Thu, December 19, 2024

by: THE WEEK

Trump, Musk sink spending bill, teeing up shutdown

House Republicans abandoned a stopgap spending package Wednesday evening after President-elect Donald Trump told them to kill the bipartisan legislation and replace it with a more pared-down package that cut out Democratic priorities and also raised the debt ceiling.

by: Business Insider

Musk's DOGE is pushing the US toward a government shutdown this week. Here's what that means for Americans.

The US government could shut down this weekend, leading to thousands of furloughed employees and reduced services.

by: USA Today

Would a government shutdown affect mail delivery? What to know

With a potential government shutdown looming ahead of the holidays, here's what you need to know if mail services will be impacted by it.

by: St. Louis Post-Dispatch

St. Louis native Jasmine Crockett, fiery and focused, wants fellow Democrats ready to rumble

The American people are tired of us bringing a butter knife to a real fight, a real war," the Democrat said in a recent CNN appearance.

by: clickondetroit.com

Closures, Social Security checks, furloughs: What a government shutdown might mean

President-elect Donald Trump has now abruptly rejected the bipartisan plan to prevent a Christmastime government shutdown. Instead, he's telling House Speaker Mike Johnson and Republicans to essentially renegotiate days before a deadline when federal ...

by: ABC

Potential government shutdown impacts: Millions of federal workers at risk of furlough

If Congress fails to pass the continuing resolution to fund the government by Saturday, millions of federal workers could head into the holidays without paychecks. They could be furloughed or be asked to work without pay.

by: Farmers Weekly

FW Survey 2024: Politics and weather weigh heavy on the sector

That UK farming confidence has taken a battering is hardly a secret, but the extent of that decline is quite startling, as evidenced by the results of our

by: FOX59 News

Where's Biden? Lame-duck president slammed for 'quiet quitting' amid major government funding battle

President Biden was blasted for "quiet quitting" and failing to lead his fellow Democrats amid the fiscal battle in Congress that could lead to a government shutdown just days before Christmas.

by: RealClearPolitics

Stephen Miller to Congressional Republicans: Why Are You Not Giving Trump The Best Possible Chance At Success?

The American people elected him to. He should not have to come into office and immediately be saddled with a government funding expiration followed by a debt ceiling expiration. That is what the current plan would do. He would come into office and ...

by: FOX31 Denver

Millions of people may get expanded Social Security benefits. Who are they and how would it happen?

Nearly 3 million people could receive a boost in Social Security payments under legislation set for a final Senate vote in the coming days. The Social Security Fairness Act would

by: Sydney Morning Herald

'We've been vindicated': Chalmers says government spending has saved the nation from recession

After coming under fire from for his mid-year budget update, Treasurer Jim Chalmers says: "We've rejected this free advice that says slash and burn in the budget".

by: Detroit News

Analysis: Musk's dangerous, exaggerated conflation of social media and democracy

Knee-jerk opposition to spending money on the government was popular on the right before Musk decided to make politics his second career. Republican acquiescence to his push Wednesday was often less about being convinced by his argument (such as it was ...

by: CNN

What's at risk if Congress doesn't fund the government by Friday night

Facing intense pressure of the federal government potentially shutting down within days and disaster aid coffers that need replenishment, lawmakers are racing to cobble together a temporary government funding plan after President-elect Donald Trump torpedoed their last package on Wednesday.

by: The New York Times

Trump Transition Live Updates: Republicans Search for Path to Avert a Shutdown After Trump Smashes Speaker's Deal

President-elect Donald J. Trump denounced a bipartisan spending deal that would fund the government until mid-March, telling Republican lawmakers that it would be "suicidal" to vote for it. His intervention all but buried the agreement with government funding scheduled to lapse in less than two days.

by: Winston-Salem Journal

Two Things: The hits keep on coming for soil and water district candidate; Robinson lands in hot water again

A losing candidate for Forsyth County soil and water conservation district supervisor - the qualified one - takes the high road.The winner, a convicted sex offender, lands in legal jeopardy.

by: Omaha.com

Nebraska auditor alleges more fraud by contracted DHHS caregivers

Auditor Mike Foley's report on Wednesday follows a similar report his office issued in February. He previously said the DHHS likely mishandled tens of millions of dollars during the 2023

by: The New Zealand Herald

Policy and priorities, Wellington council in 'shambles', and a historic h?koi: a year in NZ politics - The Front Page

The coalition Government dived in quickly to reverse previous Labour policy and pushed numerous bills through Parliament to meet quarterly deadlines and targets -with a mixed response from voters around some policies.

by: WSB Radio

Government shutdown at risk as Trump's demands put Speaker Johnson in a bind

A government shutdown at risk, House Speaker Mike Johnson is fighting to figure out how to meet President-elect Donald Trump's sudden demands — and keep his own job

by: The New York Times

Elon Musk Flexes His Political Strength as Government Shutdown Looms

The world's richest man led the charge to kill a bipartisan spending deal, in part by promoting false and misleading claims about it.

by: CNN

DOGE vs. DEI: Republicans' promise to purge government diversity initiatives could be wide-ranging, and hard to pull off

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the two billionaires tasked with slashing government waste, are expected to recommend an agency-wide purge of spending on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives, three sources familiar with their plans tell CNN.

by: NBC News

Trump calls for abolishing the debt ceiling

In a phone interview with NBC News, Trump said getting rid of the debt ceiling entirely would be the "smartest thing it [Congress] could do. I would support that entirely."

by: Detroit News

UK considers Musk-proofing donation rules amid Farage talks

Prime Minister Keir Starmer's government is talking to Britain's election watchdog about tougher rules on political donations, amid fears that Reform UK leader Nigel Farage may secure funding from Elon Musk.

by: FOX59 News

Congress agrees to fully fund Baltimore Key Bridge rebuild in plan to avert government shutdown

Congressional leaders struck a deal to avert a government shutdown that includes a provision to cover the cost of rebuilding the Francis Scott Key Bridge.

by: RealClearPolitics

Rep. Casar: We're Seeing The Chaos And Billionaire Corruption Of The Trump Era, Elon Musk Is Cosplaying As Co-President

There are a few weeks left until the Democratic Party faces Republican majorities in Congress. After a decisive loss in the presidential election, Democrats have been at odds over their future and direction during the new Trump era.

by: Austin American-Statesman

When is the government shutdown deadline? What to know as shutdown looms

In the midst of a looming government shutdown, President-elect Donald Trump has come out against Congress' plan to fund the government through March. Trump's statement comes after Congressional leaders released the text of a short-term bill to keep the ...

by: Inside Climate News

Social Scientist Dustin Mulvaney Discusses Solar Power, Trump and the Need to Prioritize Environmental Justice

The rapid rise of renewable energy has made aspects of his 2019 book on solar power read like ancient history.

by: NJ.com

GOP senator floats shocking idea for Trump ally Elon Musk

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) floated a surprising new position for tech billionaire Elon Musk after he spearheaded the charge to tank a bipartisan spending deal on Wednesday.

by: RTE Online

Labour withdraws from government formation talks with FF and FG

The Labour Party has decided to end exploratory government formation talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael. In a statement, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said she believed that the policy gap between the parties "is such that it would not be possible to ...

by: BBC

Congress in disarray and shutdown looms as Trump, Musk slam spending deal

The president-elect and Elon Musk rejected the bipartisan spending plan that would prevent a government shutdown.

by: FOX59 News

Trump says Mike Johnson will 'easily remain speaker' if he acts 'decisively and tough' on spending bill

EXCLUSIVE: President-elect Donald Trump told Fox News Digital that House Speaker Mike Johnson will "easily remain speaker" for the next Congress if he "acts decisively and tough" and eliminates "all of the traps being set by Democrats" in the spending package.

by: politicsweb

2024 had both high and low points - COSATU

COSATU celebrated its 39th anniversary on 1 December and marked almost four decades of defending and advancing workers' and working-class communities rights and interests. As the Federation heads towards its 40th anniversary in 2025, it remains determined to wage working class battles and win.

by: Penn Live

A key Trump ally on immigration explains how mass deportations could work

Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach expects Trump to take action that will spark a legal challenge over the citizenship status of children born in the U.S. to immigrants living in the country illegally.

by: FOX59 News

What to expect as Republicans try to salvage spending package, avoid government shutdown

Republicans in the House are not willing to raise the debt ceiling and Democrats claim Republicans have reneged on their deal. Now, chances of a government shutdown are high.

by: ABC

Government funding plan collapses after threats from Trump and Musk as shutdown looms

With a shutdown looming by the end of the week, Republicans face pressure from Trump and his ally Elon Musk to drop the funding bill they negotiated with Democrats.

by: deseret

Election confidence flip-flop: Poll shows trust in state election officials increase among Utah GOP

A new Deseret News/Hinckley of Institute Politics poll found 9 of 10 Utah Republicans trust state election officials compared to 7 of 10 Utah Democrats

by: Florida Politics

Fiona McFarland wants politics out of child welfare and transparency introduced to AI

Rep. Fiona McFarland wants proper funding around child protection and an easier ability to identify artificial intelligence-created content. As she starts a third term in the House, the Sarasota Republican will tackle those topics and improvements to transportation policy.

by: MSN

Explainer-What is US birthright citizenship and can Trump end it?

Donald Trump has said he plans to end birthright citizenship as part of his promised crackdown on immigration when he becomes president on Jan. 20. Below is a look at U.S. birthright citizenship and Trump's legal authority to restrict it.

by: MSN

US Government shutdown: Know what closes and what stays open

US President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President-elect JD Vance are pushing for a government shutdown, urging Republicans in Congress to reject a stopgap funding bill that would keep federal agencies running through March 2025.

by: MSN

Romanian ruling Social Democrats withdraw from government coalition talks

Romania's ruling leftist Social Democrat Party (PSD) has withdrawn from government coalition talks, Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu said on Thursday, extending a political crisis triggered by the annulment of a presidential election this month.

by: MSN

ABC, CBS and NBC evening newscast coverage of Trump's Cabinet picks 'almost uniformly negative,' study finds

by: MSN

Transgender people working in U.S. government see peril under Trump

Transgender military officers, diplomats abroad, others, believe progress and acceptance built over a decade may be destroyed

by: MSN

Unearthed Video Shows How Richard Tice Has Changed His Tune On Foreign Interference In UK Politics

A newly-unearthed video shows how Richard Tice has changed his tune over foreigners getting involved in British politics. The Reform UK deputy leader has welcomed speculation that Elon Musk could donate up to $100 million to his party.

by: CNN

GOP scraps government funding bill after Trump demands changes

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise confirmed Wednesday that the current government funding plan that was negotiated by Speaker Mike Johnson is officially scrapped after President-elect Donald Trump came out against it.

by: Florida Politics

Personnel note: Nikki Whiting to lead government relations for Miami Dade College

Nikki Whiting's workload at her alma mater just got heavier. Miami Dade College (MDC) just promoted Whiting to Assistant Vice President of Communications and External Affairs, a role in which she'll oversee all the institution's government relations.

by: The New York Times

Here Are 4 Reasons China Meddles in Local U.S. Politics

American intelligence agencies have warned of influence operations targeting city halls and statehouses. But what's in it for Beijing?

by: Lincolnshire Live

RAF Scampton, elections and farming: Why 2024 was a year of change in Lincolnshire

As the year came to an end, eyes turned towards the big political event of 2025 - the election of the first Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire. Years of negotiations finally led to approval for a devolution deal that would move powers from Whitehall to Lincolnshire, along with £24m per year.

by: MSN

German arms exports: Churches question U-turn

German arms exports have risen sharply, including to the Middle East. Both major churches are calling for stricter licensing rules.

by: MSN

Germany's political earthquake: what it means for Ukraine and Ukrainians

Germany faced a political earthquake. The Bundestag passed a vote of no confidence against Chancellor Scholz, resulting in the collapse of the coalition government made up of the SPD, the Greens, and the Free Democratic Party (FDP).

DOGE and reforming government: Panacea or possible?

The much-hyped Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has pledged to identify trillions of dollars of cost cuts from the federal budget -- but is it possible?

The article from MSN discusses the potential of using Dogecoin (DOGE), a cryptocurrency, to reform government operations, exploring both its benefits and drawbacks. It highlights how Dogecoin's low transaction fees and fast processing times could streamline government payments and reduce bureaucratic inefficiencies. However, the piece also addresses significant concerns such as the volatility of cryptocurrencies, which could lead to financial instability in government funding. Additionally, the article touches on the lack of regulatory frameworks for cryptocurrencies, posing risks in terms of security, fraud, and legal compliance. The discussion includes perspectives from experts who argue that while blockchain technology offers transparency and could enhance public trust, the adoption of Dogecoin or similar cryptocurrencies by government entities would require substantial changes in policy, infrastructure, and public acceptance. The article concludes by suggesting that while Dogecoin might not be the ultimate solution, it sparks a conversation about innovative approaches to government financial management.

Read the Full MSN Article at:
https://www.msn.com/en-us/politics/government/doge-and-reforming-government-panacea-or-possible/ar-AA1wamKr