The United States Senate on Tuesday advanced the confirmation of President Donald Trump’s nominee Anne-Leigh Moe to serve as U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. The vote was 53–46.
“I am pleased to announce the nomination of Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe to serve as Judge on the United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida,” Trump wrote.
“Anne-Leigh has fiercely advocated for Sunshine State residents as a Judge on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeals, and as Trial Judge on Florida’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit Court. Anne-Leigh will prioritize LAW AND ORDER unlike other activist Judges who put the safety of Illegal Criminals over the safety of AMERICANS. Congratulations Anne-Leigh!” Trump added.
Moe has served as a judge on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal since 2022. Before that, she spent nearly a decade as a circuit judge in the state’s Thirteenth Judicial Circuit, which includes Hillsborough County. She previously worked as an assistant state attorney in Tampa.
Her confirmation marks another major judicial win for the Trump administration as it continues to fill vacancies across the federal courts
President Trump appears to be in no hurry to resolve the ongoing government shutdown, according to analysis by CNN’s Harry Enten.
That’s because, according to the CNN data analyst, it doesn’t seem to be hurting him politically as much as it is hurting Democrats. In fact, Enten says, Trump’s faring well.
Enten compared Trump’s current net approval rating to his standing during the 2018–2019 shutdown, noting that at a similar point in that earlier standoff, Trump’s approval had already declined by three percentage points and “would fall considerably more.”
In contrast, Enten said the current shutdown has so far had no measurable impact on Trump’s overall support and in fact, he’s even up by a point.
“This shutdown hasn’t eaten into Donald Trump support at all. His net approval rating is actually up a point in terms of his popular support,” Enten said. “So the bottom line is this: the first shutdown during Trump’s first term, 2018-2019, was hurting Donald Trump. This one is not hurting him at all. There’s no real reason Donald Trump might say, at least when it comes to popular support, ‘I want to get out of this shutdown.’”
Enten said Trump’s approval ratings have remained stable because fewer Americans hold him responsible for the current government shutdown than during his first term. During the 2018–2019 shutdown, 61 percent of respondents blamed Trump for the impasse, compared with 48 percent now, according to Enten.
“Again, it’s no real wonder that Donald Trump, at this point, looking at the shutdown, says, ‘You know what? It’s not actually harming me politically,’ in large part, because he’s getting less of the blame,” Enten said.
It also needs to be noted that Congress is responsible for passing funding bills — not the president. So it’s unclear why he would ever get the blame.
Democrats have pledged to block any spending legislation that fails to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies set to expire at year’s end, while Republicans have so far declined to negotiate a bipartisan agreement to end the shutdown.
With only slim majorities in Congress, Republicans would need support from several Senate Democrats to pass a short-term funding measure to reopen the government — meaning they, not Republicans, are now responsible for the ongoing shutdown.
With only slim majorities in Congress, Republicans would need support from several Senate Democrats to pass a short-term funding measure to reopen the government — meaning they, not Republicans, are now responsible for the ongoing shutdown.
As we sat down, I spotted my parents—Mom adjusting Dad’s tie—both glowing in a way I didn’t recall seeing at my own wedding five years ago.
After the best man and maid of honor spoke, my parents took the microphone together. “We want to thank you all for coming to celebrate our beloved daughter’s wedding,” Mom began, leaning on “beloved” so hard it made my stomach twist.
Dad continued, “Raising Lily has been the greatest joy of our lives. She’s always been extraordinary.” Then Mom pulled out papers from her purse. “Jake, Lily,” she said, holding them up, “we’re giving you our family home as a wedding gift!”
The applause was deafening. I froze. Mark stiffened. The house—the one I’d been paying the mortgage on for five years—was now theirs. Lily’s tears of joy told me she’d known. I smiled for appearances, but inside I was reeling.
An hour later, I whispered to Mark, “Can we go?” In the car, I broke down. “I’ve paid for that house for years, and they didn’t even tell me!”
“I know,” he said darkly.
“And Lily knew,” I choked out. “It’s not the money—it’s the disrespect.” Memories of favoritism over the years hit me like a wave. By the time we got home, I was drained.
“Where will they live now?” Mark asked.
“No idea,” I said, turning off the light. “Not my problem.”
Three weeks later, Mom called, cheerful as ever, inviting us to a “family dinner.” A small part of me hoped for an apology.
There was none. At the house—now Lily and Jake’s—my sister was redecorating. Over dinner, Mom cleared her throat.
“So, Tessa,” she began, “as you know, we gave the house to Lily and Jake. They’re newlyweds and need privacy.”
Dad jumped in, “We can’t live here with them.”
I waited.
“Well,” Mom said, “we’ve decided to move into your vacation home.”
I set my fork down. “Let me get this straight. You gave away the house I’ve been paying for, and now you expect to move into my property without asking?”
“Tessa, be reasonable,” Dad frowned.
“That’s not my problem. You had a house. You gave it away without consulting me.”
“It’s not like you use it much,” Lily added.
“It’s mine,” I snapped. “Bought with my money.”
“You’re not saying no?” Mom asked, stunned.
“That’s exactly what I’m saying. No.”
Mom’s face crumpled. “How can you do this to us? We’re your parents!”
“Yes, and you might have thought to include me in your plans.”
Lily slammed her hand down. “You’re cruel and jealous because Mom and Dad love me more!”
I met her gaze coolly. “If that’s true, let them live with you. You have four bedrooms.”
“Mark,” I said, rising. “We’re leaving.”
Two weeks of blissful silence followed—until my phone buzzed at work. My vacation home’s security system detected motion. Safeguard Security called.
“Is this entry authorized, Miss Wilson?”
“No,” I said firmly. “Send the police.”
An hour later, an officer called. “We have two people here claiming to be your parents.”
“They are,” I said. “They do not have permission to be there.”
When we arrived, my parents sat on the porch beside suitcases.
“Tessa, thank God!” Dad said. “Tell them this is a mistake.”
I addressed the officers. “They don’t have permission.”
“Press charges for trespassing?” one asked.
Mom gasped.
“You broke in after I told you no,” I said.
“This is your fault!” she shouted.
“My fault? You gave away a house I paid for and tried to take mine?”
I told the officers, “No charges, but they can’t stay.”
“We’ll take them to the station for a few hours,” the officer said.
“Yes. Do that.”
After they left, I arranged storage for their belongings and changed the locks.
A week later, Mom’s dramatic Facebook post painted me as heartless. Relatives rushed to comment.
I’ve paid my parents’ mortgage for five years. Three weeks ago, they gave that house to my sister without telling me. Then they decided to move into my vacation home, again without asking. When I refused, they broke in, so I had them removed.
Comments turned in my favor instantly.
Two days later, my cousin called—Lily wouldn’t let them stay either. Mom had to work full-time to afford a small apartment.
I felt conflicted—part justice, part pity.
“That’s because you’re decent,” Mark said. “Now you know the truth.”
He was right. I’d been chasing approval I’d never get, and letting that go was freeing.
The next morning, Mom called. Her voice was smaller. “We made a mistake. Please call us back.”
I deleted the message. Maybe one day I’d be ready. But not today. Today, I was finally putting myself first.