The government shutdown continued to dominate US media on October 2nd, entering its second day. Early reports focused on the ongoing impasse between Republicans and Democrats, with the Trump administration reportedly using the shutdown to maximize political pain and reshape the federal government.
Later in the day, a new major story emerged as President Trump declared drug cartels in the Caribbean as "unlawful combatants" and announced an "armed conflict" with them, following strikes in the region. This development raised concerns about the unprecedented nature of such a declaration.
Throughout the day, headlines also covered the deadly synagogue attack in Manchester, UK, on Yom Kippur, which resulted in multiple casualties. The ongoing government shutdown and Trump's new "armed conflict" declaration remained the primary focus for US media.