Today in Politics, Bulletin 243. 11/4/25

… With a 37% approval rating and bad election results looming tonight, Trump spent the day making a series of unhinged maniacal posts on Truth Social. He announced that he was going to refuse the follow the order of a federal court to disperse SNAP benefits to needy families: “SNAP BENEFITS will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up govt, which they can easily do, and not before!”

… The WH had to Clean Up on Aisle 47 later in the day after Dementia Donnie’s rant. Politico: “The Trump admin is still sending partial food aid benefits for nearly 42 million Americans this month, despite the president’s recent threat to withhold federal funding until the shutdown ends.”

… Karoline Leavitt: “The administration is fully complying with the court order. I just spoke to the president about it.”

… Trump just watches something on Fox then rage posts a new edict in response on Truth Social five minutes later without talking to anyone, then his babysitters try to explain to him that the Fox segment was wrong or his solution is insane, then he goes back to his ballroom work.

… He then announced that DOJ is investigating the CA redistricting referendum: “The Unconstitutional Redistricting Vote in California is a GIANT SCAM in that the entire process, in particular the Voting itself, is RIGGED. All ‘Mail-In’ Ballots, where the Republicans in that State are ‘Shut Out,’ is under very serious legal and criminal review. STAY TUNED!”

… Gavin Newsom: “Said by a man who just moments ago told Americans he’d ignore a court order to feed people. A totally unserious person spreading false information in a desperate attempt to cope with his failures.”

… Karoline Leavitt was asked about Trump’s claim: Q - “The president posted that the voting in CA is rigged, what evidence does he have of that? Leavitt: It’s absolutely true that there is fraud in CA’s elections. It’s just a fact. Reporter: What does he mean by rigged? Leavitt: Fraudulent ballots that are being mailed in the names of other people, in the names of illegal aliens who shouldn’t be voting.”

… Who could have foreseen after everything that went down Nov 2020-Jan 2021 that if we put this guy back in power we would never have another normal election while he was president? Voters in Nov 2024 took a blowtorch to American democracy.

… Following the lead of their cult leader, MAGA activists were all over social media, as usual, spreading one false allegation of election fraud after another. Whenever they lose it is “rigged.”

… Polymarket: “BREAKING: Zohran Mamdani listed twice on the ballot for today’s NYC Mayoral Election.”

… Chaos Agent Elon Musk: “Given that he’s on the ballot twice, maybe he can win twice too.”

… Former Bush Campaign Manager Stuart Stevens: “Hello, Elon Musk. Most immigrants assimilate and quickly understand how American electoral system works. You haven’t so let me help. In NY State, multiple parties can organize and get on the ballot. There is no requirement that a party cannot nominate the same candidate as another party. In practice this happens in every NY election. In 2016, Trump was on NY ballot 3 times as nominee of Republican, Conservative and Independent parties. It’s a privilege to be an American citizen and I’d encourage you to learn more about your new country. We are not South Africa.”

… KY Secretary of State Michael Adams was dealing with a bunch of MAGA nuts today in his state: “We’re getting calls about polls being closed. They are closed because we do not have elections today. Kentucky votes next year. You cannot vote today in Kentucky for the mayor of New York City or the Governor of Virginia. Sorry.”

… Trump endorsed Andrew Cuomo and threatened to withhold federal funds from NY if he wins: “If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival! It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job.”

… Cuomo was asked about Trump’s post on Fox this morning: “That could be very helpful. Because if Republicans don’t vote for Sliwa they would vote for me.”

… Treasury Sec Scott Bessent was asked on CNBC about Trump’s threat to withhold federal funds from NY if Mamdani wins: “We have some discretion here in DC. It seems like more money should go to the states the people are moving to.”

… Trump kicked off the opening of the polls today with this post: “Any Jewish person that votes for Zohran Mamdani, a proven and self professed JEW HATER, is a stupid person!!!”

… Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) made a series of racist and unhinged posts about Mamdani. He posted a photo of what looked like an impoverished area in Africa with this caption: “This is a photo of Mamdani’s home country, Uganda. This is what New York will look like after he’s destroyed it. DEPORT HIM NOW!”

… Ogles: “I may file a bill to remove Mamdani. The 14th Amendment may allow Congress the authority to BAN Mamdani from office. I am looking into this.”

… Ogles then posted a video of one of the planes flying into the Twin Towers.

… Republican candidate for VA Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears was on Fox blaming her imminent loss on Barack Obama: “Last year, he told everybody to vote for the Black woman. Well, here I am. Here I am and now he’s singing a different tune. Hypocrisy all the way.”

… I will point out that Trump never endorsed Earle-Sears because he knew she was going to lose bigly. The farthest he would go was to tell everyone to “vote Republican” in VA.

… NJ Lt. Gov Tahesha Way: “Earlier today, bomb threats were made to several polling sites. Law enforcement has determined there are no credible threats at this time. We are doing everything in our power to protect voters and poll workers and encourage every eligible voter to exercise their right to vote.”

… Dem nominee for governor Mikie Sherrill: “These threats are a clear attempt to undermine our democratic system and intimidate New Jerseyans from going to the polls to exercise their right to vote. I’m grateful for law enforcement’s swift response to these threats and for making sure that every voter can safely and securely make their voice heard this Election Day. We will not stand for voter suppression in our state — and I encourage all New Jerseyans to not be deterred as they cast their ballots today.”

… Lawfare’s Molly Roberts covered the trial today of the guy who threw a sandwich at a federal agent. She did some hilarious reporting on the ridiculous case: “Back for Day 2 of Sandwich Guy’s trial. In government opening statement: ‘This case is about the fact that you can’t go around throwing stuff at people when you’re mad.’”

… Defense begins with, “He did it. He threw the sandwich.” Goes on to argue that the throw was “an exclamation mark at the end of a verbal outburst.”

… “The officer Sandwich Guy is charged with assaulting testifies that he could feel the impact of the sandwich through his ballistic vest, and it ‘exploded all over my uniform.’ He says he could ‘smell the onions and the mustard.’”

… “Agent Larimore was shown the end of an Instagram video of the incident, with a Subway footlong on the ground accompanied by the text, ‘This sandwich is going up in history.’ He said he believed the video depicted the sandwich thrown at him but had no way of verifying.”

… Then the most dramatic moment of the day: “We’re back to the sandwich video. The paper, the defense points out, is still on. “You don’t see there’s mustard on it?” “You can’t tell there’s ketchup on it?” Mayonnaise? Lettuce? Tomato? “In fact, that sandwich hasn’t exploded at all?” Witness says the sandwich “looks bent and out of shape.”

… “Agent Lairmore is done with his testimony. Prosecution asked further about the condiments and he said there was mustard on his uniform and an onion hanging on his radio antenna. Don’t think defense was going for a pun when she called him a “seasoned officer,” but you never know…”

… “Sandwich Guy is in the courthouse cafeteria eating a soup.”

… The trial of the century.

… With Trump’s approval ratings at an all-time low, naturally he says the polls are rigged: “So many Fake Polls are being shown by the Radical Left Media, all slanted heavily toward Democrats and Far Left Wingers. In the Fair Polls, and even the Reasonable Polls, I have the Best Numbers I have ever had and, why shouldn’t I?”

… There are zero polls that show him with good numbers. Even his buddy Rasmussen has him in the toilet.

… Karoline Leavitt was asked today about Trump’s MRI from 3 weeks ago: Q - Why did the President get an MRI? Leavitt: I will check back on that. But as you all know because you are all witness to it, every single day the president is in optimal physical health. Reporter - It’s a very specific procedure. It’s not generally routine. He said he wants to be transparent. Why don’t we have more info on this? Leavitt: I’ll check back for you.”

… Translation: I need to get the lie that Trump wants me to tell while I hope you forget to follow up about it.

… Rep. Marge Greene was on The View today. These were some quotes from the show:

• “The worst thing that I can’t get over is that we’re not working right now. I put that criticism directly on the Speaker. People go to work everyday. It is an embarrassment that we are not in session.”

• “I wouldn’t vote for Andrew Cuomo. All these women came out with these accusations against him which I found pretty disgusting. And then the Covid lockdowns and all the people’s parents and grandparents who died in nursing homes.”

• “When I talk about weak Republican men, I’m pretty much talking often times about the leadership in the House and the Senate.”

• On Epstein: “It seems like very rich and powerful men are being protected. It’s horrendous.”

• “I shouldn’t have to go into a SCIF to go find our Republican health insurance plan.” Hostin: “There is no plan.” Greene: “That I believe is the truth.”

• “I think there’s a lot of paid social media influencers - they’re all MAGA accounts, and they all attacked me when I said I was coming on this show.”

… Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC) has now made 97 social media posts about the airport incident a couple days ago where she was accused of behaving like a fool while cursing at police, TSA and airline employees over nothing.

… It is clear that Trump’s new appointee Lindsey Halligan, who indicted former FBI Director James Comey and NY AG Letitia James on Trump’s orders, got the indictments with some shady tactics. The judge in the Comey case issued an order last week demanding to see full transcripts of the closed-door proceedings that took place. Halligan only submitted a transcript of one witnesses’s testimony. Senior Judge Cameron Currie was not pleased, and issued this order today:

“On Oct 28, 2025, the undersigned entered an order directing the Government to submit, for in camera review, “all documents relating to the indictment signer’s participation in the grand jury proceedings, along with complete grand jury transcripts.” On Oct 31, the court received a package containing a “Transcript of Grand Jury proceedings on Sept 25.” This court has reviewed the transcript and finds it fails to include remarks made by the indictment signer both before and after the testimony of the sole witness, which remarks were referenced by the indictment signer during the witness’s testimony.

In addition, the package contains no records or transcripts regarding the presentation of the 3-count indictment referenced in the Transcript of the Return of Grand Jury Indictment Proceedings before the Magistrate Judge. Accordingly, the Government is directed to submit, no later than Wed, Nov 5, 2025, at 5:00 pm, for in camera review, a complete Transcript and/or recording of all statements made by the indictment signer to the grand jury, to include statements made prior to and after the testimony of the witness and during the presentation of the indictments.”

… Former AG Eric Holder on Halligan: “I don’t think Jim Comey stands any chance of being convicted. I think the same is true for Letitia James. But to have a former insurance lawyer - someone who has never been a criminal prosecutor - present a case to a grand jury simply at the call, at the whim, of the President is extremely, extremely dangerous.”

… Politico on Halligan’s latest shady move on the James case: “Unusual filing in the Letitia James case. DOJ says it isn’t complying with the judge’s order to turn over discovery on the selective prosecution issue. The usual procedure would be move to reconsider the order, but prosecutors file ‘notice’ telling judge no.”

… That will go over like a lead balloon with the judge. The admin and DOJ continues to brazenly obstruct court orders or simply ignore them.

… NYT: “Trump’s unrelenting fast-track drive to humiliate, investigate and prosecute the people he hates has gained momentum, in part, because his targets have not been in a position to inflict serious retributive pain on him. Jack Smith is different. Smith appears unintimidated by the president’s demand that Republican lawmakers investigate him and DOJ put him in prison for as-yet unproved and unspecified crimes.”

… “Quite the opposite, in fact. Smith, who spent more than two years aggressively collecting evidence to prove Mr. Trump mishandled classified documents and tried to overturn the results of the 2020 election, appears eager to publicly challenge a foundational pillar of MAGA canon: that the president was a sinned-upon innocent who did nothing to deserve scrutiny, much less two prosecutions.”

… “Smith has told people in his orbit that he welcomes the opportunity to present the public case against Trump denied to him by the Supreme Court decision asserting broad presidential immunity from prosecution and adverse rulings from a Trump-appointed judge on the federal bench in FL. Whether Smith gets the chance to confront his accusers on the biggest official stage available to him, a public House or Senate hearing, remains very much an open question.”

… “Some Republicans have privately expressed concern that Trump’s quest for vengeance could backfire by giving a credible anticorruption investigator an open mic. Nor do they see much political upside in rehashing an issue of searing import to the president but of little interest to voters in battleground districts, at a time when approval of Trump’s performance on the economy and immigration is sagging.”

… Smith has begun moving his own chess pieces. Through his lawyers, he demanded public hearings, along with asking DOJ to give him broad latitude to discuss evidence presented to grand juries. Neither request has thus far elicited a response. Smith’s lawyer Lanny Breuer: “Name the time and place. Jack will be there.”

… NYT: “Jeanine Pirro has interceded to stop Kash Patel’s firing of 4 veteran FBI agents targeted for their work on J6 cases. Firing the agents would hamper work on ongoing cases, she argued.”

… Sen. Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) on abuses by ICE agents: “There may not be consequence right now while Trump is in charge, but at some point there will be fair investigations. The ICE and Border Patrol agents that violate the rights of US citizens will be held accountable.”

… Dick Cheney died today. Bulwark Editor Bill Kristol’s obit: “Dick Cheney -a man I admired and was proud to consider a friend - has died at age 84. I honor his life, and mourn his death. And what a life! He held so many positions of the highest responsibility in our government, and he carried them out with conviction and distinction - and without vacillation or timidity. Cheney was a strong man, a doer of deeds, one who strove valiantly in the public arena. He always strove to act with firmness in the right as God gives us to see the right.

… Lincoln Project statement: “Dick Cheney was a genuine conservative, a patriotic Republican, and a man who made hard calls in tough times, even when it meant being excommunicated from the GOP. Our thoughts are with his family.”

This is out before any election results are in, but I am hoping for a big night. Mamdani and Spanberger should win easily, the CA redistricting referendum should pass by a big margin, and Sherill’s race will likely be the closest one but if she pulls off the clean sweep for Dems it will rattle Trump and Republicans on the Hill.

I certainly think a clean sweep will help end the shutdown, with Republicans hearing it from their voters back home. Whether it will cause the ones in vulnerable swing districts to finally get the courage to stand up to Trump to try and save themselves before the midterms remains to be seen.

Tomorrow is Ask the Editor, so please submit any questions you have in the comments section to this Bulletin or if there is just a subject you want me to talk more about.

If you missed yesterday’s Bulletin, you can find it here.

… After Elon Musk’s relentless attacks against Sean Duffy, Trump has caved to his wishes and is reappointing Jared Isaacman: “Sean Duffy has done an incredible job as Administrator of NASA. This evening, I am pleased to nominate Jared Isaacman, an accomplished business leader, philanthropist, pilot, and astronaut, as Administrator of NASA. Jared’s passion for Space, astronaut experience, and dedication to pushing the boundaries of exploration, unlocking the mysteries of the universe, and advancing the new Space economy, make him ideally suited to lead NASA into a bold new Era.”

Trump pulled Isaacman’s nomination in July after his friend Elon Musk made his post about starting a 3rd party. Trump said he was “surprised to learn Isaacman was a blue-blooded Democrat.” But Musk has been hammering Duffy for a month and