For the past 37 days, the Acela Media have done everything in their power to frame the ongoing government shutdown as a Republican shutdown. But, despite their best efforts, some cracks are beginning to form giving way to a glimmer of truth.
Watch the end of NBC Nightly News’ report on the shutdown. If you listen closely, you will hear a tacit acknowledgement of Democrat shutdown origins:
RYAN NOBLES: But while air travel is up in the air, relief may be on the way for millions of SNAP benefit recipients, as a judge orders the administration to fully fund the program by Friday. Judge John McConnell writing in his order, "People have gone without for too long."
TOM LLAMAS: Ryan joins us tonight, live from Reagan airport. Ryan, are there any signs of progress there on Capitol Hill?
NOBLES: Yes, Tom, there has been some progress with those bipartisan talks, so much so that the Senate is planning a procedural vote tomorrow that could ultimately become the package that ends the shutdown. But there is no deal yet, and some Democrats say the offers by Republicans to end the shutdown do not go far enough. Tom.
LLAMAS: We hope that’s a sign of progress, though. All right, Ryan, we thank you for that.
The report itself is your standard air traffic-pivot shutdown fare, with the latest wrinkle being the announcement of a 10% reduction of operations at the nation’s 40 busiest airports due to staffing issues. You had a statement from Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, and that of some passengers.
The purpose of that portion of the report was to convey the pain that the shutdown is inflicting across the board. And then comes the close.
Correspondent Ryan Nobles provides an update on SNAP payments and then goes live with anchor Tom Llamas, who asks for any sign of progress on The Hill. Here’s where it gets interesting, because it is at that point that Nobles says the Democrats are not satisfied with what Republicans are offering to end the shutdown.
The party identified as refusing to end the shutdown is usually who started it in the first place. Such is the state of the media, that to openly acknowledge this seems almost revolutionary. But here we are.
Click “expand” to view the full transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on NBC Nightly News on Thursday, November 7th, 2025:
TOM LLAMAS: Good evening. A chaotic week at the nation's airports is about to get a whole lot worse, starting tomorrow morning. The FAA, slashing the amount of planes in the air due to staffing shortages exacerbated by the government shutdown. Starting just hours from now, major flight cuts are coming to 40 of the busiest airports in the country, reducing options in places like New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Dallas. So, what does that look like? Well, tomorrow, Delta and United will each cut about 200 flights and Southwest says it is canceling 100 more. Air traffic controllers and TSA officers have been working without a paycheck for weeks now. It’s coming with the holiday crunch time right around the corner, and while lawmakers have been meeting, so far there is no deal in sight. We begin tonight with Ryan Nobles.
RYAN NOBLES: Tonight, airports across America bracing for a massive rollback.
SEAN DUFFY: We are about safety, we are about making sure people's flights go from point A to point B and people get on and off them safely.
NOBLES: The Trump administration rolling out a plan to reduce traffic at 40 airports by 10%, starting tomorrow. Airports in cities like Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and Houston will be impacted. An industry source telling NBC News it will begin with a gradual cut of 4% of flights for the first four days. The FAA says its proactive measure is to keep flyers safe amid air traffic control staffing issues that have only gotten worse during the government shutdown.
NICK DANIELS: This is a result of 37 days of no pay and issues mounting on top of an already fragile system.
NOBLES: It’s already led to delays nationwide and long security lines, like these.
PASSENGER: It's not good. We cannot have these cuts. This is very important. Travel is important.
NOBLES: United already canceling 188 flights tomorrow, Delta canceling 170. The airlines say most passengers will be unaffected, but United, American, Southwest, and Delta, are all offering refunds to anyone impacted.
PASSENGER: I will say, because I have not taken extra precautions, it is increasing my stress level.
NOBLES: But while air travel is up in the air, relief may be on the way for millions of SNAP benefit recipients, as a judge orders the administration to fully fund the program by Friday. Judge John McConnell writing in his order, "People have gone without for too long."
LLMAS: Ryan joins us tonight, live from Reagan airport. Ryan, are there any signs of progress there on Capitol Hill?
NOBLES: Yes, Tom, there has been some progress with those bipartisan talks, so much so that the Senate is planning a procedural vote tomorrow that could ultimately become the package that ends the shutdown. But there is no deal yet, and some Democrats say the offers by Republicans to end the shutdown do not go far enough. Tom.
LLAMAS: We hope that’s a sign of progress, though. All right, Ryan, we thank you for that.
