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Jimmy Kimmel, Government Shutdown,
and the US Chart

As described last week, and based on the Scorpio Rising US horoscope, we’re heading into some difficult times. Long term, we have the cyclical return of Uranus to its natal location at 8º54’ Gemini. And in the immediate short-term situation, the US progressed* Midheaven at 23º44’ Aries is stressfully applying to octile (semisquare) natal Uranus with an orb of only 0º10’.
 
If Uranus in Gemini represents anything, it’s freedom of speech. The recently assassinated Charlie Kirk was a firm believer in freedom of speech as well as a close ally to President Trump. Last week following ABC’s stunning suspension of late-night talk show host Jimmy Kimmel — a regular critic of Trump — a stormy wave of rage swept across the country over the blatant hypocrisy.
The details of these national events fit precisely with the 2:21 pm July 4, 1776 national horoscope. If the national horoscope you’re using doesn’t show these kinds of tight correlations, isn’t it time to change? Another example of why the US Midheaven is located at 16º08 Leo can be seen in the January 6, 2021 Capital Riot. Trump’s speech egged on the violent protestors as the US progressed Sun was at 16º06’ Pisces. This was only 0º02’ from forming a precise quincunx to the US Midheaven.
 
The health asteroid Hygeia is worth mentioning since it’s the most elevated placement in the US chart. Natally, it’s located at 25º22’ Leo and tightly opposite the US Moon at 25º28’ Aquarius. Hygeia symbolizes not only the people’s interest in health care but in the 10th house may also refer to the health of the world’s ideal democracy. From 1776 to the Capital Riot in 2021, Hygeia had progressed to 16º10’ Scorpio where it formed an exact square to the US Midheaven (orb: 0º02’), severely shaking the US’s international reputation.
 
One of the main issues driving the current budget standoff is the Democrats’ interest in refunding Medicaid, Obamacare tax credits, and other health benefits gutted by Trump’s “big, beautiful bill”. Astrologically, this can be seen in the progressed Part of Fortune at 25º Leo, exactly conjunct natal Hygeia. The transiting Chiron-Eris conjunction at 25º Aries activates this configuration.
And over the coming week, a government shutdown is becoming increasingly more likely. This all unfolds in step with the US progressed Midheaven octile natal Uranus in the 8th house of budgets. The transits and other progressions mark individual surprises within this progressed Midheaven-Uranus dynamic. For example, the day Kimmel was fired, the transiting Sun was at 25º Virgo where it activated the US progressed Neptune at 25º Virgo, and both quincunx the US Moon at 25º Aquarius.
 
Will the government shutdown begin on October 1? The indicators are mixed, with transiting Saturn at 27º Pisces sextile the US Pluto (the nation’s ruling planet) offering a way out. However, other indicators suggest a standoff is in play. These include transiting Mars at 6º Scorpio exactly opposite progressed Venus at 6º Taurus (with transiting Mars only 2º from the Scorpio Ascendant). Another factor is the long-term feisty framework of the progressed Sun (leadership) at 20º50’ Pisces square natal Mars at 21º17 Gemini.

​A look at the most enduring government shutdown offers additional clues. This unfolded during Trump’s first term in office from midnight December 22, 2018 through January 25, 2019 for a total of 35 days. The divisive issue was the funding of the border wall with Mexico. The standoff had been developing since early 2018 as the progressed Midheaven at 16º Aries opposed progressed Black Moon Lilith at 16º Libra. The government shutdown unfolded as transiting Saturn in Capricorn opposed the US Cancer Sun. Resolution was reached in late January 2019 as transiting Mars at 16º Aries conjoined the progressed Midheaven at 16º Aries. Both were trine transiting Jupiter at 16º Sagittarius with all three trine the Midheaven at 16º Leo to make a harmonious Grand Trine.
* Progressions are key to accurate forecasts. Find out what leading astrologers have to say about this timing technique here: progressions

NewsScope     Sept. 22, 2025      by Michael O'Reilly

Letters​

Re: Uranus in Gemini - I noticed that in the USA chart Uranus in Gemini transits the 8th house, conjuncting natal Uranus and natal Mars. It would be interesting to look at the exact dates of these conjunctions. Besides the USA Pluto return, there is also Neptune entering Aries, close to exactly the date of the beginning of the Civil War (not so civil) and, recently, two days before our president's "Liberation Day" speech, a milestone in promoting global trade wars.
 
Re: Uranus in Gemini - So it looks like a Revolutionary War/Civil War/World War II combo plate? I'm betting on a collective cultural creative renaissance to counterbalance the times we're living in.
 
Re: GOP chart - Great article on Uranus in Gemini this week. Today I read that some members of the GOP are bringing up a conspiracy theory regarding the death of Charlie Kirk. Growing division among themselves, I was curious to see what you thought. For the GOP, I used the date of March 20, 1854 in Ripon, WI. Interesting aspects.

Re: Charlie Kirk - After Mr. Kirk was shot, I looked at his chart and saw that the trigger, transiting Mars, was conjunct his Sun within one degree of perfect. Transiting Pluto was square his progressed Jupiter, transiting Neptune/Saturn and Uranus inconjunct his progressed Jupiter. No birth time was available, so I was curious about his Moon placement. If the Moon moves roughly 13 degrees per day and he was born very early in the morning, his Moon could have been a late degree of Virgo which transiting Saturn/Neptune would have been opposing. Just an observation.
 
Re: Vance - Thank you for that insanely brilliant interpretation of JD Vance's chart. Okay, so his chart confirms his rise to the presidency, but how long will the power of the transits support him? He will have his party heads behind him, but what of the American people? He doesn't have the magic 25º except by progression, and those move.

Re Vance - Curious: all the transits and progression tags hitting Trump's chart
(again, brilliant interpretations!) point to a medical situation that will affect his health, and possibly his life. Does Vance's chart
support a shift to power in the US chart?

Re: Trump - Great job on Trump’s progressions. You make it so easy to follow along with the energies and symbolism that Trump is experiencing and will experience. It seems to me that as his prog Mercury conjuncts his natal Mars, his language will become increasingly warlike and subject to impulsive ad libs that will widen & deepen his unpopularity among Republicans.
 
Re: Trump - Thank you for the in depth interpretation of Trump's chart, and his
progressed planetary forecast. I find it very unsettling. Is it possible that the 12 house Pluto placement (self-undoing, secret enemies) could
also point to an "et tu Brute" moment? Maybe not in the assassination sense, but in the "remove from power" sense--his disruptions boding so much ill will that a medical/mental issue could "arise" that would require him stepping down? Or is that wishful thinking? It is so troubling to watch our country devolve before our very eyes...

Re: Epstein – I was able to get Jeffrey Epstein’s birth time from astrotheme, a French database. It’s 3:15 am which gives him 2º Sagittarius Rising.
 
A. Thank you, but I cannot use this birth time. If you look closer at astrotheme’s Epstein page, you’ll see it’s rated DD for “Dirty Data”. Digging a little deeper into the data’s source, you’ll find it’s actually rectified for starworldnews.com by a Vedic astrologer.
 
Re: Trump et al - Just read Trump's chart, based on your observations this week--so spot on! So I decided to peak at the Veep's chart, too. Lots of Uranus triggers coming up for him in the winter… Any thoughts?

Re: Ghislaine Maxwell - Another brilliant chart interpretation--time and again you have shown the importance reading progressed planets. Curious: is there anything in GM's chart that would indicate a "disappearance", or death?
 
A. Hmmm… that’s a difficult question to answer from an astrological view. A look at Epstein’s “suicide” would be first in order.

Re: Epstein - Was hoping you would come up with a birth time for Epstein. How about his girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell? Do you think she will "spill the beans" on Trump?
 
Re: Epstein - excellent article! I like to check asteroid placements, and 2928 Epstein is conjunct his Aries Moon. Chilling predator signatures abound. Thank you.
 
Re: Asteroid Epstein- Asteroid EPSTEIN at 2Aries45 conjuncts his natal Moon, women/girls at in his 5th House of sex, sex affairs.
 
Re: Epstein - Thank you for your analysis of Jeffrey Epstein and especially your emphasis on studying progressions to unlock events. This was really fine, detailed work. I would have been lost studying a Capricorn Sun, when the key is that Pluto influence. One can only wonder at the hidden, psychological life that produced such a perverse and cruel man. Whatever happened to him? But I must give you a quick heads-up. You wrote that his Moon is in Scorpio. It’s in Aries. “Scorpio Rising (also Moon in Scorpio) …
 
A. My apologies, that sentence is misleading. What I meant was that in general, Scorpio Rising or Moon in Scorpio have an instinctively high sex drive, and Epstein has Scorpio Rising.

Re: Trump’s health - The news comes as Mercury in Leo stations retrograde at 15° in his 12th, Jupiter in Cancer conjoins his Mercury to a tee, Mars in health-related Virgo squares his Uranus, ruler of his sixth, and the coming conjunction of Mars and the South Node at 19° Virgo comes close to his nodal axis and then Mars moves on to square his Sun and Moon. What do you see?
 
A. Several astrologers I know have forecast major health issues for Trump which could have a severe disabling influence. Two suggested death or the need to leave office for health reasons. Among the indicators are transiting Pluto entering his 6th house of health. Also, transiting Uranus, the ruler of his 6th house, is squaring his Ascendant. I often use Hygeia, the health asteroid, as an indicator. Transiting Pluto is squaring his progressed Hygeia at 1º38' Taurus. As a chronic issue, transiting Chiron is involved long-term with a square to his Venus-Saturn conjunction.
 
A. Also, it's worth noting that when the astrologer uses the Scorpio Rising US horoscope, Mercury turned retrograde while less than one-half a degree from the US Midheaven at 16º08 Leo. This clearly accounts for the national news alert on this matter. Also, transiting Hygeia at 18º Gemini conjoins Trump's Uranus, the ruler of his 6th house of health. The health news was "surprising".

Re: Mamdani - Wow, you’re good! And with Saturn and Neptune traveling through his 12 H, he will have some powerful secret enemies seeking to undermine him as well as enemies more openly attacking him. He is openly challenging the power of the US oligarchy and will need lots of protection from everyone whose values aligns with that challenge.

Re: Political Astrology - I see your book is now reaching extortionate prices on Amazon. Any chance of a reprint or revised/updated edition? I confess my copy got lost in a house-move some years back and I have been holding out paying the excessive amount for a new copy! 

A. I have a few copies around here and can sell you one for a reasonable price...​​
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Recent NewsScopes

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March 3, 2025 - Except Jupiter in  Gemini, the outer planet transits don't favor trump's radical agenda, esp tr. Pluto.

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May 5, 2025 - Trump's first 110 days with transiting Uranus squaring his Mars, and tr.  Mars through his 12th house.

May 12, 2025 - Economic forecast based on the NYSE chart; Black Moon Lilith's surprising role as a mover

May 19, 2025 - Pope Leo XIV's chart without birth time leaves plenty of clues about where he's going, esp Merc-Saturn combos

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June 2, 2025 - Trump's parade and "No Kings Day" arrive on  June 14 as  Mars squares Uranus, Jupiter squares Saturn.

June 9, 2025 - the Musk-Trump alliance explodes under a Uranus transit; how Mars-opp-Mars is a red flag in partners

June 16, 2025 - Gavin Newsom in the spotlight after confronting Trump; his Mars-Pluto square right on the angles

June 23, 2025 - Iran's modern horoscope is udner severe perssure, esp arund the MC and Mars as US attacks nuclear sites

June 30, 2025 - July's top five include Uranus entering Gemini, Merc turning retro,m and a powerful New Moon

July 7, 2025 - Zohran Mamdani wins the Democrtic rimary for NYC mayor. His chart relocated to NYC features  Saturn in 10th.




July 7, 2025 - Zohran Mamdani wins the Democrtic rimary for NYC mayor. His chart relocated to NYC features  Saturn in 10th.

July 14, 2025 - Manu's spider sand painting copied by crop circle maker the next day; his speculative natal horoscope

July 21, 2028 - A look at Jeffrey Epstein's natal chart, rectified, with focus on Mercury as symbol of the Epstein File

July 28, 2025 - August's Top 5 include a power-packed Full Moon, a mysterious Lilih-Neptune, and Ceres-Uranus

Aug. 4, 2025 - Ghislaine Maxwell's  12th house Ceres becomes a pvot point in her chart in its Grand Cross

Aug. 11, 2025 - Stephen Colbert's Late Show cancelled; his natal chart with 10:02 pm birth time  highlights his Saturn-Uranus

Aug. 18, 2025 - Trump's top 7 progressions show what we can expect better than the transits, with Mars and Saturn dominant

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Sep. 1, 2025 - Trump's Chronic  Venous Insufficiency  is more serious than claimed; the health indicators shape up in 2 months

Sep. 8, 2025 - JD Vance's Ceres is a key indicfator in his profess-ional advancement and it's becoming active  next 3 months.

Sep. 15, 2025 - The Uranus in Gemini cycle is back, previously bringing the Revolutionary War, Civil War, and WW2


NewsScopes from 2020 thru 2024  can be found in  the archives .  ​​NewsScope articles from 2015 through 2019 can be found in the old website's Menu. Researchers will find entries in the old format going back to 1999 by digging deeper into these archives. 
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