Happy Halloween! Nicole here. Have a spoooooky day! 👻🦇🎃
Families who rely on federal food assistance aren’t sure how they’ll manage when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) shutters on Saturday.
The impact: When SNAP benefits don’t arrive for 42 million Americans, it will be the first time that food safety net money has been delayed in the program’s 60-year history.
More shutdown pain: Meanwhile, Americans will have sticker shock at their insurance options when signups begin Nov. 1.
Fresh off a trip to Asia, President Donald Trump welcomed trick-or-treaters to the White House for Halloween festivities on Thursday. Behind those waiting to greet the president along the driveway, a tan fence concealed the demolition of the East Wing, though a yellow bulldozer peeked out over the top. “It’s a long line. It’s almost as big as the ballroom,” quipped Trump, wearing a red USA hat and his quintessential red tie, referring to the 90,000-square-foot addition he plans to make to the residence. The celebration came amid uncertainty.
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Although it’s unclear what President Trump meant when he ordered that the Pentagon resume nuclear weapons tests “immediately,” nuclear weapons experts and foreign governments alike reacted with shock. The move could end a nearly three-decade period during which none of the world’s major nuclear powers have detonated a nuclear weapon. Experts say Trump’s vague statement could increase the risk of nuclear conflict.
Farrah Nasser had three kids in her car. Nasser drives a Tesla, which began rolling out its Grok AI conversational assistant feature in July 2025. Her son talked to “Gork” about soccer players Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, and asked it to let him know the next time Ronaldo scored. Nasser says the chatbot told her son Ronaldo had already scored twice and that they “should celebrate.” Then Grok asked her son: “Why don’t you send me some nudes?”
The Los Angeles Dodgers know the significance and consequences of Friday’s World Series game. If they win Friday night against the Toronto Blue Jays, they extend their season, forcing a Game 7 at the Rogers Centre in the hope of defending their title. They lose, and their season is abruptly over. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts knows the stakes are high.
NICU nurses spend hours each year at Norton Women’s and Children’s Hospital in St. Matthews, Kentucky, to dress newborns in Halloween costume. You can’t help but awe at these babies.
Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.