The U.S. Senate on Tuesday confirmed President Donald Trump’s nominee, Anne-Leigh Gaylord Moe, to serve as U.S. District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. The vote was 53–46. Moe currently serves on Florida’s Second District Court of Appeal, where she has sat since 2022. Before that, she spent nearly a decade as a circuit judge in Hillsborough County and worked as an assistant state attorney in Tampa.
Trump celebrated the confirmation on Truth Social, calling Moe “a fierce advocate for the Sunshine State” who will “prioritize LAW AND ORDER unlike other activist judges.” He praised her record as both a trial and appellate judge, saying she would uphold the rule of law and protect public safety. The confirmation marks another judicial victory for Trump, who has moved aggressively to fill federal court vacancies during his second term.Meanwhile, the ongoing government shutdown shows little sign of resolution. CNN analyst Harry Enten reported that the standoff has not yet damaged Trump politically. Comparing the current shutdown to the 2018–2019 impasse, Enten noted that Trump’s approval rating remains steady — even slightly higher — while fewer Americans blame him this time around. In 2019, 61 percent held Trump responsible for the shutdown; today, only 48 percent do. “This shutdown hasn’t eaten into Donald Trump’s support at all,” Enten said. Democrats continue to block short-term funding measures that exclude extensions of Affordable Care Act subsidies, while Republicans refuse to negotiate until the government reopens. With slim congressional majorities and no bipartisan agreement in sight, both parties are trading blame as the shutdown drags on.
