One day after Democrats secured key victories in gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia, as well as the New York City mayoral contest, President Donald Trump delivered a speech in Miami at the America Business Forum, highlighting what he described as a thriving U.S. economy. The electoral outcomes underscored voter concerns over the cost of living, a theme central to the winning Democratic campaigns, even though Trump was not on the ballot. His administration argues that economic indicators such as job creation and stock market performance reflect strong national progress, but critics point to persistent affordability challenges faced by many Americans.
Trump emphasized his administration’s foreign investments and trade policies as drivers of domestic prosperity. A senior White House official noted that the president’s address focused on how global economic initiatives benefit American communities. Despite these claims, political analysts suggest that Republicans have struggled to effectively communicate economic gains, allowing Democrats to dominate the narrative around financial hardship.
Meanwhile, the ongoing federal government shutdown—the longest in U.S. history—has begun to affect critical infrastructure. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced a 10% reduction in air traffic across 40 high-volume markets due to severe staffing shortages. Air traffic controllers have been working without pay since October 1, often logging mandatory overtime, leading some to call out. The FAA and Transportation Department leadership plan to consult with airline executives to ensure safety during the operational slowdown.
In international developments, FIFA announced a new annual award called the FIFA Peace Prize, intended to honor exceptional contributions to global peace. President Gianni Infantino, who spoke shortly after Trump at the same forum, hinted the award would be revealed on December 5 but declined to confirm speculation that Trump might be the inaugural recipient. This comes after Trump was not selected for the Nobel Peace Prize despite vocal support from various leaders, including within his own party.
On the domestic political front, Trump criticized incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani for what he called an “angry” victory speech, suggesting the mayor should show more deference given the need for federal approvals on city initiatives. He also expressed disappointment over Republican losses, particularly in New Jersey, where Jack Ciattarelli lost to Mikie Sherrill, and in Virginia, where Winsome Earle-Sears was defeated by Abigail Spanberger. Trump noted he had not backed the Virginia candidate.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio hosted diplomats from the five Central Asian nations—Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan—marking the 10-year anniversary of the C5+1 diplomatic framework. The initiative aims to strengthen regional security and counterbalance Russian and Chinese influence, while also promoting trade and U.S. investment. The leaders are scheduled to meet with Trump at the White House.
In healthcare, a coalition of medical and public health organizations filed an amended lawsuit urging a federal court to dissolve and reconstitute the vaccine advisory panel led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The group challenges Kennedy’s decision to disband the original Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and replace it with members known for anti-vaccine views, particularly after he halted recommendations for COVID-19 vaccines for most children and pregnant women.
California’s newly approved congressional maps, backed by voters through Proposition 50, have triggered internal GOP tensions. Two Republican incumbents, Young Kim and Ken Calvert, are now vying for the same seat in the newly drawn 40th District, reflecting the shrinking number of competitive Republican districts in the state. Governor Gavin Newsom supported the redistricting to counter Republican gerrymandering efforts in other states ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Maine Congressman Jared Golden, representing one of the nation’s most competitive House districts, announced he will not seek re-election. In a statement, he cited rising political hostility and incidents of violence as key reasons for stepping down, including attacks targeting both Trump and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
The Pentagon conducted a scheduled test of an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile, part of routine efforts to maintain the readiness of the U.S. nuclear deterrent. The launch occurred amid heightened rhetoric from both Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding potential nuclear testing, though U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright clarified that new evaluations would not involve nuclear explosions.
Swiss corporate leaders, including executives from Rolex, Richemont, and Mercuria, met with Trump to discuss economic ties and the 39% U.S. tariffs on Swiss goods. They described the Oval Office meeting as constructive, emphasizing the strength of bilateral relations, though no specific policy changes were disclosed.
Trump also commented on former FBI Director James Comey, who appeared in court on charges of lying to Congress in 2020. The president mocked critics who accuse him of weaponizing the Justice Department, reiterating his belief that he was the true victim of political targeting during his first term.
New Jersey Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill stated she sees her decisive victory as a strong mandate to address affordability, a central theme of her campaign. She declined to comment on Mamdani’s democratic socialist platform, focusing instead on practical governance.
Additionally, Trump reiterated his opposition to South Africa’s membership in the G20, calling the country’s inclusion unjustified due to internal issues. He confirmed he will not attend the upcoming summit in Johannesburg, continuing a strained relationship with the South African government.
The Trump administration is preparing to present a resolution to the UN Security Council proposing a two-year international stabilization force in Gaza. The plan, supported by Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and the UAE, includes provisions for demilitarizing the Gaza Strip and dismantling weapons held by non-state armed groups.
Lastly, Wednesday marked the deadline for states to apply for grants under the Rural Health Transformation Program, a $50 billion initiative designed to offset the impact of Medicaid cuts on rural hospitals. Half the funding will be distributed equally among states, and the remainder allocated based on rural population and low-income service metrics. While seen as a lifeline, experts warn it may not prevent all closures.
— news from AP News
— News Original —
The Latest: Trump promotes his economic agenda after Democratic election victories
A day after Democrats dominated the first major Election Day since Donald Trump returned to the White House, the president is in Miami to speak at a forum of business leaders and global athletes about what he sees as his economic achievements. n nWhile a debate about the future of the Democratic Party may have only just begun, there are signs that the economy — specifically, Trump’s inability to deliver the economic turnaround he promised last fall — may be a real problem for Trump’s GOP heading into next year’s higher-stakes midterm elections. n nThe Republican president’s speech to the America Business Forum will be a broad look at his economic agenda and how investments he has secured abroad help U.S. communities, according to a senior White House official. n nDemocratic candidates who won Tuesday in the New Jersey and Virginia governor’s races, and the New York City mayor’s contest, focused their campaigns on the public’s cost-of-living concerns. n nThe Latest: n nFIFA announces new peace prize to be awarded at World Cup draw in Washington n nThe award, called the FIFA Peace Prize, will “recognize exceptional actions for peace,” soccer’s governing body said Wednesday. But FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who has a close relationship with Trump, would not tip his hand Wednesday when asked if the U.S. president will be the first recipient of the award. n n“On the fifth of December, you will see,” Infantino said. He was speaking at the America Business Forum in Miami, shortly after Trump addressed the same event. n nFIFA said the award will be bestowed annually “on behalf of fans from all around the world.” n nTrump was passed over for the Nobel Peace Prize last month despite lobbying from fellow Republicans, various world leaders and himself. And Infantino made no secret of the ties between himself, FIFA and Trump in his remarks Wednesday. n nWhy the government shutdown is causing the FAA to reduce air traffic by 10% across some markets n nThe Federal Aviation Administration sometimes slows down or stops flights from taking off toward an airport when weather conditions are bad, there aren’t enough controllers and other personnel, or facilities are unable to pick up the slack. Last weekend saw some of the worst staffing shortages of the shutdown, which is now the longest in history. n nFrom Friday to Sunday evening, at least 39 different air traffic control facilities announced there was some potential for limited staffing, according to an Associated Press analysis of operations plans sent through the Air Traffic Control System Command Center system. The figure, which is likely an undercount, is well above the average for weekends. n nAir traffic controllers have been working unpaid since the shutdown began Oct. 1, with most working mandatory overtime six days a week. That leaves little time for a side job to help cover bills, mortgage payments and other expenses unless controllers call out. n nMajor airlines, aviation unions and the wider travel industry have urged Congress to end the shutdown. n nFAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they would meet with airline executives later Wednesday to determine how to safely implement the reduction in flights. n nTrump says economy is ‘BOOMING’ in post celebrating presidential win one year ago n n“Happy Anniversary! On this day, November 5th, one year ago, we had one of the Greatest Presidential Victories in History,” Trump posted on social media. “Such an Honor to represent our Country. Our Economy is BOOMING, and Costs are coming way down. Affordability is our goal. Love to the American People!” n nTrump says Mamdani ‘has to be a little bit respectful of Washington’ n nThe president said the incoming New York City mayor gave an “angry speech” after his victory and should be “very nice to me” because the federal government has to approve things that Mamdani wants. n n“He’s off to a bad start,” Trump said. n nAsked if he would reach out to Mamdani, Trump demurred. n n“It would be more appropriate for him to reach out to us,” he said. n nTrump says the economy is good — Republicans just need to talk about it n nSpeaking to Bret Baier of Fox News, the president defended his economic record after Democrats dominated elections held on Tuesday. He said “we’ve got prices way down” but that his opponents have done a better job talking about the issue. n n“Republicans don’t talk about it,” he said. “They don’t talk about the word affordability. And the Democrats lie about it.” n nHe also expressed disappointment about the results. n n“I thought that New Jersey would do better,” he said. Republican Jack Ciattarelli lost to Mikie Sherrill in the race for governor. n n“I didn’t think that Virginia was going to do very well,” Trump also said, adding that the Republican candidate there “didn’t really have my support.” Winsome Earle-Sears, the lieutenant governor, lost to Abigail Spanberger in the governor’s race. n nRubio hosts Central Asian diplomats n nSecretary of State Marco Rubio has welcomed diplomats from the five Central Asian nations that are seen as key to U.S. policy goals and commerce in the region as well as pushing back on Russian and Chinese influence. n nRubio hosted a reception Wednesday at the State Department to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the C5+1 group, which includes the U.S. and the former Soviet Republics of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. n nRubio noted how “the national interests of our countries are aligned” and would allow for new opportunities. n nThe countries’ leaders will meet with Trump at the White House on Thursday, U.S. ambassador to India Sergio Gor said. n nFormally launched in 2015, the group has largely focused on regional security, particularly in light of the two-decade U.S. military presence and then withdrawal from neighboring Afghanistan, China’s treatment of ethnic Uighur Muslims in Xinjiang and attempts by Russia to reassert power in its former provinces. But it’s also sought to promote increased trade and U.S. investment. n nDemocratic electoral wins reenergize anti-Trump protesters at DC rally n nThousands of demonstrators gathered near the Washington Monument on Wednesday, marking the first large anti-Trump protest since the elections. n nProtesters, organized by groups like Refuse Fascism, felt Democrats’ wins signaled resistance against perceived presidential overreach. n nDespite the victories, activists are urging continued vigilance. They’re emphasizing the importance of ongoing action, especially with upcoming midterm elections. n n▶ Read more about the protest in D.C. n nTrump taps former New Mexico lawmaker Pearce to oversee US land agency n nThe nomination of Republican former Rep. Steve Pearce to lead the Bureau of Land Management must be confirmed by the Senate. n nThe agency oversees about 10% of the land in the U.S., giving it a central role in Republican attempts to increase fossil fuel production. n nPearce is a former fighter pilot and Vietnam War veteran who led a successful oil services company in New Mexico. He served seven terms in the House. n nA longtime oil and gas industry representative who was previously nominated to lead the land agency withdrew in April. That followed revelations that nominee Kathleen Sgamma criticized Trump in 2021 for inciting the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. n nDoctors groups ask court to disband RFK Jr.’s new vaccine panel n nA coalition of doctors groups and public health organizations — who already were suing the government over vaccine policy — also are asking the court to disband and reconstitute U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine advisory committee. n nThe plaintiffs filed the amended complaint Wednesday in a case that pits the American Academy of Pediatrics and other groups against Kennedy. n nThe plaintiffs sued the U.S. government in July in federal court in Boston over Kennedy’s decision to stop recommending COVID-19 vaccinations for most children and pregnant women. n nThe amended complaint expands the focus to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, which advises the government what vaccines to recommend. n nKennedy, a leading antivaccine activist before becoming the nation’s top health official, fired the entire 17-member panel earlier this year and replaced it with a group that includes several anti-vaccine voices. n nFAA reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 ‘high-volume’ markets n nThe Federal Aviation Administration announced Wednesday that it will reduce air traffic by 10% across 40 “high-volume” markets beginning Friday morning to maintain safety during the ongoing government shutdown. n nThe agency is confronting staffing shortages caused by air traffic controllers, who are working unpaid, with some calling out of work during the shutdown, resulting in delays across the country. n nFAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency is not going to wait for a problem to act, saying the shutdown is causing staffing pressures and “we can’t ignore it.” n nBedford and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said they will meet later Wednesday with airline leaders to figure out how to safely implement the reduction. n nA day after California approves new US House maps, 2 GOP incumbents target same seat n nCalifornia’s new U.S. House maps are already creating turmoil for state Republicans – just as Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom intended. n nOne day after voters in the heavily Democratic state resoundingly endorsed Proposition 50 – which reshaped House districts to erase as many as five GOP seats – two Republican incumbents announced the start of campaigns for the same job. n nGOP Reps. Young Kim and Ken Calvert are each planning to run in the newly created 40th District. It represents a rare opportunity, running through parts of Orange and Riverside counties where the Republican registration edge increased under the maps approved Tuesday by voters. n nNewsom pushed the plan to counter moves by Trump to gain more GOP seats in Texas and other states in advance of the 2026 midterm elections, when control of Congress will be on the line. n nThe dueling announcements by Kim and Calvert highlight the diminished turf in California where Republicans can be competitive in House races under the new districts. In the state congressional delegation, the redrawn maps could boost the Democratic margin to 48 of California’s 52 seats in 2026, up from the 43 seats the party now holds. n nMaine Democratic Rep. Golden won’t seek reelection n nMaine Democratic Rep. Jared Golden, who represents one of the most competitive U.S. House districts in the country, said Wednesday he will not seek reelection. n nGolden was first elected to Congress in 2018 and has carved out a space as a Democrat who is willing to work with Trump’s administration. He announced his decision not to seek a new term in an opinion piece published Wednesday in the Bangor Daily News in his home state. n nGolden wrote that he has “grown tired of the increasing incivility and plain nastiness that are now common from some elements of our American community.” He also said he was motivated to step down by the number of incidents of political violence in the country, including those against Trump and Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. n nWhat is a comedian doing at a Supreme Court hearing? n nIf you’re John Mulaney, it may be because one of the attorneys is a friend, and because you’re really just into this kind of stuff. n nMulaney was on hand Wednesday as the Justice Department defended Trump’s invoking emergency to impose tariffs worldwide. n nAmong those arguing against the policy was Neal Katyal, a solicitor general during the Obama administration and a representative Wednesday for small businesses opposing tariffs. n nKatyal is an open admirer of Mulaney’s and had him as a guest on his podcast in July 2023, when he praised the comedian as “a Constitutional Law nerd” who texts him “all sorts of questions about random Supreme Court cases. All the time. And they are damn good questions.” n nRepresentatives for Mulaney did not immediately respond to requests for comment. n nLos Angeles immigrant rights groups urge Dodgers to decline White House visit after World Series win n nLos Angeles immigrant rights groups are urging the Dodgers to turn down a visit to the White House this year after winning the World Series. n nA coalition of groups including the National Day Laborer Organizing Network held a press conference Wednesday urging the baseball team, whose ownership has come under fire from activists after federal immigration agents were seen in a Dodgers Stadium parking lot, to not go to the White House in a show of solidarity with the city’s immigrants. n nThe Dodgers visited the White House last April for a ceremony to honor the 2024 World Series Champions. n n“Our community has been attacked everyday and that’s why we stand here and we’re asking our beloved Dodgers to also stand with us,” said Jose Madera, director of the Pasadena Community Job Center. “To not accept any invitation to the White House, to not shake the hand of the person who’s causing all this suffering in our community.” n nA spokesperson for the Dodgers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. n nThe White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment asking if they have invited the Dodgers to visit. n nMiami mayor hands Trump key to what could be the location of his future presidential library n n“This is a key that opens some really nice presidential library real estate,” Miami Mayor Francis Suarez told Trump as he handed over the gift during the president’s speech at a business conference in Miami. n nTrump called it a “great honor” and said he would take the key to the White House before he moves it to Doral in about three and a half years when his term ends. Trump owns a golf club in nearby Doral, Florida. n nBut it’s not a done deal that Trump’s presidential library will be built on a parcel of prime real estate in downtown Miami. n nA judge has temporarily blocked Miami Dade College from giving away the land. The school has appealed the decision. n nPentagon conducts missile test amid increasing nuclear test rhetoric n nThe Pentagon announced Wednesday that it had successfully completed a regular test of a Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile amid apparent signals from both Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin about restarting nuclear testing. n nThe test of the unarmed Minuteman III rocket was routine and scheduled years in advance, according to a U.S. Space Force statement. The launches help the military verify and demonstrate the effectiveness, readiness and accuracy of the missiles that serve as one of the three pillars of America’s nuclear deterrent. n nThe early Wednesday launch came hours before Putin ordered Russian officials to submit proposals for a possible resumption of nuclear tests in response to Trump’s surprise statements last week that appeared to suggest the U.S. would restart its own atomic tests. n nHowever, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Sunday that new tests of the U.S. nuclear weapons system ordered by Trump will not include nuclear explosions. n nTop Cabinet officials are briefing lawmakers on Venezuela n nSecretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are meeting with top lawmakers overseeing national security in a secure facility on Capitol Hill as the Trump administration ups its threats against Venezuela. n nThe Trump administration has faced criticism from Democrats for holding Republicans-only briefings recently, but the briefing Wednesday included some Democratic lawmakers as well. Top congressional leaders, as well as those overseeing committees on the military, intelligence and foreign relations were invited. n nSwiss company leaders meet with Trump on tariffs n nA half-dozen leaders of top Swiss companies have met with Trump at the White House to push for tighter economic ties as Switzerland’s government has sought to lift the stiff 39% U.S. tariffs on goods from the rich Alpine country. n nThe corporate chieftains, in a joint statement released Wednesday, said they met a day earlier with Trump in the Oval Office. n nThe executives said their “private initiative” reaffirmed the “strong economic ties” between Switzerland and the United States and was “highly constructive” – without giving details. n nThe Swiss business leaders were Diego Aponte of shipping company MSC; Jean-Frederic Dufour of watchmaker Rolex; Alfred Gantner of investment firm Partners Group; Daniel Jaeggi of commodity firm Mercuria; Johann Rupert of luxury goods group Richemont and Marwan Shakarchi of gold and precious metals group MKS Pamp. n nTrump mentions Comey’s case on a day ex-FBI director is in court n nMaligning critics who have decried him using the power of his Justice Department to target his political enemies, Trump, in a mocking tone, offered, “They say, ‘He’s going after Comey.’” n nHe repeated his long stated contention that he was the one who was politically targeted through impeachments and criminal charges. n nThe comment came the same day that Comey appeared in court on charges of lying to Congress in 2020. n nA federal judge on Wednesday ordered prosecutors in Comey’s case to produce to defense lawyers a trove of materials from the investigation, saying he was concerned the Justice Department’s position had been to “indict first” and investigate second. n nDoes New Jersey’s Mikie Sherrill have a mandate? It’s a ‘big one,’ she says n nNew Jersey Democratic Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill said Wednesday in her first comments since a victory speech that she interprets her election as giving her a big mandate to deliver on promises of making the state more affordable. n nSherrill met with Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy in his statehouse office, where the pair said they discussed the transition of governments. Later, she spoke at her administration’s transition office. n nAsked if her double-digit victory over Republican Jack Ciattarelli meant she had a mandate, she answered: “Yes, I do, a big one.” She didn’t directly address how she squares her win with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani’s democratic socialism and stuck to her core campaign message of pursuing affordability. n n“I’m really focused on governing here in New Jersey,” she said. “The reason I was so focused on affordability issues is because my communities are focused on affordability issues and how they’re going to be successful.” n nTrump says he’s hopeful Saudi Arabia will soon join Abraham Accords with ambassador in crowd n nWith a fragile ceasefire holding in Gaza, Trump repeated his hope to build on his signature first term foreign policy effort that led to the forging of diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco. n n“And hopefully we get Saudi Arabia very soon,” with the Saudi ambassador to Washington, Princess Reema Bandar al-Saud, in the crowd. Trump jokingly added, “I’m not saying that. I’m not lobbying.”. n nSaudi Arabia is the largest Arab economy and the birthplace of Islam. n nGetting Riyadh to sign on to a normalization agreement with Israel is seen by the Republican administration as a big step in Trump’s ambitions to stabilize the Middle East. n nTrump wants South Africa out of the G20 n nThe U.S. president, during an ostensibly economy-focused speech, said South Africa should not be a member of the Group of 20, a collection of the world’s leading rich and developing economies. n n“South Africa shouldn’t even be in the Gs anymore because what’s happening there is bad,” Trump said at the America Business Forum. He reiterated that he will not attend the annual G20 summit for world leaders, to be held later this month in Johannesburg. n nTrump has had a contentious relationship with South Africa and had a tense Oval Office meeting with the country’s president earlier this year. n nUS to present Gaza stabilization force plan to UN Security Council n nThe Trump administration will present its resolution Wednesday to members of the U.N. Security Council on an international stabilization force in Gaza, according to a U.S. official. n nThe proposal would provide a mandate for the force for at least two years, marking the next step in Trump’s plan to halt two years of war between Israel and Hamas. n nRepresentatives for Egypt, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and the United Arab Emirates will join the United States in a show of regional support, according to the official, spoke on condition of anonymity because the closed Security Council briefing has not been formally announced. n nThe draft also calls for the force to ensure “the process of demilitarizing the Gaza Strip” and “the permanent decommissioning of weapons from non-state armed groups. n n-By Matthew Lee and Farnoush Amiri n nTrump says ‘a lot of people don’t see’ a strong US economy n nThe president bragged about the stock market rising and insisted the economy was booming, but also acknowledged that it hasn’t been great for all Americans. n n“We have the greatest economy right now,” Trump said. “A lot of people don’t see that.” n nHe talked about job creation and said “you have to talk” about such things because “if people don’t talk about them, then you can do not so well in elections.” n nHis comments came after Democrats dominated Tuesday’s elections around the country and many voters cited concerns about the economy. n nTrump has been quick to note he wasn’t in the ballot, but also said before going to Miami on Wednesday “ we learned a lot.” He promised during the speech to “make America affordable again.” n nTrump says America lost its ‘sovereignty’ with Democratic wins in Tuesday’s elections n nTrump said America “lost a little bit of our sovereignty last night” after Democrats swept key elections for governor in New Jersey and Virginia, mayor in New York City and a ballot initiative in California to redraw its congressional districts in response by efforts by Republican states to do the same. n nThe president noted that he was speaking in Miami on the first anniversary of his win in the 2024 election, suggesting that it was “the single most consequential election victory in American history.” n nTrump said his return to the White House had allowed the American people to “reclaim our government,” implying as he often has that his Democratic opponents are outside the national identity. n nStates face deadline to apply for grants meant to offset rural health cuts n nWednesday marks the last day for states to apply for federal funding through the Rural Health Transformation Program, created through Trump’s summer tax and spending cuts bill as a counterbalance to sweeping Medicaid cuts that are expected to hit rural hospitals hard. n nThe program is expected to distribute $50 billion in total, with half of the funds divided equally among states. The other half will be divided based on a formula developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that examines a state’s rural population and the number of low-income people it serves. n nSeveral states have already made public their applications for the funding. The awardees will be announced by the end of the year. n nHospitals and health industry experts have warned that while the fund throws a lifeline to rural hospitals, it won’t save them all. n nConservative Supreme Court justices appear skeptical of Trump’s sweeping unilateral tariffs n nArguments at the Supreme Court have concluded for the day as the justices consider Trump’s sweeping unilateral tariffs in a trillion-dollar test of executive power. n nConservative justices seemed skeptical of Trump’s tariffs, potentially putting at risk a key part of his agenda in the biggest legal test yet of his unprecedented presidency. n nChallengers say Trump is illegally using an emergency law to claim nearly limitless tariff power and American small businesses are paying the price. Trump’s administration says the law gives the president the power to regulate importation, including tariffs. n nThe Republican president has said a ruling against him in the case before the court Wednesday would be catastrophic for the economy. n nDid Sliwa spoil the race for Cuomo in NYC? Not so fast. n nMany have declared Republican Curtis Sliwa the spoiler in the three-way race between him, Democrat Zohran Mamdani and former governor Andrew Cuomo. n nBut AP Voter Poll data suggests that it’s unlikely that Sliwa’s presence in the race changed the outcome. n nWhen asked how they would vote if only Mamdani and Cuomo were in the race, about half of Sliwa’s supporters said they would have voted for Cuomo. In the hypothetical question, about 4 in 10 Sliwa supporters said they wouldn’t have voted. The remainder either would have moved to Mamdani, or didn’t know what they would do. n nThe data indicates that even half of Sliwa’s voters on Tuesday would not have been enough to make up the significant lead that Mamdani won by. n nWith slightly more than 90% of the estimated vote counted, the AP Decision Desk found Mamdani won with 50.4% of the vote, while Cuomo gathered 41.6% percent of the vote. Sliwa, for his part, won 7.1% percent of the vote. Those figures could change as late-arriving mail ballots are added. n nFetterman pours cold water on impact of Democrat’s election wins n nAsked about his thoughts on Democrats’ resounding victories in Tuesday’s election, Pennsylvania’s Democratic senator said he didn’t think they meant much, saying Democrats were heavy favorites in both New Jersey and Virginia, as was a ballot measure in California. n n“I wasn’t surprised by any of these things,” Sen. John Fetterman said. n nWhether the results will have an impact on the shutdown, Fetterman said he didn’t think Democrats should be treating the shutdown “like it’s some kind of a political game.” n n“If people think that we should keep it closed because of the elections that we already knew we were going to win, it’s like then that seems like it’s a game,” he added.