Federal workers received emails from top officials at their agencies informing them that the resignation offers they received are "valid, lawful, and will be honored."
Continue reading...
MadAboutPolitics.com - Featured News
Featured News
Today's Political News Compilation - Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2024
AP Photo
Government funding plan collapses as Trump makes new demands days before shutdown
By LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKINGUpdated 6:47 PM CST, December 18, 2024
WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan Wednesday to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown, instead telling House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate — days before a deadline when federal funding runs out.
Trump’s sudden entrance into the debate and new demands sent Congress spiraling as lawmakers are trying to wrap up work and head home for the holidays. It leaves Johnson scrambling to engineer a new plan before Friday’s deadline to keep government open.
“Republicans must GET SMART and TOUGH,” Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance said in a statement.
The president-elect made an almost unrealistic proposal that combined some continuation of government funds along with a much more controversial provision to raise the nation’s debt limit — something his own party routinely rejects. “Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” they wrote. ...
READ THE FULL STORY - AP
Johnson hit with possible speakership rivals as conservatives rebel over government funding plan
House Republicans are beginning to discuss possible contenders to challenge Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in January amid government funding chaos.
Social Security Fairness Act clears key Senate hurdle, heads to final vote
Senators advance bill that would expand Social Security benefits to millions of Americans, including teachers, firefighters and others with public pensions.
www.cbsnews.comSenate committee to hold confirmation hearing for defense secretary nominee Hegseth on Jan 14
President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for Secretary of Defense is expected to face his first public questioning from U.S. senators on Jan. 14.
apnews.com
Sen. Elizabeth Warren pushes bill to make it easier and cheaper to file for bankruptcy
Sen. Elizabeth Warren says Americans seeking debt relief face an overly complicated, costly bankruptcy system.
www.cbsnews.comTrump brings chaos back to Washington by attempting to kill bipartisan budget deal with Musk's help
President-elect Donald Trump has delivered a likely death blow to bipartisan congressional budget negotiations, rejecting the measure as full of giveaways to Democrats.
apnews.com
Senate Republicans weigh in on new government funding challenges as clock ticks
Senate Republicans weigh in on new government funding challenges as clock ticks.
Fed cuts interest rates, delivering relief for borrowers at last meeting before Trump takes office
The rate decision follows two consecutive months of rising inflation.
House Ethics Committee secretly voted to release Matt Gaetz ethics report, source says
The House Ethics Committee has voted in secret to release the long-awaited ethics report into former Rep. Matt Gaetz.
apnews.com
U.S. tech continues to power Russian weapons despite export controls, Senate Democrats find
A report, the result of a 15-month probe, found that the government office tasked with enforcing export controls is underfunded and using old technology.
www.nbcnews.com
House conservatives revolt over GOP-backed spending bill to avoid shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing a revolt from fellow Republicans over a last-minute measure to keep the government funded and avoid a shutdown.
www.cbsnews.com
Trump’s border czar says he’ll need funding and at least 100K beds to carry out deportation plans | CNN Politics
Tom Homan, who Donald Trump has tapped as his incoming administration’s “border czar,” said Wednesday night that plans are underway to deport undocumented immigrants at large scale and that he’ll need funding from Congress to do so.
www.cnn.com
Scalise confirms spending deal is ‘dead’ after mass GOP revolt - Washington Examiner
House Republican leaders have pulled a three-month government funding package from consideration amid mounting opposition from President-elect Donald Trump and members of the GOP conference.
www.washingtonexaminer.comAfter investigating Jan. 6, House GOP sides with Trump and goes after Liz Cheney
The findings issued Tuesday show the depths to which the Republican Party is working to reinforce Trump’s desire to seek vengeance on his perceived enemies.
apnews.com
Teen victim of AI-generated "deepfake pornography" urges Congress to pass "Take It Down Act"
Elliston Berry's life was turned upside down after a photo she posted on Instagram was digitally altered online to be pornographic.
www.cbsnews.comUS stocks fall sharply and Dow tumbles 1,100 points after the Fed hints at just 2 rate cuts for 2025
U.S. stocks tumbled to one of their worst days of the year after the Federal Reserve hinted it may deliver fewer shots of adrenaline for the U.S. economy in 2025 than earlier thought.
apnews.comUS effort to curb China's and Russia's access to advanced computer chips 'inadequate,' report finds
The U.S. Commerce Department’s efforts to curb China’s and Russia’s access to American-made advanced computer chips have been “inadequate” and will need more funding to stymie their ability to manufacture advanced weapons.
apnews.com
Dow plummets 1,100 points after Fed scales back plans for interest rate cuts
The Fed cut interest rates a quarter of a percentage point on Wednesday.
The drone problem is out of control - Washington Examiner
The drone incursions over New Jersey and other locations are causing public concern. The government has to provide more answers.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Syria not a threat to world, HTS leader Ahmed al-Sharaa tells BBC
In an interview with Jeremy Bowen, the leader of the rebel group HTS says sanctions on Syria should be lifted.
www.bbc.com
U.S. begins to retaliate against China over hack of telecom networks
The Commerce Department's action is a direct response to China's infiltration of telecom networks earlier this year.
www.cbsnews.com[URL...
Latest Posts from our Message Boards
The Trump Cabinet and key post thread
(3 Viewers)
Latest Political News Feed
Trump border wall is on New Mexico ranchers' wish list
A New Mexico couple hopes the Trump administration makes good on its promise of completing the construction of the border wall.
Continue reading...OMB general counsel faces backlash following federal funding freeze order: Sources
Senior White House officials had not reviewed the Office of Management and Budget's sweeping order freezing federal grants and loans before it was issued, sources say.
Continue reading...Trump official travels to Venezuela to negotiate deal for deporting Tren de Aragua gang members
President Donald Trump's envoy for special missions, Richard Grenell, has traveled to Venezuela to deliver an in-person message to socialist dictator Nicolás Maduro about accepting violent criminals deported from the United States.
On a call with reporters Friday, Mauricio Claver-Carone, the U.S. special envoy to Latin America, said Grenell will tell Maduro to take back all the Venezuelan criminals and Tren de Aragua gang members that have been "exported to the United States, and to do so unequivocally and without condition."
Grenell will also...
Continue reading...On a call with reporters Friday, Mauricio Claver-Carone, the U.S. special envoy to Latin America, said Grenell will tell Maduro to take back all the Venezuelan criminals and Tren de Aragua gang members that have been "exported to the United States, and to do so unequivocally and without condition."
Grenell will also...
Since taking office, what are the legal challenges launched against the Trump admin?
Since taking office, President Donald Trump and his administration have become the target of multiple lawsuits over the president's agenda and policies.
The Trump White House has faced numerous legal challenges, including deportation policies, an executive order to end birthright citizenship and a directive to freeze federal funding.
On the day of his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, with many legal experts arguing that the right is enshrined in the Constitution under...
Continue reading...The Trump White House has faced numerous legal challenges, including deportation policies, an executive order to end birthright citizenship and a directive to freeze federal funding.
On the day of his inauguration, Trump signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship for children of illegal immigrants, with many legal experts arguing that the right is enshrined in the Constitution under...
Dems dismiss calls for apology after Jeffries vows 'fight' against Trump agenda 'in the streets'
Congressional Democrats are dismissing the White House's demand for an apology after House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., urged people to "fight" President Donald Trump's agenda "in the streets."
"Right now, we're going to keep focus on the need to look out for everyday New Yorkers and everyday Americans who are under assault by an extreme MAGA Republican agenda that is trying to cut taxes for billionaires, donors, and wealthy corporations and then stick New Yorkers and working class Americans across the country with the bill," the...
Continue reading..."Right now, we're going to keep focus on the need to look out for everyday New Yorkers and everyday Americans who are under assault by an extreme MAGA Republican agenda that is trying to cut taxes for billionaires, donors, and wealthy corporations and then stick New Yorkers and working class Americans across the country with the bill," the...
Colombia's president calls for migrants to leave jobs in the US and return home
Colombia's president is calling on his compatriots working without legal status in the United States to leave their jobs and return home as soon as possible.
“Wealth is only produced by the working people,” Gustavo Petro said in an early morning post on the X platform. “Let's build social wealth in Colombia."
The leftist president said his government would provide loans to those who take up his offer to return home and enlist in one of its programs to start a business.
Petro made his comments following a bitter feud over immigration last weekend...
Continue reading...“Wealth is only produced by the working people,” Gustavo Petro said in an early morning post on the X platform. “Let's build social wealth in Colombia."
The leftist president said his government would provide loans to those who take up his offer to return home and enlist in one of its programs to start a business.
Petro made his comments following a bitter feud over immigration last weekend...
New York doctor indicted for prescribing abortion pill in Louisiana
BATON ROUGE, La. — A New York doctor was indicted by a Louisiana grand jury on Friday for allegedly prescribing an abortion pill online in the Deep South state, which has one of the strictest near-total abortion bans in the U.S.
Grand jurors at the District Court for the Parish of West Baton Rouge issued an indictment against Dr. Margaret Carpenter; her company, Nightingale Medical, PC; and a third person. All three were charged with criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs, a felony.
The case appears to be the first instance of...
Continue reading...Grand jurors at the District Court for the Parish of West Baton Rouge issued an indictment against Dr. Margaret Carpenter; her company, Nightingale Medical, PC; and a third person. All three were charged with criminal abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs, a felony.
The case appears to be the first instance of...
WATCH: A look at recent good news
ABC News’ Will Ganss recaps recent good news stories.
Continue reading...Trump rails against DEI after DC plane crash, but it doesn't apply to controllers
Donald Trump claimed, without citing evidence, that DEI initiatives at the FAA were partly to blame for the tragic plane and helicopter collision in D.C.
Continue reading...White House to impose tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China due to ‘invasion of illegal fentanyl’
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that President Donald Trump will execute tariffs on Mexico, Canada and China starting Saturday.
Trump’s economic plan during his campaign called for extending the 2017 tax cuts and imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on all imported goods. For countries like China, that number could go up to 60%.
TRUMP TREASURY PICK: EXTENDING TRUMP TAX CUTS ‘SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC ISSUE’
These countries will face these tariffs because they have allowed an "unprecedented invasion of illegal...
Continue reading...Trump’s economic plan during his campaign called for extending the 2017 tax cuts and imposing tariffs ranging from 10% to 20% on all imported goods. For countries like China, that number could go up to 60%.
TRUMP TREASURY PICK: EXTENDING TRUMP TAX CUTS ‘SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT ECONOMIC ISSUE’
These countries will face these tariffs because they have allowed an "unprecedented invasion of illegal...
Democrats rally around lightning rod issue during unruly DNC debate despite voter backlash in 2024
There was a heavy focus on systemic racism and diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs during the final debate among the eight candidates vying to chair the Democratic National Committee (DNC), as the party aims to exit the political wilderness.
The forum, moderated and carried live on MSNBC and held at Georgetown University in the nation's capital city, develed into chaos early on as a wave of left-wing protesters repeatedly interrupted the primetime event, heckling over concerns of climate change and billionaires' influence in America's...
Continue reading...The forum, moderated and carried live on MSNBC and held at Georgetown University in the nation's capital city, develed into chaos early on as a wave of left-wing protesters repeatedly interrupted the primetime event, heckling over concerns of climate change and billionaires' influence in America's...
Defense agency bans Black History Month and other ‘special observances'
The Defense Intelligence Agency has ordered a pause of all activities and events related to Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Black History Month, Juneteenth, LGBTQ Pride Month, Holocaust Remembrance Day and other "special observances" to comply with President Donald Trump's executive order, according to a memo obtained by NBC News.
The memo listed 11 observances that are now banned. It also said that all affinity groups and "employee networking groups" are immediately on pause.
The directive comes as the Trump administration has made it a top priority...
Continue reading...The memo listed 11 observances that are now banned. It also said that all affinity groups and "employee networking groups" are immediately on pause.
The directive comes as the Trump administration has made it a top priority...
Pritzker bans convicted Jan. 6 participants from state jobs, in memo
CHICAGO (CBS) — Governor JB Pritzker is calling on the Department of Central Management Services to reject those pardoned by President Trump for their involvement in the Jan. 6 attacks at the U.S. Capitol for consideration for state jobs.
In a letter addressed to director Raven DeVaughn, Pritzker says those who participated in attacks violated the State's personnel code.
"I hereby direct CMS to apply the State Personnel Code and consider any participation in the January 6 insurrection as infamous and disgraceful conduct that is antithetical to...
Continue reading...In a letter addressed to director Raven DeVaughn, Pritzker says those who participated in attacks violated the State's personnel code.
"I hereby direct CMS to apply the State Personnel Code and consider any participation in the January 6 insurrection as infamous and disgraceful conduct that is antithetical to...
WATCH: DC plane crash: A timeline of the deadly helicopter collision
Sixty-seven are presumed dead in the incident where a Black Hawk helicopter collided with an American Airlines jet near Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in Virginia.
Continue reading...