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The White House announced plans to limit air traffic by 10% if the government shutdown continues. The cuts would begin tomorrow at 40 of the nation鈥檚 busiest airports to 鈥渒eep the airspace safe鈥� amid air traffic controller shortages, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said. He also expressed condolences for those killed in a UPS cargo plane crash in Kentucky on Tuesday, emphasizing the cause appeared mechanical, not related to air traffic control.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments on the legality of President Donald Trump鈥檚 tariffs yesterday. In two consolidated cases brought by small businesses and Democratic-led states, the challengers argued that the tariffs represent an unlawful tax and would endow the president with economic power that the Constitution grants only to Congress. During the nearly three-hour argument, the justices appeared divided over how to interpret the law at issue and what the case could mean for the separation of powers.

California voters approved new congressional maps that change five U.S. House districts in favor of Democrats. Proposition 50 passed with two-thirds of the vote. The map expires in 2030 and is a direct response to Texas redistricting that strengthens Republicans. The vote bolsters Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom, who said recently he is considering a White House run. California Republicans filed a federal lawsuit yesterday in a bid to block the new maps.

Gearing up for COP30 in Brazil,聽European Union ministers reached consensus yesterday on cutting greenhouse gas emissions 90% by 2040 from 1990 levels. The deal, struck after tense talks in Brussels, allows for up to 5% of reductions through foreign carbon credits. Letting countries pay for cuts abroad effectively lowers the domestic goal to 85%. Critics say the compromise weakens Europe鈥檚 climate ambition and outsources responsibility.

Colorado voters approved increased taxes for households making at least $300,000 annually to fully fund a program that provides free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 public school students. The average income tax increase for those affected is estimated to be $486. Any leftover money will go toward the state鈥檚 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. In 2022, Colorado was among the first states to pass a 鈥渦niversal school meal鈥� program, but it has run into budget troubles since then.

France began proceedings to suspend聽fast-fashion retailer Shein, after childlike sex dolls were discovered for sale on its website. The suspension comes as聽Shein聽opened its first brick and mortar store in the world in Paris yesterday, bringing both crowds of shoppers and protesters bearing 鈥淪hame on Shein鈥� placards. France鈥檚 economy minister said the suspension will last until Shein鈥檚 content is 鈥渋n compliance with our laws and regulations.鈥�

An Illinois town is seeing a revival after steel and manufacturing jobs dried up. Across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, the working-class town of Venice lost two-thirds of its population in recent decades, as well as its only grocery store. Ed Hightower, a retired school superintendent and award-winning basketball referee from the area, decided to invest $3.5 million to build a new one 鈥� a partnership with a state effort to tackle food deserts. Gov. JB Pritzker helped break ground on the project yesterday.

鈥� From our staff writers around the world

How will Democrats鈥� success in U.S. elections this week affect the politics of the government shutdown? Tuesday鈥檚 results unsettled the White House and could strengthen Democrats鈥� resolve in seeking leverage, even as both parties seek an off-ramp from the weekslong shutdown.

The idea of federal subsidies to help more people afford health insurance was baked into the Affordable Care Act from the start. But they鈥檝e grown 鈥� as has the strain of overall health care spending on federal budgets.

The fall of El Fasher in western Sudan to a paramilitary force underscores the difficulties of ending the country鈥檚 devastating civil war, now in its third year.

Deep in rural China, a Monitor writer learns to cook authentic handmade noodles, gaining a new understanding of country life in the process.聽

With his new book, 鈥淭he Man of Many Fathers: Life Lessons Disguised as a Memoir,鈥� comedian Roy Wood Jr. may be taking on his heaviest discussion thus far: parenting.

After Tuesday鈥檚 off-cycle elections, the United States recorded a few marquee results: The first woman elected governor of Virginia, in a chain of governors going back to 1776. The first Muslim woman elected to a statewide office (also in Virginia). The first Muslim, the first South Asian, and the youngest person in a century elected mayor of America鈥檚 most populous city: New York.

In other voting, Californians passed a resolution to allow midcensus redistricting by politicians instead of by a citizens panel. New Jersey elected its second woman governor by a wider-than-predicted margin. And local elections in Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Maine racked up some unexpected wins for the political left.

鈥淗ungry voters were ready for some sign of progress, for some sign of change,鈥� one pollster told The Wall Street Journal, referring to New York鈥檚 contentious mayoral race.

鈥淧eople are sensing that the politics of disruption and chaos is not delivering results,鈥� a reader wrote in to the same publication, as the U.S. marks its longest-ever federal government shutdown over partisan budget disputes.

Amid elation (among Democrats) and concern (among Republicans), there is cause for both optimism and caution. For starters, despite recent polls indicating that Americans fear and expect increasing political violence, Tuesday鈥檚 electoral activities were peaceful. Voter engagement saw an uptick: 2 million New Yorkers voted, the most for a mayoral race since 1969; several precincts in Virginia reported a doubling in the number of ballots over the 2021 governor鈥檚 race.

Meanwhile, across the country, Californians鈥� yes to off-cycle redistricting positions Democrats to gain five congressional seats in 2026 鈥� as a counter to several red states鈥� earlier gerrymanders of their voting maps. But such tit-for-tat moves risk delegitimizing nonpartisan approaches to protecting voter representation and rights.

A more reliable key to winning lies in identifying and responding to American voters鈥� core concerns. These vary from place to place, and don鈥檛 always divide neatly along party lines. While Zohran Mamdani鈥檚 mayoral candidacy drew the most attention for its socialist bent, the governor鈥檚 races run by New Jersey鈥檚 Mikie Sherrill and Virginia鈥檚 Abigail Spanberger were avowedly centrist. The two women hold tough-on-crime positions, while Mr. Mamdani is moderating his stance on some issues.

鈥淲hat this is showing is that we can have candidates who have different prescriptions and different styles,鈥� former secretary of transportation and presidential hopeful Pete Buttigieg told The New York Times. 鈥淭he big lesson is to focus on the things that matter most to voters.鈥�

And that focus can draw in support from other corners, too. 鈥淢assive credit to [Mr. Mamdani] for enthusing the electorate,鈥� Wall Street financier Ralph Schlosstein told the Financial Times. 鈥淗e offered hope and opportunity. ... It鈥檚 time for everybody to pull together and help.鈥�