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Today’s Sponsor: Ground News
Today’s Rundown:
- SUPREME COURT KEEPS BLOCK ON SNAP BOOST EVEN AS SHUTDOWN ENDS: The Supreme Court left in place an order halting increased SNAP (food stamp) payments, even as Congress moved to reopen the government. The pause means November benefits won’t reflect the higher amounts some states expected. Anti-hunger groups say families already hit by the shutdown will feel the strain. The case will continue in lower courts while the stay remains.
- 600 PARAMOUNT–SKYDANCE STAFF QUIT OVER RTO MANDATE, $185M HIT: About 600 employees took severance rather than comply with a five-days-in-office policy, according to a company memo and regulatory filings. Yahoo Finance reports the exits will cost roughly $185 million in severance and related expenses. Leadership argues in-person work is needed to integrate the merger. Critics say the policy accelerated talent loss during a volatile transition.
- AMAZON TO CUT NEARLY 700 CORPORATE JOBS IN NEW YORK CITY: New filings show Amazon is eliminating almost 700 roles across nine NYC offices as part of broader restructuring. The cuts span tech, HR, and operations, with the largest tranche in its Hudson Yards location. Local officials flagged the impact on Manhattan’s office market. Amazon said affected employees will receive severance and transition support.
- TRUMP’S 50-YEAR MORTGAGE IDEA LOSES STEAM AMID COST CONCERNS: Housing economists say ultra-long mortgages lower monthly payments but can nearly double lifetime interest, slow equity building, and raise default risk. After initial fanfare, analysts and regulators have voiced skepticism about adoption in U.S. markets. Even some supportive voices frame it as a niche option at best. Coverage notes the plan remains light on operational details.
- DOJ OPENS PROBE AFTER PROTESTS DISRUPT UC BERKELEY TPUSA EVENT: The Justice Department said it’s reviewing possible civil-rights violations tied to clashes around a Turning Point USA appearance on campus. Local reports describe arrests and scuffles; the university says it’s conducting its own investigation. Free-speech and campus-safety policies are now under the microscope. Officials haven’t announced specific charges.
- ALLISON MACK DISCUSSES NXIVM IN NEW POST-PRISON AUDIO SERIES: In a new CBC/Uncover podcast, the former Smallville actor admits to abusive conduct while in NXIVM and reflects on her recruitment role under Keith Raniere. Mack was released in 2023 after pleading guilty in 2021. She says she was manipulated but accepts responsibility for harms caused. The series marks her most extensive public comments since prison.
- BOB ROSS PAINTINGS FETCH $600K+ TO SUPPORT PUBLIC TV STATIONS: Three Ross canvases sold at Bonhams for more than $600,000, with proceeds directed to stations hit by funding cuts. The lots—painted during 1993 episodes of The Joy of Painting—far exceeded estimates. More works will be auctioned in coming weeks. Organizers say the sales underscore Ross’s enduring cultural pull.
- U.S. FLOATS 107% TARIFF ON ITALIAN PASTA IMPORTS: A proposed anti-dumping duty could more than double the cost of some imported pasta—or push brands off U.S. shelves altogether. Trade experts say consumers could see price spikes or substitutions if the levy is finalized. Italian producers and U.S. importers are lobbying hard as the review proceeds. Here’s what’s at stake for your grocery aisle.
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