U.S. and world news for Nov. 6

Trump praises himself in election aftermath

Donald Trump says that the reason Republicans were trounced in Tuesday’s election is that he wasn’t on the ballot. He said that even though many Democrats who won in elections nationwide campaigned using an anti-Trump theme. The president partially blamed the GOP losses on the government shutdown, telling Republican lawmakers in a closed-door session Wednesday that they are getting “killed” politically by the standoff, a source told CNN. In a Fox News interview, Trump offered rare criticism of his own party, acknowledging that Democrats campaigned on affordability issues while Republicans didn’t talk about it enough. According to CNN exit polling, voters in New Jersey, Virginia, California and New York City cited economic issues including taxes, the cost of living or the economy as a whole as their top concern.

Pelosi decides not to seek reelection

Democratic Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi, the first and only female speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and one of the most powerful figures in Democratic politics for decades, has announced she will not seek reelection. The announcement ends heightened speculation in recent days that the longtime Democrat would soon announce her intention to draw her congressional career to a close after 38 years. She was widely expected to leave Congress after this term, her first in decades as a rank-and-file member. Pelosi was first elected to Congress in 1987, and made history as the House’s first-ever female speaker in 2007. She remains the only woman to have yielded the gavel, which she earned after the 2006 and 2018 elections. Even now, decades after her ascent to the top of the House Democratic caucus, she remains one of the most influential voices in the party.

Flight cuts by FAA expected

Underscoring the mounting impact of the government shutdown, the FAA said it will reduce air traffic by 10% at 40 major airports starting tomorrow unless the government is reopened by then. The move could result in thousands of flight cancellations each day, although officials have not specified which airports would be affected. This comes as staffing shortages at terminals are already causing widespread delays, and as thousands of air traffic controllers are set to miss their second full paycheck next week. Some controllers are also taking on second jobs to make ends meet or calling in sick in protest. Frontier Airlines CEO Barry Biffle this week urged travelers to avoid booking a nonrefundable basic fare amid uncertainty over how widespread cancellations could be in the coming weeks.

Investigators recover recorders in UPS plane crash

Twelve people are now confirmed dead following the fiery crash of a UPS cargo plane in Louisville, Kentucky, on Tuesday. Officials warned the death toll could rise as several people who were near the crash site are still unaccounted for. On Wednesday, investigators recovered the plane’s cockpit voice recorder and the flight data recorder, which could hold crucial information about what led to the disaster. The airplane’s left engine was located near the runway, apparently having separated from the aircraft as it was taking off. Although the aircraft was not carrying any hazardous cargo, officials are continuing to monitor Louisville’s air quality after the crash scattered a half-mile-long debris field and sent thick plumes of smoke into the air.

Trump administration releases plan for SNAP benefits

The Trump administration has issued new guidance on its plans to release partial SNAP food assistance benefits in order to comply with court orders.On Wednesday, the U.S.Department of Agriculture issued revised guidance to states that will result in food stamp enrollees receiving somewhat larger partial benefits this month. The update calls for reducing the maximum SNAP benefit by 35% instead of the previously planned 50%. The change came shortly after a left-leaning think tank published an analysis arguing that the USDA’s original guidance called for cutting benefits more deeply than needed. The 50% cut would have left nearly 5 million food stamp recipients without any benefits in November, according to the analysis. The administration had said it may take a few months for November SNAP benefits to reach people.

Death toll rises from Typhoon Kalmaegi

Typhoon Kalmaegi, the deadliest typhoon to hit Asia this year, is barreling toward Vietnam, with landfall expected within hours. The storm is now packing winds equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane after it tore through the Philippines this week. Kalmaegi has killed at least 114 people, with many more reported missing most in Cebu province, a tourist hotspot. Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has declared a state of national calamity and vowed to continue relief and recovery operations. Meanwhile, another storm forming east of the Philippines is forecast to strengthen into a typhoon by the end of the week.