Greetings! Here are the topics for today’s column:

• Federal Government Shutdown
• Gallup & Supreme Court
• Cherry Garcia
• One More Thing

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN:

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate held two more votes to fund the government. Both votes failed pretty much along party lines. (Source)

The media started reporting about what is closed and what is open in regard to the shutdown. The spin from both sides of the aisle is nauseating. Lots of false information is being spread. 

It is being reported that the White House has frozen funding in Democratic states. Reuters reports:

U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration on Wednesday froze $26 billion for Democratic-leaning states, following through on a threat to use the government shutdown to target Democratic priorities.

The targeted programs included $18 billion for transit projects in New York, home to Congress’s top two Democrats, and $8 billion for green-energy projects in 16 Democratic-run states, including California and Illinois.

To put the shutdown in perspective, USA Today reports:

A shuttered government is familiar territory to President Donald Trump, whose first term saw three shutdowns, including a 35-day closure spanning the end of 2018 into early 2019. It remains the longest in U.S. history.

Congress failed to pass new spending authority by the start of Oct. 1, prompting a shutdown of the federal government, the fourth during a Trump presidency.

Politico is reporting that a bipartisan group of Senators is looking for a way out of the shutdown. This is what should have happened weeks ago. Good luck! 

GALLUP & SUPREME COURT: 

Gallup polling is reporting that forty-three percent of Americans think the current Supreme Court is too conservative. Though that proportion is not meaningfully different from 2022-2024 readings, it is the highest Gallup has measured by one percentage point. The remainder of Americans are more inclined to say the court is “about right” (36%) rather than “too liberal” (17%).

Personally, I prefer the Supreme Court to lean slightly to the left. I guess that is why I am a moderate/independent. 

Check out the complete report from Gallup HERE. 

CHERRY GARCIA:

It’s the little things in life, and I often share my thoughts on food. With the way things are in the country right now, we could all use a pint of ice cream! 

Ben and Jerry’s “Cherry Garcia” ice cream is my favorite ice cream. It tastes fabulous! 

According to their website: 

We named this flavor in 1987 for the legendary American guitarist Jerry Garcia after one of our fans sent us the idea on a postcard, and it’s been one of our top hits ever since. We use only pure cream to make the cherry ice cream smooth and sumptuous. Then we lace the ice cream with plump sweet cherries and dark chocolatey chunks. Enjoy!

OK, I’m a little late to the party, but it is still really good!

ONE MORE THING:

I may look fine, but deep down I don’t remember any of my passwords…

## END ##