Shutdown forces airports into unprecedented flight reductions
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Hey there, it's Shamita. I've got a quick request for you. If Apple News Today is an essential part of your morning routine, follow the show in Apple Podcasts. And if you have another 30 seconds, leave us a rating and a review too. It helps other people find our show and it helps us know what you like about it. Thanks. Good morning. It's Thursday, November 6th. I'm Shamita Basu. This is Apple News Today. On today's show, the latest escalation in Sudan's civil war, how delivery apps transformed American dining, and the scramble to secure the country's last pennies.
But first, to the shutdown, officially the longest ever. Yesterday, we had another unprecedented announcement. The Trump administration has ordered a 10 percent flight reduction in 40 of the country's major airports, which Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said would bring additional disruptions.
We have seen staffing pressures throughout our airspace. Those who travel will see that we've had more delays. We've had more cancellations. We do not want to see disruptions at the FAA or here at DOT. We don't want that. But our number one priority is to make sure when you travel, you travel safely.
Duffy said high-volume pressure points would be targeted and the locations would be announced today, with reductions starting Friday. He's previously warned of mass chaos for travelers if the shutdown continued. Remember, the country is already 2,000 people short of the air traffic controllers it needs. FAA Administrator Brian Bedford suggested that the issues, if left unchecked, would prevent him from being able to declare the U.S. airline system the safest in the world.
I'm not aware in my 35-year history in the aviation market where we've had a situation where we're taking these kind of measures. I think it is unusual, just as the shutdown is unusual, just on the fact that our controllers haven't been paid for a month is unusual. These are unusual times, and we look forward to a time when we can get back to business as usual.
Until then, the shutdown is continuing to put pressure on people's lives in big and small ways. And Trump has begun to show his frustration to lawmakers, particularly after the GOP election defeats on Tuesday. Yesterday, he gathered a group of Republican senators in Miami for a breakfast. There, he delivered his own verdict on what went wrong for the party.
I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative for the Republicans. And that was a big factor. And they say that I wasn't on the ballot was the biggest factor. But I don't know about that. But I was honored that they said that.
After the cameras left, Axios reports that it became an uncomfortable meeting. As Trump warned lawmakers, they would be seen as do-nothing Republicans if the shutdown continued. And he again called for Republicans to pursue what's long been seen as a radical option, eliminate the filibuster, that is, changing the Senate rules requiring 60 votes for most legislation. But this call has inspired rare dissent from GOP leadership. Both Senate Majority Leader John Thune and House Speaker Mike Johnson have dismissed the idea, either because the votes aren't there or because they fear what it would mean if Democrats won majorities. In his assessment of this week's election results, Johnson avoided joining Trump in pinning the blame on the congressional standoff.
What happened last night was blue states and blue cities voted blue. We all saw that coming. And no one should read too much into last night's election results. Off-year elections are not indicative of what's to come. That's what history teaches us.
Meanwhile, talks on how to get the government moving again are stepping up, according to Politico. They're centered on whether to at least agree on a short-term measure called a continuing resolution and for how long, and whether Democrats could agree to a guaranteed vote on expanding health care subsidies. Senator Bernie Sanders outlined the steps he would need to see.
If we had a commitment from the Speaker of the House that he was prepared to support a strong extension of ACA credits, and if the President of the United States, and I don't trust him, so you're going to have to figure out how he structured this, was saying that he was prepared to sign it, I think we should end the shutdown tomorrow, if you had that commitment.
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Chapters
4 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:00–4:32
2
How will the FAA’s ordered 10% flight reductions at 40 airports affect travelers?
4:32–6:37
3
Why is the FAA citing staffing shortages and safety concerns during the shutdown?
6:37–14:22
4
How are political tensions and GOP reactions shaping shutdown negotiations?
14:22–14:44
Speakers
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