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President Donald Trump has issued broad pardons to several key allies, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, as well as dozens of others accused of attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election results.

The pardons were first reported by Politico’s Kyle Cheney, who cited a social media post from Ed Martin, the Justice Department’s pardon attorney.  The pardons, described as “full, complete, and unconditional,” was later confirmed by the White House.  The sweeping move follows earlier mass pardons of those convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

More than 70 individuals — among them former Trump advisers, attorneys, and self-described alternate electors who falsely claimed to represent Trump in states won by Joe Biden – were listed in the proclamation, which declares that the pardons “end a grave national injustice perpetrated upon the American people following the 2020 Presidential Election and continue the process of national reconciliation.” It explicitly states, however, that the pardon does not apply to Trump himself, sidestepping questions over whether a president can pardon his own actions.

Among those granted clemency are Giuliani, Trump’s former personal attorney; Meadows, his onetime White House chief of staff; Sidney Powell, John Eastman, and Jeffrey Clark — figures central to efforts to challenge Biden’s victory. Also included are Republicans who signed documents falsely asserting they were legitimate presidential electors in battleground states such as Georgia, Michigan, Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin.

Giuliani, a former New York City mayor and one of Trump’s most outspoken defenders, was a central figure in promoting false claims of election fraud. He has since been disbarred in both New York and Washington, D.C., and lost a $148 million defamation suit filed by two Georgia election workers targeted by his conspiracy theories. A spokesperson for Giuliani, Ted Goodman, said, “Mayor Giuliani never sought a pardon but is deeply grateful for President Trump’s decision,” adding that Giuliani “stands by his work following the 2020 presidential election.”

Eastman, a former law professor and legal adviser to Trump, authored a memo outlining a plan for then–Vice President Mike Pence to reject certified electoral votes during the congressional session on January 6. Powell, Jenna Ellis, and attorney Kenneth Chesebro — all of whom helped craft or promote strategies to contest the election — were also among those pardoned. Powell, Ellis, and Chesebro previously pleaded guilty in Georgia’s state case over efforts to overturn the election.  In addition, former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark, another recipient, was accused of pushing to send false letters to states claiming the department had found evidence of election irregularities.

In a statement Monday, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “These great Americans were persecuted and put through hell by the Biden Administration for challenging an election, which is the cornerstone of democracy.”

Trump himself had faced federal charges over his alleged role in a scheme to block the peaceful transfer of power after his 2020 loss. That indictment, led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, accused him of spreading “lies that there had been outcome-determinative fraud in the election and that he had actually won.” The case was dropped in November following Trump’s return to the White House, in line with Justice Department policy against prosecuting a sitting president.

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Lawmakers in Washington have reached a tentative bipartisan agreement to end the nation’s longest-ever government shutdown, setting the stage for swift votes in both chambers of Congress to reopen federal agencies and restore funding.

The Senate reached the breakthrough late Sunday night when eight Democrats joined Republicans in advancing a funding measure backed by the White House. In return, Democrats secured a commitment for a future vote on extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies. The package includes three full-year spending bills for specific agencies and a short-term extension to fund the rest of the government at current levels through January 30.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said on the floor Monday that lawmakers should move “as quickly as possible” to approve the deal and bring the shutdown to an end. “I said that we will be voting on the final package in the very near future, and I’m hoping that will be hours and not days.” He urged colleagues not to obstruct the process, emphasizing, “I’m grateful that the end is in sight, but I would encourage every member of this body, Democrat or Republican, pro-bill or anti-bill, not to stand in the way of being able to deliver the coming relief quickly. The American people have suffered for long enough.” Because Senate rules require unanimous consent to expedite a final vote, even one objection could delay the process. Still, optimism grew  as both parties signaled readiness to move forward.

Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told House members in a conference call that they should begin returning to Washington immediately to prepare for a vote on the Senate’s plan, with members advised to travel early due to nationwide flight delays stemming from the shutdown’s ripple effects on federal operations. Johnson expressed confidence that the measure will pass, according to multiple sources familiar with the call.

Johnson said he intends to provide a 36-hour notice before votes begin and is aiming for a possible vote as early as Wednesday, depending on the Senate’s timing. Johnson told reporters: “There’ll be long days and long nights here for the foreseeable future to make up for all this lost time that was imposed upon us.” He also confirmed plans to swear in Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva, D-Ariz., before the House proceeds to vote on a rule governing debate for the Senate’s funding deal, followed by final passage.

The shutdown, which began in mid-September, forced tens of thousands of federal workers to go without pay and disrupted critical services. Among the hardest-hit sectors was air travel, as staffing shortages among air traffic controllers contributed to widespread flight delays and cancellations. The Federal Aviation Administration has struggled with staffing shortages even before the shutdown, and the crisis has deepened operational strain across major airports.

Amid the growing frustration, President Donald Trump took to Truth Social on Monday to criticize controllers who called out of work during the funding lapse, while praising those who stayed on duty. “For those Air Traffic Controllers who were GREAT PATRIOTS, and didn’t take ANY TIME OFF for the ‘Democrat Shutdown Hoax,’ I will be recommending a BONUS of $10,000 per person for distinguished service to our Country … For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off, even though everyone knew they would be paid, IN FULL, shortly into the future, I am NOT HAPPY WITH YOU.”

If both chambers approve the funding package, it would reopen the government, provide temporary financial stability through late January, and give Congress more time to negotiate long-term appropriations.

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Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy issued a stark warning Sunday that U.S. air travel could grind nearly to a halt in the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving if the government shutdown continues, as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) faces severe air traffic control shortages.

The FAA’s staffing crisis has forced widespread flight reductions at more than 40 major airports nationwide. Duffy said 81 “staffing triggers” were reported Saturday, prompting operational changes across the national airspace. At Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the country’s busiest, “18 of 22 controllers didn’t show up,” he noted.

Duffy said in an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union: “It’s only going to get worse. The two weeks before Thanksgiving, you’re going to see air travel be reduced to a trickle.” Duffy explained that many controllers are choosing to stay home as they face financial hardships caused by the prolonged government shutdown. “I want them to come to work. The problem is, they’re confronted with real economic problems. The answer is, vote to open up the government and then have your debates, have your conversation. I think that’s the best way, best approach, to get America back operational.”

As of Sunday morning, more than 1,500 flights had been canceled and over 4,000 delayed, according to FlightAware. Those figures follow 1,550 cancellations on Saturday and 1,025 on Friday. The FAA reported that 42 airport towers were experiencing staffing shortages that delayed flights in at least a dozen major cities, including Atlanta, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago, and New York.

To manage the shortages, the FAA implemented ground delay programs at several major hubs, including Atlanta, Dallas-Fort Worth, Newark Liberty, Houston Hobby, George Bush Intercontinental, Nashville, Chicago O’Hare, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York’s JFK and LaGuardia airports. These measures slow down air traffic to ensure safety but significantly limit the number of flights moving through affected airspace.

The FAA said the reductions amount to roughly a 4% cut in flight capacity this weekend, projected to climb to 6% by Tuesday, 8% by Thursday, and up to 10% by Friday if the shutdown persists.

Despite the growing disruption, Duffy assured travelers that safety remains the agency’s top priority, saying: “We’re working overtime to make sure that it is safe to travel. If we have staffing triggers in locations in the American airspace, what we will do is, we will slow traffic, which means you will have delays, and then airlines might cancel flights.”

Still, Duffy acknowledged the mounting strain on both the system and the workforce. “Next Friday, it’s going to be at 10% to reduce the pressure on controllers. The problem is that as I try to reduce the pressure by lowering flights, I have more controllers that keep not coming to work. And so the pressure goes back up again.”

With the holiday travel season fast approaching, Duffy warned that if the shutdown isn’t resolved soon, “many people hoping to get home for Thanksgiving are not going to be able to get on an airplane, because there are not going to be that many flights that fly if this thing doesn’t open back up.”

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A police pursuit through Tampa early Saturday turned deadly when a speeding driver lost control and crashed into a packed bar patio, killing four people and injuring 13 others.

According to the Tampa Police Department, the chase began around 12:40 a.m. after law enforcement air patrol spotted a vehicle driving erratically along Interstate 275. The Florida Highway Patrol initiated pursuit of the driver, identified as 22-year-old Silas Kenneth Sampson, and attempted a PIT maneuver—a tactic meant to force a fleeing car to spin and stop—but it was unsuccessful. After the failed maneuver, the Highway Patrol reportedly ended its active pursuit before the crash occurred. Investigators say there is “no evidence to indicate that Sampson’s actions were targeted toward any specific persons or businesses.”

Dash and aerial footage released by authorities show the suspect vehicle continuing at high speed before veering off and slamming into Bradley’s, a well-known LGBTQ bar in the city’s Ybor neighborhood. The impact scattered debris across the street and left multiple people trapped beneath wreckage. Three people died at the scene, and a fourth later succumbed to injuries at the hospital. Of the 13 injured, two remain in critical condition, seven are stable, and several have since been discharged or treated at the scene. Officials have not released the victims’ names.

Tampa Police Chief Lee Bercaw stated: “What happened this morning was a senseless tragedy, our hearts are with the loved ones of the victims and all those who were impacted. Reckless driving put innocent lives in danger. The Tampa Police Department and the Florida Highway Patrol are committed to seeking justice for the victims and their families.”

The establishment said in a statement that the incident was ‘horrific’ and that the bar will remain closed until Monday: Bradley Nelson, the owner of Bradley’s on 7th, shared in a statement: “This event has been very traumatic for my entire staff, and myself. Our thoughts and prayers go to the families of those who were killed, and to all the injured. Bradley’s on 7th is known for being a very tight-knit family of employees and customers. Our customers are very loyal and have made Bradley’s on 7th what it is today. They are truly part of our family. We ask you to remember all those killed and injured in your prayers, as we do the same. I cannot say enough about the expert job done by the Tampa Police Department, Hillsborough County Sheriff Office and the Florida Highway Patrol and all the involved EMS teams. The speed in which this event was handled, should be noted by all.”

Tampa Mayor Jane Castor wrote on X: “What happened in Ybor City last night was devastating. Families are grieving, first responders are hurting, and our entire city feels this loss. My thoughts are with everyone affected. The investigation continues, and our commitment to keeping our community safe has never been stronger.”

The suspect is charged with four counts of vehicular homicide and four counts of aggravated fleeing to elude serious bodily injury or death, according to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) records. He is being held at the Falkenburg Road Jail without bond.

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