NOVEMBER 9, 2025
- FAA Announces 10% Reduction in Air Traffic at Busy Airports: The Federal Aviation Administration is implementing cuts to manage capacity amid ongoing challenges, potentially impacting travel during peak seasons.
- Federal Judge Orders Full Restoration of SNAP Benefits: A court ruling mandates the Trump administration to reinstate full food assistance payments after partial pauses caused widespread uncertainty for recipients.
- Investigation into UPS Plane Crash Intensifies: Probes into a recent UPS aircraft incident reveal potential safety lapses, with federal agencies reviewing cargo operations nationwide.
- Starbucks 'Bearista' Holiday Cups Spark Retail Chaos: The limited-edition cups have led to long lines and online frenzy, boosting sales but causing supply shortages in major cities.
- Democratic Wins in Recent Elections Signal Shift for Republicans: Analysts discuss how key victories could reshape GOP strategies heading into 2026 midterms.
- Trump Administration Rolls Out New Tax Breaks for Wealthy: The Treasury and IRS are finalizing rules providing billions in relief to high-income individuals and corporations, drawing bipartisan criticism.
- Israeli Leaders Celebrate Milestones in Freedom Efforts: Key figures in Israeli society highlight progress in regional stability amid ongoing diplomatic talks.
- Third Body Recovered in South Korea Power Plant Collapse: Rescue operations continue after a deadly incident at a major facility, with four workers still missing and investigations into structural failures underway.
- Ukraine Faces Total Power Blackout After Russian Strikes: The country scrambles to restore energy infrastructure targeted in recent attacks, leaving millions without heat or electricity as winter approaches.
- EU-CELAC Summit Kicks Off in Brussels: Leaders from Europe and Latin America convene to discuss trade, climate, and migration, marking a key step in transatlantic relations.
- Asia's AI Stocks Plunge Amid Global Rally Doubts: Major tech shares drop sharply, raising concerns over the sector's sustainability in emerging markets.
- ISRO Unveils Enhanced Chandrayaan-2 Data for Global Study: The Indian space agency releases updated lunar orbiter information, aiding international research and inspiring STEM curricula worldwide.
- Trump Policies Reshape Federal Oversight of Schools: New directives reduce Washington’s influence on local education, sparking debates over curriculum standards and funding.
- San Diego Unified Reports Sustained Student Achievement Gains: California education leaders celebrate multi-year progress in test scores, crediting targeted interventions.
- NYC Schools Grapple with Enrollment Drops Under New Mayor: Incoming leadership faces low attendance, poor reading metrics, and federal pushback on reforms.
- S&P 500 Falls 1.6% on Weak Jobs Report: Investors reassess valuations as employment data disappoints, signaling potential slowdown in growth.
- Government Shutdown Triggers Airspace Reductions and Consumer Slump: Confidence hits a three-year low as travel disruptions mount and economic fallout worsens.
- SNAP Recipients Endure Payment Uncertainty Amid Delays: Millions await full benefits restoration, exacerbating food insecurity during the holiday season.
- Economist Stiglitz Warns of 'Inequality Emergency' in G-20 Analysis: A new report calls for urgent reforms to address widening wealth gaps globally.
- Nvidia Forecasts Robust Demand for Blackwell AI Chips: CEO Jensen Huang highlights surging orders, bolstering optimism in the semiconductor sector.
- Exposé Reveals Meta's Use of Scam Ads to Fund AI Development: A report uncovers how fraudulent advertising revenue has propped up the company's tech investments.
- ChatGPT Becomes Free for Users in India: OpenAI expands access to its AI tool, aiming to tap into one of the world's largest markets.
- Tech Layoffs Surpass 100,000 in 2025: Industry-wide cuts continue, driven by cost-cutting and AI automation shifts.
- Breakthrough: Brain Immune Cells Identified to Combat Alzheimer's: New research pinpoints specialized neurons that could halt disease progression in early stages.
- Antibody Therapies Show Promise in Slowing Alzheimer's Decline: Clinical trials reveal drugs that preserve cognition, offering hope for millions affected.
- Psychedelics Demonstrate Brain-Rewiring Potential for Depression: Studies suggest these compounds could enhance traditional treatments by altering neural pathways.
- Opioid Crisis Escalates Among Seniors with Fentanyl Surge: Overdose deaths among older adults rise sharply, prompting calls for targeted prevention efforts.
- Arizona Wildcats Stage Late Rally to Defeat Kansas 24-20: Quincy Craig's 24-yard touchdown run with 39 seconds left secures a thrilling college football upset.
- Dallas Mavericks Edge Washington Wizards in NBA Thriller: Highlights from the November 8 matchup showcase high-scoring action and key plays.
- NFL Fines Bills Players for Post-Touchdown Celebration: Elijah Moore and Josh Allen face penalties following a Week 9 antics violation.
- Falcons-Colts NFL Clash Looms with Atlanta in Slump: The struggling Falcons seek a turnaround against Indianapolis in a critical divisional matchup.
Join NPE President Diane Ravitch as she discusses her new memoir - Network For Public Education https://networkforpubliceducation.org/join-npe-president-diane-ravitch-as-she-discusses-her-memoir/
An Education | Columbia University Press https://cup.columbia.edu/book/an-education/9780231563161/
Book Review :: An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else by Diane Ravitch - NewPages.com https://www.newpages.com/blog/books/book-reviews/an-education-by-diane-ravitch/
An Education: How I Changed My Mind About Schools and Almost Everything Else: Ravitch, Diane: 9780231220293: Amazon.com: Books https://www.amazon.com/Education-Changed-Schools-Almost-Everything/dp/0231220294?
Big Education Ape: THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC TENT DEBATE: HOW ZOHRAN MAMDANI'S VICTORY REVEALS AMERICA'S UNFINISHED CONVERSATION WITH ITSELF https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/the-great-tent-debate-how-zohran.html
Big Education Ape: BREAKING NEWS: THE PEACOCK GETS PLUCKED: AN AUTOPSY OF CABLE NEWS LATEST IDENTITY CRISIS https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/breaking-news-peacock-gets-plucked.html
The article discusses MSNBC's rebranding to "MS NOW" amidst corporate and political pressures, exploring its implications for journalism, media ownership, and credibility. It critiques the shift as a reflection of corporate strategies, technological changes, and political influence, raising concerns about the future of independent journalism.
### Key Points
- MSNBC rebrands to "MS NOW," reflecting corporate panic and attempts to stay relevant in a fragmented media landscape.
- The iconic NBC peacock is abandoned, symbolizing the decline of traditional cable news and the rise of alternative news sources like TikTok and podcasts.
- Comcast spins off networks into a new company, Versant, positioning MS NOW as an independent entity while rumors of a potential buyout by Oracle's Larry Ellison circulate.
- The rebrand raises questions about MS NOW's credibility under political pressure and billionaire ownership, highlighting broader concerns about media integrity.
- The article critiques the state of journalism, questioning its ability to adapt to technological progress and maintain relevance amidst corporate and political dynamics.
Big Education Ape: TODAY'S TOP NEWS - YESTERDAY'S BEST BLOG POST NOVEMBER 7, 2025 https://bigeducationape.blogspot.com/2025/11/todays-top-news-yesterdays-best-blog_0786106595.html
Seattle Schools Community Forum: This and That on Elections and the New Superintendent, November 8, 2025. https://saveseattleschools.blogspot.com/2025/11/this-and-that-on-elections-and-new.html?spref=tw
### Key Points
- Lisa Rivera criticizes The Stranger's endorsement of Katie Smith over Sarah Clark, emphasizing Clark's qualifications and representation.
- Concerns raised about Clark missing a key vote on selecting Ben Shuldiner as superintendent, with implications for leadership.
- Ben Shuldiner's plans for cost-saving and improving financial stewardship in Seattle Public Schools are detailed, along with his commitment to equity and long-term leadership.
- The Seattle Times invites public questions about Shuldiner’s leadership philosophy and community engagement.
- Criticism of nepotism within Seattle Schools and its impact on personnel decisions.
- Past discussions on advanced learning services in Seattle Public Schools highlighted by Director Geary.
Unity Said No Major Changes for Medicare Recipients SURPRISE--they lied again. https://arthurgoldstein.substack.com/p/unity-said-no-major-changes-for-medicare
### Key Points
- Unity introduced a new health plan with changes that significantly impact Medicare recipients, despite prior assurances of minimal changes.
- A new pharmacy provider, Prime Therapeutics, replaces Express Scripts, causing confusion and leading to some prescriptions, including costly medications like Mounjaro, being excluded from coverage.
- The cost-cutting measures aim to save the city money but result in increased premiums for retirees and inferior plan options.
- Unity's decision to move to Amazon for medication delivery raises concerns about supporting anti-union companies.
- Critics highlight poor communication about the changes, the lack of transparency, and the neglect of retirees' needs, urging the adoption of legislation like Intro 1096 to protect healthcare.
Education Helped Power the Blue Wave 10 surprising election takeaways JENNIFER BERKSHIRE https://educationwars.substack.com/p/education-helped-power-the-blue-wave
### Key Points
- Conservative school board candidates, such as those backed by Moms for Liberty, performed poorly, signaling voter fatigue with culture war issues like book bans and attacks on LGBTQ students.
- Education reform movements favoring charter schools and dark money influence faced voter rejection, as seen in Denver elections.
- In Texas, Democrat Taylor Rehmet nearly won a Senate seat in a traditionally Republican district, campaigning on economic populism and defense of public education.
- Democrats flipped legislative seats in Mississippi, breaking a GOP supermajority, with education funding as a key issue.
- Virginia elections debunked the narrative that school choice and parental rights are winning issues for Republicans, as voters favored Democrats on education.
- A coalition of financially struggling yet highly educated voters emerged as a political force, challenging both conservative and centrist Democratic narratives.
- Union-backed candidates and public education funding initiatives, like Colorado’s free school lunch program, saw strong support.
- Local Democratic victories, such as in Souderton, Pennsylvania, highlighted the importance of grassroots persuasion in school board elections.
THE GREAT DEMOCRATIC TENT DEBATE: WHAT FDR KNEW... ZOHRAN MAMDANI’S VICTORY AND AMERICA’S UNFINISHED CONVERSATION WITH ITSELF https://ru4people.substack.com/p/the-great-democratic-tent-debate
### Key Points
- Zohran Mamdani’s victory as NYC mayor, running on a democratic socialist platform, has sparked debates within the Democratic Party about its future direction.
- Historical parallels are drawn between the current era of wealth inequality and the original Gilded Age, which saw extreme disparities in wealth and labor conditions.
- The Socialist Party’s early advocacy for worker protections, pensions, and labor rights faced resistance but laid the groundwork for later reforms.
- Franklin D. Roosevelt adopted socialist-inspired policies during the Great Depression to stabilize capitalism, creating programs like Social Security and public works initiatives.
- FDR’s New Deal reshaped the economy, providing a model for balancing capitalism with government intervention.
- The current era mirrors the Gilded Age, with wealth concentration, stagnant wages, and a failing social safety net.
- Democratic socialists like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez advocate for policies such as Medicare for All and a Green New Deal, which are often mischaracterized as radical.
- The article distinguishes between social democracy, democratic socialism, and authoritarian socialism, arguing that most modern proposals align with the Nordic model of social democracy.
- The Democratic Party’s internal conflict pits progressives, who demand bold change, against moderates, who fear alienating swing voters.
- The debate should focus on policies and results rather than ideological labels, as many “socialist” policies are widely supported by Americans.
- Universal programs like Social Security and Medicare are durable because they benefit everyone, regardless of political affiliation.
- The article critiques the privatization agenda of billionaires, arguing that essential services should be treated as public goods rather than profit centers.
- Government-funded programs and research have historically driven innovation, contrary to claims that markets alone fuel progress.
- A mixed economy, like the Nordic model, balances market mechanisms with public provision to promote prosperity and equity.
- Mamdani’s victory demonstrates that running on popular policies can overcome fears about the “socialism” label, signaling a shift in political attitudes.
- The article advocates for bold, universal policies to address inequality, climate change, and systemic issues, following FDR’s example.
MORNING NEWS UPDATE: NOVEMBER 8, 2025 - by MIKE SIMPSON https://ru4people.substack.com/p/morning-news-update-november-8-2025?sort=new
### Key Points
- The Department of Homeland Security introduces advanced surveillance tools to monitor noncitizens, raising privacy concerns.
- Former President Trump and a Democratic challenger are invited to debate in New York’s gubernatorial race, but no responses yet.
- UPS and FedEx ground MD-11 cargo planes after a deadly crash in Kentucky, killing 14 people.
- A vehicle-on-pedestrian crash in Tampa resulted in four fatalities and eleven injuries.
- The U.S. government shutdown reaches its 39th day, disrupting travel, federal worker pay, and food aid.
- Senate Republicans reject a Democratic proposal to end the shutdown, while moderates push for compromise.
- An India-U.S. trade agreement is expected by the end of November.
- Russia launches a massive missile and drone attack on Ukraine, while Gaza’s death toll exceeds 69,000 amid a fragile ceasefire.
- Türkiye issues arrest warrants for Israeli officials over Gaza conflict charges.
- Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) is now a top global killer, doubling cases since 1990.
- Global economic growth is projected at 3.0-3.3% for 2025-2026, with advanced economies accelerating slightly.
- AI infrastructure spending by Big Tech firms like Meta and Google is projected to require $1.5 trillion in funding.
- Elon Musk warns about AI replacing digital jobs but supports universal high income in the long term.
- A new Android spyware family exploited vulnerabilities in Samsung Galaxy devices for nearly a year.
- U.S. consumer sentiment drops to a 3.5-year low due to shutdown concerns.
- Holiday shopping is expected to grow by 3.7%-4.2%, despite economic uncertainty.
- Vaccine experts highlight the benefits of COVID-19 vaccines in reducing eczema flare-ups in children.
- Sports updates include key basketball, football, and soccer matches, with notable wins and title races.
When Independent Oversight Becomes Optional: A Brewing LAUSD Bond Committee Scandal https://www.changethelausd.com/when_independent_oversight_becomes_optional_a_brewing_lausd_bond_committee_scandal
The article discusses the ongoing credibility crisis within the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), focusing on its Bond Oversight Committee. The controversy arises from delays and political interference in appointing a qualified nominee, Tamar Poladian-Perron, to the committee. The article highlights past financial scandals, ethical concerns, and potential political retaliation, questioning the district's transparency and governance practices.
### Key Points
- LAUSD has faced multiple financial scandals, including misuse of funds and unethical practices by board members, eroding public trust.
- California law mandates the creation of a Bond Oversight Committee to ensure proper use of school bond funds, with members nominated by external organizations and approved by the LAUSD Board.
- Tamar Poladian-Perron, a qualified nominee for the committee, was vetted and cleared by the Ethics Office but faced unexplained delays in her appointment.
- Questions arose about political retaliation, as Poladian-Perron’s husband is running against a current board member, Kelly Gonez, in the next election.
- The delay in Poladian-Perron’s appointment has raised concerns about governance, ethics, and the implications for female representation in LAUSD.
The Gorge Film ★★★★½: Lessons for Every Risk-Taker – Cloaking Inequity https://cloakinginequity.com/2025/11/08/the-gorge-film-%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%e2%98%85%c2%bd-lessons-for-every-risk-taker/
### Key Points
- The movie *The Gorge* delivers a powerful message about taking risks and testing limits through a quote by T.S. Eliot: "Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
- The article critiques societal conditioning to "play it safe" and warns against the dangers of living within imposed boundaries.
- It explores how risk-taking applies to everyone, not just leaders, and how stepping out of comfort zones can lead to meaningful change.
- The author shares personal experiences of taking risks, such as supporting the "Grow Your Own" program at Western Michigan University to address teacher shortages, which resulted in significant success.
- The piece underscores the importance of bold risks in addressing global challenges like climate change, inequity, and democracy erosion, advocating for courageous action over caution.
- The article concludes with a call to embrace risk-taking as a skill and a path to creativity, progress, and living with integrity.
Consulting Firm with Deep GOP Ties Helps Launch Effort to Fully Privatize Tennessee Schools Dark money group states goal of removing nearly 500,000 students from public schools in the Volunteer State ANDY SPEARS https://theeducationreport.substack.com/p/consulting-firm-with-deep-gop-ties
- A new advocacy group in Tennessee, supported by consultants with ties to GOP leaders, aims to privatize public education by removing nearly 500,000 students from public schools by 2031, promoting school vouchers and charter schools.
- The proposed voucher plan would cost $1.5 billion, and the group has connections to Governor Bill Lee, who is pushing for rapid expansion of the voucher program before leaving office.
- Former state Senator Brian Kelsey, a proponent of school vouchers and charter school expansion, has ties to the group and was previously convicted of campaign finance violations. He now works for a think tank supporting school privatization.
- Critics argue that such efforts could decimate public schools and strain the state budget, with concerns about Tennessee's already low school funding compared to neighboring states.
