Airports manage staff as government shutdown delays flights
Despite the government shutdown, essential businesses and staff are working at the airport. As the closure continues, the risk of aircraft delays remains.
ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith walked off the stage at City Hall after criticizing politicians for not resolving the government shutdown.
Smith, host of ESPN’s First Take, attended an event hosted by cable network NewsNation in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday night, Oct. 16, along with other guests, including hosts Chris Cuomo and Bill O’Reilly.
The government shutdown that began Oct. 1 is now in its third week, and it has become the biggest issue at City Hall. Republicans “passed a bill that funds the government at the level that Democrats wanted,” Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told the committee and the audience, according to NewsNation.
Rep. Madeline Dean (D-Pennsylvania) responded that Republicans have a “triple chance” of holding the White House and controlling both houses of Congress. “You are failing to govern,” she said.
A member of the audience brought up a personal aspect of the issue. Jack Criss Jr., who said he had been an air traffic controller for 16 years, told the gathering he was very concerned about the situation because he worked to pay for his daughter’s college tuition and then took a side job as a DoorDash delivery driver.
This infuriated Smith, who said Chris’ story exemplifies why Americans are angry about the shutdown. “This is why you have so many Americans. Sorry for my language, but please stop the (expletive) in Washington,” he said. Politicians need to work “to make things better,” Smith added.
Smith criticizes government for increasing US debt
He also criticized Washington for allowing the U.S. debt to balloon to more than $37.8 trillion. “We all look at our checks and it goes to the government, so somehow we should be doing enough constructive and productive things that we don’t have that kind of deficit,” Smith said in a video posted by NewsNation on X. “That’s not happening.”
Smith said he was open to a possible presidential run and blamed the shutdown for not getting paid as an air traffic controller and how Chris had to take another job.
“Everyone here is getting paid,” he said, pointing to a panel that included several lawmakers.
“He’s the only one who hasn’t received a check,” Smith said. “You know what I’m going to do? I’m going to take a break.”
Smith then got up from his chair and exited from the right side of the stage.
Mike Snyder is a national trends news reporter for USA TODAY. You can follow him on Threads, Bluesky, and X, and email him at: mike snyder & @mikegsnider.bsky.social & @mikesnider & msnider@usatoday.com
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