Helena Moreno was elected Mayor of New Orleans on October 12th, 2025, avoiding a runoff election, according to Decision Desk HQ projections. This development occurred as China announced new rare earth export controls, citing national security concerns and calling threatened U.S. tariffs a "double standard." The new controls are not a ban, with exceptions for compliant civilian use applications, according to China's Commerce Ministry. Over the past hour, Sino_Market reported on China's stance, stating the country is prepared for a tariff war if necessary and accusing the U.S. of damaging trade talks. China also confirmed retaliatory "special port fees" on U.S. vessels. In New Orleans, Moreno's win was projected around 10:55 PM ET, with the Shreveport Times reporting on her election to lead the city out of chaos following the indictment of former Mayor LaToya Cantrell. In unrelated developments, concerns persist over the Women, Infant, and Children (WIC) food assistance program running out of money, with pleas for Speaker Johnson and House Republicans to return to work and open the government. Separately, Senator Brian Schatz confirmed that Reduction in Force (RIF) layoffs at the Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund went out on Friday, noting the language suggests these are not tied to the shutdown and the fund may cease to exist regardless of reopening. This information was confirmed by Schatz's statement on X. Further context from previous reports indicates that President Donald Trump had directed the Department of War to ensure troops were paid amid the shutdown and that funds were identified for military pay within days. The New Orleans mayoral race initially had twelve candidates, with polls closing at 8 PM Central Time on October 12th, 2025, and a potential runoff previously scheduled for November 15th if no candidate secured over 50% of the vote.
