Happy Tuesday and welcome back to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco—your daily briefing on U.S. politics. Let’s break it down.
Trump Floats An Illegal Third Term….Former President Donald Trump floated the idea of running for an illegal third presidential term on Air Force One on Monday, saying he “would love” the idea and wouldn’t “rule it out,” though he dismissed a vice-presidential loophole as “too cute.” He also mentioned J.D. Vance and Marco Rubio as two other people who may also run. The 22nd Amendment states clearly “No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice, and no person who has held the office of President, or acted as President, for more than two years of a term to which some other person was elected President shall be elected to the office of the President more than once.” Rep. Rashida Tlaib fired back saying, “No way in hell we’re going to let that happen.”
Common Sense takeaway: It’s hard to do a common sense takeaway for this, when there is no common sense here. The Constitution explicitly prohibits presidents from running for a third term. Any attempt to do so will be thwarted. However, we need to be vigilant about calling it this rhetoric every time we see it. Conservatives want us to believe he is joking, but he’s not. Just look at the evidence: a failed coup attempt in 2021 and Trump 2028 hats being sold everywhere. He is going to try to stay in office, regardless of the legality of doing so. Anyone who is silent in the face of this scheme is complicit.
U.S. Flight Chaos Deepens as Shutdown Enters Day 28….The federal government shutdown has now dragged into its 28th day, and U.S. air travel is paying the price. On Sunday alone, more than 8,000 flights were delayed nationwide amid staff shortages and furloughs affecting the Federal Aviation Administration. The FAA is about 3,500 air traffic controllers short of targeted staffing levels and many had been working mandatory overtime and six-day weeks even before the shutdown. Additionally, roughly 13,000 air traffic controllers and 50,000 Transportation Security Administration officers must work without pay due to the shutdown. Talks in the Senate again failed to reach the 60-vote threshold needed to advance a stop-gap funding bill that would reopen the government through November 21.
Common Sense takeaway: Americans are not safe when air traffic controllers are overworked and underpaid (or not paid at all). Look at what happened at DCA in January. The ramifications of this shutdown will affect everybody at some point, not just federal workers, and we are starting to see that happen.
Democrats Shape 2028 Primary Calendar….The Democratic National Committee (DNC) is moving forward with a revamped early-voting schedule for the 2028 presidential primary. States must apply by January 16, 2026, for one of up to five slots that will vote before Super Tuesday. This follows the party’s 2022 overhaul that elevated South Carolina to first and dropped Iowa, a move championed by President Biden but bitterly opposed in Iowa and New Hampshire. With no presumptive nominee this time, the DNC—not the White House—will decide the new order. The outcome could redefine the early momentum of the 2028 race.
Common Sense takeaway: Personally, I think every state should have a primary on the same day. That would clear up all this drama surrounding Iowa, New Hampshire, etc. I also think we should get rid of the electoral college, but that’s a conversation for another day.
Virginia and Indiana Join Map Wars in Redistricting Scramble….Leaders in Indiana and Virginia have both called special legislative sessions to redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. In Virginia, Democrats seek to expand their six-seat advantage in the state’s 11-member U.S. House delegation, though any changes would require a constitutional amendment approved in two consecutive sessions and a statewide referendum. Meanwhile, Indiana’s Republican Governor Mike Braun—under pressure from Trump—called a November 3 session to consider new maps that could strengthen GOP control of its seven House seats. Similar efforts are underway in Texas, Missouri, and North Carolina, where Republicans are redrawing maps to secure their narrow House majority.
Common Sense takeaway: What’s happening is a direct result of Donald Trump and Republicans trying to rig the 2026 midterm elections. They know that the energy and momentum will not be in their favor. They know that the party in power gets scrutinized during the midterms. Virginia, California, and others are merely reacting to what they are attempting to do—and it’s necessary to protect our democracy.
That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.