Trump's Shutdown Travel, SNAP Benefits Gap, NYC Mayoral Race

Summary

Up First (NPR) – Episode Summary

Episode: Trump’s Shutdown Travel, SNAP Benefits Gap, NYC Mayoral Race
Date: November 3, 2025
Hosts: Steve Inskeep, Michele Martin, Tamara Keith

---

Episode Overview

This episode of Up First covers three major stories at the start of the week:

1. President Trump’s approach to the ongoing government shutdown, especially as he continues high-profile travel away from Washington.
2. The unprecedented lapse in SNAP (food stamp) benefits for over 40 million Americans, and the legal and practical wrangling about when aid might resume.
3. The heated final days of the New York City mayoral race, where the Democratic frontrunner, Zoran Mamdani, faces controversy and bigoted attacks, highlighting fractures within the Democratic Party.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Trump’s Shutdown Travel and White House Strategy

• President Trump remains disengaged from shutdown negotiations, notably spending more time traveling—including international and resort trips—than previous presidents in similar crises.
  • Travel details: "Trump has been on the road 15 days since the shutdown began on October 1st. That’s more than double the travel he did in his first term during the longest shutdown in history, and significantly more than Presidents Clinton and Obama did during shutdowns." (Doug High, 03:36)
• White House rationale: The Administration argues the problem is entirely the Democrats’ to solve, suggesting just a handful of votes could reopen the government without needing further negotiation.
  • “All they have to do is vote to open the country, and we only need five Democrats.” (President Trump, paraphrased by Brian Mann, 02:26)
• Unusual stance compared to past presidents: Historically, “President Clinton, Obama, and first term Trump all canceled planned international travel because of government shutdowns.” (Doug High, 03:36)
• Strategy explained: Former GOP aide Doug High says there’s “no reason for the President to change his plans” because the Republican House’s tactical move is to pressure Senate Democrats.
  • “If that is your baseline argument, then you don’t need the House of Representatives to be in session and you don’t need the president necessarily to be in town either.” (Doug High, 05:08)
• Growing bipartisan concerns: While some Senate negotiations are starting, Leon Panetta (former WH Chief of Staff) warns this attitude is a dangerous abdication of responsibility.
  • “The very people that we elect to try to deal with these kinds of issues have basically abdicated their responsibility.” (Leon Panetta, quoted by Brian Mann, 05:36)

---

2. SNAP Benefits Gap and Immediate Consequences

• Historic lapse: The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), crucial to over 40 million, ran out of federal funds for the first time since its inception.
  • “The idea that SNAP benefits wouldn't continue has never really been on the table before. There’s no, no history for that to have occurred. So I think that that caught everyone by surprise and is incredibly disheartening and fear inducing.” (Jill Dixon, Food Depot, 08:48)
• Court-ordered scramble: Two federal judges ordered the administration to use emergency funds, but logistics and legality are uncertain.
  • "It could, it could be done by Wednesday.” (Treasury Secretary Scott Besant, 07:03)
  • The administration claims legal restrictions limit use of these emergency funds for regular monthly SNAP payments.
• Impact on Americans: Many state governments are providing limited stopgap funds, but food banks have seen a surge in demand and fear a broader crisis if SNAP is not quickly restored.
  • "At one recent distribution... they typically have fewer than 100 families in attendance, they had 150 show up." (Joe Hernandez, 09:03)
• Wider policy changes looming: When funds resume, new federal law will bring tighter age limits, restrict access for certain immigrants, and require some states to contribute funds for the first time.
  • "Certain immigrants, such as refugees, will lose access to the program. And some states may have to start contributing their own money to SNAP benefits for the first time in history." (Joe Hernandez, 09:22)

---

3. NYC Mayoral Race: High Stakes, Heated Rhetoric

• Context: NY voters head to the polls in a consequential Democratic primary. Frontrunner Zoran Mamdani, a self-described Democratic socialist and potential first Muslim mayor, faces centrist challenger Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa.
• Dramatic contrasts in campaigns:
  • Mamdani: “He’s been talking to huge energized crowds...He even went trick or treating over the weekend. He showed up at nightclubs to campaign.” (Brian Mann, 10:28)
  • Cuomo: Running as an independent, boosted by “tens of millions of dollars in super PAC ads...Some of the city’s wealthiest leaders and residents paying for ads supporting the former governor attacking Mamdani.” (Brian Mann, 10:28)
• Escalating rhetoric and Islamophobia: Controversy exploded after Cuomo didn’t challenge a talk show host’s suggestion that Mamdani might cheer another 9/11 attack.
  • “That’s another problem.” (Cuomo, responding on talk show, 11:11)
  • Mamdani responds: “Our answer to that is a vision of a city where all of us belong.” (Mamdani, rally, 11:11)
  • Rev. Al Sharpton condemned the Islamophobic attacks.
• Cuomo’s response: He deflects charges of bigotry by accusing Mamdani of failing to support Israel and NYC’s Jewish residents.
  • “His verbiage with the Jewish community has been highly offensive to the Jewish community.” (Cuomo, 12:19)
• Implications for Democrats: The race highlights sharp generational and ideological splits within the party.
  • “Many New York Democrats have refused to endorse him. Others have offered only lukewarm support. There’s a huge age divide in this. What we've heard...is many younger Democratic voters are much more skeptical of capitalism. They’re much more critical of Israel.” (Brian Mann, 12:52)
• National significance: “If Mamdani is the next mayor of America’s largest city, he’s going to have a big bully pulpit...to talk about this much younger, more left-leaning version of the Democratic Party.” (Brian Mann, 13:32)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the government shutdown responsibility:
  “The very people that we elect to try to deal with these kinds of issues have basically abdicated their responsibility.”
  — Leon Panetta, 05:36

• On the unprecedented SNAP crisis:
  “The idea that SNAP benefits wouldn’t continue has never really been on the table before. There’s no, no history for that to have occurred. So I think that that caught everyone by surprise and is incredibly disheartening and fear inducing.”
  — Jill Dixon (Food Depot), 08:48

• On Islamophobic campaigning in NYC:
  “There have been attack ads attempting to associate Mamdani with, quote, jihad on New York City. So at a rally Saturday, Mamdani predicted there would be more of these bigoted attacks from Cuomo’s allies. ‘And our answer to that is a vision of a city where all of us belong.’”
  — Brian Mann reporting Mamdani, 11:11

• On generational divides:
  “There’s a huge age divide in this. What we've heard out on the campaign trail here is many younger Democratic voters are much more skeptical of capitalism. They’re much more critical of Israel.”
  — Brian Mann, 12:52

---

Important Segment Timestamps

• Trump’s travel and shutdown strategy: 02:06 – 05:52
• SNAP benefits crisis and impact: 05:55 – 09:37
• NYC mayoral race, rhetoric, and analysis: 09:49 – 13:40

---

Summary Takeaway

This episode paints a picture of deep national uncertainty— from a paralyzed government unable to provide basic food aid, to a president bucking tradition in shutdown strategy, to bitter division and bigoted attacks in a pivotal city election. Both the practical consequences (like the SNAP benefits lapse) and the political controversies (especially in the NYC mayoral contest) underscore profound fractures in American political life heading into November 2025.

Transcript

[Steve Inskeep]

President Trump shrugs off the government shutdown. He says ending it is up to the Democrats.

[Joe Hernandez]

All they have to do is vote.

[Brian Mann]

To open the country.

[Tamara Keith]

He spent the weekend at his Florida resort. What's the White House strategy for reopening the government?

[Steve Inskeep]

I'm Michelle Martin with Steve Inskeep, and this is up first from NPR News. Food assistance for more than 40 million Americans ran out over the weekend.

[Advertisement Voice]

The idea that SNAP benefits wouldn't continue has never really been on the table before.

[Steve Inskeep]

A court ordered the White House to use emergency money to fund supplemental nutrition. So when will families actually get it?

[Tamara Keith]

Also, Tuesday is Election Day in many places, which means the end of voting in New York. Frontrunner Zoran Mandani has excited supporters, dismayed some Democrats, and drawn criticism from the political right. Stay with us. We've got the news. You need to start your day.

[Advertisement Voice]

This message comes from BetterHelp. President Fernando Madera describes how BetterHelp online therapy has helped him.

[Brian Mann]

For me, sometimes I just need to go and talk to somebody that is not gonna judge me right, is gonna be there and gonna listen to me. And I can't start just saying, look, I'm not feeling right today. And it feels natural. I love it.

[Advertisement Voice]

To get matched with a therapist, visit betterhelp.com NPR for 10% off your first month. This message comes from Progressive Insurance. Fiscally responsible financial geniuses, monetary magicians. These are things people say about drivers who switch their car insurance to Progressive and save hundreds. Visit progressive.com to see if you could save Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states or situations. This message comes from Progressive Insurance. Progressive makes it easy to see if you could save when you bundle your home and auto policies. Try [e-mail] Progressive Casualty Insurance Company and affiliates. Potential savings will vary. Not available in all states.

[Tamara Keith]

President Trump, who prides himself on deal making, is signaling no interest in a deal with Democrats.

[Steve Inskeep]

He spent the weekend in Florida at his Mar a Lago resort, far from Washington, D.C. it was one of five trips he's taken since the government shutdown began. Last night on Air Force One, a reporter asked the president what's his role in ending the shutdown. He said it's up to Democrats.

[Brian Mann]

All they have to do is vote to open the country and we only need five Democrats.

[Steve Inskeep]

In other words, he's hoping a few Democrats defect and reopen the government with no deal on the health insurance subsidies the Democrats have been holding out.

[Tamara Keith]

For NPR senior White House correspondent Tamara Keith finds the president's departures depart from past practice. Tam, good morning.

[Doug High]

Good morning.

[Tamara Keith]

Couldn't resist a dad joke. Where's the president been?

[Doug High]

Last week, President Trump spent less than 24 hours in Washington. The bulk of the week was devoted to a three stop tour of Asia where he met with leaders and talked trade. Then he was only back at the White House very briefly before departing for Florida, where on Friday he hosted a glitzy Halloween party with a roaring twenties great Gatsby vibe. Think sequins, feathers, fedoras. The official theme was a little party never killed nobody. But this comes as federal workers have missed paychecks, snap benefits for millions of Americans didn't arrive over the weekend, and travel delays are stacking up.

[Tamara Keith]

Travel delays are stacking up for everybody else, but not for the President who's traveling. So how does his schedule compare with past presidents in this situation?

[Doug High]

Adding it all up, Trump has been on the road 15 days since the shutdown began on October 1st. That's more than double the travel he did in his first term, during the longest shutdown in history, and significantly more than Presidents Clinton and Obama did during the shutdowns when they were President Clinton, Obama, and first term Trump all canceled planned international travel because of government shutdowns. But in his second term, Trump just isn't adjusting his schedule. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly defended the President, saying, in short, the President was making great deals for America and shouldn't stop just because Democrats are refusing to do their jobs.

[Tamara Keith]

Okay, why does it matter that he wouldn't stop?

[Doug High]

Well, other presidents have felt they needed to stay in D.C. to get a deal done or at least look like they were trying this time around. Democrats say they want to negotiate, but Trump says he won't do it. The Republican controlled House of Representatives passed a short term funding bill back in September and has been on recess ever since. The goal is to put pressure on Senate Democrats to fold and vote for the House bill. I spoke with Doug High, who was a top Republican congressional aide during the 2013 shutdown, and he's often critical of Trump. But in this case, he says strategically, there's no reason for the President to change his plans.

[Joe Hernandez]

House leadership has a very simple message.

[Brian Mann]

We've done our job.

[Joe Hernandez]

Let's not hold anything hostage and let's.

[Brian Mann]

Just keep the government open. And so if that is your baseline.

[Joe Hernandez]

Argument, then you don't need the House of Representatives to be in session and you don't need the president necessarily to.

[Brian Mann]

Be in town either.

[Tamara Keith]

Okay, I get the political strategy, but the shutdown is causing real pain.

[Doug High]

Can it last well, there appear to be the beginnings of some bipartisan conversations happening in the Senate, but that comes after an unproductive month. Leon Panetta was White House chief of staff during the 1995 shutdown and says a shutdown used to be treated like a crisis.

[Brian Mann]

The very people that we elect to try to deal with these kinds of issues have basically abdicated their responsibility.

[Doug High]

Panetta was pretty exasperated when we spoke, telling me that what's happening now is depressing and a failure of leaders.

[Tamara Keith]

NPR's Tamara Keith, thanks so much.

[Doug High]

You're welcome.

[Steve Inskeep]

Meanwhile, millions of Americans are trying to figure out how they will eat this month. The national food aid program known as SNAP, ran out of federal money this past Saturday.

[Tamara Keith]

Let's review here. The administration said it would not pass along funding for the country's largest anti hunger program to states due to the federal government shutdown. Two separate federal judges ordered the administration to tap into emergency money to keep SNAP afloat on Friday, but it is unclear how, how quickly the administration could restart that program.

[Steve Inskeep]

NPR's Joe Hernandez has been following this, and he's with us now. Good morning, Joe.

[Joe Hernandez]

Good morning.

[Steve Inskeep]

So will the government begin distributing money for SNAP benefits this week or not?

[Joe Hernandez]

Well, we still don't know. The U.S. department of Agriculture manages the Supplemental Nutrition assistance program or SNAP. The USDA's website says, quote, the well has run dry and blames Democrats for the government shutdown. Then you have President Trump posting on social media that he would fund the program if his administration got direction from the federal courts on how to do that. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant was on CNN State of the Union on Sunday and suggested SNAP funding could resume within days. Here's what he said.

[Brian Mann]

President Trump wants to make sure that people get their food benefits. So it could, it could be done by Wednesday.

[Steve Inskeep]

Could be.

[Joe Hernandez]

And that's because, as you mentioned, there are at least two federal lawsuits pushing the Trump administration to restart snap. Judges in both cases have ordered the administration to resume payments using emergency funds. In one of those cases in Rhode island, the judge ordered the government to either make full SNAP payments by Monday or partial payments by Wednesday.

[Steve Inskeep]

So if the USDA does have these emergency funds, why haven't they been used to pay for SNAP benefits this month?

[Joe Hernandez]

Well, the Trump administration has argued that it's not legal for them to use these contingency funds for regular SNAP benefits. They say that money is meant more for situations like natural disasters. But a coalition of Democratic state officials behind one of the lawsuits argues that the government has to use those emergency funds and that if SNAP benefits stop. It will lead to greater food insecurity across the country, which state governments will then be left to manage on their own. Now, some states are already putting up state money to try to keep benefits going, but that will probably only last days or weeks and won't be enough to replace a national federal government program. And just to give you a sense of how vast a program that is, nearly 42 million Americans rely on SNAP.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, so recognizing what you just said, that some states are trying to fill in the gap, at least for a little bit. But having said that, how is the lapse in funding affecting those 42 million people?

[Joe Hernandez]

Yeah, it's really a historic moment for this program, which dates back to the Great Depression and has not been disrupted like this before. NPR has reported that food banks across the US Are already seeing a spike in demand. Jill Dixon runs the Food Depot, that's a food bank serving northern New Mexico, and says this is really uncharted territory.

[Advertisement Voice]

The idea that SNAP benefits wouldn't continue has never really been on the table before. There's no, no history for that to have occurred. So I think that that caught everyone by surprise and is incredibly disheartening and fear inducing.

[Joe Hernandez]

And Dixon says people are starting to stock up on food now. At one recent distribution, the Food Depot held, where they typically have fewer than 100 families in attendance, they had 150 show up.

[Steve Inskeep]

Okay, before we let you go, even once SNAP does get funded again, there are still some major changes coming to the program. What are those?

[Joe Hernandez]

That's right. And that's due to some provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill act that President Trump signed in July. Things like the age limit going up. Certain immigrants, such as refugees, will lose access to the program. And some states may have to start contributing their own money to SNAP benefits for the first time in history.

[Steve Inskeep]

That is NPR's Joe Hernandez. Joe, thank you. You're welcome.

[Tamara Keith]

Tuesday is Election Day in much of the country.

[Steve Inskeep]

Voters choose new governors in Virginia and New Jersey, and many places have local elections, including New York City. The mayor's race there could shape America's largest city and influence the Democratic Party. The Democratic nominee, Zohan Mamdani identifies as a Democratic socialist. Andrew Cuomo is also a Democrat running as an independent. There's been a massive surge in early voting compared to previous elections.

[Tamara Keith]

NPR's Brian Mann is covering this story in New York City. Brian, good morning.

[Brian Mann]

Hi there, Steve.

[Tamara Keith]

Just remember here, it's an overwhelmingly Democratic city. Sometimes people do vote for a Republican for mayor, but not lately. The divide here is on the Democratic side. What's happening?

[Brian Mann]

Well, let's start with Mamdani. He's the front runner. He's been talking to huge energized crowds, lots of volunteers. He even went trick or treating over the weekend. He showed up at nightclubs to campaign. Andrew Cuomo setting a much slower pace, talking to small groups of voters throughout the city. But Steve Cuomo's campaign has been bolstered in these final days by tens of millions of dollars in super PAC ads, some of the city's wealthiest leaders and residents paying for ads supporting the former governor attacking Mamdani, who is mentioned as a Democratic socialist. I want to mention Republican Curtis Sliwa. He's also been out on the campaign trail, but as you say, heavily Democratic city. So Sliwa trailing behind in third, and.

[Tamara Keith]

He'S determined to stay in the race and has stayed here to the end. So what are the candidates saying?

[Brian Mann]

You know, this has been a fierce campaign for weeks, but things really started to escalate and turn nasty late last month after Cuomo appeared on a conservative talk show. The host on that program suggested that Mamdani, who would be New York's first Muslim mayor, would cheer if another 911 style terror attack happens. Cuomo didn't push back on that accusation. Instead, he said, and I'm quoting here, that's another problem. There have been attack ads attempting to associate Mamdani with, quote, jihad on New York City. So at a rally Saturday, Mamdani predicted there would be more of these bigoted attacks from Cuomo's allies. And our answer to that is a vision of a city where all of us belong. Over the weekend, Steve, Reverend Al Sharpton also condemned what he described as Islamophobic attacks on Mamdani.

[Tamara Keith]

How does Cuomo defend himself?

[Brian Mann]

Yeah, well, I was there when he was asked about these accusations of bigotry on Saturday at a stop in Queens, and Cuomo pushed back. He says Mamdani is at fault for not doing enough to support Israel and the city's Jewish residents. His verbiage with the Jewish community has been highly offensive to the Jewish community.

[Tamara Keith]

If you don't realize that, then you.

[Brian Mann]

Haven'T been in this city. And the Israeli Palestinian conflict has really been a flashpoint in this race in much the way it's roiled the Democratic Party nationally. A September poll by Siena Foundation. Most New York voters actually favor Mamdani's positions. But more than 1100 US rabbis have signed a letter condemning his rhetoric.

[Tamara Keith]

Yeah, and a lot of Democrats have very, very clearly been torn by the nomination of a Democratic socialist, by the nomination of this particular person as well. So what does this race say about the fractured state of the party?

[Brian Mann]

Yeah, the excitement Mamdani has generated in this race thrills a lot of Democrats, especially younger voters, not just here but around the country. But, you know, Mamdani's embrace of the socialist label makes a lot of Democratic leaders nervous. Many New York Democrats have refused to endorse him. Others have offered only lukewarm support. There's a huge age divide in this. What we've heard out on the campaign trail here is many younger Democratic voters are much more skeptical of capitalism. They're much more critical of Israel. So this race is being watched closely. If Mamdani is the next mayor of America's largest city, he's going to have a big bully pulpit. Steve, to talk about this much younger, more left leaning version of the Democratic Party.

[Tamara Keith]

NPR's Brian Mann is in Manhattan this morning as New York City's mayor's race comes toward its end. Brian, thanks so much.

[Brian Mann]

Thanks, Steve.

[Tamara Keith]

And that's up first for this Monday, November 3rd. I'm Steve Inske.

[Steve Inskeep]

And I'm Michele Martin. Up first is made possible by listeners like you. If you enjoy starting your day with up first and our radio program MORNING Edition, please consider donating to your local NPR station. Your money goes to supporting reporters on the ground in your community and many others. Keep the NPR network strong. Visit donate.NPR.org upfirst to contribute.

[Tamara Keith]

I was visiting last week the NPR station in Normal, Illinois, where hundreds of people were there and supporting the station. Today's episode of up first was edited by Krishnadev Kalamer, Russell Lewis, Andrea De Leon, Mohamed El Bardisi and Mary Martha Ann Overland. It was produced by Ziad Bach, Nia Dumas and Christopher Thomas. We get engineering support from Stacy Abbott, and our technical director is Carly Strange. Join us tomorrow.

[Advertisement Voice]

Support for NPR and the following message come from Rosetta Stone, the perfect app to achieve your language learning goals no matter how busy your schedule gets. It's designed to maximize study time with immersive 10 minute lessons and audio practice for your commute. Plus, tailor your learning plan for specific objectives like travel. Get Rosetta Stone's lifetime membership for 50% off and unlimited access to 25 language courses. Learn more at rosettastone.com NPR this message.

[Joe Hernandez]

Comes from Mint Mobile. At Mint Mobile, their favorite word is no. No contracts, no monthly bills, no hidden fees. Plans start at $15 a month. Make the [e-mail] switch. That's mintmobile.com switch upfront payment of $45 5GB plan required equivalent to $15 a month new customer offer for first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See Mint Mobile for details.