Gay Marriage is Safe!

11.10.25

Happy Monday and welcome back to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco—your daily briefing on politics. Let’s break it down.

The Government Shutdown—40 Days Long, With a Path to Reopen….After more than 40 days of the longest federal shutdown in U.S. history, the United States Senate on Sunday night advanced a stop-gap funding bill by a 60-40 vote, with eight Democrats and one Independent breaking ranks. The deal explicitly reverses the White House’s shutdown-era firings of federal employees, guarantees back-pay for both furloughed workers and those who remained on the job, and prevents further reductions in force until late January. Democrats held out because they demanded a firm commitment to extend the Affordable Care Act (ACA) premium subsidies. The current proposal only secures a promise of a future vote on those subsidies—not a guarantee—and Republicans in the House made no binding commitment. The next funding bill deadline will be January 30, 2026.

Common Sense takeaway: Unfortunately, Republicans do not care if Americans go hungry, go without pay, or go without healthcare. This has put Democrats in a lose-lose situation. I respect the Democrats efforts to reopen the government knowing that Republicans would unapologetically continue to watch Americans suffer.

Donald Trump Blasts Air­ Traffic Controllers Amid Shutdown Fallout….In the midst of shutdown turmoil, Trump blasted air traffic controllers who missed shifts, ordered bonuses for those who worked without pay, and threatened negative marks for any who “took time off” despite knowing they’d be paid eventually. He wrote on Truth Social, “All Air Traffic Controllers must get back to work, NOW!!! Anyone who doesn’t will be substantially ‘docked.’” He also warned: “For those that did nothing but complain, and took time off… You will have a negative mark, at least in my mind, against your record.” Staffing issues have already led to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announcing a 10% cut in air traffic across 40 major U.S. airports to protect safety amid the shortage.

Common Sense takeaway: The last people the president should be attacking right now are Air Traffic Controllers. They are overworked and underpaid, and our airline system is falling apart without them. Trying to bully people into working for zero pay is certainly a choice and not a helpful one.

Trump Booed at Washington Commanders Game….Donald Trump became the first sitting U.S. president in nearly half a century to attend a regular-season NFL game when he showed up at the Commanders vs. Detroit Lions matchup in Maryland on Sunday. The crowd greeted him with resounding boos and some scattered cheers — especially when his face appeared on the video board and during a halftime “Salute to Service” enlistment ceremony for military recruits. Trump later took a sideline-turn in the Fox broadcast booth and made comments about wanting the team’s new stadium to bear his name.

Common Sense takeaway: I’m personally shocked that a president who has been decorating his office in gold, building a ginormous ballroom, and partying at his country club while Americans suffer during a shutdown is not being well received at sporting events. JK!

Supreme Court Declines to Undo Same-Sex Marriage Ruling….The Supreme Court of the United States on Monday refused to hear a challenge aimed at overturning the landmark 2015 decision Obergefell v. Hodges—which enshrined a constitutional right to same-sex marriage nationwide. The petition came from former Kentucky clerk Kim Davis, who denied marriage licenses to same-sex couples on religious grounds and sought review of both her own liability and the underlying marriage-equality precedent. Despite a conservative majority on the Court that had previously expressed willingness to revisit major precedents, no justice pushed to take the case this time and no dissenting opinion was filed.

Common Sense takeaway: I’m not sure if Hell has frozen over, but it seems like the Supreme Court did the right thing—for once. I’m ecstatic for my LGBTQ+ friends who can sleep a little better at night knowing that their right to marry is safe. Although, this topic truly should have never been up for debate to begin with.