House is set to vote on bill to end the government shutdown

America’s longest-running government shutdown could be over by tonight. House lawmakers are returning to Capitol Hill for the first time since mid-September, and they’ll be voting on the Senate-approved plan to fund and reopen the government. Most Democrats are expected to oppose the bill because it doesn’t include an extension of healthcare subsidies they had demanded. With only a two-vote margin, Republicans have little room for error and will need all GOP members back for the vote.

At Arlington National Cemetery, Trump honors veterans

President Trump has paid tribute to the nation’s military veterans. After laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, the president honored all who have worn the nation’s uniform. He said all veterans have earned the gratitude and respect of the entire country.

Speaker Johnson says House will face long days, nights after shutdown ends

House Speaker Mike Johnson says members will have to make up for lost time once the government shutdown is over. Johnson looks forward to Congress returning to a regular legislative session after the House has been in recess for several weeks. And he offers this warning to fellow lawmakers. The House Speaker sent lawmakers home after their September 19th vote to approve a temporary spending bill — and has refused to bring them back until the government reopens.

Supreme Court takes up a mail-in ballots case

The Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether states can continue to count late-arriving mail ballots. Justices took up an appeal from Mississippi after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last year that the state law allowing properly postmarked ballots that arrive shortly after Election Day to be counted violated federal law. Mississippi is among 18 states and the District of Columbia that accept such ballots. President Trump strongly opposes late-arriving ballots. The case will be argued in the late winter or early spring.

Trump to give Veterans Day speech at Arlington National Cemetery

It’s Veterans Day — and President Trump will pay tribute to the nation’s military members. In commemoration of this national holiday, the president will pay tribute to America’s fallen military service members. This morning, he’ll participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, followed by a Veterans Day speech.

Trump threatens to sue BBC over editorial edit

President Trump is threatening to sue the BBC over the way the network edited a speech he made. In a letter to Britain’s public broadcaster, the president’s lawyers said the BBC must retract its documentary by November 14th or face a lawsuit for “no less” than one billion dollars. The network came under fire for cutting out a section of Donald Trump’s speech on January 6, 2021, when he said he wanted supporters to demonstrate peacefully at the U-S Capitol. Over the weekend, the head of the BBC and the news CEO both resigned, calling the edit an “error of judgment.”

Trump pardons Giuliani, dozens of allies accused in 2020 election interference

President Trump has pardoned has pardoned dozens of allies accused of trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. According to a signed proclamation, former Trump personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, attorneys Sidney Powell and John Eastman, and others have been granted “full, complete, and unconditional” pardons. The proclamation said the pardons were designed to continue “the process of national reconciliation.” Donald Trump was also indicted on felony charges related to the 2020 election, but the case was dismissed after he was re-elected last year. GC, Wash.

Senate moves closer to ending the government shutdown

A group of Senate Democrats has agreed to join Republicans in ending the government shutdown. The Senate voted to move forward on compromise legislation that would advance three annual spending bills and fund the government until late January in exchange for a mid-December vote on extending health care subsidies. The agreement also includes a reversal of the mass firings of federal workers by the Trump administration since the shutdown began and would ensure that federal workers receive back pay.

Effects of the longest-ever government shutdown are still in full force

The Senate is finally moving closer to reopening the federal government, but the shutdown effects are still in full force. Air travel remains a headache for travelers after U-S airlines canceled more than 2-thousand flights on Sunday, in additional to more than 7-thousand flight delays. Federal food assistance for tens of millions of people is also being delayed. And tens of thousands of federal workers are still going unpaid.

A Syrian head of state visits the White House for first time since 1946

Syria’s president is in Washington for a meeting with President Trump. It’s the first visit to the White House by a Syrian head of state since 1946. Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who once had ties to al-Qaida, led the toppling of Syria’s former president last December. Donald Trump has described al-Sharaa as a “young, attractive guy” and a “tough guy.” His visit comes after the U-S lifted sanctions imposed on Syria.

NAE urges Trump administration to reconsider refugee strategy

Economy remains a dominant concern for voters

Last week’s elections serve as a reminder that the economy remains a dominant concern among voters.
Donald Trump won re-election last year in large part because of his promise to improve the economy. Since taking office, the president has repeatedly claimed that the country is doing well. But new polling suggests that Americans remain troubled by the cost of living and fewer job opportunities. The Real Clear Politics average of a dozen polls show 55 percent of voters disapprove of the president’s handling of the economy.

Trump’s use of tariffs in the hands of the Supreme Court

President Trump’s agenda could be in jeopardy as the Supreme Court weighs the constitutionality of his sweeping tariffs. Tariffs have played a central role in the president’s economic and foreign policy agenda during his second term. And he describes his tariff case as one of the most important in American history. Last week, the Supreme Court heard oral arguments about the president’s use of an emergency law to impose import taxes. During the two-and-a-half hour session, conservative justices asked some tough questions about the legality of Donald Trump’s unilateral tariff authority.

Supreme Court blocks full funding of SNAP food aid

The Supreme Court is blocking the full funding of SNAP food aid payments. The high court issued an emergency order that allows the Trump administration to only partially fund SNAP food aid payments amid the government shutdown. Justices temporarily blocked a lower court order to fully fund the food assistance for November. The administration had argued that a contingency fund didn’t have enough money to fully fund SNAP. Federal food aid to tens of millions of Americans has been cut because of the ongoing shutdown.

Cornell University strikes deal with Trump administration

Cornell University has reached a deal with the Trump administration to restore federal funding. Under the arrangement, Cornell will pay 60 million dollars and accept the Trump administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws, in order to restore federal funding and end investigations into the Ivy League school. Cornell’s president said the deal upholds the university’s academic freedom while restoring more than 250-million dollars in research funding. President Trump has accused elite colleges of tolerating antisemitism and promoting left-wing ideas.

As shutdown drags on, Trump wants end to Senate filibuster

As the shutdown drags on, President Trump continues to pressure Senate Republicans to eliminate the filibuster. With the Senate unable to reach the 60 votes needed to end the government shutdown, the president said it’s time to change the rules. Despite the presidential pressure, most GOP senators do not support ending the filibuster because it gives them leverage whenever Democrats have the majority.

Trump appeals judge’s order to fully fund SNAP food aid

Gov’t shutdown forces FAA to reduce flights nationwide

Starting today, flights at the nation’s 40 busiest airports are being reduced because of the government shutdown. The Federal Aviation Administration is reducing air traffic to maintain safety, as air traffic controllers go unpaid and show signs of strain during the shutdown. Flight reductions are starting at 4 percent and will increase by one percent a day up to 10 percent next week. Airlines say they will try to minimize the impact on travelers, but the cuts could affect up to a quarter of a million passengers a day.

Supreme Court upholds Trump passport gender policy

The Trump administration has won a transgender case at the Supreme Court. Justices are allowing the administration to enforce a policy blocking transgender and nonbinary people from choosing a sex on their passport that’s different from their biological sex. In January, President Trump signed an executive order declaring the U-S would “recognize two sexes, male and female,” based on birth certificates and “biological classification.”

D.C. “sandwich thrower” found not guilty of assault

A jury has found the man who threw a sandwich at a federal agent not guilty. Sean Dunn, a former Justice Department staffer, was cleared of a misdemeanor assault charge after a three-day trial in Washington federal court. Back in August, he was captured on video hurling a sub-style sandwich at a law enforcement agent. Dunn was upset over the Trump administration’s deployment of federal agents and the National Guard to curb crime in DC. His lawyer successfully argued that the sandwich throw was a harmless gesture of frustration and not a crime.

Trump announces deal to lower price of obesity drugs

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announces retirement

Supreme Court questions Trump’s sweeping tariff powers

The Supreme Court’s conservative justices asked some tough questions about President Trump’s unilateral tariff authority. In a huge legal test of Donald Trump’s sweeping tariff powers, the high court heard oral arguments about the president’s use of an emergency law. Challengers argued he’s using it illegally, while the administration said the law allows the president to use it to impose tariffs. Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Neil Gorsuch expressed skepticism about bypassing Congress to levy tariffs.

Judge tells DOJ prosecutors to produce Comey trial materials

Justice Department prosecutors have been told to produce materials in their criminal case against former FBI director James Comey. A federal judge has given Trump administration prosecutors until the end of Thursday to produce grand jury materials and other evidence seized from an investigation into Comey. His attorney’s said they were at a disadvantage because they’d not been able to review materials gathered years ago. The judge scolded the Justice Department for adopting an “indict first” and investigate second approach. Comey has pleaded not guilty to charges of lying to Congress.