Good morning. You are studying the Up First publication. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox, and hear to the Up First podcast for all of the information that you must begin your day.
In the present day’s high tales
A lot of the federal authorities is now shut down after the Senate was unable to succeed in an settlement on two competing funding payments. The final authorities shutdown, which lasted 35 days and was the longest in U.S. historical past, occurred from December 2018 to January 2019. The Trump administration has used authorities web sites and agency-wide emails to accuse Democrats of inflicting the shutdown. Some ethics specialists say that might violate the Hatch Act, which is meant to maintain politics out of presidency work.
A view of the U.S. Capitol is seen at sundown on Sept. 30 in Washington, D.C. Lawmakers face a looming deadline to succeed in a bipartisan funding settlement earlier than midnight, or threat triggering a federal authorities shutdown.
Mehmet Eser/Center East Photographs/AFP through Getty
conceal caption
toggle caption
Mehmet Eser/Center East Photographs/AFP through Getty
- 🎧 Earlier this yr, Senate Democrats helped Republicans to maintain the federal government funded, a transfer that drew sharp criticism, NPR’s Claudia Grisales tells Up First. Since then, the Democrats’ restricted affect in Washington has change into evident as President Trump and the GOP handed an enormous partisan spending and tax plan. Now, Democrats are searching for an extension of Inexpensive Care Act subsidies set to run out this yr. Grisales says the Senate will maintain one other vote, and with a number of Democrats crossing celebration traces Tuesday night time to vote with Republicans, the GOP may very well be trying to construct on that.
- 🎧 Many federal staff won’t obtain their pay throughout the shutdown, says NPR’s Andrea Hsu. In 2019, Congress handed a regulation requiring that federal staff obtain again pay as soon as a shutdown ends. Nonetheless, the White Home has threatened to fireside many federal staff throughout this shutdown. Yesterday, two unions representing federal staff filed a lawsuit, arguing that the administration’s threats of mass layoffs throughout a authorities shutdown are an illegal abuse of energy by the administration. The unions declare the threats are geared toward punishing staff and pressuring Democrats in Congress to cave.
- ➡️ A brand new NPR/PBS Information/Marist ballot signifies that Republicans would face extra blame than Democrats for a authorities shutdown. Nonetheless, a big proportion would blame each events equally.
- ➡️ Historical past tells us that in a shutdown, guests will doubtless discover shuttered doorways at main cultural establishments like Smithsonian museums. Here is what we all know based mostly on previous shutdowns.
Trump knowledgeable his high army commanders yesterday that the U.S. army could be utilized in opposition to what he described because the “enemy inside,” referencing Democratic-run cities that he claims have excessive crime charges. On the gathering in Quantico, Va., Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth emphasised to the generals that the aim of the division would solely be “warfare preventing.” Hegseth spoke about toughening bodily health requirements for these in fight jobs, saying he desires women and men to attain the best male normal.
- 🎧 One Marine officer who’s well-versed on creating bodily health checks estimated that assembly the best male normal of health may end in shedding 15 to twenty p.c of girls in these fight roles. Hegseth thinks total the army hasn’t been powerful sufficient and needs drill sergeants to be more durable on recruits, says NPR’s Tom Bowman. The president said he knowledgeable Hegseth he ought to use harmful cities as coaching grounds for the army.
The president introduced yesterday {that a} deal has been made with Pfizer to promote its medicine on to shoppers at discounted costs. The drugs shall be out there by means of a federal government-operated web site. Trump mentioned comparable offers with different drugmakers are within the works.
Life recommendation

An interracial couple is unpacking groceries. The white man within the couple says to his South Asian accomplice: “You need your mother to stick with us for the way lengthy?”
Anika Orrock
conceal caption
toggle caption
Anika Orrock
To construct a powerful and lasting interracial relationship, it is necessary to overtly focus on one another’s racial variations. With love and intention, interracial {couples} can flourish, however the journey ought to begin with curiosity, says Nina Sharma, creator of The Means You Make Me Really feel: Love in Black and Brown. Meaning having open communication about one another’s cultures, by each sharing experiences and asking questions. Listed below are some important conversations to assist handle a few of the hardest elements of being in an interracial relationship.
- 💞 Attempt discussing your variations early within the relationship; if you don’t, they might change into a battle afterward. Some speaking factors may embrace: educating them your language and asking in case your accomplice has ever felt othered by their pores and skin colour.
- 💞 Discuss how you intend to mix and co-create along with your accomplice in a manner that will help you each really feel understood and revered. This will embrace enjoying each Puerto Rican and Indian music at household gatherings.
- 💞 When cultural or non secular practices differ, method negotiations with curiosity. Ask questions to indicate understanding and work collectively to seek out options with out anybody feeling they have to abandon their tradition.
For extra steerage on how you can preserve a wholesome interracial relationship, hearken to this episode of NPR’s Life Package. Subscribe to the Life Package publication for skilled recommendation on love, cash, relationships and extra.
Image present

A really tall cake on the Cake Picnic in Santa Monica.
Makenna Sievertson/LAist
conceal caption
toggle caption
Makenna Sievertson/LAist
Cake Picnic is a touring competition all concerning the dessert. It has accomplished a number of stops, together with Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York and London, with plans for a lot of extra stops sooner or later. The concept sparked for passionate baker Elisa Sunga a few yr in the past when she began a small gathering to deliver buddies and dessert lovers collectively to eat as many desserts as potential. For the primary picnic occasion, she hoped for not less than 15 individuals to attend, however she quickly acquired way over she anticipated. Lots of of RSVPs flooded in after a posting about it on Instagram. The occasion has one rule: No cake, no entry. However you do not want a candy deal with to catch a glimpse of the most recent sold-out occasion held in Santa Monica. Get a bit cake-tivated with these pictures. (through LAist)
3 issues to know earlier than you go

Chunk, 32, is the chubby champion of Fats Bear Week 2025. His damaged jaw did not cease him from feasting on sockeye salmon and gaining tons of of kilos this summer season.
Christine Loberg/Nationwide Park Service
conceal caption
toggle caption
Christine Loberg/Nationwide Park Service
- Chunk, a bear weighing in at over 1,200 kilos, has been topped the 2025 Fats Bear Week champion. His damaged however therapeutic jaw did not cease him from feasting and gaining tons of of kilos this summer season. (through Alaska Public Radio)
- It’s time to test your fridge. Public well being authorities are urging individuals to discard sure precooked pasta meals bought at Dealer Joe’s and Walmart as a result of potential listeria contamination.
- Spotify co-founder Daniel Ek introduced he’ll step down because the streaming large’s chief government in January. He’ll nonetheless be with the corporate, transitioning into a brand new position.
This article was edited by Yvonne Dennis.