U.S. and world news for Nov. 4

Election Day 2025

Political party leaders and politicians are watching today’s elections to see whether they provide a hint at what may happen in next year’s national elections that will determine which party controls the House and Senate. New York City voters will choose their next mayor today, closing out a campaign among Democratic nominee Zohran Mamdani, independent candidate Andrew Cuomo and Republican Curtis Sliwa. Democratic Rep. Mikie Sherrill faces Republican Jack Ciattarelli in the race for New Jersey governor. Ciattarelli has leaned on his support from President Trump and has repeatedly praised the administration’s policies on issues from immigration to tax reforms. In Virginia, Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears faces former Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger. California voters will decide whether to adopt a new congressional map that could shape control of the House of Representatives next year..

Former Vice President Dick Cheney dies at 84

Former Vice President Dick Cheney has died at age 84. The 46th vice president, who served alongside Republican President George W. Bush for two terms between 2001 and 2009, was for decades a towering and polarizing Washington power player. He was America’s most powerful modern vice president and chief architect of the “war on terror,” who helped lead the country into the ill-fated Iraq war on faulty assumptions. Cheney was plagued by cardiovascular disease for most of his adult life. He survived a series of heart attacks and lived many years in retirement after a heart transplant in 2012 that he hailed in a 2014 interview as “the gift of life itself.”

Long waits continue at some U.S. airports

As the U.S. government shutdown drags on, more air traffic controllers who are working without pay are missing shifts or taking on side jobs to make ends meet. This has raised concerns among some travelers about whether it’s safe to fly during the government shutdown, with aviation workers facing stress that could potentially affect their job performance. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said some delays at U.S. airports are intentional to give controllers on duty more time to manage flights safely. Several aviation experts tell CNN that passenger safety is not being compromised, but travelers should plan for long waits — sometimes several hours. In recent days, staffing shortages and delays have been widespread in Chicago, Denver, Houston and Newark.

Trump administration says SNAP benefits likely to be delayed

The Trump administration says that SNAP food assistance recipients will only get half of their typical benefits in November, and for many that assistance will likely be delayed. The administration says it may take a few months to distribute the money. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) in a court filing agreed to use the program’s contingency fund, which it previously refused to do. But, the contingency fund doesn’t have enough money to cover enrollees’ full allotments during the government shutdown. Nearly 42 million Americans receive SNAP benefits, providing households just over $350 a month, on average, according to the most recent USDA data.

Restaurant industry changes

Denny’s, the struggling 72-year-old diner chain, is selling itself to a group of investors who are taking the business private. The company is being bought by TriArtisan Capital Advisors, a private equity firm that also owns P.F. Chang’s, and Yadav Enterprises, a major Denny’s franchisee, in a $322 million deal. Denny’s board approved the deal. If accepted by shareholders, Denny’s stock will be delisted from the Nasdaq, ending a nearly six-decade run on the stock market. Denny’s had reached out to more than 40 potential buyers and received multiple offers. On Tuesday, Yum! Brands announced it launched a “formal review of strategic options” for Pizza Hut, including a possible sale for the chain that was once owned by PepsiCo. The company didn’t set a deadline for the completion of the review and won’t comment further.

Kimberly-Clark in $50B deal to buy Kenvue

Kimberly-Clark says it will buy Tylenol’s parent company Kenvue in a nearly $50 billion deal, creating a massive consumer products conglomerate. The acquisition comes a few weeks after President Donald Trump made unfounded claims linking autism to Tylenol use during pregnancy, sending Kenvue’s stock sharply lower. The company has staunchly pushed back against Trump’s accusations. The companies said that the combined business will bring together 10 billion-dollar brands and will drive annual revenue of $32 billion. The new company will make products that include Johnson’s baby products, Clean & Clear skin care, Kleenex, Listerine mouthwash, and Depends adult diapers, the companies said in a statement. The transaction is scheduled to close in the second half of next year.