America on standby

Hey folks, Ryan Seacrest here! I’m so glad to be your host during the American Idol off season. You’ve been watching America 2025 week after week and now it’s time to make your voice heard.

Text STOP to USA-2025 to end the government shutdown, ensure SNAP benefits reach millions of Americans, and get the airports fully staffed again. Though, caving to Republicans demands could lead to millions of Americans losing healthcare access, according to longtime contestant Bernie Sanders.

Text MELT USA-2025 to stop armed ICE agents from kidnapping daycare employees while they’re at work, with proper documentation, and surrounded by small children.

Or finally, text SCREW IT to USA-2025 to just see how far we can devolve.

Oops! My apologies, I’ve just learned you have no choice or agency in the matter. The shutdown can only be ended by Congress. Republicans are unwilling to bend on any legislation, like healthcare cuts. In fact, President Trump just woke up from a nap and Truthed that Obamacare should be ended all together.

Did the current president decide to go after Obamacare because former President Obama is making more public appearances again and Trump has projected his insecurities onto Obama for over a decade now? Who can say! This show’s been on awhile.

It’s generally been a win for Democrats, as more people blame Republicans for the shutdown, according to recent polling. But after a great showing for Democrats last Election Day, establishment Democrats are still struggling to define who controls the party now, if anyone (reminder: neither Senator Majority leader Chuck Schumer or House Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries officially endorsed Zohran Mandami).

And just last night, eight moderate Democrats voted on a deal that would not extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at the end of the year.

Anyway, it’s a bit of a mess but I’m getting word that Clay Aiken is ready to take the stage. Take it away, Clay!!

Ok folks, you’ve never gonna believe this but that wasn’t Ryan Seacrest. It was me, Dave, and I’m back from vacation. I flew home to Kansas City on Saturday for a few hours, then took a nine-hour delayed flight at midnight to Atlanta, where I will be giving a TED talk Sunday night.

From there, I’m traveling to Portugal for the WebSummit conference. I’ll be moderating a panel there AND making videos from Portugal … if I make it to Portugal. I should be alright, however. Those traveling internationally to and from the U.S., your flights generally have not been affected by the government shutdown. And I have to begrudgingly admit that the New York Times video (below) made a really great video on the shutdown’s affect on airports (I may have left the Post, but the rivalry with the Times remains in my DNA).

I hope to make my own video on airport travel right now. Or perhaps just an ode to pilot Scott, who got my very empty flight safely to Atlanta last night at around 2 am.

Thanks again, Scott 🫡.

beehiiv started with newsletters. Now, they’re reimagining the entire content economy.

On November 13, beehiiv’s biggest updates ever are dropping at the Winter Release Event.

For the people shaping the next generation of content, community, and media, this is an event you won’t want to miss.

RSVP for the Winter Release →

Anyway, while in Portugal, I really want to put the International in Local News International. What stories would you like me to cover about Europe from Europe? Is there anything hyper local in Portugal you’d like me talk about? Email me at [email protected].

Speaking of hyper local, don’t forget that if you’re a student or teacher, you can get a $5 membership using your edu email. I know how hard it is to make ends meet right now, especially if you’re in school, so we really appreciate everyone who has become a member.

As a reminder, this Monday newsletter (or Sunday, if you’re a subscriber) is my weekly attempt to analyze what’s happening in the news and in the content creator world. It's my open book diary, where I really try to peel back the curtain. If you want to get even further behind the curtain, and see my messy home office with 50 costumes strewn about the floor, make sure to sign up for our town hall.

As the government shutdown appears poised to end, I want to make a small tribute here to the amazing federal workers who have been showing up to work each day, many without pay.

There’s a pretty easy argument to make that this government shutdown process is self-inflicted and unnecessary. But stepping back from the politics of it all for a moment, it’s incredible that air traffic controllers and other government employees have continued showing up to work without pay. And in a strange way, I’m glad that furloughed workers, due to the absence of their work, have recived long overdue credit for the impact of their jobs.

This article from the Bipartisan Policy Center dig a great job of breaking it all down. Here’s a graph from that article:

So, as always, I want to put an emphasis on the good people out there working hard to give Americans a better life. I hope they eclipse those doing the opposite.

See you all this week with more weird videos from Atlanta, Portugal and all the airports in between!