Today in Politics: Power Grabs, Paychecks, and Priorities

Sections today

Trump’s third-term talk

When I woke up today, the first thing I saw was a post from Brian Tyler Cohen: “BREAKING: Trump says he’s allowed to be president after 2028 by running as vice president and then taking over.”

My first thought was, did he really say that? I dug in. He has floated the idea of “methods” to get around the two-term limit before. Legal scholars have repeatedly said the vice-president trick would be on very shaky constitutional ground. And most recently, he said he wouldn’t actually do it, calling the idea “too cute” and “not right.” Sources: The Guardian (Oct. 27, 2025), FactCheck.org analysis, Washington Post explainer on the 22nd Amendment.

It also isn’t the first time he’s teased sticking around longer than the Constitution allows. He’s “joked” about three terms, “maybe we’ll have to stay longer,” “maybe we deserve more time.” At some point, the joke stops being a joke and becomes a trial balloon.

Immigration incentives and the new 287(g) push

MoveOn flagged a program that “puts a price tag” on immigrant lives. The language is emotional, but here’s the reality: DHS announced reimbursements for state and local agencies that partner with ICE under Section 287(g), including salary/benefit coverage for trained officers. Several outlets also report performance-based incentives tied to how many ICE-identified undocumented immigrants agencies locate. Read for yourself: DHS announcement (Sept. 2, 2025), DHS follow-up (Sept. 17, 2025), Newsweek (performance bonuses detail), Police1 trade publication summary.

Unpaid workers and the shutdown

There are people going into work and not getting paid. Others are furloughed and told not to work at all. That’s outrageous in any country that calls itself a democracy.

Scale of the pain: Bipartisan Policy Center snapshot of who’s missing pay, OPM furlough/back-pay guidance (GEFTA 2019), GovExec on OMB’s disputed interpretation of back pay, Reuters on selective pay emphasis during shutdown.

Are we really alone in this? Among major peer democracies, yes—full government shutdowns like ours basically don’t happen. Others roll over prior-year funding or use automatic stopgaps. Good primers: CBS News, Peter G. Peterson Foundation.

Real people getting squeezed (today)

“I’m showing up on my own dime… we still have to pay for gas and daycare.”

CBS News (Oct. 24, 2025): Worker stories

“When people don’t have money, they have time to start making life choices and life decisions.”

AP News (Oct. 10, 2025): NATCA perspective

“We were already living paycheck to paycheck… we have to pick and choose which bills to pay now.”

CBS News (Oct. 14, 2025): Military family

“To force employees to work shoulder to shoulder… and only pay some of them is extremely unfair and disrespectful.”

Reuters (Oct. 23, 2025): NTEU President Doreen Greenwald

Meanwhile: Congress still gets paid during a shutdown because member salaries are funded by a permanent appropriation (some individual members decline pay in protest, but that’s voluntary). Background: CRS.

Priorities: ballrooms, billionaires, and SNAP

Joy Reid pointed out something I hadn’t fully internalized: the perks for the very rich are built to last, while help for everyone else keeps expiring.

Permanent for corporations: the 2017 law cut the corporate rate from 35% to 21% and made that change permanent unless Congress reverses it. Tax Policy Center tracker.

Expiring for families: the enhanced ACA subsidies that keep Marketplace premiums affordable are temporary and set to lapse at the end of 2025 without action. Sources: KFF, CRS brief. What else sunsets in 2025: Brookings, BPC explainer.

Now put that next to this week’s optics. The East Wing is being torn down to make way for a massive new ballroom—in the middle of a shutdown. The White House says construction is privately funded by companies and wealthy donors, but ongoing security, staffing, and maintenance almost certainly land on taxpayers. Coverage: Reuters photos/report, Reuters overview, The Guardian, PBS history note.

At the same time, the administration has warned that SNAP benefits won’t go out on November 1 and has resisted tapping contingency funds that could keep aid flowing during the shutdown. Counter-analysis says USDA could use its reserve. Sources: AP, CBS News, CBPP.

No, the shutdown isn’t inevitable. The Speaker can reconvene the House to negotiate; choosing not to is… a choice. Reporting: Federal News Network/AP, ABC News, The Guardian.

One more data point: there’s chatter about big U.S. money for Argentina while aid at home stalls. Treat viral “$40B” claims skeptically and watch confirmed numbers. Sources: New Republic summary, Snopes fact check.

My take: building a giant ballroom right now—whatever the funding source—while telling working families their grocery money pauses is obscene. Pair “permanent” tax relief for corporations with expiring help that keeps people insured, and the priorities speak for themselves. Feed and insure people before you build vanity projects.

Personal note: Kandu Island and the pantry safety net

Josh and I are members at Kandu Island here in Traverse City. It’s a consumer-run drop-in center—a safe place to be, connect, and get practical help. We usually go on Tuesdays for bingo, and there’s a small but mighty food pantry. Learn more: Kandu Island (Northern Lakes CMH).

Until recently, we barely used the pantry—maybe grabbed a bagel here or there—because we were doing fine. But after moving from a one-bedroom to a two-bedroom in August, our costs jumped. We’re still blessed to have a subsidy voucher, but everything’s more expensive. The pantry has helped us bridge the gap. The donated food is often really good. It’s not always what I would’ve bought, but it feeds us.

Kandu’s pantry is part of a larger local network. The Northwest Food Coalition lists pantries county-by-county (including Kandu’s hours): Northwest Food Coalition (Grand Traverse). Food Rescue (Goodwill Northern Michigan) picks up good food from stores and farms and delivers it to pantries: Food Rescue (Goodwill NMI). Feeding America West Michigan’s mobile pantry schedule (rotating trucks): FAWM Mobile Pantries.

At our site, members go through first, then non-members—but people from across the community use it. And if SNAP really pauses, more families with kids will need these pantries in November. That’s not “laziness.” That’s disabled people facing hiring bias, people who can’t work at all, and low-wage workers who still can’t make rent—especially in a place like Traverse City, where rents are high. If we want to talk about values, keeping your neighbors fed should be the bare minimum.

Sources (consolidated)

Trump third-term talk

Immigration incentives and the 287(g) push

Unpaid workers and the shutdown

Priorities: ballrooms, billionaires, and SNAP

Personal note: Kandu Island and the pantry safety net (Traverse City)

Vicki Andrada's avatar

By Vicki Andrada

A Little About Me I was born on February 25, 1972, in Flint, Michigan, at McLaren Hospital. I lived in Michigan until I was almost 40, then moved to Tampa, Florida, where I stayed for seven years. After that, I relocated to Arizona, living with friends in Glendale and then in Phoenix for about eight months. I spent two years total in Arizona before returning to Florida for a little over a year. Eventually, I moved back to Michigan and stayed with my parents for six months. In May of 2022, I moved to Traverse City, Michigan, where I’ve been ever since—and I absolutely love it. I never expected to return to Michigan, but I’m so glad I did. I was born blind and see only light and shadows. My fiancé, Josh, is also blind. We both use guide dogs to navigate independently and safely. My current Leader Dog is Vicki Jo , a four-year-old Golden Retriever/Black Lab mix. She’s my fourth guide dog—my first two were Yellow Labs, and my last two have been Golden/Lab crosses. Josh’s guide dog, Lou, came from the same organization where I got my previous dog—now known as Guide Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs. Josh and I live together here in Traverse City, and we both sing in the choir at Mission Hill Church , which was previously known as First Congregational Church. A lot of people still know it by that name. We both really enjoy being part of the choir—it’s something that brings us a lot of joy. I also love to read, write, and listen to music—especially 60s, 70s, and 80s music. Josh and I enjoy listening to music together and watching movies, especially when descriptive video is available. We also like working out at the YMCA a couple of times a week, which has been great for both our physical and mental health. I’m a big fan of Major League Baseball. My favorite team is the Detroit Tigers, followed by the Tampa Bay Rays and the Colorado Rockies. In the NFL, I cheer for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Indianapolis Colts, and San Francisco 49ers—and I still have a soft spot for the Detroit Lions, especially now that they’ve started turning things around. I’m passionate about politics and history. I consider myself a progressive thinker, though I also try to take a balanced, middle-of-the-road approach. I’m a follower of Jesus Christ and a strong believer in respecting people of all faiths. I love learning about different religions, cultures, and belief systems. Writing is one of my biggest passions. I haven’t published anything yet, but I’ve written several books that are still in progress. Writing helps me express myself, explore new ideas, and connect with others through storytelling. Thanks for stopping by and getting to know a little about me.

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