Government Shutdown Enters Day 22; Trump Set to Embark on Asia Tour | NTD Good Morning (Oct. 22)

Welcome to NTD Good Morning. >> Here are today's top stories. President Trump heading to Asia where a possible meeting with China's Xi Jinping could take center stage and Trump's plans to meet President Putin now on hold. >> Vice President JD Vance meets with officials in Israel and shares new details on the Gaza peace plan. Meanwhile, the Hamas terrorist group releases the bodies of two more hostages. Day 22 of the government shutdown. Federal workers line up at food banks amid missing paychecks. Senators will vote soon on a bill to pay federal employees who are still working. >> Chaos breaks out on both coasts during ICE operations, including protests and a shooting. The latest from the front lines of immigration enforcement across the country. >> Hundreds of Alaskans forced from their homes by a storm last week, are finding refuge in Anchorage. Officials say they're racing to get evacuees into permanent housing before the winter freeze. >> Turning Point USA's latest stop at Indiana University Bloomington drew a large student crowd, setting the stage for a night of debate and discussion. This is NTV Good Morning live from our global headquarters in New York City. Here are Stephanie Aox and Carrie Dunst. >> Good morning. Thanks for joining us. >> Today's Wednesday, October 22nd. You're watching NTD. Good morning. In today's top news, President Trump heading to Asia. He's confirmed several stops on his upcoming tour where he's expected to discuss trade, investments, and regional security. NTD's Daniel Monahan takes a closer look at the trip, which will also include a meeting with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. >> The first stop of President Trump's Asia trip is Malaysia, which is hosting the Azion Summit from October 26th to the 28th. That's the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Trump is expected to attend on the first day. Malaysian officials have said that Trump is looking forward to joining the signing of a ceasefire deal between Thailand and Cambodia, one of several peace deals Trump helped broker. Conflict between Thailand and Cambodia broke out in July. 43 people were killed and 300,000 were displaced during 5 days of fighting. Next up is Japan. Trump is scheduled to travel there on October 27th for a 3-day visit. The trip will occur just after Japan's parliament elected the conservative Sia Takichi. Takahuchichi said that the Japan US alliance is the cornerstone of Japan's foreign and security policy and that she plans to strengthen ties. She is expected to meet with Trump on October 28th to talk about regional security. Japan has seen increased Chinese military activity around its territory in recent years and ramped up joint drills with allies, including the United States in response. The country signed a trade deal last month that lowers tariffs on Japanese goods to 15% in exchange for $550 billion in investments in the US. Then comes South Korea, which is hosting the Apex Summit from October 31st to November 1st. Trump is expected to visit ahead of the summit from October 29th to the 30th. Trump is expecting to meet with Chinese Communist leader Xiinping while there. Trump also suggested yesterday that the meeting might not happen. >> Maybe it won't happen. Maybe it won't happen. It was a one-sided it. Honestly, we built China's military with the money that we lost for so many years getting ripped off. >> Trump's planned meeting with Shei comes just days before a potential new tariff on Chinese goods goes into effect. >> As of November 1st, China will have about 155% tariff put on it, and I don't think it's sustainable for them. Trump says he wants to be nice to China, >> but China's been very rough with us over the years because we had presidents that weren't smart from a business standpoint. >> An update on USRussia relations. President Trump said Tuesday he is holding off on plans to meet with President Putin in Hungary in the coming weeks. >> No, no, I want I don't want to have a wasted meeting. I don't want to have a waste of time. So, I'll see what happens. The decision to hold off on the meeting was made following a call earlier on Tuesday between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Trump says he has advocated for using the current battlefield lines as the basis of a peace deal. >> The battlefield lines and you pull back and you go home and everybody take some time off because you got two countries that are killing each other. Two countries are losing 5 to 7,000 soldiers a week. So, we'll see what happens. >> And NATO Secretary General Mark Rut set to meet with Trump on Wednesday at the White House. Rout made preparations to travel to Washington after Trump's meeting with Ukrainian President Zalinski last week. Daniel Monahan, NTD News. >> Vice President JD Vance met with officials in Israel yesterday and said the Gaza peace plan is going better than expected. This comes as the Hamas terrorist group released the bodies of two more hostages. NTD's Jason Perry brings us more. >> Vice President JD Vance and his wife arrived in Israel on Tuesday. And while there, the vice president announced the opening of the civilian military coordination center in southern Israel. And he said Americans and Israelis were working there to begin the plan to rebuild Gaza and implement long-term peace. I think that everybody should be proud of where we are today. It's going to require constant effort. It's going to require constant monitoring and supervision. That's part of the reason that Admiral Cooper and his team is here is to mediate these disputes, to mediate these disagreements as they come up. But look, right now, I feel very optimistic. >> He added that no US troops will be on the ground in Gaza. Instead, an international security force will help keep the peace in the Gaza Strip. Someone asked Vance whether there would be a deadline for Hamas to lay down their weapons. >> I don't think it's actually advisable for us to say this has to be done in a week because a lot of this work is very hard. It's never been done before and in order for us to give it a chance to succeed, we've got to be a little bit flexible. >> President Trump's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, gave some insight into how the territory will be rebuilt. There are considerations being happening now in the area that the IDF controls as long as that could be secured to start the construction as a new Gaza in order to give the the the Palestinians living in Gaza a place to go, a place to get jobs, a place to live. So that's one of the many things being considered. >> And on the same day, Kushner and US envoy Steve Witco met with 10 former hostages and their families in Tel Aviv. Wickoff said it was really an emotional moment and that he felt blessed to be in that room and that lots of people were grateful to President Trump for getting their children home. At the same time, people protested outside of the US embassy in Tel Aviv, calling for the return of the bodies of the 15 hostages that remain in the Gaza Strip. On Tuesday, Hamas handed over the bodies of two more deceased hostages. and the leader of Hamas who is in Egypt said the terrorist group was serious about returning the bodies of the hostages. Meanwhile, another newly released hostage returned to his home in the West Bank for the first time since the Hamas terrorist attack two years ago. I'm very glad to be here to back to my place to my home to see all the love I get from all all the people all the citizen of Israel thanks to the IDF all the they the risk their life to bring me and the other hostage back home. >> Jason Perry NTD News. President Trump issues another warning to Hamas, saying that his numerous great allies in the Middle East would welcome the opportunity to quote straighten out Hamas if Hamas continues to violate the ceasefire deal. The government shutdown hits day 22 with no end in sight. Senators will soon vote on a bill to pay those who are still working without checks. >> Democrats are pushing for a second meeting with President Trump. NTD's Molina Weissop reports. Nearly a month into the government shutdown and 11 failed votes to reopen the government, federal workers are feeling the pinch of missing paychecks. >> You know, with my rent due next week, I could take anything I can get at this point. I haven't gotten a paycheck this month, so the free groceries is very important, very helpful. >> Federal employees line the street to a food pantry in Maryland. More than a million federal workers are either furled or are working without pay. Senate Leader John Thun has teed up a bill to pay those who are still on the job during the shutdown, but it's unclear if Democrats will support it. Democrat leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday asked for a second meeting with President Trump. >> Things get worse every day for the American people. He should sit down with us, negotiate in a serious way before he goes away. The only way to solve this is sit down and negotiate with us in a serious way. Trump welcomed the idea of meeting with Democrats again after five more senators break ranks and vote with Republicans to open the government. You know, the country's is so hot right now. And they've never voted against, you know, continuation. They've never voted again. They've never done that. They're doing this because they have Trump derangement syndrome. But I will I would love to meet I would like to meet with both of them, but uh I I set one little caveat. Uh, I will only meet if they let the country open. They have to let the country open. >> Republicans accuse Democrats of being unserious in their proposal. >> An alternative bill that spends $1.5 trillion and opens up um free healthcare benefits to non-citizens. I mean, I that is just a non-starter. That is going nowhere. >> He says Schumer shot down his offer to vote on Obamacare subsidies without a guaranteed outcome. Reporting from Washington DC, Molina Weissup, NTD News. >> Thanks to Molina for that report. Moving on, a Department of Homeland Security investigation revealed what it called quote textbook political discrimination during the Biden administration. It said the Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA withheld or delayed disaster aid to Americans whose homes displayed proTrump or pro-sec amendment signs. The issue first came to light after Hurricane Milton struck Florida's Gulf Coast in October 2024. FEMA then fired a crew leader after screenshots published by the Daily Wire showed messages instructing field workers to skip the homes with Trump campaign signs. Joining us to discuss is Hugh Fe, senior director of Conservative Partnership Institute. Thank you for joining us, Hugh. To kick off, can you describe your understanding of the evidence that was discovered? My understanding of the evidence that was discovered was that it was systemic and not an isolated event, which many people who are watching the last administration closely can't be too surprised about given the weaponization of all of the three-letter agencies. Uh this one being a four-letter agency. Um so the uh the evidence shows that um it confirms basically what conservatives for a long time were concerned about whereas we were watching these disasters and the and the cleanup unfold. I mean, good thing for uh you know, governor uh in Florida, Governor Dantis for taking it upon himself to fix the bridge and fix other critical infrastructure, but uh you know, the critical role of FEMA and a post- disaster uh event is to is to run to people's support and assistance and that doesn't appear to be the case in this conclusive report. And Hugh, I do want to touch on the systemic nature of this and and explore that deeper, but first I just want to understand, you know, these are hard um accusations to uncover. Um so I want to understand what was the methods that or the scope of this probe that the DHS used to look into FEMA. Well, it seems through their privacy office, they um opened an investigation and dove into the understanding of uh some of the unreported uh aspects of uh the the way they're going about and distributing FEMA aid. So, that's it's very clearly um you know, a problem when you're including political affiliations and like secret lists in the way that you're distributing FEMA aid, especially when these people are at their lowest point. I mean, their homes are destroyed. Everything they had uh, you know, wrapped up in their home, you know, they lost loved ones. I mean, and then you're including political affiliations in the case in, you know, in Florida, including Trump signs in a in a, you know, method by which you're distributing aid is is clearly, you know, not only uh, shocking, but it's it's unlawful. And, uh, you know, I think FEMA has said they're going to they've referred it to DOJ and they're going to pursue potential crim criminal prosecutions. >> Yeah. And now let's dive into a bit more of the systemic nature within potentially the agency or broader. So the fired FEMA crew leader who had directed their subordinates in writing to skip over the homes with the Trump signs on the lawns attempted to justify the discrimination in multi multiple media interviews by saying that they weren't to blame individually because they were going along with a culture that was not of their own creation. So that statement seems to verify what you're describing as something more systemic. So what are your observations that you know this is a cultural problem within the government and does it end with the changing of the guard or do you think that um that still remains despite you know President Trump taking over the presidency? >> Well yeah I think if you zoom out and you realize what the um leadership over at FEMA is doing now um is you know not just in response to this. I mean, this is sort of one of the the reasons why, but the the zooming out and the reforming of FEMA, I think, will go a long ways towards rooting out these um these bad actors. And I, you know, I'm not obviously characterizing everybody at FEMA, but there are certainly people there who are um sort of not standing up and saying, hey, we know we should we should run to everybody's support and aid. I know that there are priority areas when you're cleaning up a major disaster event, but you shouldn't be including priority people and saying that there's, you know, based on political affiliation or assumed political affiliation based on a sign in someone's front yard. So, I I think the reforms that are underway and the folks over at DHS, many of who I know pretty well, are working really hard to root out this type of stuff. So, I I have great confidence that um you know, in the next couple years, this stuff will be ironed out. And um and it's just ironic because you know the the left is claiming in these no kings rallies that you know the president is doing all of these things to to support his political um his political uh allies. But if you look at this exact example I mean this is an administration clearly punishing their political enemies um you know at the at their lowest point. So it's it's pretty remarkable to see. >> Yeah. And now in your role with the conservative um partnership institute um I want to explore going beyond the federal government. Do you believe that this is not just systemic in federal government but institutions or potential industries have this long-standing culture you know which was alluded to by that FEMA employee where there's sort of an unspoken bias that maybe crosses the line into discrimination. >> Yeah. I'm not I'm not too sure as it kind of bleeds down into the states. I know that you know it's very they rely very heavily on like the state local management um the response uh management teams down there in the states. Uh you know when I was uh chief of staff for Congress text Texas Texas uh congressman the the states in Texas the state emergency response team was fantastic. They you know did a lot especially in the wake of all the hurricanes that rolled through South Texas and uh in the you know in in 2018 2019. So they did a lot. So I don't know that it's uh you know systemic broad on the state basis, but I'm sure there are certain um you know states that struggle with these type of uh you know political ideologies that are infecting the the system. >> And and Hugh if you were to like look beyond the government just to like education or industry. You sometimes hear these statements from students who um you know might be in a progressive environment that they have to self-censor or hide their political views almost like being a closet conservative. So I want to get your observation. Is that changing with Trump winning the popular vote and the death and now prominence of Charlie Kirk or do places like Washington DC which is still you know 90% registered Democratic population does it does that phenomena still exist where people sort of if they are conservative they have to hide their political views for fear of you know being passed over for promotion or for opportunities in the educational sector etc. >> Yeah. Well, you know, CPI, we call ourselves the embassy in uh in a liberal bastion. I mean, we're we're sit there right up on Capitol Hill. And we exist as an organization to help support, train, and then uh and work with uh you know, conservative staffers on Capitol Hill and around the conservative movement in DC to to give them the tools and and the support that they need to succeed. And I think there is an uh you know sort of an embolding uh aspect of people post you know post the election and post Charlie Kirk um and are are standing up and saying you know we don't actually have to live in the shadows and live in a way that it's scary for um people to be emboldened by a conservative. Now I don't ever think that DC is going to be one of those places where you have like people running around. I mean, it's great in in uh during um spring break and all these places because you have people showing up from around the country with their, you know, their hats and and are really excited about being here. Um but I mean, it's telltale sign when you have the the, you know, the DC mayor, Mayor Bowser, um actually acknowledging the the usefulness and the and and thanking President Trump for sending in the National Guard to help clean up the town. So I I do find that a little bit uh interesting that she was so willing to go out there and say we're going to be cooperating with the National Guard, especially when you have, you know, Governors Newsome and other folks who are just like, you know, and Pritskar in Illinois who are totally repulsive to the idea of helping clean up their streets. So I that is interesting turning of the tide, I think slightly, but you'll never get, you know, a full embrace. >> Understood. Well, appreciate you sharing your insights with us. Clearly, it was a shocking probe revealed yesterday. Hugh Fe, great to speak with you. >> You, too. Immigration raids on both coasts erupt into chaos with protests in New York and gunfire in Los Angeles. What federal officials are saying about a growing wave of hostility toward im immigration enforcement after this. Welcome back. Hundreds of Alaskans displaced by the remnants of Typhoon Halong are now settling into temporary shelters in Anchorage. >> Local and state officials say they're working quickly to move evacuees into more permanent housing before the winter sets in. Here's the mayor of Anchorage. >> Alaskans who have had to evacuate from their communities are our new neighbors here in Anchorage. You are a part of this community and we welcome you with open arms. Officials say the city has identified more than a thousand hotel rooms and rental spaces for displaced residents. The goal is to move people out of shelters and into private accommodations as soon as possible. About 340 evacuees spent the night in shelters across Anchorage on Monday. While others are staying with relatives, officials warned that returning home may not be possible for everyone before freezing temperatures arrive. A man was arrested yesterday evening after crashing his car into a security barrier outside the White House. That's according to the US Secret Service. >> The incident occurred around 10:30 p.m. at one of the White House entrances. Secret Service officers took the driver into custody immediately. >> Investigators later searched the vehicle and found no threats or hazardous materials. Authorities have not released the driver's identity or provided any details about a possible motive. and federal immigration operations erupted into chaos on both coasts. Protesters clashed with agents in New York City and gunfire broke out during a traffic stop in Los Angeles. Here's more. >> In New York, a routine Immigration Enforcement sweep on Canal Street in Chinatown quickly escalated. Federal agents with ICE and Border Patrol moved in on street vendors accused of selling counterfeit handbags and electronics. Within minutes, crowds gathered, shouting and blocking agents vehicles. Homeland Security later said the operation was part of a broader crackdown on sellers of counterfeit goods. DHS spokesperson Trisha Mclofflin said agents arrested one person for assaulting an officer. But New York Mayor Eric Adams said his city was not involved in the immigration operation. He said that undocumented New Yorkers trying to pursue their American dreams should not be the target of law enforcement and resources should instead be focused on violent criminals. While New York saw street protest, Los Angeles witnessed gunfire when a traffic stop turned violent. Officials say 44year-old Caritos Ricardo Paras, an illegal immigrant who had previously escaped custody, tried to ram his car into officers as they attempted to arrest him. The DHS says officers followed their training and fired defensive shots and the man was shot in the elbow and a US marshal was shot in the hand by a ricocheted bullet. Both are in the hospital. Paras faces one count of assaulting a federal officer. He has a considerable social media presence. According to local media, he has regularly documented federal immigration operations on his Tik Tok account and has more than 100,000 followers. Mlofflin has defended her agency's approach to immigration enforcement, saying officers aren't just going after random people. >> When we say we want the worst of the worst out of this country, it's not just a talking point. It really is what it is. That's who we're going after. And these are not indiscriminate stops. We're not just walking on the sidewalk and picking up random people. We have intelligence. We have reasonable suspicion under the fourth amendment of the constitution. That's who we're going after. >> The Los Angeles shootout and the New York protest come amid a surge in hostility toward ICE officers. Something President Trump's borders are Tom Hman told Newsmax is being fueled by divisive rhetoric from politicians and activists. >> I think it's the cartels, but I also think the rhetoric, especially from elected mayors, elected governors, and elected Congress people who who want to compare ICE to terrorists and the Nazis. the farest fringe on the left that become violent against ICE. They feel emboldened when the United States senator or or congressperson or or governor says ICE are Nazis and they're racist. That emboldens them to take more action against ICE officers. >> Homeman also said cartels are taking revenge on ICE by using internal gangs in the nation's largest cities to attack officers. According to Homeman in the White House, attacks on immigration officers have risen more than a thousand% in the last few months. The San Francisco mayor responds to the potential deployment of National Guard troops to his city. This as President Trump says he wants to make the city great again. NTD's David Lamb has more from San Francisco. >> Sending in the National Guard to San Francisco is something that the Trump administration wants to do to restore the city, but the mayor recently said that they have it under control and are already partnering with federal agencies. As your mayor, my top priority every single day is keeping San Francisco safe. With the support of local law enforcement, community leaders, and the appropriate federal law enforcement partners, we're achieving that goal without compromising our values or our laws. As a result, violent crime has fallen to levels not seen since the 1950s. The mayor says he would welcome stronger coordination with the FBI, DEA, ATF, and US attorneys to conduct targeted operations to disrupt drug markets and cartels. The National Guard has already been deployed in several US cities, including Los Angeles. Now, locals told me that the city does need help with addressing drug addiction, homelessness, and crime, but that sending in national troops isn't needed. There's not really any any need for that here. There's no like major protests or people attacking federal buildings here in San Francisco. In terms of enforcement, maybe it could be helpful, but it might also be a bit of an overstep. I'd like to say local law enforcement could do it. Um, but I mean, the SFPD is severely understaffed and they've had so many so many cuts. I can only see people getting really agitated and then well I find myself on the left but you're going to find the real leftists out there uh starting to >> I think if it will make the people from California or even the tourists feel safer then that would be a welcome idea. >> I also spoke to two tourists from the Philippines who shared with me their experience after being in San Francisco for 3 days. Uh this is our first time here so we find it very cool. >> Yeah, we like the weather. >> The weather is very nice. Attractions are >> really interesting. >> Right. Nice. >> Interesting. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> And very diverse. Sometimes I'm unsafe to be honest. >> Yes. >> One time in the tunnel. >> Yes. Just yesterday. >> Yeah. >> We were we were compelled to like take the other way because there were >> there were like three guys in the tunnel. I think he has some very explosive things. Yes, it's like >> sounds walk through the tunnel. >> Over the weekend, President Trump said he plans to deploy guard troops to San Francisco, saying it was one of the great cities 15 years ago in San Francisco. David Lamb, NTD News. >> Thank you, David. The North Carolina Senate has passed a redrawn congressional district map. The North Carolina House is expected to vote on the map today. If the House approves it, the map would eliminate the state's only competitive US House district currently held by a Democrat. North Carolina's current map has 10 Republican and four Democratic districts. The new proposal would take away one Democratic district. Protesters at Monday's committee meeting accused lawmakers of racism. They say the changes would eliminate one of the state's three black members of Congress. Republican Senator Ralph Heis said the move is intended to help maintain party control in Washington. >> Republican New York City mayoral candidate Curtis Siwa is rejecting calls to withdraw from the race. Here's more from ND's Arlene Richards. Many political observers have been calling on Republican nominee Curtis Siwa to withdraw from the New York City mayoral race, but Siwa says no. >> I am not dropping out under no circumstance. >> Observers have been urging Siwa to drop out in order to help independent candidate Andrew Cuomo defeat Democratic nominee Zoran Mdani. Siwa says he's even been offered money. >> I've already been offered money to drop out. I said no. >> He later told Fox News he might get Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg involved. >> Uh that means if you talk to me and you offer me a bribe, which is unethical, it could be illegal and I'm going to have to run right to Alvin Bragg and his investigators and you could be in double trouble. Some observers are concerned that Siwa's continued candidacy could split the vote and inadvertently help one of the other candidates. Siwa said he's also being threatened. Distant from that, there were threats against Nancy and myself. I now have to have armed security with me. Former NYPD officers. Never had that in my life. >> Siwa said the billionaires can't pick their candidate. He's trusting the people to make that decision. He says he will not drop out. Arlene Richards, NTD News. >> The North Carolina Senate has passed a redrawn congressional district map. The North Carolina House is expected to vote on the map today. If the House votes at approves it, the map would eliminate the state's only competitive US House district currently held by a Democrat. North Carolina's current map has 10 Republican and four Democratic districts. The new proposal would take away one Democratic district. Protesters at Monday's committee meeting accused lawmakers of racism. They say the changes would eliminate one of the state's three black members of Congress. Republican Senator Ralph Heis said the move is intended to help maintain party control in Washington. And as we look at this phenomenon and the vote today, we're joined now by Josh Maki, a candidate for Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina and the author of Be the Weight Behind the Spear. Josh, good to have you with us. State Republicans say it's a move toward more fair representation of North Carolina voters. Democrats say this new congressional map is is the opposite of that. As a Republican, how would you address these concerns of Democrats in your state? >> So, this is something that we deal with very frequently in North Carolina. This would be the fifth district map in six years. And I did reach out to Congressman Murphy this morning in that third district. you know, they're still re-evaluating some things as well, but when you look at North Carolina, three times we have elected Donald Trump president. So 2016, 2020, and 2024, you know, and the Democrats consistently just trying to sabotage his agenda that North Carolina North Carolinians clearly want. So, you know, this adding that additional seat will help us ensure that and combat the gerrymandering in California. And how do you see this change impacting the 2026 midterms and President Trump's agenda going forward? >> You know, you know, you certainly brace for some legal challenges. There's a little bit of an upheaval and that's why I reached out to Congressman Murphy this morning. You know, is because he now has a decision to make on which district that he runs in. So, they're clearly they're evaluating that right now. But for the most part, I mean, it doesn't change things too much. It's just that first and that third district that are affected. And I think this is what North Carolina wants. It is a better representation of what we stand for in North Carolina. >> What What else did you hear from Congressman Murphy? >> Yeah, just that he was still re-evaluating that. This is very new. I mean, it's not completely official yet. The Senate will be voting on that, I believe, today to make those maps official. And then it always does make some difference when you're running to file for Congress in North Carolina. You know, when those legal challenges, they can put some injunctions in and it does throw things into upheaval. But only those two districts are affected. You know, in the 2024 cycle when I ran, it was all 14 districts that were affected and there was a lot of upheaval, but I think for the most part, I think most most North Carolinians support this. >> And there, yes, there is a vote on that today. So, we should hear very shortly what the outcome is, and it's likely to go forward. That's what we're expecting. But there is, of course, movement across the nation to redistrict election maps in various states, including in Texas and California. They're out ahead in this. How do you see this in terms of the democratic process more broadly enhancing detracting or something else? >> You know, certainly I have my concerns about the optics of it as well. It's like a nuclear arms race. You know, one party tit fortat. North Carolina, Texas, California. I think the people are certainly concerned and those are the right questions to be asking. But with what California is doing, there really isn't much of an option. They're just trying to torpedo Trump's agenda. North Carolina's new map could face legal challenges as you've mentioned. How do you expect that to play out? >> I think it's very well established now with our 2024 maps. You know, the legislature has that right. You know, the governor does not have the ability to veto that and the Supreme Court even had got involved in 2024. So, this is the right of the of the the legislature and the Senate to draw those maps and that's what they've done. It is it is legal. Lastly, as Lieutenant Governor, you would serve as the president of the state senate in North Carolina. What do you see as the most important issues facing North Carolina residents today? >> So, for North Carolina, education is huge. And a lot of people don't realize that the lieutenant governor sits on the board of education and that's because the lieutenant governor has not been doing their job. So for me as a former Duke professor, my mom and my uh wife are both teachers. So it's really important. So that along with just having purpose- driven leadership and having that leadership in the Senate, those are the most important roles. And I I think education is probably the biggest >> on this point. I just want to follow up. Um what role do you think education may have in civic engagement as we see this new movement a ground swell among the youth to get more involved in civic discussion. >> So it really in my personal leadership ethos when I talk about being the weight behind the spear that's the best resource that any country has and education has a huge part to play with that. So when you talk about teachers and coaches, volunteers and families, that's the best resource that we have as a nation. And so education is like the pinnacle point of that. And so having strong public education is so important in North Carolina. And having that involvement from your lieutenant governor and that right leadership is critical. And how do you see this um tension that we're currently observing from the electoral maps to other areas of politics being bridged and people coming together and and moving forward as one nation. >> All right. Thank you. So, you know, this is the most divided generationally and politically that that I've seen the country and North Carolina. And that's why I think it's so important to find some common issues. So when you talk about leadership development and empowering our youth, we can all agree that we want this next generation to be successful. You know, this was just a generation of individuals that, you know, they were shut out of schools, they were shut out of churches and their communities. And as an emergency physician, I see all the anxiety, the depression, the suicide, a huge mental health crisis. We need to tell this generation that they matter. We want them involved. We want to empower them. That's what being the weight behind the spear is all about and that's what we're going to do here in North Carolina. >> Josh McConkey, thank you so much for your input today. >> Thank you. >> Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the state is making efforts to end indoctrination in public education. He cited the case of a Texas professor who was dismissed from an administrative role because of quote ideological differences. NTD correspondent Jason Blair has the details. Texas Governor Greg Abbott says the state is weeding out professors who prioritize quote leftist ideologies over fundamental education. Abbott posted on social media, Texas is targeting professors who are more focused on pushing leftist ideologies rather than preparing students to lead our nation. We must end indoctrination and return to education fundamentals at all levels of education. Abbott posted an article about recently removed University of Texas Professor Art Markman. In his post, Governor Abbott commented that Markman was dismissed from an administrative post overseeing university academic affairs because of ideological differences. Markman says he was released from his role in September, but remains a tenured faculty member. Critics of the move say that it infringes on free speech. Earlier this year, a professor from Texas A&M University was let go after a lesson related to gender identity and sexuality went viral. Eventually, the controversy led to the president of the university, Mark Welsh, to resign. The Trump administration is aiming to reshape educational policies nationwide. Earlier this month, the administration incentivized nine universities, including the University of Texas at Austin, to agree to a 10-point plan, which includes policies like recognizing only two genders. Jason Blair, NTD News. >> The Turning Point USA tour made its latest stop last night at Indiana University, Bloomington, drawing a large crowd of students for a night of debate and discussion. >> Yeah. Among those taking the stage were Indiana Governor Mike Brawn and political commentator Tucker Carlson. NTD's Chris Bob was there. Have a look. >> I'm outside the auditorium at Indiana University Bloomington where a Turning Point USA tour stop just took place. It was a Q&A between students and Tucker Carlson. >> Who are the people that are like a part of this movement that's attacking your freedom of speech? I feel like we hear woke so much, especially from conservatives. I'm personally not one. Um, but we never really hear like what it means. >> At its core, woke is an attempt by the powerful to make the less powerful shut up. >> Why are you only against the more powerful when it's supporting things like human rights and BLM, but you're for it when it's supporting Donald Trump? >> So, the amount of influence that you carried. >> So, you don't agree? Look, you don't agree with my views on whatever. So, are you saying my views are insincere? >> No, we disagree. Yes. I I truly doubt your sincerity and I think >> Well, then that's then that's your problem. >> I'm trying to understand it because it makes no sense. Like, you're worthion. >> I'm not worth $50 million. >> We spoke to a couple of the students who attended the speech. Here's what they had to say. Did you learn anything? >> I think I did learn a little bit. I especially learned a little bit about, you know, I'm more conservative and I think I learned a little bit about the other side from a couple of the questions that were asked. So, uh, it was it was certainly useful. >> It was exciting. Like, it is this is the turning point. So, it did get me like reassured in my values and more motivated to live those out on campus and in my life >> because I'm a leftist myself. I'm a leftist and I'm an atheist. And I had a really meaningful conversation with this guy who was waiting in the Q&A line with me, uh, who was a conservative Christian. And I think we were able to really have like a open dialogue that was more uh focused on like curiosity with each other's point of view rather than kind of trying to disprove the other side. And so I think in terms of these large events I think it's more meaningful to do have small scale dialogue with people. Uh because I think a lot of people are aligned on the same types of things but they just wouldn't know it because of the rhetoric that is used by both sides in the United States. >> Less to do with Turning Point USA's personal thing and more the political climate in the United States. You'll see people are here to just dunk on liberals and boo them off stage. >> Thank you, Chris. Bob, Indiana Governor Mike Braun has officially declared October 21st as Turning Point USA Civic Engagement Day. It recognizing Turning Point's work in helping students develop leadership skills and engage in civic discourse. >> The next stop on the Turning Point USA tour is October 27th at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge. And still to come, President Trump is ordering the USDA to restart farmer aid that was halted by the government shutdown. Secretary Brooke Rollins says help for America's farmers is on the way. That story and more coming up. Welcome back to Good Morning. I'm Carrie Dunst. If you're just joining us now, here are some of today's top headlines. President Trump is preparing for a major trip to Asia with stops in Malaysia, Japan, and South Korea, as well as a planned meeting with China Xi Jinping. That might not happen though as tensions over tariffs are on the rise. In Japan, he is expected to meet with the new conservative prime minister, Sana Takahichi. Trump also putting plans together to meet with President Putin on hold. Vice President JD Vance met with Israeli officials yesterday, commenting that the Gaza Peace Plan is going better than expected. He announced the opening of the Civilian Military Coordination Center in southern Israel, and that's where Americans and Israelis are working together on the plan to rebuild Gaza. Vance said no US troops will be on the ground, but that an international security force will help keep the peace. The Hamas terror group handed over two more bodies of the deceased yesterday. And protesters are calling for the return of all remaining hostages outside the US embassy in Tel Aviv where they are demonstrating. And federal immigration operations on both coasts sparked chaos. In New York, protesters clashed with ICE agents during a raid in Chinatown. And over in Los Angeles, a traffic stop ended in gunfire after a suspect allegedly tried to ram officers. Homeland Security is defending these operations, saying agents are targeting known offenders, not just random people. And now it's over three weeks into the government shutdown and 11 failed votes to reopen the government. Federal workers are feeling the pinch of missing their paychecks. A line gathered outside of a food bank in Maryland to serve federal workers. Senate leader John Thun has teed up a bill to pay those who are still on the job during the shutdown. It's unclear if Democrats will support it. Democratic leader Chuck Schumer on Tuesday asked for a second meeting with President Trump. Trump's response. He's happy to meet with them after they reopen the government. Those are this morning's top headlines. With that, Steph, over to you. >> Thanks, Carrie. Millions of Americans could face delays in their food assistance next month if the government shutdown isn't resolved. States across the country are already alerting residents to prepare for possible delays before the holidays. And Christina Corona tells us more. The federal government shutdown could leave millions of Americans without food assistance starting next month. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP, often called food stamps, is expected to run out of funding starting November 1st, potentially affecting 40 million people nationwide. State agencies in Texas, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, West Virginia, and Illinois have issued warnings that benefits may be delayed if the shutdown continues. In Texas, officials say SNAP benefits may not be issued after October 27th, while Pennsylvania has said payments won't be made until federal funding resumes. In California, Governor Gavin Newsome warned that more than 5 and a half million residents could see their CalFresh benefits delayed. About 60% of recipients are children or seniors. Counties are preparing for possible interruptions, and Newsome announced recipients will be notified this week. The Department of Agriculture also instructed states not to process certain files needed to load EBT cards for November benefits. This raises concerns about families needing food, especially with the Thanksgiving holiday approaching. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said Democrats are putting other priorities ahead of food security. Democrats responded saying any funding deal has to protect Americans who could lose health coverage or face higher medical costs. Christina Corona, NTD News. >> Secretary of Agriculture Book Rollins says the USDA will resume distributing aid to farmers frozen by the government shutdown. Rollins says the Farm Service agency will resume operations tomorrow, processing farm loans and managing federal programs. She said President Trump will not let what she'd called the radical left Democrat shutdown impact critical USDA services while harvest is underway. The secretary added that more than $3 billion in aid will go out to farmers and that the administration is preparing a package for those hit by China's halt in soybean purchases. Trump said soybeans will be a major topic if he meets Chinese regime leader Xi Jinping at the Apex Summit in South Korea. And the US is facing a growing threat, not only from drug traffickers, but also from a foreign terrorist organization with deep ties to Iran. A Senate panel is warning that Hezbollah, the Lebanese terrorist group, is using Latin America as a base for drug operations, funneling billions into its terror network and sending operatives across the US border. Entities Washington correspondent Jack Bradley reports. Today, Hezbollah traffics narcotics through criminal networks active in the triber area of Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay. Hezbollah, as we all know, is also active in Venezuela, which under the Maduro dictatorship has become a key enabler of the group's malign activity in our region. The US is facing drug trafficking and terrorist attack threats by the Lebanese terrorist group Hezbollah. That's according to a Tuesday panel before the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control. Hezbollah is arguably the largest terrorist threat to the US and the most effective operational arm of the Iranian regime. The FBI arrested 128 Hezbollah figures in the United States between 1997 and 2020. And we know that other Iranbacked terrorists likewise have planned attacks on American soil, including a 2011 assassination plot against the Saudi ambassador in Washington and more recent plots more recent plots against former senior Trump administration officials. For years, Hezbollah has been a drug trafficker, particularly of cocaine, in Latin America, to the tune of billions of dollars every year, starting out there in the early 1990s. That money is used to fund its terrorism, and those drugs find their way into the US. Hezbollah receives hundreds of millions of dollars from Iran every year, but that may have diminished due to recent sanctions on Iran, falling oil prices, and recent military strikes on Iranian sites. Israeli actions in its war with Hezbollah have also killed many of its top leaders. Now, the panel says that the group may be moving further into partnership with Venezuela to make more money from drug trafficking. My advice is that we look hard at Venezuela because they will go in whole hog with the Venezuelan regime and with the drug trade to supplement the income that they've lost. Venezuela is a willing safe haven for what remains as the most lethal, dangerous foreign terrorist organization to the United States, and that is Hezbollah. >> We've had several arrests and convictions of Hezbollah operatives in this country who were carrying out pre-operational surveillance. The panel recommends that Latin American nations designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization to unlock investigative capabilities and weaken any threats posed by those terrorists. Reporting by Jack Bradley, NTD News. >> Coming up, >> and the Lou reopens after a brazen daytime jewel heist worth over a$undred million. Thieves rode a lift to an upper window and vanished in minutes, sparking a massive manhunt in Paris. Welcome back now to Southern California where construction of a wildlife crossing over a busy highway is underway. A new stage in the project began yesterday with the planting of the first native plants grown from seeds gathered from the area. >> The Wallace Annenburgg Wildlife Crossing will provide a safe and natural passage over the 101 Freeway in Agora Hills just west of Los Angeles. It's going to allow safe passage for mountain lions and other animals moving between the wilderness areas. Here's Beth Pratt from the National Wildlife Foundation. >> For the animals to use this to cross, which is one goal of this, it needs to look like the native landscape. They're not going to approach it if it doesn't match, if we don't block out the sound, the light, and make it blend into the landscape. But it's also important, our native wildlife uses this for for food, for shelter. Some of them lay their eggs on it. So again, it it is important for very many levels. And these plants that you see around on these hills have been around for thousands and thousands and hundreds of thousands of years. And depending where you are, sometimes millions of years. That means they become really really well adapted to that particular region, that particular soil, that particular climate. And so you know that if you're planting close to that area, getting seeds from that region makes the most sense. It means that you're setting up the plants for maximum success. The native plants will help create a new wildlife habitat almost 1 acre in size. Over a million seeds were collected from a 5m radius around the site and cultivated at a nearby nursery. Cover crops have already been planted on the site to repair the ground and cultivate the soil for the new native plants. The crossing is in its final construction phase and it's expected to be completed by the end of 2026. >> The Lou Museum in Paris reopened today just days after crown jewels were stolen. The dramatic weekend heist was estimated at more than hund00 million. >> Yeah. 100 investigators are now involved in the police hunt for the suspects and gems after Sunday's theft from the world's most visited museum. >> Questions have arisen about security at the Lou and whether security cameras might have failed. Thieves rode a basket lift up to the Lou's facade. They used a crane to break an upstairs window, smash display cases, and fled with priceless Napoleonic jewels. The thieves spent less than four minutes inside the museum and then escaped on motorbikes. The eight items of stolen jewelry included a tiara and earrings from the set of Queen Maria Mali and Queen Hortense of the early 19th century. The crown of Empress Eugenei was found outside the museum, apparently dropped during the getaway. I guess it's not all terrible news in that regard. What? That was fortunate. At least four French museums have been robbed in the last two months. >> Indeed. >> Stay tuned, folks. We've got much more coming up in the next hour.