The U.S. Senate met yesterday, a rare Saturday, and today, Sunday, ever more so, not to end the government shutdown, but for Republicans to get on TV news programs to blame Democrats for shutting down SNAP benefits and cancelling flights.  President Donald Trump returns to DC today. But not to help work on opening up the government, but to attend the Washington Commanders vs Detroits NFL game in Landover, Maryland.  Ah, I still remember back 43 years ago when I cheered on the Redskins in RFK Stadium, in walking distance of my office, when I toiled in the U.S. Senate. Trump plans to meet with the Commander's leadership group to name their new $3.7 billion stadium, to open in 2030, after him. I bet many of you are somewhat confused by the term, SNAP benefits. First came the Food Stamp Program in 1939. The Food Stamp Act was passed in 1964. Electronic Benefit Transfer, or EBT cards, were introduced around 1990 to replace paper food stamps Then in 2008, to reduce the stigma associ...

 Let me begin with President Donald Trump, for he is on the  cover of the current  Time  magazine . His biggest problem today?   Says he won't be extorted by Democrats to end the government shutdown, which tomorrow will tie the record of 35 days his administration set in 2018-2019. His record will also be tested tomorrow when several states vote. His unpopularity in these races has kept him away, but his funding assistance will be helpful to Republicans.  He does have a tele-rally for those governors races tonight at 7PM EDT.  Interesting that, while he has endorsed Ciattarelli, he has not quite officially said so for Earle-Sears. The most watched is for Mayor of New York City. Pits 34-year-old state Democratic lawmaker Zohran Mamdani against former state governor 67-year-old now independent Andrew Cuomo and 71-year old Republican Curtis Sliwa. At last check, Mamdani held a  +14.7 point lead  over nearest rival Cuomo. Two are for governor. In...

Two important news items before sports.  First,  HOW THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SEALED THE GAZA CEASEFIRE DEAL : Credit Steve Witkoff, another real estate developer, now a special envoy, and Jared Kushner, son-in-law.  They've handled the bulk of the negotiations. You can read the details, but this article did not underscore the main reason why there is now peace in the Gaza Strip, with all the live hostages to be returned in 24 hours.  Very simply, President Donald Trump early this month warned   all hell, like no one has ever seen before, will break out against Hamas , if they don't agree to his Gaza Peace Plan by the deadline. While few have any pretensions that what now happening means there will be peace in the Middle East forever, what Trump has done is create a platform for Israel to work in tenuous unity with key countries like Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Turkey and Qatar, to marshal a kind of truce for now.  A lot more work left. Nobel Peace medal from Trum...