Plus: Election Night 2025 & People's Sexiest Man Alive

Good evening,

Former Vice President Dick Cheney died Monday at the age of 84 from complications of pneumonia and heart disease.

What he’s remembered for: Widely regarded as one of the most powerful vice presidents in U.S. history, Cheney was one of the chief architects of the “war on terror” after 9/11, leading the push for regime change in Iraq. The fallout and failures of that war triggered a sharp backlash against foreign intervention — helping fuel the populist and nationalist momentum that later coalesced around Donald Trump and the “America First” movement.
His bio: Before serving under George W. Bush, he was a Wyoming congressman, the youngest White House chief of staff under President Gerald Ford, and later defense secretary under George H.W. Bush.
A survivor of five heart attacks, Cheney received a heart transplant in 2012. Interesting fact: In 2007, doctors modified Cheney’s heart defibrillator so it couldn’t be hacked by terrorists.

In 2024, he broke with his party, endorsing Kamala Harris over Donald Trump, saying, “We each have a duty to put country above partisanship to defend our Constitution.”

Mo News Team

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🚨 ONE IMPORTANT THING

Election Night 2025: High-Stakes Races In NYC, New Jersey, Virginia, & California

High-profile races are underway Tuesday — including the New York City mayoral race, governors races in New Jersey and Virginia, and a redistricting ballot measure in California that could give Democrats five additional U.S. House seats.

President Trump has made headlines in the past 24 hours for endorsing former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s independent mayoral bid in New York City. He also called California’s redistricting measure to add five Democratic congressional seats “unconstitutional,” despite urging about a dozen GOP-led states to pursue similar efforts to help Republicans.

TENSIONS HIGH
Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom responded to Trump on X: “The ramblings of an old man that knows he’s about to LOSE.” Rhetoric across races is heated — especially in New York, where some in-and-out-of-state Republicans are leveling extreme attacks, claiming Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani would be a “jihadist” who would allow or would commit a terrorist attack. Mamdani calls the claims Islamophobic and not connected to reality.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) posted a photo appearing to label Mamdani “an actual Communist jihadist,” writing, “This seems like an easy one, New York City.” Rep. Brandon Gill (R-TX) mocked a campaign video in Arabic, writing, “Just a couple decades after 9/11, the leading candidate for NYC mayor is campaigning in Arabic. The humiliation is the point.” Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-NY) called Mamdani a “jihadist.” Rep. Andy Ogles (R-TN) shared 9/11 footage, writing, “WAKE UP NEW YORK.”
- Accused in a recent debate of supporting a “global jihad,” Mamdani said, “I have never, not once, spoken in support of global jihad. That is not something that I have said, and that continues to be ascribed to me. And frankly, I think much of it has to do with the fact that I am the first Muslim candidate to be on the precipice of winning this election.”
Mamdani leads Cuomo by double digits in most polls — positioning him to become the city’s first Muslim mayor.
- Mamdani immigrated to the U.S. from Uganda at age 7. NYC is home to about 1 million Muslims, roughly a quarter of the U.S. Muslim population.
- His anti-Israel activism, including not labeling Hamas as a terrorist group, not supporting Israel’s right to exist as a Jewish state and refusal to condemn the phrase “globalize the Intifada,” has fueled attacks that he is sympathetic to extremists and is antisemitic. At the same time, he has condemned antisemitism and participated in Jewish holiday services at a progressive synagogue in Brooklyn.

On Monday, Trump warned of dire consequences if “Communist Candidate” Mamdani were to win, painting a bleak picture of the city’s future and threatening to withhold all but the “very minimum” of federal funding required by law. Tech billionaire Elon Musk also backed Cuomo the same day. But, will heavily Democratic New Yorkers care— or might those endorsements actually backfire?

STAY TUNED
Polls close first in Virginia at 7 p.m. ET, in New Jersey at 8 p.m. ET, in NYC at 9 p.m. ET, with the final polls wrapping up in California at 11 p.m. ET. We previewed the key races to watch in yesterday’s newsletter. Over on the Mo News Instagram tonight, we will tell you the results from CA and NYC. We’re also watching:

If Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill in New Jersey will overcome a surge by Trump-backed Jack Ciattarelli in what is set to be the closest gubernatorial race of the night.
The battle to become Virginia’s first female governor between Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears.

🚨 ONE THING MAKING HISTORY

Shutdown Hits Historic Day 35: Flights At Risk, Food Stamps In Limbo

Today marks Day 35 of the government shutdown — now tied for the longest in U.S. history — and federal workers are reaching a breaking point.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy warned Tuesday that if air traffic controllers miss a second paycheck next week, the U.S. could see widespread flight cancellations or even closed airspace. President Trump also threatened SNAP benefits Tuesday, posting that they “will be given only when the Radical Left Democrats open up government,” appearing to defy two federal court orders.

IN THE SKIES
Duffy said controllers told him they could manage missing one paycheck, but not two — which would happen early next week if Congress doesn’t end the stalemate this week.

“If you bring us to a week from today, Democrats, you will see mass chaos,” he said. “You will see mass flight delays, mass cancellations, and possibly closed airspace because we just cannot manage it.”
What it could look like: While emphasizing that the system remains safe, Duffy acknowledged his agency may need to slow or cancel flights if staffing continues to drop — adding, “It would be dishonest to say that more risk is not injected into the system.”

Rewind: The other 35-day shutdown back in 2019 ended after a surge in sick calls among controllers caused widespread flight delays

FOOD AID IN LIMBO
Trump’s Tuesday remark about SNAP payments sparked confusion as it appears to defy two federal court orders requiring the administration to issue at least partial payments from an emergency fund during the shutdown.

On Monday, The White House said it would provide partial SNAP payments to nearly 42 million Americans — 1 in 8 Americans — on the food aid program for November, as the government shutdown stretched into its second month.
- Later on Tuesday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified what the president said earlier in the day. She told reporters: ”The recipients of these SNAP benefits need to understand it’s going to take some time to receive this money because the Democrats have forced the administration into a very untenable position.”
SNAP costs about $9 billion per month to fund. Officials at the Department of Agriculture argued that the $5 billion contingency fund was designed for temporary, short-term disruptions — such as natural disasters or administrative delays — not to sustain regular monthly benefits when Congress hasn’t appropriated money. Federal judges disagreed.

It marks the first shutdown in U.S. history to disrupt payments for the program. It’s unclear how quickly beneficiaries’ debit cards can be reloaded. Over the weekend, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said SNAP payments “could be“ made by Wednesday, but added that “five Democratic senators could cross the aisle and open the government by Wednesday.”

Despite the mounting pressure, there are some (small) signs of progress: Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) said Monday, “I think we’re getting close to an off ramp here.”

⏳ THE SPEED READ

🚨NATION

FBI arrests 2 men in connection with Harvard Medical School explosion (FOX)
Maryland Gov. Wes Moore launches redistricting commission despite key Democratic opposition (NBC)
Border Patrol agent testifies sandwich thrown at him “exploded all over,” left mustard stains at D.C. trial (CBS)
Trump administration considers revoking ban on oil and gas development near Chaco historical park (AP)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

Israel rocked by scandal as top military lawyer resigns, goes missing, is found and thrown into jail (AP)
Brazil to seek independent inquiry into deadly police raid that killed 121 people (GUARDIAN)
At least 40 dead as typhoon wreaks havoc in the Philippines (BBC)
Hurricane Melissa death toll in Jamaica rises to 32 as officials scramble to rebuild for tourism season (CBS)

📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH

Denny’s to be acquired and taken private in a deal valued at $620 million (AP)
Uber falls 6% despite third-quarter revenue beat (CNBC)
Worsening listeria outbreak tied to pasta products kills 6, hospitalizes 25 (NPR)
New research reveals a hidden heart risk in melatonin (SCIENCE DAILY)

🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

David Beckham knighted by King Charles III (MO NEWS)
Kim Kardashian’s ‘All’s Fair’ bashed with a zero-star review and more horrendous reactions (VARIETY)
Alabama suspends DB Dre Kirkpatrick Jr. indefinitely after his weekend arrest (AP)
Oscar-nominated actress Diane Ladd dies, daughter Laura Dern confirms (ABC)

ICYMI FROM THE 📲

In case you missed it… Jonathan Bailey, a British actor known for his roles in Netflix’s ‘Bridgerton’ and the ‘Wicked’ films, was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive for 2025 — marking the first time an openly gay man has been bestowed the steamy honor.

Bailey, 37, told People that the honor was “completely absurd” but said he was “incredibly flattered” to receive it.

Late night talkshow host Jimmy Fallon announced the news during a Monday evening appearance of ‘The Tonight Show‘.