10 JRPGs That Suck To Platinum

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JRPGs That Suck to Platinum: When Completionism Ruins Great Games

In my teen years, I bought an unofficial Final Fantasy VII guide, which taught me how to raise a Gold Chocobo, get everyone’s Level 4 Limit Break, and the best strategies to face Emerald and Ruby Weapons. That changed everything for me. Since then, I hardly ever played a JRPG without a guide by my side.

I didn’t use it to learn the best way to beat a boss or the optimal route; I figured those out myself. I used walkthroughs to avoid missing collectibles or obscure sidequests, for instance. However, as time went on, we got Achievements and Trophies, which only reinforced my urge to do everything a game offered or to tackle its toughest challenges head-on.

But then again, not all JRPGs deserve the time invested in them. In this list, I’ll show some JRPGs that simply suck to platinum. My only criterion is that they must be inherently good games, but whose experience is soured if you give in to your completionist addiction. Just one game per franchise to keep things varied.

10. Trails in the Sky SC: Returning To Liberl

This is not based on Trails in the Sky SC Evolution for PS Vita (which I heard has an even nastier trophy list), but on the Steam version, which has achievements. I 100%-ed it, and the only reason I managed to was because I followed a step-by-step, ultra-detailed walkthrough by my side. Otherwise, nah.

Trails in the Sky SC, much like its first game, is way too linear. Once you complete a chapter, that’s it. You can’t go back to finish missed Bracer requests or collect chests. That means you can kiss goodbye to the achievements for opening all chests and earning maximum BP.

To be fair, playing while hunting for achievements doesn’t necessarily derail your experience from a casual playthrough. If anything, it can even enhance it, since you’ll be doing everything the JRPG offers, and if you know how Trails’ worldbuilding works, you’ll want to do everything and talk to everyone.

However, it sucks because, if you’re anything like me, you’ll get obsessed with checking if you’re completing every request, picking the right choices, collecting all chests, and cooking all recipes. That constant back-and-forth between the guide and your progress can take away the genuine experience, turning enjoyment into a chore rather than entertainment.

9. Granblue Fantasy: Relink — Excessive Grinding

I didn’t know what to expect from Granblue Fantasy: Relink, and maybe that’s why it felt like such a pleasant surprise. I loved my time with it so much that I kept farming in the endgame just because, something I rarely ever do in games.

I started playing with friends, doing co-op missions, unlocking and leveling up every character, and it was a blast. It became my comfort game. Since I played it early, I didn’t know how tough its trophies would be, but I did know I had to get all weapons, which I thought were found in stage chests. But I was wrong.

The last weapons required for the trophy, the Terminus, were obtained by finishing The Tale of Bahamut’s Rage quest. The problem was that their drop wasn’t guaranteed, and you needed every character’s Terminus weapon, meaning endless repetition of the same quest over and over again.

This is a grind-heavy game, akin to Monster Hunter, I’d wager, so I know some of you didn’t mind the farming. But I did, mainly because I had to face the same boss with the same mechanics repeatedly, for I don’t know, more than a hundred times. It really soured my experience, and I never returned to Granblue Fantasy: Relink after getting the platinum.

8. RAIDOU Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army — New Game+ Locked Difficulty

There are a few JRPGs that only unlock their hardest difficulty once you finish the game, and some of them have trophies that require completing the game on this difficulty, but not quite. It means you can play the game on the easiest setting and then switch to the hardest one before the final boss, and the trophy will still pop. That’s the case with Raidou Remastered: The Mystery of the Soulless Army (and most recently, Digimon Story Time Stranger).

I don’t know if that was the intended experience or if someone fumbled the requirements and just let it be, but it works. Fortunately, because having to replay a game is one of the things I hate the most.

I reviewed Raidou Remastered for DualShockers, and yeah, it was a fine game. I’d be more than happy to just play it and move on. However, I was writing a guide on how to get a demon that’s only available in NG+, and to do so, I had to replay half the game.

Since I had already invested that much, why not keep going, right? Before a recent patch, Raidou’s NG+ reset your level, weapons, and items. The only thing that carried over was your Devil Chart, which, fair enough, summoning a level 80 demon was enough to trample most of the game.

However, for the final boss (on the hardest difficulty), it wasn’t enough. I had to farm all the way back to a high level just to avoid dying in one hit. When I finally did, I just wanted it to be over. Never have I deleted a game so fast after a platinum popped.

7. Rogue Galaxy — Way Too Tryhard

Rogue Galaxy is considered one of the PlayStation 2’s hidden gems. Level-5 gave it their all, and while I think it tries a bit too hard with the number of mechanics it offers, it’s a good JRPG, so much so that it received a remaster for modern consoles. With new HD graphics also came a trophy list; a very annoying one, by the way.

This is by far one of the most tedious platinum hunts I’ve ever done. You know how I said Rogue Galaxy is tryhard because it tries to introduce so many mechanics? Yeah, most of them have no real depth, like the factory or the Insectron tournament, but you’re not forced to engage with them. Or are you?

Yeah, you are, in case you’re chasing that sweat-soaked platinum. Not only do you have to hunt for every factory blueprint and craft every item, but you also have to win the slog of the Insectron tournament and complete the Ghost Ship, the hardest stage in the game.

Even though it’s a post-game secret area, you can confidently finish the Ghost Ship around level 65-70. So why the hell did the game decide to include a trophy for taking a character to level 99? There’s no reason whatsoever to do this other than artificially inflate the playtime.

I had completed everything it wanted me to, but I still had to walk in circles, fight random battles, and earn puny experience to get my Jaster Rogue to level 99. I must’ve finished an entire Netflix series while doing it.

6. Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth — I Hate Medals

This is an open letter to the developer who thought finding medals in Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth was a fun and worthy activity for our time as fair and honest players. It’s not, and I demand my time invested back.

In Cyber Sleuth, you can find some Digimon Medals throughout your journey. There are 500 in total, and you need to grab them all. 99 of those are non-guaranteed enemy drops, meaning you have to farm them repeatedly until the medal drops.

To make things worse, 300 of them come from gacha machines. Once you interact with a gacha machine, you pay a fee and get a random medal. Each of the ten machines in the game houses 30 medals.

You see where I’m going? You have to mindlessly spam these machines until you get all 30 different medals because, guess what, you can and will get repeated ones from them. Who in their sane digital mind thought this was a fun task?

It’s literally spamming the same button over and over again, waiting for the right medal to appear for a mind-boggling amount of time. I only did it because I was broke at the time and couldn’t afford other JRPGs.

5. Kingdom Hearts Final Mix — No Light Or Friends Here

Truth be told, other Kingdom Hearts entries like Chain of Memories and Dream Drop Distance have a more boring trophy list, but since I’m aiming for inherently good games, I preferred going with the remake of the first Kingdom Hearts.

Final Mix added a plethora of new content, including cutscenes, enemies, abilities, Keyblades, and, yeah, trophies. Much like every other Kingdom Hearts found in the collection, you basically have to do everything in the game — from completing Jiminy’s Journal to winning all the Cups and earning an S Rank in the highly entertaining Gummi Ship missions.

My biggest gripe with Kingdom Hearts Final Mix, though, lies in two specific trophies: completing the game in under 15 hours and clearing it without changing equipment.

I have nothing against speedrunning and love watching streamers do it, but these two are basically the antithesis of an RPG. You play an RPG to progress, which not only means leveling up and learning new skills but also buying and finding new equipment to empower your characters.

Also, RPGs are famously long games. You want to take your time, so speedrunning feels counterintuitive. But there you have it, Kingdom Hearts asking you to do both.

I did it in the same playthrough, on Beginner difficulty. Not fun, not challenging, just… sucks.

4. Tales of Symphonia — Not Even Kvothe Has That Many Titles

Every 60+ hour JRPG that asks you to replay the entire game just for trophies is disrespectful. There are a few exceptions, like when a game unlocks a new mode or challenges that justify a New Game+, but that’s the exception rather than the rule.

To be honest, I could be talking about most Tales of games here, but I’ll focus on Tales of Symphonia since it’s one of my favorites. Still, I don’t love the game enough to warrant four or five playthroughs just to get a platinum. I value my time, and I believe Lloyd does too.

Several Tales of entries introduce character titles with different mechanics depending on the game. There are various requirements to unlock these titles, and that’s where the most annoying part of Tales of Symphonia‘s trophy list lies.

You have to unlock them all for every character. Some titles are locked behind character affection levels that trigger a specific scene in the game, meaning you have to manipulate said characters’ affection, reach that scene, unlock the title, finish the game, and start a New Game+ carrying titles, repeating the same drill over again with other characters. It’s simply not worth it.

3. Persona 3 Portable — Optimizing Your Schedule

I’ve heard that Persona 4 Golden has a remarkably hideous platinum run, but since I haven’t played it yet, I went with Persona 3 Portable. You know the gist: any game with a time limit is packed with missables, meaning you should prepare diligently before starting a playthrough if you want to avoid replaying it.

The major problem with Persona games is that they usually require you to max every Social Link to grab that shiny platinum trophy. While it sounds straightforward, it also strips the player of the agency to choose which activities to take part in.

Should you work for money, improve your charisma, or try to bond with a drunk monk? Or are you self-conscious because you don’t know if you just missed the cue to max everything you could? That’s when the walkthrough comes in, right as any personal decision-making goes out the window.

Okay, I never self-inserted myself into Makoto Yuki, but I still wanted to give the snarkiest answers to Tanaka. But since I was platinum hunting, I couldn’t. So I just stuck to the well-trodden path of what worked most efficiently, in the shortest time possible, and focused on strengthening my Personas to face the insane secret boss.

2. Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth — Minigames Trophy Hunting

I’ll take Hamaguchi’s side on this. The director said he doesn’t believe Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth is too long, just that players have too much to play these days.

I understand those who dislike Rebirth‘s minigames, but they’re so charming and quick that they don’t exactly harm your experience. That is, unless you’re hunting for the platinum trophy. Because if you are, the minigames will become public enemy number one, surpassing even Shinra.

Good grief, I can handle getting my ass kicked hundreds of times in the combat simulations, but achieving the highest rank in every minigame just to fill Johnny’s hotel is exhausting. Desert Rush, G-Bike, Chocobo Glide, goddamn Cactuar challenges — those are just a few among the immeasurable number of minigames in Rebirth.

It simply sucks because I don’t feel like those minigames honor my RPG skills like secret bosses do; they just bloat the gameplay. For the love of Aerith, if you enjoyed Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth and are thinking of extending your playtime by hunting every trophy, I beg you to reconsider. Don’t taint your experience of one of the best JRPGs out there with such unnecessary endeavors.

1. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes — Hundred Hours Wasted

Look, I love Suikoden II, and I jumped out of my chair the first time I saw the Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes announcement trailer. Learning that it was being made by Suikoden’s original creator and scriptwriter was enough to make my expectations soar higher than they should’ve — but it is what it is.

I played the spinoff Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising first. Had a mildly good time with it, then jumped into Hundred Heroes. Did I love it? Not necessarily. But I did like it. It’s a solid and contemporary take on a 90s JRPG design formula, with all the caveats and no quality-of-life improvements.

Then I had the brilliant idea of going for the platinum trophy, and oh boy, what a mistake. I started working on the trophies one by one, unaware of what awaited me, and that was enough to trigger the sunk cost fallacy in me. I had already spent 80 hours, so what were 20 more, right?

The problem is that almost 20 of those were spent on the same stupid card minigame. A minigame that isn’t even fun, mind you. It’s the same thing over and over again, but the game thought it was a good idea to make you beat all 120 recruitable characters for a single trophy.

There are other grind-heavy trophies and a few more tied to minigames (JRPG’s Achilles heel right there), but nothing tops this stupid card minigame. If you want to cherish and respect Suikoden’s legacy, avoid Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes‘ platinum trophy at all costs.

https://www.dualshockers.com/jrpgs-that-suck-to-platinum/

New York law mandates police must take guns in domestic violence calls

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The new law requiring New York law enforcement to briefly seize firearms when responding to domestic violence calls has sparked criticism from gun rights supporters.

Opponents argue that the measure infringes on Second Amendment rights and may lead to unintended consequences. Supporters, however, believe the law is a necessary step to enhance public safety and prevent potential violence in domestic situations.

As the law takes effect, debates continue over its impact and effectiveness in addressing the complex issue of domestic violence.
https://www.timesunion.com/capitol/article/new-york-domestic-violence-guns-21117637.php

Here’s where the James Webb Space Telescope and 4 other legendary spacecraft are in October’s night sky

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Humanity’s understanding of the solar system has evolved dramatically following the advent of spaceflight. Over the past seven decades, thousands of sophisticated spacecraft have been launched on ambitious missions to look down on our planet, explore the wonders of our star’s domain, or venture into the interstellar realm beyond it.

The imagery and scientific data collected by these robotic explorers have inspired generations and forever altered how we view our planet and the universe around us. As a result, spacecraft such as the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the venerable Voyager 1 probe are now household names. But how many of us actually know where they are as they beam back their precious data? How many of us have peered into the areas of space where they orbit or sail through the cosmos?

Read on to discover the approximate locations of five far-flung spacecraft in the October night sky.

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### If You’re New to Exploring the Stars

Be sure to check out our roundup of the best smartphone astronomy apps. These apps use augmented reality technology to help guide you to the locations of everything from stars and nebulas to galaxies, wandering comets, and spacecraft.

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## Find the Locations of Famous Spacecraft in the October Night Sky

### James Webb Space Telescope
**Distance from Earth:** 907,000 miles (1.46 million km)

The James Webb Space Telescope launched on Christmas Day in 2021 with a mission to unravel the mysteries surrounding the creation and evolution of the cosmos. From its gravitationally stable vantage point at Lagrange Point 2, the JWST peers into deep space to capture ancient light from the early universe and observe the formation of stars, protoplanetary systems, and much more.

To locate JWST in the night sky, first find the red star Aldebaran, visible halfway up the eastern sky above the familiar stars of the constellation Orion around midnight in October. Next, scan the region above until you spot the diffuse, hazy light of the Pleiades star cluster. The Webb telescope will be approximately 5 degrees below the Pleiades—roughly the width of your three middle fingers held at arm’s length.

As October progresses, Webb will travel closer to Aldebaran and the other stars of the Taurus constellation.

**Note:** Although this guide shows you the approximate location of the spacecraft, it is impossible to actually spot JWST with the naked eye or even the most powerful telescopes due to its small size and great distance.

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### Parker Solar Probe
**Distance from Earth:** 91 million miles (147.6 million km)

NASA’s Parker Solar Probe made history on April 28, 2021, by becoming the first spacecraft to “touch” the Sun, passing through its outer atmosphere (the corona) during its eighth of 24 planned close approaches. It has flown seven times closer to the Sun than any previous spacecraft, enduring temperatures nearing 2,600 degrees Fahrenheit (1,300 degrees Celsius) to study the solar wind’s plasma and magnetic field dynamics.

In October, the Parker Solar Probe can be found low in the southwestern sky at sunset. You’ll need a clear horizon view to spot this region before it sets.

Start by locating the bright star Antares in the constellation Scorpius. The Parker Solar Probe lies about 5 degrees to the upper left of Antares. Above it shines the constellation Ophiuchus, while the distinctive “teapot” asterism of Sagittarius is to its left.

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### NASA’s Juno Spacecraft
**Distance from Earth:** 464.8 million miles (748 million km)

Juno entered orbit around Jupiter in 2016 and has spent nearly a decade—and several mission extensions—collecting invaluable data on the gas giant and its diverse moons. Its most recent mission extension expired on the day the current government shutdown began, casting uncertainty on its future operations.

To find Juno’s location, look high overhead in the eastern sky during the predawn hours of October. Locate the bright stars Castor and Pollux in the constellation Gemini. Jupiter will appear as a bright “morning star,” shining steadily to the lower right of Castor and Pollux.

Juno remains somewhere in orbit around Jupiter, which is far too small to be seen from Earth.

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### New Horizons
**Distance from Earth:** 5.88 billion miles (9.46 billion km)

Launched in January 2006, New Horizons became the first human-made object to visit the dwarf planet Pluto in July 2015, after a nine-year journey. The brief flyby transformed our understanding of Pluto, revealing surprising details about its composition, tenuous atmosphere, and its largest moon, Charon.

In 2019, New Horizons flew past the Kuiper Belt object Arrokoth and is now collecting heliophysics data as it travels toward interstellar space, which it is expected to reach in the 2040s.

To locate New Horizons in the night sky, first find the famous “teapot” asterism at the heart of Sagittarius, just above the southern horizon in the hours following sunset in October. From a dark sky, you might see the glowing band of the Milky Way running through the “spout” of the teapot.

Next, look above the trapezium of stars forming the handle of the teapot and locate the star Pi Sagittarii using a smartphone astronomy app. New Horizons is approximately 1 degree to the upper right of this star.

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### Voyager 1
**Distance from Earth:** 15.72 billion miles (25 billion km)

Voyager 1 is the most distant human-made object ever launched. It became the first spacecraft to enter interstellar space in August 2012 after passing beyond the heliosphere—a giant protective bubble created by the solar wind that shields our solar system from cosmic rays.

Voyager 1 carries one of NASA’s famed Golden Records, containing greetings, images, and sounds from Earth as a time capsule and a message of friendly first contact for any future finders.

To locate Voyager 1 in the night sky, find the constellation Ophiuchus close to the western horizon after sunset in October. Identify the brightest point of light in the constellation—the binary star system Rasalhague—and locate its neighbor, Kappa Ophiuchi, to the lower right.

Voyager 1’s approximate position lies halfway along the imaginary line connecting these two stellar giants.

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Exploring the sky and knowing where these incredible spacecraft are can deepen our connection to the vast universe and the remarkable achievements of human ingenuity reaching far beyond Earth. Happy stargazing!
https://www.space.com/stargazing/heres-where-the-james-webb-space-telescope-and-4-other-legendary-spacecraft-are-in-the-night-sky-october-2025

Why the scariest part of The Shining isn’t what you think

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It’s been 45 years since *The Shining* came out. Since then, we’ve had countless horror movies with insanely high kill counts and absolutely shocking imagery. You’d think I’d be numb to a story where, spoiler alert for a cinematic classic, only two people die—and one of those deaths happens because the doofus couldn’t find his way out of a hedge maze. And yet, *The Shining* remains frightening in a way that’s really hard to pin down.

How did Stanley Kubrick manage to make shots of a hallway creepy? Well, by making those hallways feel not just scary, but more specifically, *uncanny*.

These days, “uncanny” is a concept most often used in discourse about robots and computer animation. The Uncanny Valley—you know the feeling it evokes. Think about the abject horror of that kid from *The Polar Express*—good god, get him off the screen.

The *Uncanny* (capital T, capital U) speaks to the fear of something that isn’t fully unknown. It’s unfamiliar while retaining elements of familiarity, and that tension causes a deep sense of unease. Returning to the Valley, imagine robots that move in a way that’s slightly wrong. Suddenly, you feel unsafe, in danger, but you’re not even sure exactly why.

And this feeling isn’t confined to robots and animation. A lot can be described as uncanny, including ghosts, doppelgängers, mirrors, and even human faces. Breaking it down, there’s a throughline here: we’re confronted with human or humanoid bodies not quite lining up with what we’re expecting. This pulls at fears of loss of identity, fears about mortality, fears of childhood nightmares suddenly becoming true.

But let’s take one step further—over the threshold from uncanny bodies to uncanny places.

For example, have you ever been in a dead mall? There should be people there. It’s built for foot traffic and to allow noise to carry, but it’s empty, silent, falling apart. There’s nothing dangerous there, but it feels terrible to be there. It just feels off.

Kubrick leaned all the way into this feeling with *The Shining*, which is set in a hotel that’s closed for the season. The halls and sitting rooms are empty—*too* empty. It’s disquieting from the jump because this just isn’t what a hotel is supposed to look like or feel like.

Sure, lots of movies are set in creepy old houses, but *The Overlook Hotel* isn’t “creepy” at least on its face. There aren’t cobwebs, creaky floorboards, or disjointed architecture that distinguish the classic haunted house. Instead, Kubrick decided to make the Overlook as real as possible—by sending out photographers to capture hundreds of pictures of real hotel halls, rooms, and elevators. He then picked the ones he found most interesting or evocative to build his sets from, replicating them down to the inch.

Literally, they photographed the spaces with rulers in frame to make sure everything was fully to scale. The Red Bathroom where Jack meets Grady was a real bathroom, created one-to-one on a soundstage in England.

The fact that all these spaces are clean, mundane, and downright normal only makes the discomfort all the more pronounced because they feel like spaces we’re familiar with. But something is clearly wrong in this hotel—and we just can’t put our finger on what that wrongness is.

It’s been 45 years, but the vibes of *The Overlook* are still a phenomenon.

Sure, the lady in the tub is pretty scary, as are the twins. But, at least for us, the most memorable parts of this movie are the long shots tracking through the hallways, the echoing emptiness of the Colorado Lounge, and the unshakeable feeling of wrongness that *The Overlook Hotel* brings simply by being normal, and yet not—all at once.

What do you think? Does *The Shining* still give you nightmares, or has it gotten dated, at least as an entry in the horror genre? Let us know in the comments!
https://mashable.com/video/how-it-hits-the-shining-stephen-king

As the Shutdown Drags On, Social Safety Nets Will Fail – Liberty Nation News

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As the federal shutdown approaches the one-month mark, there’s still no end in sight. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) continues to stand firm on the House-passed continuing resolution, while the Senate adjourned for the weekend on Thursday without scheduling another vote. Even if a deal seems possible next week, it likely won’t come in time to keep several government-funded benefit programs running without interruption. As November 1 approaches, millions of Americans may begin feeling the impact.

### The Big Day: November 1

The USDA has warned that two critical programs—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)—could run out of federal funding by November 1.

WIC served more than 6.8 million families during fiscal year 2024. To help keep it afloat during the shutdown, the Trump administration has temporarily redirected $300 million in unspent tariff revenue to cover WIC expenses.

SNAP, which supports roughly 42 million people, does not currently have alternative funding sources sufficient to maintain benefits. At least 25 states plan to pause SNAP payments entirely next month, which will severely affect recipients’ ability to put food on the table.

Recipients are being advised to prioritize purchasing shelf-stable foods with existing funds or to visit food banks to help avoid hunger. Unfortunately, food banks are already feeling the strain from increased demand, with some reporting they are running low on supplies.

### Impact on Head Start Programs

Head Start, a federally funded program offering preschool and daycare services for children under kindergarten age, is also suffering. When the shutdown began, six Head Start locations—serving 6,525 children across three states—did not receive their funding.

By November 1, this number is expected to rise to 140 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico. An estimated 65,152 young children will have to stay home. This situation may also force at least one parent to stay home, leading to reduced household income and potentially lost jobs.

### The Shutdown Time Crunch

The Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, October 27—just three days before the November 1 deadline. The House will return on Tuesday, October 28. Even if a deal is hammered out quickly, restarting government functions that have already shut down will take time. Bureaucratic processes do not resume instantly, so service interruptions are likely to occur, even in the best-case scenario.

However, a brief interruption would be preferable to the alternative—an extended shutdown with ongoing consequences.

### Looming Challenges in November and Beyond

November also marks the start of open enrollment for Obamacare insurance plans. If pandemic-era subsidies are not renewed by December 31, they will expire, causing health insurance premiums to spike dramatically. Some estimates suggest premiums could double or even triple in certain cases, with new prices going into effect on November 1.

According to Art Caplan of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, this will be the largest premium increase since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that as many as four million Americans may drop their health insurance because of the hike.

This looming crisis is why Democratic leadership in the Senate insists on reopening the government only with an ACA subsidy extension included. Yet, some Democrats, such as Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has frequently sided with Republicans to pass the House GOP’s continuing resolution, are urging a different approach.

“I don’t care about who’s winning, who’s losing, who’s going to blink,” Fetterman said to reporters on Thursday, October 23. “America loses. Just open up the whole thing and cut the s—t.”

### What Lies Ahead?

Congress will ultimately approve government funding—whether through a stopgap continuing resolution or full-year appropriations. The only remaining questions are when that will happen and how much collateral damage will be incurred along the way.

With crucial programs under threat and millions of Americans potentially impacted, the need for swift action has never been clearer.
https://www.libertynation.com/as-the-shutdown-drags-on-social-safety-nets-will-fail/

FanDuel promo code: Bet $5, get $300 in bonus bets if your bet wins for Indiana vs. UCLA

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One of the best stories in college football continues on Saturday when Indiana takes on UCLA in a Big Ten tussle. The Hoosiers, under the leadership of Curt Cignetti, are No. 2 in the most recent AP Poll — marking the first time that Indiana has ever climbed that high in the rankings. It’s a remarkable accomplishment for the Hoosiers, who signed Cignetti to a massive contract worth nearly $93 million.

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### What Our Post Expert Thinks About Indiana vs. UCLA

While the story for this game will be Curt Cignetti and the Hoosiers as they continue their march towards a second appearance in the College Football Playoff in as many years, don’t overlook what’s going on at UCLA.

The Bruins have games against Penn State, Michigan State, and Maryland to bounce back from a disappointing 0-4 start that led to the firing of head coach DeShaun Foster. Despite being massive underdogs in Bloomington, UCLA has shown it has some bite and could pose a challenge.

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https://nypost.com/2025/10/25/betting/fanduel-promo-code-bet-5-get-300-in-bonus-bets-if-your-bet-wins-for-indiana-vs-ucla/

PGA Tour Americas’ Michael Brennan shares what leaves him ‘shell shocked’ despite leading Bank of Utah Championship

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Michael Brennan delivered an impressive performance on Friday at the Bank of Utah Championship 2025.

He shot a 6-under 65, which allowed him to take a one-stroke lead heading into the next round.

Brennan’s strong play has positioned him as a top contender in the tournament, generating excitement among fans and competitors alike.

Stay tuned for more updates as the championship progresses.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/golf/news-pga-tour-americas-michael-brennan-shares-leaves-shell-shocked-despite-leading-bank-utah-championship

Become grayer Crossword Clue

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That should be all the information you need to solve the “Become grayer” crossword clue!

Be sure to check out more clues and answers on our Crossword Answers section for additional help and tips.

The post “Become grayer Crossword Clue” appeared first on Try Hard Guides.
https://tryhardguides.com/become-grayer-crossword-clue/

Some lawmakers demand salaries withheld until federal workers get paid

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WASHINGTON — Some members of Congress are requesting that their salaries be withheld during the ongoing government shutdown, while federal workers on Friday missed their first full paycheck since many operations closed on October 1.

With no progress toward a deal to end the shutdown, the House remained on a prolonged break from Capitol Hill, the Senate adjourned for its usual long weekend, and President Donald Trump prepared to depart for a trip to China. During this trip, the president is expected to focus more on foreign policy and tariffs than on the funding lapse.

**Lawmakers Continue to Receive Paychecks**

Unlike the approximately 2 million civilian federal employees and thousands of legislative branch staffers affected by the shutdown, the president, members of Congress, and federal judges continue to receive their regular paychecks.

Members of Congress earn $174,000 annually, with leadership earning higher salaries. Active duty military personnel would normally miss their paychecks during a shutdown, but the Department of Defense recently reprogrammed $8 billion to avoid missed paydays for U.S. troops. It remains unclear if the Pentagon can extend this funding through the next payday on October 31.

**Options for Congressional Pay During Shutdown**

Members of Congress have several options during this shutdown: they may receive their pay as usual, donate their salaries to charity, return the money to the Treasury, or choose to have their checks withheld.

On Thursday evening, Rhode Island Democratic Rep. Gabe Amo shared a letter from House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine L. Szpindor confirming that House members’ salaries can be withheld until the funding lapse ends. Szpindor stated that legal requirements, including the 27th Amendment, entitle members to their pay, and any lawmaker whose salary is withheld can request payment at any time. Szpindor did not respond to requests for further comment.

A spokesperson for Ohio Republican Sen. Jon Husted confirmed that, although senators are required to be paid, his paycheck can be withheld at his request. The Senate disbursing office will continue to prepare the check, but Husted will not collect it until after government funding is restored. The spokesperson added that Husted believes members of Congress should not receive their salaries on time when other federal workers do not.

In another instance, a Senate staffer, speaking on background, reported that one senator’s salary was switched from direct deposit to a physical paycheck so it could be held by the disbursing office during the shutdown, at that senator’s request.

Among members who have requested their salaries to be withheld are Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, Florida Republican Rep. Kat Cammack, New Jersey Democratic Sen. Andy Kim, Oklahoma Republican Rep. Stephanie Bice, and Oregon Democratic Rep. Janelle Bynum.

Spokespersons for President Trump and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., did not respond to inquiries about whether they are having their salaries withheld. A spokesperson for Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., stated that he is having his paycheck held back.

**Legal Considerations Regarding Lawmakers’ Salaries**

Congress has voted on several occasions to officially withhold members’ salaries during shutdowns, but none of these bills have become law.

Questions have arisen in past funding lapses about the legality of withholding lawmakers’ pay. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) wrote in a letter to Iowa Republican Sen. Joni Ernst shortly before the shutdown began that member pay “is required by the Constitution and is considered mandatory spending.”

“Thus, Members of Congress would continue to be paid during a lapse in discretionary appropriations,” wrote CBO Director Phillip L. Swagel.

This aligns with a report from the Congressional Research Service (CRS), also nonpartisan and updated in August, which states that “Members of Congress continue to receive their pay during a lapse in appropriations for a number of reasons.”

According to the CRS report, lawmaker salaries “have been provided by a permanent, mandatory, appropriation since 1981.”

The U.S. Constitution (Article I, Section 6, Clause 1) states: “Senators and Representatives shall receive a Compensation for their Services, to be ascertained by Law, and paid out of the Treasury of the United States.”

Additionally, the 27th Amendment declares: “No law, varying the compensation for the services of the Senators and Representatives, shall take effect, until an election of Representatives shall have intervened.”

The CRS report also cites the Government Accountability Office’s principles of federal appropriations law, noting that “The salary of a Member of Congress is fixed by statute and therefore cannot be waived without specific statutory authority.”

However, the report points out that lawmakers can accept their salary and subsequently donate all or part of it back to the Treasury.

**No Options and No Paychecks for Federal Employees**

Federal employees who work for members of Congress or within departments and agencies across the executive branch do not have the option to withhold their paychecks.

These workers must go without pay until Congress and the president reach an agreement to fund the government and end the shutdown.

Any employee involved in national security, or the protection of life or property, is considered exempt and continues working during the shutdown. Other federal employees are placed on furlough.

On Thursday, the Senate failed to advance multiple bills that would have provided pay to some federal employees and contractors during the shutdown.

Absent new congressional action, both exempt and non-exempt federal workers are slated to receive back pay under a 2019 law once the government reopens. However, President Trump and administration officials have cast doubt on whether executive branch employees will receive such back pay.

The House Committee on Administration states that all employees working within the legislative branch will receive back pay once a funding bill becomes law.

The committee’s guidance explains: “Neither essential nor furloughed employees are authorized to receive compensation during a lapse in government funding.”

“Federal law statutorily requires retroactive pay for furloughed and essential employees following the end of a lapse in government funding,” it adds.

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*This article will be updated as more information becomes available.*
https://www.rawstory.com/some-lawmakers-demand-salaries-withheld-until-federal-workers-get-paid/