © Articles covered by Copyright protection.
Janet Walker is the publisher, founder, and sole owner of Haute-Lifestyle.com. A graduate of New York University, she has been covering international news through the Beltway Insider, a weekly review of the nation's top stories, for more than a decade. A general beat writer/reporter and entertainment/film critic, she is also an accomplished news/investigative news/crime reporter and submitted for Pulitzer Prize consideration "Cops Conspire to Deep Six Sex Assaults" in the Breaking News Category and was persuaded to withdraw the submission. Ms. Walker has completed five screenplays "The Six Sides of Truth," "The Assassins of Fifth Avenue," "The Wednesday Killer," "The Manhattan Project," and the sci-fi thriller "Project 13: The Last Day." She has also published "Unholy Alliances: A True Crime Story," and "Days, Times, Seasons, and Events: A Collection of Poetry & Prose," which can be purchased here. She is a member of the Los Angeles Press Club, the National Writers Union, and a member of the International Federation of Journalists.
