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Biden Declares ‘Dark Days’ Under Trump, Praises Late-Night Hosts as Heroes
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Biden Declares ‘Dark Days’ Under Trump, Praises Late-Night Hosts as Heroes

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Joe Biden delivered a speech in Boston on Sunday night describing the current political climate as “dark days” under President Donald Trump and urging Americans to “get back up” by standing with late-night television hosts, whom he called “brave moral exemplars” of free speech.

Biden, 82, spoke publicly for the first time since completing a round of radiation therapy for an aggressive form of prostate cancer.

The Associated Press reported that he appeared at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute to accept its Lifetime Achievement Award and used the occasion to issue a pointed warning about what he described as the erosion of democratic norms during Trump’s administration.

“Since its founding, America served as a beacon for the most powerful idea ever in government in the history of the world,” Biden said.

“The idea is stronger than any army. We’re more powerful than any dictator.”

Biden told the audience that the nation’s strength depends on the separation of powers and the balance among its governing institutions.

“America depends on a presidency with limited power, a functioning Congress and an autonomous judiciary,” he said.

Referring to the ongoing government shutdown—the second-longest in U.S. history—Biden accused Trump of using the funding lapse “as a way to exercise new command over the government.”

Biden framed his message around themes of resilience, warning that the country was facing one of the most challenging periods in its modern history.

“Friends, I can’t sugar coat any of this. These are dark days,” he said.

“But we will find our true compass again and emerge as we always have — stronger, wiser and more resilient, more just, so long as we keep the faith.”

The former president, who has largely remained out of the public eye during his cancer treatment, has continued to speak critically of Trump’s leadership since leaving office.

In his remarks Sunday, Biden pointed to cultural figures, particularly late-night television hosts, as examples of individuals who he said are keeping the spirit of free speech alive despite public backlash and declining ratings.

“The late night hosts continue to shine a light on free speech knowing their careers are on the line,” Biden said.

He praised them for what he described as their willingness to speak out even as entertainment media faces diminished influence in political life.

Biden’s comments came amid renewed tensions in Washington, where congressional negotiations over funding have stalled and the government shutdown continues with no resolution in sight.

He tied his criticism of Trump’s handling of the shutdown to broader concerns about the health of American democracy, telling the audience that the nation’s founding ideals are being tested.

According to the Associated Press, Biden appeared composed but spoke in somber tones throughout the address.

He concluded by repeating a message of perseverance that has become a recurring theme in his public remarks. “Get back up,” he told the audience, receiving a standing ovation as he ended his speech.

The event marked Biden’s first major public appearance since undergoing cancer treatment earlier this fall.

The Edward M. Kennedy Institute said the Lifetime Achievement Award recognized Biden’s “decades of public service and commitment to democratic values.”

Federal Workers’ Union Turns on Democrats, Demands End to Schumer’s Shutdown
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Federal Workers’ Union Turns on Democrats, Demands End to Schumer’s Shutdown

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The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the largest union representing federal workers, is calling on Democrats to support a clean Continuing Resolution (CR) and reopen the government, which has remained shut down since October 1.

The AFGE, affiliated with the AFL-CIO, represents more than 800,000 non-postal federal employees across the country, including many based in Washington, D.C.

The union’s leadership released a public statement on Monday urging both parties to set aside political maneuvering and restore government operations immediately.

“Both political parties have made their point, and still there is no clear end in sight,” AFGE President Everett Kelley said in a statement shared with NBC News.

“It’s time to pass a clean continuing resolution and end this shutdown today. No half measures, and no gamesmanship.”

Kelley’s remarks place additional pressure on Senate Democrats, who have so far refused to support a stopgap funding bill without securing a deal on extending Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.

Those subsidies help offset premium costs for individuals purchasing coverage through Obamacare exchanges, and Democrats have insisted that any short-term funding package must include provisions to extend them.

Republicans, led by President Donald Trump, have maintained that the government should reopen first and that debates over healthcare subsidies and new spending should be addressed afterward.

The Senate stalemate began when nearly all Democrats voted against a clean CR on October 1, a move that triggered the current shutdown.

Only three Senate Democrats broke ranks to support the funding measure.

Kelley emphasized that the continuing standoff is causing direct harm to workers and their families.

“It’s time for our leaders to start focusing on how to solve problems for the American people, rather than on who is going to get the blame for a shutdown that Americans dislike,” he said.

He added that lawmakers should focus on “a resolution that allows continued debate on larger issues,” including rising costs and recurring breakdowns in the federal budget process.

Democrats have continued to link their refusal to reopen the government to broader spending demands, which include funding for expanded healthcare access, environmental programs, and overseas initiatives.

Republicans have characterized those demands as unrelated to the immediate need to restore government operations.

In a post on X, Washington Examiner columnist Byron York called the AFGE’s statement a “huge development,” noting that the union is “urging Democrats to abandon their current position and join Republicans in supporting a stopgap solution.”

Speaking to NBC News, Kelley highlighted the toll the shutdown has taken on federal employees, many of whom are missing paychecks and seeking food assistance.

“When the folks who serve this country are standing in line for food banks after missing a second paycheck because of this shutdown, they aren’t looking for partisan spin,” he said.

“They’re looking for the wages they earned. The fact that they’re being cheated out of it is a national disgrace.”

The union’s statement came days after Senate Democrats blocked a measure by Senator Ron Johnson (R-WI) that would have temporarily paid certain categories of federal employees during the shutdown.

Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) said Democrats opposed the proposal because they wanted all workers treated equally. “Our belief is that no federal employee, no one should bear the burden or be punished for a shutdown they have nothing to do with,” he said.

“So our view is that we want to make sure everybody gets paid at the end of the day.”

House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA) acknowledged that the shutdown would harm working families but described it as a necessary form of leverage.

“Of course, there will be families that are going to suffer,” Clark said in an interview.

“We take that responsibility very seriously, but it is one of the few leverage times we have.”

The AFGE’s call for a clean CR could provide Democrats with political justification to change course and vote to reopen the government.

As of Monday, however, there was no indication from Senate Democrats that a vote on the funding measure had been scheduled.

The Senate is expected to reconvene this week, but according to the chamber’s official calendar, the continuing resolution is not currently listed on the agenda.

Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Terminates’ Gavin Newsom and Jake Tapper on Gerrymandering
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Arnold Schwarzenegger ‘Terminates’ Gavin Newsom and Jake Tapper on Gerrymandering

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Former California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger criticized Governor Gavin Newsom’s proposed redistricting overhaul on Sunday, calling it a “fantasy” designed to secure long-term Democratic control of the state under the pretense of “temporary reform.”

Speaking with CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union, Schwarzenegger said the measure, known as Proposition 50, would dismantle California’s independent redistricting commission — a body he championed during his tenure to prevent partisan manipulation of electoral maps.

The proposal, backed by Newsom and Democratic legislative leaders, seeks to replace the independent panel with a state-run process for at least the next decade.

Schwarzenegger said the move would “undo decades of reform” and warned that the decision could set a precedent that spreads beyond California.

“Well, I’m not really the spokesperson for the anti–Proposition 50 campaign. I just want to defend the work that I have done, because we worked so hard to get the independent redistricting commission in California,” Schwarzenegger said.

“California was in the leadership on that issue. Then we went around the country, promoted it around the country, and actually convinced about 30% of districts to have an independent commission. Now, all of a sudden, they’re undoing all of that.”

He said both major parties are guilty of manipulating political boundaries but accused Newsom’s allies of pushing the country “in the opposite direction.”

“There’s this war going on all over the United States — who can out-cheat the other one? Texas started it. They did something terribly wrong. Then all of a sudden, California says, ‘Well, then we have to do something terribly wrong,’” Schwarzenegger said.

“It saddens me to see that we’re going in the opposite direction rather than having an independent commission draw the district lines.”

Tapper noted that a CBS poll shows 62% of likely California voters support the measure. Schwarzenegger dismissed the argument, saying the proposal’s promise of a temporary change cannot be trusted.

“When they say this is temporary, there is no such thing,” he said.

“The longest programs are government programs that are ‘temporary.’ Just remember that — if it is a tax program or if it is a redistricting program — anything that is temporary with government is permanent.”

He added that once Democrats take control of the process, they will continue to justify its permanence.

“In the year 2032, when the independent redistricting commission is supposed to come back, they’re going to say, ‘Wait a minute, there’s still gerrymandering going on in Texas, in Ohio, in Florida. We have to continue with the gerrymandering.’ That’s what’s going to happen,” he said.

“They will find an excuse. Therefore, I don’t think it is temporary. That’s total fantasy.”

Schwarzenegger said politicians should focus on “outperforming” their opponents rather than manipulating district maps.

“To me, it’s all about competition — competition creates performance. What they’re doing with the redistricting commission is trying to draw district lines in such a way that they get voted in no matter if they work well or not for the American people,” he said.

“So the American people get cheated.”

When asked whether he blamed Republicans for starting the redistricting battle, Schwarzenegger rejected the idea, saying gerrymandering has been a bipartisan problem for two centuries.

“There’s such extreme gerrymandering that in a state like Massachusetts, 40% of the people voted for Trump — and the Republican Party has zero representatives sent to the House. Think about that,” he said.

“In New Mexico, if 45% of the people voted for Trump and vote Republican — zero representatives from the Republican Party. There’s crazy gerrymandering going on all over the country.”

Schwarzenegger said he originally established California’s commission to set a model for fair redistricting across the country.

“We wanted to try to stop it in California, and we did. Then we went around the country,” he said.

“This whole thing about finger-pointing — ‘They did it, so therefore we should do it’ — that’s not the way to go.”

The former governor said the focus should remain on fair competition and voter trust.

“One party should outperform the other party. It should be about performance,” he said.

“If you really want to fight for democracy, why would you go and destroy the Constitution in California — tear it up and redo the whole thing? To me, it just doesn’t make any sense at all.”

CSPAN Democrat Caller Rips Her Party For Government Shutdown, Holding Americans Hostage
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CSPAN Democrat Caller Rips Her Party For Government Shutdown, Holding Americans Hostage

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A retired federal employee and self-identified Democrat publicly criticized her party on Monday for refusing to reopen the government, as the shutdown entered its fourth week and millions of Americans face potential loss of food assistance on November 1.

The shutdown began on October 1 after Senate Democrats, led by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, blocked a bipartisan continuing resolution that would have kept the government funded.

Only three Democratic senators supported the measure, including Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman.

Appearing as a caller on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal, the retired worker said her party was to blame for prolonging the shutdown, warning that families depending on food aid could soon go hungry if lawmakers continue to stall.

“I hear people talking about ‘the president needs to get involved’ and ‘the Democrats are saying this,’ ‘the Republicans are saying this,’” the caller said.

“This is the truth: The Democrats, and I’m a Democrat, are the ones that actually, in the Senate side, shut down the government. They did not vote for a continuing resolution except for three of them. One is the senator of Pennsylvania, [John] Fetterman, and all.”

The caller urged Democratic senators to end the political gridlock, saying the party’s refusal to compromise was hurting ordinary Americans.

“They have to get together and stop holding Americans hostage,” she said.

“We’re about to have people without food come, what, November 1st, which is the end of this week. And that’s ridiculous.”

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which provides food aid to more than 40 million Americans, will lose funding on November 1 unless Congress passes a new funding measure.

Several states have warned they will be forced to suspend benefits if the shutdown continues.

“It is not worth it,” the caller continued.

“Plus, the health care companies have already said you’re way past the deadline for them to change their costs that they’re going to give out to the public for the health care. So November 1st is open season.”

The former federal worker also argued that the standoff was strengthening President Donald Trump’s hand, since Democrats are relying on him to intervene even though Congress holds the constitutional power to pass a funding bill.

“So they need to get together. I know they keep on saying the president needs to come back, but the power of the purse is with the Congress, not the president,” she said.

“You all talk about this president being a king, but if you want him to solve this problem, you’re making him a king. This has got to stop in America.”

She called on her party to negotiate instead of remaining deadlocked.

“I want the Democrats to fight, but I want them to fight in a negotiating way like I did when I was a union president versus sitting up here constantly bickering and the Republicans bickering,” she said.

“This has got to stop. And America has got to stop accepting it.”

Senate Democrats have consistently blocked efforts by Republicans to pass temporary funding bills.

Schumer and his caucus have refused to consider any resolution that does not include an extension of Affordable Care Act subsidies and other Democratic spending priorities.

However, Senator Fetterman said he believes Democrats should vote to reopen the government before continuing negotiations over health care subsidies and tax credit extensions.

Speaking on Fox News’ Saturday in America, Fetterman said he trusts Senate Majority Leader John Thune to hold “a sincere conversation” after the government is back open.

“I do fundamentally believe [Senate Majority] Leader [John] Thune is an honorable guy and I do believe we could have a sincere conversation after we can open it up,” Fetterman said.

“Let’s just open it up, and then we have our SNAP, we have everyone’s paid, and then we can have that conversation and see if we can extend those tax credit deals because I do believe there are enough Republicans that would like to see that too.”

With food assistance and other federal programs approaching critical deadlines, the caller’s comments reflect growing frustration—even among Democratic voters—over the party’s refusal to reach an agreement.

Unless lawmakers act soon, millions of low-income families may begin losing benefits within days.

NFL Hall of Famer Antonio Gates Caught Up in Explosive Gambling Scandal
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NFL Hall of Famer Antonio Gates Caught Up in Explosive Gambling Scandal

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Pro Football Hall of Famer Antonio Gates has been accused of hosting and participating in a rigged poker game in Miami, according to a report released Sunday by sports investigative journalist Pablo Torre.

The game was reportedly organized by Curtis Meeks, a man recently indicted by federal prosecutors in connection with a wide-ranging gambling scandal that has shaken the NBA.

Torre’s report came one day after the New York Post published claims from a purported victim who alleged that he and his friends were scammed out of nearly $1 million in a poker game connected to Meeks.

The victim said an unnamed former NFL player was used as a “face card” to attract participants to the game, which prosecutors now describe as part of a larger, coordinated criminal enterprise.

Federal prosecutors last week unsealed a sweeping indictment naming more than 30 individuals accused of participating in separate but connected schemes involving both sports betting and manipulated poker games.

Among those implicated are Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups, Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, and former NBA player Damon Jones.

According to the indictment, Billups allegedly served as a “face card” for one of the poker operations, lending credibility to games organized by figures with ties to organized crime.

Prosecutors say the setup was designed to lure wealthy participants—referred to in the indictment as “fish”—into games that were secretly rigged using advanced technology and coordinated dealer manipulation.

It is not yet clear whether Gates’ alleged involvement is directly connected to the federal probe.

No criminal charges have been filed against him.

The New York Post source, who said he was defrauded in one of Meeks’ poker games, could not confirm whether the event was part of the same ring described in the indictment.

However, he said Meeks was present during the game and that the presence of a professional athlete was what convinced him and his associates to participate.

“We would never have been there if not for the professional athlete,” the source said, though he declined to name the individual involved.

The federal investigation has already upended several professional sports circles, raising concerns that athletes from outside the NBA may have also been drawn into the operation.

Prosecutors allege that the network of games stretched from Miami to Las Vegas and involved a combination of professional athletes, entertainment figures, and associates linked to illicit gambling enterprises.

Gates, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in August, spent his entire 16-year NFL career with the San Diego and Los Angeles Chargers.

A converted college basketball player from Kent State, Gates became one of the most prolific tight ends in NFL history, finishing his career with 11,841 receiving yards and 116 touchdowns before retiring after the 2018 season.

The indictment does not name Gates or any NFL players, but the new claims have sparked speculation about the scope of the investigation and whether more athletes could be implicated as prosecutors continue their work.

Meeks, who faces multiple felony charges, is accused of leading a network that combined high-stakes sports betting and fraudulent poker operations designed to siphon money from wealthy participants under the guise of legitimate games.

The Justice Department has not commented on whether additional indictments are expected, but court filings indicate that investigators are continuing to review communications and financial records tied to the alleged gambling ring.

If confirmed, the allegations against Gates would represent a significant expansion of the case’s reach beyond the NBA, signaling that professional sports figures from multiple leagues may have become entangled in one of the most far-reaching gambling scandals in recent memory.

Trump Admin Warns 42 Million Could Lose Food Stamps as Shutdown Continues: ‘Bottom Line, the Well Has Run Dry’
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Trump Admin Warns 42 Million Could Lose Food Stamps as Shutdown Continues: ‘Bottom Line, the Well Has Run Dry’

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The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has warned that roughly 42 million Americans could lose access to federal food assistance beginning November 1 if the current government shutdown is not resolved, as reported by Fox News.

The department says it lacks the authority to redirect funding to cover Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) payments without congressional approval.

According to an internal USDA memo obtained by Fox News Digital, the ongoing impasse in Congress has halted funding for SNAP, commonly known as food stamps.

II.studio – Shutterstock.com

“Due to Congressional Democrats’ refusal to pass a clean continuing resolution (CR), approximately 42 million individuals will not receive their SNAP benefits come November 1st,” the memo said.

“This jeopardizes all SNAP recipients in November, including those that have applied for benefits in the last half of October, and furloughed Federal employees who will not receive their combined October/November benefits.”

Democrats have urged the Trump administration to tap into the agency’s SNAP contingency fund, which they estimate contains about $5 billion, to continue distributing benefits. However, USDA officials say that fund cannot legally be used for regular benefits.

“SNAP contingency funds are only available to supplement regular monthly benefits when amounts have been appropriated for, but are insufficient to cover, benefits,” the memo stated.

“The contingency fund is not available to support [fiscal year 2026] regular benefits because the appropriation for regular benefits no longer exists.”

The department said the contingency fund is reserved for emergencies such as the Disaster SNAP program, which provides food assistance to families affected by hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters.

USDA officials also rejected proposals to transfer funding from other nutrition programs, warning that doing so would hurt vulnerable Americans.

“Transfers from other sources would pull away funding for school meals and infant formula,” the memo read.

“This Administration will not allow Democrats to jeopardize funding for school meals and infant formula in order to prolong their shutdown.”

On Monday, the USDA updated its website with a statement blaming Senate Democrats for stalling funding for SNAP.

“Senate Democrats have now voted 12 times to not fund the food stamp program, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP),” the statement read.

“Bottom line, the well has run dry. At this time, there will be no benefits issued November 1.”

The statement added that Democrats must choose between “holding out for healthcare for illegal aliens and gender mutilation procedures or reopening the government so mothers, babies, and the most vulnerable among us can receive critical nutrition assistance.”

In response, nearly all House Democrats signed a letter to USDA on Friday, arguing that the contingency fund was designed for precisely this situation. “We urge USDA to use these funds for November SNAP benefits and issue clear guidance to states on how to navigate benefit issuance,” the letter said.

Impact of Government Lapse on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program 

The standoff continues as Senate Democrats refuse to advance the House-passed continuing resolution from September 19, which would have temporarily extended fiscal year 2025 funding.

Democrats are demanding that any agreement also include an extension of enhanced Obamacare subsidies set to expire at year’s end.

Search Underway After Cruise Crew Member Goes Overboard in Mediterranean
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Search Underway After Cruise Crew Member Goes Overboard in Mediterranean

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An urgent search is underway in the Mediterranean Sea after a crew member aboard the Viking Star cruise ship went overboard Monday morning during a voyage between Crete and Sicily, as reported by Fox News.

A spokesperson for Viking Cruises confirmed to Fox News Digital that a crew member was seen going overboard at approximately 11:31 a.m. local time. The ship immediately activated its emergency response procedures and began a coordinated search effort with the Italian Coast Guard.

“The ship initiated a full-scale search in coordination with Italian authorities,” the Viking spokesperson said. “No further details are available at this time.”

The incident occurred during the vessel’s eight-day, seven-night cruise that began in Athens, Greece, with scheduled stops in Turkey, Crete, Sicily, Naples, and Civitavecchia — the port city outside Rome. The overboard alert was made while the ship was en route from Crete to Palermo, Italy.

Passengers onboard said the announcement that a crew member had gone overboard came as a shock. According to a Fox News producer traveling on the cruise, a waiter froze upon hearing the alert as others rushed toward the deck to look out over the water.

One person was heard shouting, “I see someone,” as passengers peered toward the waves.

Witnesses reported seeing a crew member throw an orange life ring into the sea, followed by another rescue device — a smaller ring with a flare attached.

The Viking Star reportedly slowed to circle the area where the person was last seen while search operations continued under the direction of the Italian Coast Guard.

The ship’s cruise director later made an announcement informing passengers that the search perimeter had been expanded as the Coast Guard continued to sweep the area by air and sea.

As of Monday evening, details regarding the missing crew member — including their identity and the circumstances surrounding the incident — remained unclear.

The Viking Star, a 745-foot ocean liner, can accommodate up to 930 passengers and around 500 crew members. It is one of Viking’s fleet of luxury ocean vessels known for their smaller capacity and focus on destination-based travel.

Following its scheduled stop in Palermo, the ship’s itinerary includes visits to Naples and the port of Civitavecchia before returning to Greece.

Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the search will impact the remainder of the cruise schedule. The Italian Coast Guard continues to lead recovery efforts in the Mediterranean as of Tuesday morning.

CBS News Chief Bari Weiss Reportedly Eyes Pro-Trump CNN Pundit Scott Jennings for New Role
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CBS News Chief Bari Weiss Reportedly Eyes Pro-Trump CNN Pundit Scott Jennings for New Role

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CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss is reportedly seeking to recruit conservative commentator and CNN contributor Scott Jennings as part of an effort to reshape the network’s on-air talent lineup, as reported by the New York Post.

According to a report from Semafor, Weiss and Jennings met last week at CBS headquarters in New York to discuss a potential move.

The reported outreach comes at a time of major transition for CBS News, which is undergoing staff changes and preparing for a new editorial direction under Weiss.

Scott Jennings speaks during the Republican Party of Kentucky 2019 Lincoln Dinner in downtown Lexington. LincolnDinner_Jennings

The New York Post reported Monday that John Dickerson, co-anchor of the CBS Evening News, will be leaving the network at the end of the year. Dickerson will continue anchoring alongside Maurice DuBois until his departure, as CBS braces for a round of layoffs affecting the news division.

Jennings, a former special assistant to President George W. Bush and longtime adviser to Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, has become a prominent conservative voice on CNN.

Known for his unapologetic defense of President Donald Trump during panel discussions, Jennings has built a loyal following among right-leaning viewers frustrated by CNN’s coverage.

As a contributor rather than a full-time employee, Jennings is free to explore opportunities with other outlets.

A source familiar with the situation told Semafor that the meeting with Weiss was informal. CNN declined to comment, and requests for comment sent to Jennings and CBS News were not immediately returned.

Interest in Jennings appears to be growing beyond television. Earlier this year, Los Angeles Times owner Patrick Soon-Shiong reportedly contacted Jennings about joining his “LAT Next” media venture.

Weiss’s reported outreach to Jennings follows a series of moves suggesting that she intends to broaden CBS’s ideological range.

Just last week, the Status newsletter reported that Weiss had considered recruiting Fox News anchor Bret Baier, host of Special Report with Bret Baier, to anchor the CBS Evening News.

Baier remains under contract with Fox through 2028, and a network spokesperson declined to comment on the report.

Weiss, 41, joined CBS News earlier this year after Paramount’s Skydance division acquired her Free Press media venture for an estimated $150 million. Her mandate from the network’s leadership is to make CBS coverage more “balanced” and “fact-based,” according to internal sources.

Norah O’Donnell, who left CBS Evening News earlier this year, has met with Weiss about possibly returning to the anchor desk, The Post reported earlier this month.

Meanwhile, Gayle King’s future at CBS remains uncertain as her multimillion-dollar contract approaches its expiration next spring amid network cost-cutting.

Schumer Shutdown Becomes National Joke as Memes Flood Social Media
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Schumer Shutdown Becomes National Joke as Memes Flood Social Media

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The government shutdown led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is drawing widespread mockery across social media as frustration grows over stalled negotiations in Washington, as reported by Joe Hoff.

What began as a partisan standoff has now become a cultural punchline, with viral memes and videos spreading faster than any progress on Capitol Hill.

Online users have dubbed it the “Schumer Shutdown,” a label that has gained traction as the blame shifts toward Democratic leadership.

Social media feeds have been flooded with jokes, edits, and compilations highlighting the political deadlock, with many portraying the Democratic Party as disorganized and out of touch.

“The Democrats are losing the Schumer Shutdown and know that because they are being laughed at,” one post read. “It’s a real disaster.”

Several viral videos circulating this week feature clips of Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, and other top Democrats, often paired with music or movie scenes mocking their handling of the budget impasse.

Many of the clips have been shared thousands of times on platforms like X, TikTok, and Instagram.

“This shutdown will be remembered for its memes,” one user wrote, sharing a compilation video that has been viewed more than two million times. Others created parodies and even custom screensavers inspired by the standoff.

One popular meme circulating online shows a photo of Jeffries with the caption, “Jeffries is coming across as an idiot.”

Another features President Donald Trump with the tagline, “Trump keeps rocking,” reflecting the perception among conservatives that the president has maintained control of the political narrative despite congressional gridlock.

“This shutdown is a joke on Schumer, Jeffries, and the Democrats,” another post stated. “It’s clear the country wants this silliness from the Dems to end.”

The online reaction mirrors growing public impatience with Congress. With federal funding frozen and negotiations at a standstill, pressure is mounting on lawmakers to reach an agreement.

But while political leaders trade barbs on camera, social media users are turning the stalemate into a stream of viral humor.

For now, the Schumer Shutdown has become less about policy details and more about perception. The laughter from across the country suggests that Democrats may be losing control of both the message and the moment.

Soros Fingerprints Found All Over the Rise of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani
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Soros Fingerprints Found All Over the Rise of Democratic Socialist Zohran Mamdani

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In September 2017, a photograph surfaced on social media showing activist Linda Sarsour kneeling on a Brooklyn sidewalk beside campaign volunteers for City Council candidate Khader El-Yateem.

Among them was a young organizer named Zohran Mamdani.

That image, posted on El-Yateem’s campaign page, marked the beginning of a political collaboration that would soon extend far beyond a local election.

Eight years later, Mamdani — now 34 — is positioned to seek the mayoralty of New York City.

His ascent, according to a Fox News Digital investigation, is the result of a coordinated network of political and religious organizations that have advanced candidates sharing socialist and Islamist ideologies.

A review of 110 groups supporting Mamdani shows overlapping ties between Muslim advocacy organizations and left-wing coalitions, including 76 Democratic Party affiliates and unions.

Central to that effort are two key networks: Sarsour’s MPower organizations and a related group called Emgage.

Tax records reviewed by Fox News Digital show that billionaire George Soros’ Open Society foundations have contributed nearly $2.5 million to MPower and Emgage in recent years.

The Heir: Inside the (Not So) Secret Network of Alex Soros

A spokesperson for the Open Society Foundations said, “We fund a range of civil society organizations that work to deepen civic engagement through peaceful democratic participation, counter discrimination including against Muslim Americans and advance human rights.”

The spokesperson added that the cited grants occurred years before the mayoral race and were unrelated to any campaign activity.

The Fox News Digital investigation found that MPower and Emgage are part of a coalition of about 30 ethnic and religious groups, including CAIR Action, the Islamic Circle of North America, the Muslim Action Coalition, and the Bangladeshi American Advocacy Group.

Together, they have combined annual revenues exceeding $24 million and have mobilized resources, volunteers, and online campaigns to back Mamdani.

Analysts say these networks represent a coordinated political machine that merges progressive socialist movements with Islamist activism.

Through campaigns like Emgage’s “Defend and Advance” initiative, the coalition promotes Mamdani alongside other Muslim candidates such as Virginia Lt. Governor candidate Ghazala Hashmi and Dearborn, Michigan, Mayor Abdullah Hammoud.

Emgage’s financial supporters include the Sterling Charitable Gift Fund in Herndon, Virginia — a group previously investigated by federal authorities in connection with suspected funding of Hamas-linked entities in the early 2000s, though no charges were ever filed.

Over the past decade, Sarsour and her allies have built a nationwide infrastructure linking philanthropy, activism, and political organizing.

Their financial backing has come from large foundations such as the Ford Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Tides Foundation, alongside Soros’ network.

This structure has helped launch Mamdani’s political career, combining nonprofit outreach with campaign operations.

Dalia Al-Aqidi, an Iraqi American Muslim and Republican congressional candidate challenging Ilhan Omar in Minnesota, said, “The data, the money trail and the affiliations, from the Democratic Socialists of America to the Islamists, tells a different story.”

She added, “Mamdani’s ascent is the product of deliberate design: a sophisticated collaboration between socialist activism and Islamist organizing, lubricated by millions in foundation grants and political donations.”

Mamdani’s activism began at Bowdoin College in Maine, where in 2012 he co-founded a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine.

By 2017, he was working on El-Yateem’s campaign with Sarsour.

In 2018, he joined the board of the Muslim Democratic Club of New York, a political organization co-founded by Sarsour to mobilize Muslim voters for progressive candidates.

The group endorsed Mamdani during his 2020 campaign for the New York State Assembly.

Public records show that MPower Change, a nonprofit housed at Neo Philanthropy, received at least $2.4 million in funding between 2017 and 2024, including more than $1 million from Soros’ Foundation to Promote Open Society and $450,000 from the MacArthur Foundation.

Emgage Action, another key organization in Mamdani’s orbit, has received more than $3 million in grants from the same philanthropic network.

Mamdani’s rise has also been supported by several imams with controversial records.

In January, he met with Imam Muhammad Al-Barr, who had previously prayed publicly for the “annihilation” of Israel.

In May, Imam Siraj Wahhaj — who once testified as a character witness for Omar Abdel-Rahman, the “Blind Sheikh” convicted in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing — donated to Mamdani’s campaign fund. Mamdani later described Wahhaj as “one of the nation’s foremost Muslim leaders.”

Other clerical backers include Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid of the Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in Harlem, who previously defended individuals linked to terrorist organizations, and Imam Khalid Latif of New York University, who endorsed Mamdani on social media in June.

Following criticism of his meeting with Wahhaj, Mamdani received public support from Sarsour, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, and Emgage Action.

Sarsour shared a photo of herself with Mamdani, writing, “May Allah continue to bless and protect you.”

Emgage’s executive director Wa’el Alzayat responded to the controversy by saying, “We are in this for the long haul.”

Al-Aqidi said the controversy only confirms how deeply the network is entrenched.

“For over a decade, Linda Sarsour and her network of allies have built the Mamdani machine piece by piece: the institutions, the donors, the narratives and now, the candidate,” she said.

“His rise was not spontaneous. It was engineered, and the machinery behind it is only getting stronger.”


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