Tuesday, October 28, 2025 |
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Kevin Frey: Half a world away
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With the government shutdown heading into its second month, President Donald Trump isn't at the negotiating table. In fact, he's thousands of miles away. Since budget negotiations stalled in Congress at the beginning of October, the president has gone overseas twice, including the current diplomatic trip through Asia. While presidents often have to juggle foreign and domestic priorities, in the past they've tended to avoid international travel during shutdowns to show they're focused on negotiations. In 1995, President Bill Clinton canceled a trip to Japan during a shutdown. In 2013, President Barack Obama canceled a planned trip to Indonesia and Brunei due to a government shutdown. And during a shutdown in his first term, Trump canceled a trip to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Since the beginning, this shutdown fight has been defined by a lack of engagement between the president and Democrats in Congress. Read Kevin Frey's full analysis here. |
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Should Democrats gerrymander blue states? |
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| As Trump's Republican allies seek to boost their margins in the U.S. House by redistricting in Texas, North Carolina and Missouri, Democrats are seeking to counter with their own redistricting efforts in California, Virginia and New York. Critics fear this will lead to more one-party states. |
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Here are some highlights of the president's actions over the last seven days: |
- Demolished the East Wing of the White House after promising that construction of a ballroom would not "interfere" with the building.
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The news can feel overwhelming. But each week, we pause to highlight a person, organization or movement sticking up for their principles or their fellow Americans. This week's challenger is Republican Sen. Rand Paul. The Trump administration is ramping up military strikes in international waters, claiming that it is striking at "narco-terrorists" in small boats while providing little evidence. On Sunday, Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky went on Fox News to criticize the strikes, noting that Congress has received "no information" on them and comparing them to summary executions in China and Iran. "The Constitution says that when you go to war, Congress has to vote on it, and during a war, then there's a lower rules for engagement," he said. "No one said their name, no one said what evidence, no one said whether they're armed, and we've had no evidence presented. So at this point, I would call them extrajudicial killings." Learn more. |
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In another sign that some of the trade wars Trump starts aren't about bringing manufacturing back to the U.S. or protecting key industries but about his desire for control and personal displeasure, look no further than Canada. After the Ontario government ran an ad that aired clips from former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs, Trump was so incensed that he slapped an additional 10% tariff on all of Canada. Asked if he would meet with his Canadian counterpart to discuss trade he said, "I don't want to meet with him." As the president plans to meet China's leader this week and walks back threats of an additional 100% tariff on that country, are these tariffs about promoting U.S. economic growth and making America great again, or something else? Learn more. |
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— Stephanie Ruhle, host of "The 11th Hour"
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This week on "The Best People," Nicolle Wallace talks with Illinois Governor JB Pritzker about mastering the art of standing up to Trump, and his belief that the foundation of our nation is being tested. Subscribe to MSNBC Premium on Apple Podcasts for early access, ad-free listening, and bonus content, or watch the interview on YouTube. |
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