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"Things are getting real," House Speaker Johnson tells GOP Congress members

• Harsh reality sets in as funding for SNAP food program runs out this weekend
• Political parties blame each other, MTG warns that voters are "pissed"
• Policy group says it's not true there are no contingency funds available

Its day 28 of the federal shutdown and funding for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) runs out this weekend, cutting off food aid to 42 million Americans. Politicians from both parties are using the prospect of human suffering to further their goals, seeking to shift blame for the shutdown onto the opposite party.

There are scattered efforts to keep the program running:

• A coalition of 23 state attorneys generalfiled suit to block the blockage;
• Scattered legislative attempts have so far produced nothing. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) picked up ten new sponsors for his bill that would keep SNAP alive.Needy families in Missouri should not be going hungry because a bunch of politicians in DC cant figure out how to open the government,said Hawley;
• The Center for Budget and Policy Priorities said that reserve funds to keep SNAP operating are available and should be used, as they recently were to keep the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) program in operation.

Congress has no plans

The House of Representatives is in recess and House Speaker Mike Johnson told House GOP members that party leaders have no plans for legislation that would put expiring food benefits up for a vote. "Things are getting real" this week, Johnson said as he urged members to brace for mounting pressure from their constituents, Politico reported.

Johnson said the "pain register is about to hit level 10," saying that would put maximum pressure on Democrats to cave in to GOP demands that any resolution includes cuts in Affordable Care Act funding. Some Republicans, including Missouri's Hawley, have said the stand-off has gone on long enough and 42 million poor and disabled Americans must not be left without food.

"Congress must not let that happen," Hawley said in an op-ed. "America is a great and wealthy nation, and our most important wealth is our generosity of spirit. We help those in need. We provide for the widow and the orphan. Love of neighbor is part of who we are. The Scriptures injunction to remember the poor is a principle Americans have lived by. Its time Congress does the same."

States file suit against the "unlawful" shutdown

A coalition of 23 state of attorneys general andgovernors have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Secretary Brooke Rollins for their role in the aid cut-off.

It is clear President Trump and his USDA are making a deliberate, illegal, and inhumane choice to not fund the SNAP program during the federal government shutdown despite the availability of contingency funds. The government is legally required to make payments to those who meet the program requirements, said Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser. We are asking the court to resume essential food assistance for the more than 600,000 Coloradans who use SNAP benefits to feed themselves or their families.

The lapse in benefits will have dire consequences for the health and well-being of Americans who rely on the program to feed themselves and their families and will also put unnecessary strain on state and local governments and community organizations, as families increasingly rely on emergency services and local food pantries that are already struggling to fill a growing nutrition gap. It will affect school systems and college and university communities, where food insecurity will stand in the way of educating our students.

Suspending SNAP benefits will also harm the hundreds of thousands of grocers and merchants that accept SNAP payment for food purchases. USDA has estimated that in a slowing economy, every $1 in SNAP benefits generates $1.54 in economic activity.

Joining in the lawsuit are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin. The Governors of Kansas, Kentucky, and Pennsylvania have also joined.

Money is available: CBPP

The Trump Administration's claim that no contingency funds are available to keep SNAP benefits coming is not accurate, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities."This stands in opposition to the law and prior practice, including by the Trump Administration itself, the CBPP said in a published statement.

"The Administration could use its legal transfer authority the same authority it already used to provide additional funds to WIC to supplement the contingency reserves, which alone are not enough to fund families full benefits for November. The Administration must use all available options to fund November benefits for the 1 in 8 people in the U.S. who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.

Markets that saw the biggest gains are losing steam

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• National home value growth slows, with prices falling in nineof 20 major metro areas.

• U.S. home prices rose just 1.5% in August from a year earlier the weakest pace since 2023.

• Homeowners lose ground to inflation, while easing mortgage rates offer buyers some relief.

Home buyers who have remained patient and kept socking away cash are finally being rewarded. The latest data show the housing market continued to cool in August, with national home prices rising just 1.5% compared to a year earlier.

According to the latest S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index, that marks a slowdown from Julys 1.7% increase and represents the slowest annual growth since 2023, when prices briefly dipped.

But perhaps more important for buyers, nine of the 20 major metro areas tracked by the index saw year-over-year price declines, signaling that the markets post-pandemic surge continues to lose steam.

August's data shows U.S. home prices continuing to slow, said Nicholas Godec, head of fixed income tradables and commodities at S&P Dow Jones Indices. For the fourth straight month, home values have lost ground to inflation, meaning homeowners are seeing their real wealth decline even as nominal prices inch higher.

The 1.5% rise in home values trails the 2.9% inflation rate over the same period meaning home prices are falling in real, inflation-adjusted terms.

Northeast and Midwest hold firm

The slowdown isnt hitting all regions equally. Northeast and Midwest markets continue to post solid gains, while many Sun Belt and Western metros are seeing sharper corrections.

New York led all markets with a 6.1% annual price gain, followed by Chicago (5.9%) and Cleveland (4.7%). Meanwhile, Tampa recorded the largest drop among major metros, with values down 3.3% year-over-year its 10th straight month of annual declines.

Markets that experienced the sharpest pandemic-era gains are now seeing the largest corrections, while more affordable metros with stable local economies are holding up better, Godec noted.

Realtor.com Senior Economist Anthony Smith said markets in the Northeast and Midwest continue to perform relatively better, supported by tighter resale supply and steadier demand, while many Sun Belt cities are showing clearer signs of softening, with inventory recovering, homes taking longer to sell, and price cuts rising.

Cooling prices, falling mortgage rates

For prospective buyers, the silver lining shines even brighter. Mortgage rates have fallen to their lowest level in over a year 6.19%, according to Freddie Mac as the Federal Reserve continues to ease its benchmark interest rate.

With inflation outpacing home value growth, falling borrowing costs, and a patchwork of local market conditions, the housing market appears to be entering a new equilibrium one that could offer opportunities for patient buyers while testing the resilience of homeowners who bought at the peak.

Uber plans a fleet of 100,000 autonomous vehicles

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• NVIDIA and Uber are teaming up to build the worlds largest Level 4-ready autonomous mobility network, beginning in 2027.

• Up to 100,000 self-driving vehicles will join Ubers global fleet, powered by NVIDIAs next-gen DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10 platform.

• AI and generative technology will help vehicles navigate complex, real-world environments with humanlike reasoning.
  

NVIDIA and Uber have announced a major new partnership designed to fast-track the era of autonomous transportation. How it will impact Uber drivers is not exactly clear, though in the beginning, it may make their jobs easier.

The two tech leaders plan to deploy the worlds largest Level 4-ready robotaxi and autonomous delivery network. Level 4 refers to vehicles capable of operating safely without human intervention in most environments starting as soon as 2027.

At the heart of this collaboration is NVIDIAs DRIVE AGX Hyperion 10, a new autonomous vehicle development platform that provides the computing power and sensors needed to make vehicles Level 4-ready. The system combines AI, radar, lidar and camera data to enable safe, real-time decision-making on the road.

From rides to robotaxis

Ubers vision is to create a single mobility network that connects human drivers and autonomous vehicles. In the near future, riders may not notice whether their trip is handled by a person or an AI-powered robotaxi both will operate on one unified Uber platform.

Robotaxis mark the beginning of a global transformation in mobility making transportation safer, cleaner and more efficient, said Jensen Huang, founder and CEO of NVIDIA. Together with Uber, were creating a framework for the entire industry to deploy autonomous fleets at scale.

Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi called NVIDIA the backbone of the AI era, adding that the collaboration will help autonomous vehicles reach consumers faster while transforming city transportation.

Building a scalable autonomous future

To support Ubers massive rollout goal of 100,000 autonomous vehicles, the companies are developing a global data factory powered by NVIDIA Cosmos, a platform that curates and processes real-world and simulated data for AI model training.

Other major automakers and mobility partnersincluding Stellantis, Lucid, Mercedes-Benz, Volvo, and Auroraare also joining the broader NVIDIA ecosystem to integrate Level 4 capabilities into their fleets.

This collaboration means consumers could soon see NVIDIA-powered automation not only in robotaxis but also in delivery vans, trucks and even luxury sedans.

LA has displaced Chicago on top of a pest control companys annual ranking

By Mark Huffman of ConsumerAffairs

• Los Angeles dethrones Chicago as the Rattiest City in America for the first time in Orkins Top 50 Rattiest Cities List

• Shift in rankings tied to urban density, climate, and human behavior influencing rodent survival

• Orkin experts warn homeowners to guard against rising infestations as cooler weather drives rodents indoors

In a dramatic twist worthy of its Hollywood reputation, Los Angeles has unseated Chicago as the nations Rattiest City, according to pest control company Orkins annual Top 50 Rattiest Cities List.

The 2025 ranking marks the first time in the lists history that Chicago has not claimed the top spot, ending a ten-year run at No. 1.

Orkins analysis, which tracks rodent control services performed in owner-occupied residences from August 2024 through August 2025, reveals a notable shift in rodent activity across U.S. cities. Experts attribute the changes to a mix of urban infrastructure, weather patterns, and human behavior that have made certain cities more rodent-friendly than ever.

Los Angeles climate, mild year-round with ample food and shelter sources, has made it an ideal habitat for rodents. The citys dense neighborhoods, bustling food scene, and sprawling alleyways provide the perfect mix of glamour and grit for rats to thrive.

Rats and mice are more than a nuisance; theyre opportunists, said Ian Williams, Orkin entomologist. If theres food, warmth and a way in, theyll find it. And once inside, their constant chewing and rapid reproduction can quickly turn a small issue into a large, expensive one.

Chicago fell to No. 2 but continues to face severe infestations, particularly in its older, tightly packed neighborhoods. New York City remains at No. 3, with its subway system and abundance of discarded food fueling rodent populations. San Francisco (No. 4) and Hartford, Connecticut (No. 5) round out the top five.

California leads the nation in rodent activity

California dominated this years rankings, with four cities making the list Los Angeles (1), San Francisco (4), Sacramento (19), and San Diego (24). The states mild climate and expanding urban areas have created year-round breeding grounds for rodents. Orkin notes that more moderate climates nationwide are improving rodent survival rates, leading to population increases in both major metropolitan and suburban areas.

Rodents pose significant threats to both property and health. Their teeth rank 5.5 on the Mohs hardness scale, meaning they can gnaw through wood, plastic, and even soft metals. Beyond structural damage, rodents are known carriers of diseases including Leptospirosis, Salmonellosis, LCM, plague, and typhus.

With fall temperatures driving rodents indoors, homeowners are urged to stay alert for signs of infestationdroppings, gnaw marks, rub marks, or scampering noises.

Orkins GNAW tips

To help homeowners protect their properties, Orkin recommends following GNAW, a four-step prevention guide:

• G Guard entry points: Seal cracks, holes, and gaps in walls or around pipes.

• N Never leave food outside: Secure trash and avoid feeding pets outdoors.

• A Avoid clutter: Eliminate piles of debris or materials that could serve as nesting spots.

• W Watch for signs: Look for droppings, gnaw marks, or burrows.

Other proactive steps include repairing leaks and maintaining trash bins.

The math that saves your fridge (and wallet)

• Do the math: unit price waste + storage/time; keep your target unit prices on your phone for quick retrieval

• Bulk wins: paper goods, trash bags, laundry/dish tabs, AA/AAA, cheese/meat if you freeze, coffee youll finish in 68 weeks

• Buy small on promos: condiments, cereal, pasta/sauce, spices, snack packs, short-fuse produce, bread (unless you freeze), brand-name drinks; follow finish windows (berries 24d, deli 35d, oils 46mo)

If youve ever tossed a 16-count package of guacamole in your cart and thought, This is definitely cheaper right?, this ones for you. Warehouse math isnt just about unit price, you need to factor in unit price minus waste, plus storage space, plus time, minus any coupons or loss-leaders youd grab at a regular grocery store. Do the math wrong and your deal turns into a science experiment in the back of the fridge.

Heres a no-nonsense playbook: 8 items where bulk wins at Costco/Sams, and 8 items that are usually better as non-bulk buys with grocery coupons or weekly ads.

First, the quick warehouse math rules

Be sure to start with the unit price (price ounces/sheets/loads) and use that as your baseline. Then adjust for your reality. Meaning what youll use before it spoils, the storage it takes up, and the time you save by making fewer trips.

And always keep in mind that coupons and loss-leaders (pasta, cereal, condiments) can often beat warehouse pricing when buying smaller packs.

Pro tip: write down the target unit price on your phone for the top 20 products you always buy. Then when you see it below the target, you buy it, regardless of the store.

8 bulk buys that usually win at Costco/Sams

1. Toilet paper & paper towels

A giant pack equals a lower cost per 100 sheets/square feet, and zero spoilage. Which means as long as you keep it dry, youll use it and save money.

Math cue: Compare cost per 100 sheets (TP) or per sq ft (towels). Warehouse pricing almost always beats grocery store sale pricing over a month.

2. Trash bags

With the Kirkland and Members Mark brand youre getting the same (or better) brand-level quality for less per bag, thicker plastic thats less likely to poke/tear, and enough on hand that youre not doing the last bag panic.

Math cue: Compare cost per bag on the size you actually use (13-gal kitchen or 3033-gal outdoor). Example: 200-ct box for $22 = $0.11/bag; grocery 45-ct for $8 = $0.18/bag which equates to about 40% more

3. Laundry detergent (pods or big jugs)

Club sizes bring Kirkland/Members Mark down to rock-bottom /load, so one purchase covers months without emergency restocks at a very competitive price.

Watch-out: Dont buy a scented variety that youre unsure of in a 2-gallon drum. Try a small bottle first before you go all in.

4. Dishwasher detergent tab

Cost per tab plunges at the warehouse. Plus, dishwasher tabs store forever and wont spill.

Math cue: Price tab count. Easy win.

5. Batteries (AA/AAA)

Crazy high unit savings, especially when you buy Kirkland or Members Mark, plus they still have a long shelf life. The Costco CEO even revealed that Duracell makes Kirkland batteries so you know the quality is good.

Pro tip: Store a sleeve in a Ziploc bag in a cool spot to keep them fresh.

6. Cheese blocks & shredded (if you freeze)

Cheese from Costco and Sam's wins on unit price, and most firm/semi-hard cheeses (cheddar, low-moisture Mozzarella, Jack, Colby, provolone, Parm) freeze well so waste wont be an issue. I recommend portioning or pre-shredding before freezing and use straight from frozen for hot dishes.

Math cue: Buy a 2-lb block, shred half, freeze in flat bags. No waste = true savings.

7. Meat in value packs (when you portion + freeze)

Warehouse meats often win on price per pound, and you get to control the cuts and serving sizes. Im a huge fan of splitting big packs into meal-size portions, press flat, label, and freeze.

Pro tip: Skip the enhanced chicken (youre paying for brine), factor in trim/bones for true $/lb, and thaw in the fridge or cold water for easy weeknight meals.

8. Coffee beans/grounds

Coffee from warehouse clubstypically wins on cents-per-ounce, with solid house and national brands. Buy what youll drink in 68 weeks (or portion and freeze).

Watch-out: I recommend buying whole bean and grind as you go as pre-ground stales quickly once the bag has been open.

8 things to skip at the warehouse (buy smaller with coupons/weekly sales)

1. Condiments (ketchup, mayo, mustard) you use slowly

Why grocery wins: Youll find frequent BOGO/coupons at most supermarkets that undercuts the warehouse club price. Not to mention that the jumbo tub may expire before you finish it.

Rule: If it takes you 6+ months to finish, buy smaller.

2. Cold cereal

Grocery stores beat the warehouse on most cold cereal because they run constant promos like digital coupons, BOGOs, and mix & match deals. These drive the unit price way down on, especially on family-sized boxes.

Math cue: Warehouse is fine for in-house brands, but flashy name brands often go cheaper at Kroger, Publix, Winco, and Grocery Outlet on promo.

3. Pasta & pasta sauce

Grocery stores treat pasta and mainstream sauces as classic loss leaders, so weekly promos and digital coupons often push unit prices well below what youll see at Costco or Sams Club.

Strategy: Stack a store sale with a manufacturer coupon and beat warehouse per-unit easily.

4. Spices you use once a month

Big jars of spices lose potency before youre halfway through.

Buy: Smaller bottles on sale, or hit the ethnic aisle/bulk bins for even more savings.

5. Snack variety packs for picky families

At warehouse clubs, you end up paying for a bigger assortment of snacks like chips or cookies, then half of the flavors end up not getting eaten.

Buy: Focus on the smaller sale boxes of the specific flavor your kids will actually eat.

6. Fresh produce with a short shelf-life

Things like berries and spring mix lettuce spoil quickly, so if you buy the larger Costco size they often spoil before you can finish them.

Rule: If you cant eat it in 34 days, buy the grocery-size on sale and restock more often.

7. Bread and buns (unless you freeze)

Mold happens. Grocery stores run weekly deals and bakery markdowns that often make more sense unless you have the freezer space.

Do this: If you do end up buying bread in bulk, keep a few days worth, then freeze the rest in a zip bag with the air pressed out. Then periodically take out what you need and the rest will last for 2-3 months in the freezer.

8. Soda, sparkling water, and brand-name beverages

Grocery chains treat beverages like a weekly foot-traffic magnet.

Math cue: Watch for 4 for $12 or Buy 2, get 2 style promos that easily beat warehouse per-can prices.

How to make the math brain-dead simple

Im a big fan of setting finish windows which is how long it usually takes my family to finish a product.

Quick freshness rules (buy only what youll finish in this window):

• Milk: 57 days after opening. Yogurt: 12 weeks. Deli meat: 35 days.
• Produce: berries 24 days, leafy greens 35 days, hardy vegetables (carrots/onions) 12 weeks.
• Cheese: soft cheese 1 week after opening; shredded 12 weeks; hard/block 34 weeks.
• Pantry staples: about 6090 days once opened. Oils: 46 months (with cool, dark storage).

If you wont finish it in that time window, and freezing is not an option, dont buy it in bulk.