1. GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN HITS HOME

Congress has been unable to agree on a budget, so many parts of the U.S. government have been shut down for nearly two weeks. This means almost 600,000 federal workers have been sent home without pay, while others must keep working even though they will not get paid until the shutdown ends. Instead of furloughing people and waiting, President Trump’s administration has begun issuing permanent layoff notices. A recent court filing shows that more than 4,000 workers across seven federal agencies—including the Departments of Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Homeland Security and Treasury—have been told they could lose their jobs. This has added to the uncertainty for many families. The shutdown is also disrupting everyday services. In Native American communities, some tribes have had to furlough employees and close museums and children’s programs. Fifteen Bureau of Indian Affairs regional offices have been shut, which makes it harder for tribes to consult with the government and get funding. Veterans are affected too: the Department of Veterans Affairs has stopped offering career counseling and transition help, closed its benefits offices and turned off call center hotlines. Farmers are struggling to plan next year’s crops because the U.S. Department of Agriculture has furloughed about half its workers and stopped processing farm loans and disaster aid payments; without those loans, farmers can’t buy seed, fuel or fertilizer. This comes at a time when many farmers already face low crop prices and high debts. These problems show how a prolonged shutdown hurts real people—families, workers, veterans, farmers and tribal nations—even though politicians in Washington are still arguing about funding. Reflect on how the shutdown affects different groups by writing a short paragraph or creating a comic strip. Describe how one group—such as federal workers, Native American communities, veterans, farmers, or taxpayers—is impacted, using at least one fact from the article to support your explanation, such as the number of workers furloughed or the closure of veterans’ benefits offices. Then imagine how you would feel if a service your family relies on were suddenly shut down or if a parent lost a paycheck because of a government budget dispute. Finally, propose what you would ask a member of Congress to do about the shutdown if you were writing them a letter. Use words or drawings to express your ideas clearly and share them with your class.

2. COSTUMED PROTESTERS MAKE HEADLINES

In Portland, Oregon, protesters have found a playful way to counter President Trump’s portrayal of the city as violent and chaotic. Outside the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) building, demonstrators have been showing up in giant inflatable costumes—frogs, sharks, bears, unicorns, raccoons and even a capybara—to make their point. The trend began when 24-year-old Seth Todd wore a green frog suit “to break the image of us as violent extremists,” saying that dressing as a frog was the best way to show peaceful protest. Videos and photos of these colorful costumes dancing and bouncing in the streets have gone viral on social media and television. As a court considers whether President Trump can send the National Guard into Portland, the animal-costumed protests highlight the city’s “Keep Portland Weird” spirit and aim to show that most demonstrators are peaceful and creative. Imagine you are organizing a peaceful protest about an issue you care about. Research examples of nonviolent protests that have used humor, art or costumes to convey a message. Then write a paragraph describing how you would incorporate a creative element—such as a costume, song or skit—to communicate your point without using violence. Explain why you think humor or creativity can be a powerful way to change perceptions and draw attention to your cause.

3. C.D.C. LAYOFFS CORRECTED

Hundreds of scientists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) were mistakenly laid off on Friday, October 10, 2025, as part of a reduction-in-force under the second Trump administration. The cuts hit some of the agency’s most critical teams, including those leading the measles and Ebola response, members of the elite Epidemic Intelligence Service and the staff who assemble the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (the CDC’s influential research journal). Within days, reports from Politico and other outlets revealed that about 700 of the 1,300 staffers who received layoff notices had been fired due to a coding error. After the mistake became public, federal health officials said the employees were immediately notified that their jobs would be restored. Emails sent to affected scientists, including the incident commander of the measles response team, reversed the layoffs and promised they would not be part of the reduction in force. However, some offices—such as the CDC’s Washington office and parts of its violence prevention program—were not rehired. The chaotic firings and rehiring have intensified criticism of the administration’s handling of the nation’s premier public health agency, which has already faced mass resignations and previous rounds of cuts. Investigate the role of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) by creating a fact sheet or infographic that explains what the agency does and why its scientists are important for public health, describes the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report and the Epidemic Intelligence Service, and discusses how sudden layoffs of disease response teams could hinder the country’s ability to handle outbreaks. After you finish your research, write a brief reflection on how government decisions can affect scientific work and how the public can support public health institutions.

4. THOUSANDS RETURN TO NORTHERN GAZA

After nearly two years of war, a cease-fire began at noon on Friday in Gaza. By Saturday, thousands of Palestinians were walking back toward Gaza City, hoping to see what was left of their homes. Many had fled weeks earlier when Israel launched a ground offensive. The United Nations said the level of destruction is “staggering”; returning families found collapsed buildings and rubble where neighborhoods once stood. Olga Cherevko, a U.N. humanitarian official, explained that people were both relieved to return and devastated by what they found. Residents like Manal Muftah, a 33-year-old baker, said they lost everything and feared it would take generations to rebuild. The cease-fire is part of a 20-point peace plan proposed by President Trump and is meant to pave the way for a broader peace agreement. Leaders from the United States, France, Britain and Egypt will meet soon in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, to discuss the plan. Meanwhile, Israel has agreed to allow more humanitarian aid into Gaza, including food and medicine, and to partially withdraw its troops. Still, Gaza faces severe shortages of supplies, damaged hospitals and widespread displacement. Many people expressed frustration that political negotiations feel distant from their immediate need for shelter, clean water and a way to rebuild their lives. Imagine you are a radio journalist reporting on the first days of the cease-fire in Gaza for a middle school audience. Write a one-minute news script describing what is happening as people return to Gaza City. Include at least three facts from the story above—such as the damage they find, the role of the cease-fire and peace talks, and the challenges facing hospitals or aid workers. Then, add one or two brief quotes you might gather from people like Manal Muftah or a U.N. official about how they feel. Finally, suggest one question listeners your age might have about what happens next in Gaza.

5. CREATIVE MATERIALS FROM CHEMISTRY

The Nobel Prize in chemistry this year went to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar Yaghi for developing metal organic frameworks, or MOFs. These materials are made by linking metal ions to carbon-based molecules to form crystals with huge amounts of interior space. Because of their open design, MOFs can be tailored to trap specific molecules like water, carbon dioxide or toxic gases. Scientists hope MOFs could be used to pull greenhouse gases out of the air, remove pollutants from industrial sites or harvest moisture from desert air. The discovery has already inspired thousands of new MOFs, showing how a single idea can grow into many solutions. Research one current or proposed use of MOFs. Write a paragraph explaining how the MOF works and what problem it could solve, citing at least one source.