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Category: Politics
December 20, 2024
William Upton
Politics

House Govt Funding Fight Unravels, What Happens Next?

Last night, a group of 38 House Republicans voted against a continuing resolution (CR) backed by President-elect Donald J. Trump, which cut the entirety of the extraneous add-ons from the first bill but did include several provisions for much-needed disaster relief for the victims of several recent hurricanes and healthcare extenders. Despite the compromise—a big win for conservative House members, with the bill shrinking from over 1,500 pages in its first iteration to just 116 pages in the second version—the CR again failed under a suspension vote, putting Congress back at square one on Friday morning. There are now just over 12 hours left until a partial government shutdown at 12:01 AM on Saturday morning.

Following the defeat of the second continuing resolution, Trump upped his ask of a two-year debt ceiling suspension to a four-year suspension. “Congress must get rid of, or extend out to, perhaps, 2029, the ridiculous Debt Ceiling,” he wrote on Truth Social early Friday morning. “Without this, we should never make a deal. Remember, the pressure is on whoever is President.”

Just hours later, though, the President-elect added in a second post: “If there is going to be a shutdown of government, let it begin now, under the Biden Administration, not after January 20th, under ‘TRUMP.’ This is a Biden problem to solve, but if Republicans can help solve it, they will!”


FREEDOM CAUCUS REVOLT.

At the center of the chaos is a group of House Freedom Caucus members who do not appear to have the appetite to vote for any continuing resolution—including one that delivers a win for the Republican Party. They appear to be led by Representatives Chip Roy (R-TX), Thomas Massie (R-KY), Andy Biggs (R-AZ), Bob Good (R-VA), Rich McCormick (R-GA), Ralph Norman (R-SC), and Matt Rosendale (R-MT).

Roy and Massie suggested they are unafraid of primary challenges for defying the Trump-backed CR. “It’s real for some people, but Chip Roy can survive it. I can survive it,” Rep. Massie told POLITICO after Trump slammed Roy on Truth Social. He added: “It’ll move the needle 20 points in a race. But if you were going to win 80-20 percent you can be okay.”

Unfortunately, as the fight drags out, it increasingly becomes a concern that House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and his leadership team will get jammed with an unfavorable spending bill sent down by the Senate.

The other path House leadership could take would be cutting a deal with Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), which would result in a continuing resolution somewhere between the 1,500-page first version and the 116-page second version—a strategic loss for conservatives watching to reduce spending.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Last night, a group of 38 House Republicans voted against a continuing resolution (CR) backed by President-elect Donald J. Trump, which cut the entirety of the extraneous add-ons from the first bill but did include several provisions for much-needed disaster relief for the victims of several recent hurricanes and healthcare extenders. Despite the compromise—a big win for conservative House members, with the bill shrinking from over 1,500 pages in its first iteration to just 116 pages in the second version—the CR again failed under a suspension vote, putting Congress back at square one on Friday morning. There are now just over 12 hours left until a partial government shutdown at 12:01 AM on Saturday morning. show more
December 20, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Politics
UK

Far-Left UK PM Vows to Change Donor Rules Now Musk May Fund Farage.

Britain’s Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to modify campaign finance rules after tech billionaire Elon Musk expressed an interest in Nigel Farage’s Reform Party. Starmer’s spokesman said the ruling Labour Party government is committed to “strengthening the rules” around foreign nationals funding British political parties to “protect democracy.”

“The Electoral Commission has said voters should have confidence in the integrity of elections. Part of that is around strengthening the rules on donations, and that is why the government has committed to that in the manifesto,” the spokesman said.

Currently, British political parties may only receive donations from British nationals on the electoral register or from companies registered in the United Kingdom. British politics has seen its fair share of foreign money, including large donations from Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros to far-left NGOs and anti-Brexit activist groups—but only now, when Farage may be in line to receive funding rather than establishment parties and causes, is Labour keen to take action.

Farage met with tech billionaire Elon Musk, a critic of Starmer, at President-elect Donald J. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday, December 16. The Brexit leader was joined by British billionaire Nick Candy, who is set to serve as Reform Party’s treasurer in the new year.

“We had a great meeting with Elon Musk for an hour yesterday. We learned a great deal about the Trump ground game and will have ongoing discussions on other areas,” the pair said in a statement following the meeting with Musk.

Prime Minister Starmer has personally accepted multiple donations from wealthy Labour Party businessman Lord Ali, born to migrant parents. The donations include tens of thousands of dollars worth of clothes, eyeglasses, and other items, earning him the nickname “Free Gear Keir.”

Image by Stuart Mitchell. 

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Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has vowed to modify campaign finance rules after tech billionaire Elon Musk expressed an interest in Nigel Farage's Reform Party. Starmer's spokesman said the ruling Labour Party government is committed to "strengthening the rules" around foreign nationals funding British political parties to "protect democracy." show more
December 19, 2024
Christopher Tomlinson
Election 2024
Politics

White House Staffers Knew of Biden’s Mental Decline from Start of His Term.

White House staffers and advisers to President Joe Biden were well aware of his mental decline for years, with staffers noting he had “good and bad days” as early as the spring of 2021. An investigation by the Wall Street Journal claims that in the spring of 2021, just months after Biden took office, a national security official rescheduled a meeting, telling another aide that Biden was having a “bad day.”

The report also notes how isolated Biden was in the White House as staffers limited their time with him during the COVID-19 pandemic, allegedly to make it less likely he would catch the virus.

Even after the pandemic, Biden’s inner circle remained small, and interactions between Biden and his cabinet were incredibly infrequent. One cabinet member claimed to have met Biden only twice in his first year in office.

Another cabinet member allegedly stopped trying to request calls with Biden, believing the requests were unwelcome. During his tenure, Biden held just nine full cabinet meetings compared to President-elect Donald J. Trump, who held 25.

During the presidential campaign earlier this year, Biden reportedly declined even further, needing to be told basic instructions by staffers, such as where to enter or exit the stage during events.

Since President-elect Trump’s victory over Kamala Harris in November, Biden has been largely absent from the public eye. Trump has almost entirely taken over as President in the public eye.

Trump traveled to Paris, France, earlier this month after being invited by President Emmanuel Macron to attend the re-opening of Notre Dame Cathedral. President Biden declined to attend, with his wife, Jill Biden, attending instead.

President Trump also attended the annual Army-Navy football game last week, receiving a huge applause from service members.

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White House staffers and advisers to President Joe Biden were well aware of his mental decline for years, with staffers noting he had "good and bad days" as early as the spring of 2021. An investigation by the Wall Street Journal claims that in the spring of 2021, just months after Biden took office, a national security official rescheduled a meeting, telling another aide that Biden was having a "bad day." show more
December 19, 2024
Economy
Politics

Thousands of Amazon Workers on Strike with Backing of the Teamsters.

Thousands of package delivery workers affiliated with seven Amazon facilities nationwide began strike actions on Thursday morning with backing from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. While the union reported widespread participation, the exact number of employees involved remains unclear.

Despite the strike, Amazon stated its distribution centers are expected to maintain regular operations. However, striking workers have been able to disrupt the departure of delivery trucks. At a New York Amazon facility, trucks have only been allowed to leave every ten to 15 minutes.

The striking workers are employed by third-party companies contracted by Amazon for package deliveries. Amazon’s stance is that it is not required to engage in collective bargaining with these drivers, as they are not direct employees of the company. However, both the union and the participating workers argue that Amazon influences their working conditions sufficiently to necessitate negotiations.

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) has undertaken investigations into these labor disputes. At least one complaint has been issued by the NLRB, designating the drivers as Amazon employees and alleging the company’s non-compliance with bargaining obligations is a legal violation.

Meanwhile, Amazon’s refusal to engage directly with workers echoes broader challenges within the gig economy, where worker classification has become a contentious issue.

Data shows that Teamsters members overwhelmingly backed President-elect Donald J. Trump during the 2024 presidential election. Trump’s incoming Department of Labor (DOL) could significantly impact the relations between the Teamsters and Amazon in the future.

Meanwhile, the massive online retailer faces other headwinds that could radically change its business. Amazon is currently fighting a federal antitrust lawsuit brought by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and several state and local lawsuits as well.

Image by Matt Michalski.

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Thousands of package delivery workers affiliated with seven Amazon facilities nationwide began strike actions on Thursday morning with backing from the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. While the union reported widespread participation, the exact number of employees involved remains unclear. show more
December 19, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Politics
UK

Far-Left UK PM Will Appoint Disgraced Epstein Pal as U.S. Ambassador.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is naming Lord Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States. The Labour grandee had to resign in disgrace from Tony Blair‘s government on two separate occasions. Still, successive party leaders have repeatedly restored him to positions of power despite his scandals and unsavory connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

Following his second resignation from the Blair government, he was appointed to the European Commission, the unelected executive of the European Union (EU). Scandals in the EU also plagued Mandelson, but Blair’s successor, Gordon Brown, granted him a seat for life in the House of Lords and returned him to a government for a third time once his term was completed.   

Mandelson, who was “outed” in a BBC interview in 1998, is infamous for remaining “particularly close” to pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein even after he was convicted of soliciting minors. It is reported that he called Epstein in prison while serving in Brown’s government to arrange a meeting with JP Morgan chairman Jamie Dimon.

The so-called “Prince of Darkness” may struggle to build a rapport with President-elect Trump, having previously described the America First leader as “disdainful, unscrupulous, prepared to say anything to harvest the populist vote,” which makes other world leaders “frightened.”

Image by Remy Steinegger/WEF.

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Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is naming Lord Peter Mandelson as Ambassador to the United States. The Labour grandee had to resign in disgrace from Tony Blair‘s government on two separate occasions. Still, successive party leaders have repeatedly restored him to positions of power despite his scandals and unsavory connections to Jeffrey Epstein.

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December 19, 2024
Politics

Biden State Dept Rushing to Enact DEI Initiatives in Embassies Before Trump Inauguration.

The U.S. State Department, under the leadership of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has issued a diplomatic cable that outlines new initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the agency. Dated November 19, the internal cable emphasizes initiatives including establishing “reflection rooms” and “all-gender restrooms” at American embassies abroad.

Circulated to all diplomatic and consular posts, the cable forms part of the Biden-Harris government’s broader efforts to entrench DEI initiatives within the federal government before President-elect Donald J. Trump takes office in January. The message details the establishment of reflection rooms in both domestic and overseas facilities and encourages facility managers to identify opportunities for repurposing existing restrooms.

The initiatives are part of Blinken’s so-called Modernization Agenda, which advocates for a resilient and inclusive work environment. Specific processes are recommended for modifying restrooms while considering host country customs and norms.

The State Department has invested approximately $80 million in programs to advance racial equity and tackle supposed gender and sexuality discrimination. Internal discussions among career officials at the State Department are believed to be ongoing regarding preserving DEI initiatives against moves by President-elect Trump to end the radical, leftist programs.

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The U.S. State Department, under the leadership of Secretary of State Antony Blinken, has issued a diplomatic cable that outlines new initiatives promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) within the agency. Dated November 19, the internal cable emphasizes initiatives including establishing "reflection rooms" and "all-gender restrooms" at American embassies abroad. show more
December 19, 2024
Jack Montgomery
Politics

Speaker Johnson Cancels Weekend AmFest Appearance as Shutdown Looms.

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has canceled a planned appearance at AmericaFest (AmFest)—organized by Charlie Kirk’s America First-aligned Turning Point USA group—his weekend. The cancelation comes as the U.S. government faces a shutdown on Saturday, with the Johnson-led House of Representatives failing to pass spending legislation as of publication.

The so-called continuing resolution (CR) authorizing continued spending into 2025 currently under consideration seems doomed due to a number of controversial provisions, including pay raises for politicians and what President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance describe as “Democrat giveaways,” including “sweetheart provisions for government censors and for Liz Cheney.”

Johnson is believed to be hopeful that a “clean” CR that would simply maintain spending under existing terms, with no policy changes, can pass instead. However, this also lacks support from President-elect Trump, who wants a mostly clean CR that also lifts the current debt ceiling before he enters office in January.

“If Republicans try to pass a clean Continuing Resolution without all of the Democrat ‘bells and whistles’ that will be so destructive to our Country, all it will do, after January 20th, is bring the mess of the Debt Limit into the Trump Administration, rather than allowing it to take place in the Biden Administration,” he argues, warning: “Any Republican that would be so stupid as to do this should, and will, be Primaried. Everything should be done, and fully negotiated, prior to my taking Office on January 20th, 2025.”

Johnson’s always tenuous hold on the speakership appears to be slipping amid the crisis, with Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) suggesting Elon Musk—a vocal opponent of current, omnibus-style CRs—should be drafted in to replace him.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has canceled a planned appearance at AmericaFest (AmFest)—organized by Charlie Kirk's America First-aligned Turning Point USA group—his weekend. The cancelation comes as the U.S. government faces a shutdown on Saturday, with the Johnson-led House of Representatives failing to pass spending legislation as of publication. show more
December 18, 2024
William Upton
Politics

Trump and Vance Slam Speaker Johnson’s Spending Bill: ‘A Democrat Giveaway.’

President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance have weighed in on the controversial continuing resolution (CR) being pushed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to avert a partial government shutdown on Saturday. The two America First leaders accused Johnson of “a Democrat giveaway” while arguing  Congressional Republicans blundered by suspending the debt ceiling through January 1, 2025.

“The most foolish and inept thing ever done by Congressional Republicans was allowing our country to hit the debt ceiling in 2025. It was a mistake and is now something that must be addressed,” the incoming President and Vice President wrote in a statement published on Vance’s X (formerly Twitter) account. They continue: “Meanwhile, Congress is considering a spending bill that would give sweetheart provisions for government censors and for Liz Cheney. The bill would make it easier to hide the records of the corrupt January 6 committee—which accomplished nothing for the American people and hid security failures that happened that day. This bill would also give Congress a pay increase while many Americans are struggling this Christmas.”

“Republicans want to support our farmers, pay for disaster relief, and set our country up for success in 2025. The only way to do that is with a temporary funding bill WITHOUT DEMOCRAT GIVEAWAYS combined with an increase in the debt ceiling. Anything else is a betrayal of our country,” Trump and Vance insist.

However, the pair do not appear entirely for a so-called ‘clean’ continuing resolution. Instead, they insist on attaching a debt ceiling increase to the spending bill. “If Democrats won’t cooperate on the debt ceiling now, what makes anyone think they would do it in June during our administration? Let’s have this debate now. And we should pass a streamlined spending bill that doesn’t give Chuck Schumer and the Democrats everything they want,” they argue.

READ:

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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President-elect Donald J. Trump and Vice President-elect J.D. Vance have weighed in on the controversial continuing resolution (CR) being pushed by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) to avert a partial government shutdown on Saturday. The two America First leaders accused Johnson of "a Democrat giveaway" while arguing  Congressional Republicans blundered by suspending the debt ceiling through January 1, 2025. show more
December 18, 2024
Politics
War

Palestinians Sue State Department Over U.S. Military Aid to Israel.

Palestinians are suing the U.S. Department of State over the Biden-Harris government’s supply of military aid to Israel for its ongoing military campaign against the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. The lawsuit, which was filed in a U.S. federal court on Tuesday, alleges the American government is allowing Israel to circumvent a series of U.S. human rights laws enacted by former Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in 1997. According to the “Leahy Laws,” the United States cannot grant foreign military aid to a country if there is evidence of human rights abuses.

“My surviving family members in Gaza have been forcibly displaced four times since October, living in constant fear of indiscriminate Israeli attacks carried out with American weapons,” one of the plaintiffs, a Palestinian-American, said in a statement. “The U.S. government’s military assistance to these abusive Israeli forces, which our own laws prohibit, is enabling these Israeli harms to me and my family,” he added.

‘DOUBLE STANDARD.’

The plaintiffs in the case contend the U.S. is engaging in a double standard by supplying Israel with military aid. In the legal filing, they claim it is “reasonable to assess” that the Jewish State—using American-supplied weapons—violated international law in the course of its military operations in Gaza. These violations, they argue, should trigger the Leahy Laws, barring any further support. Hamas-aligned Gaza health officials claim 45,000 Palestinians have died in the conflict. However, Israel has consistently claimed its military has made every effort to minimize civilian casualties.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken continues to maintain that the allegations of a double standard in how the U.S. treats Israel compared to other nations are unfounded. In May, the Department of State—in a report to Congress—claimed insufficient evidence existed to trigger the Leahy Laws. The report did state, however, that the department continues to monitor Israel’s compliance with both the foreign military aid statute and international human rights laws.

The U.S. government has allocated approximately $17.9 billion in military aid to Israel since the start of the country’s war against Hamas over a year ago.

Image by Naaman Omar via Wikimedia Commons.

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Palestinians are suing the U.S. Department of State over the Biden-Harris government's supply of military aid to Israel for its ongoing military campaign against the Hamas terrorist group in the Gaza Strip. The lawsuit, which was filed in a U.S. federal court on Tuesday, alleges the American government is allowing Israel to circumvent a series of U.S. human rights laws enacted by former Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) in 1997. According to the "Leahy Laws," the United States cannot grant foreign military aid to a country if there is evidence of human rights abuses. show more
December 18, 2024
William Upton
Politics

House Ethics Committee Votes in Secret to Release Report on Matt Gaetz.

The House Ethics Committee is set to release its report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Despite initially voting against making the investigation results public in November, the powerful House committee decided in secret earlier this month to release the ethics report. The move indicates that some Republican lawmakers on the committee sided with the Democrats.

“The Biden/Garland DOJ spent years reviewing allegations that I committed various crimes. I was charged with nothing: FULLY EXONERATED. Not even a campaign finance violation. And the people investigating me hated me,” Gaetz said in a statement posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday. The former Congressman added: “Instead, House Ethics will reportedly post a report online that I have no opportunity to debate or rebut as a former member of the body.”

In the past, the Ethics Committee has generally refrained from making public the outcome of an investigation into a lawmaker once they have left Congress. Gaetz resigned his seat after being named by President-elect Donald J. Trump as his nominee for Attorney General. However, the Florida Republican subsequently withdrew his name from consideration after it became apparent at least four Senate Republicans—led by outgoing Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)—would not budge in their opposition to his nomination.

Over the course of the year-long investigation, the committee reviewed allegations that Gaetz used illegal drugs and engaged in sexual misconduct. Additionally, the committee stated last summer that it was investigating whether the Florida lawmaker “shared inappropriate images or videos on the House floor, misused state identification records, converted campaign funds to personal use, and/or accepted a bribe, improper gratuity, or impermissible gifts.”

Gaetz has consistently denied the allegations leveled by the committee. Additionally, a parallel probe of the allegations by the Biden government’s Department of Justice (DOJ) determined key witnesses against Gaetz were unreliable. The House Ethics Committee’s probe relies on the same dubious witness testimony that led the DOJ to drop its investigation of Gaetz.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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The House Ethics Committee is set to release its report on its investigation into former Congressman Matt Gaetz (R-FL). Despite initially voting against making the investigation results public in November, the powerful House committee decided in secret earlier this month to release the ethics report. The move indicates that some Republican lawmakers on the committee sided with the Democrats. show more