Trump’s Nigeria Threat, Buffett’s $382B Cash Pile, and America’s K-Shaped Divide

3rd November 2025

Donald Trump stirred global headlines after hinting at possible U.S. troop deployment or air strikes in Nigeria over what he calls “mass killings of Christians.” Meanwhile, Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway sits on a record-breaking $382 billion cash mountain as operating income surges 34% and dealmaking remains selective ahead of his retirement. Back home, the U.S. shutdown threatens early education access for 65,000 children,while fresh data confirms what many Americans already feel: the economy is splitting into two: the wealthy racing ahead, and everyone else falling behind. All this and more in today’s Read It And Eat!

Major Headlines

• Trump says there 'could be' US troops on the ground in Nigeria, or air strikes

 U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday the U.S. military could deploy troops to Nigeria or carry out air strikes to stop what he called the killing of large numbers of Christians in the West African country. Asked if he envisioned troops on the ground or air strikes in Nigeria, Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One: "Could be. I mean, other things. I envisage a lot of things. They're killing record numbers of Christians in Nigeria ... They're killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers. We're not going to allow that to happen."

Trump made the comment on Sunday evening as he headed back to Washington after a weekend at his vacation home in Florida. Trump threatened on Saturday to take military action against Nigeria if Africa's most populous country failed to crack down on the killing of Christians. The U.S. president's threat of military action came a day after his administration added Nigeria back to a "Countries of Particular Concern" list of nations that the U.S. says have violated religious freedoms. Other nations on the list include China, Myanmar, North Korea, Russia and Pakistan. Reuters

• Buffett’s Berkshire Cash Hits $382 Billion, Earnings Soar

Berkshire's third-quarter earnings report on Saturday showed a 34% year-on-year surge in operating income to $13.5 billion, as insurance underwriting income nearly tripled to $2.4 billion. Profits also climbed at the BNSF Railway and in the manufacturing, service, and retailing division. The Berkshire Hathaway Energy and the insurance investment segment saw a drop in operating earnings.

Buffett, 95, and his team spent $6.4 billion on stocks but sold $12.5 billion worth, making them net sellers for the 12th quarter in a row. Berkshire will disclose which US stocks it bought and sold in a regulatory filing later this month. The legendary stock picker didn't buy back any Berkshire shares for a fifth consecutive quarter, signaling that even his own company's stock didn't strike him as a bargain. The stock sales and lack of buybacks contributed to Berkshire's cash pile swelling to $358 billion, or $382 billion if payables for Treasury purchases are excluded.

Buffett rocked the business world in May when he broke the news to an arena full of Berkshire shareholders that he would step down as CEO at the end of this year after 55 years in the role. Greg Abel, who leads Berkshire's non-insurance businesses, is set to succeed him, with Buffett staying on as chairman. It hasn't been a total deal drought for Buffett as he prepares to hand over the reins, however. On October 2, Berkshire announced it had agreed to pay nearly $10 billion to acquire OxyChem, a chemicals business, from Occidental Petroleum, which counts Berkshire as one of its largest shareholders. Business Insider 

• Families could start losing access to Head Start if shutdown continues

  
  

Beginning Nov. 1, more than 65,000 children will be at risk of losing access to Head Start, the federal early-learning program for low-income families. That's because federal funding for individual Head Start programs cannot be disbursed while the government is shut down.

The leaders of 134 local Head Start programs, as well as another half-dozen whose funding lapsed on Oct. 1, are now debating how long they can go before closing their doors, says Tommy Sheridan of the National Head Start Association. "They are scrambling," Sheridan says. "There is a ton of hard work, a ton of goodwill, a ton of dedication but hard work, goodwill and dedication don't keep your doors open, unfortunately." Among the states hit hardest by this Nov. 1 deadline: Florida, Georgia, Missouri and Ohio.

Nationally, Head Start serves roughly 750,000 infants, toddlers and preschool-age children, providing not just childcare and early learning but also free meals, health screenings and family support. Local Head Start programs are funded annually, though at different times of the year. Some programs get their money on Oct. 1, others on Nov. 1 and so on. As such, Sheridan says, if the shutdown lasts until December, still more programs would see their funding run out. Without federal funding, Sheridan says, some programs will have to close immediately. Others have the resources to stay open at least another week, in hopes that politicians in Washington can resolve their differences. NPR

• Evidence of K-shaped economy popping up everywhere

  
  

Recent earnings and consumer data are exposing a widening split in the US economy — what experts call a K-shaped recovery. Wealthier Americans continue to spend freely, fueled by rising stock portfolios and appreciating home values, while lower- and middle-income households face tighter budgets, higher debt, and a shaky job market.

The divide is visible across sectors:

Auto: New car prices surpassed $50,000 for the first time in September, while repossessions rose 12%, according to WSJ.

Airlines: Delta expects premium seat sales to outpace coach through 2026.

Food & Beverage: Coca-Cola’s high-end brands like Smartwater and Topo Chico are lifting sales, even as Coke demand grows at dollar stores.

Consumer Goods: Apple posted double-digit growth driven by the $799 iPhone 17, while budget shoppers delay everyday purchases.

The picture reflects what last week’s “Wall Street vs. Main Street” report explored — an economy growing along two separate tracks. As economist Betsey Stevenson warns, if this K-shaped pattern persists, the consequences may extend beyond economics to social and political stability. Morningbrew

Minor Headlines 

• Google pulls Gemma from AI Studio after Senator Blackburn accuses model of defamation  TechCrunch

  
  

• Asia's factories stumble as US tariffs hit order books Reuters

  
  

• UK train stabbing suspect not known to counter-terrorism police, minister says Reuters

  
  

• Hamas hands over three more hostage bodies Reuters

  
  

• Nepal's top court stays recall of envoys, setback to interim PM Reuters

  
  

• OPEC+ pauses oil output hikes beyond December amid glut fears Reuters

  
  

• Mexico's Sheinbaum pledges justice after murder of outspoken anti-crime mayor Reuters

  
  

• US working overtime to speed up delayed F-16 deliveries, Taiwan says Reuters