Two judges issue rulings in lawsuits challenging Trump admin. withholding SNAP benefits

Government Shutdown Impact - The US Department of Agriculture says SNAP benefits, previously known as food stamps, will run dry, leaving some 42 million people, or about 1 in 8 Americans, facing concerns about food insecurity [1] - 55 million Americans in California will be impacted by the decision to cut the SNAP program [1] - Federal workers are suffering, and lines are getting longer outside of food banks [1] Healthcare & ACA - Millions of Americans are facing likely sticker shock with premiums expected to more than double as ACA subsidies are set to expire at the end of the year [1] - Democrats believe they have found a winning issue in their battle over healthcare, demanding an extension of healthcare subsidies [1] - Facing a 100% to 300% increase in premiums in a matter of months is a defining issue for many Americans [1] Legal & Political Actions - More than a dozen states sued the administration over its suspension of SNAP benefits [1] - One court ordered the administration to use emergency contingency funds to prevent a lapse in benefits, and another ruled that withholding benefits is likely unlawful [1] - The judge in Rhode Island said the administration needs to fully fund SNAP with any sort of contingency funding, and if those funds run out, they need to find the money to feed people [3] - President Trump urged Senate Republicans to end the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to move legislation [1] - The White House has a plan to pay members of the military again, drawing from legislative funds and the Pentagon's accounts, combining about $5 billion [20]