Judge blocks Trump’s Portland troop order; Everest rescue race intensifies

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

DEFYING THE COURTS … AND DOUBLING DOWN.

PRESIDENT TRUMP CALLS UP CALIFORNIA’S NATIONAL GUARD AFTER A JUDGE SAYS NO.

NOW, ANOTHER SHOWDOWN IN PORTLAND.

PLUS, TWO YEARS SINCE HAMAS ATTACKED ISRAEL.

AND THIS MORNING, A POSSIBLE TURNING POINT.

AND DREAM TURNED DISASTER.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND CLIMBERS TRAPPED ON MOUNT EVEREST.

THE DESPERATE PUSH THIS MORNING TO REACH THEM.

L3 JUDGE BLOCKS TRUMP FROM SENDING ANY NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS TO OREGON

WE BEGIN WITH BREAKING NEWS… AND A MAJOR REVERSAL OVERNIGHT… 

A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ONCE AGAIN BLOCKED PRESIDENT TRUMP FROM SENDING NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS INTO PORTLAND, OREGON.

THIS TIME, STOPPING *ANY* STATE’S TROOPS UNDER FEDERAL CONTROL.

U.S. DISTRICT JUDGE KARIN IMMERGUT — A TRUMP APPOINTEE — ISSUED THE SWEEPING ORDER LATE SUNDAY, AFTER THE ADMINISTRATION TRIED TO SIDESTEP HER EARLIER RULING BY DEPLOYING HUNDREDS OF *CALIFORNIA* NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS INSTEAD OF OREGON’S.

IN AN EMERGENCY HEARING, SHE SAID THE PRESIDENT WAS IN QUOTE ‘DIRECT CONTRAVENTION’ OF HER ORDER — AND EXPANDED THE BAN TO BLOCK GUARD DEPLOYMENTS FROM *ANY* STATE.

VIDEO OVERNIGHT SHOWS PROTESTERS CONFRONTING LAW ENFORCEMENT OUTSIDE PORTLAND’S ICE FACILITY — WHERE THE PRESIDENT INSISTS “PORTLAND IS BURNING TO THE GROUND.”

LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY THE PROTESTS REMAIN SMALL AND LARGELY PEACEFUL, CONFINED TO SINGLE CITY BLOCK — NOT THE “WAR ZONE” HE DESCRIBES.

CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM CELEBRATED THE RULING SAYING IN A STATEMENT “Donald Trump tried to turn our soldiers into instruments of his political will, and while our fight continues, tonight the rule of law said ‘hell no.’”

ILLINOIS GOVERNOR J.B. PRITZER NOW SAYS TRUMP IS ORDERING TROOPS FROM TEXAS TO MULTIPLE CITIES — CALLING IT “TRUMP’S INVASION”

THE WHITE HOUSE HAS NOT COMMENTED, BUT AIDES INSIST THE TROOPS ARE NEEDED TO PROTECT FEDERAL AGENTS AND PROPERTY.

L3 ISRAEL AND HAMAS HOLD INDIRECT CEASEFIRE TALKS IN EGYPT TODAY

TODAY IN EGYPT — ISRAEL AND HAMAS ARE SET TO TAKE PART IN INDIRECT CEASEFIRE TALKS AIMED AT ENDING THE WAR IN GAZA.

THE MEETING FOLLOWS COMMENTS FROM ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, WHO SAID A LONG-AWAITED HOSTAGE RELEASE COULD BE ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK.

LAST WEEK — HAMAS SIGNALED IT WOULD ACCEPT PARTS OF A U.S.-BACKED PEACE PROPOSAL — ONE THAT CALLS FOR THE RELEASE OF ALL REMAINING HOSTAGES WITHIN THREE DAYS, THE GROUP’S DISARMAMENT, AND THE TRANSFER OF POWER IN GAZA..

OF THE 48 ISRAELI HOSTAGES STILL UNACCOUNTED FOR, ABOUT 20 ARE BELIEVED TO BE ALIVE.

EGYPT’S FOREIGN MINISTRY SAYS THE TALKS WILL FOCUS ON A POSSIBLE EXCHANGE — HOSTAGES FOR PALESTINIAN PRISONERS HELD IN ISRAEL.

OVER THE WEEKEND — SECRETARY OF STATE MARCO RUBIO SAID QUOTE THIS IS “THE CLOSEST WE’VE COME TO GETTING ALL OF THE HOSTAGES RELEASED.”

PRESIDENT TRUMP ALSO SOUNDED OPTIMISTIC, POSTING THAT QUOTE “VERY POSITIVE DISCUSSIONS” ARE “PROCEEDING RAPIDLY.”

TOMORROW MARKS TWO YEARS SINCE THE WARY BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS BEGAN, A MOMENT MARKED BY HUNDREDS IN LONDON OVER THE WEEKEND.

L3: SENATE TO VOTE ON PLAN TO END GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

In Washington, THE SENATE RECONVENES TODAY — IN YET ANOTHER PUSH TO REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT AFTER FAILING FOR A FOURTH TIME TO BREAK THE SHUTDOWN STALEMATE.

DEMOCRATS ARE STANDING FIRM ON THEIR DEMAND TO INCLUDE EXPANDED HEALTH CARE BENEFITS IN THE FUNDING BILL — WHILE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE PUSHING A SHORT-TERM MEASURE TO SIMPLY KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN AS TALKS DRAG ON.

BOTH SIDES SPENT THE WEEKEND POINTING FINGERS.

HOUSE MAJORITY LEADER MIKE JOHNSON AND MINORITY LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES SQUARED OFF ON MEET THE PRESS — EACH BLAMING THE OTHER FOR THE GRIDLOCK.

Rep. Mike Johnson, (R) Majority Leader

“They’re not serious. This is not a serious negotiation. They’re doing this to get political cover.”

“The President asked Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries in the Oval Office about a week ago, ‘Please don’t do this. Please keep the government open and we’ll work out all these issues that we have plenty of time to work out.’”

Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, (D) Minority Leader

“The last time there was a conversation with Republican leadership was in the White House meeting last Monday. And unfortunately, since that point in time, Republicans, including Donald Trump, have gone radio silent. What we’ve seen is negotiation through deepfake videos, the House canceling votes and, of course, President Trump spending yesterday on the golf course. That’s not responsible behavior.”

SPEAKER JOHNSON SAYS THE HOUSE WON’T RETURN UNTIL THE SENATE ACTS — LEAVING THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN NOW STRETCHING INTO ITS SECOND WEEK.

L3 CALIFORNIA VOTES ON NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS

THIS MORNING, CALIFORNIA’S REDISTRICTING BATTLE IS  FRONT AND CENTER AS VOTERS BEGIN CASTING BALLOTS ON A WHETHER TO CHANGE THE STATE’S CONGRESSIONAL MAP — A MOVE THAT COULD CARRY MAJOR NATIONAL IMPLICATIONS.

IF VOTERS APPROVE OF THE REDRAW, DEMOCRATS COULD PICK UP AS MANY AS FIVE U.S. HOUSE SEATS — POTENTIALLY PAVING THE WAY TO RETAKE THE CHAMBER IN NEXT YEAR’S MIDTERMS.

REPUBLICANS CURRENTLY HOLD A NARROW 219-213 EDGE, WITH THREE VACANCIES. 

IN CALIFORNIA, DEMOCRATS OUTNUMBER REPUBLICANS TWO TO ONE. THE BALLOT MEASURE IS A SIMPLE YES OR NO VOTE.

THE ISSUE FLARED AFTER PRESIDENT TRUMP BACKED A REDISTRICTING PUSH IN TEXAS THAT ADDED FIVE GOP-LEANING DISTRICTS.

IN RESPONSE, CALIFORNIA GOVERNOR GAVIN NEWSOM — ONE OF TRUMP’S FIERCEST CRITICS — URGED HIS STATE TO COUNTER WITH ITS OWN DEMOCRATIC-FRIENDLY MAP.

VOTING RUNS THROUGH NOVEMBER 4TH 

L3 SUPREME COURT OPENS TERM WITH TRUMP, LGBTQ, AND VOTING CASES

THE SUPREME COURT AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ARE HEADED FOR A SHOWDOWN.

WHEN THE JUSTICES OPEN THEIR NEW TERM THIS MORNING, THEY’LL BE WEIGHING SOME OF THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL CASES OF TRUMP’S PRESIDENCY — TESTING JUST HOW FAR HIS EXECUTIVE POWER CAN GO.

AMONG THE BIGGEST: WHETHER HIS SWEEPING TARIFFS ARE LEGAL… AND IF THE PRESIDENT CAN FIRE INDEPENDENT AGENCY HEADS — INCLUDING A FEDERAL RESERVE GOVERNOR… AT WILL.

ALSO ON DECK: A CHALLENGE TO COLORADO’S BAN ON CONVERSION THERAPY… TWO CASES ON TRANSGENDER ATHLETES AND SCHOOL SPORTS.. AND A LOUISIANA REDISTRICTING FIGHT THAT COULD WEAKEN VOTING RIGHTS PROTECTIONS… PLUS AN EMERGENCY BID THIS WEEK OVER ‘X’ GENDER MARKERS ON U.S. PASSPORTS.

THE COURT’S 6-3 CONSERVATIVE MAJORITY HAS LARGELY SIDED WITH TRUMP ON EMERGENCY RULINGS, BUT THIS TERM, THE JUSTICES WILL HAVE TO USE FULL OPINIONS THAT DEFINE THOSE POWERS ONCE AND FOR ALL.

L3 SNOWSTORM TRAPS OVER 1,000 CLIMBERS ON EVEREST, RESCUE EFFORT UNDERWAY

FINALLY THIS MORNING – ITS THE DREAM OF SO MANY CLIMBERS: TO REACH THE TOP OF MOUNT EVEREST.

BUT RIGHT NOW, THAT DREAM IS TURNING INTO A NIGHTMARE.

MORE THAN A THOUSAND CLIMBERS ARE TRAPPED AT ROUGHLY 16-THOUSAND FEET AFTER A POWERFUL BLIZZARD SWEPT ACROSS THE EASTERN SLOPES OF EVEREST IN TIBET.

HEAVY SNOW CRUSHED TENTS AND BURIED KEY PASSAGEWAYS, LEAVING CLIMBERS STRANDED IN FREEZING CONDITIONS WITH LITTLE SHELTER.

RESCUERS REMAIN IN RADIO CONTACT BUT SAY REACHING THEM IS TREACHEROUS — AT LEAST THREE FEET OF SNOW HAS BLOCKED ACCESS ROUTES.

HUNDREDS OF EMERGENCY WORKERS ARE NOW MAKING THE DANGEROUS CLIMB, TRYING TO DIG THROUGH DRIFTS AND CLEAR A PATH TO THOSE STILL WAITING HIGHER UP THE MOUNTAIN.

BEFORE WE HEAD OUT, HERE’S WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TODAY:

THE SUPREME COURT OPENS ITS NEW TERM THIS MORNING, WITH JUSTICES SET TO TAKE UP A SLATE OF POLITICALLY CHARGED CASES.

AT 10, HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON IS SCHEDULED TO HOLD A PRESS CONFERENCE ON THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN.

AT 1, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY KAROLINE LEAVITT HOLDS A BRIEFING.

AND LATER TODAY IN UTAH, THE LEGISLATURE VOTES ON NEW CONGRESSIONAL MAPS AFTER A COURT ORDERED THEM TO BE REDRAWN.

NO SPIN. NO DRAMA. JUST THE NEWS YOU NEED.

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THOSE ARE YOUR UNBIASED UPDATES FOR THIS MONDAY.

WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.

FOR ALL OF US HERE AT STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS — I’M CRAIG NIGRELLI.

HAVE A GREAT DAY.