JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1158

Across U.S. building sites, intensified immigration enforcement under President Trump is deepening an already severe labor shortage. Contractors describe crews too scared to show up after ICE checkpoints and raids, slowing work and inflating costs. In Washington, D.C., bridge contractor Rurick Palomino says documented employees were detained for hours, pushing his federally funded project behind. An industry survey found 92% of firms struggle to hire; many report disruptions tied to enforcement. Homeland Security says 400,000 have been deported since Trump’s second term began, with 1.6 million self-deporting, even as the White House insists Americans can fill the jobs.

After a bruising election night for Republicans, President Donald Trump told GOP senators their messaging on the record-length shutdown is failing and urged them to tout his economic achievements. In a Miami speech billed as a major economic address, he mixed calls to focus on prices and jobs with wide-ranging detours and a new line casting politics as 'communism versus common sense.' Democrats, meanwhile, centered affordability in recent wins. A CNN poll showed deep economic pessimism and major doubts about Trump’s policies. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Trump will take an active role ahead of the midterms.

Bose is clearing out QuietComfort headphones, cutting the price from $349 to $199, a 43% discount that undercuts rival flagships. The over-ear cans pair proprietary active noise cancellation with plush cushions and a padded headband for long-haul comfort, plus Quiet and Aware modes. Battery life hits 24 hours, and a 15-minute USB-C top-up yields about 2.5 hours of playback. Sound is described as high-fidelity with deep bass and an adjustable EQ in the Bose app. With Sony’s WH-1000XM5 at $399 and Apple’s AirPods Max at $549, Bose appears eager to move inventory.

Jamie Dimon said he called Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani on Wednesday, signaling a thaw after sharp criticism from New York business leaders. In a CNN interview, the JPMorgan Chase chief said he’ll keep talking if it proves productive, even as he questioned Mamdani’s inexperience and urged New York to stay competitive. Mamdani, who backs free buses, a rent freeze and higher taxes on the wealthy, told The Times his positions remain unchanged. Dimon discouraged companies from leaving the city but said success isn’t guaranteed.

A day after Democrats swept key races, President Donald Trump defended his economic record in a Miami speech, insisting costs are falling and urging Republicans to talk more about affordability. The backdrop was turbulent: the FAA will cut flights by 10% amid a prolonged shutdown, FIFA unveiled a new Peace Prize, and its president spoke at the same forum. Meanwhile, the administration pushed plans from a Gaza stabilization force to tariff defenses, as political ripples spread from California’s new House map to Maine Rep. Jared Golden’s exit and a Supreme Court test of Trump’s tariff powers.

Corporate profits are surging and stocks are setting records, even as companies have axed nearly 1 million jobs this year, a split Chen Zhao of Alpine Macro calls a 'jobless boom.' He points to fast-spreading AI that lifts productivity while damping labor demand. With the Labor Department’s reports delayed by the shutdown, ADP shows only 42,000 private jobs added in October, and Comerica’s Bill Adams says overall employment was likely flat. The jobless rate stood at 4.3% in August, aided by a shrinking labor pool. Others blame post-pandemic overhiring, not AI, for the cuts.

Mike Brown’s Knicks beat the Timberwolves 137-114 at Madison Square Garden, showcasing the crisp ball movement and depth central to his plan. New York, now 5-3 and a perfect 5-0 at home — its best home start since 2012 — pulled away with a 12-point third quarter. OG Anunoby led with 25, Jalen Brunson finished with 23 after a slow first half, and Josh Hart added 18 on 4-of-5 from deep. Mitchell Robinson grabbed a career-high nine offensive boards as the Knicks won the bench battle 53-26 and hit 45.2% from three.

Less than a day after winning New Jersey’s governorship by 13 points, Democrat Mikie Sherrill went to Trenton, calling her “seismic” victory a mandate and outlining priorities echoed in working-class communities: better schools, good jobs, cheaper prescription drugs and attainable homes. Turnout topped 3.2 million, up nearly 600,000, amid anger over President Trump’s second term. She said she won across Gloucester and Morris Counties and Newark, and met outgoing governor Philip Murphy to plan the 77 day transition. Murphy condemned federal inaction on food stamps as cruel, as the White House said it would make partial November payments.

Google’s Gemini Deep Research now reaches beyond the web, pulling context directly from your Gmail, Google Drive, and Google Chat to inform responses. The tool can analyze Docs, Slides, Sheets, PDFs, emails, and messages, enabling tasks like market analyses or competitor reports that blend internal files with public data. Users can choose sources via a new Tools menu dropdown on gemini.google.com, where Search is joined by Gmail, Drive, and Chat. The update follows May’s PDF support and is rolling out to the mobile app in the coming days.

At the NFL’s midpoint, parity reigns: every team has at least two losses and most divisions remain open. Bookmakers lean toward a Bills Eagles Super Bowl, with Philadelphia widening its NFC East lead, while surging New England (7-2, six straight) and Denver emerge as AFC threats after Indianapolis stumbled. Kansas City, third in the AFC West, faces a perilous stretch after a bye that could imperil its playoff streak. The NFC West trio of 49ers, Seahawks and Rams sit on six wins, with standout MVP candidates from Josh Allen and Drake Maye to Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor.