BLUES CLUES ‘26

Donald Trump’s election dreams were crushed like an empty soda can last night. And the bad news kept coming.

• “What is this feeling… winning?” Crooked’s Tommy Vietor half-joked on Pod Save America this morning. Yup, that’s the old feeling, all right! It’s back, and for good reason: Democrats swept election day like a barbershop floor, with coast-to-coast victories that left many Dems with a half-forgotten tingle of hopeful excitement about the future of their party for the first time in President Donald Trump’s second term. “This feels better, doesn’t it?” Crooked’s Jon Favreau quipped.

• Democratic socialist Zohran Mamdani thrilled progressives by shattering the Cuomo political dynasty. Democrat Mikie Sherrill exceeded expectations, securing the New Jersey governorship. Democrat Abigail Spanberger whooped her competition to become governor-elect of Virginia. California voters overwhelmingly approved a measure to redraw districts in favor of Democrats. And there were even more wins, big and small.

• The results left the MAGA brass openly fretting about Republican prospects in next year’s midterms. “There should be even more than alarm bells” for the GOP, MAGA Godfather Steve Bannon told Politico. “There should be flashing red lights all over.”

• Trump expressed agitation, too — and worried that his party is catching too much heat for the government shutdown. “I thought we’d have a discussion after the press leaves about what last night represented, and what we should do about it,” Trump told GOP senators this morning at the White House, while the press filmed his remarks. “Also about the shutdown, how that relates to last night. I think if you read the pollsters, the shutdown was a big factor, negative for the Republicans.”

• What did he reportedly say behind closed doors? The shutdown has been “worse for us than for them,” he said, adding that Republicans “are getting killed” and that the GOP could become “a dead party” if lawmakers don’t nuke the filibuster to reopen the government.

• Unfortunately for Trump, today happens to be the day when this government shutdown officially became the longest in history, surpassing the previous record set during Trump’s first term. What’s more, if Trump’s right that Republicans are getting blamed… why would Democrats cave now, exactly?

Trump’s bad news didn’t end there. More awaited him at the Supreme Court.

• The justices expressed deep uneasiness over Trump’s sweeping tariffs in oral arguments this morning, leading many legal analysts to conclude they’re gearing up to slam the breaks on Trump’s favorite economic initiative. You can hear the skepticism in the conservative justices’ voices:

• Chief Justice John Roberts: “The vehicle is the imposition of taxes on Americans, and that has always been a core power of Congress.”

• Justice Neil Gorsuch: “Congress, as a practical matter, can’t get this power back once it’s handed it over. The president is a one-way ratchet to the gradual but continual excretion of power in the executive branch and away from the people’s elected representatives.”

• Justice Amy Coney Barrett: “Is it your contention that every country needed to be tariffed because of threats to the defense and industrial base? I mean, Spain? France? I mean, I could see it with some countries but explain to me why, as many countries, needed to be subject to the reciprocal tariff policy, as are.”

• Yes, the Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled in Trump’s favor this term. But this case is different. The conservative justices have previously been skeptical of presidents steamrolling Congress to meddle with the economy, said Peter Harrell, a visiting scholar at Georgetown’s Institute for International Economic Law and a former Biden official.

• “I think there’s a decent shot that you could see, three, maybe even four, of the conservative justices joining with the liberals to stop this nonsense,” Harrell told What A Day. If Trump loses, he’ll be “desperately scrambling to recreate these tariffs under other laws,” Harrell added. (Trump’s team has been preparing backup plans in case they lose… but the ruling would still be a major setback.)

Our pals over at Vote Save America had this to say: “Lib out today. Share fire content to your Instagram stories. Text your ‘not political’ friends and let them know how hype you are. There’s more work ahead, but today is all about victory lapping.”

WHAT ELSE?

Hamas returned the body of 19-year-old Itay Chen, the last Israeli-American hostage, more than two years after he was kidnapped. Israel also returned the bodies of 15 Palestinians to the Gaza Strip, as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal.

At least nine people died after a UPS plane carrying 38,000 gallons of fuel crashed in Kentucky on Tuesday, officials said. Videos of the accident show a massive fireball and plumes of smoke.

A federal judge ordered Department of Justice prosecutors to hand over more records related to their dubious criminal probe of former FBI Director James Comey, expressing concern that Trump’s team wanted to “indict first” and investigate afterwards.

Trump seems likely to get his peace prize soon… just not the Nobel. FIFA announced that its creating a peace prize of its own. “In an increasingly unsettled and divided world, it’s fundamental to recognize the outstanding contribution of those who work hard to end conflicts and bring people together in a spirit of peace,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who is suuuuper close with Trump.

Tech freak Elon Musk teased the possibility of testing a flying Tesla “before the end of the year,” while speaking on Joe Rogan’s podcast. Awesome, instead of bursting into flames on the street, they’ll now burst into flames after crashing through my 14th floor apartment window.

Japan deployed its military to counter an uptick in bear attacks across the country. More than 100 people have been injured and 12 killed by bears since April, according to government stats. The bears aren’t only a danger to people: They’re so hungry that they’re frustrating farmers. “My heart is broken,” one orchard operator said, after bears ate more than 200 of his apples.

LIGHT AT THE END OF THE EMAIL…

Donald Trump seems fed up with his own top aides. “I want my cabinet to behave like [Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s staff],” Trump told senators this morning. He was clearly joking… but there seemed to be an ounce of truth. “JD doesn’t behave like that,” Trump said. “JD butts into conversations.”

The private sector added 42,000 new jobs in October, the first increase since July, according to ADP.

GOP senators showed a rare sign of unity against Trump, bashing one of his nominees for the Pentagon policy office during a public hearing. Senators accused Austin Dahmer, who has been serving in an acting role, of stonewalling lawmakers seeking information. “I can’t even get a response,” said Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska). “And we’re on your team.”

An astute X user pointed out that Rama Duwaji, Zohran Mamdani’s wife, wore a fashionable top designed by Palestinian-Jordanian designer Zeid Hijazi after being crowned the city’s next first lady last night. While we’re on the subject, here’s an adorable pic of Zohran handing Rama, who happens to be an artist, flowers backstage at a rally in June. What a power couple.

On the fashion note, beloved TV personality Ms. Rachel honored children in Gaza by wearing a dress embroidered with their artwork to the Glamour Women of the Year Awards 2025 last night. “These kids are just amazing; they’re so thoughtful and so brilliant. I know all their names and stories,” Ms. Rachel said. “I’m so proud of you. I’m so proud to wear your artwork.”

Switzerland is calling on UNESCO to include yodeling (yodel-ay-hee-hoo!!!) as part of the country’s cultural heritage. “In Switzerland we have four languages, but I think really we have five languages. We have a fifth: The yodel,” one Swiss professor said. Okay, got it, but could you say that to me in Yodel, please?