SNAP advantages deadline; Testing nuclear weapons : NPR

Good morning. You are studying the Up First e-newsletter. Subscribe right here to get it delivered to your inbox, and hear to the Up First podcast for all of the information it is advisable to begin your day.

At present’s prime tales

Tomorrow, many Individuals will really feel the influence of the federal government shutdown as SNAP meals advantages will run out for about 42 million folks. Saturday additionally marks the beginning of enrollment on federal insurance coverage exchanges, and premiums are anticipated to greater than double on common. Democrats say they will vote to reopen the federal government if Congress extends well being care subsidies to assist handle the rising prices. Yesterday, main airways requested Congress to cross the Republicans’ stopgap funding plan as air site visitors controllers proceed to work with out pay.

• 🎧 Democrats have historically been hesitant to close down the federal government, however do not look like backing down, NPR’s Barbara Sprunt tells Up First. Democrats appear to suppose Republicans will take the blame for the shutdown and never them. They’re hoping public stress will construct on the GOP over the anticipated rise in prices of medical insurance premiums. Republicans say they’re holding votes to fund the federal government and if Democrats care about funding vitamin assist and paying air site visitors controllers, they’d vote with them.

SNAP advantages have by no means been minimize off resulting from a shutdown, and now a federal choose is stepping in to determine whether or not to order the Trump administration to search out methods to get folks cash to purchase meals. The Agriculture Division posted on its web site that “the properly has run dry” and acknowledged in a memo that it would not have enough funds for SNAP advantages for subsequent month and can’t legally use contingency funds. Democratic governors and attorneys normal from about two dozen states sued, arguing that SNAP is an entitlement that can not be merely minimize off.

• 🎧 Even when the ruling comes quickly, there’ll nonetheless be a delay in states receiving the funds they want, in line with NPR’s Jennifer Ludden. It is because the federal authorities sends funding to the states earlier than the primary of the month, after which it takes days to get it onto the debit-like playing cards that individuals use. An added complication is that the total SNAP funding for November is roughly $9 billion, however the administration studies that there’s solely about $5.5 billion within the contingency fund. Recalculating for partial funds may take weeks, leading to folks not solely having to attend but in addition getting much less cash.

President Trump introduced yesterday that the U.S. would resume testing nuclear weapons for the primary time in many years. Some specialists consider that this choice can be a significant escalation and will disrupt the nuclear steadiness of energy.

• 🎧 The world’s main nuclear powers have noticed a testing moratorium for the reason that Nineteen Nineties as a goodwill gesture for stability after the Chilly Conflict, says NPR’s Geoff Brumfiel. The U.S. launched into a program that makes use of science to make sure weapons perform successfully with out requiring testing. A lot of that science occurs in the identical tunnels within the desert exterior of Las Vegas the place the federal government used to conduct nuclear testing. The U.S. has a major technological benefit over Russia and China concerning nuclear weapons, but when these nations resume testing, they might slim that hole, says Jon Wolfsthal on the Federation of American Scientists. There are additionally environmental considerations that even when radiation is contained underground, the shaking can be sufficient to break buildings close to the positioning.

Deep dive

Scientists are taking a second have a look at a drug for Alzheimer’s that will assist sufferers who’re significantly susceptible to creating the illness.

Jorg Greuel/Photodisc/Getty Pictures

cover caption

toggle caption

Jorg Greuel/Photodisc/Getty Pictures

A better have a look at the results of an experimental Alzheimer’s drug referred to as valiltramiprosate, or ALZ-801, is reviving hope {that a} twice-daily tablet may decelerate the illness in people who find themselves at excessive threat of creating it. In April, researchers launched outcomes from a research involving over 300 people age 50 and older who have been genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s illness. The general findings indicated that those that acquired the drug didn’t carry out higher than these given a placebo. Nevertheless, in September, an additional evaluation of a subgroup of 125 members revealed delicate advantages for individuals who had solely delicate reminiscence points in the beginning of their therapy with the drug.

• 💊 By one measure, the drug slowed cognitive decline by 52% in folks with delicate cognitive impairment. It’s difficult, nonetheless, to evaluate the true influence of ALZ-801 as a result of small pattern dimension within the delicate cognitive impairment group.
• 💊 ALZ-801 may get particular consideration from the Meals and Drug Administration resulting from its potential benefits over the 2 medicine already in the marketplace. The drug may be taken at house and doesn’t trigger swelling or bleeding within the mind, which regularly comes with monoclonal antibody therapy.
• 💊 Extra proof of the drug’s effectiveness is predicted to come back from individuals who have continued to take the drugs after the preliminary 18-month research interval ended, says David Watson, a co-author of the brand new research.

Learn extra concerning the new findings concerning the Alzheimer’s tablet.

Weekend picks

Inexperienced bean and hen stir-fry is likely one of the many “vegetable-forward” recipes in Roy Choi’s cookbook, The Choi of Cooking: Taste-Packed, Rule-Breaking Recipes for a Scrumptious Life: A Cookbook, which he co-wrote with Tien Nguyen and Natasha Phan. This dish makes use of the Candy Garlic Teriyaki sauce yow will discover under.

Bobby Fisher

cover caption

toggle caption

Bobby Fisher

Try what NPR is watching, studying and listening to this weekend:

🍿 Films: No tips, simply treats in terms of horror movies launched this yr. In honor of the vacation, try these movies that vary from supernatural to slightly-too-realistic, lots of which you’ll be able to watch from the consolation of your individual house.

📺 TV: Talamasca: The Secret Order facilities on the key society that researches and screens the supernatural parts of Anne Rice’s fictional world.

📚 Books: Wreck follows up Catherine Newman’s hit novel, Sandwich, by revisiting her beloved Rocky and her household. Life appears to be going as usually as potential till Rocky finds herself centered on a neighborhood practice crash. Listed below are another new releases from this week.

🎵 Music: Are you actually ready for Halloween festivities with no nice playlist? These songs are important for the spooky season, starting from really terrifying to autumnal and nostalgic.

🥦 Meals: Make your veggies extra thrilling to eat by attempting the recipes for these three flavorful sauces from The Choi of Cooking: Taste-Packed, Rule-Breaking Recipes for a Scrumptious Life.

❓ Quiz: A “not too shabby” rating of seven/11 once more for me. Do you suppose you are able to do higher than that? Give it a strive.

3 issues to know earlier than you go

tk

UNICEF USA

cover caption

toggle caption

UNICEF USA

1. This yr marks the seventy fifth anniversary of Trick-or-Deal with for UNICEF, an initiative the place youngsters accumulate cash to donate to the company that helps youngsters in want worldwide. Because the initiative started, roughly $200 million has been collected.
2. An historical comet named 3I/ATLAS entered our photo voltaic system this summer time, turning into solely the third interstellar object to take action in recorded historical past. The chance for scientists to look at this uncommon prevalence is efficacious.
3. A brand new have a look at the “Dueling Dinosaurs” fossil, which scientists beforehand believed was a Tyrannosaurus rex, reveals that it’s really a special tyrannosaur species: Nanotyrannus lancensis.

This text was edited by Obed Manuel.