U.S. service members face the risk of missing a payday in one week as a government shutdown continues, with House Republicans passing a continuing resolution that was blocked by Senate Democrats. Republican lawmakers have departed Washington, D.C., despite the impasse, according to Punchbowl News reporting at 10:00 AM UTC. This development occurs with many congressional aides still working despite widespread agency furloughs, as reported by Bloomberg Government at 12:25 PM UTC. The ongoing shutdown has created a challenging political landscape, with President Donald Trump reportedly muddying the Republican message on the shutdown, according to Politico at 12:07 PM UTC. The situation is further complicated by a potential Supreme Court ruling that could lead to Republicans drawing 19 additional House seats, as also reported by Politico at 12:07 PM UTC. Meanwhile, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) has successfully pressured a liberal group to alter political ads targeting three Republican incumbents in battleground districts, according to Notus at 12:14 PM UTC. In a separate political development, Democrats have secured the mayor's office in Fairbanks, Alaska, with Mindy O'Neall defeating incumbent David Pruhs, as announced on X by @playdda at 11:56 AM UTC, citing the News-Miner. Earlier today, in relation to broader political discourse, Dan Scavino Jr. posted on X at 12:07 PM UTC, referencing a group of Republican senators including Lindsey Graham and Marsha Blackburn, with a message suggesting a "scorched earth" approach. In previous reporting from this morning, it was noted that President Trump had contacted senior Republican leaders regarding Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene's discontent with the party. Herschel Walker had also been confirmed as the U.S. ambassador to the Bahamas. Additionally, concerns were raised about potential future violence from Islamist demonstrators in New York City and oral arguments before the Supreme Court regarding a Colorado law banning conversion therapy for minors.
