12:30 Report is The Hill’s midday newsletter. Subscribe here.
It’s Wednesday. We have officially entered the third week of the government shutdown. *hums the “Jeopardy!” theme song*
In today’s issue:
• Explosive report reveals young GOP racist texts
• Supreme Court hears major voting rights case
• Journalists hand in Pentagon credentials
• Gaza ceasefire made even more fragile
• Washington’s rat problem
🗨️ TALK OF WASHINGTON
Digital footprints last forever:
Various Republicans have spoken up to denounce racist, hateful and violent rhetoric shared by young Republican leaders in group chats revealed in an explosive Politico report.
The story — which reported on thousands of private messages — has sent shockwaves through the political world, with a state GOP group shutting down and several people involved losing their jobs.
What’s in the text messages?: They referred to Black people as “monkeys” and “the watermelon people.” They discussed putting political rivals in gas chambers. One referred to rape as “epic.” There were references to Hitler, several variations of the N-word and praise for Republicans who they believed support slavery.
“I love Hitler,” one person reportedly said in a chat. Another responded with a smiley face.
Which states’ young Republican groups were involved?: New York, Kansas, Arizona and Vermont.
The Young Republican National Federation called for immediate resignations. Several prominent New York Republicans, including Rep. Elise Stefanik and Rep. Mike Lawler,have denounced the chat.
“We are appalled by the vile and inexcusable language revealed in the Politico article published today. Such behavior is disgraceful, unbecoming of any Republican, and stands in direct opposition to the values our movement represents,” the Young Republican National Federation’s board of directors said in a post on Instagram.
Vice President Vance, meanwhile, rejected what he called “pearl clutching” in the wake of the story, pointing to text messages from Virginia Democratic attorney general nominee Jay Jones openly discussing violence directed at former Virginia House Speaker Todd Gilbert (R). “This is far worse than anything said in a college group chat,” Vance wrote on X.
Stefanik also accused Democrats of hypocrisy over the Jones scandal.
⛔ GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN
It’s ‘Groundhog Day’ — with a twist:
It’s Day 15 of the government shutdown and we are still at a standstill. The Senate is in Washington (its recess this week was canceled) and will be holding a ninth vote on the GOP’s bill to reopen the government that is expected to fail.
What has made the latest votes different: Until Tuesday, each round of voting has included a vote on the Republican plan as well as another on the Democratic alternative. But on Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon, Senate GOP leadership is not allowing a vote on that second bill as part of an effort to ramp up pressure on Democrats.
Still, it all has the feeling of “Groundhog Day.” The daily votes are having the same outcome, failing to reach the necessary 60 votes. (Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) missed Tuesday’s vote, but otherwise the voting lines have remained unchanged).
The Hill’s Al Weaver reports that Republicans are preparing for an extended shutdown. The White House is redistributing funds to ensure the military gets paid. The Trump administration has also laid out a plan to continue funding the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children.
Remember, the longest shutdown on record was 35 days, ending in early 2019. It does seem increasingly possible we could blow past that record.
➤ THERE’S ANOTHER BILL ON TAP:
“Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) has surprised Democrats by scheduling a vote Thursday on advancing the $852 billion defense appropriations bill in the midst of the government shutdown,” reports The Hill’s Alexander Bolton. Read more on how this could go down
➤ I CANNOT WAIT TO WATCH THIS:
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) has agreed to debate Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) on C-SPAN.
➤ WHO WILL GET HIT HARDEST BY THE EXPIRING SUBSIDIES?:
The fight over these ObamaCare subsidies, which are set to expire at the end of the year, is a key factor in the shutdown. The Hill’s Joseph Choi dug into the specifics of the subsidies to explain who will be hit hardest if Republicans don’t agree to extend them.
The gist: Young adults would be some of the most affected. “Across different racial groups, Black, non-Hispanic people would see the largest increase in uninsurance rates, an estimated 30 percent, with white, non-Hispanic people following closely behind at 25 percent.” Read more
☮️ THE MIDDLE EAST
Is the ceasefire sticking?:
The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas has begun, but the situation is incredibly fragile.
As part of the peace deal brokered by President Trump, Hamas was required to return the bodies of deceased hostages. Well, the Israeli military said today that one of the bodies was not a hostage.
And Hamas is on a retribution campaign. The group has killed at least 33 people since the ceasefire went into effect, according to Reuters, with at least seven men publicly executed in Gaza Square on Monday.
What about the promised humanitarian support?: Dozens of humanitarian organizations are ramping up operations to provide food, water and medicine in Gaza. But ABC News reports they are facing significant challenges. For example, roads have been destroyed, making it difficult to reach some areas. And they’re on the clock to do as much as possible before the winter months.
➤ RELATED READS:
The Wall Street Journal: Israel and Hamas Start Next Phase of Talks on Trump Plan
BBC: What does wording of Gaza ceasefire agreement tell us?
🪪 OTHER NEWS
And then there was One (America News Network):
Starting today, just one news outlet will be credentialed in the Pentagon.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave news outlets until 5 p.m. EDT on Tuesday to sign new press restrictions under which reporters who solicit a call or encourage military personnel to share nonpublic information could be considered a security risk.
Nearly every major media outlet declined, including multiple right-leaning outlets, arguing it is a violation of First Amendment rights. (The Hill also did not sign the policy.)
Check out 📸 this photo of the Pentagon press credentials that were handed in on Tuesday. There are some big names on this board.
📸 Sign posted near the Correspondents’ Corridor at the Pentagon
What’s the one outlet that agreed?: One America News Network, a far-right news and political commentary TV channel that often aligns with the Trump administration.
Fox News, the Washington Times, Newsmax and the Daily Caller rejected the policy.
The Hill’s Ellen Mitchell wrote five takeaways of this new Pentagon press policy. It’s worth reading for context on why this is such a big deal.
Related read, via The Washington Post: ‘Hegseth’s legal fixer at the center of Pentagon’s new media restrictions’
Happening now — Will the Voting Rights Act be gutted?:
The Supreme Court is hearing a major challenge to the Voting Rights Act today. Louisiana is fighting to toss its new congressional map that added a second majority-Black district.
👂 Listen to the oral arguments live
What to know about the case: “The battle over Louisiana’s congressional map has brought the court to the verge of curtailing a central provision of the 1965 Voting Rights Act that has forced states to draw majority-minority districts. Justices will consider whether the practice complies with the 14th and 15th amendments, which were ratified after the Civil War to provide equal protection under the law and prohibit intentional racial discrimination in voting.” Read more from The Hill’s Zach Schonfeld and Ella Lee
Related read, via The New York Times: ‘Who Are the Louisiana Voters Behind a Major Supreme Court Challenge?’
COMING UP
The House is out. The Senate is in. President Trump is at the White House. (All times EDT)
12:30 p.m. Senators meet for weekly caucus luncheons. 📆Today’s agenda
2:15 p.m. Senators will once again vote on a government funding bill.
3 p.m. Trump holds a press conference with FBI Director Kash Patel. 💻 Livestream
7:30 p.m. Trump hosts a ballroom dinner in the East Room of the White House.
8 p.m. NewsNation’s Chris Cuomo hosts a town hall live from the Kennedy Center.
INTERNET BUZZ
🧀🍗 Celebrate: Today is National Cheese Curd Day and National Shawarma Day.
🐀 You win this round, NYC: Washington has a worse rat problem than New York City, according to a disturbing new graphic from The Economist.
🐼 ‘Boo at the Zoo’ is a casualty of the shutdown: The National Zoo has canceled its annual “Boo at the Zoo” Halloween event due to the government shutdown. Tickets and parking passes will automatically be refunded.
AND FINALLY…
Because this made me smile this morning, I want you to see how this dog handles taking a pill.
