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Texas climbs to No. 15, Oklahoma rises to No. 11 and Georgia Tech drops to No. 12 in a topsy-turvy USA TODAY Sports NCAA Re-Rank 1-136.

The Longhorns have clearly figured something out during a four-game winning streak bookended by high-profile wins against the Sooners and Vanderbilt. Arch Manning has played his best football during this stretch, capped by 328 yards and three touchdowns against the Commodores.

Oklahoma goes up seven spots after beating Tennessee to notch one of the best road wins by any team in the Power Four. The win keeps the Sooners alive in the College Football Playoff race in advance of games against Alabama, Missouri and LSU.

The Yellow Jackets drop six spots after losing to North Carolina State. Tech remains the top-ranked team in the ACC, ahead of No. 13 Louisville, No. 17 Miami, No. 20 Virginia and No. 25 Pittsburgh.

Down six after losing in overtime to SMU, the Hurricanes are one of a few Power Four contenders dropping in this week’s re-rank. The Commodores fall to No. 16, the No. 24 Volunteers are down 10 spots, Cincinnati drops to No. 28 after getting blown out by Utah and Houston is down to No. 30 after a narrow loss to Arizona State.

There were no changes to the top five of No. 1 Indiana, No. 2 Ohio State, No. 3 Texas A&M, No. 4 Alabama and No. 5 Georgia. Rounding out the top 10 are No. 6 Oregon, No. 7 Mississippi, No. 8 Brigham Young, No. 9 Texas Tech and No. 10 Notre Dame.

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President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Andrew Cuomo on Monday while threatening to withhold federal funding from New York City if Zohran Mamdani, who he labeled a ‘Communist’, wins the mayoral election.

In a lengthy post on Truth Social, he also warned that the city would face ‘total economic and social disaster’ under Mamdani’s leadership.

‘If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, 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!’ he wrote in the post.

‘It can only get worse with a Communist at the helm, and I don’t want to send, as President, good money after bad. It is my obligation to run the Nation, and it is my strong conviction that New York City will be a Complete and Total Economic and Social Disaster should Mamdani win,’ he added before claiming a win for Mamdani would be a ‘Complete and Total Economic and Social Disaster.’

The president’s post also marked his latest attempt to guide New Yorkers at the polls.

‘A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani,’ Trump added.

‘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. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!’

Speaking at a press event in New York on the eve of the election, Mamdani responded to the president’s Truth Social post.

‘The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump’s understanding that this would be the best mayor for him,’ he said.

‘Not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump and his administration.’

Mamdani also responded to Elon Musk supporting Cuomo on Monday, saying ‘the reason that the President of the United States of America, the reason that one of the wealthiest men in the world are both trying to get involved at the last minute, is that they know we will accomplish everything we have run on.’

The socialist mayoral candidate spoke out about Trump’s threat to withhold federal funding from the city, and labeled it unlawful.

‘It is not the law,’ Mamdani told reporters. ‘And too often we treat everything that comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth as if it is already legal, just by virtue of who is saying it.’

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

Kimberly-Clark said on Monday it will buy Tylenol maker Kenvue KVUE.N in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $48.7 billion, to create one of the biggest consumer health goods companies in the United States.

Shares of Kenvue were up 18% in premarket trading, while Kimberly-Clark‘s shares were down 12.5%.

Kenvue has been under a strategic review, leadership shake-up, and mounting litigation risks. It came under fresh scrutiny following President Donald Trump’s comments linking its popular pain medicine Tylenol to autism.

The deal will bring together brands including Neutrogena, Huggies and Kleenex under a consumer health and personal care company with expected combined annual revenues of roughly $32 billion.

Sources in June told Reuters the strategic review of its operations could include a sale or breakup of the company that had been spun off from healthcare conglomerate Johnson & Johnson JNJ.N in 2023.

Kenvue‘s shareholders will receive $3.50 per share and 0.15 Kimberly-Clark shares for each Kenvue share held. That implies a per-share deal value of $21.01, or an equity value of $40.32 billion, according to Reuters calculations.

This post appeared first on NBC NEWS

The NFL trade deadline is set for 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday, Nov. 4.
Several teams have already swung deals in recent days, but action could pick up in the last 24-36 hours.
There look to be fewer true sellers than buyers, but Week 9’s results could reshape teams’ approaches.

Tuesday’s 4 p.m. ET cutoff for deals represents teams’ last window to transform themselves – whether that means by acquiring a veteran or beefing up on draft capital – before the offseason arrives. So far, however, the action seems to have been stunted by an imbalance in the market, with far more teams looking to bring aboard top talent than those inclined to shed it. But the Week 9 outcomes and injuries might sway several front offices. 

USA TODAY Sports will have all the latest news, rumors and updates from around the league leading up to the trade deadline, so check back often for the newest developments:

Jerry Jones says Cowboys have completed trade, could pursue others

Ever the showman, Jerry Jones has kept an air of mystique surrounding the Dallas Cowboys’ trade plans. But the owner took things to a new level with just more than 24 hours left until the deadline.

Jones told Stephen A. Smith on SiriusXM Radio that his team had already completed one deal and was keeping the door open for others.

‘A lot of action going on right now in terms of trading, we certainly have made a trade and we may make a couple more trades before that deadline,’ Jones said, according to the Dallas Morning News. ‘We’ve made one. We possibly could make two more, and I’m going to wait and let you read about that when we send the papers in tomorrow.’

Jones added that the deal will ‘immediately address some things that have been our shortcomings.’

That almost certainly would point toward a move aiding a defense that ranks 31st in scoring heading into Dallas’ ‘Monday Night Football’ matchup with the Arizona Cardinals. The secondary has been a concern with cornerback Trevon Diggs and safety Malik Hooker on injured reserve. But a listless pass rush also figures to be a point of interest given that the defense has collected just 15 sacks in eight games.

Dolphins not done dealing?

The Miami Dolphins wasted little time in forging a new path after parting ways with general manager Chris Grier on Friday, with Monday’s trade that sent Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles marking a sharp contrast with the team’s previous commitment to staying the course.

Could more moves be coming soon?

‘Conversations happen every single year,’ coach Mike McDaniel said Monday. ‘Sometimes there’s more reports than actual (trades). But you’re always having conversations, and you’re always ready. … Whether or not I expect it, I’m always expecting the unexpected.’

McDaniel also said he acknowledged that ‘the best interest of the football team in the long term doesn’t necessarily overlap with the exact interests for one game or one player.’

Outside linebacker Bradley Chubb and safety Minkah Fitzpatrick are among the big-name veterans who could generate interest.

Brian Daboll shuts down trade speculation for Giants

With his team falling to 2-7, New York Giants coach Brian Daboll wasn’t entertaining any discussion about potential trade deadline moves.

‘The focus for me is the guys that are on this football team,’ Daboll said Monday.

ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported Monday that the Giants had engaged in discussions surrounding offensive lineman Evan Neal and wide receiver Jalin Hyatt while also asking around about available receivers.

Are Rams done making moves?

Sean McVay is tempering expectations for the Los Angeles Rams ahead of the NFL trade deadline.

‘I don’t think so. … It’s way less likely that anything occurs with us,’ McVay said when asked about where there was potential for any further dealing.

The Rams already acquired cornerback Roger McCreary from the Tennessee Titans last week.

Patriots, Texans not tipping their hands at trade deadline

Neither Mike Vrabel nor DeMeco Ryans gave much insight regarding their respective teams’ plans a little more than 24 hours in advance of the trade deadline.

A few days after his team parted with both Keion White and Kyle Dugger, Vrabel spoke only in generalities about how the team would approach any additional swaps.

‘What happens is personnel staff makes calls and they all have conversations as this thing leads up to it,’ Vrabel said in his Monday news conference. ‘I’d just say continue to do our diligence about what those may be and what they look like, and then make a decision that we think is best for us. That’s what I hope that we do. Until I hear otherwise, we’ll have conversations this afternoon. Nothing new to report.’

Ryans was similarly noncommittal about the Texans’ outlook.

‘We’ll see what happens,’ he said Monday when asked where he expects Houston to be aggressive at the trade deadline.

Could Titans move WR Calvin Ridley?

The Tennessee Titans have established themselves as clear sellers ahead of the NFL’s trade deadline, with the team already having sold off cornerbacks Roger McCreary and Jarvis Brownlee Jr. But even though the team has rebuffed any inquiries on star defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons, according to multiple reports, could another notable starter be on the trade block?

Multiple reports indicated that wide receiver Calvin Ridley could be a candidate to be moved, but ESPN’s Turron Davenport reported Sunday night that the team was not shopping him.

Putting together a deal for the 30-year-old could be tricky given his hefty price tag. But Ridley could be among the more notable pass-catching options in a thinned-out market at the position.

Trey Hendrickson trade asking price

If the Cincinnati Bengals are willing to move Trey Hendrickson, it won’t be for cheap.

The Bengals are asking for a first-round pick in any discussions regarding the reigning NFL sack king, The Athletic’s Dianna Russini reported Monday.

That might be rich for a player who is set to become a free agent in March. But there’s little question that adding Hendrickson would make for a major splash for any contender.

The Bengals seldom move veterans during the season, but linebacker Logan Wilson, who requested a trade, and cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt also bear watching ahead of the deadline.

Time for Saints to sell?

The New Orleans Saints are one of just a handful of teams that size up as natural sellers. But who might the team actually part with?

Top wide receiver Chris Olave has said he has been engaged in discussions regarding a contract extension, and multiple reports indicate that New Orleans won’t budge in moving its leading target as rookie Tyler Shough takes over behind center. Running back Alvin Kamara, too, has made clear he wants to stay put.

But could receiver Rashid Shaheed and linebacker Demario Davis be sent packing? The Saints have resisted drastic change, but a team set to have just five draft picks in 2026 would surely stand to benefit from upping its ammo as it prepares to forge ahead with an expansive rebuild.

Jaelan Phillips trade grades: Who won the deal?

So much for a dull trade deadline.

The Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles got things started on Monday with a significant deal, sending edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the defending champions. But who fared best in the swap?

The Eagles added another notable disruptor to a defense in need of a shake-up, but the Dolphins boosted their draft outlook by parting with a player not in their long-term plans.

Eagles land Jaelan Phillips from Dolphins in trade

It didn’t take long for the first significant trade after Week 9 to materialize.

Early Monday morning, the Miami Dolphins agreed to trade edge rusher Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a 2026 third-round pick, according to multiple reports.

In landing Phillips, the Eagles secured one of the deadline’s biggest prizes. The former first-round pick has recorded three sacks in his last five games and figured to be one of the best edge rushers available with the likes of Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby and potentially Trey Hendrickson out of reach.

The Eagles are tied for 23rd in the NFL with just 16 sacks through eight games while ranking 17th in pressure rate (34.4%), according to Next Gen Stats. Phillips will join a rotation led by Jalyx Hunt and Brandon Graham as Nolan Smith remains on injured reserve with a triceps injury.

Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio also coached Phillips in 2023, when the edge rusher notched 6 ½ sacks in eight games before a torn Achilles ended his season early.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, have begun to bolster their draft capital and reset after parting ways with general manager Chris Grier on Friday.

According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Dolphins are paying a portion of the prorated amount on Phillips’ $13.25 million salary to facilitate the deal.

Trey Hendrickson trade rumors: Could Bengals actually deal standout DE?

When the Cincinnati Bengals began their resurgence, parting with standout defensive end Trey Hendrickson seemed like a complete non-starter. Now, however, there might at least be an opening.

Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer reported Sunday morning that the Bengals were no longer giving teams the ‘hard no’ with which they had been responding to previous trade inquiries regarding Hendrickson. And that was prior to a heartbreaking loss to the Chicago Bears that dropped Cincinnati to 3-6.

If the Bengals did move on from the NFL’s reigning sack king, it would mark a sharp departure for a franchise that has traditionally clung onto all contributors rather than flipping them for draft capital around the deadline. But Hendrickson appears likely to depart in free agency, and Cincinnati could expedite a defensive rebuild by not waiting on a compensatory pick.

Miami Dolphins trade rumors: No-go for moving Jaylen Waddle?

Any team hoping to make a major upgrade at wide receiver via trade might be disappointed by the landscape that awaits them.

While the Miami Dolphins do appear to be open for business after general manager Chris Grier and the team parted ways last Friday, multiple reports indicated it would be highly unlikely that the organization would part with wide receiver Jaylen Waddle. The speedster has taken on the role of Tua Tagovailoa’s unquestionable top target with Tyreek Hill sidelined for the remainder of the season, and both ESPN and NFL Network reported it would take more than a first-round draft pick to pry Waddle from Miami.

Edge rushers Jaelan Phillips and Bradley Chubb, however, have drawn interest, with the former sparking calls from the likes of the Eagles, 49ers and Patriots, according to The Athletic.

NFL trade candidates: Who are top players who could move?

Plenty of top players, including Myles Garrett and Maxx Crosby, look likely to stay put. But even in a trade deadline that isn’t heavy on big names, a few figure to spark some interest.

Here’s our final look at the top realistic candidates to be moved:

1. Chris Olave, WR, New Orleans Saints
2. Jaelan Phillips, DE/OLB, Miami Dolphins
3. Breece Hall, RB, New York Jets
4. Alontae Taylor, CB, New Orleans Saints
5. Quincy Williams, LB, New York Jets

NFL trade deadline tracker: All the completed deals

Ravens trade CB Jaire Alexander to Eagles

Eagles receive: CB Jaire Alexander, 2027 seventh-round pick

Jets trade CB Michael Carter II to Eagles for WR John Metchie III

Eagles receive: CB Michael Carter II, 2027 seventh-round pick

Jets receive: WR John Metchie III, 2027 sixth-round pick

Patriots trade S Kyle Dugger to Steelers

Steelers receive: S Kyle Dugger, 2026 seventh-round pick

Patriots receive: 2026 sixth-round pick

Patriots trade DE Keion White to 49ers

49ers receive: DE Keion White, 2026 seventh-round pick

Patriots receive: 2026 sixth-round pick

Titans trade CB Roger McCreary to Rams

Rams receive: CB Roger McCreary, 2026 sixth-round pick

Titans receive: 2026 fifth-round pick

Browns trade CB Greg Newsome II to Jaguars for CB Tyson Campbell

Ravens trade OLB Odafe Oweh to Chargers for S Alohi Gilman

Chargers receive: OLB Odafe Oweh, 2027 seventh-round pick

Ravens receive: S Alohi Gilman, 2026 fifth-round pick

Browns trade QB Joe Flacco to Bengals

Bengals receive: QB Joe Flacco, 2026 sixth-round pick

Browns receive: 2026 fifth-round pick

Texans trade OT Cam Robinson to Browns

Browns receive: OT Cam Robinson, 2027 seventh-round pick

Texans receive: 2027 sixth-round pick

Titans trade CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr. to Jets

Jets receive: CB Jarvis Brownlee Jr., 2026 seventh-round pick

Titans receive: 2026 sixth-round pick

When is the NFL trade deadline?

The 2025 NFL trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday.

The cutoff comes just after the midseason point, with team owners having voted last year to push back the deadline by one week. After Tuesday, teams will not be able to make official trades until the start of the new league year in March, though they can unofficially agree to deals with one another after the completion of their season.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Hingle McCringleberry was indeed aghast − and will apparently respond in kind.

After Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle was hit with a 15-yard penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct following his second touchdown at Lambeau Field in Sunday’s 16-13 win over the Green Bay Packers, the man who brought the two-pump rule before the NFL’s competition committee − OK, not really − weighed in.

Actor and comedian Keegan-Michael Key, who portrayed McCringleberry, a fictional wide receiver in a famous ‘Key & Peele’ skit that mocked over-legislated football celebrations, posted the following on Instagram on Sunday evening:

‘Rico! Man, you got robbed − you only did two pumps,’ said a flabbergasted Key, tongue firmly placed in cheek.

‘I’m sorry, man. Now I’m gonna have to write a new sketch.’

Dowdle, surrounded by offensive teammates in the end zone, intentionally offered two thrusts after his score … but no more. Officials flagged him anyway, Dowdle leaving the field perplexed while holding up two fingers.

In the skit that launched him into the zeitgeist, McCringleberry, a rookie member of the ‘Rhinos,’ was repeatedly flagged for celebrating his touchdowns with three pumps − knowing he’d be free and clear by stopping at two.

‘From my understanding and everything I’ve learned, we go over stuff like this every week in the meeting room. I definitely think you’re supposed to get two pumps,’ Dowdle said following the game.

‘Hopefully, I don’t get a fine.’

(In case it wasn’t obvious, the NFL has no official rule spelling out how many pumps are or are not permissible.)

Dowdle’s infraction comes at a time when the league has been emphasizing good sportsmanship. Following the penalty, Carolina kicker Ryan Fitzgerald missed the lengthier extra-point try − a misfire that enabled the Packers to subsequently tie the game 13-13.

However Dowdle, who ran for 130 yards on the day, rumbled for 19 yards on Carolina’s final drive, setting up Fitzgerald for a game-winning 49-yard field goal at the gun.

‘I missed it. I am not going to touch on that,’ Panthers quarterback Bryce Young said.

‘We won, so I am grateful for that.’

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Why should NFL general managers have all the fun?

While the Nov. 4 NFL trade deadline is rapidly approaching, fantasy football managers have a bit more freedom to work toward making some big deals of their own since most fantasy leagues don’t have their trade deadlines for another couple weeks.

So if your team is looking to make a move to bolster a deep playoff run, it’s time to take a look at which players could help you get there — and which players may be worth sending somewhere else.

WEEK 10 BYES: Cincinnati, Dallas, Kansas City, Tennessee

Here are some of this week’s best trade candidates:

Fantasy football players to buy for Week 10

QB Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

This doesn’t feel logical, but just hear me out. Dart generally isn’t among the top 15 QBs in the weekly rankings. Yet he’s managed to finish as the QB5 (pending Monday’s game), QB13, QB2 and QB3 over the past four weeks. He has a rushing TD in each of those games and has turned the ball over a total of one time during that span. This week, Dart faces a Bears defense that just gave up 470 passing yards and four TDs to Joe Flacco.

WR Tee Higgins, Cincinnati Bengals

You’re likely buying high on Higgins after his fabulous 121-yard, two-touchdown effort against Chicago. But the Bengals are on bye this week, and another fantasy team that’s struggling to stay in playoff contention just may be willing to mortgage part of the future to get an immediate starter who’s just a bit of a downgrade. The Bengals have one of the best schedules for wideouts down the stretch (Steelers, Patriots, Bills, Ravens twice), so even if you’re unlikely to land Ja’Marr Chase, at least make an offer for Higgins.

RB Quinshon Judkins, Cleveland Browns

Judkins played only 18 snaps in Week 8 before exiting with a shoulder injury. We don’t really have an update since the Browns were on bye in Week 9, but coach Kevin Stefanski did say last week that Judkins’ status was ‘day-to-day.’ That’s still a good sign if he’ll have nearly two weeks to recover by the time they play the Jets. Judkins has been a workhorse back ever since taking over the starting role and with the weather turning colder along Lake Erie, the Browns will figure to lean on him even more.

RB Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Irving has already missed four games with a foot injury and we won’t know his status for this week until the Bucs hit the practice field on Tuesday. However, he did have the benefit of a Week 9 bye, so he won’t have to worry about an off week once he returns. Tampa Bay has made do with Rachaad White and Sean Tucker in the backfield, but Irving has so much more upside. If Irving is close to 100% by the fantasy playoffs, he could be the missing piece to put your team over the top.

TE Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts

After all Warren has accomplished in his rookie season, good luck getting his fantasy manager to part with him. But if you can get a foot in the door after his season-low 26 receiving yards in Week 9, you can highlight this week’s matchup against a Falcons defense that’s been the NFL’s stingiest against tight ends … followed by a bye in Week 11. Take the short-term hit now and reap the benefits later with matchups against Jacksonville in Weeks 14 and 17 and Seattle in Week 15.

Fantasy football players to sell for Week 10

TE Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys

Ferguson could be a prime sell-high candidate, especially if he has a good game against the lowly Arizona Cardinals. He leads all tight ends in receptions and PPR fantasy points on the season, even before he steps on the field Monday night. But he reached those heights largely while star WR CeeDee Lamb was out for four weeks with an ankle injury. (With Lamb back as the top target, Ferguson didn’t have a catch last week vs. Denver.) He has also feasted on defenses that have trouble covering the tight end. After tonight, that won’t be the case again until Week 14 with a bye week followed by games against the Raiders (look it up!), Eagles and Chiefs.

RB Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears

Starting in place of veteran D’Andre Swift, Monangai ran wild for 198 total yards to slot in as the RB3 for the week. He’s obviously earned more playing time when Swift returns, but coach Ben Johnson remains loyal to his former/current player. Let someone else be mesermized by the rookie’s performance against the Bengals ‘defense.’ He scored double-digit fantasy points only once while sharing time with Swift. Maybe you hold Monangai for this week’s game against the Giants, but Chicago has a brutal schedule in the fantasy playoffs.

RB Kyren Williams, Los Angeles Rams

Williams totaled a season highs in carries (25) and rushing yards (114) while plowing for a touchdown against the Saints. But not every game script is going to fall so perfectly in place for Williams. Rams QB Matthew Stafford leads the NFL with 21 TD passes and he’s going to stick with what’s been working so well. Kyren has seen his rushing touchdown totals regress from 14 last season to just three so far. And backup Blake Corum is seeing consistent work in relief.

WR Nico Collins, Houston Texans

WR Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

The up-and-down season for Williams just hit another peak thanks to a 37-yard, highlight-reel touchdown catch. But don’t mistake his four catches for 66 yards as an indication that the squeaky wheel from Week 7’s goose egg is getting greased. The Lions already have WR Amon-Ra St. Brown and TE Sam LaPorta as their top targets in the passing game — and they need to get RB Jahmyr Gibbs back on track much more than they need to keep feeding Jamo. Not even a matchup with Washington this week can make him a must-start.

This post appeared first on USA TODAY

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and Senate Republicans are considering pushing back the House-passed government funding extension in a bid to give lawmakers more time to pass spending bills.

The House’s continuing resolution (CR) would reopen the government until Nov. 21. That bill has been blocked by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Senate Democrats 13 times so far and has pushed the shutdown into record-breaking territory.

Given that the original seven-week plan has now shrunk to just three weeks as the shutdown drags on, Thune and the Senate GOP realize that more time will be needed to pass appropriations bills.

‘The House-passed CR is, you know, the idea that we could get any appropriations bills done, you know, by November the 21st now, that date’s lost,’ Thune said.

The objective now is to produce a CR that extends the funding deadline, possibly into January. Thune said that he was ‘certainly open’ to extending the deadline into next year. Senate Republicans tried to get a package of three bills on the floor, along with possibly more, late last month. But that move was blocked by Senate Democrats.

‘As you look at the calendar, if you want to do normal appropriations work, you look at how long it takes to get bills across the floor in the Senate and through the House,’ he said. ‘It’s, you know, the longer sort of runway there is better.’

To do so would either require a fresh CR, or the House-passed bill could be amended. Still, anything that Republicans hash out will need to break through the 60-vote threshold in the Senate and require support from Democrats.

Any changes to the House’s bill, or a new bill, would also need to be sent back to the House, which House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., has kept out of session now for over six weeks.

Johnson, when asked about time running out on the House-passed CR, didn’t say whether lawmakers would need to craft a new one or extend the Nov. 21 deadline. He blamed Senate Democrats, however, for running out the clock. 

‘We’re very mindful of the clock,’ Johnson told Fox News’ Will Cain on ‘The Will Cain Show.’ ‘And the great irony here is the Democrats are the ones that are taking the time off that clock. We needed it.’

But lawmakers in the lower chamber already expected that more time would be needed given the blockade in the upper chamber.

House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole, R-Okla., told Fox News Digital in an interview late last month that he believed a new CR would be needed, ‘having wasted this much time.’

Asked about what timing he believed would be realistic, Cole said he could see a short-term measure ‘probably into early January’ in a bid to avoid a colossal, year-end funding bill known as an omnibus where all 12 appropriations bills and numerous spending and policy riders are crammed into one bill.

‘In both chambers, both parties, there’s a dread of what’s called the Christmas omnibus, where we put you right up to the edge of Christmas, and they don’t let you go home to your family until you pass a God awful omnibus bill. We don’t want to do that to our members,’ he said.

But there’s another faction within the GOP calling for a longer-term bill. A source familiar with the House Freedom Caucus told Fox News Digital last month that its chairman, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md., would advocate for a bill extending into December 2026 — provided he agreed with the details in the measure itself.

Meanwhile, Thune said that he was optimistic that the shutdown could end this week. The Senate is nearing yet another scheduled recess, this time for Veterans’ Day next week, that could see lawmakers leave Washington, D.C., with the government still closed.

He wasn’t ready to outright cancel the recess, but noted that ‘if we don’t start seeing some progress or some evidence of that by at least the middle of this week, it’s hard to see how we would finish anything by the end of the week.’

‘I think we’re getting close to an off-ramp here, but, you know, this is unlike any other government shutdown,’ he said.

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS

President Donald Trump is ordering the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford to head to the Caribbean as he ramps up his crusade against drugs — marking the first time a carrier has conducted an operational deployment in the region in more than 30 years.

Trump has built up naval assets in the region as attacks against alleged drug boats have increased since September, but sending an aircraft carrier is an unprecedented move. A warship like the Ford hasn’t participated in military operations in the region since 1994, when two carriers were dispatched to respond to political unrest in Haiti for Operation Uphold Democracy, according to U.S. Southern Command’s (SOUTHCOM) records shared with Fox News Digital. 

The Ford’s deployment comes as Trump has signaled that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro may not be in office much longer. The Trump administration has conducted 15 strikes in the Caribbean, while U.S. lawmakers have raised concerns about their legality and a broader conflict in the region.

During Operation Uphold Democracy, aircraft carriers USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and USS America headed to the region as part of a multinational intervention, after Haitian Lt. Gen. Raoul Cedras led a military coup in 1991 that ousted the island’s first freely elected president, Jean-Bertrand Aristide.

In July 1994, the United Nations passed a resolution authorizing the use of military force to restore democracy in Haiti, paving the way for Operation Uphold Democracy to launch in September 1994 as a military buildup designed to pressure Cedras’ regime to step down, according to the State Department’s Office of the Historian.

At the time, President Bill Clinton justified the intervention, which involved nearly 25,000 U.S. troops, as necessary to remove the Cedras regime after employing ‘every diplomatic avenue possible.’

Clinton said in a radio address Sept. 17, 1994, that the Cedras regime had two options: either leave peacefully or be ousted forcefully.

‘The remaining question is not whether they will leave but how they will leave,’ Clinton said in a radio address Sept. 17, 1994. ‘They can go peacefully and increase the chances for a peaceful future and a more stable future for Haiti in the near term, not only for all those whose democracy they stole but for themselves as well. They can do that, or they will be removed by force.’

In addition to military forces, Clinton also announced that former president Jimmy Carter, former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Colin Powell and Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Sen. Sam Nunn, D-Ga., had departed for Haiti in a final attempt to secure a peaceful transfer of power.

U.S. forces started to arrive in Haiti Sept. 19, 2024, while diplomatic negotiations between the U.S. delegation and Cedras’ regime were underway, ultimately prompting Cedras’ regime to surrender and allowing Aristide to return to power.

Since Operation Uphold Democracy, carriers have sailed through SOUTHCOM’s waters for several exercises and supported humanitarian efforts. For example, the USS George Washington completed exercises in the region as part of the Southern Seas 2024 deployment aimed at facilitating maritime partnerships with allies as part of a homeport change from Norfolk, Virginia, to Yokosuka, Japan.

The carrier participated in these exercises in 2008 and 2015 during homeport changes between the East Coast and Japan. Altogether, there have been a total of 10 Southern Seas missions since 2007, according to SOUTHCOM.

Additionally, the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson also assisted with humanitarian relief efforts in 2010 after Haiti suffered a massive earthquake as part of Operation Unified Response, according to Naval History and Heritage Command.

Meanwhile, Trump is ramping up strikes against alleged drug boats in the Caribbean — totaling 15 strikes since the beginning of September — stoking concerns from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle about whether they are legal. For example, Sens. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Rand Paul, R-Ky., introduced a war powers resolution prohibiting U.S. armed forces from engaging in ‘hostilities’ against Venezuela.

‘The Trump administration has made it clear they may launch military action inside Venezuela’s borders and won’t stop at boat strikes in the Caribbean,’ Schiff said in a statement Oct. 17.

However, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., said Oct. 26 that the Trump administration has the authority it needs to conduct these strikes, and that Trump has decided its ‘time’ for Maduro to go.

The White House did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. 

The Trump administration repeatedly has stated it does not recognize Maduro as a legitimate head of state, and claims he is instead a leader of a drug cartel. Likewise, the Trump administration increased the reward for information leading to Maduro’s arrest to $50 million in August, claiming he is ‘one of the largest narco-traffickers in the world.’

After the Trump administration announced the Ford would head to SOUTHCOM’s area of operations, Maduro accused Trump of ‘fabricating a new eternal war.’

‘They promised they would never again get involved in a war, and they are fabricating a war,’ Maduro said in a national broadcast on Oct. 24.

Meanwhile, Trump said Sunday in an interview with CBS’ ’60 Minutes’ that although he doesn’t expect a war with Venezuela, he believes Maduro’s days are limited when asked about ordering the carrier to the region.

The Ford may be the Navy’s newest carrier, but it’s already been quick to respond to several significant conflicts since its first full-length deployment in 2023. For example, the Pentagon sent the Ford to the Eastern Mediterranean in October 2023 after Hamas’ initial attack on Israel.

While in the Caribbean, the Ford is expected to conduct strike operations on land, and provide close air support for special operations troops, according to experts.

‘I estimate the FORD will be doing strike operations against narcotics trafficking and manufacturing sites ashore as well as providing close air support to special operations troops,’ Bryan Clark, director of the Hudson Institute think tank’s Center for Defense Concepts and Technology, said in a Monday email to Fox News Digital.

Brent Sadler, a senior fellow for naval warfare and advanced technology at The Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank in Washington, said that the carrier’s deployment seeks to put additional pressure on Venezuela, so Caracas doesn’t retaliate following the U.S. military strikes in the region. 

‘The Ford’s arrival in SOUTHCOM area is not unprecedented but given the ongoing attacks on Cartel boats significant. I see this move as intended to deter Venezuela from escalating the crisis and providing the President extra options should he want to increase the attacks on the Cartels,’ Sadler said in an email to Fox News Digital on Monday. ‘That said, I would anticipate the Ford’s air wing being very active in air surveillance and defense.’

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President Donald Trump issued scads of Truth Social posts on Sunday backing politicians for re-election, including GOP Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and a slew of House Republicans.

‘Sarah Huckabee Sanders has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — SHE WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!’ the president exclaimed in one post. 

Sanders, who served as Trump’s White House press secretary during a portion of his first term, is the daughter of U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, a former Arkansas governor.

She thanked Trump.

‘Thank you, President @realDonaldTrump! It’s an honor to have your endorsement, and Arkansas stands with you in the fight to Make America Great Again!’ she declared in a post on X. 

Trump also expressed his support for many House Republicans, including Reps. Jim Jordan and Warren Davidson of Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky, and many others.

‘Jim Jordan is a very good friend, fighter, and WINNER, and has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!’ the president declared in a Truth Social post.

The GOP will be trying to maintain its majorities in the House and Senate during the 2026 midterm elections. Election Day will be exactly one year from today, on Nov. 3, 2026.

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European left-wing politicians are crossing the Atlantic to study a campaign model they see as a blueprint for revival — the campaign of New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic Socialist whose grassroots machine has captured attention far beyond his Queens district.

According to a Politico Europe report on Monday, far-left delegations from France, Germany and the U.K. visited New York this week to observe Mamdani’s operation firsthand. Among them were the deputy leader of the U.K. Green Party; a parliamentary officer for Germany’s Left (Die Linke) Party; as well as a French member of the European Parliament, with the goal of translating what they see as a successful campaign into more victories for Europe’s hard-left parties.

Alan Mendoza, executive director of the London-based Henry Jackson Society, told Fox News Digital, ‘Nobody would have thought New York would succumb to this five years ago. But there are certain conditions — a problematic economy, cost-of-living issues, and weak opposition — that make it fertile ground. Those conditions certainly exist in many European cities, so you can see an immediate crossover.’

Mendoza added, ‘It’s no surprise they’re coming to study Mamdani’s campaign,’ he said. ‘It looks like it’s going to be a very successful one, and the fact that somebody with his views and policies looks like they’re about to be elected as mayor of one of the most famous cities in the world is a boon to all those who share his politics internationally.’

Mendoza described Mamdani as a ‘trailblazer’ for hard-left movements that have often struggled to win major offices in Western democracies. ‘He’s bringing victory where there has always previously been defeat for politicians of the far left,’ he said. ‘His tactics, his style, his pronouncements — his form of forging a governing coalition, are going to be of keen interest to similar hard leftists around the world.’

In New York, Mamdani has built his base through neighborhood-level activism, which European politicians see as a path to reenergize voters. The former leader of the U.K.’s Labour Party, Jeremy Corbyn, who now leads the upstart Your Party, said on social media that he and his team phone banked for Mamdani.

Corbyn shared the phone-banking link which leads a website organized by the Democratic Socialists of America’s NYC chapter which is urging volunteers to mobilize voters for Mamdani.

Mendoza warned that replicating Mamdani’s ideological platform could deepen polarization. ‘Europe is already more statist and more left-wing as a rule than America anyway,’ he said. ‘So if he can win in New York, why can’t a hard leftist win in Europe? The question is whether those policies would actually work — and history shows they don’t.’

Mendoza dismissed identity as a driving factor behind Mamdani’s success, despite debates over his immigrant background. ‘It’s not an ethnicity question,’ he said. ‘It’s a question of what his ideology is — and that can be shared by people whether they’re born in a country or not.’

Fox News’ Emma Bussey contributed to this report.

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