The Ford was ordered to be deployed by President Donald Trump last month as tensions escalated with Venezuela. The aircraft carrier was commissioned in 2017 and has more than 5,000 sailors on board.

The Ford was last stationed in the Mediterranean in late October to assist in dismantling transnational criminal groups and stopping drug smuggling.

Chief Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell said in a statement the move “will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor and disrupt illicit actors and activities.”

“The enhanced U.S. force presence in the USSOUTHCOM AOR will bolster U.S. capacity to detect, monitor, and disrupt illicit actors and activities that compromise the safety and prosperity of the United States homeland and our security in the Western Hemisphere,” Parnell said. “These forces will enhance and augment existing capabilities to disrupt narcotics trafficking and degrade and dismantle Transnational Criminal Organizations.”

In an effort to disrupt the supply of drug cartels, the Trump administration has significantly built up its military presence in the Caribbean. Since September, it has conducted at least 17 military strikes, killing at least 76 people, on boats suspected of smuggling drugs. And now the USS Gerald R. Ford is in the region, much to the dismay of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

“They promised they would never again get involved in a war, and they are fabricating a war,” Maduro said of the United States in a national broadcast.

He lost his 2024 election to challenger Maria Corina Machado, the 2025 recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. The Department of Justice has placed a $50 million reward for information that could lead to Maduro’s arrest. He’s been dubbed by Attorney General Pam Bondi as “one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.”

When the deployment of the Ford was first announced, Maduro warned that if the United States intervened with Venezuela, “millions of men and women with rifles would march across the country.”

Venezuela is reportedly planning a guerrilla response in the region if the United States attacks, according to a report from Reuters.

Southcom Commander, Adm. Alvin Holsey, in a statement, has said that “The USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group’s deployment represents a critical step in reinforcing our resolve to protect the security of the Western Hemisphere and the safety of the American homeland.”

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The news was announced by Martin on X, with the list including people like Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, and 77 more.

The pardons are “full, complete and unconditional,” listing they are “not limited to” only those mentioned in the document.

Trump’s proclamation lists the pardons as granted “to all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential electors, whether or not recognized by any State or State official, in connection with the 2020 Presidential Election, as well for any conduct relating to their efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in the 2020 Presidential Election.”

The document was dated Nov., with Trump’s signature at the bottom.

Martin first posted on X, saying “No MAGA left behind,” then responded with the pardon proclamation.

“This proclamation ends a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election and continues the process of national reconciliation,” the document says.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement released on Monday that the people pardoned “were persecuted and put through hell by the Biden administration for challenging an election, which is the cornerstone of democracy. Getting prosecuted for challenging results is something that happens in communist Venezuela, not the United States of America, and President Trump is putting an end to the Biden Regime’s communist tactics once and for all.”

The proclamation also states the pardon does not apply to Trump. Presidential pardons are only applicable to federal charges.

Prosecutors in several states filed criminal charges against many of the pardoned individuals in relation to what has been called the “fake electors” scheme. Individuals allegedly signed a document claiming Trump won that state’s 2020 presidential race even though it wasn’t true.

Trump has been granting clemency to multiple people recently, including former NYPD officer Michael McMahon and Major League Baseball Player Darryl Strawberry.

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Americans have been feeling the brunt of the shutdown, with more than a million federal workers working without pay. Around 700,00 federal workers have been furloughed since the shutdown started. Federal workers are entitled to back pay once the shutdown ends.

“There is going to be a 10% reduction in capacity at 40 of our locations,” Duffy said on Wednesday, adding the “data-based decision” is designed to alleviate pressure on controllers as they work to keep the skies safe.

“There may be flight delays or cancellations. Our top priority is that when Americans fly, they will make it to their destination safely because @USDOT and the @FAANews have done their work,” he later said in an X post.

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency is not going to wait for a problem to act, saying the shutdown is causing staffing pressures and “we can’t ignore it.” He and Duffy said they plan to meet with airline leaders to figure out how to safely implement the reduction.

A day prior, Duffy warned there might be “mass chaos” in the skies if controllers miss a second round of paychecks next week.

Trump met with Senate Republicans on Wednesday at the White House to discuss the shutdown over breakfast. The president called on Senate Republicans “to do what they have to do” and get rid of the filibuster.

“It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do, and that’s terminate the filibuster,” he said. “It’s the only way you can do it, and if you don’t terminate the filibuster, you’ll be in bad shape. We won’t pass any legislation.”

Many Republicans are standing firm in their opposition to ending the filibuster.

Millions of Americans are hurting from the shutdown, with thousands of federal workers missing paychecks, SNAP recipients not receiving funds to eat, and those looking to fly facing delays.

On Nov. 1, millions of Americans lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. States are awaiting their share of federal emergency contingency funds after two federal judges ruled the USDA must use the funds to cover the costs of the food assistance program for November.

Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins announced earlier this week that the department gave guidance on SNAP to states and was standing by for technical support. She noted in an X post that the situation was “cumbersome,” involving modified program eligibility and state notification procedures.

The contingency funds will cover around $6 billion, with SNAP costing around $8 billion per month.

The shutdown began on Oct. 1, as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on federal funding. The longest shutdown was 35 days in 2018 during Trump’s first term.

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The approval delivered a victory for Democrats in the state-by-state redistricting battle that will help determine which party controls the U.S. House in 2026 and, with it, the power to thwart or advance President Donald Trump’s agenda.

The approval of Proposition 50 gives Democrats a shot at winning as many as five additional seats. California Gov. Gavin Newsom pushed for redistricting after other states redrew their congressional maps at the request of Trump.

The lawsuit says the new maps are unconstitutional because they use a voter’s race when deciding how to draw districts, “specifically to favor Hispanic voters, without cause or evidence to justify it.” The suit asks the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California to block the new maps.

Texas’s redistricting and California’s response have kicked off a flurry of efforts around the country, with Republican states appearing to have an edge.

Earlier this year, California Republicans tried to stop the special election from taking place, but were unsuccessful. Newsom has said he is confident the maps would be able to withstand any legal battles.

California’s Proposition 50 asked voters to suspend House maps drawn by an independent commission and replace them with rejiggered districts adopted by the Democratic-controlled legislature. Those new districts would be in place for the 2026, 2028, and 2030 elections.

Democrats are hoping to pick up as many as five seats in California, offsetting the fiveRepublicans are looking to pick up through new Texas maps. Republicans also expect to gain one seat each from new maps in Missouri and North Carolina, and potentially two more in Ohio.

Congressional district boundaries are typically redrawn every 10 years to reflect population shifts from the census. Mid-decade redistricting is unusual, absent a court order finding fault with the maps.

Midterm elections typically punish the party in the White House, and Trump is fighting to maintain Republicans’ slim House majority. Republicans hold 219 seats to Democrats’ 213.

The lawsuit is similar to a Supreme Court case that could limit a state’s ability to use race as a factor when drawing congressional maps.

In the case of Louisiana v. Callais, justices are deciding whether or not redrawing the maps in Louisiana to ensure Black districts violates the Fourteenth and Fifteenth amendments of the Constitution. The amendments were used to give equal rights to former slaves after the Civil War.

Last year, Louisiana was required to redraw its maps after the state was sued under the Voting Rights Act to make sure there were two majority-Black districts. The original map had  one district, while almost a third of the population of Louisiana is Black.

Louisiana supports voters who sued to block the new map on constitutional grounds, bringing up the question of whether states can use race when drawing electoral districts. The Trump administration backs Louisiana’s new position on the map.

The Voting Rights Act is legislation from the civil rights movement, and the challenge could potentially gut the key provision of the law that prohibits racial discrimination in redistricting.

It is not clear if the Supreme Court’s decision will be made by the 2026 midterms.

Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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Trump met with Senate Republicans at the White House to discuss the shutdown over a breakfast meeting on Wednesday.

The president called on Senate Republicans “to do what they have to do” and get rid of the filibuster.

“It’s time for Republicans to do what they have to do, and that’s terminate the filibuster,” Trump said. “It’s the only way you can do it, and if you don’t terminate the filibuster, you’ll be in bad shape. We won’t pass any legislation.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune has widely opposed terminating the filibuster, and Trump acknowledged that Senate Republicans do not want to do that, but said it was “the only way.”

“You’re very smart people, we’re good friends, but I think it’s a tremendous mistake, really,” Trump said. “It’s possible you’re not going to do that, and I’m going to go by your wishes.

The Senate voted against reopening the government for the 14th time on Tuesday.

“I think there are people who realize this has gone on long enough, there’s been enough pain inflicted on the American people, and it’s time to end it,” he said.

The funding bill is set to expire on Nov. 21, but Thune has said lawmakers need more time to work on an appropriations bill that will last a year. This would mean the House would need to return to Washington to make that change.

Americans have been feeling the brunt of the shutdown, with more than a million federal employees working without pay. Around 700,00 federal workers have been furloughed. Federal workers are entitled to back pay after the shutdown ends.

Airports across the country have been hit hard, with Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy saying there might be “mass chaos” in the skies if air traffic controllers miss a second round of paychecks next week.

On Sunday alone, Duffy said 46% of flights were delayed because staffing issues in air traffic control towers.

Duffy and the head of the air traffic controllers union said it will only get worse the longer the shutdown goes on, and the financial pressure continues to grow on people working without pay.

In a seven-page letter the U.S. Travel Association recently sent, the agency urged Congress to pass “a clean continuing resolution” to reopen the government. According to the agency, America’s travel economy has already lost $4 billion, with the losses growing “significantly” each the shutdown goes on.

The Trump administration is using emergency funds for SNAP benefits this month, with beneficiaries receiving partial payments after two federal judges ruled the administration must use SNAP’s contingency funds during the shutdown.

On Tuesday, Trump posted to Truth Social, saying SNAP benefits will only be given out once the government reopens.

It’s not clear when SNAP recipients will receive payment for November on their EBT cards, but the USDA has warned some states might be delayed in getting money distributed to recipients.

The shutdown began on Oct. 1, as Democrats and Republicans failed to reach an agreement on federal funding. The longest shutdown was 35 days in 2018 during Trump’s first term.

This is the fourth time the government has shut down under Trump.

Democrats have been pushing for healthcare subsidies for 24 million Americans who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act. They are refusing to reopen the government until the funding bill includes tax breaks for those using the ACA. Republicans have said they will negotiate once the government reopens.

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In response, DoorDash has started an Emergency Food Response through Project DASH, delivering one million free meals through food banks and waiving delivery and service fees for SNAP recipient grocery stores.

• Deliver one million meals for 300+ Project DASH partners nationwide. DoorDash is waiving merchant fees for all 300+ Project DASH partner food banks, food pantries, and community organizations nationwide throughout November, equal to an estimated  one million meals.
• Waive delivery and service fees for 300,000 grocery orders for SNAP recipients. DoorDash and grocery partners are covering the cost of delivery and service fees for an estimated 300,000 orders for SNAP recipients in November, helping families stretch budgets during any SNAP freeze. Customers who have linked a SNAP/EBT card to their profile can shop on DoorDash at Sprouts, Dollar General, Schnucks, Ahold Delhaize brands, Hy-Vee, Giant Eagle, and Wegmans and have their delivery and service fees waived on one order.
• Donate food and essentials to local food banks. DoorDash will donate fresh food, shelf-stable items and household essentials from DashMart locations to local food banks in affected communities.

“No one should go hungry in America — period,” said Max Rettig, vice president and global head of public policy at DoorDash. “Millions of families are worried right now about how they’ll put food on the table. Fighting hunger is core to our mission at DoorDash, and we’re stepping up alongside leading grocers and retailers to help bridge the gap.

“We know this is a stopgap, not a solution. But doing nothing simply isn’t an option.”

DoorDash is also calling on Congress to come together to “continue to fund this essential program that keeps Americans from going hungry.”

SNAP is the largest food aid program in the United States. In a statement, DoorDash said its “response alone cannot match the scale of this crisis,” with the government shutdown being the second-longest in U.S. history.

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Combs has to live at a location approved by his probation officer, with his officer being allowed to visit him unannounced.

If there was reasonable suspicion that Combs violated his release, he must allow the search of himself, property, vehicle, computers and cellphones.

He also cannot own a firearm or any type of dangerous weapon and cannot communicate with anyone who is involved in criminal activity. Combs is required to work a minimum of 30 hours a week. He has to participate in a program for mental health treatment and an outpatient program for domestic violence.

Combs was convicted in July of flying people around the country for sexual encounters, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, in violation of the federal Mann Act, also known as the White-Slave Traffic Act. He was sentenced on Oct. 3.

He has already served half of his sentence, so he will be released in about three years. Combs was also fined $500,000.

The 55-year-old was acquitted of more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges that would have put him in prison for life.

During his sentencing hearing, the Associated Press reported that prosecutor Christy Slavik told Judge Arun Subramanian that not sentencing Combs to further prison time would be allowing him to get away with years of domestic violence.

The judge told the courtroom that a lengthy sentence was needed for “deterrence” and that he was unconvinced that if Combs was released, these crimes wouldn’t happen again.

Combs’ former girlfriend, R&B singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, who testified about Combs ordering her to have sex with strangers hundreds of times, also wrote the judge about how Combs’ accusers live in fear of “swift retribution” after they spoke up about the abuse at trial.

Combs was denied bail in July after asking to be released on a $50 million bond. Subramanian said Combs had not met the burden of showing by clear and convincing evidence a “lack of danger to any person or the community.”

Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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The elementary school shooting killed 20 first graders and six educators in Newtown, Connecticut.

The justices issued the order without asking families of the Sandy Hook victims to respond to the appeal. They also did not comment on the order.

In 2022, Jones filed for bankruptcy, with his lawyers telling the justices the “plaintiffs have no possible hope of collecting” the entire judgment.

Jones is also facing a similar defamation lawsuit in Texas, where he failed to turn over documents sought by the parents of another Sandy Hook victim. He is also appealing that $49 million lawsuit.

In the Connecticut case, the judge issued a rare default ruling against Jones and his company in late 2021 because of what she called Jones’ repeated failure to abide by court rulings and to turn over certain evidence to the Sandy Hook families. The judge convened a jury to determine how much Jones would owe.

The following year, the jury agreed on a $964 million verdict and the judge later tacked on another $473 million in punitive damages against Jones and Free Speech Systems, Infowars’ parent company that is based in Austin, Texas.

In November, the satirical news outlet The Onion was named the winning bidder in an auction to liquidate Infowars’ assets to help pay the defamation judgments. But the bankruptcy judge threw out the auction results, citing problems with the process and the bid.

The attempt to sell off Infowars’ assets has moved to a Texas state court in Austin. Jones is now appealing a recent order from the court appointing a receiver to liquidate the assets. Some of Jones’ personal property is also being sold.

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear Louisiana v. Callais on Wednesday, wherejustices will debate whether states have the power to create legislative districts complying with the Voting Rights Act, that do not violate the bans on discrimination in the 14th and 15th amendments.

Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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The Clintons were among several former administration officials who have been subpoenaed by the Oversight Committee.

Hillary Clinton was expected to appear before the Oversight Committee on Oct. 9, but did not appear. Bill Clinton was set to testify on Tuesday, but according to the New York Post, the committee is working with the Clintons’ attorney to make their appearances fit into their schedules.

Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer, R-K., shared the list of those who were subpoenaed. He said the Clintons are among 10 people to be called to appear for depositions.

“Everybody in America wants to know what went on in Epstein Island, and we’ve all heard reports that Bill Clinton was a frequent visitor there, so he’s a prime suspect to be deposed by the House Oversight Committee,” Comer told Newsmax.

Last month, the committee released 200 pages of letters allegedly compiled by Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell.

In the collection, there were letters allegedly signed by Bill Clinton.

What looks like a letter signed by Clinton praises Epstein’s “childlike curiosity, the drive to make a difference, and the [illegible] of friends.”

Epstein died in prison in August 2019 as he was waiting for a trial on sex trafficking charges of minors and conspiracy to commit sex trafficking. He pleaded guilty to similar state-level charges in Florida in 2008.

In July, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted an interview with Maxwell, where she reportedly told Blanche that Bill Clinton was her friend.

“President Clinton was my friend, not Epstein’s friend,” Maxwell said in a jailhouse interview with the Department of Justice official. “President Clinton liked me, and we got along terribly well.”

She also told Blanche that Bill Clinton “absolutely never” went to Epstein’s Island.

In the book, Clinton wrote he flew on Epstein’s private plane for work with his nonprofit, but said traveling on the plane was “not worth the years of questioning afterward.”

The Clintons are not accused of anything related to the Epstein case.

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In a statement shared by the League of United Latin American Citizens, the family confirmed that Miguel Ángel García-Hernández, 32, died from his injuries after being removed from life support.

García-Hernández was one of three detainees shot during the attack. Joshua Jahn, 29, was identified as the alleged shooter. The Department of Homeland Security reported that the gunman was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

“My husband Miguel was a good man, a loving father and the provider for our family,” Stephany Gauffeny said in the statement. “We had just bought our first home together, and he worked hard every single day to make sure our children had what they needed. His death is a senseless tragedy that has left our family shattered. I do not know how to explain to our children that their father is gone.”

FBI Director Kash Patel said “an initial review of the evidence shows an ideological motive behind the attack” and shared a photo on X of one of the unspent shell casings with the phrase anti-ICE engraved. No law enforcement officers were hurt in the shooting.

The FBI executed multiple search warrants associated with Jahn and found a collection of notes at his residence. One of the notes explicitly stated, “Yes, it was just me.” At this time, authorities believe Jahn acted alone. Other notes included a game plan of the attack and target areas at the facility.

“He hoped to minimize any collateral damage or injury to the detainees and any other innocent people. It seems that he did not intend to kill the detainees or harm them,” Larson said. “It’s clear from these notes that he was targeting ICE agents and ICE personnel”

“He hoped his actions would terrorize ICE employees and interfere with their work, which he called ‘human trafficking,’ ” Larson said, adding that  what he did is the “very definition of terrorism.”

Editor’s note: The Associated Press contributed to this article.

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