It’s Monday. Quite a bit has transpired since we last connected. The government might be on the verge of reopening soon. But first, there are some steps to take. Let’s dive in.
In today’s update:
• Late-night Senate deal aimed at reopening the government.
• Johnson urges House members to head back to D.C.
• President Trump warns of grounding air traffic controllers.
• Supreme Court dismisses a challenge regarding same-sex marriage.
• Trump issues a pre-emptive pardon for Rudy Giuliani.
🚨 Government Shutdown
There seems to be a glimmer of hope.
After several weeks of stalemate, the federal government is edging closer to reopening. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Louisiana) instructed Congress members to return to Washington for a vote on the matter for the first time since September 19th. Exciting, right?
The House will now get just 36 hours’ notice for voting instead of the usual 48 hours. Fingers crossed everything goes smoothly. 😬
Today, the Senate is set to wrap up a few more votes aimed at reopening the government, following an agreement reached late Sunday between moderate Democratic senators and Republicans. With Veterans Day tomorrow, getting this settled quickly seems crucial.
So, what’s in the Senate agreement? The Senate passed a bill with a 60-40 vote to fund the government until January 3 and allocate funds through September 2026 for three different departments, including Agriculture. It also includes a provision to avoid federal employee layoffs during the shutdown. Republicans agreed to conduct a separate vote by mid-December regarding the expiration of Obamacare subsidies, which the Democrats aim to extend.
📹 Check out the Senate in action during the vote.
Which Democratic senators supported ending the shutdown? Senators John Fetterman (Pennsylvania), Catherine Cortez Masto (Nevada), Jackie Rosen (Nevada), Dick Durbin (Illinois), Jean Shaheen (New Hampshire), Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire), Tim Kaine (Virginia), and Angus King (Maine), who caucuses with the Democrats.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries both expressed opposition to the agreement. While House Democrats are likely to reject the bill, Republicans still aim to push it through with their slim majority.
💬 Stay tuned for today’s live updates.
➤ Other Democrats are quite displeased:
A faction of Senate Democrats has been engaged in negotiations with Republicans for several weeks, but there is concern over the absence of an Affordable Care Act subsidy extension in the deal.
Recent victories in elections have bolstered Democratic resilience against the stopgap measure passed by the House, but ultimately, eight Senate Democrats voted in favor.
Senator Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) criticized the funding bill, labeling it a “very bad vote” on a troubling night.
Schumer, in particular, is facing backlash. Progressive representative Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) is calling for new leadership among Senate Democrats. Even Mark Pocan (Wisconsin) expressed dissatisfaction with the Democratic leadership.
For further reading on the discord within the Democratic Party, check the Wall Street Journal. “Democrats express outrage over government shutdown deal”
Air travel continues to be problematic:
Currently, nearly 2,000 flights have been canceled, with about 2,400 experiencing delays, according to FlightAware.
My airport experience over the weekend was… less than ideal. The FAA suspended air traffic due to staffing shortages, resulting in over 4,500 canceled flights and more than 18,000 delays. Just on Sunday, cancellations surpassed 2,000 again.
Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy reported that, in Atlanta, 18 out of 22 scheduled air traffic controllers “failed to show up.”
This morning, President Trump warned of grounding air traffic controllers who do not report for duty. He also suggested bonuses for managers who continue working without pay without taking time off.
Even if the government reopens, Duffy cautioned that normal air traffic might take several days or even a week to stabilize.
🏛️Additional News
The Supreme Court declines to revisit same-sex marriage rulings this year.
On Monday, the Supreme Court dismissed an appeal to reconsider same-sex marriage.
A brief background: “Former Kentucky County Clerk Kim Davis requested the court to overturn a landmark 2015 decision after damages were awarded to a couple denied a marriage license.”
The court had been viewed as a potential avenue for this long-term goal.
➤ If you plan to vote by mail, remember:
The Supreme Court is set to decide whether mail-in ballots must arrive by Election Day in order to be counted.
Trump targets the BBC with a potential lawsuit:
President Trump threatened legal action against the BBC regarding a documentary about the January 6 events, which was reportedly sold for $1 billion, as per a letter obtained by the New York Times.
What’s the issue? Trump’s legal team claims the edits made were “malicious” and “disparaging.”
The controversy stems from splicing portions of Trump’s pre-riot speech, misleadingly suggesting they were part of a single address.
Trump’s demands: The letter calls for a full retraction of the documentary, an apology, and compensation for damages. If unmet, his team may pursue a lawsuit for $1 billion.
What’s this documentary? “It’s titled ‘Trump: A Second Chance?'” The program aired before last year’s elections but has since been removed from the BBC’s service.
Note: Two BBC executives resigned on Sunday amid criticism regarding how the January 6 speech was edited.
➤ Quick News:
— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announced that the U.S. military has eliminated six “narco-terrorists” in strikes on suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Eastern Pacific.
— Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi had prepared two retirement announcement videos but only one was released, as noted by Politico.
➤ For further reading:
Wall Street Journal: Do you think the economy is thriving? Owning stocks might be key.
Washington Post: The Justice Department faces challenges with mass retirements and limited new hires.
The Atlantic: Understanding why masks are a necessity: Experienced ICE agents acknowledge that they are not ideal, yet they won’t be discarded immediately.
✅ At the White House
Rudy Giuliani receives a pardon:
President Trump has granted a pardon to former personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani along with others indicted for their involvement in attempts to reverse the 2020 election results.
Ed Martin, a government pardon attorney, shared a list of the pardoned individuals, including notable names like former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and ex-Trump attorney Sidney Powell.
From the official statement: “This proclamation addresses the unjust national grievances faced after the 2020 elections and fosters national reconciliation.”
The Hills Ella Lee pointed out that this move is largely symbolic since presidential pardons only apply to federal offenses, and Trump’s allies were not federally charged.
For further details from the New York Times: “In an almost symbolic act, President Trump preemptively pardoned Rudy Giuliani and others.”
➤ What transpired earlier today at the White House:
President Trump hosted Ahmad Al Shara, the first Syrian president to visit the White House, aiming to signify his transition from a jihadist to a global statesman.
That’s it for now!
The House is out, the Senate is active, and President Trump is in D.C. (all times in Eastern Standard Time)
3 PM: Trump attended the swearing-in of the ambassador to India.
Suggested Topics:
🧁 Celebrate: Today is National Vanilla Cupcake Day.
🐻 This season’s must-have: Starbucks’ latest “Bearista” coffee cup has caused quite a sensation, selling out rapidly and being resold online for up to $500. 😅
And to wrap this up…
I’ve put in a lot of effort lately, check out this video of a dog learning about horses.
