Trump approval hits record low, $400M threat to N.J., Roberts breaks ranks, Fetterman blasts Dems

Here's what's making headlines today. The Trump administration is threatening to cut off $400 million a year in TANF funding for New Jersey if the state does not report undocumented immigrants to the federal government. The Justice Department said states that take part in TANF and SSI must report individuals known to be not lawfully present in the United States to the Department of Homeland Security. Governor Mikey Sherrill said her administration is committed to protecting New Jersey residents State Human Services Commissioner Stephen Chaw called TANFA safety net for thousands of low-income New Jerseyans and said the state will do everything within its authority to protect those it serves. President Donald Trump's approval rating is holding at 33 percent, while Democrats report greater enthusiasm about voting in November. The latest Reuters-Ipsos poll puts Trump at that level for the third straight survey, with 63 percent disapproving of his job performance. The cost of living remains a weak spot, 71 percent disapprove of his handling of the issue, including about one in four Republicans. Meanwhile, 46 percent of Democrats say they're very enthusiastic about voting in the midterms compared with 31 percent of Republicans. Among independents, 36 percent favor a Democratic candidate versus 22 percent for a Republican. The survey of 1,167 adults ran August 28th through 31st with a margin of error of plus or minus three percentage points. The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed construction to continue on President Donald Trump's White House ballroom project while litigation moves forward. The project is a planned 90,000 square foot ballroom at the White House and is being challenged by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The high court's divided ruling focused on standing, not the ballroom's ultimate legality. Chief Justice John Roberts dissented, writing that the construction effort appears to be likely unlawful, while the majority said the preservation group is unlikely to show the legal harm needed to pursue the lawsuit. The administration says the ballroom is tied to broader security improvements and is already roughly two-thirds complete. It also says the project will be financed through private funding and is expected to be completed before the end of Trump's current term. Lower courts had paused much of the work and an appeals court earlier this month upheld that ruling before the Supreme Court stepped in. The White House East Wing was demolished as part of the project and construction continues in Washington. Donald Trump denied claims of a U.S. ammunition shortage and attacked news outlets on social media. He said reports about low ammunition levels were treasonous and claimed media outlets wanted to see him win. In another post, he said the U.S. has virtually unlimited ammunition and is stockpiling munitions. Trump also criticized Joe Biden, saying the Biden administration gave far more munitions away to Ukraine and NATO. Senator John Fetterman criticized his own party over the rise of democratic socialism and said he will not become a Republican. On Fox News with Sean Hannity on Tuesday, he said he will remain critical of the Democratic Socialists of America. Fetterman said, The Democratic Party is becoming, having like an orgy of socialism and said he will put our country ahead of party. He has also been praised by President Donald Trump and met with him in Mar-a-Lago ahead of his inauguration.