News On Tap For Friday, October 03, 2025

Don't Fear The Reaper

Today’s “News On Tap” needs more cowbell - though that might also be shutdown. We’ve got shutdown updates, & how Repubs are losing it. We’ve also got immigration, education, justice, & entertainment updates, including discussion of Taylor Swift’s new album. Plus, Anita From San Antonio, co-host of Tru Blu Politics will be here to recap all of the week’s news with us. But first…

First Round - The Republican Shutdown Rolls On

Shutdown Details

• Battered By Mass Firings And DOGE Drama, Federal Workers Are Now Bracing For Weeks Without Pay

• Trump Admin. Now Sensing Political Risk On Healthcare Despite Their Shutdown Bravado [Gift Link]

• Rep. Ocasio-Cortez Says Sen. Schumer And Rep. Jeffries Are Leading An Overwhelmingly United Democratic Caucus In Shutdown Fight

• Robert Reich: How - & Why - This Republican Shutdown Will Likely End

The Real Power Behind The Shutdown

• Trump Labels Russ Vought His ‘Grim Reaper’ In Social Media Video Ahead Of Threatened Shutdown Layoffs

• Why Russ Vought Is Central To The Government Shutdown Fight

• David Dayen: Russ Vought Has No Authority During The Shutdown To Implement DOGE 2.0. In Fact, He’s Admitted That Outright.

Republicans Are Losing The Shutdown

• Polls Show Americans Aren’t Buying Trump & Republicans’ Shutdown Blame Game

• New KFF Poll Shows A Majority Of Trump Supporters Support Democrats In Extending Obamacare Subsidies

• G. Elliott Morris: The Polls Show Trump Is Racing Against Time, As His Approval Rating Is Closer To Maduro’s Than Putin’s

The Fight For Democracy

• Paul Krugman: Trump Is A Symptom, Not The Cause, Of Declining American Democracy. The Real Problem Is The Modern Republican Party

• G. Elliott Morris: Experts Now Rate The U.S. As A “Mixed” Or “Illiberal” Democracy

• Aaron Regunberg: Trump’s Success, Like Sauron’s In ‘The Lord Of The Rings,’ Is Not Inevitable - But Only If We Refuse Despair

Second Round - The Many Wars Of The Right

Immigration Wars

• ICE Agents Rappel From Helicopter In Overnight Raid On Chicago Apartment Building, Dragging Kids From Beds To U-Hauls

• Apple Removes ICE Tracking App After Pressure From Bondi DOJ

• ICEBlock Owner After Apple Removes App From Store: ‘We Are Determined To Fight This’

Education Wars

• Trump Admin. Threatens Nine Top Universities’ Govt. Funds, Demands They Back Extremist Right-Wing Views In New ‘Compact’

• California Governor Newsom Vows To Completely Cut Funding To State Universities That Cave To Trump’s ‘Compact’

• Erwin Chemerinsky: Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion [Gift Link]

War Over Competent Govt.

• FBI Dir. Kash Patel Fires FBI Agent Trainee For Displaying Gay Pride Flag

• RFK Jr. Fires NIH Scientist Who Filed Whistle-Blower Complaint [Gift Link]

Third Round - More News To Drink About

Justice & Injustice

• Wednesday: Manhattan Federal Judge Orders Trump To Restore Anti-Terrorism Funds To New York

• Today: Trump Admin. Follows Court Order, Reverses $187 Million In N.Y. Counterterrorism Cuts

• Texas Megachurch Pastor And Ex-Trump Adviser Pleads Guilty To Child Sexual Abuse

• Supreme Court Takes Case To Consider Overturning Hawaii’s Strict Ban On Guns On Private Property

Foreign Affairs

• Hamas To Demand Key Revisions To Trump/Israel Gaza Plan Before Accepting

• Trump Officials Now Pushing Claim That U.S. In ‘Armed Conflict’ With South American Drug Cartels

• Sarah Mullally Is Named Archbishop Of Canterbury, As The Anglican Church Names A Woman Its Leader For First Time In Its 1500 Year History

Miscellaneous But Important

• Statue Of Trump And Epstein Holding Hands Returns To The National Mall During Shutdown

• Trump FDA Approves Another Generic Abortion Pill, Prompting Outrage From Anti-Abortion Right

Fourth Round - Media, Entertainment, & More

• Paramount Officially Acquiring Right-Wing Blog ‘The Free Press,’ Making Right-Wing Propagandist Bari Weiss CBS “News” Editor In Chief

• CNN Live News Stream Being Pulled From HBO Max As Network Prepares To Launch New Streaming Channels

• Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life Of A Showgirl’ Critic’s Reviews Mixed: From “Hits All The Marks” To “Lacks Sparkle”

• MLB Playoffs 2025: Yankees, Cubs And Tigers Advance With Game 3 Wins In Wild-Card Round, To Join Dodgers In Division Series

• WNBA Finals Begin On Tonight. Here’s What Casual Fans Should Know

Your Bar Regular Tonight…

Even in a week filled with news, it’s important to take time for family & friends - So Karen from Chicago, co-host of Tru Blu Politics is going to be at her daughter’s wedding rehearsal dinner tonight., instead of with us here in the bar. Mazel to her daughter! Thankfully, Anita From San Antonio,, the other co-host of Tru Blu Politics will be here to recap all of the week’s news - and maybe we’ll ask her what she thinks of Taylor Swift’s new album too. Grab a drink & join us!

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