Who Said That
Eric Schickler, political science professor at the University of California, Berkeley, on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s legacy following her announcement that she will not seek a 21st term in Congress. Pelosi, who made history as the first woman to serve as speaker, helped steer landmark legislation including the Affordable Care Act, post-financial crisis reforms, and President Biden’s infrastructure bill. Her nearly four-decade career reshaped Democratic politics and solidified her reputation as one of the most influential leaders in modern U.S. history. (Roll Call)
“The child tax credit is the single most effective anti-poverty program this country has ever seen.”
Zachary Parker, Washington, D.C., Council member, on the council’s vote to establish the nation’s first local child tax credit. The measure, approved Tuesday, supplements the federal credit and redirects hundreds of millions in revenue made available after Washington lawmakers moved to separate the district’s tax code from President Donald Trump’s federal tax overhaul. Parker and other supporters said the new credit will provide meaningful relief for struggling families and strengthen local programs for housing and health care. (Washington Post)
Zohran Mamdani, newly elected mayor of New York City, delivering a pointed jab at his opponent, former Gov. Andrew Cuomo, during his victory speech. Mamdani, a 34-year-old democratic socialist, became the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor, capturing more than 50 percent of the vote and declaring his win “a mandate for change.” (New York Times)
Nick Gamez, waiting in line at a Bay Area food pantry as demand for free food spikes amid the federal government shutdown. Gamez, who lost his home and job, said he’s relying on food banks to survive as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits remain frozen for millions of Americans. At Hunger at Home’s Monday distribution in San Jose, the line of cars stretched for hours — growing 40 percent from the previous week — as volunteers rushed to meet surging need. (The Mercury News)
U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, addressing the impact of the federal government shutdown on the nation’s airports. Duffy said that the ongoing shortage of air traffic controllers has caused widespread flight delays and that, if safety is compromised, federal authorities would halt air travel altogether. As the shutdown enters its second month, thousands of aviation employees — including controllers — are working without pay, leading to staffing shortfalls, long security lines and growing delays at major airports. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Former Michigan Attorney General Mike Cox. He criticized U.S. Rep. John James for skipping the first GOP primary debate in the Michigan governor’s race. The debate, organized by the state Republican Party in Sparta, was set for Oct. 29, but James announced hours before that he would not attend — a move Cox called self-serving. James’ campaign defended the decision, citing strong polling and fundraising as proof he’s the “favorite to become Michigan’s next governor.” The two-term congressman, who has previously run twice for the U.S. Senate, raised $1.38 million this quarter, more than any other Republican candidate in the race. (The Detroit News)
Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer. With Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits set to lapse next week, Schumer accused Republicans of “weaponizing hunger” by refusing to draw from a contingency fund to sustain payments for the 41 million Americans who rely on the program. Senate Democrats introduced legislation Wednesday to temporarily fund both SNAP and the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program until the shutdown ends. (Roll Call)
Michaela Thompson, an unemployed mother in the San Fernando Valley, on the looming halt of federal food assistance as the government shutdown stretches into its fifth week. Thompson relies on SNAP benefits to buy specialized baby formula for her 15-month-old daughter, who has a feeding disorder. With payments suspended, she said she doesn’t know how she’ll afford the $47 five-day supply. About 1 in 8 Americans face similar uncertainty as officials warn November SNAP funds will not be issued without a funding deal in Congress. (Los Angeles Times)
Sen. Thom Tillis. The North Carolina Republican announced the cancellation of his annual Bipawtisan Howl-o-ween Dog Parade amid the federal government shutdown. The Halloween tradition, normally held inside the Hart Senate Office Building, was scrapped as the funding lapse stretched toward a full month — one of many fall festivities derailed by the stalemate in Washington. (Roll Call)
Former Vice President Kamala Harris. Nearly a year after losing to President Donald Trump in the 2024 election, Harris said she remains committed to public service and hasn’t ruled out another run for the White House. “I have lived my entire career as a life of service and it’s in my bones,” she said. Her remarks come as several high-profile Democrats — including California Gov. Gavin Newsom — begin positioning themselves for the 2028 presidential race amid growing efforts within the party to rebuild after its 2024 defeat. (Los Angeles Times)
Frank Sizemore of the Sports Betting Alliance. Sizemore, speaking before an Oklahoma Senate panel on the potential legalization of sports betting, told lawmakers that Oklahoma is losing millions in untaxed revenue to illegal gambling and neighboring states where sports wagering is already legal. He argued that regulation would curb black-market activity and generate new state revenue, noting that legal sports betting is now allowed in 39 states and taxed at an average rate of 16 percent. (Oklahoma Voice)
Maryland’s Democratic governor, Wes Moore, referring to the abolition of 502 state jobs through the elimination of vacant positions and the departure of hundreds of workers who took an early buyout. With the state dealing with a budget crisis and cuts being made to federal jobs and agencies by the Trump administration, the eliminated jobs are expected to save $47.2 million in fiscal 2027 and in years going forward. (Maryland Matters)
Jessica Mackler, president of EMILY’s List, on how Democratic women like Arizona congressional candidate JoAnna Mendoza are helping reshape the party’s working-class appeal. As Democrats chart a course out of the wilderness following steep 2024 losses, the party is turning to candidates from blue-collar backgrounds to win back voters frustrated by rising costs and a political class they see as out of touch. Mendoza and other Democratic female candidates are building campaigns around economic populism rooted in humble origin stories and blue-collar lives. (Roll Call)
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson. In a Newsweek opinion piece, Wilson argued that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland has become a “workplace disaster waiting to happen,” citing unsafe conditions he observed during an October visit with Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Donald Trump adviser Corey Lewandowski. A federal appeals court ruled on Monday that the Trump administration could legally deploy National Guard troops to the city, after a previous judge had blocked the move. In a statement Monday, Wilson said the city would “use every lawful tool to prevent this overreach.” (Newsweek)
Curtis Sliwa, the Republican candidate for New York City mayor, during the first general election debate. Asked whether he had ever purchased cannabis from a legal dispensary, Sliwa said he had used medical marijuana after being shot in a 1992 taxi ambush. The remark came during one of the debate’s few light moments amid fierce exchanges between Sliwa, Democrat Zohran Mamdani and independent Andrew Cuomo over the Israel-Hamas war, public safety and their ties to President Trump. (New York Times)
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. Pritzker reported $1.4 million in gambling winnings from a trip to Las Vegas last year, according to tax summaries released by his campaign. Pritzker, a billionaire whose family owns the Hyatt hotel chain and who reported taxable income of $10.7 million for 2024, said he won the money when he was on vacation with his wife and some friends, adding that he was “incredibly lucky.” (Washington Post)
Sarah Zajic, an occupational therapist at Omaha’s Remington Heights senior community, on the unexpected rise of a Taylor Swift fan club among residents. It began when 95-year-old Frank Uryasz became a Swiftie after hearing “Timeless (Taylor’s Version)” during therapy — a song that reminded him of his late wife. Soon, residents were decorating walkers and dancing to “Shake It Off” during group sessions, creating what Zajic calls a rare and joyful sense of connection among the community’s seniors. (Washington Post)
Rhonda Smith, a resident of Lyerly, Georgia. Smith was expressing her support for U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who continues to maintain strong loyalty among her northwest Ga. constituents despite recent clashes with GOP leadership. Greene has remained a dominant political force in her district. In 2024, she ran unopposed in the primary and secured 64 percent in the general election after district boundaries shifted. (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Grant Beeber, a 21-year-old Indiana University intern at financial services firm TIAA, on the company’s luxury new Frisco, Texas, offices. It’s part of a wider push by major employers to lure workers back onsite with amenity-rich campuses. Over the past decade, more than 700 companies have expanded in the Dallas-Fort Worth region — nearly 200 establishing new headquarters — and many are investing heavily in on-site perks that rival Silicon Valley’s. (The Dallas Daily News)
Rev. Rodney Hudson. The pastor of Ames Memorial Church in Sandtown-Winchester and Metropolitan United Methodist Church in Harlem Park explained why he openly carries a firearm during church services. After being mugged in his church parking lot and attacked while giving a eulogy, Hudson said he now employs an armed guard for all church activities. “It’s sad to say — we all believe in God as our protector,” he said, “but the other harsh reality is that there are so many people who have absolutely no respect for God and the church nowadays.” (Baltimore Sun)
Jack Ciattarelli, the Republican nominee for governor of New Jersey. Ciattarelli, who faces Democrat Mikie Sherrill in the November election, says that while he gets a warm reception from prospective voters when he promises to lower property taxes and fix NJ Transit, there’s one topic that “brings down the house every single time” — his pledge to rescind the state’s five-year-old ban on grocery stores, restaurants and other businesses handing out single-use plastic and paper bags. (New Jersey Monitor)
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt. The Republican governor and chair of the National Governors Association broke ranks with his party Thursday, criticizing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s decision to deploy National Guard troops to Illinois without consent. Stitt said the move undermines federalism and sets a dangerous precedent. “We believe in the federalist system — that’s states’ rights,” he said, warning that such deployments could easily be turned against Republican-led states under a different administration. (New York Times)
The Boston organizers of the upcoming “No Kings” protest, set for Oct. 18, 2025, on Boston Common. The event, headlined by Mayor Michelle Wu, is part of a nationwide day of action opposing what organizers call the Trump administration’s “authoritarian abuses.” Boston’s demonstration comes a month after the city was sued by the administration over its sanctuary policies. (Boston Herald)
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker. The governor blasted Texas Gov. Greg Abbott after Abbott approved President Donald Trump’s request to deploy 400 Texas National Guard soldiers to other states. Pritzker said the troops were not welcome in Illinois and accused Abbott of overstepping his authority. A spokesman for Abbott fired back, arguing that if “liberal governments in Illinois and Chicago were protecting people and property and upholding law and order, we wouldn’t be having this conversation.” (The Dallas Daily News)
Roger Brown, Paradise, Calif., resident. Nearly seven years after the Camp Fire destroyed most of Paradise, the town is rebuilding — but not returning to what it once was. Younger families have moved in, drawn by affordable land and the promise of a fresh start, while many retirees and low-income residents have not returned. Of the more than 10,000 homes lost, just 30 percent have been rebuilt, reshaping Paradise’s identity in the process. For survivors like Brown, recovery has been both hopeful and heartbreaking — proof that rebuilding a town is not the same as restoring it. (Los Angeles Times)
Ohio state Rep. Josh Williams. His remarks came as Ohio’s new age-verification law for online pornography took effect Tuesday, requiring users to upload a state ID, provide personal information, or even submit to facial recognition before accessing adult sites. Companies that fail to comply face penalties. (Ohio Capital Journal)
Sen. Ashley Moody, a Florida Republican. Moody announced she would forgo her salary during the government shutdown, pledging to donate the money to the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay. Lawmakers in both chambers are facing scrutiny for continuing to collect pay while federal employees go without, despite a growing push for members of Congress to have their pay withheld or redirected during funding lapses. (Roll Call)
Patrick Gilmore. Gilmore, 25, described the surreal scene he witnessed in downtown Chicago when a cyclist taunted federal immigration agents near the Dearborn Street Bridge and then sped away as they gave chase. The moment, which Gilmore captured in real time, quickly went viral online, fueling debate about the heavy federal presence patrolling Chicago’s streets and riverfront. (Chicago Tribune)
Matt Jones, senior director of industry relations at the auto marketplace TrueCar, describing the rush of electric vehicle sales after federal tax credits worth up to $7,500 for new models and $4,000 for used ones were cut short under the GOP tax and spending package. With buyers needing a binding contract in place by Sept. 30, demand surged in recent weeks as shoppers scrambled to lock in the incentives. (NPR)
Colorado state Sen. Jeff Bridges. The Democratic chair of the Joint Budget Committee warned that federal tax cuts signed into law by President Donald Trump have made it harder for lawmakers to plug a nearly $1 billion budget gap heading into the next legislative session. Bridges said last year’s stopgap maneuvers won’t be enough this time as rising health-care costs and strict limits under the state’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights continue to squeeze the general fund. (The Denver Post)
