First Thing: Judge orders Trump administration to stop ‘needless suffering’ and fully fund food stamps

Good morning. A federal judge in Rhode Island ordered the Trump administration yesterday to find the money to fully fund food stamps for 42 million low-income Americans in November by today, in a rebuke to the government’s plan to only provide reduced aid during the shutdown. The district judge John J McConnell Jr criticized the administration’s plan to partly fund Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Snap) benefits in November. “The evidence shows that people will go hungry, food pantries will be overburdened, and needless suffering will occur,” McConnell said. “That’s what irreparable harm here means.” “This should never happen in America,” he added. What is the impact? After the administration said on Monday it would only half fund the program, Linda Nageotte, of Feeding America, said: “One in eight people in our country right now don’t have enough to eat.” What’s the shutdown latest? It’s the longest in history, on to its 38th day. Lawmakers are in talks that could lead to a deal. But some Democratic legislators saw Tuesday’s electoral wins as evidence they should hold the line to extract significant concessions. Airlines cancel flights after aviation agency directive to cut air traffic New York, Los Angeles and Chicago airports are among 40 that will see reductions in flights from today as a result of the government shutdown, according to a list distributed to the airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration has said flights are being reduced to maintain safety during the federal government shutdown, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a resolution between Republicans and Democrats to end the budget standoff. What details do we know? The flight reductions, according to ABC News, will start at 4% on Friday and increase to 10%. Airports in cities including Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Orlando, Miami, LA, San Francisco, New York, Houston and Chicago will be affected. What impact could the move have? The cuts could represent as many as 1,800 flights and upwards of 268,000 seats combined, according to an estimate by the aviation analytics firm Cirium. They are likely to create a cascade of scheduling issues and delays at some of the country’s largest airports. Democrats pay tribute to Nancy Pelosi after she announces retirement aged 85 Democrats praised Nancy Pelosi as a “heroic, trailblazing” member of the House of Representatives, an “icon” and the “greatest speaker in American history”, after her announcement that, after 20 terms in Congress, she plans to retire. The 85-year-old, the first woman to serve as speaker of the House and one of the most influential leaders in the party, said yesterday she would not be seeking re-election in 2026. “With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” Pelosi said. Why the announcement now? Pelosi’s news came after Californians approved proposition 50, a redistricting measure intended to counter Trump’s efforts to shore up House seats in Texas and other red states in next year’s midterm elections. Who might replace her? Two Democrats have already jumped into the race: Saikat Chakrabarti, a former tech executive and the first chief of staff to the progressive congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Scott Wiener, a state senator. More are likely to join. In other news … US forces struck another alleged drug trafficking boat in the Caribbean, killing three people, bringing the death toll to at least 70 people from the campaign attacked by critics as extrajudicial killing. The Sudanese militia group accused of war crimes has agreed to a ceasefire. The Rapid Support Forces are accused of killing thousands of unarmed civilians in an ethnically motivated massacre. The Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland has died at the age of 24, the team announced yesterday, with police saying it appeared he had taken his own life. In the UK a man accidentally released from prison handed himself in, ending a hunt for the convicted fraudster after a series of mistaken releases. Ukraine faces a “forever war” and a slow erosion of territory, a former Nato secretary general has said, unless Europe dramatically increases pressure on Russia. Stat of the day: Tesla shareholders approve $1tn pay package for Elon Musk Tesla shareholders approved a $1tn compensation plan for its CEO, Elon Musk, yesterday, awarding the world’s richest person what would be the largest corporate payout in history if he meets the goals necessary to receive it. “Thanks, guys,” Musk said, after briefly dancing on stage. The staggering pay package, opposed by several key investors, is higher than the GDP of Ireland, Sweden and Argentina. Don’t miss this: ‘I escaped East Berlin in the boot of a car’ “In 1965, I was 19 and living in East Berlin. West Berlin was glamorous. They hadeverything: shoes, cars, food … My brother and I were desperate to get out,” Gabriele Paissoni tells the Guardian. She befriended two French military officers who stopped in at her workplace. “They whispered, ‘Tonight or never. Meet us in the alley near the shop. Eight-thirty.’” Climate check: Triple-whammy of hottest ever years risks ‘irreversible damage’, says UN A triple-whammy of hottest years ever recorded threatens “irreversible damage”, the UN has warned, as world leaders congregate at the Cop30 climate summit in Brazil. This year was on course to be the second or third hottest ever, in records that stretch back 176 years, the UN World Meteorological Organization said. Last Thing: The street photographer capturing the spontaneous joy and drama of New York City – in pictures Over the past 15 years, the street photographer Daniel Arnold has become a cult figure on New York City’s art scene, known for his images of colorful encounters with its citizens. Showcased in his new monograph, Arnold’s images capture a complex city alive with characters and contradictions. Sign up Sign up for the US morning briefing First Thing is delivered to thousands of inboxes every weekday. If you’re not already signed up, subscribe now. Get in touch If you have any questions or comments about any of our newsletters please email newsletters@theguardian.com