This week’s guide to government and politics in under 10 minutes

I FOOD AID BENEFITS TO PAUSE NOV. 1 AMID SHUTDOWN

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, will begin running out of funds on November 1 amid the second-longest government shutdown in U.S. history. SNAP, a federal program that provides monthly benefits to low-income households, helps feed more than 40 million people in the U.S. and is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. At least 25 states plan to cut off food aid benefits on Nov. 1. Government funding negotiations remain at a standstill after the Senate voted on legislation 12 times unsuccessfully. Democratic leaders have indicated they will continue fighting to extend Affordable Care Act (ACA) health subsidies. Open enrollment for the ACA begins on November 1.

>> Explore the debate about SNAP benefits and work requirements here.

I ISRAEL’S PARLIAMENT TAKES STEPS TO ANNEX THE WEST BANK

Israel’s parliament advanced a preliminary reading of a bill to extend Israeli law and sovereignty to parts of the West Bank. The 25-24 vote was widely viewed as a step toward potential annexation, but would need additional votes to become law. During a visit to Israel, Vice President JD Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio criticized the vote, calling it an "insult," and warning it could complicate U.S. efforts to maintain a ceasefire in Gaza. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said his party did not vote for the bill, and that it was unlikely to go anywhere without their support. The Trump administration has reiterated that it does not support Israeli annexation of the West Bank. The ceasefire deal brokered by Trump officials went into effect on October 10. 

>> Learn about the ceasefire deal here.

I DOZENS OF JOURNALISTS TURN IN THEIR PENTAGON PRESS CREDENTIALS

Dozens of Pentagon press corps members had their credentials revoked after declining to sign new media guidelines issued by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. In an October 15 memo, Hegseth asked reporters to sign a pledge agreeing to publish only Defense Department–approved information. Major news outlets, including Fox News, CBS News, and CNN, declined to sign and subsequently lost access. They have been replaced by a mix of smaller and conservative-leaning outlets, including Gateway Pundit and One America News Network. The Defense Department has also directed staff to seek approval before speaking with members of Congress or their aides. House Appropriations Committee Chair Tom Cole (R), whose panel oversees Pentagon funding, called the policy “ill-advised” and said, “it’s not going to work.”

>> Find out more about the new Pentagon press policies here.

I U.S. DEBT HITS $38 TRILLION

On Wednesday, the U.S. government’s gross national debt surpassed $38 trillion, according to the latest Treasury Department report. This is the fastest the U.S. has accumulated $1 trillion in debt since the COVID-19 pandemic, as the debt only hit $37 trillion in August. An expert who spoke to the Associated Press said the growing debt would lead to higher inflation and a loss of purchasing power for Americans. The Trump administration said its policies to lower government spending are helping and will eventually shrink the national debt. Treasury Department officials also released a new analysis that found the cumulative deficit from April to September was around $468 billion.

>> In this Starting Point, lawmakers discuss why U.S. debt matters.

I TRUMP SETS MEETING WITH XI AMID TRADE TENSIONS

President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping have set a one-on-one meeting to take place alongside the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea on October 30. Although the White House has not shared the specific topics for the meeting, Trump predicted Wednesday he and Xi would come to an agreement about matters including trade, nuclear power, and China’s decision to buy Russian oil. The meeting date comes amid trade tensions between the U.S. and China, after Trump said he will implement a 100 percent tariff on Chinese exports on November 1, in addition to already-existing tariffs. In turn, China announced it would be selective about its rare earth metals, electronics, and military supplies. Trump has also noted his priority is to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, which he believes Xi aligns with.

>> In this ASP Explores, bipartisan lawmakers trade views on how tariffs affect the domestic and global economies.

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