Bihar Election 2025: Phase-2 campaign concludes today; PM Modi vows to attend NDA swearing-in after victory; voting on Nov 11 for 122 seats
The second phase is significantly larger than the first, with 122 assembly constituencies going to the polls. According to data from the Election Commission, a total of 1,302 candidates are in the fray, including 1,165 men, 136 women, and one third-gender candidate.
Meet Saikat Chakrabarti, Indian-origin democrat in spotlight after Zohran Mamdani’s win, to contest for Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco seat
After Zohran Mamdani’s recent victory as Mayor of New York City, Indian-origin Democrat Saikat Chakrabarti is in the spotlight as another Indian-origin progressive Democrat seeking to challenge the Democratic establishment. He’s currently running for the Democratic nomination in California’s 13th congressional district (San Francisco), a seat previously held by Nancy Pelosi.
GSAT-7R: India’s new military satellite to enhance space monitoring against China’s expanding power
The launch comes six months after Operation Sindoor, the four-day military offensive in May that saw the Indian armed forces targeting terrorist infrastructure deep within Pakistan.
Kolkata Horror: 4-year-old sleeping next to grandmother kidnapped, sexually assaulted in Bengal
The attacker cut through the child’s mosquito net and took her away, claimed the family.
“You woke us up”: California Gov. Gavin Newsom, energized by Prop 50 redistricting win, thanks Texas
The Democrat took a victory lap on rival Gov. Greg Abbott’s home turf Saturday and called on other blue states to push back on a GOP effort to retain control of the U.S. House.
Vance fires up Marines on military branch’s 250th birthday: ‘Kick the enemy’s a– and come home safe’
Vice President JD Vance took the stage at the Marine Corps’ 250th Birthday Ball in Washington, D.C., on Saurday, greeting a crowd of Marines in dress blues with a booming, “How we doing, Marines?” He grinned as the ballroom erupted in cheers. “It’s so great to be here to celebrate 250 years of the United States Marine Corps,” he said, drawing loud applause. “That, my friends, is what the Marine Corps does — it keeps us honest.” The address marked the start of Veterans Day weekend and underscored the White House’s emphasis on military strength and service. VANCE ISSUES MIDTERM WARNING, SAYS DEMOCRATS’ ANGER COULD DRIVE 2026 TURNOUT The vice president — himself a proud Marine veteran — earned a standing ovation when he reminded the crowd that he was “the very first vice president of the United States to have been a United States Marine.” Vance reflected on joining the Marines as a 19-year-old recruit on the yellow footprints of Parris Island, South Carolina. “The Marine Corps has kept me honest,” he said. “It gave me great training, it gave me a sense of purpose, and it gave me lifelong friends.” He credited those lessons with shaping his life long after service. “The Marine Corps has done more for me than I can possibly repay,” he said. “But the thing that I promise, so long as I have the honor of being your vice president, is that I will continue to honor the United States Marine Corps.” VP VANCE’S CAMP ACCUSES CALIFORNIA GOV. GAVIN NEWSOM OF DISSEMINATING ‘FAKE NEWS’ AHEAD OF MARINES CELEBRATION In a moment that drew lots of laughs, Vance told the story of meeting a 99-year-old Iwo Jima veteran earlier in the evening. The Marine had teased him about his beard, and Vance said, “I’m the Vice President of the United States, and this guy is busting my b–ls for having a beard.” He laughed and added, “That, my friends, is what the Marine Corps does — it keeps us honest.” Throughout his remarks, Vance paid tribute to Marines of every generation, “from the young to the old, from the lance corporals born in 2006 to the veterans of Iwo Jima.” He told the audience he was “proud” of each Marine and vowed, “We’re going to keep on winning America’s wars for the next 250 years.” Vance also promised in a moment of resolve that America’s leaders would never again send troops into harm’s way without clarity of mission and support for those in the field. ‘FIRST TO FIGHT’: MARINE VP JD VANCE MARKS CORPS’ 250TH AS HEGSETH SAYS UNITY, NOT ‘DIVERSITY,’ IS STRENGTH “When we send you off to fight our nation’s battles, we will do it with full confidence,” he said. “We will give you the knowledge and the tools you need to win, and we will make it clear that your job is to kick the enemy’s a– and come home safely.” Vance celebrated the Corps’ relevance in the age of advanced technology. “Let’s be honest,” he said, “the battlefield has changed in an incredible and profound way… but I happen to believe that the most important war-fighting technology is not artificial intelligence or anything on a computer. The most important war-fighting technology is a well-trained and well-armed United States Marine.” As the crowd rose for a final toast, Vance took a moment of reflection. “The Marine Corps has done a lot for me,” he said. “It’s done more for me than I can possibly repay.” Then, raising his glass, he closed: “I will fight every single day to make sure that the next 250 years are just as damn proud as the first 250. Happy Birthday, Marines.” The ballroom answered with thunderous applause and a sea of raised glasses.
Senate could take test vote on new spending bill as early as Sunday afternoon
The Senate could take a test vote as early as tomorrow afternoon on a revamped Republican bill to end the government shutdown and fund parts of the government for the rest of the fiscal year. We are still waiting on bill text on a measure that would fund the government through late January and provide money for the Agriculture Department (which funds SNAP), the Veterans Affairs Department and military construction projects and Congress through Sept. 30, 2026. But things will begin moving once text is posted tonight or tomorrow morning. This appears to be a pure spending bill with nothing separate for renewing Obamacare subsidies. SENATE IN LIMBO AS THUNE EYES LONG HAUL UNTIL SHUTDOWN ENDS The test vote needs 60 yeas. That entails Democratic buy-in. Fox is told to watch the following Democratic senators to see if they will vote to break a filibuster, although they might not be needed to vote for the final bill. Only a simple majority is needed there. Fox is told this is the universe of potential senators who caucus with the Democrats to watch as possible yeas to break a filibuster: Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin, D-Ill; and senators Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H.; Jack Reed, D-R.I.; Jon Ossoff, D-Ga.; John Fetterman, D-Pa.; Catherine Cortez Masto, D-Nev.; Maggie Hassan, D-N.H.; Gary Peters, D-Mich.; Angus King, I-Maine; and Patty Murray, D-Wash. Murray is the top Democrat on the Senate Appropriations Committee. Fox is told that Murray scored some significant language in the tenuous spending pact. This is a fragile coalition and could fall apart. But if the Senate breaks the filibuster, it is just a matter of time before the senators vote to reopen the government. In fact, it’s possible that the Senate could vote Sunday night if senators can forge a time agreement. DEMS BLOCK GOP BILL ENSURING FEDERAL WORKER, MILITARY PAYCHECKS CONTINUE DURING SHUTDOWN By the book, the Senate is afforded significant debate time once it breaks a filibuster. Fox is told that progressives, steamed that they scored nothing on health care and burned by their own party, could try to stretch things out as much as possible. That could mean the Senate doesn’t vote until Tuesday or beyond on final passage. But, by the same token, Democrats are only preventing SNAP benefits from going out. So, they could agree to an expedited process. The House is on 48 hours notice to return. So, the House may not return until midweek to align with the Senate and reopen the government. But it’s likely the House could be recalled as soon as possible. The House’s disposition is unclear on this legislation. However, it’s hard to believe that most Republicans wouldn’t take this deal. In addition, Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.; Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash.; and Jared Golden, D-Maine, are among moderate Democrats who may be in play to vote yes if the GOP loses a few votes. Golden was the lone House Democrat who voted for the old interim spending bill on Sept. 19. Golden has since announced his retirement. Here’s another question: ‘TWISTED IRONY’: DEMOCRATS RISK BETRAYING THEIR OWN PET ISSUES WITH GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN GAMBLE Would the House swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., before or after the vote? Democrats will bray if Johnson fails to swear in Grijalva before a possible House vote. And, as we say, it’s always about the math. Swearing in Grijalva puts the House at 433 members with two vacancies. The breakdown is 219 Republicans to 214 Democrats. That means the GOP can only lose two votes before needing help from the Democrats. In addition, brace for the internecine Democratic warfare which will start once Democrats break with their party. Big divisions will emerge between those Democrats who vote to break the filibuster and those holding out for Obamacare subsidies. Moreover, consider the emerging chasm between House and Senate Democrats once this is over. And, here’s the kicker: It’s entirely possible that a group of Senate Democrats threw their colleagues under the bus to end the shutdown, and the party scored no guarantees on healthcare money despite their risky political shutdown gambit.
Reckoning looms for politicians as longest government shutdown persists
A reckoning is coming. Or shall we say “reckonings.” And they’re coming, whether the government reopens soon or remains shuttered. If the government stays closed, voters will likely torch both parties for not hammering out a deal. Air traffic delays are stacking up. Those problems only intensify as we near Thanksgiving and Christmas. That’s to say nothing of multiple missed paychecks for federal employees, stress, economic consequences and no SNAP benefits for the needy. SCHUMER, DEMS UNVEIL ALTERNATIVE SHUTDOWN PLAN, ASK FOR ONE-YEAR EXTENSION TO OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES Some of those concerns will dissipate if lawmakers address the shutdown quickly. But there will be a reckoning if the shutdown drags deeper into November. There are likely specific reckonings for both political parties. For Republicans, it’s a resistance by GOP leaders to address spiking healthcare subsidies. Yes. The GOP is making a compelling argument that healthcare subsidies are only necessary because Obamacare is a problem and health care prices skyrocketed. So, Republicans are back fighting against Obamacare. In fact, the entire government shutdown is not about spending levels and appropriations. It’s a re-litigation of the touchstone law passed under President Obama in 2010. And Republicans, despite multiple campaign promises and dozens of efforts to kill the law over a six-year period, failed at nearly every turn. Despite issues with Obamacare, Democrats annexed the public’s concern about healthcare costs and linked that to government funding. Democrats appear like the party trying to address the issue as premiums spike. And Republicans, despite promises that they’ll get to it, are inert on the subject. They’re even championing efforts to lambaste Obamacare — much the same as they did in 2010 when Congress passed the law. Republicans are latched on to the concept that the subsidies are “pumping money to insurance companies,” as Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., put it on Fox. Lankford also characterized those who benefited from Obamacare as a “select group.” It works out to about 24 million people. That’s 7% of the U.S. population. So, maybe that burns the GOP politically. Maybe it doesn’t. A major reckoning looms for the Democrats, too. It’s possible that a coalition of Democratic senators may break with the Democratic Party and support a new GOP plan to reopen the government on a temporary basis. Nowhere is it written that Democrats — who made the shutdown about health care — are guaranteed an outcome on Obamacare subsidies. Yes, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., have said they’ll address the health care issue after the government is open. But that’s not necessarily a fix. TRUMP URGES SENATE REPUBLICANS TO REDIRECT FUNDS FROM OBAMACARE-BACKED INSURERS, PAY AMERICANS DIRECTLY So Democrats are fuming. Therefore, it’s a distinct possibility that Democrats will refuse to fund the government in an effort to extract a concession on Obamacare subsidies and walk away empty-handed. Such an outcome will spark an internecine firestorm inside the Democratic Party. Progressives felt that Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., rolled them back in March when he and a squadron of other Democrats helped the GOP crack a filibuster to avoid a shutdown. It’s doubtful that Schumer will help this time. But Senate Republicans hope to coax just enough Democrats to overcome the filibuster on a pending test vote and then fund the government through late January. That’s the reckoning for the Democrats. No outcome on health care. And getting the screws put to them by members of their own party. Again. Progressives will be apoplectic. And House Democrats will seethe — not so privately — at Senate Democrats. The Senate’s test vote on the new GOP proposal could come as early as Sunday evening. The revised package would also fund the Department of Agriculture and Department of Veterans Affairs, plus Congress until Sept. 30, 2026. Fox is told Republicans believe they are in range of persuading Democrats who are sweating the shutdown to join them. Fox is told that air traffic control and flight delays are contributing to the Democrats’ consternation. That said, it is believed that the Senate GOP leadership is reluctant to force a vote related to the retooled, spending bill without a guarantee it could break a filibuster. The last thing the Senate needs is another failed procedural vote after repeated failed test votes over the past six weeks. REPUBLICANS TURN THEIR ATTENTION TO BASHING OBAMACARE AS SHUTDOWN ENTERS DAY 39 Let’s game out the timing for a moment: By the book, if the Senate breaks the filibuster late Sunday, it’s doubtful the chamber can take a final vote on the package until Monday or Tuesday. But Fox is told there is a distinct possibility that Democrats could yield back time to expedite the process in the interest of quickly reopening the government. By the same token, angry liberal senators could bleed out the parliamentary clocks and attempt to amend the bill to their liking — presumably with Obamacare provisions. The Senate must break yet another filibuster to finish the bill. Then it’s on to final passage. That only needs a simple majority. And even if some Democrats voted to hurdle the filibuster, they might not support the underlying plan at the end. However, that’s not a problem if GOP senators provide the necessary votes. Then it’s on to the House. The House’s disposition is unclear on this legislation. However, it’s hard to believe that most Republicans wouldn’t take this deal. Reps. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y.; Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, D-Wash.; and Jared Golden, D-Maine, are among moderate Democrats who may be in play to vote yes if the GOP loses a few votes. Golden was the lone House Democrat who voted for the old interim spending bill Sept. 19. Golden has since announced his retirement. Another big question: Would the House swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., before or after the vote? Democrats will bray if Johnson fails to swear in Grijalva before a possible House vote And, as we say, it’s always about the math. Swearing in Grijalva puts
Newsom tells Texas crowd taking back House is ‘the whole thing’ for Democrats in 2026
California Gov. Gavin Newsom told a crowd in Texas Saturday that Democrats winning back the House of Representatives in 2026 is “the whole thing.” Newsom, 58, continued to ride high over the weekend, four days after California’s Proposition 50 — to redistrict the state’s congressional map in favor of Democrats — passed in a landslide. Newsom also couldn’t resist taking a jab at his frequent foe, President Donald Trump. “He is an historic president, however historically unpopular,” he told the crowd in Houston. “And he had a very bad night on Tuesday.” OBAMA CALLS NEWSOM’S CALIFORNIA REDISTRICTING MOVE A ‘RESPONSIBLE APPROACH’ TO GOP TACTICS Along with Prop 50 in California, Democrats also won gubernatorial races in New Jersey and Virginia and democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani handily beat Democrat-turned-independent candidate Andrew Cuomo in the New York City mayoral election. Proposition 50 was a response to Texas’ legislature redistricting its congressional map in favor of Republicans over the summer. On Tuesday after Proposition 50 passed, Newsom called on other Democrat-led states to follow suit. “We need to see other states, their remarkable leaders that have been doing remarkable things, meet this moment head-on as well,” he said in a late-night news conference on Tuesday. “We can de facto end Donald Trump’s presidency as we know it, the minute Speaker Jeffries gets sworn in as speaker of the House of Representatives. It is all on the line.” NEWSOM SET TO RALLY TEXAS DEMS WITH VICTORY LAP DAYS AFTER PROP 50 PASSES: ‘CALIFORNIA STEPPED UP’ He continued his celebration on Saturday, telling the crowd, “There were lines around the block two hours after polling had stopped because people wanted to be heard, not just seen. They wanted to send a message. But, as I said, we cannot rest until we take it back. “There is no more important race in our lifetimes than the House of Representatives, and taking back the House and getting speaker [Hakeem] Jeffries sworn in next November. It’s the whole thing. It’s the whole thing. “And, so, that starts today,” he continued. “It started on Tuesday. “We can shape the future here in Texas. We can shape the future all across the South and across the United States of America. You have that power.” Trump and the GOP have spearheaded an effort to pad the party’s razor-thin House majority to keep control of the chamber in the 2026 midterms, when the party in power traditionally faces political headwinds and loses seats. Missouri, North Carolina and Ohio have drawn new maps as part of the president’s push. Trump is aiming to prevent what happened during his first term in the White House when Democrats reclaimed the House majority in the 2018 midterm elections. Although he hasn’t announced his intentions to run for president, Newsom has been widely seen as a possible frontrunner for Democrats in the 2028 presidential election. While two other Democratic blue state governors with likely national ambitions in 2028, JB Pritzker of Illinois and Wes Moore of Maryland, are mulling new maps in their states to create one or two more blue-leaning congressional districts, Newsom has been the most visible leader so far in the redistricting wars and the first Democrat to succeed. Fox News’ Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.
Republicans turn their attention to bashing Obamacare as shutdown enters day 39
Amid a 39-day government shutdown, Republican after Republican took to the Senate floor on Saturday to blast the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, calling the program a failed approach to addressing the country’s health care needs. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., went as far as to say the current system might need replacing. “You were promised when Obamacare passed in 2010, President Obama said that every family in America who participated in this thing would have a $2,500 savings in premium reductions. It’s been like a 100% increase. This thing is unsustainable,” Graham said. FLASHBACK: TED CRUZ PREDICTS BALLOONING OBAMACARE SUBSIDIES NOW AT CENTER OF SHUTDOWN FIGHT “We’re going to replace this broken system with something that is actually better for the consumer to meet the goal of lowering health care costs,” Graham added. Graham wasn’t the only Republican voice to speak out against Obamacare. “I hate to report that folks on the other side refused to acknowledge the very obvious damage being done across the board by Obamacare,” Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., said. “The problem we have in healthcare is we’ve largely driven free-market principles out of healthcare. That’s because of the faulty design of Obamacare. It’s got to be fixed.” Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., a former health care executive and longtime critic of the program, joined in. “It’s all caused by Obamacare. When the government gets involved in things, they often go up in price,” Scott said. Notably, Republican criticisms of Obamacare on Saturday went beyond the front-and-center issue holding up consideration of government funding. Where Republicans have advanced a short-term spending package meant to keep the government open through Nov. 21, Democrats have rejected it 14 times, demanding that lawmakers first consider extending COVD-era emergency tax subsidies for Obamacare plan holders. Republicans, who maintain the temporary subsidies and their expiration have nothing to do with government spending, have largely focused their attention on the shutdown itself instead of engaging in a debate over the COVID-era assistance. They’ve said they will negotiate on the subsidies when the government reopens. But President Donald Trump changed the picture on Saturday morning in a post to Truth Social by arguing that lawmakers should restructure the enhanced subsidies so that they go directly to the policyholders instead of insurance companies who currently receive the tax credit payments. TRUMP URGES SENATE REPUBLICANS TO REDIRECT FUNDS FROM OBAMACARE-BACKED INSURERS, PAY AMERICANS DIRECTLY After Trump’s suggestion, lawmakers began blasting Obamacare’s structure. “Obamacare costs the federal government closer to $150 billion a year. That’s right. We’re spending $150 billion of your tax-earned dollars supplementing other people’s health care,” Sen. Roger Marshall, R-Kan., said. “When they sold this to the American people, they said it would cost $40 or $50 billion, but we’re triple that. That’s $400 million a day,” he added. Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, echoed those comments, arguing that Obamacare had missed the mark on its original design. “It’s clear that Obamacare has failed to deliver on its promises,” Ernst said. “The answer isn’t throwing more money into a broken system. What we need to do is fix what’s broken. We can end that waste.” HOUSE REPUBLICANS DIVIDED OVER OBAMACARE AS GOP EYES FIX AFTER SHUTDOWN Like Ernst and Marshall, Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio., also took to the floor, calling for Congress to evaluate the source of climbing health care costs. “So, I hope we want to get at the costs and the cause of what’s affecting the unaffordability of healthcare in this country. Healthcare has increased since Obamacare started by 6% a year while overall inflation has been 3% or less,” Husted said. “I hope we will reopen the government and begin serving the American people while we continue the very important conversation of how we make healthcare more affordable,” he added. Although Sen. Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., has kept the Senate in session over the weekend while lawmakers attempt to break the gridlock, it’s unclear when lawmakers will next consider spending legislation.