Record Government Shutdown, White House East Wing Demolition

The Congress, specifically the Senate, is now past its 20th day in government shutdown. There is plenty to “point the blame at”; however what is germane in not passing the “Clean Continuing Resolution” to keep the government open is a starkly centrist issue. But the illusion that it is a “clean resolution” is anything but, since many Americans will face a dramatic rise in their once affordable healthcare, end of SNAP and Medicaid benefits, as soon as Nov. 1st.

Backdrop of U.S. Conducting Trade Wars with Market Instability and Insider Trading

According to the Democrats and Independents, America is at a crossroads where if we give in, our country will never be the same. Already, there is too much evidence that the President has taken the Executive Office Branch to new heights of over-reach. Whether it is ICE using masked men (who may not actually be working for ICE) to capture suspected foreign migrants; building “Alligator Alcatraz”—a facility forced to shut down due to all kinds of building violations; presidential over-reach with regard to domestic and foreign policy has been rampant. The most obvious example is the Tariff and Trade Wars taking place daily between the President, who insists that he, alone, or his EO representatives, are ready to directly negotiate tariffs, versus the world’s nations.

The result is an ongoing spectacle whereby countries around the world are lining up to meet with the President to directly negotiate, while during the live-broadcast meeting the President appears to be taking divisive aim at the People, his political foes, the Press, and subjecting the audience to his “stream-of-consciousness” style of rhetoric: a psychobabble that includes claims that “I have settled eight wars in only eight months [in office].” Never mind that those settlements are mostly ceasefires that continue to be violated in Syria, Gaza, Yemen, Iran, Lebanon, let alone amid the Ukraine-Russia War.

More importantly from the standpoint of the public at large, there is no peace when the Tariff Wars are being carried out against some 170 countries, and the effects of the trade wars are affecting domestic supply and consumption, and the ability for American farmers to conduct trade. Furthermore, according to financial analysts such as SeanFooGold, the bottom is falling out in the very industries that Trump is hoping to tout. With no rare earth minerals being exported from China, how can America remain competitive for the “AI tech-boom”? With China having taken the “most effective value-engineered” approach to AI, resulting in the launching of Deep Seek, what of the hundreds of billions of dollars promised for new “nuclear-powered data service centers”? Even Taiwan is resistant to the idea of shipping its micro-chip manufacturing back to the United States, because the secret-in-the-sauce has been its ability to tightly monitor quality control and uniformity in excellence in nanochip and tech-gadgetry workmanship such as soldering and etching.

That excellence has millennia of tradition going back to Chinese silkworm-raising and the production of the world’s finest silk and embroidery, centuries before silk was even discovered by the West. Today American finesse in handiwork remains only in historic lacework or tattoo artistry. Even medical robotics is trying to catch up with advances in the Far East. Yet the present perspective of the West, particularly in the USA, remains one of capitalization through conquest, rather than a win-win balanced social sustainability, East-West corporate transparency and dialogue, and building trade-links for cooperation.

Domestic Upset By Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1) Cutbacks on Medicaid, SNAP, Affordable Healthcare Act, and Downsizing of Government Agencies and Services

The biggest indicators of domestic unrest are the number of protests taking place since Trump tried to upset Home Rule in the District of Columbia beginning in August 2025 with the inception of the National Guard and “federalizing” the D.C. Police Department. This is already an area with countless law enforcement agencies with workforces actively on the ground whether in uniform or incognito. This is followed by repeated ongoing attempts by Trump and his administrators to federalize the National Guard, thereby overriding State Governors’ authority over those forces. Since August, there are daily protests in the D.C. Metro Region taking place under the umbrella of FLARE USA, Refuse Fascism, 50501 Movement, No Kings Movements, and Free DC.

According to President Trump, who increasingly is using federal dollars to promote propaganda about himself, including banners, paintings, AI videos, and encouraging his cohorts to engage in hate-rhetoric and name-calling, there is a “war” taking place ravaging the Democratic-elected run cities and states. Meanwhile, under the distractive banner of “attacking the enemies within”; according to Congressional lawmakers, the Donald Trump Organization (DTO) of which he and his family are nominal head, have profited enormously — on the order of nearly 3 billion dollars — since he has taken office.

Plane from Qatar (in exchange for allowing the Royal family to build a new air force facility in Idaho), Saudi investments, Mar-a-Lago memberships, Trump meme coins, market manipulation (insider profiteering from the trade war and changing tariff rates and energy investments), purchasing of debt assets, immunity from prosecution from existing fraud cases (Trump University is now a distant memory), renumerations from deals swung in favor of the billionaire class, and much more.

This is why working class champions are speaking out: Hakeem Jeffries (House Minority Leader), Senator Bernie Sanders, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Jeff Merkley, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and many more are explaining why the misnamed “Big Beautiful Bill” will hurt the poor beginning as soon as November 1st, 2025. They urge the GOP to discuss and negotiate the massive negative impacts of cuts to SNAP, Medicaid, Social Security Disability, and many more social service programs. They decry the ongoing shedding of government jobs via the rapid deployment of Project 2025 prerogatives under Executive Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought. The directive in a memo encourages agency heads to use the shutdown to “eliminate waste” by identifying bureaucratic redundancy. But in reality, the directive is aimed at those agencies which have more DEI hires and Democratic Party-leaning opponents.

No Kings Protest, Free DC, Indivisible Gather at the National Mall for Speeches and Rally to Protect Our Rights 

At the No Kings Protest in Washington, D.C. on October 18th, various leaders came out before a huge peaceful creative engaging concerned citizenry. The lineup included Minister Thompson from a southeast DC church; Representative Chris Murphy from Connecticut; Mehdi Hasan, Muslim-American journalist; Deirdra Schifeling from ACLU; Sarah Parker from Voices of Florida; Representatives from Fair Budget Coalition, and Immigrant Legal Resource Center; Scientist, Inventor, Author, Comedian, Climate Change Activist, Bill Nye of “Bill Nye The Science Guy”; Aijen Poo from Caregivers in Action; Randi Weingarden of National Federation of Teachers; Cliff Albright of Black Votes Matter, Negro Voting Fund, and John Lewis Voting Rights Act advocate; Representative from Youth Advocacy organization for Trigger Project, and advocacy for DC Statehood; Jay Brown of Human Rights Campaign, LGBTQ+ Rights; and Senator Bernie Sanders (I, Vermont) also gave a keynote speech.

Here is a snapshot of memorable quotes (with paraphrase) from today’s guest speakers onstage at the nation’s capital (name spellings are approximate) broadcast by C-SPAN Radio and as heard live at the event.

“We Stand on Sacred Ground” — Reverend, Southeast DC Church reminding the people about Indigenous-American Heritage Month

“The GOP is taking a vacation because they want to avoid the investigation into the Trump-Epstein pedophilia connection…I will not vote on a bill that reduces Medicare and Medicaid in exchange for tax-breaks for billionaires…Connecticut was the first state to defend the Constitution for No Kings!” — Representative Chris Murphy

“Trump admires the autocratic leaders he aspires to be…a ceasefire is not a peace plan…there is genocide taking place in Gaza…for a party that believes in No Tyranny and No Big Government, why is ICE and the Military on our Streets?…Democracy does not allow demagogues or dictators to rule!…We are the majority…We will out-organize, out-vote, and out-last them…I hope one day Palestine will be Free!” — Mehdi Hasan, Muslim Journalist addressing the heart of the Trump Trifecta (anti-immigration, anti-Muslim, anti-Free Speech)

“They are teaching ideology, not fact…To be free, we must act free, to protect our freedoms…Free people read freely…straight from the Public Library”—Deirdra Schifeling, ACLU

“This movement was made by the People, People of Color, Women, Black, Brown…Trump is rewriting what freedom means…GOP is peddling smear after smear rather than face the people…where I come from we call that cowardice…We are fighting because we love our communities and we love our country…We protest because its our God-given American right. There will be No Kings in America, not today, not tomorrow, not ever!” — Sarah Parker, National Coordinator for 50501

“ICE/DC Police are working together, they are abducting our community members, including people working just a few blocks from here, taking them to detention centers in Louisiana, Alabama, and Georgia…The anti-immigrant attacks are supported by Mayor Bowser who tried to repeal DC’s Sanctuary Values Act. We must show solidarity, reject attempts to dehumanize and criminalize our immigrant community, stand up against those who want to take away people’s Constitutional Rights. We need to do all that’s in our power to protect immigrant families and our neighbors. We need us. We need you.” — Oliver Marino, Immigrant Legal Resource Center, El Colectivo de Familias Migrantes

“[T]he Social Contract in this country has been broken. Decades of movement, work, progress, and struggle have been wiped out by Christian Nationalists who seek dominion over every aspect of our lives…We need a humane economy…affordable housing and healthcare…Our children need access to full clean water and fresh food…[We] the People must revive the Social Contract…Our labor, our taxes, our faith, keep this going…We must be audacious…” — Afeni Evans, Fair Budget Coalition

“No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings! Since 1776, we have been a Government Without a King, a Constitution, a Democracy! We still do not have voting representation in D.C….Recall the protests following the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. assassination, the Vietnam War Protests, we are protesting in the same fashion today, only the stakes are higher…We are confronting the possible end of our republic. We are here to tell our lawmakers that what’s going on in our government is wrong. They must stop the abuses of this petulant president and his circle of sycophants. No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings!…This president and his associates cannot tolerate dissent. To them, our free speech is frightening. They are arresting people and denying them due process in the courts…Yet we have a Declaration of Independence stored right over there, at the National Archives…[this president is following] the train of abuses connected with an absolute authority…We have an administration that is suppressing the progress of science and in denial of climate change. This [Project 2025 plot] is years in the making, this group of Confederates who are taking over using legal games by judges, impounding money, and delegitimizing legitimate citizens…We are here demanding a return to the rule of law…We will put the United States back on a course to lead the world in fair governance together. No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings!” — Bill Nye, Author, Scientist, Inventor, Comedian, D.C. Native

“We are out marching around the country, because we see parents facing unaffordable prices for medications. We are seeing caregivers fired or taken away by ICE. The disabled will be forced to live in nursing homes. Shame! Shame! Shame! They will not get away with this. Parents, caregivers, and teachers are just trying to make sure their children can go to school safely…In Michigan, 32,000 caregivers have unionized…In New Mexico, caregivers are fighting back to protect children…Caring is in the majority. Continue to be Brave! Are you with me?”— Aijen Poo, Caregiver Advocate, Caring Across Generations, National Domestic Workers Alliance

“The Labor Movement fights for all working people, better working conditions, better pay, good schools for children, and childcare. What is radical about that? Hear it for Teachers of America! In Social Studies, it is ‘We the People’…In the Gettysburg Address [President Abraham Lincoln] says this is a ‘Government by the People, of the People, and for the People!’…We will be governed by fairness, not through fear or favor. We will not be ruled by a Tyrant or a King! We want a voice for Our Future! No Thrones, No Crowns, No Kings! No Rule by Fear, or having to take Loyalty Oaths! Fix the healthcare crisis created by the Big Ugly Bill!…Embrace workers rights! What’s radical about that?…Focus on fixing the problems, not picking fights for political vindication. This is an existential fight: No one can save us but ourselves! When We Fight, We Win! The People, United, Will Never Be Defeated, or Divided! No Kings! Not today, Not Tomorrow, Only Freedom!” — Randi Weingarden, NFT President

“Make Youth Part of the Solution, Not Part of the Problem!” — Zion Stewart, Youth Advocate, Trigger Project, D.C. Statehood

“The Supreme Court recently heard a case that may end the Voting Rights Act, protecting Black Votes, not Cancel Them by the Redistricting Act. Anti-Blackness is a Sickness! No Kings! We have been divided since 1619. The Divide-and-Conquer is against Be-United. The 50501 Movement is for all natives, including in Southeast DC. Do you believe? Fist up for No Kings!” — Cliff Albright, Black Votes Matter, John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act advocate, Negro Voting Fund, D.C. Statehood

“[A]s a proud transgender American, I’m here to say this is my country too…” — Jay Brown, Human Rights Campaign, Chief of Staff, LGBTQ+ Rights Activist

Honorary Senator Bernie Sanders Delivers Keynote Speech About the Government Shutdown

These speakers were broadcast on C-SPAN Radio, but this reporter got out in time to hear the Honorary Senator Bernie Sanders speech live at the National Mall. Here are salient talking points on why the Democrats are voting “No” on the CCR, drawn from Sanders’ years of experience as a Ranking Member on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging, and verified from Bernie Sanders Senate Office press releases.

“We will not move toward authoritarianism in America. We the People will Rule!” the Senator stated comparing colonial America’s fight for freedom against King George III.

“We have a president who wants more and more power in his own hands and in the hands of his fellow oligarchs,” Senator Bernie Sanders stated, going on to list numerous examples of excesses by the Trump Administration since assuming office nine months ago.

“This is [also] about a handful of the wealthiest people on earth who in their insatiable greed have hijacked our economy and our political system in order to enrich themselves at the expense of working families throughout this country,” in reference to billionaires whose rich-and-famous lifestyles have the media fawning over them.

Sanders then launches into a description of a comparison between how the top 1% live compared to the bottom 93%, and the injustice of an Elon Musk having more wealth than the bottom 52% of American households, resulting in ordinary Americans unable to afford basic necessities:

“Our nation, the richest country in the history of the world, [has] the highest rate of childhood and senior poverty of almost any major country on earth, [with] 85 million Americans uninsured or underinsured, and [over] 800,000 people who are homeless, including people a few blocks from here.”

“My fellow Americans, we rejected the divine right of kings in the 1770s. We will not accept the divine right of oligarchs today.” 

Senator Sanders compares the insatiable desire for profit off the backs of the poor as the reason why the Democrats are inviting a debate to modify the Big Beautiful Bill (H.R. 1). This is what the government shutdown is about, to prevent the further transfer of wealth from working class federally subsidized programs such as Affordable Healthcare, Medicaid, Special Education, and Supplemental Food Assistance programs (such as SNAP) into the hands of the top 10 percent as a “generous tax break.”

“As a result of Trump’s Big, Beautiful disgraceful Bill, which made massive cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act, 15 million Americans are going to lose the healthcare they desperately need to stay alive…studies suggest that when you throw those 15 million people off of the healthcare they presently have, 50,000 of them will die unnecessarily every single year.” 

“[Also] as a result of that same terrible piece of legislation, over 20 million Americans are going to see on average a doubling of their health insurance premiums through the Affordable Care Act.”

And in fact, Mr. Sanders, like many other lawmakers, is already receiving letters from citizens concerned about the sudden rise in insurance premiums beginning in November. He has posted this in one of his press releases along with a report, “‘I’m Terrified I’ll Die’—Americans Speak Out on Devastating Republican Health Care Cuts.” [The premiums are going up by more than double for people with pre-existing medical conditions and not including the increases in the prices for medications and medical supplies.]

As a Senate Ranking Member of HELP, Sanders has studied these issues for years, going back to the inception of the healthcare reform proposals in the 1990s under Former First Lady Hillary Clinton, and then under President Barack Obama, who signed the Affordable Care Act into law in 2010.

“Why are they bringing our healthcare system to the verge of collapse?…It was to give a trillion dollars in tax breaks to Mr. Musk, Mr. Bezos, Mr. Zuckerberg, Mr. Ellison, and the rest of the 1%. $1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the ACA, a trillion dollars in tax breaks for the 1%. That, my fellow Americans, is what this shutdown is all about.” 

Mr. Sanders asserts that as a responsible lawmaker representing his constituents and the American people, he will not be voting for a budget that throws 15 million people off of their healthcare, doubles premiums for 20 million Americans, and “forces nursing homes, rural hospitals, community health centers to lay off staff and close their doors throughout the country, all to give huge tax breaks to the billionaire class.” 

The Honorable Senator also spoke about Citizens United, super-PACs, and taking our country back from the control of corporations; expanding Social Security; raising the minimum wage; supporting unions; creating the best education system in the world; sustainability in energy use; women’s rights; and a foreign policy that is not supportive of genocide. All of these are standard liberal-leftist policy positions supported by the founder of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which is made up of “nearly 100 members standing up for progressive ideals in Washington and throughout the country.” They defend policies that place the interests of working Americans first, so they can experience opportunity and live with dignity, peace, and security.

The protests and government shutdown are occurring amid the new backdrop of the White House, commencing on Monday, October 20th, when the Trump Administration began demolition of the East Wing without obtaining the necessary permits or EIS studies which accompany redevelopment in a dense urban area with many tourists and vulnerable populations. As several legislators noted, such as Senators Merkley and Schumer, this can be seen as another metaphor of Trump viewing himself as above the law, above accountability and government oversight. Instead it points to Trump’s priorities to glorify his legacy while blurring the lines between the supra-rich and the Oval Office.

However, nothing is more uplifting than experiencing the variety of grassroots organizations advocating for their perspective of what is the loss and pain they are enduring whether organizationally due to cutbacks in governmentally funded grants or personally due to department layoffs. Protests and assemblies are a democratic right, and especially when the nation is under assault from the deprivation of local investment that have allowed local communities to thrive and encouraged the spending of money through localized circulation. This was the perspective shared by former Social Security Administrator Martin O’Malley who on August 13th, together with Senators Ron Wyden, Bernie Sanders, and Representative Debbie Dingell (D, MI) spoke at a virtual townhall in defense of Social Security, along with others. While President Trump signed a commemorative order honoring the 90th anniversary of Social Security, he has not recommended expanding the program, something that is very necessary in order to ensure its preservation. In fact, there is a very real danger that Project 2025 DOGE, led by Elon Musk’s team, will attempt to tamper with, privatize, and embezzle from Social Security, just as they are effectively doing by eliminating tax rebates and subsidies for purchasing affordable health insurance.

Report and photos by Christine H. Kroll, AGN Editor