NAIROBI (BN24) — Beloved Kenyan gospel artist Beatrice Wairimu Mbugua, widely known by her stage name Betty Bayo, has died after a long battle with cancer, her family confirmed Monday, November 10. She was celebrated for her uplifting music and unwavering faith that inspired millions across Kenya and beyond.
Bayo’s former partner, Pastor Victor Mwangi Kanyari, with whom she shared two children, announced her passing as his team arrived at Kenyatta National Hospital, where the gospel star had been receiving treatment. In an emotional message shared on social media, Kanyari wrote, “It hurts in ways I can’t explain. You left before I could say everything I needed to. I still see you in every laugh our children give, in every little habit that reminds me of you. We had our moments, but through it all, you were family. I’ll carry your memory, your love, and your spirit forever. Rest easy… you’ll always be missed.”
Prominent figures in Kenya’s gospel and media industries have since flooded social media with heartfelt tributes. Bishop Benson Gathungu Kamau confirmed that Bayo had been battling advanced-stage leukaemia, describing her as a woman of faith who touched countless lives through her music and ministry. “She leaves behind a legacy of great contribution to the gospel industry, friendship, and a soul that maximised its full potential,” he said. “Cancer will also die one day.”
Inooro TV news anchor Wakarura Wa Nyutu, a close friend of the singer, shared that she had recently spent time with Bayo just a week before her death. “Last Monday I was at your place. We stayed until almost midnight; we laughed, we talked, and I truly hoped you would be well. And now you’re no more,” she wrote, reflecting the shock and sadness felt by many of Bayo’s loved ones.
Bayo first rose to fame with her chart-topping gospel hit “Eleventh Hour,” a song that resonated deeply with fans for its powerful message of faith, resilience, and divine timing. Her music, often inspired by personal experiences and challenges, earned her a devoted following across East Africa.
Signs that her health was deteriorating appeared in August 2025, when she posted a photo on social media wearing an oxygen mask from her hospital bed. She hinted at struggling with illness but did not disclose the severity of her condition.
As tributes pour in from fans, colleagues, and church leaders, many remember Betty Bayo not only as a gifted vocalist but as a beacon of hope who used her platform to glorify God even amid personal trials. She is survived by her two children, family, and a legacy that continues to inspire Kenya’s gospel community.
BARCELONA (BN24) — Lionel Messi made an unannounced visit to his former home, Spotify Camp Nou, sparking an emotional reaction from FC Barcelona supporters who have long awaited his return. The Argentine star’s surprise visit on Sunday marked the first time he had stepped inside the renovated stadium since his 2021 departure from the club.
Messi, 38, shared photos from inside the iconic venue on social media, expressing his longing for a proper farewell that he never received when he left for Paris Saint-Germain amid Barcelona’s financial crisis. “Last night, I returned to a place that I miss with all my heart,” Messi wrote. “It’s a place where I was immensely happy, where you made me feel like the happiest person in the world a thousand times over. I hope that one day I can return, and not just to say goodbye as a player, as I never got to do.”
The seven-time Ballon d’Or winner spent 17 years at Barcelona, becoming the club’s record appearance holder and all-time top scorer with 672 goals in 778 matches. His sudden exit in 2021, compounded by COVID-19 restrictions, meant he never had a farewell match before joining PSG.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has repeatedly voiced his desire to bring Messi back for a tribute game once the stadium’s renovation is completed. “It would be a great way to open the stadium when it’s completely finished—with 105,000 packed in and paying tribute to Leo,” Laporta said recently. He added that the final decision would depend on Messi and the timing of the next presidential elections.
Messi’s relationship with Laporta cooled after his departure, and the Argentine had not publicly addressed the possibility of a tribute match until now. His latest message, however, appeared to soften that stance, giving hope to fans eager to see him honored in front of a full Camp Nou crowd.
Work on the stadium, closed for redevelopment since 2023, continues. Barcelona currently has permission to host 25,991 fans at games, with plans to expand to 45,401 later this month. The project, expected to finish by 2027, will increase total capacity to 105,000.
Messi, now playing for Inter Miami, returned to Europe after leading his MLS team to victory in the first round of the playoffs against Nashville SC. He scored twice and assisted two goals in the decisive Game 3 to advance Miami to the Eastern Conference semifinals against FC Cincinnati.
Messi is currently in Spain before joining Argentina’s national team in Alicante for a friendly against Angola, as the reigning world champions prepare for next summer’s World Cup.
For Barcelona fans, his quiet visit rekindled memories of his glory years and revived hope for the grand farewell he never received.
PARIS (AP) — Former French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be released from prison and placed under judicial supervision after a Paris appeals court ruled Monday to grant his early release, less than three weeks after he began serving a five-year sentence for allegedly financing his 2007 presidential campaign with funds from Libya.
Sarkozy, 70, who has denied any wrongdoing, was expected to leave La Santé prison in Paris later in the afternoon. Under the terms of the court’s decision, he is prohibited from leaving French territory and from contacting key individuals involved in the case, including witnesses and co-defendants. An appeals trial is expected to take place later, potentially in the spring.
The former president, who led France from 2007 to 2012, became the first French head of state in modern history to be imprisoned following his conviction on September 25. He was taken into custody on October 21 pending appeal but promptly filed for early release.
Speaking via video link from prison during Monday’s hearing, Sarkozy told the court he had complied with all judicial obligations and described his imprisonment as a personal ordeal. “I had never imagined I would experience prison at 70. This ordeal was imposed on me, and I lived through it. It’s hard, very hard,” he said.
Sarkozy expressed gratitude toward prison staff, calling them “extraordinary people who helped me through this nightmare.” His wife, singer and former supermodel Carla Bruni-Sarkozy, and two of his sons attended the hearing at the Paris courthouse.
Though Monday’s session did not revisit the motives behind his sentence, Sarkozy reiterated his denial of any financial connection to Libya’s former ruler, Moammar Gadhafi. “I will never admit something I didn’t do,” he declared.
Under French law, defendants are typically granted release pending appeal, with detention being the exception. Sarkozy’s legal troubles, however, are far from over. He faces a November 26 ruling by France’s highest court in a separate case involving illegal financing of his failed 2012 reelection campaign, as well as an ongoing probe into alleged witness tampering in the Libya affair.
In 2023, Sarkozy was found guilty of corruption and influence peddling for attempting to bribe a magistrate in exchange for confidential information about a legal matter. The Court of Cassation later upheld that verdict, further complicating the former president’s legal challenges.
Washington (BN24) – President Donald Trump has granted sweeping pardons to Rudy Giuliani, Mark Meadows, and dozens of other allies accused of backing his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, according to a proclamation released late Sunday by the Justice Department’s pardon attorney.
The “full, complete, and unconditional” pardon, signed by Trump on Nov. 7, was posted online by Ed Martin, the government’s pardon attorney, who described it as an act of “national reconciliation.” The document extends clemency to 77 individuals, including former Trump advisers Sidney Powell, John Eastman, and Jeffrey Clark — all central figures in efforts to contest the 2020 results. The proclamation explicitly states the pardon does not apply to Trump himself.
The broad proclamation absolves “all United States citizens” involved in “conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, or advocacy” of alternate slates of electors or any activity tied to alleged election interference. It also includes those who sought to “expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities” in the 2020 election.
Giuliani, Trump’s former personal lawyer and former New York City mayor, was among the most vocal promoters of the baseless claims of widespread voter fraud that followed Trump’s loss to Joe Biden. Giuliani was later disbarred in New York and Washington, D.C., and lost a $148 million defamation case filed by two Georgia election workers who said they were targeted by conspiracy theories he spread.
Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff in 2020, along with Powell and Eastman, had been named in various state-level cases tied to election interference. Eastman, a former Chapman University law school dean, authored a controversial memo outlining how Vice President Mike Pence could stop certification of Biden’s victory on Jan. 6, 2021.
While none of the individuals named in the proclamation were convicted of federal crimes — the only offenses covered by presidential pardons — the move underscores Trump’s continued campaign to recast investigations into the 2020 election as politically motivated. The Justice Department and the White House declined to comment on the announcement.
Trump’s proclamation denounced the prosecutions of his allies as “a grave national injustice perpetrated on the American people” and said the pardons were part of restoring “unity and reconciliation.” It follows Trump’s earlier pardons of more than 1,500 individuals connected to the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, including members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers convicted of seditious conspiracy.
The new round of pardons also includes Republicans who acted as fake electors in several battleground states. These individuals had submitted false certifications declaring Trump the winner despite Biden’s official victories.
Trump himself had been indicted on federal charges alleging a conspiracy to overturn the 2020 election, but the case — brought by special counsel Jack Smith — was abandoned after Trump’s return to the presidency due to the Justice Department’s policy against prosecuting a sitting president.
Since returning to office, Trump has worked to reshape the narrative surrounding his post-election actions and the Jan. 6 investigation, portraying his allies as political targets and himself as the victim of partisan persecution.
Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., who served as House speaker during the Capitol riot, criticized Trump’s latest pardons, calling his earlier clemency for Jan. 6 offenders “an outrageous insult to our justice system.”
Despite the largely symbolic nature of these new pardons, the action reaffirms Trump’s effort to rewrite the history of the 2020 election — portraying those who sought to keep him in power as patriots rather than perpetrators.
MADRID (BN24) — Real Madrid’s attacking woes continued Sunday as the Spanish league leaders were held to a 0-0 draw by Rayo Vallecano, marking a second consecutive setback following a Champions League defeat at Liverpool.
Madrid, who had scored in every match this season until last Tuesday’s 1-0 loss in England, struggled to find the net against Rayo, failing to break through a well-organized defense. Despite the stalemate, Madrid remains atop the La Liga standings, holding a five-point advantage over second-placed Villarreal. However, Barcelona could narrow the gap to three points later Sunday if they defeat Celta Vigo.
The Spanish giants had won 13 of 15 matches across all competitions this season, with their only prior setbacks coming against Liverpool and in a 5-2 league loss at Atletico Madrid in September.
Rayo Vallecano, sitting in 12th place before the match, had suffered a 4-0 defeat at Villarreal in their previous league outing. The team had enjoyed consecutive victories in the Europa League and Copa del Rey, but was unable to capitalize at home against Madrid.
Earlier Sunday, Athletic Bilbao ended a three-game losing streak across all competitions, edging Oviedo 1-0. The decisive goal came in the 25th minute from Nico Williams, who raced past three defenders along the left flank before striking from a difficult angle. For Oviedo, now last in the standings, the result extended their winless streak to six consecutive matches across all competitions.
Madrid’s draw reflects ongoing challenges as the season progresses. While still leading La Liga, the team must regain consistency in attack to maintain its position at the top and respond to challenges from Villarreal and Barcelona.
LA LIGA, Spain (BN24) — Robert Lewandowski marked his return to Barcelona’s starting lineup with a hat-trick that propelled the Catalan giants to a 4-2 win over Celta Vigo in La Liga on Sunday, tightening the race at the top of the table.
The Polish striker, making his first start since recovering from a thigh injury that kept him out for more than a month, delivered a commanding performance at Balaídos. His three goals restored Barcelona’s momentum in their title defense under new head coach Hansi Flick.
Barcelona started brightly and took the lead early when Lewandowski calmly converted from the penalty spot after Celta conceded a foul inside the box. The home side responded swiftly, as Sergio Carreira found space to slot past goalkeeper Marc-André ter Stegen and bring Celta level.
The visitors regained control midway through the first half when Lewandowski struck again. The forward latched onto a precise pass in open play and placed his finish beyond Vicente Guaita to make it 2-1. But Celta Vigo refused to fold. Borja Iglesias equalized shortly before halftime, capitalizing on a loose ball inside the area to make it 2-2 and send the home fans into celebration.
Just when it seemed the sides would enter the break level, teenage sensation Lamine Yamal restored Barcelona’s advantage in first-half stoppage time. The 17-year-old showed composure and skill to slot home, giving the visitors a 3-2 lead heading into halftime.
In the second half, Barcelona maintained their attacking rhythm and eventually sealed the result. With less than 20 minutes remaining, Lewandowski completed his hat-trick, rising above his marker to head home from a corner. The powerful finish secured his first treble of the season and effectively ended Celta’s hopes of a comeback.
Lewandowski’s return proved crucial for Hansi Flick’s side, who had missed the veteran striker’s presence in recent matches. His movement, precision, and clinical finishing gave Barcelona the edge in an intense contest where both teams pushed forward relentlessly.
Celta pressed late in search of a response, but Barcelona’s defense held firm under pressure. In the final moments, Yamal nearly added a fifth goal for the visitors when his curling effort struck the post, drawing gasps from both sets of supporters.
The victory lifts Barcelona to 28 points, narrowing the gap to just three points behind league leaders Real Madrid. The result also serves as a confidence boost as the Catalans continue to recover from a string of uneven performances earlier in the season.
Hansi Flick praised Lewandowski’s impact after the match, emphasizing his leadership and sharpness in front of goal. For Barcelona, the result was more than just three points; it was a statement of intent in their quest to reclaim the La Liga title.
MANCHESTER, England (BN24) — Manchester City marked Pep Guardiola’s milestone 1,000th match in management with a commanding 3-0 victory over Liverpool on Sunday, reaffirming their status as Premier League title contenders and closing the gap on leaders Arsenal to four points.
Erling Haaland, despite missing an early penalty, opened the scoring with his 99th Premier League goal. Nico Gonzalez doubled City’s advantage with a deflected strike, and Jeremy Doku capped a dazzling individual performance with a spectacular finish to seal a statement win at the Etihad Stadium.
Liverpool, who have now lost four of their last five league matches, slipped further behind in the title race and sit eighth in the standings, eight points adrift of the top. The defeat highlighted the significant class divide between the two sides that have dominated English football in recent years.
Arsenal’s 10-match winning streak ended in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland a day earlier, giving City an opportunity they seized emphatically. Guardiola’s men, winners in 11 of their last 14 matches across all competitions, displayed fluid attacking football reminiscent of their peak under the Catalan coach.
City dominated possession from the outset, and Doku’s pace caused problems for Liverpool’s defense throughout. The Belgian winger drew a penalty in the opening stages when Ibrahima Konaté’s clearance rebounded off Conor Bradley and clipped Doku’s trailing leg. Referee Chris Kavanagh initially waved play on, but a VAR review awarded City the spot kick.
Haaland, who has already scored 28 goals for club and country this season, stepped up but was denied by Giorgi Mamardashvili, the Liverpool goalkeeper who guessed correctly and pushed the effort wide. The save briefly lifted Liverpool’s spirits, but City quickly reasserted control.
Rayan Cherki and Doku both went close before Haaland made amends in 29 minutes. Meeting Matheus Nunes’ curling delivery, the Norwegian looped a header beyond Mamardashvili to give City the breakthrough.
Liverpool thought they had drawn level when Virgil van Dijk’s header from a corner found the net. Still, Andy Robertson, who ducked under the ball, was ruled offside for interfering with City keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma’s line of sight.
City punished Liverpool’s frustration soon after. Gonzalez’s strike from the edge of the area deflected off Van Dijk and wrong-footed Mamardashvili to make it 2-0 before halftime.
Arne Slot’s side wasted a glorious chance to pull one back early in the second half when Cody Gakpo fired over from close range after good work from Mohamed Salah and Bradley. That miss proved costly.
With City in full control, Doku put the match beyond reach midway through the second half. Cutting inside Konaté, the Belgian winger unleashed a curling shot into the top corner from outside the box a fitting finish to arguably his finest performance since joining the club three years ago.
Salah’s frustration summed up Liverpool’s afternoon when he missed a late one-on-one, dinking wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.
Slot, who opted to keep £125 million signing Alexander Isak on the bench due to fitness concerns, watched as his side’s title hopes faded further. Liverpool’s summer overhaul, which saw nearly £450 million spent on new players, now looks increasingly misguided as the team faces a battle to stay within reach of the top four.
For Guardiola, the day was a symbolic dominant display to mark his 1,000th game as a manager. The win showcased the experience and adaptability that have defined his career, and City’s pursuit of Arsenal and another Premier League crown remains very much alive.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — The Senate voted Sunday on whether to advance a House-passed continuing resolution in a critical step toward unlocking a deal to end the longest government shutdown in U.S. history.
The measure has failed to reach a 60-vote threshold 14 times. Three senators have repeatedly crossed the aisle to vote with Republicans. But Republicans need five more Democrats to vote with them to move the bill forward.
This time, the vote marks a key change, with a GOP plan to amend the bill should it advance to attach a trio of longer-term appropriations bills that were released Sunday. The vote is widely viewed as a key to unlocking the deal to end the shutdown.
A deal has been reached in the Senate, with at least eight Democrats prepared to vote in favor of a negotiated deal, a source familiar with the deal told CBS News. The deal, led by Sens. Angus King of Maine, and Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan of New Hampshire, has been reached with Senate Majority Leader John Thune and the White House, the source said.
The group of three former governors said they would vote to reopen if the Senate passed three annual spending bills and extended the rest of government funding until late January. Thune endorsed the deal Sunday night and called an immediate vote to begin the process of approving it.
“The time to act is now,” Thune said.
The deal includes a vote on a bill of Democrats’ choosing regarding the Affordable Care Act, with an agreement to hold a vote on the issue by the end of the second week of December. Democrats have sought to extend health insurance tax credits under the ACA.
The deal also includes a reversal of all shutdown reduction in force notices, or layoffs, that occurred during the shutdown, the source said, and extends the stopgap funding measure through January, among other things.
The deal would also include a future vote on the health care subsidies, which would not have a guaranteed outcome, and a reversal of the mass firings of federal workers that have happened since the shutdown began on Oct. 1. The full text of the deal has not yet been released.
“We must not delay any longer,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Susan Collins said in a Senate floor speech, adding that she is “relieved” that the shutdown appeared headed toward an end.
Republicans need five Democratic votes to reopen the government. In addition to Shaheen, King and Hassan, Democratic Sen. Tim Kaine of Virginia, home to millions of federal workers, also said he would support the agreement.
“I have long said that to earn my vote, we need to be on a path toward fixing Republicans’ health care mess and to protect the federal workforce,” Kaine said in a statement shared on social media. “This deal guarantees a vote to extend Affordable Care Act premium tax credits, which Republicans weren’t willing to do. Lawmakers know their constituents expect them to vote for it, and if they don’t they could very well be replaced at the ballot box by someone who will.”
He continued that the negotiated deal would protect federal workers from “baseless firings, reinstate those who have been wrongfully terminated during the shutdown, and ensure federal workers receive back pay.”
After Democrats met for over two hours to discuss the proposal, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said he could not “in good faith” support it.
“I must vote no — this health care crisis is so severe, so urgent, so devastating for families back home that I cannot in good faith support this CR that fails to address the health care crisis,” Schumer said on the Senate floor.
“America is in the midst of a Republican-made health care crisis,” Schumer said on the floor just ahead of the expected votes. He said Americans would “suffer immensely” and that the crisis would only get worse.
“Democrats have sounded the alarm,” Schumer said, and “will not give up the fight.”
He added, “however this vote turns out, this fight will and must continue.”
Schumer railed against Republicans for refusing to engage with Democrats on the health care issue during the shutdown, while pledging to continue the fight on health care.
“On Friday, we offered Republicans a compromise, a proposal that would extend the ACA tax credits for a year and open up the government at the same time,” he said. “They once again said no.”
Schumer said when Republicans “said no on our compromise, they showed that they are against any health care reform.”
Independent Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who caucuses with the Democrats, said that giving up the fight was a “horrific mistake.”
“It would be a horrific mistake to cave in to Trump right now,” Sanders told reporters when asked about the emerging deal.
“The American people cannot afford a doubling of their health care premiums,” he said as he headed into the caucus meeting. “They can’t afford to lose their Medicaid, which 15 million people would. And essentially, if Democrats cave on this issue, what it will say to Donald Trump is that he has a green light to go forward toward authoritarianism.”
Sanders added, “That would be a tragedy for this country.”
“I think it would be a policy and political disaster for the Democrats to cave,” he said.
Senate Democrats emerged from their caucus meeting after more than two hours. Many would not answer questions about how they planned to vote on advancing the House-passed funding measure, expected later Sunday, though a handful said they would vote against it.
Sens. Reuben Gallego and Elizabeth Warren also said they will vote against it.
Sen. Angus King, a Maine independent who caucuses with Democrats, outlined why the deal came together after the Senate Democrats’ caucus meeting, telling reporters what changed for some in the party was “the length of the shutdown.”
“The question was, as the shutdown progresses, is a solution on the ACA becoming any more likely? It appears not,” King said. “And I think people are saying we’re not going to get what we want, although we still have a chance, because part of the deal is a vote on the ACA subsidies.”
King said, “in the meantime, a lot of people are being hurt.”
Final passage of the legislation could take several days if Democrats object and draw out the process.
Republicans have been working with the group of moderates as the shutdown continued to disrupt flights nationwide, threaten food assistance for millions of Americans and leave federal workers without pay. But many Democrats have warned their colleagues against giving in, arguing that they cannot end the fight without an agreement to extend the health subsidies.
As Senate Democrats met ahead of a possible vote to end the shutdown, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement Sunday night that House Democrats would not support legislation that does not extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits that have been at the heart of the shutdown fight.
“As a result of the Republican refusal to address the healthcare crisis that they have created, tens of millions of everyday Americans are going to see their costs skyrocket. Many will not be able to afford a doctor when they or their children need one,” Jeffries wrote.
“America is far too expensive. We will not support spending legislation advanced by Senate Republicans that fails to extend the Affordable Care Act tax credits,” he added.
Returning to the White House on Sunday evening after attending a football game, Trump did not say whether he endorsed the deal. But he said, “It looks like we’re getting close to the shutdown ending.”
Democrats have now voted 14 times not to reopen the government as they have demanded the extension of tax credits that make coverage more affordable for health plans offered under the Affordable Care Act. Republicans have refused to negotiate on the health care subsidies while the government is closed, but they have been supportive of the proposal from moderate Democrats as it emerged over the last several days.
The agreement would fund parts of government, including food aid, veterans programs and the legislative branch, among other things, and extend funding for everything else until the end of January.
The deal would reinstate federal workers who had received reduction in force, or layoff, notices and reimburse states that spent their own funds to keep federal programs running during the shutdown. It would also protect against future reductions in force through January and guarantee all federal workers would be paid once the shutdown is over.
Alongside the funding fix, Republicans released final legislative text of three full-year spending bills Sunday. That legislation keeps a ban on pay raises for lawmakers but boosts their security by $203.5 million in response to increased threats. There is also a provision championed by Sen. Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, to prevent the sale of some hemp-based products.
Republicans only need five votes from Democrats to reopen the government, so a handful of senators could end the shutdown with only the promise of a later vote on health care. Around 10 to 12 Democrats have been involved in the talks, and sources familiar with the agreement said they had enough votes to join with Republicans and pass the deal.
Many of their Democratic colleagues said the emerging deal is not enough.
“I really wanted to get something on health care,” said Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin. “I’m going to hear about it right now, but it doesn’t look like it has something concrete.”
House Democrats were also speaking out against it. Texas Rep. Greg Casar, the chairman of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said a deal that does not reduce health care costs is a “betrayal” of millions of Americans who are counting on Democrats to fight.
“Accepting nothing but a pinky promise from Republicans isn’t a compromise — it’s capitulation,” Casar said in a post on social media. “Millions of families would pay the price.”
Rep. Angie Craig of Minnesota posted that “if people believe this is a ‘deal,’ I have a bridge to sell you.”
Even if the Senate were to move forward with funding legislation, getting to a final vote could take several days if Democrats who oppose the deal object and draw out the process. The first vote, which could come as soon as Sunday evening, would be to proceed to consideration of the legislation.
There is no guarantee that the Affordable Care Act subsidies would be extended if Republicans agree to a future vote on health care. House Speaker Mike Johnson, Republican of Louisiana, has said he will not commit to a health vote.
Some Republicans have said they are open to extending the COVID-19-era tax credits as premiums could skyrocket for millions of people, but they also want new limits on who can receive the subsidies and argue that the tax dollars for the plans should be routed through individuals.
Other Republicans, including Trump, have used the debate to renew their yearslong criticism of the law and called for it to be scrapped or overhauled.
“THE WORST HEALTHCARE FOR THE HIGHEST PRICE,” Trump said of the Affordable Care Act in a post Sunday.
Meanwhile, the consequences of the shutdown were compounding. U.S. airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights on Sunday for the first time since the shutdown began, and there were more than 7,000 flight delays, according to FlightAware, a website that tracks air travel disruptions.
Treasury Secretary Sean Duffy said on CNN’s “State of the Union” that air travel ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday will be “reduced to a trickle” if the government does not reopen.
At the same time, food aid was delayed for tens of millions of people as SNAP benefits were caught up in legal battles related to the shutdown. More than two dozen states warned of “catastrophic operational disruptions” as Trump’s administration is demanding states “undo” benefits paid out under judges’ orders last week, now that the U.S. Supreme Court has stayed those rulings.
And in Washington, home to millions of federal workers who have gone unpaid, the Capital Area Food Bank said it is providing 8 million more meals than it had prepared to this budget year, a nearly 20 percent increase.
The government has been shut down since Oct. 1 and has been shuttered for a record-smashing 40 days.
Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump made history Sunday as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a regular-season NFL game in nearly five decades — and was met with a mix of cheers and loud boos from spectators inside Northwest Stadium during the Washington Commanders’ matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Trump appeared on the videoboard late in the first half, standing in a suite alongside House Speaker Mike Johnson, prompting a wave of jeers that grew louder when the stadium announcer formally introduced him at halftime. The crowd’s reaction continued as Trump participated in an on-field military enlistment ceremony, leading recruits in their oath of service.
“I’m a little bit late,” Trump told reporters after landing at Joint Base Andrews, following a flyover above the stadium. “We’re gonna have a good game. Things are going along very well. The country’s doing well. The Democrats have to open it up,” he added, referring to the ongoing government shutdown.
During the game’s third quarter, Trump joined Fox Sports broadcasters Kenny Albert and Jonathan Vilma for several minutes, recalling his time as a tight end at New York Military Academy. “It was not quite football like this,” he joked. “It was a little bit easier.”
Trump left the stadium before the game concluded. His appearance marked the first time a sitting president had attended a regular-season NFL game since Jimmy Carter in 1978 and Richard Nixon in 1969. Earlier this year, Trump became the first president to attend a Super Bowl while in office when he watched the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Kansas City Chiefs in February.
According to an ESPN report, an intermediary for the White House recently informed the Commanders’ ownership group that Trump is interested in having the team’s proposed new $4 billion stadium in Washington bear his name.
“They’re going to build a beautiful stadium,” Trump said during his televised appearance. “That’s what I’m involved in — we’re getting all the approvals. And you have a wonderful owner, Josh Harris, and his group. You’re going to see some very good things.”
Trump attended the game alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, Education Secretary Linda McMahon, and Sen. Steve Daines of Montana. Hegseth also participated in an on-field ceremony with members of the U.S. military before kickoff.
Trump’s presence underscored his long and often tense history with the NFL. During his first term, he criticized players who knelt during the national anthem to protest racial injustice, calling on team owners to fire those who participated. The movement, led by former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick in 2016, became a flashpoint in the national conversation about race and patriotism.
Sunday’s visit adds to Trump’s growing list of appearances at major sporting events, including the Daytona 500, the Ryder Cup, and the U.S. Open. “I just love it. It’s a microcosm of life,” he told Fox broadcasters. “It’s sort of like life — the good, the bad, and the ugly.”
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump promised to pay many Americans $2,000 as he touted his tariff plan in a Sunday morning Truth Social posting spree.
As part of his multi-post commentary touting tariffs, the president promised: “A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.”
It is not immediately clear when that payment would come or who qualifies as “high income.” The president mentioned no other details about the payment.
The announcement comes a day after Trump attended a lavish dinner party at Mar-a-Lago as the longest-ever government shutdown drags on. As many Americans turn to food banks during the shutdown, the event Trump attended featured a three-course menu of beef filet, truffle dauphinoise, pan-seared scallops and a trio of desserts, including “Trump chocolate cake.”
“People that are against Tariffs are FOOLS! We are now the Richest, Most Respected Country In the World, With Almost No Inflation, and A Record Stock Market Price. 401k’s are Highest EVER,” Trump wrote Sunday morning.
“We are taking in Trillions of Dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 Trillion. Record Investment in the USA, plants and factories going up all over the place,” he continued.
The Supreme Court last week heard arguments in the challenge to Trump’s sweeping tariffs. Three lower courts have already ruled that his use of emergency powers to impose the levies was illegal.
The justices appeared skeptical of his tariff plan. As the high-stakes case is in their hands, Trump posted about why he believes the tariffs should remain in place.
“So, let’s get this straight??? The President of the United States is allowed (and fully approved by Congress!) to stop ALL TRADE with a Foreign Country (Which is far more onerous than a Tariff!), and LICENSE a Foreign Country, but is not allowed to put a simple Tariff on a Foreign Country, even for purposes of NATIONAL SECURITY,” the president wrote in a separate Truth Social post Sunday morning.
“That is NOT what our great Founders had in mind! The whole thing is ridiculous! Other Countries can Tariff us, but we can’t Tariff them??? It is their DREAM!!! Businesses are pouring into the USA ONLY BECAUSE OF TARIFFS. HAS THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT NOT BEEN TOLD THIS??? WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON???” he continued.
Trump has also emphasized a push for affordability as the holiday season nears.
The president claimed that Walmart’s Thanksgiving dinner this year was “down 25 percent since under Sleepy/Crooked Joe Biden.”
“AFFORDABILITY is a Republican Stronghold,” Trump claimed on Truth Social Wednesday. “Hopefully, Republicans will use this irrefutable fact!”
Trump’s claims were swiftly met with criticism from social media users, who pointed out that Walmart’s 2025 meal basket is cheaper this year because it is offering fewer items and different, less pricey items than in last year’s basket.
The president’s focus on affordability seems to have been renewed this week after Democrats clinched key elections across the country, including New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who campaigned on lowering the cost of living in the city.
James Blair, the White House Deputy Chief of Staff, told Politico this week: “Why did Zohran Mamdani do so well last night? He relentlessly focused on affordability.” He added: “People talk about communists, they can say all these things, but the fact is he was talking about the cost of living.”
Still, Trump said Friday that he thought Democrats’ messaging on the issue was a “con job.”
“It was a con job, affordability, they call it, was a con job by the Democrats. The Democrats are good at a few things, cheating in elections and conning people with facts that aren’t true,” the president said.
The promised $2,000 payment represents Trump’s attempt to connect his tariff policy directly to benefits for ordinary Americans. The framing of the payment as a “dividend” suggests the president views tariff revenues as generating surplus funds that can be distributed to citizens, though economic experts have long noted that tariffs function as taxes ultimately paid by consumers through higher prices on imported goods.
The lack of specifics about the payment timing, eligibility criteria and funding mechanism raises questions about how such a program would be implemented. The exclusion of “high income people” suggests some form of means testing would be required, though no income threshold was provided.
The contrast between the Mar-a-Lago dinner party and the ongoing government shutdown has drawn attention to the disconnect between the president’s lifestyle and the struggles facing federal workers and Americans dependent on government services. Food banks across the country have reported increased demand as the shutdown affects paychecks and benefit distributions.
The Supreme Court’s apparent skepticism about Trump’s tariff authority, as evidenced during last week’s oral arguments, creates uncertainty about whether the tariff regime generating the promised revenue will even survive legal challenge. Three lower courts have already deemed the emergency powers invoked for the tariffs to be illegal, setting up a potential clash between the president’s economic promises and judicial oversight.
Trump’s defensive posture in his Sunday posts, questioning why the Supreme Court has not been informed about businesses pouring into the United States because of tariffs, suggests frustration with legal constraints on his trade policy. His comparison to other presidential powers, such as the ability to stop all trade with a foreign country, reflects arguments his administration has made about broad executive authority over international commerce.
The president’s claims about economic performance, including assertions about being the “Richest, Most Respected Country In the World” with “Almost No Inflation,” stand in tension with various economic indicators and his own emphasis on the need for affordability measures. The government’s $37 trillion debt, which Trump mentioned as something that will “soon” begin being paid down, has continued growing during his administration.
The focus on Walmart’s Thanksgiving basket pricing illustrates Trump’s attempt to claim credit for consumer cost reductions, even as critics have noted that the year-over-year comparison involves different product selections. The debate over who deserves credit or blame for cost-of-living changes has become central to political messaging from both parties.
The White House Deputy Chief of Staff’s comments about Mamdani’s electoral success focusing on affordability suggest the administration recognizes the political salience of economic concerns, even as Trump dismisses Democratic messaging on the issue as fraudulent. The president’s characterization of Democratic affordability talk as a “con job” while simultaneously promising $2,000 payments linked to his own policies reflects competing narratives about which party better addresses economic pressures facing American families.
As the government shutdown continues without resolution and the Supreme Court deliberates on tariff authority, Trump’s Sunday morning promise of direct payments to Americans adds another element to an already complex economic and political landscape.
