☕ Is a government shutdown likely?

Good morning.

We’re keeping a close eye on Super Typhoon Ragasa (a Filipino word meaning a strong, rushing, and rolling motion), which has made landfall in southern China. It’s now been declared the world’s strongest storm this year, and is expected to cause more damage over the coming days.

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Some headlines from this morning:

• President Donald Trump used his United Nations speech to criticize countries recognizing Palestinian statehood, claiming they encourage continued Middle East fighting. Trump's 56-minute address exceeded the typical 15-minute limit and included attacks on climate policies he called "the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world" and immigration policies he said were destroying European nations. The President urged world leaders to abandon "green scam" policies and follow his migration crackdown, warning "your countries are going to hell." Trump's speech was among the first at this week's UN General Assembly meeting of world leaders in New York.

• Jimmy Kimmel returned to his late-night show this week after being suspended for comments about right-wing activist Charlie Kirk's killing. Several major television providers kept the show off air despite his return, preventing millions of Americans from watching. The temporary suspension has sparked a national debate about free speech limits in entertainment. President Donald Trump criticized the decision in a social media post, saying "I can't believe ABC Fake News gave Jimmy Kimmel his job back."

• A Florida jury found Ryan Wesley Routh guilty of attempting to assassinate then-presidential candidate Donald Trump at a golf course last September. Routh camped outside Trump's Florida golf course with a loaded rifle before being spotted by a Secret Service agent, who opened fire as Routh fled and was later arrested. During the trial, Routh represented himself and told jurors he never intended to kill anyone or pull the trigger. The jury deliberated for two hours before convicting him on all charges, and he faces up to life in prison when sentenced in December.

• A man in his 40s has been arrested in southern England over an alleged cyberattack that disrupted several European airports last week, including London Heathrow. The UK's National Crime Agency said the suspect was detained in West Sussex on Tuesday on suspicion of computer misuse offenses before being released on conditional bail. The cyberattack affected Collins Aerospace software used for check-in systems, forcing airline staff at airports in Berlin, Brussels and London to handwrite boarding passes and use backup laptops starting Friday. The investigation remains in early stages, with experts suggesting the attack could involve hackers, criminal organizations or state actors.

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Super Typhoon Ragasa killed 14 people in Taiwan and three people in the Philippines as it passed between the two on its way to the ten million people exposed to its fury on China’s east coast. Here is what you need to know about the world’s biggest storm this year.

Super Typhoon Ragasa

Ragasa formed over the Western Pacific last week and rapidly intensified into this year's most powerful storm. The typhoon passed between northern Philippines and southern Taiwan on Monday before heading toward China's densely populated east coast.

Meteorologists noticed Ragasa forming over the Western Pacific last week. A combination of warm seas and favorable atmospheric conditions meant the tropical cyclone rapidly intensified.

By Monday, it had surface wind speeds exceeding 162 mph, meeting the criteria of a Super Typhoon. The equivalent of a Category Five hurricane.

Ragagsa began moving West and threaded itself between the northern Philippines and Taiwan’s south. It has since been downgraded to a Category Three, but is still capable of uprooting trees and causing significant damage to buildings.

Damage in the Philippines and Taiwan

Authorities in the Philippines organized the evacuation of thousands of people in the country's north. Still, three people died, and more are missing, even though the Typhoon did not make direct landfall.

Taiwan suffered the worst impact, with 14 people killed when floodwaters overwhelmed a barrier lake in Guangfu township.

What’s next?

Ragasa is expected to make landfall in Guangdong on Wednesday before continuing east through Vietnam and finally dissipating in Laos by Friday. The storm has been downgraded to Category 3 but remains extremely dangerous.

Chinese authorities have canceled flights from Hong Kong and Macau, while residents are stockpiling food and supplies ahead of the storm's arrival.

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President Donald Trump canceled a crucial meeting with Democratic leaders on Tuesday, bringing the federal government closer to a partial shutdown on October 1. Senate Democrats and Republicans remain deadlocked over a temporary funding bill that would keep about a quarter of the $7 trillion federal budget operating. Here's what you need to know.

What happened?

The Republican-controlled House passed a Continuing Resolution (CR) last week that would extend current government funding until November 21. However, the bill stalled in the Senate, where Republicans need 60 votes to pass legislation and currently hold only 54 seats.

Trump had planned to negotiate with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries on Tuesday but pulled out at the last minute.

"I have decided that no meeting with their congressional leaders could possibly be productive," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Government shutdowns

Government shutdowns halt many everyday services Americans rely on. Non-essential federal workers stop working, affecting everything from national parks to passport processing. The longest shutdown in U.S. history lasted 34 days during Trump's first term.

If Congress doesn't pass funding legislation by September 30, approximately 25% of federal operations will shut down on October 1.

Every year, Congress must pass 12 appropriations bills to fund the government's discretionary spending. When they fail to do so by October 1, non-essential government services will cease to operate.

Essential services, such as Medicare and Social Security, continue, as do payments on the $37.5 trillion national debt. But many government offices close, and federal employees are furloughed without pay.

What do the Democrats want?

Democrats want the temporary funding bill to include extended tax credits for federally backed health insurance premiums. Without the extension, health insurance costs could rise 18% for families who depend on these credits.

"It's the difference between a family trying to make the mortgage payment and having healthcare," Schumer said.

Republicans say they haven't ruled out extending the tax credits in the full budget but insist the temporary resolution isn't the right place for it.

What’s next?

With Trump canceling the meeting, a shutdown appears increasingly likely. The president hasn't ruled out future negotiations but set conditions.

"All Congressional Democrats want to do is enact Radical Left Policies that nobody voted for," Trump said, adding he might meet with Democrats "if they get serious about the future of our Nation."

Congress has until September 30 to reach a deal or face the first government shutdown since Trump returned to office.

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