The Trump administration has announced that federal food assistance programs will stop on November 1 if the government shutdown continues.
This development raises concerns about the impact on millions of Americans who rely on these programs for their daily meals.
Elise Preston reports on the implications and potential consequences of this suspension.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/food-assistance-to-be-halted-as-government-shutdown-drags-on/
**Muir Woods Reopens Temporarily During Government Shutdown Thanks to Private Donations**
MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — While the ongoing government shutdown has forced the closure of many Bay Area attractions, visitors to the North Bay are pleasantly surprised to find Muir Woods National Monument temporarily reopened — all thanks to private donations.
Nature guides have returned to the ancient Redwood groves, sharing the wonders of Muir Woods with eager visitors. Volunteer John Maclennan expressed his enthusiasm: “It feels great, I’m glad people have heard about the opening and they came back.”
After being closed for most of October due to the government shutdown, the National Monument’s gates have reopened to the public. Laila Mohamed, visiting from Raleigh, North Carolina, shared her excitement:
“Oh, I love it. I was tripping all over my feet looking up — they’re so tall.”
Mohamed added that she had not expected to visit the iconic trees during her trip. “I’m really grateful. My mom went on a tour earlier this week, but they weren’t able to come in because it was closed. I fully expected we weren’t going, but then they said Muir Woods is open. I was so happy!”
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy revealed that a group of park concessionaires and vendors raised enough funds to keep Muir Woods open with free admission through October 31.
Jerry Evola of *A Taste of San Francisco* tours noted, “This is the largest tour that we do as far as the numbers,” as he shuttled visitors into the redwood grove once again. He emphasized the importance of keeping parks open:
“If you have the opportunity to give people pleasure, education is always better than shutting something down.”
It’s not just Muir Woods that’s operating. Alcatraz tours continue to run during the shutdown thanks to a donation from the ferry operator, Hornblower Cruises. Leah Chopan from Dallas recounted her visit: “I went yesterday to Alcatraz, I even met a former inmate, Baker.”
Although about 80% of America’s 430 National Park sites remain open in some capacity, most are operating with minimal staff. Concerns about activities such as BASE jumping and illegal camping have led former park officials to call for full closures until the shutdown ends.
In a statement, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks said:
“Keeping parks open without adequate staff is in violation of the National Park Service’s founding mission and inconsistent with the laws passed by Congress. We recognize that closing parks is not an easy decision but it’s the responsible one.”
For now, at Muir Woods and Alcatraz, most rangers and volunteers remain on duty and are glad to be there. As Maclennan put it, “It’s all about the trees in here, not the birds, not animals — it’s about the trees.”
https://abc7news.com/post/muir-woods-marin-county-reopens-1-week-thanks-private-donations-during-government-shutdown/18068124/
Rep. Jim Jordan is one of the Democrats who voted with Republicans, but they still need five more votes to pass the legislation. “You’ve got to understand basic civics, how Congress works,” Jordan emphasized during the exchange.
This conversation took place as the government shutdown entered its second week following failed attempts to pass funding legislation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led Democrats in rejecting the GOP-backed “clean” bill, which focused on keeping essential services funded while addressing immigration and spending concerns.
The measure failed in a 55-45 vote, with Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) joining Democrats in opposition. Meanwhile, the Democratic proposal—which included additional spending measures, tax increases, and funding expansions for programs tied to transgender medical services—also failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to break a filibuster.
Jordan’s comments served as a reminder that even with a Republican president and congressional majorities, Democrats can still block legislation in the Senate by using procedural rules they once sought to abolish. During the exchange, Rep. Ro Khanna, who has served in Congress since 2017, did not address the filibuster.
Jordan also noted that Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), who appeared earlier in the evening, supported keeping the government open and had voted with Republicans on one of the failed measures.
The debate underscored the legislative impasse that continues in Washington, with both parties trading blame for the shutdown. As of Wednesday night, no new vote had been scheduled to resolve the standoff.
This ongoing deadlock highlights the complex dynamics of Congress and the challenges in passing critical legislation amid partisan divisions.
https://www.lifezette.com/2025/10/jim-jordan-embarrasses-democrat-ro-khanna-during-heated-shutdown-debate-watch/
