Shutdown Stalemate Deepens — Paychecks Halted & Delayed, & Paralysis Spreads to Air Travel 10/8/25

Across America, flight cancelations and delays are affecting travel because of Trump’s government shutdown. Air Traffic Controllers will not get paid if the shutdown continues much longer. The Department of Transportation reports an increase in air traffic controllers calling in sick since the shutdown started, though their union denies any coordinated work actions. The National Air Traffic Controllers Association says this highlights the ongoing issues of being critically staffed with unreliable equipment. Hundreds of Texas National Guard troops arrived in Illinois yesterday. Their presence heightens the showdown between Donald Trump and Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who says he neither needs nor wants National Guard intervention in his state. We welcome presidential historian and political analyst John Rothmann into the show to discuss. Belinda Waymouth is back with “It’s the Planet, Stupid!” and this time she’s brought a guest. Tom Ford with The Bay Foundation will join to talk about a conservation project to strengthen critical kelp forests that have been shrinking with alarming speed off the California coast.