September 29, 2025 07:28:21 AM
September 29, 2025 07:28:21 AM
It rests on the wires for government funding. Democrats and Republican Congressional leaders head to the White House on Monday for a meeting with President Donald Trump in a late effort to avoid closure.
Welcome to this week’s AP Ground Games version.
Policy changes, but the facts can bear it. The AP provides accurate and factual journalism to continue to inform the world in all administrations. Supports today’s independent reporting. Donate.
The White House will be seen at the sunrise in Washington on Sunday, September 28th, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)
A shutdown approaches as Congressional leaders head towards the White House
Trump has repeatedly said he is fully hoping the government will enter the shutdown this week, with Republicans voting against laws that primarily maintain government funding at the current level. So far, Democrats have held it firmly, using one of their few leverages to demand that Congress enact laws to expand medical benefits.
Trump suddenly cancelled a planned meeting with Congressional leaders last week, calling Democrats’ demands “absurd and ridiculous.” Still, Democrats argued that Trump’s convention shows he feels pressure to negotiate, noting that Republicans control the White House and Congress, and that Americans almost blame them for the closure.
But to retain their negotiation leverage, Senate Democrats will have to vote against the bill on Tuesday to temporarily extend government funds hours before the shutdown. As the bill has already passed a Republican-controlled House, the bill continues to fund the government for another seven weeks, with Congress working on the Annual Expense Act. read more.
Note:
If the government funding law is passed by Congress and not signed by Trump on Tuesday night, many government agencies across the country will be temporarily shut down and unexempt federal employees will increase tensions in workers and the country’s economy.
Oregon leaders say Trump has deployed 200 National Guard troops
The latest federal military action in the United States appears to be coming in Oregon, with 200 members of the state’s National Guard being placed under federal control and deployed to protect immigration enforcement officers and government facilities.
The Department of Defense memo received by state leaders on Sunday does not specifically cite Portland as the target for the proposed deployment. However, in a social media post on Saturday, Trump said the Pentagon had instructed him to provide all the military he needed to protect Portland, which was destroyed by the war.
Democratic Gov. Tina Kotek said in a conversation with the president on Sunday that she opposed the development. There were no immediate comments from the White House, and no Pentagon officials contacted confirmed or denied the credibility of the note. read more.
Note:
So far, Oregon appears to be different to federal lawsuits in other cities this year. The Trump administration deployed active-duty Marines in Los Angeles, with over 1,000 National Guard personnel, including units from other states, patrolling the streets of Washington, D.C. for several weeks. The development in Memphis, Tennessee is expected soon, and Trump threatened to send the National Guard to Chicago, but has yet to follow him.
Trump’s team continues to post his AI portraits. Continue clicking.
A new official image of the president is slowly emerging on social media accounts of Donald Trump and his second-term administration.
From the carved brave versions of Trump, to the Patriot red lightsabers, and even Pope Trump, to the Star Wars Jedi, with Trump and his team running the camera, to ai images. And they arrive in Trump’s normal style: brassy, unashamed and attention-grabbing along with the heavy memes his social media team promises to continue.
The White House is aware of the appeal. I posted it on my X account in July. “I’m not saying you can’t post Banger memes anywhere in the Constitution.” A photo of the White House lawn sign attached to the post parody of the opposition: “Ohm, did the White House really post this?” Read more.
Note:
The lack of subtlety in Trump’s own AI image helps explain their consistent virality. Commenters lament the end of the president’s politeness and can taste those very reactions and everything in between.
But it is a tradition for Trump, cashing out the currency of our attention economy. Even when you cracked your smile or grabbed a pearl, he still showed you.
