• Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy says travel could slow to a trickle over Thanksgiving.
• Thousands have flights are being canceled as air traffic controllers go unpaid during the shutdown.
• The number of Americans unable to make flights home for the holiday will be “substantial,” he said.

If you’re traveling for Thanksgiving, it might be wise to have a backup plan.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said on CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday that the number of Americans who won’t be able to be with their families for the holidays will be “substantial” if the government shutdown continues.

The shutdown is straining US air travel as air traffic controllers, who are paid with federal funds and have largely gone without a paycheck for over a month, are increasingly not showing up for work, forcing the Federal Aviation Administration to ground thousands of flights.

Duffy said the controllers he spoke to said they’re able to miss one paycheck, but two would be difficult.

“Virtually none of them can miss two paychecks,” Duffy said. “So they’re going to be confronted with the idea of, as you mentioned, going to get a side job, a second job to make ends meet,” he said.

Airline pilots and flight attendants have been stepping in to help, sending free meals to air traffic controllers at airports nationwide.

Airlines have already canceled thousands of flights this weekend, according to data from Cirium, an aviation analytics firm. About 6.5% of flights scheduled on November 8 were canceled, and close to 72% were delayed. Those numbers are likely to only increase as the political stalemate over the government shutdown persists.

Airlines aren’t required to compensate passengers for delays or cancellations caused by events beyond their control — such as air traffic control issues, which have become more common since the government shutdown began. However, if a flight is canceled, airlines must issue a cash refund, even when the disruption is beyond their control, including cancellations tied to the FAA mandate.

Flight Aware, a website that provides real-time and historical flight tracking data, has a “Misery Map” that’s been tracking delays and cancellations at 17 major US airports since October 30.

If your flight’s disrupted, check your airline’s app for rebooking — it’s usually faster than standing in a long gate line with everyone else.
Some airlines may give out meal or hotel vouchers for long delays or overnight stays. And don’t forget your credit card perks — many include travel insurance that can help cover unexpected costs.

• The Trump administration said states must “undo” steps taken to issue full November SNAP benefits.
• Trump pauses the hunger relief benefits during the government shutdown.
• The benefits are now in limbo as courts weigh the legality of the order.

The Trump administration says states must “immediately undo” any steps taken to send full SNAP benefits in November.

The demand, issued by the US Department of Agriculture in a late-night Saturday memo, has further complicated the situation surrounding the hunger relief program, which has now become a central bargaining chip in the ongoing political standoff over the government shutdown.

The US Department of Agriculture distributed the memo to regional SNAP directors, saying states that began sending full payments this month weren’t authorized to do so.

“Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025,” the memo said. “Please advise the appropriate FNS Regional Office representative of steps taken to correct any actions taken that do not comply with this memorandum.”

The memo said states that fail to comply could face repercussions, “including cancellation of the Federal share of State administrative costs and holding States liable for any overissuances that result from the noncompliance.”

Some 42 million Americans rely on SNAP, also known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The program helps individuals purchase groceries to feed themselves and their loved ones.

The government shutdown, which began on October 1, is now the longest in US history. Now at Day 40, it has caused all manner of disruption to American lives.

Hundreds of thousands of federal workers have been furloughed or forced to work without pay. Many air traffic controllers, who are paid through the Federal Aviation Administration using federal funds and have now gone over a month without a paycheck, are increasingly not showing up for work, prompting the FAA to ground thousands of flights ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The fight over funding SNAP benefits, meanwhile, remains mired in legal limbo.

Although the USDA had planned to pause benefits starting on November 1, a Rhode Island court ordered the Trump administration to use emergency funds to keep providing them. A November 3 court filing said the USDA “is complying with the Court’s order and will fulfill its obligation to expend the full amount of SNAP contingency funds.”

Trump wrote in a November 4 Truth Social post that, despite the ruling, his administration would still withhold SNAP benefits until the government shutdown is resolved.

The Trump administration then appealed the lower court ruling, but no updated action has yet been taken. The Supreme Court stepped in to temporarily halt the Rhode Island order until legal proceedings can continue, allowing the Trump administration to avoid issuing November’s SNAP benefits.

• President Donald Trump on Sunday announced that a $2,000 tariff dividend would be paid to Americans.
• In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the payments would be for all but “high income people.”
• The president also called critics of tariffs “fools” and said the US was taking in “trillions of dollars.”

President Donald Trump on Sunday said that a dividend payment of “at least” $2,000 would be paid to most Americans from US tariff revenues.

In a post on Truth Social, he wrote: “We are taking in Trillions of Dollars and will soon begin paying down our ENORMOUS DEBT, $37 Trillion.”

“A dividend of at least $2000 a person (not including high income people!) will be paid to everyone.”

The Supreme Court is reviewing the legality of Trump’s sweeping tariffs, which he has justified under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). Lower courts previously determined that many of the levies were unlawful.

The president had floated the idea of a $1,000 to $2,000 “distribution to the people” in an interview with One America News Network in October, touting tariff revenues he predicted would bring in over a trillion dollars a year.

The Treasury Department said in its September statement that it has collected $195 billion from customs duties in the fiscal year 2025.

For consumers, the idea of a dividend payout may be particularly welcome amid mounting cost-of-living pressures and the ongoing government shutdown.

But any such scheme would likely need congressional approval, and Trump has previously signaled he would prefer to use tariff revenues to tackle the national debt.

Appearing on ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday morning, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told host George Stephanopoulos that the administration’s goal with tariffs was to “rebalance trade” rather than to take in revenue.

Trump’s announcement is the latest salvo in a long-running political battle over affordability.

Trump had partially built his presidential campaign on the issue, repeatedly lambasting former President Joe Biden over inflation and promising to “immediately bring prices down” should he take office.

Democrats have recently turned to the same playbook.

Democratic candidates, including Zohran Mamdani, swept to victory in elections in New York City, New Jersey, and Virginia this week after running campaigns focused on cost-of-living concerns.

Mamdani, the New York City mayor-elect who Trump has branded a “communist,” had pledged to freeze rent, make childcare and buses free, and create city-owned grocery stores as part of his bid for office.

“Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” Mamdani said in his victory speech.

• When my dad died, my mom lost her companion and financial caretaker.
• The emotional and logistical reality of caring for a parent was far more complex than I’d imagined.
• I am constantly stretched thin, balancing my career, parenting, travel, and caring for my mom.

When I got the phone call that my dad had died, I knew that my life would change forever. What I didn’t anticipate was how much my mother’s next chapter in life would collide with mine.

Not only did she lose her companion, but she lost her financial caretaker. I found myself emotionally and financially responsible for her. With housing costs on the rise, personal expenses piling up, and loneliness becoming her new reality, we made a decision that felt practical and compassionate: she would move in with me.

It made sense financially

For my mom and me, the decision was simple math. After becoming a widow, she was suddenly living on a fixed single income and could no longer afford her apartment. At the time, I was a single mom, so sharing a home was a practical choice.

We combined our financial resources, and having her there meant extra help with the day-to-day. It was a win-win; we both saved money and gained a sense of stability and support.

For many families, especially within the Latinx community, multigenerational living isn’t unusual; it’s a financial necessity.

There are hidden costs to being part of the sandwich generation

At 30, I found myself in the sandwich generation, a stage of life where young to middle-aged adults raise children while also caring for aging parents. Ten years later, my life is nothing like I pictured it. Yet, my experience isn’t unique. More and more millennials are finding themselves in this sandwich generation. But unlike older generations, we’re doing it under very different conditions: high living costs, fewer support systems, and the demands of a fast-paced world.

On paper, it made total sense; splitting living expenses helped both of our finances. And most importantly, it ensured that my mom wasn’t navigating grief and aging alone. But the emotional and logistical reality of caring for a parent was far more complex than I’d imagined. What no one prepares you for is that the emotional costs of caregiving can outweigh the financial savings.

Suddenly, I was responsible for scheduling her doctor’s appointments, managing her medications, and monitoring the changes in her mental well-being that started to decline after my dad passed. The role reversal hit me hard. Watching her fade from the caretaker she once was to someone in need of care broke my heart in unexpected ways.

I also underestimated how much personal freedom I’d have to give up. As a mom and millennial who thrived on structure from balancing work, travel, and the comfort of solitude, my life shifted. Even small decisions felt weighed with responsibility. Can I take a trip without making detailed arrangements for her care? Is it selfish to want an evening to myself? Some days felt overwhelming. I just wanted to come home, curl up on the couch with my daughter, and not carry the emotional weight of caring for someone else.

There are some unexpected silver linings

Despite the challenges, there are moments of unexpected gratitude in our living arrangement. I get to share meals with my mom and connect in ways I wouldn’t otherwise have. When I’m drowning in deadlines, the simple gesture of her cooking dinner or watching over my daughter is a reminder that there is someone out there who cares. Plus, my daughter sees the bond shared and what family ties mean.

Living together has also given me a deeper understanding of aging. I see firsthand how isolating it can be for elders, and how fragile our independence can become. It has made me more empathetic, grounded, and in some ways more resilient.

If there’s one thing this experience has taught me, it’s that multigenerational living isn’t just a financial decision, but it’s an emotional commitment. It takes more than careful budgeting; it requires boundaries, shared support, and grace for them and yourself.

Caring for your parents doesn’t mean losing your own life.

Rosa is a freelance writer and content creator based out of New Jersey. Connect on Instagram.

The government shutdown is affecting thousands of travelers across the US as airports grapple with air traffic controller shortages.

The Federal Aviation Administration has mandated a 10% reduction in flights at 40 airports across the country. That began with a 4% reduction on Friday. It will increase to 10% by November 14 unless the shutdown is resolved.

• E1 is an all-electric powerboat championship that debuted in 2024.
• Celebrity team owners include Tom Brady, Will Smith, Rafael Nadal, and Steve Aoki.
• Qualified teams will compete in this season’s final race on Saturday in Miami.

It’s like F1 but on water.

Seventy-five years ago, race drivers ripped across the asphalt in Formula 1’s first Grand Prix, marking the beginning of a lavish global competition.

Now, a Rolodex of celebrities and renowned athletes is helping usher in a new version, this time featuring eco-conscious electric speed boats.

It’s called E1.

If you happened to be in Jeddah in January or Lagos last month, you may have seen the brightly colored boats — called RaceBirds — slicing through open water at almost 60 mph.

“When you step in these boats, you feel like you’re in a spaceship,” Dani Clos, a pilot for DJ Steve Aoki’s team and a former F1 test driver, said during a recent press event.

The inaugural season launched in 2024. Now, as the second season nears its end this weekend in Miami, cofounder Rodi Basso said he’s thinking about how the series can expand when its third season kicks off in January.

“First of all, we are a world championship. We need to be on every continent, so at least one race per continent,” Basso told reporters during the press event held at Roc Nation’s headquarters in New York City. “Asia is missing at the moment and South America as well, but we have conversations and are pretty advanced in both areas.”

Basso said he wants to increase the number of teams from 9 to 12 and the number of races from 7 to 15. In October, E1 announced that Team Monaco is set to join the 2026 season.

“Of course, it’s not like a magic fixed number, but this, for me, is the right level,” Basso said.

That’s not all, though. Here’s everything to know about E1.

Saudi Arabia and A-list celebrities have backed the series

Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund announced its partnership with the E1 series in 2021. Three years later, the PIF said it created Electric 360, a multi-year partnership with Formula E, Extreme E, and E1 powerboat racing. Basso’s cofounder, Alejandro Agag, helped create all three championships.

“The new partnership will draw together initiatives that underscore the power of electric motor sports to drive technological innovation, and revolutionize sustainable transport and future mobility — while leading the way in carbon reduction,” the Public Investment Fund said.

The team owners — which Basso refers to as “talent” — span different industries and sports: DJ Steve Aoki, NBA legend LeBron James, cricket world cup champion Virat Kohli, seven-time Super Bowl winner Tom Brady, former Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure, four-time Premier League Winner Didier Drogba, Grammy-award winning singer Marc Anthony, former tennis titan Rafael Nadal, and Academy award winner Will Smith.

Brady’s team won the 2024 season, adding to his list of championships.

“They’re all coming from sport and entertainment because we are trying to find the sweet spot between these two worlds that need to talk to each other in order to build an exciting sport proposition,” Basso said. “They are on board and they’ve invested in this sport because they believe that in this stage of their career and their life, one of the next projects they want to be involved in needs to be impactful.”

Despite its ongoing operations and ambitious plans, Basso said the E1 series isn’t looking for investors due to a lack of funds.

“The good news for us is that we are not looking for investment because we need money, but we want to do it to accelerate even faster than we are doing now,” Basso told Business Insider.

He added it will take time for the E1 series to grow, but “at a certain point, it will be good to have more funds so that we can build another boat, expand through more marketing and more sales force.”

E1 teams have 2 pilots and a race weekend lasts 2 days

For those who’ve never watched an E1 series race, each team has two alternating pilots: one man and one woman. For example, the Aoki Racing Team pilots are Dani Clos of Spain and Mashael Alobaidan of Saudi Arabia.

“He is the person who’s cheering for us, who’s pushing for us, and all that. Of course, we have good communication,” Clos said of Aoki.

Competition weekends happen over two days. Practice and qualifying rounds take place on the first day, while the main races occur on the second day.

Pilots must steer their eco-friendly RaceBirds around a designated water-based track and outmaneuver their opponents to win, but it’s trickier than it sounds.

The RaceBirds are foiling boats, meaning each boat features an underwater fin that lifts the hull into the air at certain speeds.

“They’re impressive because we literally fly above the water,” Clos said, adding that RaceBirds can be “very sensitive.”

“When you drive in the water, it’s never stable. We have currents. We have the waves,” Clos said. “We have the wind and, because we don’t have a track, every corner, every straight line is different all the time.”

And because the races take place in open water, cruise ships and other boats play a role.

“If we see these mega yachts from Miami coming with people watching and cheering, we are saying, ‘Man, a big wave is going to come,'” Clos said. “You need to prepare for that and see how you’re going to calibrate the boat. It makes the racing very interesting because we need to be 100% on that.”

A major component of the E1 series is sustainability

E1 is not just about furthering the motorsport industry or partnering with household names. Sustainability remains a core value of the series. However, unlike landlocked Formula E, the E1 series has focused its sustainability efforts on oceans and waterways.

“I would say that our vision is to protect and celebrate the lifestyle in coastal areas,” Basso said.

Basso said the E1 series presented an opportunity to explore the blue economy, which aims to conserve water areas while utilizing them for economic growth and resource development.

“We want to make sustainability cool. So, you come to our events, you have a lot of fun, and, in the meantime, you see what the water mobility of the future will look like,” Basso said.

Season 2 ends in Miami on November 8

This season’s final race takes place this weekend in Miami’s Biscayne Bay, marking the first time E1 has appeared in the US. The practice and qualifying rounds began Friday, while the actual races will begin on Saturday.

“After six rounds racing across three continents, reigning 2024 Champions Team Brady lead the title charge. But tennis legend Rafa Nadal’s team trails by only three points, with just 20 points separating the top four to set up a dramatic shootout for the coveted ‘Champions of the Water’ trophy,” a press release said. “Adding to the excitement, Team Miami owned by global music icon and Miami star Marc Anthony, will race on home waters.”

Clos, who’s based in Miami, told Business Insider he and his teammate are optimistic ahead of the race. The Aoki Racing team won the first race of the year in Jeddah, and again this June in Croatia.

“The last events have been a little bit tough, and we didn’t have the best of luck,” Clos said. “We didn’t put all the things together, but we’re coming to Miami with an amazing mentality, and I think that this weekend can bring us a lot of joy.”