President Donald Trump has backed Andrew Cuomo’s bid for New York City mayor while labeling frontrunner Zohran Mamdani, a Democratic socialist, as a “communist.”
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. If Mamdani wins, the president said it’s “highly unlikely” that he gives his hometown any more federal funds than the minimum required, he warned.
“Donald Trump is threatened by our campaign,” Mamdani fired back on CNN. “He's threatened by it because, like his, we've diagnosed the crisis in working-class New Yorkers' lives, the cost of living, but unlike him, we're actually going to deliver on that.”
Elon Musk, the world’s richest person and Trump’s former DOGE boss, also threw his support behind Cuomo at the eleventh hour.
Meanwhile, gubernatorial races are unfolding in two key states: New Jersey and Virginia.
The Virginia race will see pro-Trump candidate Winsome Earle-Sears going head-to-head with center-left candidate Abigail Spanberger.
In New Jersey, Democrat Mikie Sherrill takes on Republican Jack Ciattarelli. But the race has been overshadowed by threats from Trump, who said that “election monitors” will be stationed at polling sites — a move Democrats have branded as voter intimidation.
Key Points
- Americans to go the polls in New York, California, New Jersey and Virginia on Tuesday
- Trump blasts Mamdani as a 'communist' and backs rival Cuomo
- When will New Yorkers find out who has won the NYC mayoral race?
- Trump to participate in tele-rallies for gubernatorial races in NJ and VA
Which races to watch ahead of Election Day
02:50 , Rachel DobkinThere are several high-profile races to look out for as we head into Election Day on Tuesday.
New York City’s mayoral race
- Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani is facing off against former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running as an independent, and Republican nominee Curtis Sliwa.
- Mamdani is leading in the polls with 43.9 percent of voter support in a new Atlas Intel poll. Cuomo is trailing with 39.4 percent, followed by Sliwa with 15.5 percent.
Virginia’s gubernatorial race
- Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican, is running against former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in the governor’s race.
- Spanberger is leading in the polls with 54 percent of voter support in a new Research Co. poll, compared to Earle-Sears’ 46 percent.
New Jersey’s gubernatorial race
- Former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli is the Republican choice in New Jersey, up against Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill.
- New Jersey’s gubernatorial race is closer than Virginia’s. In the same Research Co. poll, Sherrill leads Ciattarelli by just three percentage points, 51 to 48 percent.
California’s ballot measure
- Californians will vote on whether they want to change the blue state’s congressional district maps in response to Texas’ redistricting in favor of Republicans.
More than 735,000 people have cast their ballots in NYC so far
13:09 , Kelly RissmanHeading into Election Day, hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers cast their ballots during early voting.
Here’s the voting breakdown so far:
- Manhattan - 212,679
- Bronx - 58,661
- Brooklyn - 243,737
- Queens - 166,519
- Staten Island - 53,721
Trump weighs in on candidates' appearance — again — in NYC race
13:05 , Kelly RissmanPresident Donald Trump had a suggestion for GOP candidate Curtis Sliwa as New Yorkers cast their ballots on Election Day.
Sliwa, who is known for sporting a red beret as part of his Guardian Angels gear, “looks much better without the beret!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Tuesday.
On 60 Minutes Sunday, Trump also alluded to frontrunner Zohran Mamdani’s looks.
“Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that?” CBS journalist Norah O’Donnell asked the president.
Trump replied: “Well, I think I'm a much better-looking person than him. Right?”
What did Trump say ahead of the NYC mayoral race?
12:56 , Kelly RissmanPresident Donald Trump branded Democratic socialist candidate Zohran Mamdani a “communist” and announced he supported independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, just one day before Election Day in New York City.
The president threatened to only provide the “minimum” amount of federal funds, should Mamdani win the race.
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!” he wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
“I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE. He was nothing as an Assemblyman, ranked at the bottom of the class and, as Mayor of potentially, again, the Greatest City in the World, HE HAS NO CHANCE to bring it back to its former Glory!” Trump continued.
“We must also remember this — A vote for Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” the president wrote.
Andrew Cuomo defends campaigning in a White Ford Bronco
12:00 , Owen ScottAndrew Cuomo has defended himself after social media users suggested that campaigning in a White Ford Bronco, a car which has long been associated with O.J. Simpson, was in poor taste.
“It’s not the O.J. Bronco,” he said bluntly in a social media video.
“why is he driving around in the oj getaway car??” one X user wrote.
“Lol I'm sure he had a wide variety of vehicles to choose from, and went with that,” said another.
The vehicle was made infamous when he led police on a two-hour high-speed chase in Southern California, after he was charged with murdering his wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, and her friend, Ronald Goldman.
Cuomo has described the car as his “good luck truck,” in a video which has been seen millions of times.
New York, here’s a little history on why we’ll win this race—last stretch magic courtesy of the good luck truck!#VoteforCuomo pic.twitter.com/FdWX0Xqos5
— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) November 4, 2025
Watch: Trump claims that he is 'much better-looking' than Zohran Mamdani
11:30 , Owen ScottTrump has claimed that he is ‘much better-looking’ than Zohran Mamdani, in his latest comment about his appearance.
In a CBS 60 Minutes interview, Norah O’Donnell asked the president whether he could see any similarities between himself and Mamdani.
“Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules,” O’Donnell suggested. “What do you think about that?”
The president replied: “Well, I think I'm a much better-looking person than him. Right?”
O’Donnell simply replied “okay,” before moving onto her next question.
Trump often comments publicly about how he looks. Most notably, he blasted Time Magazine for using a picture of him which he described as the “Worst of All Time.”
The president claimed that the magazine “disappeared” his hair, after it used a photograph taken from a low angle. The sunlight behind his head made his white hair look as though it had vanished.
The cover was centered around the peace deal agreed between Hamas and Israel, which Trump helped to broker.
Andrew Cuomo appears to confuse socialism and communism, as he compares Mamdani to regime in Cuba
11:00 , Owen ScottAndrew Cuomo appeared to confuse socialism and communism, as he spoke to congregants of Heavenly Vision Church.
“Socialism hasn’t worked anywhere on the globe, not in Venezuela, not in Cuba,” he said, according to Norwood News. “It’s certainly not going to work here in New York.”
However, under Fidel Castro, Cuba was run under an explicitly communist regime. And Venezuela has a long history associated with communist movements, but is not run under a communist regime.
Mamdani has described himself as a Democratic Socialist and says that he is in favor of the state playing a role in keeping the costs of essential goods and services down.
New York Daily News backs Cuomo, saying Mamdani is running on a 'free, free, free and tax, tax, tax' platform
10:30 , Owen ScottNew York Daily News says that it has “strongly endorsed” Andrew Cuomo over Zohran Mamdani.
The newspaper said that Mamdani wants to “tax, tax, tax” New Yorkers to make services “free, free, free,” in a reference to the Democratic candidates plan to make bus fare free.
It also accused him of antisemitism, an accusation which Mamdani has long denied.
The publication argued that Cuomo “knows how to run a run a government” and how to “balance a budget.”
Andrew Cuomo says he won't blame Curtis Sliwa if Mamdani wins
10:07 , Owen Scott
Andrew Cuomo has rejected the idea that Curtis Sliwa remaining in the New York Mayor race could allow Zohran Mamdani to win.
“No, I’m not going to blame anyone, because I’m not going to lose tomorrow,” Cuomo insisted.
Sliwa is the Republican candidate in the race. He has long been a critic of Cuomo and has repeated branded the independent candidate as a “creep,” referencing the sexual assault allegations made against Cuomo.
The sexual assault charges have all been dropped, with many of them being dropped due to a lack of evidence. Cuomo has insisted that he is innocent.
Watch: New York Attorney General Letitia James backed Mamdani earlier this month
09:45 , Owen ScottNew York’s Attorney General Letitia James backed Mamdani on October 14, in a defiant speech in which she blasted Donald Trump.
James was indicted in April 2025, after Bill Pulte, Trump’s pick to run the Federal Housing Finance Agency, referred her to the Department of Justice.
He claimed that she had misrepresented the nature of a property that she owns in Virginia. She has denied the charges.
Trump’s critics have suggested that the indictment is part of his crackdown on his political enemies.
James said “I fear no man” as she backed Mamdani on October 14.
“We see powerful voices trying to silence truth and punish dissent and yes – weaponize justice for political gain,” James said to applause. “We are witnessing the fraying of our democracy, the erosion of our system of government.
“This, my friends, is a defining moment in our history.”
Mamdani continues to ride high in the polls, but his lead could be narrowing
09:28 , Owen Scott
For weeks, Mamdani has been head-and-shoulders above his opponents in the polls.
Surveys from Quinnipiac University and Emerson College said that his lead could be in the double digits.
However, that gap could now be narrowing as New Yorkers cast their ballots.
A new AtlasIntel poll says that Mamdani is now just 5 points ahead of Andrew Cuomo.
Throughout his run, Mamdani has warned his supporters not to be complacent about their lead. In a social media video, he pointed out that Cuomo was widely believed to be the frontrunner in the Democratic primary before he was defeated.
The New Jersey race could give both parties an insight into the country's mood
09:18 , Owen Scott
Normally, New Jersey backs the Democratic Party. However, recent polls have suggested that the race between Republican Jack Ciattarelli and Democrat Mikie Sherrill will be extremely tight.
National political trends have seen the country swing to the right, with suburban voters turning to Trump in the 2024 election.
The winner of the New Jersey gubernatorial race could offer a window into whether this trend will continue.
Sherrill is a very different candidate to New York’s Democratic nominee. She is a military veteran who is much closer to the political center, although she has also campaigned on lowering the cost-of-living.
Like Mamdani, she has suggested that her opponent will work fulfil Trump’s agenda.
“He’ll do whatever Trump tells him to do, and I will fight anybody to work for you,” Sherrill said.
Ciattarelli sparked controversy when he gave Trump an “A” grade on his second presidency, during a debate with Sherrill.
“He’s right about securing the border; inflation is much lower than under Biden; he halted offshore wind; he’s pushing back on New York’s congestion pricing; and he quadrupled the SALT (state and local taxes) deduction,” Ciatterelli said.
Elon Musk backs Andrew Cuomo with Mamdani claiming that it 'only cost $959 million in tax breaks'
09:06 , Owen ScottElon Musk has backed Andrew Cuomo in the race for Mayor of NYC and had claimed that “a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is.”
The tech CEO is one of many people to misspell Mamdani’s name, despite the Democratic candidate being one of the most high-profile politicians in the country and the frontrunner in the race.
Mamdani seemed unshaken by Musk’s endorsement of his rival though, and instead posted a subtle response on X.
“Another big endorsement for @andrewcuomo,” he wrote. “And it only cost $959 million in tax breaks.”
His post referenced Andrew Cuomo giving $959 million in tax breaks to a solar farm linked to Musk’s family, which was later acquired by Tesla.
The scheme was blasted by Cuomo’s rivals who said that it has failed to deliver for New Yorkers.
“Big promises that were made, many jobs that were to come that have not materialized and that have only gone to the benefit of Elon Musk,” Senator Zellnor Myrie said. “They have benefited from a property tax abatement that allows for him to spend very little money on very valuable property to produce very little jobs.”
Another big endorsement for @andrewcuomo. And it only cost $959 million in tax breaks. pic.twitter.com/p5pS3D0v9G
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 3, 2025
Curtis Sliwa tells New Yorkers to listen to 'America's mayor' and vote for him
09:00 , Rachel DobkinCurtis Sliwa has told New Yorkers to listen to Rudy Giuliani, whom he called “America's mayor,” and vote for him.
Giuliani, a Republican who was New York City mayor during the 9/11 terror attacks, has endorsed Sliwa, the Republican nominee in the city’s mayoral race this year.
“Thank you for your endorsement tonight, Rudy! Ignore the noise and listen to America’s mayor, because if anyone knows how to save NYC, it’s the man who did it himself,” Sliwa wrote on X Monday night.
Thank you for your endorsement tonight, Rudy!
— Curtis Sliwa (@CurtisSliwa) November 4, 2025
Ignore the noise and listen to America’s mayor, because if anyone knows how to save NYC, it’s the man who did it himself. pic.twitter.com/2MvijSu9jZ
Trump blasts Mamdani as a 'communist' and backs rival Cuomo
08:58 , Owen ScottTrump has branded Mamdani, the frontrunner in the NYC mayor race, as a ‘communist’ and has thrown his weight behind Andrew Cuomo.
However, the Democratic nominee quickly turned the tables on the president by sharing a cheeky post on social media, in which he directly addressed the endorsement.
Mamdani is running as an anti-Trump candidate, so he posted a picture of the president’s endorsement with a caption reading, “Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this.”
Meanwhile, the president has threatened to pull funding for New York if Mamdani wins, claiming that federal money will be wasted by the Democratic candidate.
Currently, the polls say that Mamdani is on track to win but voters won’t know who will become mayor of NYC until at least late this evening.
Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this. https://t.co/qePAGqDk0K pic.twitter.com/6CKqyZE6ne
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 3, 2025
ICYMI: Trump takes swipe at Mamdani’s appearance
08:30 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has insisted he’s “much better-looking” than New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani.
The 79-year-old president compared himself to the 33-year-old frontrunner and called him a “communist” during an appearance on CBS’s 60 Minutes Sunday as hundreds of thousands of early ballots were cast in the mayoral race.
Journalist Norah O’Donnell began to ask Trump about the race, describing Mamdani as a Democratic socialist, when the president interrupted: “Communist. Not socialist, communist. He’s far worse than a socialist.”
“Some people have compared him to a left-wing version of you: charismatic, breaking the old rules. What do you think about that?” O’Donnell pressed.
The president replied: “Well, I think I'm a much better-looking person than him. Right?”
Read more from Kelly Rissman:
Trump’s comments on Mamdani take a weird turn into appearance
When will New Yorkers find out who has won the NYC mayoral race?
08:12 , Owen Scott
The nailbiting final day of the race for New York Mayor is upon us, and millions of people living in and around the city are eager to know whether Andrew Cuomo, Zohran Mamdani or Curtis Sliwa will win the election.
So when will the results come out?
Polls will finally close at 9pm E.T, but all votes will need to be counted in order to ensure that the election is both free and fair.
During the last mayoral election, the count ended in Queens at 12:25 a.m. ET when 90% of the votes had come in and the winner had become clear.
Hopefully, that means New Yorkers will find out who their new mayor is this evening, although some vote counts have been known to take longer.
Watch: Curtis Sliwa responds to question about regrets if he loses NYC mayoral race to Mamdani
08:00 , Rachel DobkinRepublican nominee Curtis Sliwa has responded to a question about regrets if he loses New York City’s mayoral race to Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
CNN’s Kasie Hunt asked Sliwa Monday afternoon, “If Mamdani’s elected and...he does run the city as a communist, are you going to have any regrets?”
“Why should I have regrets?” Sliwa said.
Hunt: If he does run the city as a communist, are you going to have any regrets?
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 3, 2025
Sliwa: Why should I have regrets? I trust people. People are going to make the choice. I'll live with the choice. I'd like them to choose me. But if perchance I lose on November 4th, I will… pic.twitter.com/xqJgVWXctQ
Mamdani identifies as a Democratic socialist, not a communist, as President Donald Trump has claimed.
What does Mamdani actually want to do, if elected mayor?
07:55 , Owen Scott
Donald Trump has continually claimed that Zohran Mamdani is a “communist” and a “radical.” But what does the mayoral candidate actually want to do if he wins?
Mamdani says that he wants to make New York City, which is one of the most expensive cities in the world, more affordable.
To do that, he wants to freeze rent on certain homes as well as bringing NYC’s corporate tax rate in line with New Jersey’s.
With the money he raises from that scheme, Mamdani plans to open government owned grocery stores and to make bus travel in the city free.
The Democratic candidate has also vowed to build more housing and warned Donald Trump that, if he wants to deploy the National Guard in New York, he will “have to get through me.”
‘She’s out’: Nancy Pelosi expected to quit politics after California votes on redistricting this week: report
07:30 , Rachel DobkinSome Democrats believe Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi may soon announce her retirement from politics, following a pivotal vote Tuesday in which voters in her home state of California cast their ballots on Proposition 50, an emergency redistricting proposal meant to counter a Trump-led effort in Texas to add more GOP seats to Congress.
Pelosi, who left House leadership in 2022, is expected to make an announcement about her political future after Tuesday’s vote, NBC News reports.
“I think she’s preparing to exit the stage,” a House Democratic leadership aide told the outlet. “We will not fully appreciate the time we have spent with her.”
“I wish she would stay for 10 more years,” a House Democrat added in an interview with NBC. “I think she’s out. She’s going to go out with Prop 50 overwhelmingly passing, and what a crowning achievement for her to do that.”
Read more from Josh Marcus:
Nancy Pelosi may announce retirement after California redistricting vote: report
MAGA conspiracy theorist and Trump influencer Laura Loomer now credentialed to ‘cover’ the Pentagon after media purge: report
07:00 , Rachel DobkinLaura Loomer, a right-wing political influencer known for her Islamophobic positions and fierce online attacks on figures seen as insufficiently loyal to President Donald Trump, has reportedly been credentialed to cover the Pentagon.
Loomer’s alleged access to the Defense Department, first reported by The Washington Post, comes as virtually all mainstream news organizations in the Pentagon press corps turned in their badges last month rather than agree to a restrictive new Trump administration policy for covering the military.
The Independent has contacted the Pentagon and Loomer for comment.
The new media policy bans reporters from soliciting any information from military officials without prior authorization from the Pentagon, and nearly every American news organization – including Trump-friendly networks such as Fox News and Newsmax — has rejected it.
The Pentagon Press Association has called the policy an “unprecedented message of intimidation” that suggests it is “criminal to speak without express permission.”
Read more from Josh Marcus:
Trump influencer Laura Loomer to ‘cover’ Pentagon after press purge: report
Watch: New York Democrat defends decision to endorse Andrew Cuomo
06:30 , Rachel DobkinNY Rep. Tom Suozzi, who in 2021 called on then-Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign, on why he’s endorsing him now over Zohran Mamdani. pic.twitter.com/arz1GgZH7C
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) November 4, 2025
Watch: Stephen Miller says New Yorkers need to 'unite' behind Cuomo
05:30 , Rachel DobkinWhite House official Stephen Miller has called on New Yorkers to “unite” behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo so he can beat Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee in New York City’s mayoral race.
Stephen Miller: The Anti-Mamdani vote which is really the pro-NYC vote, the pro-America vote needs to unite behind a leading candidate and that’s Andrew Cuomo. pic.twitter.com/A3bd3v8ijV
— Acyn (@Acyn) November 4, 2025
Watch: Mamdani reacts to Trump backing Cuomo
05:00 , Rachel DobkinNYC Mayoral candidate Mamdani speaks to Erin Burnett after Trump endorses his opponent Andrew Cuomo: "This is the man that Donald Trump wants to be the next mayor of New York City, and not because he's good for New Yorkers, but because he'll be good for Donald Trump." pic.twitter.com/5EiFB7nsxT
— Erin Burnett OutFront (@OutFrontCNN) November 4, 2025
In pictures: NYC mayoral candidates on eve of Election Day
04:30 , Rachel Dobkin
Andrew Cuomo clears up issue hours ahead of Election Day...he does not own OJ Simpson's Bronco
04:00 , Rachel DobkinFormer New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who is running for New York City mayor as an independent, has cleared up an issue hours ahead of Election Day, telling voters he does not own O.J. Simpson's infamous Bronco.
Cuomo said people have claimed he has been driving the “OJ Bronco,” but he clarified in a video posted on X Monday night, “Actually, it’s not the OJ Branco.”
New York, here’s a little history on why we’ll win this race—last stretch magic courtesy of the good luck truck!#VoteforCuomo pic.twitter.com/FdWX0Xqos5
— Andrew Cuomo (@andrewcuomo) November 4, 2025
Simpson, a football star who was acquitted of the double murder of his ex-wife and her friend in the 1990s, was filmed on television speeding in a 1993 white Ford Bronco during a police chase.
After Simpson died at the age of 76 in April 2024, The New York Times reported his Bronco made it to the Alcatraz East Crime Museum in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee.
George Santos takes jab at NYC mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa
03:40 , Rachel DobkinFormer Republican New York congressman George Santos has taken a jab at Curtis Sliwa, the Republican nominee in New York City’s mayoral race.
“I think Curtis is underestimating how hated he will become once [Zohran] Mamdani becomes mayor due to his selfishness,” Santos said of the Democratic nominee.
I think Curtis is underestimating how hated he will become once Mamdani becomes mayor due to his selfishness.
— George Santos (@MrSantosNY) November 4, 2025
Santos, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in August 2024, was recently released from prison after President Donald Trump signed a sentence commutation.
Cuomo responds to Trump backing him in NYC mayoral race
03:20 , Rachel DobkinFormer Governor Andrew Cuomo has responded to President Donald Trump backing him in New York City’s mayoral race.
“He believes that [Zohran] Mamdani is an existential threat to New York,” Cuomo said, per CNN. “He believes he’s a communist. He believes he’ll bankrupt New York. So he opposes Mamdani. He doesn’t support me. It’s the opposition of Mamdani.”
Mamdani, who beat Cuomo during the Democratic primary, identifies as a Democratic socialist, not a communist.
Trump praises New Jersey Republican ahead of Election Day: 'A great guy'
03:00 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has praised former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican choice in New Jersey’s gubernatorial race ahead of Election Day on Tuesday, calling him a “great guy.”
Speaking at a tele-rally Monday night, Trump said, “You need to go out and vote for Jack Ciattarelli, who's a great guy, a friend of mine, a great guy, a very successful man, who wants to put all of his efforts now into really saving New Jersey, making it great again, saving it,” per NBC News.
New York Democrat defends decision to endorse Cuomo
02:40 , Rachel DobkinDemocratic New York Congressman Tom Suozzi has defended his decision to endorse former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo for New York City mayor over Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani.
“He's good at getting things done. Is he perfect? No, he's got flaws. Everybody's got flaws,” Suozzi told CNN Monday night. “But I think that when looking at the two candidates head to head, that Andrew Cuomo would be much better for New York City because he has the experience of operating a multi-billion dollar enterprise and getting things done in the complex environment of New York politics.”
Cuomo has been criticized over his past administration’s handling of nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic and sexual harassment allegations.
The ex-governor has denied the sexual harassment allegations and defended New York officials’ leadership during the pandemic.
Mamdani rebukes Trump after president backs Cuomo and threatens federal funds
02:20 , Rachel DobkinZohran Mamdani, the Democratic nominee for New York City’s mayoral race, has rebuked Donald Trump after the president threw his support behind former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo and threatened federal funds if Mamdani won the election.
Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening, “If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival!”
“Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” he added.
In a CNN interview later that night, Mamdani said Trump was “threatened” by his campaign.
“Donald Trump is threatened by our campaign. He's threatened by it because, like his, we've diagnosed the crisis in working-class New Yorkers' lives, the cost of living, but unlike him, we're actually going to deliver on that.”
Responding to Trump threatening federal funds, Mamdani said, “ It's money that New York City is owed. It's not Donald Trump's to decide which city or state will get what money.”
Kash Patel releases images of suspect as he doubles down on claims FBI stopped ISIS-inspired Halloween attack
02:00 , Rachel DobkinFBI Director Kash Patel has shared images of a suspect in what the agency is calling a foiled ISIS-inspired Halloween attack.
Patel announced on X Friday morning that the FBI arrested multiple suspects in Michigan “who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend.”
Mohmed Ali, and an unnamed minor, both U.S. citizens from Dearborn, have been accused of planning a terror attack in the U.S. on behalf of ISIS, which is a designated foreign terrorist organization, according to a criminal complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan.
Along with Ali, Majed Mahmoud was named as a defendant in the case, with the criminal complaint accusing him and others of being co-conspirators in the alleged plot.
Read on...
Images of suspect in foiled ‘ISIS-inspired Halloween attack’ revealed
Majority of Americans believe a political candidate will be assassinated within 5 years, poll finds
01:40 , Rachel DobkinAmericans are worried about a potential spike in political violence in the coming years, with majorities expecting such attacks to increase, while more than half of Americans told pollsters they expect a political candidate to get assassinated within the next five years.
Fears of rising violence are bipartisan, a new poll from Politico and Public First found, with 53 percent of 2024 Kamala Harris voters and 51 percent of Trump voters expecting an assassination soon.
Around 61 percent of recent Harris voters and 50 percent of recent Trump voters foresee a spike in violence overall.
The poll, taken after the September assassination of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk, reflects a national mood that’s both concerned about — and, to a degree, accepting of — political violence.
Read more from Josh Marcus:
Most Americans think a political candidate will be assassinated within 5 years: poll
New York's Jewish community divided, anxious as city faces potential first Muslim mayor
01:20 , APNew York City’s Jewish community — the largest in the United States — abounds with anxiety and friction a day ahead of an election that could give the city its first Muslim mayor.
That candidate, Zohran Mamdani, has won over many progressive Jewish voters with vows to make the city more affordable and equitable. Yet he has alarmed many other Jews — in New York and across the U.S. — with harsh criticism of Israel, including saying its military campaign in Gaza amounts to genocide.
The tensions within the politically diverse community were illustrated Friday in a sermon by Rabbi Angela Buchdahl, who leads Central Synagogue in Manhattan, one of the country's most prominent Reform synagogues.
She pointedly criticized Mamdani’s words about Israel, yet declined to endorse either of his opponents, Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa, and pleaded for New York’s Jews to minimize virulent political infighting.
Read on...
New York's Jewish community divided, anxious as city faces potential first Muslim mayor
Karl Rove gives his predictions for the key races this week - including one upset
01:10 , Rachel DobkinVeteran GOP strategist Karl Rove offered his predictions ahead of key elections across the U.S. on Tuesday — forecasting at least one surprise.
Speaking to Fox News, Rove zeroed in on the mayoral race in New York City and gubernatorial and down-ballot races in New Jersey and Virginia.
“If I were a betting man, I’d say New Jersey could be an upset,” the erstwhile advisor to former President George W. Bush said on November 1, according to Mediate.
In Virginia, he said Republicans will likely suffer minimal losses, while in New York, he said Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani would emerge victorious.
Read more from Brendan Rascius:
Karl Rove gives his predictions for the key races this week - including one upset
Trump falls short of endorsing Virginia Republican at tele-rally
00:53 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump fell short of endorsing Republican Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears in Virginia’s gubernatorial race at a tele-rally Monday night.
Trump said Virginians should “vote for Republicans up and down the ballot” but did not endorse Earle-Sears by name, per the Associated Press.
Watch: New Jersey Democrat enlists Barack Obama to get out the vote
00:40 , Rachel DobkinMikie Sherrill, the Democratic nominee for New Jersey governor, has shared the screen with former President Barack Obama, urging people on social media to vote on Election Day Tuesday.
.@BarackObama wants you to get out and vote tomorrow!https://t.co/g76TpmDmEc pic.twitter.com/tQY4HPEPkh
— Mikie Sherrill (@MikieSherrill) November 3, 2025
Trump says voting for Democrats is a 'death wish' ahead of governor elections
00:13 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has warned that voting for Democrats in the Virginia and New Jersey gubernatorial elections is a “death wish.”
“Virginia and New Jersey, VOTE REPUBLICAN IF YOU WANT MASSIVE ENERGY COST AND CRIME REDUCTIONS. The Democrats will double and even triple your Energy Costs, and CRIME will be rampant. A vote for the Democrats is a DEATH WISH! VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Elon Musk urges New Yorkers to 'vote Cuomo'
00:00 , Rachel DobkinTech billionaire Elon Musk has urged New Yorkers to vote for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo instead of the Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani or the Republican Nominee Curtis Sliwa in the Big Apple’s mayoral race.
Remember to vote tomorrow in New York!
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) November 3, 2025
Bear in mind that a vote for Curtis is really a vote for Mumdumi or whatever his name is.
VOTE CUOMO!
Mamdani not surprised by Trump backing Cuomo
Monday 3 November 2025 23:33 , Rachel DobkinZohran Mamdani responded to President Donald Trump’s backing of former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, saying he had known that would be the outcome “for months.”
“The MAGA movement’s embrace of Andrew Cuomo is reflective of Donald Trump’s understanding that this would be the best mayor for him — not the best mayor for New York City, not the best mayor for New Yorkers, but the best mayor for Donald Trump and his administration,” Mamdani said at a campaign event in Queens, New York, on Monday, per The New York Times.
Trump urges voters in Virginia and New Jersey to vote Republican or they will 'rue the day'
Monday 3 November 2025 23:20 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has urged voters in Virginia and New Jersey to vote Republican for governor, or they will “rue the day.”
“A vote for a Republican means substantially lower energy prices, a vote for a Democrat, especially these two losers who are running, means a doubling, tripling, and even quadrupling of your energy costs.
“It will not be sustainable, and you will rue the day that you voted to destroy your life!” Trump wrote in all caps Monday evening without providing any statistics to back up his claims.
Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, a Republican, is facing off against former Democratic congresswoman Abigail Spanberger in Virginia.
Former state legislator Jack Ciattarelli is the Republican choice in New Jersey, up against Democratic Representative Mikie Sherrill.
Watch: Alina Habba issues stark warning to New Jersey voters
Monday 3 November 2025 22:55 , Rachel DobkinAlina Habba, a former personal lawyer to President Donald Trump and the acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, has issued a stark warning to New Jersey voters ahead of Election Day on Tuesday.
“This office will investigate and prosecute any criminal activity related to the election process...and it will do so regardless of who commits those crimes and regardless of party or affiliation,” Habba said.
On the eve of election night, here’s a friendly reminder from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/uLfuzWjniu
— US Attorney Habba (@USAttyHabba) November 3, 2025
Trump says New Yorkers 'must vote' for Andrew Cuomo
Monday 3 November 2025 22:33 , Rachel DobkinPresident Donald Trump has told New Yorkers they “must vote” for former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo ahead of a nail-biting mayoral race in the Big Apple.
“If Communist Candidate Zohran Mamdani wins the Election for Mayor of New York City, it is highly unlikely that I will be contributing Federal Funds, other than the very minimum as required, to my beloved first home, because of the fact that, as a Communist, this once great City has ZERO chance of success, or even survival! “ Trump wrote on Truth Social Monday evening.
Zohran Mamdani, a democratic socialist who beat Cuomo in the Democratic primary, has refuted claims that he is a communist.
“A vote for [Republican nominee] Curtis Sliwa (who looks much better without the beret!) is a vote for Mamdani. Whether you personally like Andrew Cuomo or not, you really have no choice. You must vote for him, and hope he does a fantastic job. He is capable of it, Mamdani is not!” Trump said.
Who is Jack Ciattarelli?
Monday 3 November 2025 22:15 , Ariana BaioJack Ciattarelli, a former New Jersey state legislator, has been endorsed by President Donald Trump as the Republican candidate for governor.
Ciattarelli, 63, started in local politics by serving on his borough’s town council then moving up to the county board of freeholders and eventually to the state assembly. His campaign for governor is his third iteration, having lost in the Republican primary in 2017 and the general election in 2021.
On the economy, Ciattarelli said he supports cutting corporate taxes, simplifying tax brackets to just three, with the highest capped at 5 percent and capping property taxes – policies that align largely with Republicans.
The Republican candidate supports abortion rights up to 20 weeks of gestation, with exceptions afterward in cases where the pregnant person’s life is in danger. He said he now supports same-sex marriage.
Ciattarelli has toed the line when it comes to Trump. He called Trump a “charlatan” in 2015 but supported the president in 2020 – even attending a “Stop the Steal” rally in New Jersey. He later said he did not know it was a “Stop the Steal” rally and called January 6, 2021, a “sad” day.
But Ciattarelli has moved closer to the MAGA Republicans, endorsing Trump in 2024 and claiming he would give the president “an A” for his efforts thus far in his second term.
Watch: Obama roasts Trump for DEI obsession at rally
Monday 3 November 2025 21:45 , Ariana BaioWho is Winsome Earle-Sears?
Monday 3 November 2025 21:30 , Ariana BaioWinsome Earle-Sears, Virginia’s lieutenant governor, is seeking to continue her history-making by becoming Virginia’s next Republican governor – the first woman of color to do so.
Earle-Sears, 61, is a former Marine, state legislator, and member of the Virginia State Board of Education who was elected lieutenant governor in 2022. After an unsuccessful Senate write-in campaign, she’s now up against Democratic Abigail Spanberger for the governor’s office.
On policy, Earle-Sears mirrors many traditional Republican values.
Earle-Sears is personally opposed to abortion, but said she supports a 15-week ban on abortion as well as exceptions in cases of rape, incest and protecting the life of the pregnant person.
She has expressed views opposing diversity, equity and inclusion policies, believing they make people of color appear as “victims.”
The Virginia candidate has also voiced staunch opposition to transgender students participating in sports teams and using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity. This has been a central theme of her campaign, with more than $2 million spent on advertisements focusing on transgender policy, according to CNN.
She supports Trump’s tariffs as well as the implementation of the Department of Government Efficiency.
Earle-Sears has not received the direct endorsement from President Donald Trump. In 2022, she made negative comments about Trump when she called him a “liability” and urged the Republican Party to move away from him as its leader.
However, Trump has encouraged voters to “vote Republican” in Virginia.
Senate leader ‘optimistic’ about shutdown deal this week
Monday 3 November 2025 21:00 , Ariana BaioSenate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Monday he’s “optimistic” that a deal could emerge this week that could lead to the government reopening after more than a month-long shutdown.
But when asked if he was confident, Thune responded, “Don’t push it.”
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Schumer calls Trump ‘cruel and callous’ for partial SNAP payments
Monday 3 November 2025 20:30 , Ariana BaioSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called the president “cruel and callous” for agreeing to send out partial SNAP payments to comply with a federal judge’s order – believing there is more money to be used to help the more than 41 million SNAP recipients.
“USDA has the authority to fully fund SNAP and needs to do so immediately. Anything else is unacceptable,” Schumer wrote on X.
Democrats have accused the administration of purposefully withholding funding to the food stamps program to pressure Democrats to pass a continuing resolution. The administration has said it legally cannot tap into funds outside of the contingency fund, which only contains enough to support 50 percent of SNAP recipients.
“Trump’s ‘decision’ to follow the court order and only send partial SNAP benefits to 42 million hungry Americans as Thanksgiving approaches is cruel and callous,” he continued, adding that the president should “focus less on his ballroom.”
USDA has the authority to fully fund SNAP and needs to do so immediately. Anything else is unacceptable.
— Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) November 3, 2025
Trump’s "decision" to follow the court order and only send partial SNAP benefits to 42 million hungry Americans as Thanksgiving approaches is cruel and callous.
Trump should…
Watch: Trump claims he doesn't know who Binance founder is despite pardoning him
Monday 3 November 2025 20:00 , Ariana BaioAdministration transferred $300M to program for low-income women and children
Monday 3 November 2025 19:30 , Ariana BaioThe Trump administration revealed in court filings Monday that it had given $300 million to the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, also known as WIC, amid the government shutdown.
The program, which serves more than 6.5 million women and children in the United States, provides monthly benefits for low-income families for infant necessities such as formula or lactation support as well as access to prenatal healthcare, nutrition for children under the age of 5, food and more. Approximately 41 percent of all infants in the U.S. use the WIC program.
In the federal lawsuit over SNAP benefits, a judge is requesting funding information about funding for WIC, which is often complementary to SNAP. But the administration said it didn’t need to worry about WIC because it transferred $300 million of funding from customs revenue through the Section 32 account.
The Section 32 account permanently appropriates 30 percent of customs receipts from all imports to fund various programs, including the childhood nutrition program, Food and Nutrition Services.
The administration said transferring the funds from FNS to WIC would be less disruptive to the FNS than transferring them to SNAP, which required a great deal more funding. They also said FNS and WIC have the same shared goal of feeding children – thus fall under the same “bureau, division, or office”
Trump team will partially fund SNAP benefits after judge’s order, USDA tells court
Monday 3 November 2025 19:00 , Alex WoodwardDonald Trump’s administration will partially fund a critical food assistance program that supports nearly 43 million Americans after a federal judge ordered the federal government to tap into emergency funds to keep it afloat.
It is not clear how quickly states will receive that money to distribute to people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which could take up to two weeks in some states. The Trump administration stopped funding the program November 1.
Read more here:
Trump team will partially fund SNAP benefits after judge’s order, USDA tells court
Spokesperson for Pelosi says retirement rumors are ‘speculation’
Monday 3 November 2025 18:50 , Ariana BaioIan Krager, a spokesperson for Rep. Nancy Pelosi, said any “discussions” of the Democratic lawmaker’s future plans were “pure speculation” after NBC News reported Pelosi is planning to announce her retirement after Election Day.
“As she has said, Speaker Pelosi will not make any announcements about her future until after Prop 50 is settled,” Krager continued.
Pelsoi is joining other California politicians in advocating for the passage of “Proposition 50” which will allow the state to redraw congressional districts to combat Republican-led states doing the same.
Trump to participate in tele-rallies for gubernatorial races in NJ and VA
Monday 3 November 2025 18:30 , Ariana BaioPresident Donald Trump is expected to participate in telephone rallies Monday evening, ahead of Election Day when voters in New Jersey and Virginia will choose their next governor.
In New Jersey, Trump has endorsed Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli, who is up against Democratic nominee Mikie Sherrill.
But the president has yet to directly endorse Winsome Earle-Sears, the Republican nominee in the Virginia race. In 2022, Earle-Sears urged the Republican Party to distance itself from Trump, whom she referred to as a “liability.”
However, Trump urged Virginia voters to “vote Republican” over Democratic candidate Abigail Spanberger.
Unclear when or how much SNAP beneficiaries will receive payments
Monday 3 November 2025 18:03 , Ariana BaioThe administration will tap into its $4.65 billion contingency fund SNAP for roughly half of eligible households in November, but it’s still unclear when people could expect payments, or exactly how much they’ll receive.
The government spends roughly $8 billion to provide affordable meals and groceries for more than 41 million people in the U.S. But the contingency fund only contains enough to provide benefits to 50 percent of eligible households, the administration said.
The amount of money a household receives is dependent on their income, their household size and which state they live in. Each state caps the amount a household can receive depending on its size. The average monthly benefit is around $190 per person, according to the Associated Press.
The Department of Agriculture said it’s prepared to provide states with more information about how they can determine the maximum SNAP allotments to each household with the reduced funding Monday.
Mamdani laughs off Trump’s ‘better looking’ comment
Monday 3 November 2025 17:30 , Ariana BaioMonday morning, Mamdani laughed when asked about President Trump’s comment that he is “better looking” than the Democratic New York City mayoral candidate.
“My focus is on the cost of living crisis,” Mamdani said.
Trump administration will partially pay out SNAP benefits in November
Monday 3 November 2025 17:19 , Ariana BaioThe Trump administration said in a court filing Monday afternoon that it would send partial payments to the more than 41 million Americans who receive benefits for food stamps, after a federal judge suggested the administration had an obligation to.
In the lawsuit between states and the federal government over the funding of SNAP, which lapsed on Saturday, November 1, the administration said it would comply with the judge’s order to tap into the contingency fund that contains roughly $5 billion to provide some benefits.
But the administration said it would tap into the contingency fund that contains $4.65 billion at the moment to cover 50 percent of eligible households.
“This means that no funds will remain for new SNAP applicants certified in November, disaster assistance, or as a cushion against the potential catastrophic consequences of shutting down SNAP entirely,” the Department of Agriculture said.
It’s unclear just how much each SNAP beneficiary will receive exactly. The program costs the government roughly $8 billion per month.
Here's how NYC's mayoral candidates are spending their final 24 hours before Election Day
Monday 3 November 2025 16:50 , Ariana BaioThe three major candidates vying for the mayor’s office in New York City are spending their final hours before polls close meeting with New Yorkers, pitching themselves to undecided voters and displaying their plans for the city.
Early Monday morning, Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic candidate currently leading the polls, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge to City Hall in downtown Manhattan, where he addressed voters about his plans for New York. The Attorney General, Letitia James, joined Mamdani in his outreach.
Independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, the former governor of New York who resigned in disgrace in 2021, is visiting all five boroughs as part of a “Get Out the Vote” tour and doing media hits. Cuomo made early stops in the Bronx and Washington Heights where he appealed directly to Hispanic voters.
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate currently polling in third, attended a wreath-laying ceremony in Coney Island for Debrina Kawam, the woman who was set on fire in a New York City subway earlier this year.
Mamdani trolls Cuomo by highlighting Trump endorsement
Monday 3 November 2025 16:30 , Ariana BaioNew York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani trolled his opponent, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo, by highlighting a light endorsement from both politicians’ rival, President Donald Trump.
“Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this,” Mamdani wrote in an X post. Attached to the post was a bright red poster-style graphic that read “Trump endorses Mamdani.”
During a CBS “60 Minutes” interview that aired Sunday, the president said that he would vote for Cuomo if the choice was between Mamdani or Cuomo.
“I’m not a fan of Cuomo one way or another, but if it's going to be between a bad Democrat and a communist, I’m going to pick the bad Democrat all the time,” Trump told “60 Minutes.”
Although it was not a resounding endorsement, Mamdani still used it to highlight Trump’s backing of Cuomo – the former governor of New York, who continued his mayoral campaign despite losing the Democratic nomination to Mamdani.
Cuomo has rejected any allegiance to Trump.
Congratulations, @AndrewCuomo. I know how hard you worked for this. https://t.co/qePAGqDk0K pic.twitter.com/6CKqyZE6ne
— Zohran Kwame Mamdani (@ZohranKMamdani) November 3, 2025
Trump readies US troops for ground invasion in Mexico to go after drug cartels: report
Monday 3 November 2025 16:15 , Andrew FeinbergThe Trump administration has started planning for on-the-ground military and intelligence operations on Mexican soil to pursue drug cartels as part of what President Donald Trump has described as an “armed conflict” with narcotics trafficking organizations.
Read more from Andrew Feinberg:
Trump readies US troops for ground invasion in Mexico to go after cartels: report
Trump’s approval rating hits 41% – with his tariff policy being most unpopular
Monday 3 November 2025 15:50 , Ariana BaioApproximately 41 percent of people approve of Trump’s handling of his job, while 59 percent disapprove, according to a new poll ABC News / Washington Post / Ipsos.
The poll, conducted in October, shows that a majority of respondents are most unhappy with Trump’s handling of tariffs (65 percent disapprove), the economy as a whole (62 percent disapprove) and the management of the federal government (63 percent disapprove).
Conversely, the president’s handling of the Israel-Gaza conflict is his most popular policy right now, with a 46 percent approval rate. The president’s crackdown on crime is also popular with a 44 percent approval rate..
Congress hurdles toward setting the record for longest government shutdown
Monday 3 November 2025 15:20 , Ariana BaioCongress will set a new record for the longest government shutdown if the lapse in funding continues by Tuesday evening.
Although both sides are conducting negotiations to try and work out a continuing resolution that contains Democrats’ demands for healthcare affordability and expanding Medicaid access, if they do not vote for an agreement by Tuesday evening, it will mark 35+ days of no funding.
Previously, the longest shutdown in history occurred during Trump’s first administration between December 2018 and January 2019, when it was closed for 35 days.
Watch: Trump says he's 'much better-looking' than Zohran Mamdani
Monday 3 November 2025 15:00 , Ariana BaioMamdani responds to Trump’s threats to cut funding to NYC
Monday 3 November 2025 14:30 , Ariana BaioMonday morning, New York City Democratic mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani responded to Trump’s threats to withhold federal funding to the city if Mamdani wins, saying it is “owed.”
In an interview with CBS “60 Minutes,” which aired Sunday, Trump said it would be “hard” for him to “give a lot of money” to his hometown.
“Because if you have a communist running New York, all you’re doing is washing the money you’re sending there,” Trump said.
“Donald Trump may speak as if it is his decision, but this is money that this city is owed,” Mamdani said during a sunrise address.
“This is money that we will expect to collect, what we have seen in cities and states across the country is the necessity of not just using the bully pulpit but also the courts to ensure that every dollar that a municipality is owed is a dollar that is paid.”
Nancy Pelosi could announce her retirement after Tuesday elections: report
Monday 3 November 2025 14:00 , Ariana BaioDemocrats are preparing for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi to possibly announce her retirement after Tuesday’s elections, when Californians will decide on whether or not to redraw state congressional lines, NBC News reported Monday.
Pelosi, 85, is reportedly considering the announcement to coincide with the passage of “Proposition 50,” which permits California to redraw state congressional lines, allowing Democrats to pick up a few more seats in the midterms as Republicans do the same in other states.
Sources familiar with Pelosi’s plan told NBC News they believe she will choose not to seek re-election in 2026, ending her 20-term service as a Democrat from California, in which she’s represented four districts and served as Speaker of the House twice.
Democrats look to New Jersey gov race to see if they can win back Hispanic voters
Monday 3 November 2025 13:30 , Ariana BaioThe New Jersey governor’s race is expected to be one of the most closely-watched elections this year, as some Democrats hope it reflects progress they’ve made to win back voters of color after Trump made huge gains with voters in 2024.
John Currie, the chairman of the Passic County Democratic Party, told the Washington Post that the Latino community disappointed him when a majority of the county flipped last year, casting their ballot for Trump.
“A lot of our people drank the Kool-Aid,” Currie told the Post.
In Passaic County, Trump won approximately 50 percent of the vote – a near ten-percentage-point jump from 2020.
But with Trump’s administration focusing heavily on profiling Latinos and targeting them for deportation, Democrats are hoping they will abandon Republican candidates like Jack Ciattarelli.
George Clooney says it was a ‘mistake’ to replace Biden with Harris without primary
Monday 3 November 2025 13:05 , Joe SommerladIn an interview with CBS News Sunday Morning, the Hollywood actor was asked if he would write his New York Times op-ed again, which called for Joe Biden to step down from last year’s presidential race.
“We had a chance. I wanted there to be, as I wrote in the op-ed, a primary,” Clooney answered. “Let’s battle-test this quickly and get it up and going.
“I think the mistake with it being Kamala [Harris] is she had to run against her own record,” he said, referring to the then-vice president.
“It’s very hard to do if the point of running is to say, ‘I’m not that person’. It’s hard to do and so she was given a very tough task. I think it was a mistake, quite honestly. But we are where we are. We were gonna lose more House seats, they say. So I don’t know. To not do it would be to say, ‘I’m not gonna tell the truth’.”
Shahana Yasmin has more.
George Clooney says it was a ‘mistake’ how Kamala Harris replaced Joe Biden
Kash Patel lashes out after using government jet to see girlfriend perform
Monday 3 November 2025 12:45 , Joe SommerladThe FBI director has hit back at the “beyond pathetic” reports that he used a government jet to see his girlfriend perform at a wrestling event, claiming they were an attempt to smear his “rock-solid conservative” partner.
Last week, it emerged that Patel, 45, went to see his girlfriend, 26-year-old country music singer Alexis Wilkins, perform at the Real American Freestyle event at Pennsylvania State University.
Patel has reportedly become so incensed by media stories about the incident that he ousted a senior FBI official who had been at the agency for 27 years.
The director then took to X Sunday to voice his frustration at the attention the story has received.
Rhian Lubin has more.
Kash Patel lashes out at reports he used government jet to watch his girlfriend sing
Airport delays will ‘get worse’ during shutdown, says transport secretary
Monday 3 November 2025 12:25 , Joe SommerladThe government shutdown will cause more flight delays and cancellations, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has warned, citing ongoing staff shortages at airports across the United States as federal workers go unpaid and restricted services continue.
Olivia Ireland reports.
Transport Secretary says airport delays will ‘get worse’ as shut down rumbles on
Trump claims he doesn’t know who Binance founder is despite pardoning him
Monday 3 November 2025 12:05 , Joe SommerladIn one of the stranger moments from his latest interview, the president told O’Donnell that he does not know who Changpeng Zhao is – the cryptocurrency billionaire he himself pardoned last month.
“The government at the time said that CZ had caused ‘significant harm to U.S. national security,’ essentially by allowing terrorist groups like Hamas to move millions of dollars around. Why did you pardon him?” the CBS anchor asked.
“Okay, are you ready?” replied Trump. “I don’t know who he is.”
He added that he had “heard” Zhao’s case was “a Biden witchhunt.”
Pressed about the optics of pardoning Zhao after Binance helped facilitate a $2 billion purchase of the Trump family’s own World Liberty Financial stablecoin, the president said: “Norah, I can only tell you this. My sons are into it.
“I’m glad they are, because it’s probably a great industry, crypto. I think it’s good. You know, they're running a business, they’re not in government.”
Rhian Lubin has more.
Trump claims he doesn’t know who Binance founder is - despite pardoning him
Trump claims Xi told him China won’t act against Taiwan while he is US president
Monday 3 November 2025 11:45 , Joe SommerladThe president also gave O’Donnell a conditional assurance that China would not invade Taiwan so long as he is in power, a prospect foreign policy experts have long feared as an eastern equivalent to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine (which Trump has likewise insisted would never have happened if he had been in office).
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports.
Trump claims Xi told him China won’t act against Taiwan while he is US president
Trump says ICE raids ‘haven’t gone far enough’ when confronted about brutal tactics
Monday 3 November 2025 11:25 , Joe SommerladDuring his interview with 60 Minutes anchor Norah O’Donnell on CBS yesterday, the president was confronted about immigration agents’ tactics as they go about rounding up undocumented migrants in American cities, which, over the past 10 months, have included ramming cars in pursuit of suspects, sledgehammering windows, raiding churches, and getting heavy-handed with protesters.
“Americans have been watching videos of ICE tackling a young mother, tear gas being used in a Chicago residential neighborhood, and the smashing of car windows,” O’Donnell said. “Have some of these raids gone too far?”
“No, I think they haven't gone far enough,” Trump replied.
Rhian Lubin has more.
Trump says ICE raids ‘haven’t gone far enough’ when confronted about brutal tactics
Trump speaks out on Andrew losing his royal titles: ‘A terrible thing’
Monday 3 November 2025 11:10 , Joe SommerladReturning to Washington from Mar-a-Lago Sunday, the president told reporters aboard Air Force One that disgraced British royal Andrew Mountbatten Windsor being stripped of his titles is a “terrible thing.”
The former prince’s titles were taken away by his brother, King Charles III, shortly after the publication of Virginia Giuffre’s posthumous memoir, Nobody’s Girl.
Trump, who has long battled with rumors about his own close relationship with convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein, described the scandal as “too bad.”
“I mean, it’s a terrible thing that’s happened to the family,” he said. “That’s been a tragic situation, and it’s too bad. I mean I feel badly for the family.”
Owen Scott has the story.
Trump speaks out on Andrew losing his royal titles: ‘A terrible thing’
Government shutdown lurches towards unwanted record as Trump digs in his heels
Monday 3 November 2025 10:55 , Joe SommerladThe U.S. government shutdown is poised to become the longest ever this week as the impasse between Democrats and Republicans drags into a new month.
Millions of people could lose food aid benefits, healthcare subsidies are set to expire and there are few real talks between the parties over how to end it.
Trump said in an interview with 60 Minutes on CBS that aired Sunday (much more from which shortly) that he “won't be extorted” by the opposition who are demanding negotiations to extend the Affordable Care Act subsidies that expire at the end of the year for millions of Americans.
Here’s more.
The US government shutdown rattles on as Trump dig his heels in
Americans to go the polls in New York, California, New Jersey and Virginia Tuesday
Monday 3 November 2025 10:45 , Joe SommerladThe first elections of Trump’s second term get underway tomorrow, the results of which will be heralded by the victors as either a major repudiation of his controversial policy agenda or a resounding stamp of approval.
The race to find the next mayor of New York City will be closely watched, with progressive Zohran Mamdani on course to beat Andrew Cuomo and Curtis Sliwa with ease.
Other key contests include gubernatorial elections in New Jersey and Virginia and a vote on California’s “Proposition 50” to enact a new congressional map, which could flip as many as five Republican-held U.S. House seats to the Democrats.
Control of Pennsylvania’s Supreme Court is also up for grabs while Virginia will also choose a new state attorney general and 16 candidates in Texas are vying to fill a vacant seat previously held by the late Democratic congressman Sylvester Turner.
Detroit, Pittsburgh, Jersey City, and Buffalo will elect new mayors while incumbents in Atlanta, Minneapolis, and Cincinnati are seeking another term.
The Minnesota Senate and Virginia House of Delegates could see power shifts while New Jersey Democrats will defend their 52-28 General Assembly majority.
Maine voters will meanwhile decide statewide questions on voting protocol and whether to give the go-ahead to a “red flag” law aimed at preventing gun violence.
In Texas, constitutional amendments on parental rights and limiting voting to U.S. citizens are up for consideration.
Colorado and Washington also have statewide measures on the ballot.
Donald Trump reiterates call for Republicans to scrap Senate filibuster
Monday 3 November 2025 10:30 , Joe SommerladThe president has repeated his call for Republicans on Capitol Hill to abolish the Senate filibuster in order to use its majority in the chamber to force through a deal to end the government shutdown as voters prepare to go to the polls in state and local elections nationwide Tuesday.
“TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, NOT JUST FOR THE SHUTDOWN, BUT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE,” the president urged his party on Truth Social in all-caps. “WE WILL GET ALL OF OUR COMMON SENSE POLICIES APPROVED (VOTER ID, ANYONE?) AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
“REMEMBER, THE DEMOCRATS WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS THEY GET THE CHANCE. OUR DOING IT WILL NOT GIVE THEM THE CHANCE. REPUBLICANS, BE TOUGH AND SMART! THE DEMS ARE CRAZED LUNATICS, THEY WILL NOT OPEN UP OUR COUNTRY NO MATTER HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IRREPARABLY HARMED!”
TERMINATE THE FILIBUSTER, NOT JUST FOR THE SHUTDOWN, BUT FOR EVERYTHING ELSE. WE WILL GET ALL OF OUR COMMON SENSE POLICIES APPROVED (VOTER ID, ANYONE?) AND MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! REMEMBER, THE DEMOCRATS WILL DO IT IMMEDIATELY, AS SOON AS THEY GET THE CHANCE. OUR DOING IT WILL…
— Unofficial Trump on X (@trump_repost) November 3, 2025
The shutdown, which began on October 1, is now into its 34th day and, without an agreement between Republicans and Democrats, is on course to beat the 35-day record set in Trump’s first term between 2018 and 2019 and become the longest in American history.
Good morning
Monday 3 November 2025 10:16 , Joe SommerladHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Donald Trump’s administration on the eve of the first Election Day of his second term.
More than half of the states will go to the polls to vote in new officials Tuesday, with the New York City mayor’s race the pick of the bunch but key contests also happening in New Jersey, Virginia, California, Pennsylvania, and Texas.
The results will be interpreted as an important indicator of public sentiment on the president’s second term ahead of the 2026 midterms and come in a moment when the country is mired in a more than month-long government shutdown, which is on course to become the longest in American history.
New Jersey gubernatorial candidate says God is 'voting Republican' this year
03:26 , Rachel DobkinNew Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli said at a campaign rally Monday night that God is “voting Republican” this year.
“Prayers and votes is real good,” the Republican said, per CNN. “By the way, I heard recently that God is non-partisan. A priest told me that, and I told the priest, he may be non-partisan, but this year he’s voting Republican.”
