In today’s newsletter: The shutdown is intensifying anxiety over the economy, and some Republicans are sounding the alarm. Gubernatorial hopefuls in New Jersey and Virginia make their final push ahead of Election Day. And the Trump administration is planning a new mission against Mexican cartels, U.S. officials say.
Here’s what to know today.
With Trump's focus elsewhere, the economy shows signs of trouble
With SNAP benefits in limbo for millions and federal employees going without pay, Americans are feeling the effects of the government shutdown.
The shutdown is also compounding problems that have intensified broader anxiety over the economy, which in recent months has been marked by high prices, rough jobs numbers, mass layoffs and an uptick in inflation.
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That stagnation has eroded the high approval marks President Donald Trump once enjoyed on the topic. His overall approval rating sits at 43%, while just 34% of registered voters say he has “lived up” to expectations on the economy, according to a new NBC News poll. The bleak picture has some Republicans sounding the alarm.
“No one wants to tell the president he’s losing on the economy,” said a Republican strategist who said they recently warned the White House about their concerns.
Still, the administration remains optimistic: “Looking at the data, we feel good about the trajectory here,” said a White House official.
For his part, Trump has largely been focused on issues aside from the shutdown and economic concerns, with the exception of deals around his tariffs. For example, his recent trip to Asia and construction for a new $300 million ballroom.
Amid the chaos, some Trump supporters say they’re losing confidence in the president — or regret voting for him altogether.
More shutdown news:
- The Trump administration has until noon today to update a federal judge who ruled late last week that the Agriculture Department must disburse SNAP funds.
Candidates make closing pitches before Election Day in New Jersey and Virginia
The candidates for governor in New Jersey and Virginia crisscrossed their states in the final weekend of the 2025 campaign season, ahead of the first big elections since Trump’s victory in 2024.
→ In Virginia: Former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger has consistently led Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears. In recent days, Spanberger maintained her focus on economic and affordability issues while Earle-Sears attacked her opponent over years-old violent texts from attorney general nominee Jay Jones.
→ In New Jersey: A more competitive race has formed between Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli, a former state legislator. Ciattarelli and Sherrill have made their closing pitches in ads highlighting the state’s high cost of living.
Both Spanberger and Sherrill had some help from former President Barack Obama at rallies on Saturday. Trump has not campaigned in person in either state, but is holding two telephone rallies tonight.
More election news:
- In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Graham Platner said controversies have “strengthened” his Maine Senate campaign.
- Democrats are bracing for the possible retirement of Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi, who is expected to make an announcement after tomorrow’s elections.
- Pennsylvania voters will decide tomorrow whether three Democratic justices should remain on the state Supreme Court for another 10-year term, a vote that could result in a deadlocked bench for years if they are removed.
Trump administration planning new mission in Mexico against cartels, officials say
The Trump administration has begun detailed planning for a new mission to send U.S. troops and intelligence officers into Mexico to target drug cartels, according to two U.S. officials and two former senior U.S. officials familiar with the effort.
The early stages of training for the potential mission, which would include ground operations inside Mexico, have already begun, the two current U.S. officials said. But a deployment to Mexico is not imminent, the two U.S. officials and one of the former U.S. officials said.
A U.S. mission using American forces to hit drug cartel targets inside Mexico would open a new front in Trump’s military campaign, which has largely focused on boat strikes.
Read our full exclusive reporting here.
Halfway through the NFL season, there are no dominant teams
The Detroit Lions scored at least 30 points in four straight wins to start the season as a Super Bowl contender. Yet, they’ve failed to exceed that total in each of their last three games, including Sunday’s 27-24 loss to Minnesota.
The NFL’s best offense propelled the Indianapolis Colts to a 7-1 start. Then, yesterday, they turned the ball over six times in a stunning loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
And the Green Bay Packers, who had re-asserted themselves as a top team during a 5-1-1 start? Naturally, they suffered their season’s first home loss to a middling Carolina Panthers team.
What connects these three results is the notion that at the season’s halfway mark, there seems to be no one dominant team.
Here’s why that could be the case.
More football news:
- An NFL kicker just hit a 68-yard field goal. Yes, you read that right.
- The Bears had a two-score lead and a 99.7% win probability with two minutes to go against the Bengals, but nearly lost in the final seconds. Read about the wild thriller.
- The Seattle Seahawks beat the Washington Commanders 38-14 on “Sunday Night Football.” Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels was injured during the game after an awkward fall.
Read All About It
- Taking melatonin for long periods of time could be a sign of underlying heart problems.
- Video shows orcas hunting great white sharks and devouring their livers.
- Two girls were injured after they were thrown from a Ferris wheel at a Louisiana festival.
- Rapper RBX accused Spotify of turning a blind eye to fraud he alleges boosted the streams of songs performed by Drake, according to a federal class action lawsuit.
Staff Pick: An 'extension cord' for data centers
When I saw a letter from state lawmakers to Trump protesting a request to send in the U.S. Marshals to assist with a battle over a power line project in Maryland for data centers, I started making calls.
This year I’ve been keeping an eye on the growing local pushback to the facilities. Hours of public comment protesting data centers are routine at this point. But a request for protection by the U.S. Marshals because of alleged threats to survey crews? That was something new.
So, I traveled to Maryland to report on the resistance to the Maryland Piedmont Reliability Project (MPRP) that would cut through farmland across the state. Farmers I interviewed see the lines as little more than “an extension cord” for data centers in neighboring Virginia. The regional grid manager warns the system may buckle without the MPRP.
On the ground, I visited farms on the route, walked through a field of cornstalks and stood near existing transmission towers to get a sense of what was to come.
A judge turned down the request for marshals to accompany surveyors. But this fight is far from being settled. After I returned, there was a new legal filing for me to review.
— Bracey Harris, National Reporter
NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified
October’s editor favorites are in — and they’re good. From clever new home tools to cozy travel finds, our editors picked what actually earned a spot in their carts last month. For more fall inspiration, we’ve also got the best adult puzzle books and giftable finds from our new & notable list.
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