Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.
But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)
Trump Reportedly Stormed Out of a Meeting with Democrats Over the Shutdown
According to The New York Times, a frustrated President Trump stormed out of a White House meeting after Nancy Pelosi said she wouldn't fund a border wall even if he reopened the government. It's been 19 days and counting since the partial shutdown commenced, and a compromise between Democrats and Republicans doesn't seem to be in sight. Trump has even floated the idea of declaring a national emergency to get the funding needed for his proposed wall.
"You are using people as leverage; why won’t you open the government and stop hurting people?" Senator Chuck Schumer, Democratic leader reportedly asked Trump at during the meeting. Trump apparently replied, "Then you won't give me what I want. I am trying to do the right thing for the country. This isn't about politics."
After the meeting, Democrats told reporters that Trump had a "temper tantrum," and at one point, he "slammed his hands on the table before leaving with an abrupt 'bye-bye.'" Trump called it "a total waste of time." Democrats aren't the only ones clashing with Trump, though. The Times reported that Republican senators like Lisa Murkowski and Pat Roberts are also unhappy with the ongoing shutdown.
FDA Says the Shutdown is Affecting Food Inspections
About 41 percent of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration isn't currently operating because of the partial government shutdown, per CNN. As a result, all routine domestic food facility inspections have been suspended. Until the shutdown ends, FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb told The Washington Post he's attempting to bring back enough workers to resume inspections of "high-risk" facilities.
"We are doing what we can to mitigate any risk to consumers through the shutdown," Gottlieb said. According to Geneve Parks, a chemist who works at an FDA lab in Detroit, Americans may be at risk. "It's terrifying. What if there's an outbreak?" Parks told CNN. "What would the agency do if something happened and they don't have the staff to handle it?"
If an emergency were to occur, staffers can apparently be called back from furlough — but only for the time it would take to address the emergency.
Trump Wants FEMA to Cut Off Aid for California Wildfire Recovery
On Wednesday, Trump said he ordered the Federal Emergency Management Agency to cut off the federal funds being used for wildfire relief in California. He said state officials need to "get their act together."
"Billions of dollars are sent to the State of California for Forest fires that, with proper Forest Management, would never happen," Trump tweeted. "Unless they get their act together, which is unlikely, I have ordered FEMA to send no more money. It is a disgraceful situation in lives & money!"
Trump has made the same threat before, and has remained critical of FEMA ever since November's Camp fire, the deadliest and most destructive wildfire in California's history.
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